“Safe word?”
“Orange sherbet.”
His mouth curved. “Perfect.” He hooked his fingers in the waistband of her panties. “Can I take these off?”
“Yes.”
He stripped her slowly, dragging the fabric down her legs and tossing the garment aside. Next her shirt, her bra and the thong that strapped her knife around her thigh, until she was bare except for the small bandage covering her new ink.
She met his gaze head-on, jaw set with that stubborn courage that made him want to worship and ruin her in equal measure.
“You’re so fucking beautiful it hurts to look at you,” he grated out.
Color flooded her cheeks. “Caius—”
“Let me.” He settled between her legs, spreading them wide. “Let me take care of you.”
He pressed kisses to her inner thigh, slowly working his way up. She trembled beneath him, her breathing going shallow and fast.
When he finally put his mouth on her, she arched off the bed with a choked sound.
He took his time—licking, sucking, learning exactly what made her shake. Every gasp and moan fueled the fire burning through him, but he forced himself to go slow.
She threaded her fingers through his hair, not pulling, just holding on. “Caius! I—”
“Let go,” he murmured against her. “I’ve got you.”
Her body went taut…and shattered. She came with his name on her lips and her thighs clamping around his head.
He worked her through it, gentling his touch until she went limp.
When he pulled back, her eyes were glassy and unfocused.
“Still with me?” he asked.
“Barely.” She reached for him, tugging him up. “I need you inside me. Now.”
He stripped out of his clothes. His cock throbbed with a hard surge, and he wrapped his fist around the length to stave off his release. Just looking at this amazing, courageous woman made his hands shake from the sheer force of need pounding through his veins.
When he settled over her, she wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled him close.
“I love you,” she said, the words fierce and raw. “I don’t know how to do this, but I love you.”
His chest cracked open. “I love you too, sweetheart. And I’m going to prove it to you every single day.”
He pushed inside her slowly, watching her face as she adjusted to him. Her eyes fluttered shut and her lips parted on a silent moan.
“Eyes on me,” he commanded.
She forced them open, meeting his gaze.
He pulled out and thrust back in, deeper this time. “Feel that? That’s me claiming you. That’s me making you mine.”
“Yours,” she breathed.
He set a steady rhythm—deep, deliberate, unrelenting. Every stroke pushed her higher, until she was clinging to him and gasping his name.
“Come for me again,” he ordered, his voice rough with strain. “Come on my cock!”
