Page 95 of Carved in Ruin

I pull back and wipe my mouth with the back of my hand. “You’re beautiful like this,” I say softly. “So perfect.”

I rise up, running my hands possessively over her back and sides. Slowly, I turn her over, meeting her wide, uncertain eyes. My chest tightens at the vulnerability there, the trust she’s giving me despite her protests.

“Mila,” I whisper. “You’re mine. All of you. Say it.”

She hesitates, her lips parting as if to argue, but I silence her with a kiss. It’s searing, desperate, and all-consuming. Her fingers tangle in my hair as I deepen the kiss, pouring everything I feel into it.

“Say it,” I demand again. “Say you’re mine.”

“I’m yours, Rafael.”

The words ignite something primal in me. I spread her open for me. Her cheeks flush, but she doesn’t look away.

“Louder,” I command, positioning myself at her entrance. “Let everyone know who you belong to.”

“Rafael—” Her voice is cut off by a gasp as I thrust into her, slow at first, savoring the way her body wraps around me. The heat, the tightness, it’s almost too much. I pause, letting her adjust, brushing my lips against her temple.

“You feel perfect,” I murmur. “Made for me.”

My pace quickens, the control slipping from my grasp. I grip her hips, pulling her closer, deeper, each thrust harder than the last. She cries out, clutching at my shoulders, her nails digging into my skin.

“Louder, Mila,” I growl, my mouth brushing against her ear. “Let your friend hear you. Let the whole world hear how much you need me.”

She moans, her voice breaking as she calls out my name. It’s raw, desperate, and it fuels me. I’m relentless, pushing her to the edge, driving her higher until she shatters around me, her body trembling with the force of it.

I follow her, the intensity pulling me under. I collapse beside her, pulling her close. My lips press to her forehead, her cheeks, her lips. She’s shaking, her breaths uneven, but there’s a softness in her eyes that wasn’t there before.

“You okay?” I ask, my hands gently stroking her back.

She nods, burying her face in my chest.

“Stay here,” I order, standing and leaving the room briefly. When I return, I’m holding a warm, damp cloth. I kneel beside her, gently cleaning my seed off her skin.

She watches me silently. When I’m done, I climb into bed beside her, pulling her into my arms. I reach for the blanket, wrapping it around us, and hold her close, my fingers running through her hair.

“Please, let him stay just for tonight. We will figure it out tomorrow.” She hums, and I can never tell this woman no.

“Sleep, Mila,” I say, pressing a kiss to the crown of her head. “I’ve got you.”

She drifts off, her breathing evening out, and I stay awake, watching over her.

Thirty Nine

No Space, No Escape

Mila

Iwake up to the smell of coffee and something buttery. My eyes flutter open, and I see Rafael sitting on the edge of the bed with a tray balanced across his lap. Eggs, toast, fruit, and coffee, all laid out like some Instagram-perfect breakfast spread.

“So much for giving me space,” I mumble, my voice scratchy with sleep.

“There is no space between us,” he grumbles. “I was losing my mind without you.”

I roll my eyes, trying to mask how much his words twist something deep inside me. “You’re insane,” I mutter, sitting up against the pillows.

“Yes,” he says without hesitation, his lips quirking into a small smile. “I am. For you.”

I don’t respond, focusing instead on the food in front of me. My stomach growls in betrayal, and he hears it, smirking as I grab a fork and start eating.

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