5. Annie

five

Crux's weight presses me deliciously into the thin mattress, the hard planes of his body searing my bare skin everywhere I'm touched. The heat of Crux's body is a furnace, enveloping me in a cocoon of intoxicating pleasure. I've never felt more desired, more wanted, in my life. His kisses are an all-consuming storm, demanding everything from me and giving everything in return.

"I've thought about this moment since we met," he rasps against the thundering pulse at my throat. His teeth scrape over the sensitive flesh in a way that has me arching shamelessly into him with a keen need. "Every night, I've imagined you here, underneath me."

Never in my wildest fantasies did I imagine anything could feel this sublime. His calloused palms brand exquisite paths over my curves, igniting sparks of liquid rapture everywhere they roam. When those sinful fingers finally find my aching peaks beneath my dress, stroking and rolling with maddening expertise, I almost come apart on the spot.

"Yes!" I cry out, unable to suppress the needy noise that spills from my lips. "Crux, please..." My voice is a broken whimper against the heated crush of our mouths fusing once more.

His low, rumbling chuckle reverberates through my very core. "Such impatience for one so dignified, Ambassador."

"I swear to god, if you don't touch me right now—"

Crux swallows my threat with a deep, possessive kiss, his tongue delving into my mouth in a silken thrust that leaves me reeling. "What do you want, my starlight?"

My throat works around a dry swallow. "To feel you... inside me. Please, Crux."

There's a moment of tension, the air around us practically crackling with anticipation, before he reaches around my neck to pull away the single string holding the top of my silver dress together. His deft movements leave my breasts bare before him, and a rush of heat flares in my core as his burning gaze rakes over my exposed form.

"Gorgeous," he murmurs reverently, as I move my arms to cover myself instinctively.

"Don't hide from me," he commands as he captures my wrists in a firm but gentle grip, pinning them above my head with one hand. I moan helplessly as his free palm resumes its torment, palming their weight and kneading the tender globes of my breasts.

"But I have unsightly stretch marks and—"

"You are perfect," Crux growls, his eyes blazing. "Don't insult the divine beauty that you possess."

"But I'm—" I protest, shame flushing my cheeks.

"Perfect to me, just as you are. And I'm going to worship every inch of your gorgeous body until you believe it." Crux seizes the opportunity to trail molten kisses along the column of my throat. My head falls back, and a throaty moan of pleasure escapes me.

I pant as his free hand skims lower, ghosting over my inner thigh. With an impatient tug, he strips away the flimsy material of my favorite silver dress, but I don't care as I'm laid bare before his ravenous gaze. I don't resist when he presses my knees further apart, giving him complete access to my slick heat.

"I need to taste you," he growls.

Before I can protest, he dips his head, his hot breath fanning over the sensitive flesh between my legs. I fist his hair, unable to control myself as he drags the flat of his tongue along my folds. My back bows off the cot, a strangled cry of ecstasy wrenched from my throat.

Crux makes a sound that's half growl, half purr as he teases and explores. He alternates between slow, deliberate swipes of his tongue and quick flicks that have me clawing at the sheets.

"So sweet," he murmurs against me, his words sending vibrations through me that make my toes curl.

He laps at me, drinking me in, and I've never felt more cherished or desired in my life. The pressure builds, a delicious tightness coiling low in my belly. Every muscle in my body is tense, quivering on the edge of release.

"I'm so close," I whimper. "Don't stop."

As if sensing my desperation, he redoubles his efforts, his tongue laving my sensitive clit with a relentless, merciless pace. The first wave hits, and I'm lost, riding the crest of pure euphoria as he wrings every last drop of pleasure from me.

When the shuddering spasms subside, Crux raises his head, his lips glistening and a smug smirk curving them. "Now I will have you."

I can only nod, boneless and sated from the most intense orgasm I've ever experienced. My eyes widen as he begins stripping off his trousers.

"Maker's breath..." I breathe. "That's not going to fit."

"It will," he says with utter confidence, "because we were made for each other."

Crux's cock is impressive, and not just because of the size. The thick shaft is covered in ridges and bumps with a flared head, and the whole thing glows a bright purple. As I stare, transfixed, I can see him twitching under my gaze.

He moves to hover over me, caging me in with his powerful arms. "I will take it slow, my starlight," he promises, his voice husky with need.

I reach between us, wrapping my fingers around the hard length of his shaft. Crux groans, his hips bucking involuntarily. Encouraged, I stroke him slowly, reveling in the feel of his velvety skin and the hardness beneath.

"Fuck, Annie," he grits out, his head thrown back in pleasure.

"You like that?" I purr, continuing my ministrations.

"Yes," he groans, "but if you keep doing that, this will be over far too soon."

I reluctantly release him. My core throbs with anticipation, wetness pooling between my thighs, aching to have him fill me.

