Me. I’m fucking in front of her. And all she could think about is newspapers and propriety and her asshole ex.

We’ve got something between us. I’m not sure what it is, but it’s something. I sensed it immediately, but as time has gone on, it’s just damn obvious. But she’s been too caught up in all the noise to let it happen.

I grip her tighter to me.

“And I need you to stop fucking feeling so sorry for yourself,” I say in between desperate kisses.

She bites my lip in reply and then pulls back, her eyes full of venom. “I need you to stop feeling so full of yourself.” She shoots back.

“Fine,” I grin into her kiss. “I’d rather you feel full of me instead, anyway.”

She pulls back and goes to swat me, but I grab her hand and press it up over her.

I’m in control now. And this is happening.

I kiss her slowly, but just as hard and punishing. A satisfied breath escapes her lips when I press my body harder against hers, pinning her to the tree and letting her feel just how badly she drives me crazy.

“Do you know what’s going to be really against all the etiquette you believe in so much?” I say to her in between short, hungry breaths.

“What?” Lust makes her voice come out in a whisper.

“When I fuck you right here under this cherry tree,” I whisper back right into her mouth and rock my hard cock against her.

“Levi,” I think she’s scolding me at first, arguing that we can’t possibly be that careless. But then her fingers tell a different story. Her fingers find their way under my shirt and she grips my back, pulling me in harder against her.

My hands find the button of my pants frantically as I undo them and pull my length out. Then I find the edge of her dress and slide my hands up her thighs to her waist. I lift her by her thighs and pin her to the tree, my exposed cock pressing against the fabric of her lacy underwear.

“Levi,” she says my name again like a chant.

“Say my name like that one more time, Ruby, and I’m moving your little lace panties to the side and I’m pushing myself inside you.”

Her chest catches as she inhales. I bury myself in her neck, grazing my teeth along her delicate, soft skin. And insane urge to mark her and make it crystal fucking clear that she’s mine comes over me. I press my teeth in a little harder, sucking at her neck. She throws her head back and writhes in my arms.

Damn it, Ruby. Say my name.

I taste the salt on her skin lingering on my lips and I want more. I need more of her, but she hasn’t given me the green light. But I’m so damn hungry for her that I flatten my tongue and I lick the center of her chest, up her neck, to the tip of her chin. I’m working on pure animal instinct at this point, feeling like I might die if I don’t get inside of her. Goosebumps flare over her body.

“Say my name, Ruby.” I grit out, convinced she’s torturing me now. I flex my hips against her again.

She centers her focus back on me. Our eyes meet and our lips are only a whisper away from each other. I can feel her hot, ragged breaths.

Her gaze is intense, but I don’t look away. I look right into her soul and let her see just how much she undoes me.

Go ahead, look into my soul. I’m at your damn mercy and I know you see it.

I can see the shift in her eyes as soon as it happens. I’m not sure her face moves a single muscle, but her deep brown eyes tell me a different story. I know what’s coming a second before she says it, but damn will I enjoy the sound of it anyway.

“Levi Wilde,” she says, no longer a whisper but a declaration.

That’s right, baby. Claim me for the universe to hear. And I’ll meet you with every inch.

I push her panties aside and I do as I promised, pushing my cock right where it’s meant to be. Her warmth envelopes me like my cock just found its damn long-lost home.

Her eyes show every ounce of emotion and pleasure coursing through her, but they stay locked with mine.

I want to just stay inside her forever like this, our bodies connected and on fire. But I don’t have that kind of self-restraint. I slide myself out, her wetness clings to my cock and the early spring cold feels harsh as if reminding me that I’m meant to stay deep inside her.

I grip her thighs tighter and push inside her again.