Her words unleashed something in him. He drove into her harder, faster, the bed creaking beneath them. Her inner muscles clenched around him, trying to pull him deeper. Her wings flared, the blade-like feathers digging into the mattress.

She took control then, rolling them over in a smooth, powerful motion that left him staring up at her in surprise. She straddled him, taking his length inside her in one fluid, sinking motion, throwing her head back with a cry. She began to ride him with a fierce, desperate rhythm, her hips rolling and grinding, taking him so deep he saw stars.

"This… this is what I wanted," she panted, looking down at him, her hair a wild curtain around her flushed face. "Not an illusion. Not a servant's worship. This. The weight of you. The stretch. The heat."

She leaned forward, her breasts brushing his chest, and kissed him again, deep and filthy. Their tongues dueled as their bodies moved in a primal, perfect sync. Satou's hands gripped her hips, his thumbs pressing into the dimples at the base of her spine, helping her set a punishing pace.

The pleasure built to a roaring peak. He could feel her inner walls beginning to flutter wildly around him, her breaths coming in sharp, desperate pants against his lips.

"Satou, I'm… I'm going to—"

"Me too," he groaned, his control shattering.

Her climax hit her like a tidal wave. She screamed, her body bowing backward as she convulsed around him, her wings snapping taut. The sight of her, lost in real, un-manipulated ecstasy, was his undoing. With a final, deep thrust, he buried himself inside her as his own release tore through him, hot and endless, spilling into her welcoming depths.

The world dissolved into white-hot sensation. He pulsed within her, each throb drawing another shuddering aftershock from her body.

Slowly, trembling, she collapsed onto his chest, her sweat-slick skin pressed against his shimmering scales. They lay there, tangled together, the only sounds their ragged breathing and the frantic beating of their hearts.

After a long moment, Seraphine lifted her head. She looked dazed, fulfilled, and utterly, vulnerably real. She leaned down and kissed him softly, a tender contrast to their previous frenzy.

"You stayed," she murmured against his lips.

"Of course I did," he whispered back, his arms tightening around her.

They held each other in the quiet aftermath, Satou still sheathed inside her, both of them reluctant to break the connection. Seraphine nuzzled into the crook of his neck, her breath warm on his skin.

"Lyra and Jessica…" she began, her voice small.

"They will both understand. I will explain everything to them when I go back to my village," Satou said, his voice firm with conviction. He stroked her hair slowly. "This was real. And we do not hide what is real."

She let out a shaky sigh of relief, her body relaxing completely against his. "Then… can we stay like this?" she whispered. "Just for a little while longer?"

"As long as you want," Satou replied softly.

He pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her as she nestled against his chest. Her head rested over his heart, listening to its steady rhythm, while his fingers continued to trace gentle patterns through her hair. The world outside faded away, leaving only warmth, quiet breaths, and the comfort of being held.

Before either of them realized it, their breathing slowed, bodies fitting together naturally as sleep claimed them both, still wrapped in each other's arms.

========

The Next Day

The first rays of sunlight filtered through the curtains of Seraphine's private chambers, painting the room in soft gold and amber hues. Satou's eyes opened slowly, his body feeling significantly better than the day before. His mana reserves had replenished to about 70%, and most of his wounds had closed completely thanks to his Abyssal Regeneration working overnight.

He turned his head and found himself facing Seraphine.

She was still asleep, her face peaceful in a way he'd never seen before. Her corrupted wings were folded against her back, partially healed now, and her silver hair was spread across the pillow like a halo. The morning light caught her features perfectly—the gentle curve of her lips, the slight flutter of her eyelashes, the complete absence of the masks and personas she usually wore.

Satou smiled, his chest warming with affection. Last night had been... different. Not just physically intimate, but emotionally vulnerable in a way that had left both of them changed. Seraphine had been terrified of falling back into manipulation patterns, and he'd been patient, checking in constantly, making sure every moment was genuine.

And it had been. Beautifully, perfectly genuine.

He leaned over carefully, not wanting to wake her yet, and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. Seraphine made a small sound of contentment in her sleep, a tiny smile playing at her lips.

"What are you dreaming about that makes you smile so peacefully?" Satou whispered, his fingers gently brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Whatever it is, I hope it's half as good as last night was."

He stayed like that for another moment, just watching her breathe, memorizing this peaceful expression. Then, reluctantly, he began to extract himself from the bed carefully, trying not to wake her.

His clothes were scattered across the floor. Satou gathered them quietly, dressing piece by piece. His shirt, pants, boots. He glanced back at Seraphine, who was now curled slightly into the space he'd vacated, clutching the pillow he'd been using.

The sight made his heart clench with unexpected tenderness.

Once fully dressed, Satou moved back to the bed and sat on the edge carefully. He leaned down, pressing one more kiss to Seraphine's forehead, then whispered against her skin:

"I love you."

The words surprised him even as he said them. It was fast—incredibly fast by most relationship standards. But after fighting The Reaper together, after sharing such vulnerable intimacy, after seeing the real person beneath ... he meant it.

Seraphine's smile widened in her sleep, and she made a soft, contented sound that might have been his name.

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