"I'm ready, Crux," I whisper, spreading my legs wider in invitation.

He presses into me slowly, and I gasp as the first inch stretches me. It's an exquisite burn, but I've never felt so full, so complete. Crux is panting with the effort of restraint, his muscles tense as he fights the urge to simply thrust into me.

"More," I moan, needing all of him.

He pushes deeper, and the stretch intensifies, but the pain is soon replaced by a deep, aching pleasure. He fills me perfectly, as if our bodies were made for each other. I'm so full of him, his cock buried to the hilt in my pussy, his muscled chest pressed against mine, and the sheer physical and emotional intimacy overwhelms me.

"You feel incredible," he growls, beginning to thrust in slow, deep strokes. "You're so tight, so perfect."

The sensation is unlike anything I've ever experienced, and I'm quickly reduced to a whimpering, moaning mess as Crux takes me with long, powerful strokes.

"Faster," I gasp, needing more, harder.

He obliges, picking up the pace, and the friction is delicious, sending waves of pleasure coursing through my veins. My nails dig into his shoulders, my legs wrapping around his waist as he pounds into me.

"Annie," he growls, his face contorted with pleasure. "You're mine."

"Yours," I agree, the word a choked sob as the pressure inside me builds to unbearable levels.

Crux thrusts into me with a feral intensity, and I'm lost, falling apart around him in a cascade of white-hot ecstasy. He roars out his release, his cock pulsing inside me as he comes, and the sensation is enough to send me spiraling into another, even more intense, orgasm.

And just like that, I'm utterly defenseless beneath him once more, incoherent pleas tumbling from my lips with each dizzying pass of his wicked mouth over my fevered skin. I clutch his powerful shoulders as if he's the only anchor in a storm of unbearable rapture, powerless to do anything but feel.

In the stillness which follows, my mind gradually clears. What did I just do? I've just committed an utterly unforgivable act with my sworn protector.

As the gravity of it settles over me, I feel tears prick my eyes and spill over to trail hotly down my temples. Dear stars, how could I have been so reckless?

Crux stirs against me, realizing my distress. With infinite care, he eases out of me and rolls to pull me into his embrace, cradling me against the broad strength of his chest.

"Shhh, don't fret, my starlight," he croons soothingly. "You are safe. I have you," he murmurs, calloused palms stroking soothingly over my back.

"We shouldn't have done this," I whisper brokenly, my heart already aching with the certainty that I will have to let him go, that this stolen moment of passion can never be repeated.

"Peace, Annie." One of his large hands cups the nape of my neck, allowing zero chance for me to escape his scorching regard. "You have done nothing unforgivable here."

"But your oaths—"

"I am sworn to protect and serve, yes. And that is what I have done." His tangerine eyes practically smolder with conviction. "You bring light back into my battered soul, and I will not repent for that."

I gape at him, searching those striking features for any hint of insincerity and finding none. "Crux, I... I don't know... my kids..." My voice trails off, the reality of the situation crashing down around me.

I'm an ambassador with two adult children. I'm not a young woman anymore. This shouldn't have happened, and I have to put an end to it before it goes any further.

"What about them?" Crux rumbles, his voice vibrating through my bones.

I swallow hard. "They're going to be furious when they find out."

Crux sighs, his breath tickling the top of my head. "Annie, you're an adult. And if your children truly care for you, they'll understand. But this isn't about them, or your duty, or anyone else. This is about what you want."

"But that's the problem, isn't it?" I can't keep the bitterness from my voice. "I've spent the last twenty years being a single mother and a diplomat. I don't know what I want anymore. I'm not some young girl with her whole life ahead of her."

Crux shakes his head, his expression stern. "You're right, you're not. You're a woman with decades of life experience. Someone who has fought tooth and nail to build a career and raise a family. And now you deserve to have something that's yours. Something that brings you joy and passion and purpose. No matter what your children or the council or anyone else may say."

His words hit me like a sucker punch. "You're right," I admit softly. "I deserve to have something that's just mine." I tilt my chin up, meeting his gaze. "I want this, Crux. I want you."

A real, genuine smile curves those lush lips, and it utterly steals my breath. "Say you'll allow me to continue indulging in this madness. Because I know I cannot stop myself from falling for you, no matter how many rules or protocols I shatter in the process."

"I've already fallen," I whisper, cupping his chiseled jaw in my palm. "I need no more convincing."

Our mouths collide again in a searing, leisurely kiss that quickly kindles into an inferno of rekindled passion. I lose myself once more in the sublime feel of him covering me, branding my curves with each scorching caress and my heart with every murmur of forbidden endearments.

