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“Take these off.”

At his command, I arched a brow.

“Don’t test me, bella. I’m on the edge, and if I snap—”

He stopped and raked a hand back over his hair.

I wanted to see that. I wanted to see him lose control. Using the bed for height, I quickly made myself taller and reached out. I snagged the hair binder, pulling hard to free his long, dark gold hair.

He didn’t wince when several strands knotted in the binder tugged.

“Sorry,” I whispered.

The smallest of smiles played on his lips. “Forgiven.”

That one word felt like it was for more than some broken hair.

As I continued to run my hands along his scalp, finger brushing his locks over and over, his smile faded. The intensity grew with each second that passed.

“I said, take it off.” He reached out and pinched my breast, tweaking the nipple through the bra.

The hard, unyielding tone of his voice thrilled me. My fingers dropped to the button on the jeans. I snapped it open, drew down the zipper. Doing a little shimmy-shake, I wriggled free of the pants. One foot at a time, I pushed the socks off.

Instead of reaching for the rest, I brushed my fingers between my legs.

His hand shot out, cinching around my wrist. “No.”

I arched a brow and flashed him a smirk.

“This pussy is mine.” His grip tightened, threatening to break the bone.

The brutal strength, the darkness in his voice, they should frighten me. Instead, they made me want to open my soul, invite the monster inside to lay his claim over me.

Guided by his unforgiving touch, my fingers skated to the hem of my shirt. He dropped his hold only as I began to lift the soft cotton material. I pulled the tee over my head, vaguely remembering that I was filthy from a day spent traipsing through the woods.

“Thank you for coming back,” I whispered. “You have no idea how much I missed you—and not because there were wild animals in the woods.”

Jaxon sucked in a sharp breath, nostrils flaring and eyes shifting to slits. He pounced, taking me down to the bed. His mouth crashed against mine as he covered me with his body. He was so big. So heavy! I was in danger of being crushed.

And I freaking loved the way it felt.

The kiss was short, the moment broken when he reared back. He unclasped my bra with one flick of his fingers and tore it from my body. The soft cotton panties suffered a worse fate. Fabric ripped, and then my body was free.

Eyes burning, Jaxon leaned over me. His hand clasped around my throat. “You do not run away from me.”

I arched my body, relishing his dominant hold. “I won’t run away.”

The words were strangled, clawing their way out. I took a ragged breath.

He wasn’t hurting me. Never that.

“I trust you,” I whispered with what little air he allowed me.

His fingers tightened for the briefest of seconds before they slid down, not pausing in the valley between my breasts, not stopping until they cupped my pussy.

“This belongs to me.”

I nodded. “Only to you.”