But him … Earlier, she’d doubted his resolution but after what he’d just done—no, that wasn’t the action of a man purely letting his desire lead the way. He’d made the decision to do this.

With a hungry kiss, she guided him to her entrance, but the blasted man just paused there, tucked against her. His hands glided down her back until they gripped her hips, then his tongue plunged into her mouth, and he entered her slow inch by slow inch.

This was—she shook her head—unbearable. She grabbed his arse and tugged him the rest of the way with a groan. Stars burst across the black of her eyelids, forcing her eyes open—she wanted to see him, to watch that magnificent body of his.

Shuddering, he paused there, filling her. So gloriously full.

As if he sensed her watching, his eyes flashed open, gaze roving over her face, and he swallowed, throat bobbing hard. “My word, Vee,” he breathed.

She nodded and looped her arms around his neck, pulling him in for another kiss, tinged with a low moan—it could have been hers or his or both. Who knew anymore?

Then he withdrew, almost leaving her entirely. The emptiness was shocking for a moment before he thrust back inside in one swift movement, forcing a cry from deep in her chest.

So badly misjudged. She shook, heartbeat roaring in her ears. His fingers dug into her flesh as if clinging on to control as, again, he paused there.

He inhaled slowly, then exhaled. “I should have”—his voice cracked, and he cleared his throat—“I should have asked earlier about … precautions.”

Gods damn it, was he trying to drive her insane with this stop-start? “The preventative.” He didn’t have to worry about withdrawing before the end. “Now … please …” It sounded far too much like begging, but damn the man, he’d given her a taste, and she wanted more. She arched her back, eyebrows rising—that had to be a clear enough instruction.

He scoffed and pulled out again, pausing at her entrance. “Impatient.”

“Damn right, I am—I’ve been waiting weeks for this.”

One eyebrow arched. “Oh, really?”

The insufferable arrogance. The delicious arrogance. Gods, if this was just the start, the well-earned arrogance.

But his grin faded as she hooked her feet around his back and pulled him in, winning his hiss of pleasure.

Breaths heavy, he drove into her, strokes assured, smooth, powerful, urging the waves through her once more. As if that wasn’t enough, he slid a hand between them until his thumb circled her pearl, stoking her cries, building the pressure to breaking point.

Too much. Far too much. She couldn’t … Her chest—hells, her whole body was going to burst.