We make love twice more before the suns begin to set over the gleaming spires of the crystal city, utterly consumed by the rapture that blazes between us. Neither of us speaks of duty or protocol, or what any of this cataclysmic shift means for our futures. Today, we exist solely for the pleasure and comfort we can provide one another, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

When I finally drift into an utterly spent and sated slumber sometime after nightfall, Crux's powerful frame is curled around me like a forcefield. I should feel safe and secure, yet a tiny kernel of trepidation gnaws at me. How much longer can we maintain this gilded, exquisite illusion before the outside world shatters it all over again?

The reality of that question confronts me in the gleam of first light streaming in through the window. I blink awake with a jaw-cracking yawn, deliciously sore in a hundred different places. The insistent ping of a comm unit ruins the tranquil afterglow. Crux untangles himself from our embrace with obvious reluctance and pads across the room, retrieving the device. I can't help admiring the ripple of his toned muscles as he moves.

"Everything okay?" I prop myself up on one elbow, anticipation prickling along my skin.

Crux's expression is pinched as he scans the encrypted message, plush lips pressed into a flat line. When he finally meets my questioning gaze, apprehension blooms in my chest.

"It's a comm from STI leadership," he says, voice clipped with tension. "They're demanding you return to Orion Station immediately, in light of the Folmodian negotiation collapsing entirely last night."

I feel the blood drain from my face as the gravity of the situation hits me. The Folmodians were our most crucial ally in the wake of the Huxarian rebel conflicts, their advanced weapons technology and strategic positioning within the Orion Quadrant indispensable. If they pull out of the STI over stalled treaty talks...

"But I haven't even heard back from them yet about rescheduling!" My voice pitches higher with mounting panic. "They can't expect me to just drop everything!"

Crux arches one dark brow, silently reminding me he doesn't appreciate my flustered hysterics. With an effort, I draw in a steadying breath and run my fingers through my tangled hair.

"Sorry, you're right. Freaking out won't help anything."

His expression softens minutely as he regards me, evaluating. "If I know anything about these bureaucratic windbags, it's that they only see the big picture. Not the dozen smaller crises their short-sighted demands inevitably create."

I snort wryly at that, shaking my head. Already the harsh realities of life as an ambassador encroach on our stolen oasis.

"I should draft a response, request more time to—"

"No."

I blink, caught off guard by Crux's curt refusal. "Come again?"

He crosses the room in three long strides, draping his powerful frame over me in a way that's utterly disarming. When he cups my face in one broad palm, his piercing, tangerine eyes are solemn but resolute.

"You're not going anywhere until this situation stabilizes, Annie. It's too risky returning to the space station or any negotiations while tensions are this volatile."

Indignation wars with frustration in my chest. "You can't be serious! Avoiding my sworn duties isn't an option, Crux. You know that better than anyone."

He exhales a sharp breath, jaw ticking stubbornly. "I do. But my oath to protect you supersedes any other vow or protocol. Maker's tits, woman, you were nearly assassinated two nights ago!"

"Crux, I appreciate your concerns for my safety," I begin, gentling my own voice in hopes he'll hear me out. "But everything I've worked for could unravel without my direct intervention. Re-establishing communication with the Folmodians to prevent this alliance from fracturing is paramount."

His expression is carved in stone, his voice flat and emotionless. "You will remain here until I determine it is safe for you to return."

My ire rises as the reality of the situation settles around me. "And how long will that be, exactly? Weeks? Months? The galaxy doesn't revolve around my schedule, Crux. The lives of billions of people are at stake."

He shakes his head, refusing to meet my eyes. "You cannot be moved. That is final."

His obstinacy makes me see red.

"Oh, but it's fine if you get to make all the decisions, is that it? Just because you're the big, strong Avenian warrior who knows best?" I throw the words at him like knives, and I can't find it in me to regret it.

Crux recoils, a flash of hurt in his eyes. But it's gone in a heartbeat, his expression smoothing over once more.

"Annie, I have sworn an oath to protect and defend you," he begins, his voice cold and hard. "I cannot ignore that simply because you are angry with me."

"Fine." I grit out the word, the bitter taste of disappointment heavy on my tongue. "Do what you must, Knight."

With that, I turn and storm from the room, my emotions a maelstrom of hurt and anger. Crux's footsteps sound behind me, but I'm not ready to face him again, not after he's made it abundantly clear who has the final say.

I slam the door in his face, feeling childish but not caring. I lean my forehead against the cool metal, breathing deeply and trying to regain some semblance of composure.

"Annie, please open the door," Crux's voice is muffled but urgent.

"Leave me alone, Crux."

"Annie, I'm sorry. Please, let me explain."

"I don't need to hear your explanations, Crux. I've heard enough."

There's a moment of silence, and then Crux's voice again, softer. "Please, Annie. Let's talk about this."

I take a deep breath, my anger fading as quickly as it flared. He's right, we need to talk about this. We can't keep dancing around the elephant in the room.

