Her cries echoed through the room, filling his ears and driving him over the edge. With a hoarse shout of release, he buried himself to the hilt inside her, pulsing with every beat of his heart as he emptied himself into her welcoming body.

They lay together for what seemed like hours, their bodies tangled in a web of sweat-slicked limbs and sticky pleasure.

"...exhausted,"

he finished for her, his voice heavy with satisfaction. He brushed a strand of damp hair from her forehead, marveling at the peaceful contentment that had settled over her features.

"Just rest now, my love,"

he whispered, nuzzling her temple affectionately. "We'll talk later, when you're ready."

With a final tender kiss, he gathered her close, holding her against his chest as they drifted off to sleep, entwined in each other's embrace and dreaming of the bright future that awaited them.