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I wanted her waking up beside me. Walking into Xyst with me. Giving me that annoyed little look when I pissed her off. Laughing in my kitchen. Leaving her things all over my house until somehow it became ours.

The thought of another man ever having this—having her—made something vicious curl low in my gut.

I didn’t want to share.

Didn’t want to let her go.

I wanted Isabella Eliana Duarte in my bed, in my life, and eventually wearing my fucking name.

Selfish?

Absolutely.

I’d worry about that tomorrow.

Tonight, she was mine.

Her body tightened around my cock.

“Lachlan—”

I felt the moment her release tore through her.

Her walls clamped hard around me, and that was all it took.

My fingers dug into her hips as I drove deep and came inside her, filling her with one hard pulse after another.

There was nothing between us.

No protection.

No lies.

No restraints.

Nothing holding either of us apart.

Just Isabella wrapped around me while I gave her everything I had.

Maybe it was reckless.

Maybe tomorrow would demand answers neither of us had tonight.

But if the Fates had really spun our lives toward each other through all that blood and pain, I was greedy enough to ask them for more than one night.

Much more.

When the last tremors finally eased, I cupped her face and pulled her mouth to mine.

She kissed me softly, her arms trembling where they braced beside my shoulders.

When I released her lips, she shifted her weight away from my chest.

I stopped her.

“Mouse, you’re not going to hurt me.” I guided her down. “It’s time you found your place over my heart.”

Tears welled in her eyes.