"Okay." I open the door, and Crux's relieved expression tells me he thought I would never relent.

"Annie, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to—"

I hold up a hand, silencing him. "No, Crux, you were right. I was being childish and stubborn. I just can't stand the thought of losing everything I've worked so hard for. The Folmodian Alliance is a crucial part of the Stellar Together Initiative, and without it, everything falls apart."

"Annie, I promise, I will keep you safe," Crux says. "But until things calm down, I can't risk you going back to Orion Station."

"I understand," I say, sighing. "It's just frustrating."

"I know, and I'm sorry," Crux says, pulling me into a hug. "We'll figure it out together."

"Okay," I say, resting my head against his chest.

"And, Annie?"

"Yes?"

"I will never make decisions for you. I will always respect your autonomy. And if you ever feel that I'm not, I need you to tell me."

"Of course," I say, looking up into his eyes.

Crux kisses me then, and the world falls away. It's a kiss of reassurance and tenderness, and I can feel his emotions pouring into it. When we finally break apart, he smiles at me, and I can't help but smile back.

"You are the strongest, most resilient female I've ever met," he murmurs. "You have survived far worse than an extended sabbatical. You will endure this and emerge stronger than before."

I blink away the sudden sting of tears, swallowing thickly. Crux surrounds me in his protective embrace, and I feel so treasured.

After our heated discussion and reconciliation, Crux and I retire to the small courtyard behind his humble dwelling. I settle onto a flat rock warmed by the morning sun, datapad in hand to review the latest diplomatic updates from my staff. Crux, meanwhile, sheds his tunic and begins a series of meticulous warm-up exercises across the open training ground.

I can't help stealing furtive glances over the rim of the datapad, utterly transfixed by the powerful, controlled movements of his chiseled form. The way those toned muscles ripple and shift beneath his lilac skin is nothing short of hypnotic. Each precise strike and block seem almost like an intricate dance, belying the sheer lethality sheathed within his honed physique.

As if sensing the weight of my admiring stare, Crux transitions into a complicated series of defensive maneuvers. My mouth goes dry watching him twist and flow through each stance with unconscious grace. When he launches into a blinding series of kicks and jabs, I can practically feel the displacement of air with each deadly strike.

It's enough to rekindle the lingering embers of desire smoldering low in my belly. Entirely unbidden, the memories of that same powerful body pinning me to the mattress flood my mind's eye. The scorching glide of his calloused palms over my bare skin, the heated brand of his mouth devouring me inch by exquisite inch...

Lips parting on a ragged inhalation, I quickly look away, my entire face aflame. Crux seems utterly oblivious to the effect he's having on me, focused solely on the intensity of his training regimen.

I clear my throat awkwardly and focus on the datapad before me, scrolling through the latest updates from my aide. Still no message from Max or Alice. The thought brings a small amount of frustration. It's not like my children to leave me hanging for this long, and a seed of unease is beginning to sprout in my gut.

I have no time to dwell on that as a flicker of motion on the horizon catches my eye. A sleek vessel is descending rapidly through the rose-tinted clouds, bleeding speed in a controlled deceleration toward our location.

"Crux?" I call out, apprehension lacing my tone as I see a vessel with an arrowhead design and glossy obsidian hull. "We have an incoming ship."

He pauses mid-kick, head cocked as he tracks the approaching craft. After a moment's assessment, he turns to me with a grim set to his chiseled features.

"That's one of our Elite Knighthood vessels," he says flatly. "Most likely it's Ven'ari coming to make good on his ultimatum."

His gaze locked onto the approaching shuttle, he approaches a keypad on the wall and enters a series of runic-looking symbols.

The air around the dwelling shimmers and distorts for the span of a gasping breath. Then, with a sound like a thunderclap, an entire section of the cliff face seems to dissolve, revealing the shimmering facade of an immense concealment barrier. My jaw drops as I gape at the newly materialized opening—easily large enough for a heavily armored transport to pass through.

This humble dwelling is far more than mere lodgings. Crux's true home is a sprawling, ultra-secure safe house built directly into the heart of the towering crimson cliffs. Reinforced gundrian walls and military-grade deflector shielding flicker into view beyond the entrance are testaments to the formidable defensive measures concealed here. I realize with a start that the cozy, sparse furnishings were just a facade over an entire subterranean bunker bristling with state-of-the-art ordnance and security systems.

As the shuttle makes its final approach, Crux turns to face me fully. In that heated moment, his eyes are vivid molten amber, the tattoo which marks his Knighthood glows with fierce inner light. He is equal parts terrifying and magnificent. And the look in his eyes wordlessly conveys that I am the most precious thing in his world now. Not duty. Not even his honor. Just me.

No matter what fresh turmoil Ven'ari and his superiors unleash, I know with every fiber of my being that Crux will never waver from my side.