Simon buried his face in Violet’s neck, his mouth open against her skin, tasting the sweet perfume of this woman.
The evening had gone long and failing to return at a decent hour, Simon been certain their plans would be postponed. He’d known she would not enter their affair lightly, and he’d wanted everything to be perfect.
He’d intended to take his time, explore every inch of her and ensure their first time together went beyond her wildest dreams.
But this… this was beyond his.
And all because she was simply Violet—and she was magic without even knowing it.
He stilled, except for his arms, which shook as he held himself above her. “We didn’t wait.”
“I’m glad,” she whispered. “We’ve waited long enough already.”
A delicate curve lifted the corners of her mouth, and in an instant, Simon’s life made perfect sense. He’d thought he’d been content, guiding Luke, Lydia, and Lucinda, managing his estates, deliberating in parliament, and taking care of the responsibilities that came with being Blackheart. But something had always been missing.
And through it all, he had been waiting, hoping.
That missing piece had been love.
To be more precise, it was Violet.
Surrounded by her scent, her warmth, her voice, he was whole.
How could he not be, when her essence filled him in every way? Simon buried his face in her neck. He had everything he could ever need in life, and it had happened without him even realizing it.
He hadn’t expected the chaos of this overwhelming emotion to sneak up on him. He hadn’t expected that one small woman would erode his defenses without even trying. Nor had he expected it to feel so perfectly natural and… right.
And, if he was not mistaken, Violet felt the same.
She had somehow become…
Everything. She was the one.
Simon claimed her mouth again, and then drew back so he could lose himself in her gaze. Or was she lost in his?
And then she was moving with him, holding him deeper, clenching around him. They worked their bodies in perfect harmony, nearing the pinnacle as one.
“It was you,” she whispered. “All along.”
“All along,” Simon spoke against her mouth, starving for her, driving the intimate rhythm of this carnal song.
She arched her back. “More, Simon. Now.”
An all-encompassing ache swelled. It replaced need with promise. It flooded desire with a painful pleasure. He was beyond speech, knowing only… feelings. His cock conquered, his heart raced, and he surrendered all.
“I love you, Simon,” she gasped. “Love you.”
Simon thrust twice and then once more as deep as she would take him, joining, claiming. Lost to all reason, white and black and red exploded behind his eyes.
“God, Violet.” Shaking, he jerked back just in time for his seed to spill between them.
When he was spent, she dragged him back down beside her.
“Mmm…” she hummed by his ear.
Simon gathered her into his arms. Now that he understood what this was, he needed to tread carefully. Because amidst all that was right, he had waded into this all wrong.
Unexpectedly panicked by what he’d done, he sent up a silent prayer that when he told her the truth, she would forgive him.
