Behind me, Z’s tightly coiled body trembles with rage I can feel burning against my back. When he finally speaks, his voice is surprisingly gentle. “It’s okay. You don’t have to keep going unless you want to.”

“I can’t,” I whisper.

“It’s okay. Everything’s okay.” He wraps his arms around me and pulls me back against the pillows and holds me until I’m almost asleep.

“I want you so much,” he whispers. “Don’t ever doubt that.”

“I don’t want you to think I’m broken.”

He kisses my head. “Everyone’s a little broken, Lilly. Together, we create something stronger and better.”

“You really believe that?”

“I do.” He’s quiet for a few seconds. “I’m sorry I made you talk about it.”

“You needed to know. You deserved…answers.”

“I never wanted to hurt you to get them.”

All my remaining anger blows away. “I know.”

“Lilly?” One of his hands slides down my arm and clamps down on my hip. “I really want to make love to you.” he rasps.

Damn him. He’s going to make me cry again. While he phrased it as a statement, I hear the question in his voice. I don’t think Z’s ever asked in quite that way before. And as much as I adore the big, bossy, biker, I’m-going-to-fuck-you-now attitude he usually approaches me with, this reaches me on a much deeper level. It makes me feel cherished instead of broken.

“I’d really like that,” I whisper.

Achingly slow, he slips the strap of my tank top off my shoulder, dropping kisses along the way. He shifts his body over mine and pulls down the other strap. Ravenous, he kisses every exposed inch, catching my nipple between his teeth and tasting with swift lashes of his tongue.

I moan and arch my back, asking for more. While he’s consumed with kissing and sucking my breasts, I reach down and shimmy out of my shorts and underwear, kicking them further under the covers.

He groans in appreciation. “Slow down, Siren.” He may be trying to slow this down, draw it out, but his hands immediately work between my legs, cupping me. His fingers part my lips and he slowly strokes my clit a few times before pushing a finger inside me.

“Oh,” I sigh and roll my hips. So good.

Spearing my fingers in his hair, I drag him up for a kiss. “Please, I need you.”

His answer isn’t swift enough, so I reach down and shove his shorts down. In case he didn’t take the hint, I wrap my fingers around his heavy erection. Satin over steel. I shiver with the anticipation of how good he’s going to feel inside me.

He bites his lip and stares down at me.

“That what you want?” he rasps.

“Yes.”

“Take it.”