They separated slowly.
Bryce stepped back and pulled his jeans over his hips, leaving them open at the waist. Elara slid from the table and lowered her skirt from where it had gathered around her hips. She didn't bother with the shirt.
Bryce filled the kettle while Elara crouched to gather the invoices scattered beneath the table. She stacked them into a rough pile and set them back on the table.
By the time the kettle boiled, their breathing had settled.
Bryce made two mugs of tea. They stood opposite each other across the bench, both topless, the air cool against their skin.
“You said the bench was next.”
“I did.”
“Changed your mind?”
His eyes travelled over her.
“Still deciding where to put the kettle.”
Elara laughed.
They drank their tea without pretending not to watch each other.
“Ready for another round?”
Bryce took both mugs and set them beside the sink. He moved the kettle, then ran his palm across the cleared surface.
“Come here.”
Elara walked around the end of the bench.
Bryce caught her at the waist and kissed her before lifting her onto the edge. His hands found the waistband of her skirt and drew it down. She raised her hips, helping him pull it over her legs.
He let it fall beside his feet, then kicked it to the side.
Elara sat naked before him.
Bryce stepped between her knees.
“Lie back.”
She lowered herself onto the benchtop.
Bryce pushed her back along the bench. She drew her feet up to the edge, knees raised, opening herself to him.
He bent over.
His mouth finding her before she could say anything else.
Elara’s fingers curled around the edge of the bench. Bryce took his time, his tongue moving with enough patience to make her restless before giving her what she wanted.
She wrapped her legs around his shoulders, crossed her ankles and rested her heels against his back.
One hand found his hair.
Her breathing shortened. Her hips lifted towards him, and he placed one hand low on her abdomen, pressing her gently back against the bench.
The added pressure made her gasp.
Bryce kept his hand there while his mouth continued working her.
Elara came with her thighs tightening around his ears. A small gush spilled against his mouth and ran over his chin.
Bryce held the pressure low on her abdomen and closed his lips around her clit, keeping the suction steady while the waves moved through her.
He stayed there until her body finally loosened beneath him, then pressed a kiss to the inside of her thigh and straightened.
His erection pressed hard against the open front of his jeans.
Elara looked down.
“That worked.”
Bryce pushed his jeans down and stepped out of them, sending them across the floor towards her skirt.
He caught Elara by the hips and drew her to the edge of the bench. Then he turned her onto her stomach.
The benchtop was cool beneath her breasts.
Bryce moved behind her and entered while she was still wet.
He drew back and pushed into her again.
“In my arse.”
On the next stroke he withdrew, slid upward and pressed into her in one smooth movement.
Elara’s breath caught. Her fingers tightened against the edge of the bench as she opened around him.
He stayed deep inside her, one hand firm on her hip.
Elara drew a slow breath. Her body tightened around him, then gradually eased.
Bryce waited until he felt the change.
When she pushed back against him, he drew out and pushed into her again.
He drew out and pushed into her again.
The first few strokes still carried a sharp burn, but it faded as her body relaxed around him and they found a steady rhythm.
“Did you do this with her?” she asked.
He knew who she meant.
“Never like this.”
Elara smiled against the bench.
Bryce leaned over her, his chest brushing her back.
“What about Vael?”
“Not in the same way you are.”
Bryce slowed.
“What does that mean?”
“He was never shaped like you in there.”
“Human?”
“No.”
Bryce drew back slowly.
“What was he shaped like?”
Elara’s fingers tightened against the bench as he pushed into her again.
“Four legs. Heavy through the chest.”
“Like a dog?”
“Larger.”His hand tightened on her hip.
“Did he take you like this?”
“On the ground.”
“Did it feel the same?”
“Not exactly.”
“What was different?”
“The way his body fitted over mine.” She shifted back against him. “The weight of him.”
“His hips didn’t move like yours.”
“Slower?”
“Shorter strokes. Harder. Quicker.”
Bryce’s breath changed.
“So he was…?”
“Completely tied to me.”
Elara looked back at him.
“Enough that you can picture it.”
“I can.”
His pace increased.
“Did you ask him to change?”
“Not the first time.”
“And you liked it.”
It was not really a question.
“Yes.”
Bryce drove deeper.
Elara gasped and lowered her cheek against the bench.
“What part?”
“The strength.”
His next stroke landed harder.
“What else?”
Bryce’s hand moved from her hip to the back of her neck, holding her against the bench without forcing her down.
“The way he filled me.”
“More than I do?”
“Yes.”
The answer made him thrust harder.
Elara moaned.
“How much more?”
“Enough.”
Bryce gave a low laugh.
“That isn’t an answer.”
“It’s the one you’re getting.”
He changed the angle and pushed deeper.
Her reply broke apart.
Bryce gripped the edges of the bench with both hands.
He drove into her, harder now. Shorter. Quicker.
Elara cried out and pushed back to meet him.
“Closer?” he asked.
“Much.”
He kept the rhythm, hard, short, quick.
Pleasure tightened quickly. Her palms pressed flat against the bench as he slammed her against it.
When she came, her legs shook and a fresh gush spread beneath her. Her body clenched around Bryce hard enough to break his rhythm.
He drove into her twice more and finished with a rough groan, holding himself deep until the last pulse passed.
Bryce remained over her, breathing against her shoulder.
He could feel the mess beneath them.
“Lucky we’re in the kitchen.”
Elara laughed weakly.
“He never made me do that.”
“Vael?”
“Yes.”
Bryce withdrew carefully and helped her turn over.
He lifted her hips, her legs still trembling.
Elara sat on the edge of the bench while he reached for a towel and handed it to her.
“Do you miss it?” he asked.
Elara closed her eyes.
“I don’t miss what we were.”
“That wasn’t what I asked.”
Bryce kept moving.
“I miss what he could become.”
His grip tightened.
“What else could he become?”
“Anything he understood well enough.”
“And it still felt like him?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“The way he moved. The way he reacted to me.” Her breathing turned uneven. “I always knew it was Vael.”
“Could he still do it?” Bryce asked.
“Make me squirt?”
Bryce laughed. “Change.”
“Yes.”
“Would he do it for you?”
“Probably.”
“Would you want him to?”
Elara studied him.
“Would you?”
Bryce stepped closer.
“I want to see.”
“See him change?”
“Yes.” His eyes stayed on hers. “But I think I want to watch him with you.”