Before I could ask him what he expected of me, his mouth descended on mine. The kiss was firm but slow, coaxing me to respond. I fumbled for a few seconds, unsure how to move my mouth against his. I should’ve turned away from him, but his hand in my hair held me firm. I had no choice but to accept his kiss or turn to violence, but he would easily win if I physically challenged him.

I wouldn’t give him the opportunity to beat me and truly break me down. I would kiss him on my terms.

Tentatively, I began to shape my lips to his. When he’d kissed me after the wedding, my lips had parted on a shocked gasp, and he’d plundered my mouth until I was breathless and dizzy. This time, I opened willingly, learning how to meet the teasing strokes of his tongue.

His low rumble of masculine approval rolled into my mouth, vibrating down through my body and resonating deep inside me. A strange, purely feminine warmth I’d never felt before flooded my belly. I liked that he’d made that sound for me. Despite the fact that he was fully in control, a small pulse of power thrummed through my veins.

He released my hair, his fingers trailing along the side of my neck, tracing the shell of my ear. Sensation lit up my nerves, and sparks raced over my skin at the light contact. I hadn’t known a man’s brutal hands could feel so decadent.

His touch trailed lower, finding the top button on my blouse. I stiffened slightly when he deftly freed it, so he stroked his tongue deeper into my mouth, claiming my full attention. There was no more teasing, no coaxing; he devastated me. My hands flew to his shoulders, clutching onto him as my head began to spin. There was only his heat, his strength, and his masculine scent suffusing my senses. I didn’t have room in my brain to fully register the small thrill of fear as he parted my shirt, and cool air kissed the bare skin of my stomach. My flesh felt too hot in contrast, my body burning beneath his confident, masterful hands.

He found the zipper at the side of my skirt and slowly drew it downward, until the garment loosened and slid down my legs. Instinctively, I tried to twist away and clutch at the fabric to cover my modesty, but his hands shackled my wrists, pinning them at the small of my back as he kissed me with such harsh passion that I couldn’t breathe.

He overwhelmed me, stealing the air from my lungs until my head was spinning. When he was satisfied that I wouldn’t struggle again, he released my wrists so that he could slide my open blouse down my arms, leaving me in nothing but my simple white bra and panties.

Finally, he broke our savage kiss, allowing me space to draw in desperate, panting breaths. Keeping me locked in his rich brown stare, he reached behind me and unclasped my bra with smooth ease. My skin pebbled when he guided the straps off my shoulders, baring my breasts to a man for the first time.