Careful,Hyde murmured.Precious. Ours.
He agreed completely. He entered her slowly, giving her time to adjust. Her breath caught and her nails dug into his shoulders. He immediately froze.
“Are you okay? Am I hurting you?”
“No.” Her hips tilted, taking him deeper. “God, no. Don’t stop.”
He buried his face in her neck and tried not to come apart. She felt incredible—hot and tight and perfect around him. He moved carefully, conscious of her belly and the baby. Long, slow strokes meant to please rather than take. Her soft cries urged him on as her hands roamed his back, his shoulders, his changing arms without hesitation.
“Victor.” His name on her lips sounded like prayer. “More. Please.”
He gave her more. Deeper thrusts that made her gasp and arch. His hands slid under her hips, tilting her for a better angle. The baby kicked against his stomach and he laughed breathlessly.
“Someone’s active tonight.”
“I can’t blame her.” She gave him a wicked smile. “This is exciting.”
He kissed her to hide his grin, then found a rhythm that made her moan and cling to him. His control frayed at the edges. He could feel himself beginning to change—muscles thickening, skin heating, bones shifting subtly under the surface—but he didn’t lose control. He didn’t let Hyde take over completely. Instead they existed in the space between, human and Hyde sharing this moment.
She seemed to know, her hands stroking his changing body with wonder rather than fear.
“So beautiful,” she breathed. “Both of you. So perfect.”
He groaned and thrust harder.
“Chloe.” Her name came out strangled. “I’m close. I don’t want to hurt?—”
“You won’t.” She pulled him down for a kiss. “Let go. I’ve got you.”
Permission. Trust. Love.
He surrendered to it. He stopped fighting and just let himself feel, the pleasure building to impossible heights. He thrust deeper, faster, chasing the edge. She gasped and tightened around him. Her climax hit suddenly, back arching as she cried out his name. The sound pushed him over. He came with a roar that was more Hyde than human, body shuddering as release flooded through him.
For one perfect moment they were completely unified—Victor and Hyde and Chloe tangled together. Then reality crashed back.
He collapsed beside her, breathing hard, careful to keep his full weight off of her. His body felt strange—larger in some places, still human in others. A partial transformation. He’d shifted without losing control. The enormity of what had just happened swept over him.
“I’ve never…” He started, then stopped, his voice raspy. “I’ve never done that before.”
“What?”
“Never had a physical encounter with a woman. I never trusted myself enough, and there was never anyone who made me want to take the chance.” He shifted, his weight settling more comfortably, his hand coming to rest on her belly. “I thought it would be… violent. Uncontrolled.”
“But it wasn’t.”
“No. It was… right. Because you make it right.”
He turned his head to look at her. She was flushed and satisfied, her hair mussed, and her lips swollen from his kisses. And she still wasn’t afraid.
“Are you all right?” he asked, still not quite believing. “I didn’t hurt you?”
“I’m amazing.” She rolled toward him, belly bumping his side. “That was incredible.”
“Part of me shifted.”
“I noticed.” She traced one clawed finger with wonder. “You stayed in control though.”
Triumph roared through him. “I did.”
