Page 99 of Of Lies and Shadows

I take a step forward… and then stop. “I don’t want to just do it because I can. I want you to want it. I want it to be you choosing me—not a contract.”

She doesn’t hesitate. “It’s not because of the contract.”

And just like that, the air shifts. I reach for her hand, and she lets me take it.

“It doesn’t change anything,” she says, but it sounds uncertain. I don’t reply because I know that deep down, it does.

Wordlessly, I lead her to her room.

She follows silently, her hand warm in mine, but her breath quickens with every step. I can feel the tension between us, taut, humming, alive. When we reach the bed, I turn to face her, searching her eyes for any trace ofhesitation.

There’s none.

I cup her face, kissing her slow and deep, like I’ve been starved for the taste of her. She melts into me, arms curling around my neck, and I walk us backward until the backs of her knees hit the bed. My fingers find the tie at the waist of her wrap dress and pull it loose.

She sucks in a breath.

“You stop me if this becomes too much.”

She nods, and I lean down to kiss her again. Not rushed. Not rough. Just… reverent.

When I part the dress, she shivers. Her bra and panties are lace, dark and delicate against her curves. She goes to hide herself, arms twitching like she wants to pull the fabric back over her, but I stop her with a hand on her wrist.

“Don’t,” I whisper. “You have no idea how fucking beautiful you are.”

She blushes, her gaze darting away.

I brush my knuckles down her side, over her waist, her hip, the curve of her ass. “You think I want someone small and forgettable?” I ask gently. “No, baby. I want this.You.Every inch of you. You’re a goddamn goddess, and I want to feel you riding me like you know it.”

Her eyes widen. “Me… on top?”

“Yeah.” I sit on the bed and pull her close. “I want you right here. I want to watch you fall apart while you take what’s already yours.”

She hesitates. “But what if I’m… not good at it?”

The question guts me.

I take her face in both hands, making sure she’s lookingat me when I say it. “Francesca, you are perfect. You’re strong. Sexy. Mine. You’re not going to bad at anything, sweetheart. You’re going to break meapart.”

Her breath stutters, and when I kiss her again, she melts into it.

I strip quickly, watching her watch me. There’s no hiding my arousal—my cock’s already hard, aching for her. She lowers her underwear slowly and climbs into my lap with soft, unsure movements.

“It’s okay,” I murmur, guiding her into place. “Let me help you.”

I grip her hips, angle myself beneath her, and together we line up. She takes a breath, then slowly, slowly sinks down.

Fuck.

The heat, the tightness, the feel of her wrapped around me, it’s almost too much. My hands tremble against her thighs as she takes me, inch by inch, her body stretching to fit mine.

“Good girl,” I whisper, voice shaking. “Just like that. You feel so fucking perfect.”

She whimpers, bracing her hands on my chest, hips trembling.

“You okay?” I ask.

She nods, her cheeks flushed. “It’s… a lot. But good, really good.”

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