He knew he was too heavy. Crushing her. But he had to stay there for a few long moments, her body under his. Small. Fragile. All woman. Soft skin and beautiful curves. His. He nuzzled again and was surprised when she didn’t tell him to move. Her breathing was shortened, ragged, raspy even, due to his weight crushing her, but she held him, her arms around him, cradling him to her. She gave him that, knowing instinctively he needed it.

No one held him. When he was a baby, a toddler, his mother didn’t dare hold him even if she was so inclined. His father didn’t believe in coddling an infant. He knew Evangeline had never been held either. Maybe she needed it as much as he did.

Eventually he knew he couldn’t stay. He was just too heavy. He eased out of her reluctantly, still semi-hard at the knowledge that he could have her again and again whenever he wanted or needed. His. It was still sinking in. He was still trying to absorb the knowledge that she’d really given herself to him.

Alonzo slipped to her side, keeping her pinned with one leg thrown over her thigh. He lifted his head up to look down at her body. Looking at his marks of possession with satisfaction. She hadn’t once protested. She got off on his lovemaking—and he had made love to her with every stroke. Every touch.

She started to move her legs, to close them. He had her spread fairly wide to accommodate him. His hand stopped her. “I like to look at you. To see what’s mine. I especially want to see us together.” He reveled in the sight of his seed seeping down her thighs along with evidence of her innocence. The gift she’d given him.

She appeared to be drifting a little, still floating from the crashing orgasm. Her body had rippled with aftershocks all the while he’d lain over top of her, blanketing her thoroughly and possessively. When he drew circles with the pad of his finger over her breasts, stroking her nipples, he saw her stomach muscles bunch and knew more ripples teased her sheath.

Her eyes suddenly went wide again. “Fyodor. We didn’t use protection. I forgot. You forgot. My female is gettin’ close. This could be a bad time.”

“I don’t forget to use protection, Evangeline.” He was amused at the thought. He was gloved all the time. His hands and his cock. He was bare for her. Only his woman. She could see the tattoos on his fingers proclaiming him a killer for his lair. She could have his cock bare and hot and hard just for her. “It doesn’t work so good on leopards anyway.”

She closed her eyes and turned her face away.