A nod was all she’d give him.

With permission granted, Brick inserted a knee between her thighs. She fought it, squeezing against him and loving the illicit thrill of being restrained.

She was no match for his brute strength.

“This is the last time,” he promised, gritting out the words as he used his hips to pin hers down.

She wanted to argue with him. Wanted to stop him and be the one to walk away. She wanted to prove him wrong. But all of those things fell a distant second to the need inside her. The need to be dominated by him. Taken by him. Marked by him. That took precedence.

She bucked against him, half-heartedly trying to twist away. But he simply spread her thighs wide and yanked her thong to the side.

Digging her heels into the floor, she tried once more to dislodge him and was thrilled when he didn’t budge. His hand connected with the back of her thigh, delivering a stinging slap.

Their gazes locked a split second before he lunged into her. Claiming her.

“Brick!”

He didn’t answer her cry of ecstasy. Just drove into her tight sex again and again, forcing her to take more of him each time, until finally every inch of him was sheathed inside her. Their bodies slid and scraped across the floor.

Even then, he didn’t stop.

Quivering around him, she was primed to come, and each masterful thrust, each aggressive entry, pushed her closer to the edge.

This solved nothing. This only served to further complicate things. But even knowing that, even knowing she was reinforcing Brick’s fear, Remi couldn’t stop herself from crying his name as they fought like two storm systems clashing for dominance.

He powered into her, setting a wild pace that was nothing like the measured man he was outside the bedroom. He was lost in her, and she had two choices—to either fight it or to give in and lose herself, too.

“My beautiful girl.” He punctuated each word with a thrust. “My Remi. I love you.”

A sob broke free from her chest. There was something so beautiful, so final about the way he touched her.

His eyes went glassy as he drove into her core. Again and again. A man on a mission, punishing them both for their need.

Even angry with her, even wanting to end things, he still couldn’t help himself. There was a delicious thrill in that. It made her feel powerful, desired, craved. With impatience, he yanked her legs higher on his hips, changing the angle of his entry.

He was still fully dressed. Together they writhed on the floor in a race to find the promised fulfillment.

He shoved her shirt up, baring her breasts, and groaned as he dipped his head to suck one nipple into his mouth. She saw stars and fireworks and explosions behind her eyes as he worked her body toward the finish line.

“You will come. Now,” he said through gritted teeth. Beads of sweat dotted his forehead. “Give it up to me, Remi. Give me what I need. One last time.”