Ilie jerked. He had only wanted her naked so he could give her pleasure and feel her come, feel her become alive in his arms.

Her smile wobbled. “Milord. Ilie. Take me—-”

His jaw hardened. “But the curse...” Even though it had been nullified, it had still taken its toll on her body, and he could sense which parts of it still ached like they had been pummeled from the inside. “You are still hurt—-”

“Just as you are still hurt.”

Dammit to hell, she was making it too hard.

And then he felt it—-

Soleil, rubbing herself against his chest, and she whispered achingly, “Milord, please—-”

His control snapped.

One moment and his clothes were gone, thrown across the room. Another moment, and he was reaching for her still-sensitive folds, stroking them until they were slick with desire yet again. Bending his head, he captured her mouth in a hungry kiss, savoring the taste of her mouth. She wept as she kissed him back, and over and over she said in their merged minds,I love you. I love you. I love you.

Shuddering, he tore his mouth away from hers and moved down to squeeze her breasts up before gorging on them. Other womenknew him to be a polished lover, but with his heartkeeper, he was frantic and feverish in his need to possess her.

It was as if the mere taste of heartkeeping had broken the dam of his obsession, and now he could not get enough of her.

He would never get enough of her—-

And that was alright.

Because she loved him, and he loved her.

“Ilie.” Her own desire underlined her voice, and the sound told him it was time.

Poised above her, he told her hoarsely, “It will hurt, maybe even more because of your injuries.”

She smiled tremulously up at him. “I don’t care.” And even though her voice trembled a little as well, he could also see that she meant every word. “I want to be yours.”

Ah, fuck.

Ilie sank into her in one deep, sure stroke—-

He heard her suck in her breath, saw her eyes widen with pain—-

But Ilie pushed deeper, plunging more and more of his cock in until it finally tore past her virginal barrier.

Soleil’s fingers dug crescent marks into his back as her body shook at his possession.

“You are mine.” His voice was harsh and possessive, and his gaze was feral, more wolf than demon or man. It should have scared her, but it didn’t.

Instead, her lips curved in the sweetest and most loving of smiles.

Her blue eyes glowed.

“Yes,” she breathed. “I am yours.”

Fuck.

Fuck.

Fuck.

How perfect she was for him!