Her cheeks burned at his praise, and she fought to keep the smile from spreading across her face. "Thank you," she managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper. She couldn't help but feel elated by his words; it was almost enough to make her forget about their troubled marriage for a moment. As he walked away, she watched him go, wondering what the future might hold for them.

Perhaps there was still hope for something real and lasting between them after all.

Her breath caught in her throat as his hand connected with her bottom. The pain was sharp and intense, but she refused to let it show on her face. "You're welcome," she said through gritted teeth, hoping that he would see the gratitude in her eyes even if she couldn't express it verbally.

The sting of his palm lingered long after he had released her, but she found herself unable to hide a small smile from spreading across her face. Perhaps there was hope for them yet.

Her body felt hot and flushed as she looked up at him with desire-filled eyes. Her heart raced wildly in anticipation of what would come next, and she couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement course through her veins. She nodded eagerly, arching her back slightly to invite him closer. As he knelt behind her, his hands on her hips, she closed her eyes, savoring the feeling of being so close to him and knowing that this was only the beginning of their journey together.

Her heart raced as he knelt behind her, the heat of his body pressing against hers. His hands moved up and down her hips, caressing her skin with such tenderness that it only served to heighten the desire coursing through her veins. She moaned softly into the crook of her elbow, arching her back further in invitation for him to take what he wanted. The sensations were overwhelming but in the best possible way, and she knew that she could trust him to guide her through this newfound passion.

overwhelming and exquisite all at once. It was as if he were part of her, moving through her body in a rhythm that was both familiar and new. With every thrust, they grew closer, their hearts racing together as if they shared the same blood.

Her nails dug into his shoulders, drawing droplets of blood as she neared the edge once more. "Nathan," she gasped, her voice hoarse from pleasure. "I'm close..."

And then he was there, pushing deep inside her one final time, his body tensing as he released himself into her. Her muscles clenched around him, milking every last drop of his pleasure as she cried out in a long, shuddering climax that left her limp and satisfied.

He collapsed onto her chest, their bodies still joined together, breathing heavily against her neck. "Mmm," he murmured contentedly after a few moments. "That was wonderful."