I toe off my shoes, unbutton my trousers, and shove ’em down just enough to drive into her with one hard stroke. She cries out—half pain, half pleasure—clutching at the sheets with white-knuckled fists. My jaw grinds, a growl breaking loose from my chest as I claim her.
She arches, whimpering, pushing back to take me deeper. Her body shakes under each thrust, her cries stoking me hotter, till I’m blind with want.
“You’re mine,” I roar, driving harder. “Say it.”
“I’m yours,” she sobs.
I slam deeper, forcing the words out of her. The sweet thick of her perfect ass glowing rosy from my punishment, bounces with every swing.
Her head tips back, a cry spilling free, desperate now.
My grip fists in her hair, hauling her head back just so I can see her face—mouth parted, tears streaking her cheeks.
“You don’t know what that does to me,” I rasp, yanking her closer, hand to her throat. Her back’s to my chest when I crush my mouth to hers. It’s clumsy, crooked—more teeth and breath than anything, like we’d sooner devour each other than kiss.
I shove her forward, her face pressing into the pillow as I crouch down over her like a beast—feet planted wide, knees bent—using my whole damn body to hammer her soul to mine. Thewicked noise, that rhythm of us colliding again and again, of her taking me, filthy as sin. Nothing holy about the way I worship her.
Her body shatters first with an ardent wail, gripping me in waves so fierce I near see stars. I hold on, riding every one until I can’t hold back no more. The world narrows to her heat, her voice, the velvet feel of her taking me, and I give in, spilling inside her and claiming her as mine in every way a man can.
My blood roars, possessive and wild. For a moment, I can’t move, the rush leaving me in a daze. When I finally ease away, she gasps, thighs pressing tight as if to hold me in. But there it is—my essence trickling from her. I freeze, captivated by a savage hunger.
That’s mine.
I haul her up, gathering her against my chest. She’s limp, hair wild, lashes wet, lips parted soft. My lamb. My death. I press my mouth to her temple. God help me, I’d burn the world to keep her like this.
I smooth her hair back. “Next time you want a spankin’, lamb, just tell me. You ain’t gotta rile me half-mad first.”
Her lashes flutter, a hint of a smile curling at her mouth. “Where would the fun be in that?”
A laugh breaks out of me, and I squeeze her hip. “I’d put you over my knee again if I didn’t think you’d enjoy it so much.”
She burrows closer, humming soft against my collar. And I swear, the danger ain’t in the law, or the Shermans, or the hangman waiting down in the gallows. The danger’s here, in my arms, in how much I need her. Like air, like water. Don’t know how I’d go on living without her. The thought of not having Alice by my side feels like death itself. I press a kiss to her hair.
“Christ almighty, woman. I’m so gone on you.”
She giggles, but I ain’t kidding. “I mean it, lamb. I ain’t used to needin’ anybody. But I need you. I’d ride through hell if I knew you were waitin’ on the other side.”
She pulls back, fingertips brushing my jaw. “You need me?” she whispers. “Then don’t ever leave me behind, Kodiak. Not for the law. Not for anything.”
“Never would.” I take her hand. It’s a promise, like signing my life away with a kiss to her knuckles. “There ain’t a place on God’s green earth you could go that I won’t follow.”
Her eyes shine in the low light—not just soft, but wet—and she don’t try to blink it away.
“Then we’re agreed,” she says, voice a little shaky. She lifts my hand to her lips and kisses it, right over the scar across my knuckles. Like she’s signing the same promise I just made.
Right then, I know—whatever comes next, hangman or hellfire, we’ll meet it together.
And then she shifts, glancing past me at the trunk sitting neat at the foot of the bed. The one now fat with the Shermans’ fortune. Gold, bonds, jewels, all boxed in their fine leather, not ten feet from where we lie.
“We did it, bear. And tomorrow morning, their own porters will carry it right out for us. Isn’t that delicious?”
“Damn right,” I mumble against her hair. “Then on to the next.”
Chapter 24
ALICE
Ahard knock jolts me awake.
