"Why couldn't I come to the coronation ceremony?" Omari demanded for what felt like the hundredth time.

"Because I wasn't sure how safe it was going to be," I repeated again, for the hundredth time. What if they'd decided to just behead me on the spot rather than let the coronation happen? But I didn't tell him that.

"Nothing is safe enough for me!" Omari pouted, crossing his arms. "You always leave me behind."

"You have plenty of time to run straight into danger when you're older," Ashur replied easily, humor tinging his voice. "How about for now we just watch this movie and have some of this candy I brought for you?"

"Candy?" Omari perked up. "What kind?"

"Your favorite kind."

I chuckled as he ripped open the box immediately and shoved the chocolate into his mouth.

"Good thinking," I whispered, kissing Ashur. "He's probably not going to be young enough to distract this easily for long, though."

"I am not above bribes," he whispered back. "And I'll just find better ones as he gets older."

It was a light statement, but it held the promise of a future together. And that meant everything. I felt warm and at home as we had a nice movie night with Omari at Ashur's place.

It was just about the speed I wanted to go at right now. I had no idea what the future was going to bring. But as long as I had Ashur and Omari with me, I was looking forward to it.

We let Omari stay up a little later to make up for the fact that he hadn't been able to go to the coronation ceremony. He was sure to milk that for all it was worth. But we finally put him to bed even as he was protesting while he was yawning.

"But I want to watch another movie," he said as his head hit the pillow. He was out like a light in no time.

Then Ashur and I went to bed. We both started stripping to get under the sheets.

"Do you know how much power you just gave up?" Ashur asked as he lay down on the bed in his boxer briefs, crossing his arms under his head.

I grinned, lying down next to him in my sleep shirt. Hmm. We were alone and Omari was asleep...

I sat up and pulled the shirt off, revealing my nakedness underneath. His eyes immediately went to my body, his eyes heating. I loved the way he looked at me. Like he couldn't stop looking. Like he wanted to devour me.

I rolled over on top of his hard body and his hand went straight to my bare ass, cupping and squeezing.

"I have all the power I need right here," I teased, giving him a slow, clinging kiss.

He chuckled, a part of him stirring with even more interest against my stomach. He kissed me back, deepening it until I was really feeling the heat. Not that it took much with him. He was definitely my weakness.

"You'll always have this power," he murmured against my mouth as he broke the kiss. "Feel free to exercise it whenever you want. I insist."

"How magnanimous," I said, smiling as I kissed my way down his strong throat.

"I try," he agreed, his breathing already coming faster as I kissed my way across his chest, rubbing my face against the soft hair there.

I gave his nipples a hard suck that had him jerking a little and then kissed my way down his stomach to his navel and the happy trail leading down into his boxers. Looking up to meet his eyes, I hooked my fingers in his underwear and pulled them down and off his legs, revealing his fully hardened erection. It was thick and long and flushed, veins tracing up the underside. My mouth watered just looking at it. I took it in my hand, enjoying the steel hardness of it juxtaposed with the silky softness of his skin.

"Careful there," I warned as I leaned down and licked a slow line up the underside of his cock, feeling it jerk at the touch. "The power might go straight to my head. And I might become completely insufferable."

His hands slid into my hair as I took his tip into my mouth, tasting the slickness already dripping from it.

"I'm willing to...take that risk," he gasped as I sucked on him, licking at him, exploring with my tongue.

And then we weren't talking anymore as I used my mouth to drive him crazy. Sucking and licking and using my hands until his thighs were trembling under my palms and sweat beaded on his skin. But he abruptly pulled away and flipped us over before I was finished.

"Hey," I protested. "I'm not done." But the protest died as he set his mouth against me and returned the favor.

Oh man. It wasn't fair how good he was at that. I sighed and it was my turn to clutch at his silky hair, my thighs tightening around his head as he licked me hard and fast, knowing exactly what I liked. He didn't stop until I orgasmed. My body arched, the hot waves of release sliding through me in a beautiful cascade of sensation as he continued to lick at me, forcing me to ride it for as long as possible. But I still hadn't had enough when he raised his head, licking his lips.

He chuckled as I grabbed him and rolled him underneath me again. But it faded away as I took ahold of the base of his erection and pointed him up before sitting down on him, taking his thick length inside me, where I wanted it most. His hands clenched on my hips, and his head arched back as he gritted his teeth.

I took my time sliding down on him, working him in, his size and the angle making me go slow. And then he was all the way inside me, both of us going still at the perfection of it. But I had to move. I rode him slow and steady, torturing us both with the gentle pace. Ashur groaned as I settled down on him again, grinding against him.

"Faster," he growled, his eyes opening into narrow slits to meet my eyes. "Go faster."

"I'll go as fast as I want," I retorted with a small smile. "I told you the power would go to my head," I pointed out.

He chuckled even as he groaned again.

"You're...evil."

"True," I agreed.

I kept us both there on the edge for quite some time. Until we were both slick with sweat, our breathing harsh.

"Mia," Ashur warned, his hands tightening even more on my hips. "If you don't finish this, I will."

That was my cue. My next thrust down was hard and fast, making both of us moan. I needed more. I slid my hands to Ashur's shoulders, meeting his eyes as I picked up the pace even more. There was no more finesse to it, no more rhythm. It was just a hard ride to the end. And it didn't take long at all to reach that end, not after that build up.

Ashur shut his eyes and thrust up against me as he came, his erection jerking inside me even as I clamped down on him in my own climax. We clutched each other as we came, our bodies pressed together in a long line. And it was perfect, just like it always was when we were together. Because it was Ashur.

As I dropped down onto his body and he wrapped his arms around me, both of us trying to catch our breath, I knew he would always catch me when I needed it, which was why I was so hopeful for the future despite trying to manage my expectations. I knew we'd face it together.

"I love you," Ashur murmured, kissing my cheek sweetly.

My heart melted, just like it always did around him. I was becoming a real softy.

"I love you, too," I whispered, snuggling my face into the side of his neck and breathing in his scent.

I didn't know how I got here. Here, with more than I ever thought I'd have.

I was grateful for it, and I'd protect it with everything I had. As I hugged Ashur close, I knew I'd never again be the person I was before I met him and Omari. Maybe that did make me more vulnerable. But it also made me better. I couldn't imagine my life without them now. Didn't want to.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

Tomorrow was a new day.

And I couldn't wait.

* * *