Page 108 of Outcast’s Vow

“You were there when I needed you,” I manage, leaning into his warm, powerful embrace.

Baptiste wraps his arms around me and draws me in even closer.

“I would never forgive myself if anything were to happen to you.”

Our heartbeats sync. I tremble against him. Against his strength.

I will talk to him about tracking my phone. I will make sure he never does that again. But now, with his arms around me, I finally feel safe.

I kiss him now. And it’s not soft this time. It’s raw. Unfiltered. Longing. Desperate. My body is crying out for him, even as he crushes me against his chest.

Baptiste doesn’t rush. He holds me. Strokes me. And I kiss him harder. I pull him even closer. I’m reclaiming my power with each kiss. Reclaiming my dignity.

I’m shredding away all thoughts of Ethan.

Because I’ve got Baptiste, and he’s all that matters now. He grounds me in myself.

He lets me set the pace. His mere presence soothes my beating heart.

I start undressing him, and Baptiste undresses me.

“There’s no one else,” I say.

“No, Sylvie. There is no one else. There’s you and me. Only us.”

He lowers me gently onto the bed. His kisses spread everywhere like a fire. All over my body. It’s like he’s sealing me back together with each tender press of his lips against my skin. Like he’s giving me life.

My panic has died, and now my desire takes hold.

“Don’t ever stop this, Baptiste.”

My man looks up at me from kissing my thigh.

“I’m never going to stop fighting for you, Sylvie.”

He doesn’t need to prove a damn thing.

When he enters me, it’s slow. His thrusts are a rocking, deliberate intensity. His green eyes burn as he groans against my cheek and states my name into my ear.

He presses his forehead against mine.

“Stay here with me,” he breathes. “Stay with me. Let me take care of you.”

All panic is gone, replaced by just the idea of my husband.

And then I give him one word.

“Harder.”

He hesitates.

“Sylvie...”

“I want it harder.”

Baptiste exhales. He’s visibly waging a war internally. Protectiveness versus raw desire.

And then the gentleness turns into raw force.