She may not remember why, but her hips were already sore from their furious lovemaking before the ritual. His punishing thrusts brought a sharp cry from her lips, new bruises layering over the old, but she didn't care.
Another cry, longer and softer, when she felt his release fill her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and clung to him, using the leverage of her legs around his waist to keep him pressed tight against her. She shivered against him, her breaths stuttered and panting as she tried to collect herself. Her whole body felt warm and heavy and a wonderful ache seemed to have settled in.
"Vel." She kissed his neck gently, nuzzling into the curve of his shoulder with a sobbing sort of sigh.