Page 17 of Tall, Dark & Horny

I broke away just long enough to tug her robe loose, but she tensed the moment it slid off her shoulder.

Not just a hesitation. A full body pause.

I froze. Even my demon stopped snarling in my head.

I pressed my hand against her wildly beating heart, waiting until her gaze locked on mine.

“Before we continue, I have to tell you something,” she whispered, her bottom lip trembling.

My own heart thudded like it was made of lead. Nothing she could say would make me stop wanting her. Calliope was meant to be mine.

But I wasn’t going to pressure her for something she might not be ready for yet. I tried to tame my demon half that wanted to claim her right fucking now. Before she understood what being the other half of my soul meant.

I cupped her cheek gently, forcing myself to draw a breath that didn’t come easy. “You can tell me anything, baby.”

She stayed silent for a moment, remaining perfectly still. Her green eyes were wide and conflicted. Her breathing was ragged, lips still swollen from our kiss.

She cleared her throat and looked down, her freckled cheeks filled with a pretty pink color. “Um, I’ve never done this before.”

The thought of her with anyone else sent a lick of possessive fire through my veins, but I forced a light tone as I asked, “No holiday flings during any of your travels?”

Shaking her head, she whispered, “I’m a virgin.”

The words hit like a thunderclap, unexpected but clarifying. Everything in me went silent. Not out of dismay or disappointment. But reverence.

I had never been someone’s first. Not in all my centuries. And I sure as hell had never wanted to be…until now.

Now it wasn’t just my heart that pounded but my cock also throbbed at her confession.

I used my thumb beneath her chin to gently force her to meet my gaze. “You mean I get to be your first? Not just the first but only? Because when you let me take you, that’s it. You’re mine, Calliope. Body and soul.”

“Yes, and I didn’t want to ruin the moment,” she said, cheeks coloring as she started to pull back. “I know I probably should’ve?—”

“Stop.” I caught her hips, keeping her in place. “You didn’t ruin a damn thing. Not even close.”

Her breath hitched. “Really?”

“You have no idea how hard it is not to lay you back on this bed and make you mine in every possible way,” I growled, my forehead pressing to hers. “But I’m not going to take anything from you. Not when what I want is for you to give it freely. Without fear. Without doubt.”

Her fingers curled into my shirt, and her voice trembled. “I don’t want to be afraid of you.”

I pulled her tighter into my arms. “Then don’t be. I’ll earn your trust, Calliope. However long it takes.”

8

CALLIOPE

Istayed curled in Adan’s lap for a long time, his promise circling in my head. His arms stayed wrapped around me, and his chest was warm and solid beneath my cheek. The intensity between us hadn’t faded, not completely. It hummed beneath the surface, but he didn’t push. He just held me.

I needed that more than I’d realized.

For the first time in my life, I’d practically thrown myself at a man. And not just anyone. A demon—something I didn’t even know existed twenty-four hours ago. One who claimed I was his fated mate.

It should’ve been too much. But even now, with the heat of his body surrounding me and my pulse still racing, all I could think about was how natural it had felt to kiss him. My body had responded like it was waking up for the first time.

And maybe it was.

I’d always felt out of step with other women my age. They talked about hookups and flings, dating apps and guys they’d met at parties. I thought something in me was broken for never finding someone who truly sparked my interest. Not until Adan.

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