She laughs softly, the sound vibrating against my lips. “I’m a mess.”

“A beautiful mess.” I run my hands up her sides, feeling her shiver. “My beautiful mess.”

Her breath catches at the possessive tone, and I feel her press closer, seeking more contact. I stand, lifting her with me.

“Mattress?” I ask, already walking.

She points to a door at the back of the studio. “Through there.”

The small room beyond holds a mattress on a low platform, covered in rumpled sheets. A practical solution for late nights working, now serving a different purpose. I lay her down, bracing myselfabove her.

I pause, as I usually do, to give her one last chance to turn me down. One last chance to stop me before I lose all self-control.

But in answer, she pulls her tank top over her head, revealing she’s wearing nothing underneath. The sight of her bare breasts, small and perfect, makes my cock strain painfully against my pants.

“I need you, Gideon,” she says, eyes dark with desire.

“Fuck.” I lower my head to her breast, taking a nipple into my mouth, swirling my tongue around the sensitive peak until she arches beneath me, gasping. Her hands fumble with my shirt buttons, then give up and simply pull, sending buttons scattering across the floor.

“Impatient,” I growl, nipping at her collarbone.

“Four weeks of sharing your bed has taught me what I want,” she replies, running her nails gently down my chest.

The reminder of our shared intimacy these past weeks ignites something primal in me. I’ve been careful with her, contained. Tonight feels different. Here in her space, surrounded by her art, her raw vulnerability calls to something equally raw in me.

I strip away her sweatpants, finding simple cotton underwear beneath. The practical choice only makes me harder. This isn’t performance or pretense. This is Ava, unfiltered. I don’t think I’ve ever felt my cock throbbing so hard in my life.

“So beautiful,” I murmur, trailing my fingers along the elastic waistband. “My vixen.”

Her eyes darken at the endearment. “Show me,” she challenges.

I lower my head, pressing my mouth against the cotton, feeling her heat through the thin fabric. Shewhimpers, hips lifting involuntarily. I hook my fingers in the waistband and pull the underwear down her legs, revealing her completely.

“Fuck, Ava,” I breathe, taking in the sight of her spread before me. “Look at your pussy. It smells so good.”

A flush spreads across her chest and face. “Gideon, please.”

I shed the rest of my clothes quickly, reaching for my wallet to extract a condom. Her eyes widen as she watches me roll it on.

“Even after all this time, the size of you still surprises me,” she whispers.

I smirk, unable to help myself. “Good. I like surprising you.”

Instead of covering her body with mine, I pull her to the edge of the mattress. “I want to watch your face,” I explain, positioning myself at her entrance. “I want to see every expression as I take you.”

She nods, eyes locked with mine as I push slowly into her tight heat. The sensation is exquisite, her body yielding, then gripping me, drawing me deeper. When I’m fully seated within her, we both pause, breathing heavily.

“You take my cock so well,” I praise, stroking her cheek. “Such a good girl for me.”

She moans at the words, inner muscles clenching around me. “Please move.”

I withdraw almost completely before thrusting back in, establishing a rhythm that has her clutching at the sheets. Her responses drive me higher, each gasp, each whimper, each breathless “yes” urging me to take more, give more.

“Touch yourself,” I command, wantingto see her pleasure herself as I fuck her. “Show me what you need.”

Her hand moves between us, fingers circling her clit in time with my thrusts. The sight is intoxicating. Ava taking her pleasure, uninhibited and demanding. Her other hand grips my forearm, nails digging into my skin, marking me as hers.

“That’s it,” I encourage, increasing my pace. “Take what you need from me.”