Chapter 44 Not Bad for a Woman They Called Weak
ARYA
He fucked me against the wall with abandon, each thrust hitting deep. One hand gripped my hip, the other tangled in my hair, pulling my head back so he could mark my neck again.
“Mine,” he snarled between bites. “Say it.”
“Yours,” I gasped. “All yours. Only yours.”
“Damn right.”
His pace increased, brutal and perfect. I could feel my release building, that delicious pressure coiling tighter and tighter.
“Luca, I’m—”
“Come. Come on my cock where anyone could hear you. Show them who makes you feel this good.”
I shattered, my orgasm tearing through me with such intensity I saw white. He followed seconds later, his roar of completion probably audible inside.
We stayed there, pressed together, both breathing hard.
“You’re insatiable,” I finally managed.
“Only with you.” He kissed me softly, a stark contrast to the roughness of moments before. “I can’t get enough of you. Every time I have you, I want you again immediately.”
“We should probably go back inside.”
“Probably.” But he didn’t move. “Though I’m not opposed to round two right here.”
“Your guests—”
“Can wait.” His hips rocked against mine, and I felt him already hardening again. “Five more minutes.”
Those five minutes turned into twenty.
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When we finally returned to the dining room, everyone had moved to the sitting area. The knowing smirks told me they’d heard everything.
My face burned with embarrassment.
“Sorry about that,” I muttered.
“Don’t be,” Caspian said, his tone amused. “We’re all adults here. And honestly, it’s good to see him this… engaged.”
“Engaged?” I raised an eyebrow.
“He’s been alone for 800 years. Seeing him this alive, this present—it’s a good thing.” Caspian raised his glass. “To the Luna who brought our king back to life.”
Everyone raised their glasses. Even Ryker, though his expression was carefully neutral.
After the toast, Ryker approached me.
“Can we talk now? Privately?”
I glanced at Luca, who nodded, though his jaw was tight.
We stepped out to a different terrace—one that hopefully didn’t smell like sex.
“I’m sorry,” Ryker said immediately. “For how I left. For making my feelings your problem. For not being a good friend when you needed one.”
“Ryker—”
“Let me finish.” He took a breath. “I’ve spent the last few weeks doing a lot of thinking. And training. And almost dying a few times because I was being reckless.”
“You almost died?”
“Picked fights I shouldn’t have. Took jobs that were too dangerous. Generally behaved like an idiot.” He smiled ruefully. “But it helped me realize some things.”
“Like what?”
“Like I was in love with the idea of saving you more than I was in love with you.” He held up a hand when I tried to protest. “I’m not saying my feelings weren’t real. They were. But they were also… complicated. Mixed up with guilt over not protecting you from Jaime, with anger at myself for not fighting for you sooner.”
“That’s not—”
“It is. And once I separated those feelings, once I really examined what I felt… I realized I loved you, but I wasn’t IN love with you. Not the way he is.” Ryker gestured back toward the house, toward where Luca was. “That male worships you. Completely. And you feel the same. I could see it the moment I walked in.”
Tears pricked my eyes. “I never wanted to hurt you.”
“I know. And I’m not hurt. Not anymore.” He squeezed my shoulder. “I’m your friend, Ar. Your best friend. And I want you happy. That’s it. That’s all I want.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive.” His smile was genuine this time. “Besides, I met someone.”
“You did?”
“Yeah. Crazy warrior woman who called me out on my bullshit and then kicked my ass in sparring.” He laughed. “Her name’s Sage. She’s… well, she’s something.”
Relief flooded through me. “Tell me about her.”
We spent the next hour talking, really talking, the way we used to. About Sage, about his travels, about the summit, about everything and nothing.
When we finally headed back inside, it felt like we’d reclaimed our friendship. Not the same as before—it couldn’t be—but something new. Something honest.
Luca was waiting just inside the door.
“Everything okay?” His voice was carefully neutral.
“Everything’s perfect.” Ryker extended his hand. “Take care of her. She deserves the world.”
Luca shook his hand. “I plan to give it to her.”
After Ryker left to find his quarters, Luca pulled me close.
“He’s a good male,” he admitted grudgingly.
“He is.”
“Still want to rip his throat out sometimes.”
“I know.” I kissed him. “But you won’t.”
“But I won’t.” He kissed me back, deeper. “Because I’m learning that loving you means trusting you. Even when every instinct I have screams to lock you away and never let anyone else near you.”
“That’s very mature of you.”
“Don’t get used to it. I’m still incredibly possessive and will probably embarrass you regularly with public displays of affection.”
“I’m counting on it.”
We headed upstairs, his hand never leaving mine.
And as we fell into bed together—tender this time, slow and sweet—I marveled at how much my life had changed.
A month ago, I’d been trapped in a loveless marriage, invisible and diminishing.
Now I was powerful, loved, and about to help change the world.
Not bad for a woman they’d called weak.
Not bad at all.