He nuzzled her neck, keeping her pinned when she thrashed and tried to force him to go deeper. Still in that heightened state, needing him urgently. Exactly where he needed her to be. Every time she moved and he slid just a little deeper, her channel tight and scorching, he lost his breath and almost his resolve. He bumped that thin barrier over and over, but he refused to give in to her bucking hips or her gasping pleas.

He took her mouth. Demanding her response, centering her attention there. Kissing her over and over and then leaving a trail of kisses down her neck to her shoulder. He bit her, catching her soft skin in his teeth and biting down as he surged forward, pushing through, feeling that barrier give way and his cock slide deep, deep into her channel until he was surrounded by a fist of pure fire. So good. So beautiful.

She cried out, the sound strangled in her throat. He kissed the bite and then suckled gently, wanting to leave his signature mark on her. His woman. His. He licked over the spot and gently eased back, his cock still buried balls deep in her. Not moving when his body screamed at him. He waited for her body to adjust. To find pleasure even in pain.

“Open your eyes for me, Evangeline.” It was a command, delivered in his low tone, but a command nevertheless.

Her lashes fluttered. Her small white teeth tugged at her bottom lip, but she did as he’d asked. All that emerald green looked melted and liquid. Need was there. A little bit of fear. Trust.

“I need to know you’re good.”

“You have to move.”

“Say it for me. I need to know you’re good,” he reiterated, easing back more so he was once again on his knees, her legs tight against him and her bottom off the bed. He was in complete control of her body that way.

He loved looking down at her. Her hair spilled on the pillow and all around her, a wild mass of silk. Her breasts were perfect, jutting up at him, swaying with every movement. Her skin flushed a beautiful rose. “Ya tebya lyublyu.” He whispered it, more in his mind than aloud. He did love her. If his heart had been frozen, and he was certain it had been, that had been the first thing she’d melted.

“Please move, Fyodor. I need you to move. I’m good. I really am.”

He didn’t wait for more. He pulled back, feeling the delicious bite of her sheath strangling him, the hot friction that built anticipation. He slammed deep into her. Pounded. Used the strength in his hips to take her hard and fast. Every stroke jolted her body and he held her still so she couldn’t move, her legs clamped to him, straight up against his shoulders, spread wide. All for him. His.