In an instant, he's pulling back the covers, drawing me into his strong arms. I burrow against his bare chest, drinking in his warmth and solidness. He smells like citrus and sandalwood, achingly familiar.

"I've got you, baby," he murmurs into my hair. "You're safe with me."

But as his hands skim my body as if they’re checking for injury, sparks trail in their wake. I shiver, and it's not from fear.

Ethan notices, his breath catching. The air thickens between us, heavy with unspoken desire.

Desire I’ve been fighting for way too long.

"Lila..." His eyes search mine, reflecting the hunger building inside me. "Don’t tell me to stop."

I don’t say anything for a long moment, and Ethan doesn’t either. Instead, he just stares at me, his eyes hopeful, pleading, desperate.

Finally, I surge up to capture his mouth with mine. "Don't stop,” I breathe against his lips. “I need you."

That’s all the encouragement he needs.

He takes control of the kiss. It turns feverish, days of pent-up passion pouring out. Clothes vanish between frantic caresses until it's just skin against skin, heartbeats pounding in sync. He touches me like he's been starving for it, mapping every curve and valley. I arch into him, wanting more, more.

More!

He trails kisses over my stomach. His lips blaze a path down my body, leaving me aching and breathless. When he reaches the apex of my thighs, he pauses, glancing up at me with a devilish grin.

"You're fucking perfect," he growls. "I'm going to worship this sweet pussy."

Then his mouth is on me and I nearly come undone. He licks and sucks, stoking the fire inside me higher and higher. My hands fist in his hair as I writhe beneath his wicked tongue. Just as I'm about to shatter, he pulls back. I whimper at the loss of his mouth, but then he's crawling up my body, settling between my thighs. His hard length nudges against my entrance and I gasp, the delicious pressure almost too much to bear.

I dig my nails into his shoulders.

“Tell me,” his eyes darken, “are you a virgin?”

My cheeks flame as I nod.

His nostrils flare. “Good because I was going to have to kill anyone else who ever saw you like this.”

His eyes lock with mine, dark with lust and something else, something deeper.

I shiver at his confession. I love how possessive he is. Maybe it should scare me, but it doesn’t.

“I’ll try to go slow,” he tells me, but I shake my head.

“No, just do it.”

He holds my eyes as I feel him positioning himself at my entrance, and then without warning, he plunges deep into me.

When he finally bottoms out in me, I cry out from the exquisite fullness.

“Shh,” he soothes me as he strokes my hair back from my face. “You’re mine now, baby. Gonna take such good care of you. Promise.” He stills, giving me a moment to adjust before starting to move.

He goes slowly at first, but then he picks up the pace. “Can’t. Hold. Back. Too. Good,” he pants out between thrusts, the sweat beading on his brow.

Each deep, purposeful stroke sends pleasure licking through my veins. It borders on too much, the intensity threatening to overwhelm me.

"That's it, baby," he groans against my throat. "Take all of me. You're mine now."

"Yes, yours," I gasp, tilting my hips to meet his. "Only yours."

Release builds at the base of my spine, winding tighter with every thrust. I cling to his shoulders as it crests, my body clenching around him.