37. Maar

CHAPTER 37

MAAR

T he hotel room on New Verdan is a haven, a sanctuary amidst the chaos that's become our lives. Laar is asleep in the other room, his tiny chest rising and falling in the steady rhythm of deep slumber. I watch him for a moment, my heart swelling with a love so fierce it nearly brings me to my knees. He's a miracle, a testament to the bond Alyssa and I share.

I close the door gently, ensuring the quiet doesn't disrupt his dreams, and turn to find Alyssa leaning against the wall, her eyes filled with a hunger that mirrors my own. Words hang unspoken between us, a tapestry of longing woven from months apart, from fear and sacrifice, and from the indomitable will to survive and find our way back to each other.

"Maar," she whispers, and it's like a balm to my weary soul. Her voice, soft yet resonant, ignites the jalsaghar bond that tethers us together.

I cross the room in two strides, my hands finding her waist, pulling her against me. Our bodies fit together with the precision of two puzzle pieces that have finally found their match. Her hands tangle in my hair, and I feel her breath hitch as our lips meet in a fierce, desperate kiss. It's a homecoming, a reaffirmation of life and love and everything in between.

"I missed you," I murmur against her mouth, the words inadequate for the vast ocean of emotion inside me.

Alyssa's response is a low moan as she nips at my lower lip, her fingers tracing the outline of my jaw. "Show me," she breathes, and there's a challenge in her eyes that sets my blood on fire.

The hunger that's been simmering beneath the surface bursts forth, a raw and untamed force as I claim Alyssa's mouth again, my hands roving over the curves of her body. She matches me, her fingers digging into my shoulders, her sighs and gasps adding fuel to the fire that roars within me. This isn't just carnal desire; it's a reaffirmation of our bond, a defiance of everything that's tried to tear us apart.

"Maar," she whispers into the kiss, a mix of reverence and abandon in her voice. The way my name rolls off her tongue sends a jolt down my spine, and the last shreds of my restraint shatter.

I pull back just enough to ravage the delicate skin of her neck, eliciting a sharp intake of breath from her followed by a throaty laughter. "You've got a one-track mind," she teases, her hands tugging at my shirt, breaking the last of our mutual barriers.

Baring my chest, our bodies press together, an electric current passing between us. "With you?" I growl, flicking open the buttons on her blouse with adept fingers. "Always."

As her blouse falls open, revealing the luscious swell of her breasts, I can't help but marvel at the beauty of her—the strength and tenderness that coexist within one form. My hands gently cup her, thumbs brushing over the delicate fabric of her bra and the hardened peaks straining against it. "You're exquisite," I murmur, my voice husky with desire.

Alyssa moans, her head rolling back as she arches into my touch. The sight of her, wanting and uninhibited, is my undoing. I scoop her into my arms effortlessly, her laughter reverberating through me. "Where are we?—"

"Someplace more comfortable," I rasp, carrying her toward the bed. I lower her onto the soft, rumpled sheets, capturing her lips once again as I follow her down, our bodies aligning in a perfect symphony of need and longing.

Our hips grind together, sending waves of pleasure crashing over us. I relish the way she fists the sheets, gasping for air as her body responds to each deliberate thrust of mine. "I need—I need you inside me," she pleads. I'd dare defy the stars themselves with that voice urging me on.

It's a plea I'm all too eager to grant.

With achingly slow precision, I peel away the fabric that separates us until her body is bared before me, a sight no artist could ever capture on canvas. My own remaining clothes are discarded to the floor, and my hands skim her quivering thighs apart to make room for me to settle between them. With a single, fluid thrust, I'm where I belong, sheathed in her warmth as she cries out and clings to me as if I'm both her anchor and her world.

Our movement becomes frenzied, a dance as ancient as time, each second stretching into eternity as we chase ourrelease together. "Alyssa," I hiss through clenched teeth, feeling the tell-tale tightening coil at the base of my spine.

"Come with me, Maar," she orders, her voice a broken whisper as her body milks mine for all I'm worth. Our eyes lock, and for the hundredth time, I'm struck by the depth and intensity of our connection as we tumble over the edge together, our lovemaking a testament to our survival, our fierce determination to never be separated again.

Alyssa's skin is a canvas beneath my hands, every inch familiar yet thrillingly new as I rediscover the softness, the strength that lies within her. Our breaths mingle, punctuated by soft gasps and unspoken promises, as we lose ourselves in the intensity of our reunion. Each moment is a testament to the unspoken commitment we've made to one another, a commitment that transcends the boundaries of our disparate worlds.

As we reach the pinnacle of our union, it's not just our bodies that are joined; it's our very beings. The vast ocean of emotion that I once found inadequate to convey is now given voice through our physical communion. In this sacred space, with Alyssa's heart beating in sync with mine, I find a sense of completeness that I had long thought unattainable for a warrior like me. Here, in the quiet aftermath of our passion, I am not Maar the Vakutan enforcer, but simply a being consumed by love.

"I love you, Maar," Alyssa gasps as we reach the crescendo of our passion, her eyes locked onto mine, reflecting the depth of her feelings.

"Alyssa, my heart... it beats for you," I manage to say through gritted teeth, as the force of our union threatens to shatter me into a thousand stars.

We collapse onto the bed, our bodies slick with exertion, our hearts pounding in unison. Alyssa's head rests on my chest, her fingers drawing lazy circles on my skin.

"This is all I've ever wanted," she whispers, and I can hear the contentment in her voice, the sense of rightness that fills the room like a tangible presence.

I pull her closer, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "I will spend the rest of my days ensuring you never regret choosing me," I vow, my voice steady and sure.

And as we drift off to sleep, wrapped in each other's arms, I know without a doubt that we have weathered the storm, and our love is the anchor that will keep us safe, no matter what the future holds.