“Fuck…” he breathes, his voice rough. “You’re beautiful.”
He steps in closer, pressing his hips against mine, just enough friction to make me gasp. He holds there, his forehead resting against mine, breathing hard like he’s trying to keep control as his hands palm my breasts.
My fingers claw at his shoulders, the stretch of him stealing my breath completely. He holds still for half a second, chest pressed to mine, face inches away, breathing like he’s falling apart.
Then he starts to move.
Slow at first. Deep. Controlled. Each thrust stealing sound from my throat. His hand digs into my hip, guiding me against him, his mouth dragging across my jaw, my neck, my shoulder.
Without warning, he flips me over. A scream escapes, and I giggle when he swats my backside. And then he’s back there, pressing against my entrance. His hand wraps around my thigh, pushing it up against the worktop as he takes his time to slide into me. His fingers entangle in my hair, tipping my head back. He grips my jaw gently, forcing my gaze to his.
“Look at me.”
He withdraws equally as slowly; it’s torturous. And then, with his eyes burning into mine, he slams in hard, shoving me up the counter, bruising my hips against the marble. “Shit,” I hiss, squeezing my eyes closed.
He leans closer, his mouth pressed to my ear as he repeats the motion. His heavy pants do something to my insides as he continues his onslaught. Both of us climbing higher with each punishing thrust.
My head falls forward, and he tugs on my hair again, guiding my gaze back to his.
“Don’t look away,” he murmurs.
His movements become jerky, he reaches between us, his fingers finding my swollen clit. Within seconds, I’m shuddering through a second orgasm, my entire body quivering.
He follows, a low groan ripping from his chest as he loses control with me.
His movements slow to a stop, and the only sound in the room is our heavy breaths. His body stays over mine; his hand still tangled in my hair.
We don’t speak, and a dread begins to knot in the pit of my stomach.
We’ve been here before.
WARREN
I move from her, despite wanting to stay buried in her forever. She remains still, probably wanting to hold onto the moment just like me.
I trail a finger along her spine. “Why don’t you take a shower, I can send Anthony to get some clothes, or I can find you something in my—”
She stands, turning to me. “Do you regret it?” she blurts out, like she couldn’t hold it in any longer.
A faint smile tugs at my lips, and I brush my thumb over her swollen lower lip. “No,” I tell her, because I don’t. Not even for a second. “And if you don’t shower and dress, I’m gonna do it all over again,” I say with a smirk. I press a chaste kiss to the corner of her mouth. “And then again, and again.”
She smiles, it’s genuine… happy even, and I know without a doubt, I cannot break this woman.
We shower together. Taking our time to explore one another as we wash the morning away. We dry in silence, and then she pulls on my boxers, rolling them a few times at the top so they fit better, followed by one of my t-shirts. I press a kiss to her nose, and I force her back to bed to rest. I climb in beside her, tucking her against me, her cheek over my heart, and my hand moving slowly through her hair as she settles.
And something in me settles too. It terrifies me.
I bow my head, lips brushing the crown of her hair. Soft. Warm. Real. God, I need her.And needing anyone has always been fatal in my family.But I’m done living the way he taught me. Done being the weapon he built. I won’t let my father use her. I won’t let Erik play his games.
She is mine to protect. Not theirs to break.
Her fingers tighten in my shirt, like she can hear the promise forming.
“Warren?” she murmurs softly against the silence.
“I’m here,” I whisper, leaning down to place a gentle kiss on her forehead.
Her breathing steadies, her body melts fully into mine, and for the first time in years, the world is quiet.
