Mercury’s mouth on her ear made Marina’s body come to life, buzzing with desire and anticipation. Her mind was still swirling with thoughts. About Mercury’s past. About how he was feeling now. About their future together. So many questions.

But as his lips trailed down her neck, kissing her lightly, it dispelled those thoughts like fog before the rising dawn. There was time to figure it out. They’d come this far. Why should they stop now?

That, and the fact that everywhere he touched, everywhere he kissed, her body responded instantly to him, more intently than ever before in her entire life. There was more to this than just pleasure, just release. It was connection, something deep inside that felt destined.

She put her hands around him as he pulled the corner of her tunic lower to kiss tenderly on her shoulder, slow and intent, an entirely different Mercury than when they’d last been together like this. And as much as she liked fast and heated, there was a vulnerability in those deep quicksilver eyes that set her soul on fire just with a single glance.

He pulled her tunic up a bit, playing with the soft skin of her belly, teasing along the line of her hips that sent little sparks flitting up her back. As he did, he brought their lips together again, this time more intense, claiming. She opened for him to enter, and he did, swiping inside her possessively. Their tongues met together, slick firmness that made her heart race with want.

Past the rough exterior that seemed to span the ocean, beneath his aloofness and cynicism was a Mercury that cared much more than he ever wanted to admit. A Mercury that could love, even if somehow along the way he’d decided that he himself was unlovable.

How could she show him he was wrong?

Mercury’s hands came up her stomach, beneath her tunic, and squeezed her breasts. The fabric of her bra pressed into her nipples and instantly made her wet. She could feel his hardness pressing against her, teasing her, and she wanted to throw off their clothes and just go for it.

But she wanted what Mercury wanted. And right now, it was this.

Besides, it didn’t hurt that he seemed to want to kiss every square inch of her.

He helped pull her tunic off, undoing the hook of her bra quickly and pulling it off, leaving her bare. Around them, the noonday sun flickering through the thick purple and green and blue foliage cast cool, colored light overhead. Everywhere, soft exotic plants surrounded them, giving them complete privacy.

Marina was sure Mercury wouldn’t be doing this if that weren’t the case.

His tongue laved one breast firmly, and she moaned, trying to suppress the sound so no one would hear, and for a moment, Mercury’s gaze met hers.

If he didn’t want her making any noise, then he’d have to stop being so good at what he was doing.

Which, of course, would be entirely unlike him.

Both hands squeezed her breasts, kneading her soft flesh as he kissed one then the other, making her thighs tighten from the pleasure of it. Marina squirmed beneath him, but his touch was soft as satin and firm as steel, unforgiving in his quest to pleasure her.

He then left her breasts, leaving her wanting so much more as his hands played with the edge of her pants, drawing out the tension of each passing second.

Then she felt his finger on her center, making her entire body shudder with delight, almost pushing her over the edge. But somehow he knew just the right amount of pressure to keep her from falling.

The thought was as arousing as it was disappointing in the moment.

But he didn’t stop, building the pressure with her gradually, first making slow, wide circles around her, then gently rubbing the very apex of her sex. She pushed against his hand, pulled away from him, and pressed herself into the soft ferns beneath her, anything to go faster, but it was no use. He was in control, even as it felt as if every atom in his body was focused on her alone right now.

She could swear she heard him mutter, “So beautiful,” to himself. But the feel of his finger against her clit and the sound of rushing water in her ears made it hard to focus on anything right now.

Then, when it seemed she couldn’t wait a second more, he stroked her with the entirety of his finger, making her come apart so hard everything went upside down. For interminably long moments, fierce release rocked through her like a storm, and in the middle of it, Mercury had the audacity to flick her center one more time, only further intensifying it.

By the time she came to, she wasn’t even aware of what was around her. The garden, Drakkaris, the challenge, everything was melting away, leaving just her and Mercury.

Mate, her dragon said. But she didn’t need to be told the obvious. Her heart had known all along.

But no matter what she knew, Mercury was going to go at Mercury’s pace. And she just needed to show him she was going to be here with him no matter what.

Mercury pulled off the pants she’d been wearing, his fingers ticklish along her legs. He then pulled off the silvery tunic he’d been wearing, greeting her with the sensual sight of his incredibly ripped muscles, and put it underneath her before finally taking her panties off. But he did it slowly, intentionally, devouring her with his gaze so intensely she couldn’t even try to hide the blush Marina felt everywhere on her body.

But that was nothing compared to the feel of his tongue on her center as he spread her legs and lowered himself. Her vision blurred from the sensation, again so powerful it could have made her come, yet barely not enough to do so. And then, as he had with his finger but a hundred times more intense, he moved into an unhurried rhythm that drew the attention of every nerve, every muscle inside her.

His tongue was so deft, so firm and wet as he made love to her. His hair fell to one side, partially covering his face, while his hands found her hips, holding her captive to his pleasure. With nowhere to go, Marina’s own hands wandered, and she bit down on her knuckle, trying to hold back the building tidal wave of release that was seconds away from crashing.

But she couldn’t retreat, couldn’t back down from Mercury’s touch. And as his tongue covered her, sliding up her clit then back down, she orgasmed to the sound of her heart beating in her own chest.

She tried to not cry out, but her voice wasn’t her own anymore. Before any sound could escape, Mercury’s lips were over hers, catching her breath and kissing her senseless as rippling waves of pleasure coursed through her.

