Page 31 of Hero Worship

I gasped as his massive length pressed against me, my eyes widening as I truly registered his size for the first time. Even through the fabric, I could feel how thick he was—bigger than anyone I'd ever been with. A part of me doubted I could take him. The rest of me didn't care.

"I can take it," I stammered, trying to sound more confident than I felt. But my voice came out breathy and desperate, betraying my nervousness. "Please, Ash. I need you so bad."

He shifted suddenly, rolling me onto my back and pinning my wrists above my head. The move was smooth, controlled. His eyes were dark as he stared down at me. "Tell me what you want, baby. Be specific."

The command made my pulse race. This was different from the orders I was used to following, the demands made by marks who saw me as nothing but a pretty toy to break. Ash's authority carried something deeper, a promise of protection wrapped in possession.

"I want..." The words caught in my throat. Usually I was good at being whatever someone wanted, at playing whatever role would get me through another night. But Ash deserved more than my usual performance. He'd seen through every mask Iwore, had held me through the worst of my spiral last night. "I want to feel safe," I whispered, the admission burning like acid. "Want to feel like I belong to someone who won't throw me away when they're done with me. I want you to touch me like you want me too.”

"Look at you, asking so nicely." His free hand traced down my throat, across my chest, making me arch into the touch. “See, I knew you had it in you to be polite.”

The praise hit me like a drug, better than any chemical high. It wasn't just the words. It was how he said them, like he saw all of me and wanted every part. I whimpered as his thumb brushed over my nipple through the thin fabric of his shirt. "Please, Ash. Need more."

"More what?" His grip tightened on my wrists, reminding me who was in control. "Use your words, baby. Tell me exactly what you want me to do to you."

My mind raced with all the filthy things I'd imagined since that first meeting in his office. But what came out was raw, honest. "Want you to make me yours. Want you to claim me so thoroughly I never doubt who I belong to again."

Something dark and hungry flashed in Ash's eyes, but there was uncertainty there, too. My heart stuttered in my chest. He didn't really want me. He was having second thoughts. Once again, I was too much, not enough. Wrong wrong wrong.

"Sorry," I whispered, starting to pull away. "I know you're not... I mean, you've never..."

"Hey." Ash's grip tightened, holding me in place. "Look at me, baby." When I met his eyes, his expression was intense, focused. "This is new for me. But don't for a second think that means I don't want you. I might not know exactly what I'm doing yet, but I'm a fast learner."

The hint of vulnerability in his voice, masked by that growling confidence, made something flutter in my chest. This was AshValentine—legendary profiler, deadly operative—admitting he didn't know everything. But instead of making him pull back, it just made him more determined.

"Now, are you going to help teach me what you like, or do I need to figure it out the hard way?"

His eyes were dark with hunger and challenge, like he was daring me to show him exactly what he'd been missing. "Yes, Daddy."

His voice dropped lower, rougher. "Careful what you wish for, princess." He leaned down, his breath hot against my ear. "Once I claim you there's no going back."

This was what I'd been chasing in all those anonymous encounters—this feeling of being completely owned, completely wanted. My brain screamed at me to run before he could reject me, before I got too attached. But for once, I wanted to stay. Wanted to believe I could be worth keeping.

"I know what I want," I breathed, arching up against him. "And what I want is you."

Ash made a primal sound that made my dick twitch and leak before he claimed my mouth in a bruising kiss. His tongue swept inside, demanding and possessive, like he was trying to devour me whole. I surrendered completely, letting him take whatever he wanted.

His mouth found my throat, and it made something dark and hungry twist in my gut. I wanted him to mark me, to leave visible evidence of his claim on my skin. But he held back, pressing kisses where I wanted him to bite, gentle touches where I wanted him to bruise.

"You can bite," I breathed. "Leave marks. I want you to."

The growl he let out made my cock twitch, but he shook his head. "Not yet. Not until I'm sure I can do this without hurting you. Not until I know I can control it.”

When he finally pulled back, we were both panting. His eyes were nearly black with desire as he looked down at me. "These stay on," he said, running his fingers along the lace edge of my panties. His voice dropped lower, rougher. "Want to watch you ruin them for me. Want to see you soak through this pretty lace when you come on my cock."

Heat flooded my face at his words, at the raw hunger in his voice. His fingers teased over the damp lace where my cock was still trapped. "Look how wet you are for me already," he purred, applying just enough pressure to make me gasp. "Such a pretty little thing."

I writhed under his touch, desperate for more friction. "Ash, please..."

"Shh." He released my wrists, but his voice held clear command. "Keep those hands right where they are. Don't move them unless I tell you to."

I nodded frantically, fingers curling into the sheets above my head. The position made me feel exposed, vulnerable. Exactly how I wanted to be for him.

Ash took his time exploring my body, learning what made me gasp and whimper. His touch was reverent but possessive as his hands mapped the lean muscle of my chest, thumbs brushing over my nipples until they peaked under his attention. Each careful stroke claimed new territory, marking me as his. He traced the ridges of my ribs, following their path to my stomach, where his fingers discovered spots that made me squirm. The muscles there jumped under his touch as he explored every dip and plane, learning where I was ticklish and where pressure made me arch into his hands. He seemed fascinated by the contrast of soft skin over hard muscle, the way my body responded to even his lightest touch. When his mouth replaced his fingers, trailing hot kisses down my sternum, I couldn't help the sounds that escaped me. His stubble scraped deliciouslyagainst sensitive skin as he worked his way lower, leaving a trail of marks that would remind me tomorrow who I belonged to. When he nipped at my hip bone, it felt like being claimed, not just physically but completely, like he was marking me as his in every way that mattered.

"Turn over for me, baby," he commanded, voice rough with desire. "Show me that pretty ass."

I obeyed instantly, rolling onto my stomach. Ash's massive hands gripped my hips, positioning me exactly how he wanted me. The lace of my panties felt deliciously wrong against my aching cock as he pulled my hips up, getting me on my knees with my chest pressed to the mattress. I bit my lip as he pulled the back of my panties down, exposing my ass to the room.

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