He held my stare as he reached between us, easing a finger through the gathering wetness. “This is mine.”

It wasn’t a question. Oh gods, that was a statement, but I nodded, because it was his. I was his. Like my skin was branded with his scent and aura, I was his.

He circled his fist around the base of his erection. “This is yours.”

I was more than thrilled to hear that.

Seth brought his mouth to mine, his tongue delving, matching the thrusts of his finger and then his fingers, quickly working me back to the point where I felt like I would explode into nothing. He pulled away just before, and I whimpered, but then I felt him, just the tip, pressing against me.

My heart pounded wildly as his gaze found mine once again. “I don’t want to hurt you,” he said, voice hoarse as he moved his hand away. “It’s the last thing I want to do.”

“I trust you.”

Skin puckered between Seth’s brows as he squeezed his eyes shut. He didn’t move, and I wasn’t even sure he breathed. He was going to pull back. I sensed it, and I couldn’t let him do that.

Gripping his hips, I lifted mine before I could really think about what I was doing. A gasp punched out of me as I stretched around him.

Seth groaned as the muscles in his arms bulged. “Gods, Josie, I’m trying to take this slow.”

“I don’t want you to take it slow.”

His laugh was strangled. “You’re going to kill me.”

My heart pounded fast. “I don’t want that.”

“I know.” He slid a hand down to my thigh, lifting my leg slightly. The arm beside my head trembled as his intense gaze searched my face. “I need . . . I need this to be perfect for you.”

I licked my lips. “It . . . it already is, because it’s with you.”

Seth’s forehead dropped to mine as a shudder rocked his body. Neither of us moved or spoke for what felt like a tiny piece of eternity, and then he kissed me softly, and there was something infinitely sweet in the way his mouth moved over mine. The hand on my upper thigh shook once more and then his hips thrust forward, all the way.

Air lodged in my throat, pushing out the soft cry as my fingers dug into his sides. A dart of pain shot through me as I squeezed my eyes shut, giving way to a burning sensation that wasn’t exactly painful. I didn’t know how to describe it. Adjectives failed me. There was a deep pressure inside me, neither uncomfortable nor entirely pleasant.