“Come. Come on my cock.”

Her body rebelled, clamping around me. I struggled to breathe. I groaned as her pussy flexed tighter and tighter. I saw fucking stars.

“Jethro—” Her breathing turned to breathless pants. The muscles along her spine contorted with pressure. She wiggled, trying to dislodge my hold on her clit. “It’s too intense—”

I didn’t let her move. “You don’t know the meaning of intense. I’ll show you intense. I’ll show you what it’s like to live in a world full of fucking intensity.” Bowing over her, I bit her ear. “Come, Nila. Come for me. Let me give you pleasure after the pain I’ve caused.”

Her legs gave way; a long moan crawled from her throat.

Then, she detonated.

I caught her as an orgasm ripped through her core, sucking and melting around my cock. “Yes…Oh, my God…”

I clamped a hand over her mouth as she screamed in delirium. My forehead furrowed as incredible waves of pressure milked my cock as her pussy contracted.

I wanted to come. Shit, I wanted to come.

With each wave, her body tried to reject my size, but then…on the final crest of her orgasm, wetness gushed. She welcomed me with perfect rapture.

I groaned.

“I’m taking you now, Ms. Weaver. You’re all mine.”

Bending over her, I let myself loose.

In one vicious rock, I claimed her. I slid deep, deep inside.

There was no resistance. Nothing barring me from filling her completely. The head of my cock banged against the top of her, tearing a guttural grunt from my chest.

“Christ!” I thrust again, loving how deep I could go. Her liquid heat slicked over me, turning friction into sheer-minded lust.

I could’ve come right there.

I could’ve come a hundred fucking times.

But yet again, I needed more. So much more.

Nila’s hands slapped on the side, her fingers struggling for purchase as I stopped thinking, stopped feeling, and gave into what I needed.

I rode her.

So. Damn. Hard.

I claimed her.

So. Damn. Hard.

I grabbed her hips and punished both of us for finding what we never thought we’d find. I broke myself by shattering my walls and admitting without her…I was nothing.

Nothing.

I fucked her. I loved her.

I gave everything to her.

My teeth sank into the spot between her shoulder and neck as sweat ran down my back. I wanted to puncture her skin. I never wanted to let go.

The diamonds in her collar reflected the sapphire of the water, blinding me.

Her whimpers echoed in my ears as she tilted her head, giving me more authority, more control with my primitive hold. Unable to stop myself, I bit harder, licking her salty skin, relishing in her flinch.

My teeth sank deeper, and only once I tasted the faintest tang of blood did I stand up and fuck her harder. My fingers gripped her hipbones, conveying greed and possession. My entire mind-set became feral, needing to conquer this woman.

My woman.

Nila turned her head, pressing her cheek to the side. A wince knitted her brows, her lips bowed in pain, but I couldn’t stop.

Wouldn’t stop.

“Yes. More, Jethro. More.”

My chest rose and fell with laboured breaths, my muscles spasmed as I sent my body hurtling into euphoria.

Her eyes opened and I lost myself in the dark chasm of mesmerizing love.

She loved me.

She fucking loves me.

The unmistakable vulnerability of such an emotion tore open my heart.

The cuts on my feet bellowed as I dug my toes into the silty bottom and rode her harder, giving her my entire length thrust after thrust after thrust.

“Nila—fuck—”

I jerked. My orgasm shot unrestrained from my balls. It exploded up my cock with such intensity, I folded over her back. “Goddammit,” I groaned, sucking in her hair as savage streams of cum erupted from my tip.

Her inner muscles demanded more, conjuring every last drop of semen I had to give. The release kept going and going, threatening to burst my heart as my body continued to devour hers. Ecstasy sparkled in every cell as I hit the top of her, spurting one last time as deep as I could go.

“Feel that?” I asked, grunting as a final wave stole my ability to breathe. Sweat ran down my temples, drenching my hair. “You’re inside me, Nila Weaver—as surely as I’m inside you.”

“You’re it for me, Jethro. You’ve destroyed me.” Her voice was soft, dreamy.

I bent to kiss her—the sweetest, gentlest kiss. “You’re wrong. You’re the one who’s destroyed me.”

Ending the kiss, Nila just watched me. No words. No questions.

She accepted everything I gave her. She hadn’t looked away while I lost myself in her—she’d given me something I’d never had before. She gave me everything—let me witness how true and steadfast it was.

Trust.

Connection.

No lies.

She fucking loved me.

She’d given me a new beginning.

“WHEN WILL YOU tell me?”

Jethro’s step faltered, his eyes shooting to mine.

His naked torso was damp and flushed with heat from the cave-springs, a white towel riding low on his hips.

He’d offered to carry me, but I’d chosen to walk—even though I was just as naked with only a towel hiding my modesty.

I was alive.

The sooner my body remembered how to move, the better.

Even though hate had killed me, love had revived me.