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“How is what you’re saying different? You think that somehow your dad cursed you to be an evil, narcissistic abuser who preys on the weak. You think that if we sleep together, if we take this further, that you’ll enter your final transformation into that creature.” Her hands cupped my face, and she pressed a soft kiss to my face. She pulled back, making sure I was looking at her.

“Baby…don’t you see? You’ve already transformed. You became the dragon that guards the castle, that protects everyone inside. You took the trauma, the anger, the mind fucks, and you still kept yourself on a path that was true to you. What your father realized was that you were stronger than him, in every sense.” Unable to reply, I pulled her back down to me, our mouths crashing together.

I wasn’t gentle. The need that had been riding me since the first time we met swallowed me whole, burning me from the inside out. The only thing that would douse those flames was Lilah. Squirming in my lap, I moved quickly pulling at her clothing, leaving her only in the matching bra and panty set she was wearing. They were purple lace, highlighting her curves in ways I could have only dreamed of.

“Fucking stunning,” I said as I kissed between her breasts, my hand reaching for one, my thumb swiping over the tip. She jerked in my grasp before settling down in my lap, looking for any form of pressure. Unable to resist, I sucked her lace-covered nipple into my mouth, enjoying the way her body bowed in my lap. Her head was thrown back, eyes closed as she bit her lip.

“You’ve been such a good girl. So patient for me.” Cupping her face, I ran my thumb over her bottom lip, her eyes opened as she nipped it, holding my finger in her mouth for a beat, our eyes meeting. Grabbing her, I flipped our positions until she was centered in the bed on her back. I stood next to it, fully dressed, looking down at her nearly naked form.

A red flush was spreading, and her pupils were dilated. Mentally freezing the moment, I never wanted to forget the way she looked right then. I pulled my shirt over my head, and Lilah popped up onto her elbows to get a better view. It made me smile—still not something I was used to. Kicking my boots off, I started on my jeans. Stripping out of my pants and boxers, I climbed onto the bed, slowly making my way up her body.

I pressed a kiss to the inside of her ankle, moving her leg to make room for me in between. My exploration was slow, lazy, memorizing every breath and jump. Sliding her panties off on my way, I didn’t miss the arc of Lilah’s hips or the way her body searched for me. The bra came next, and finally, I had her completely naked underneath me.

“You look like a goddess,” I told her. Aphrodite, Helen of Troy…None of them had anything on my girl. Her eyes were dazed, and her hands were flexing at her sides as if she was trying to stop herself from touching me.

Leaning up on one elbow, her hand reached out to touch my face. Before she could reach me, though, I grabbed her wrist. Using my hold, I pushed her back to the bed, bringing her other arm up. Holding them with one hand, I didn’t miss the way Lilah’s breathing sped up. I had her stretched out underneath me, completely at my mercy.

“If we do this, I’m never gonna let you go. No running from me, Lilah…I’ll just chase you down and bring you home.” I growled, nipping at her ear before kissing her neck.

“Then don’t. Don’t let me go,” she replied, her voice breathless and needy.

“That means you’re mine, Angel. No going back.”

“Don’t make me beg,” she replied, whimpering beneath me.

“Never,” I told her, my hand sliding between her legs. She sighed, arching into my hand as I slid a finger into her.

“Is that what you need?” I asked, watching the way her body moved, the graceful arch of her neck, and the roundness of her hips.

“More.” Her eyes flew open, and she tested the hold I had on her arms. My girl had fire, and I was more than eager to see how hot she could get.

Wrapping my hand around her thigh, I pulled it up and to the side, leaving her open for me, her arms pinned above her head, forcing her chest to arch up.

“Fucking hell.” I growled, still unbelieving that it was real. Grabbing my cock, I lined it up with her center, sliding the tip in, and we both froze. The warmth, the silky heat, sucked me in, short-wiring my brain. I tried to go slow, but Lilah’s moans were driving me crazy. I slid all the way in, and she moaned again, hooking her legs around my hips to hold me in place.

“So good,” she muttered, her hair a mess around her head as her hips moved restlessly. I started moving, sliding in and out of her in long strokes.

Bending down, I kissed her just as I slid out of her all the way to the tip before pounding back in. Her whole body moved with the force, and she groaned into my mouth. Keeping a steady pace, I lost myself in the touch and taste of her. She felt like heaven, and I would never get enough.

Shifting the angle, I watched as Lilah jumped when my cock hit a spot she liked. With brutal precision, I worked her body, using her gasps and moans as my map. Releasing her hand, I reached down, sliding my thumb over her swollen clit. She jumped underneath me, a throaty moan escaping as one of her legs dropped from my waist.

Picking up the pace, I pounded into her, watching her every response until her pussy clamped down on me, holding me in place as she came on a loud moan. Her head lifted from the bed, and I slid my hand underneath.

Gripping the back of her neck, I held her in place as I fucked her through the aftershocks, her body limp and satiated in my arms.

“Look at me.” Her eyes flew open, meeting my fevered gaze.

“Honey?” she asked, looking concerned.

“Love you, Blue Jay. Since the first moment I laid eyes on you.” Before she could reply, I resumed the brutal pace from earlier. Now that she had come, I could let myself get lost in her. The bed rocked, our bodies sliding closer and closer to the opposite side of the mattress.

“Oh, fuck!” Lilah yelled after I flipped her over, pulling her up to her knees before sliding back in. The slope of her back, her round ass, the way her pussy gripped me as if it was made for this, for us. Coming on a shout, it lasted for what felt like an eternity.

Not wanting to hurt her, I rolled us to our sides but kept her tucked against me. Our bodies were touching from head to toe. I was not ready to get too far from her. Lilah just sighed in contentment, wiggling closer to me. Silence settled over us, and the only sounds were our ragged breathing.

I must have dozed off, because when I opened my eyes next, Lilah was still in my arms, her face tucked into my chest. Sensing that I was awake, she looked up at me. She reached her hand out, tracing the side of my face over my shoulders and down my chest.

“Just so you know, I love you too,” she said, a shy smile on her face as her hand moved to the tattoo on my arm. Grabbing it, I kissed the inside of her palm, and her eyes lit up.