I moaned against his lips, and when we broke away, we were both breathing hard. I didn’t say anything; neither did 901.

Glancing down, I saw my hand had splayed upon his chest. His skin was warm. I could see that he had hardened at my touch. Compelled to explore, of my own free will, I let my hand drift down his abdomen and felt his scarred skin. 901 hissed as my hand moved toward his hard length. His hand suddenly covered mine, and my eyes snapped to meet his.

“Don’t,” he said quietly. He looked away. I leaned over him until his face turned toward mine. Before I could ask what was wrong, he said, “The drugs make you need my release. Master takes you when he wants.” He shook his head. “I don’t want you to do this if you don’t want to. You have no duty to serve me.” Releasing his hand from mine, he placed it at the side of my neck. I closed my eyes at the comforting feeling, then opened them when he said, “You are more than what you are forced to do. You are more than a mona. You are free from the drugs right now, able to choose. Us, just like this … is enough.”

A lump clogged my throat. When I chased it back down, I pressed a kiss to his cheek and said, “I have never lain with a male of my own free will. I have never had that choice available to me.” I sighed, the weight of those words truly settling in my heart. Rearing back just a fraction, I added, “But I am choosing to be with you. I am choosing you as my first. Despite the other males I was forced to be with. Despite Master. You will be the first in my heart. The only one I have given myself to freely … with no drug forcing my hand.”

The emotion staring back at me from 901’s eyes undid me. I lowered my mouth and took his in a soft kiss. I let my hand retrace its steps, until 901 broke away. Pushing my hair from my face, he confessed, “You are already the first that I chose.”

I blinked as the realization of what he was saying sank in. “I was your first … ever?” I questioned in disbelief. This male was formidable. Maya had told me that the champions were gifted with monebi. 901 had been a champion for a very long time.

“You are the champion. Master must have gifted you monebi often.”

He looked away. “Yes, but I never took them. I had the guard take them away.”

A sudden rush of disappointment and guilt panged in my stomach. I shifted back, gaining some space. 901 stopped me by wrapping a large, muscled arm around my waist. “What?” he pushed, concern written on his face. “Do you not think me a worthy male, knowing you were my first?”

I shook my head, emotion welling in my chest. “No, that’s not it,” I whispered.

901 searched my face. “Then what?”

“That night,” I divulged, thinking back to being thrown in this cell. “You didn’t want me. You called for the guard to take me away, but Master had ordered that I stay. When the drugs flooded my veins, the other champions told you to take me…” I shut my eyes in humiliation. When I opened them again, I hushed out, “You were forced to take me. I took your choice away.”

A tear slipped down my cheek, but then 901 was above me, his hands jailing mine at my sides. “Stop,” he snapped, and I saw the famed Pit Bull shining through. I relaxed, knowing he wouldn’t hurt me. 901 lowered his head and said, “From the first time I saw you on Master’s arm, I wanted you. I have never looked at a female the way I looked at you. And I have never wanted a female like I want you.”

“But the drugs made you react to me. You had no choice.”

“I had a choice,” he argued. Then, with a surprising tenderness, he pressed three light kisses along my neck. When he raised his head, he said, “I chose to take you. I chose to hold you close.” He inhaled. “I chose to make you mine.”

My skin broke out in shivers at his words. 901 released my hands, and I wrapped them around his neck. His hard chest brushed against my own, and I said, “I wish I knew your name. I want so much to know the name of the male who has brought me home to his heart.”

“Krasivaya,” he murmured, his voice thick with need. 901 crushed his mouth to mine. Unlike the previous kisses, there was nothing possessive about this. 901’s lips covered mine with a gentle yet consuming intensity. I moaned in surprise when I felt his tongue pushing into my mouth. I tensed at first, unsure what to do, but when my tongue brushed against his, it troubled me no more.

901’s heavy body smothered mine, and my hands slipped from his neck and down along the breadth of his back. 901 groaned low, the sound traveling straight to my core. I gasped at the feel of him above me, needing this as much as I did. 901 moved his head back, and staring in my eyes, he slipped his hand down between us, his fingers reaching between my legs.

I cried out, holding on to his shoulders when his fingers drifted along my core. My back arched and my skin scalded with heat. But this time there were no drugs causing me to need this moment. This was me and this was him. This was us choosing this act for ourselves, taking this pleasure because we wanted each other freely. In a world of iron cages and bars, we were taking something of our own.

901’s warm breath ghosted across my face. He was breathing hard, not so different from me. I cried out when a teasing burst of pleasure arrived due to his gentle touch. 901 stilled and looked down at me. I could see the concern on his face. “Is this okay?” he asked, his hardness pressing against my thigh.

“Yes,” I replied breathlessly. “More. Touch me some more.” I felt my face heat at my brazen words, but when 901 growled low and began moving his fingers again, I was lost to his touch.

901 teased and he played, and when his finger slowly entered my channel, I broke apart on a loud shout, blistering light and pure pleasure splintering me apart.

901 pulled his hand away, and just as he did, I opened my eyes. His handsome face was stern and anxious as he watched for my reaction. When I eventually smiled, he exhaled a relieved breath and covered my body again. Showing him what I wanted, what I was choosing, I wrapped my legs around his hips and reached down to take his length in my hand. He hissed out in pleasure and gritted his teeth as my fingers wrapped around him. As I guided him to my channel, he paused to drop the sweetest soft kiss on my forehead, before pushing forward and filling me to the hilt.

901’s head snapped back and a low groan slipped from his tensed lips. My eyes rolled back as he sat within me so perfectly. Before moving again, 901 hooked his thick arms under my shoulders and slowly began to rock. With every movement, I felt the darkness in my soul lift, and with every kiss on my face from his soft mouth, my heart beat louder and louder.

“Moy prekrasnyy,” he whispered as his breathing increased in speed.

“Moy voin,” I whispered back. We didn’t have names. Our numbers weren’t welcome in this moment. Right now I was his beautiful, and he was my brave warrior.

901’s thrusts grew faster and faster as the minutes passed by. I moaned loud when tingles spread on my thighs. 901’s length twitched within me, and I knew we were both getting close.

901’s arms kept me close to his chest, and just before my body filled with the brightest of light, he brought his mouth to take mine, swallowing my cries.

My body arched as 901 roared out his release. His head drew back as his neck corded from the strain. His wounded body was flushed and damp. It was perfect, this moment was perfect, as was he.

The billowed warm air from the shower’s heat was sticking to our skin. It bumped when a cold draft from the cell door circled around us. 901’s head fell onto my shoulder. I stroked at his back, feeling a strange lightness in my heart.

Just as I tried to think what this sensation was, 901 lifted his head. “I feel different.” He pulled his arm from under mine. He placed his hand over his chest and said, “In my heart. It feels different. Changed.”

My stomach flipped knowing he was feeling this, too. Taking in a much-needed breath, I asked, “Does it feel light, like at any moment it might combust?” 901 nodded his head, his understanding expression telling me I had described it completely correct.

“What is it?” he asked, lines of confusion creasing on his forehead.

Following what my heart was telling me to say, I replied, “I think it means we have found a peace within each other’s arms. I think it means…” I trailed off, unsure if it was the right word to use.