When she finally relaxed, she couldn’t think of anything else but the deep want within her. The want to be filled, to be one with Mercury. But unlike before, where it had been rushed and hot and sexy, she wanted to really connect with him. Wanted to touch her soul to his.

“I… I want you inside me, Mercury. I can’t stand to wait another second,” Marina said, the sound of her own voice foreign to her.

“Marina.”

Somehow, hearing him say her name like that, reverently, like an oath, almost broke her. Who was this Mercury that could make love to her as though she were more precious than life itself? Who could be so selfless a lover yet still have so much conflict tearing them up inside?

Marina could only hope time and love truly could heal even the deepest of wounds.

Eagerly, she tried to help him with the belt he wore that seemed made of a leather unlike she’d ever seen before. But he took care of it himself, standing and kicking his shoes to the side before pulling off his pants.

This time Marina took in as much of him as she could. His broad shoulders. Trim hips that led to muscled thighs and calves. Defined Ken doll lines that trailed down to a hard, thick member she couldn’t wait to feel.

“No mating, though,” he said as he positioned himself between her hips.

“Of course,” Marina replied, assuming he was just stating the obvious for both their sakes and the sake of the still-ongoing challenge but still slightly disappointed it had to be this way.

But as his thick length slid into her, reminding her of just how wonderfully mind-blowing this felt, there was no disappointment or worry or second thoughts in her mind about all of this.

It just felt… right.

And though there was something conflicted in Mercury’s demeanor, something he was hiding, she could tell he felt it, too. Maybe just opening up about his past had given him a lot to think about.

Then again, as he pulled away and thrust into her with an agonizingly long motion, she remembered there were times to talk and think, and there were times when you just wanted to feel.

And based on the smile she saw on his lips as he pushed into her once more, that was probably how he felt.

Marina grabbed Mercury by the shoulder and pulled him closer to her, wanting to be nearer as he moved into a slick, delicious tempo. Each time he left her, they came together a little more quickly, a little more intensely.

And this time, as she beckoned him to go faster, he relented, joining with her as she wrapped her legs around his back to receive him deeper and deeper.

Her fingers were going numb. The sensation was so hot, so overwhelming. But Marina held on, closing her eyes against the intense pressure coiling in her like a spring.

Mercury was close, too, his breaths getting deeper and huskier, his pace getting so fast Marina didn’t know how they could possibly last another second. The only noise around them was the sound of their bodies coming together, noonday heat and a gentle breeze the only thing permeating the invisible bubble they alone shared. A space where the only two people that existed were herself and Mercury.

He thrust into her, hard, so impossibly long and deep Marina didn’t know how they fit, and it pushed her past the edge of her limitations. And as the blinding sensation of it coursed through her like lightning, she felt Mercury pull out of her, overtaken by his own release.

Marina mustered what strength she could, pulling Mercury in close to her, their bodies together but apart as both rode out their individual releases. White-hot heat melted her from the inside out, then cooled to a gentle warmth as Mercury’s gaze pierced her heart, watching her with wonder for the long moments of her orgasm.

And then as quickly as it had seemed to start, it was over, leaving them both breathless and satisfied, at least for now.

She pulled her tunic back over her as she waited for her heart rate to return to normal. Mercury lay next to her, looking up to the canopy, to the evening sky above them.

“Tomorrow is the last day,” he said.

Her heart nearly stopped as she listened for his next words.

“I picked you and Lead as my final two,” she said. “Tomorrow after the fight, I want to choose you.”

He was silent for a long moment, staring up at the sky, but his gaze looked oddly hopeless.

“Marina,” he said. “You’ve come to mean everything to me. I care for you. I truly do. But—”

“But you don’t want to be with me.”

“It’s the opposite,” he said, rolling onto his side and looking into her eyes. “I want to be with you very much, but that doesn’t erase everything else. I want you to be safe, happy. I’m still too messed up. I have baggage. There’s nowhere I fit in, and with the difficulties on this planet and on Earth, that’s a liability.” He reached a hand up to touch her face. “You are too precious to take risks for someone like me.”

She shook her head, feeling tears threaten her eyes as she tried to keep them away. “No. Don’t do this. Mercury, what about what I want? What if I want to take the risk.”

He got to his knees, putting his clothes on and helping her with hers. Her heart felt empty and hollow, while her body was still warm with traitorous arousal.

“Marina, you gave me the chance to be a better person. Now I’m finally going to be one.” When he was satisfied she was covered, he stood, helping her to her feet.

Whatever magical bubble they’d been encapsulated in while in the garden, it had broken now.

“Mercury, I don’t care what you’ve done. We can work all of that out. All that matters is—”

“Your safety,” he said, catching her hands in his and bringing them to his lips for a kiss. “And you’ll be safer with Lead.” Then he released her hands sadly and walked away from her, leaving her to follow him in from the garden.

As she walked, her mind raced, trying to think of what to say to him. But despite what had just happened between them, there was a wall up, and it felt impossible for her to get over it.

“So what now?” she asked. “I just try to forget you?”

He stopped and turned slightly, looking at her over his shoulder, a dark glint in his eyes. “Now you find someone who isn’t a monster. You wake up from a bad dream and walk into the light.”

She wanted to stop him, wanted to tell him that was stupid, that she’d chosen him and that mattered. That people could change and that mattered, too.

That he was strong and people would need him, whether here or on Earth, as long as he was willing to be a better person.

But she just stood there, heart too tired to fight with him, as he walked away down the corridor.

She just didn’t have the strength to go after him anymore.