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It seemed there were more than a few benefits of being with someone like Lawrence.

He didn’t ask twice. Positioning himself above her, he entered her slowly, muttering a curse that made her smile.

A second later, that same smile fled from her face as he buried himself completely. The sight of him above her and the feeling of being completely claimed . . . she closed her eyes and gripped the spindle even tighter.

“Dear God, Toni.”

She didn’t open her eyes yet. Toni had never once been enticed to come without some other sort of stimulation. And he’d just begun to move! But she’d also never been lifted as if she were a feather and tossed onto a set of stairs by a man whose fangs reminded her that he was one of the most dangerous in the world.

“I can’t—”

He circled his hips, making it worse.

“Oh yes, you can.”

Her eyes flew open as he lowered his soft, sweet mouth onto hers. Sweet? That wasn’t right.

Hot?

Yes, much better.

Hot and demanding as his tongue began to mimic his movements below. Thrusting and circling just as her tongue ran across the sharp edge of a fang.

Holy sweet Jesus.

Reaching one hand up, she tried to anchor herself on his back, but it was like gripping a piece of slate. When Lawrence grabbed a fistful of hair and pulled it back to force her mouth to open wider, her legs shook.

“Not yet,” he demanded against her mouth, the words too much of a challenge to ignore.

Instead of heeding them, she pushed herself against him as he grinded against her, allowing every muscle in her body to tense.

“Minx,” he murmured against her mouth, tearing his upper body away from hers. She followed his gaze down to her bare breasts, glancing briefly at her hardened nipples, and then down lower to where they were joined. The early tremors gripped her body even harder at the sight of them, of him. She watched his expression now, and though his mouth was not open wide enough for her to see his fangs, she knew they were there.

Toni knew the precise moment he let himself go too. His eyes narrowed as a groan escaped from his lips. Bracing herself on the stairs, she relished in the feeling as spasm after spasm of pleasure shook them both, the climax so powerful Toni’s hands shook. When Lawrence collapsed against her, she wrapped her arms around him and held on, riding out the remaining wave of pleasure.

She held on to the man who’d waltzed into town two months ago, robbing her peace of mind. The man who’d befriended Alessandra, kept her safe. The one who’d defended her, cherished her despite the fact that she felt broken.

Toni held on to Lawrence as if she’d never let him go.

Because she didn’t want to.

When he finally did pull back from her, his grin roguish, Toni couldn’t help but chuckle, the haze of passion just beginning to lift.

“You look pleased with yourself,” Toni said.

He’d retracted his fangs. Dammit.

“Pleased with you, more like.”

Toni allowed her head to drop onto the stair beneath it. Closing her eyes, she blocked out everything save the feel of his body as he, unfortunately, pulled out from her. At least he didn’t go far, his body still covering hers. She wanted this moment to last, even if they were perched on a staircase.

“We should have done that sooner.” She lifted her head up with considerable effort.

“I concur.”

He smiled in a way that told Toni she was in trouble.

“And often.”