“How can you doubt how much I want you, Cora?” he growls between hot and urgent kisses.

His hands are rough and urgent as they trace the curve of my waist, pulling me closer. I can feel his heart racing against my own, a wild and untamed beast thrumming beneath the surface.

I stare up at him, lost in his eyes as he searches my face for an answer. I want to say I believe him, that I trust him, but the truth is I’m still so scared.

Instead of responding, I grab his face, my fingers sinking into the rough stubble that lines his jaw. I pulled his lips back to mine, deeper and more passionate than before. I need him, need the connection between us, need to forget about the danger and the secrets and the lies for just a moment.

I want him to forget too.

Slater groans, his hands tangling in my hair as he kisses me back with a fierceness that sends my pulse skyrocketing. His lips trail down my neck once more, leaving a trail of fire in their wake.

“I’ll protect you, Cora,” he promises, his voice deep and husky. “I’ll keep you safe, no matter what it takes.”

I believe him. I know that he’ll do whatever it takes to keep me safe, that he’ll fight for me with everything he has. That was never the issue.

“Show me,” I gasp, imploring him to continue. “Show me you lo—like me this way.”

Slater’s hands are sure and unyielding as they reach under into my leggings, his fingers brushing against the delicate fabric of my underwear. I gasp at the sudden intimacy, the intensity of the moment sending shivers down my spine.

Pushing my underwear aside, his fingers trace the folds of my entrance, a slow and deliberate exploration that leaves me breathing heavily.

“Are you sure about this?” he growls, his breath hot against my ear.

“Yes,” I whisper, my body trembling with anticipation. “I want this so badly.”

With that, he buries two fingers inside me, thrusting hard and fast as I cry out in pleasure. The sensation is overwhelming, a violent storm of intensity that thrusts me onto the path of my orgasm.

His fingers move in and out of me, his thumb finding my aching clit and rubbing it in circles. The sensation is too much, my body writhing against his hand as he brings me closer and closer to the edge.

I can feel the pressure building, a tsunami of pleasure threatening to overwhelm me. I clutch at the bookshelves for support, my nails digging into the wooden surfaces as I moan his name.

Finally, I can’t take it anymore. He slants his mouth over mine, and I scream his name into his kiss, my body convulsing as the orgasm rips through me. My hips buck against his hand, a violent release that leaves me panting.

Breathing just as ragged as me, Slater unzips his fly and frees his cock, fisting and pumping it angrily. With his other hand, he roughly drags my leggings and underwear down my legs, notching himself at my entrance. With one swift thrust, he seats himself fully inside me, and I cry out in pained pleasure. Slater turns to stone, a cuss falling from his lips. I smile at him, pull him closer, silently encourage him to continue.

He snarls at me and pulls away, scrubbing a hand over his face and through his hair. He pulls up his jeans and rights himself, while leaving me a panting mess against the stacks.

What just happened? What did I do wrong?

“Do not push me like this again, Cora,” he warns. “You won’t like the outcome if you do. And I won’t let anyone manipulate me anymore. Not even the girl I love.”

My heart sinks at Slater’s warning, but I know he’s right. I did push him to the edge, and if I’m not careful, I could lose him completely.

“I won’t,” I whisper softly, but he’s already gone without a backward glance.

Later,as I’m lying in bed, crying myself to sleep and feeling like the worst human in the world, I think maybe I made a mistake.

No, I know I did.

It may just turn out to be the biggest mistake of my life.

As the hours tick by, Slater never comes home.

“I’m so sorry,” I whisper, as I cry into my pillow. “I’m so, so sorry.”

“Why are you sorry, Cora?” a distorted voice asks. A familiar voice. I gasp, sitting up in bed, and swiping the tears from my eyes.

“How are you here?” I whisper, as I stare at him, eyes wide, and heart racing.