Every time he got his hands on her.

He should go carefully. Use finesse and charm.

But Dante had never been one for charm, and if he didn’t get inside Cassie, he thought he might just go insane.

Been there . . .

And he’d left the flames behind to prove his descent into madness.

His hand slid between them. She was wearing some kind of little gown—like a hospital gown?—and when he shoved it up, he touched the smooth silk of her panties.

He’d come so close to tasting her there.

Mine.

His head lifted. Their eyes met.

De-fucking-vour.

Her breath caught as he pushed down her body. “Dante, you don’t—”

He put his mouth on her, right through the panties. He pressed down, kissing that silk, then blowing lightly against her.

Cassie’s moan filled his ears, and he knew that her nightmare was gone.

That wasn’t good enough. He wanted her thinking only about him and the pleasure that he could give to her.

Because she was all that he could think about.

His fingers grabbed the edge of her panties and yanked them down. The underwear was shredded before he tossed the garment away. He put his mouth directly on that sweet flesh.

She tasted so damn good. He licked her. Kissed. Slid his fingers into her tight, hot core.

Cassie’s breaths came faster, harder. Her nails sank into his shoulders.

It still wasn’t good enough.

He licked her hard. Sucked the center of her need. Thrust two fingers into her. Kept up the friction, enjoying every single taste of her—and becoming desperate for more. Always, more.

She stiffened beneath him, her whole body tensing, and he knew that her cl**ax was close.

He wanted that first cl**ax to be when he was in her. As deep as he could go. He lifted up and positioned his heavy c**k at the entrance to her body.

Cassie’s gaze found his and her breath caught. “Your eyes . . .”

He wondered what she saw in his gaze, but whatever it was, it didn’t seem to be scaring her. She reached for him. Her arms curled around his shoulders.

He stroked her once more, then drove deep into her. His thrust sent the headboard thudding against the wall. “Cassie?”

She’d tensed beneath him once more, but the tension was different, and . . . she was so tight.

So amazingly tight.

He had to pull back, had to thrust deeper. Again and again.

Her lashes had lowered, and he couldn’t see her gaze. That wasn’t the way he wanted it. He needed to see her. All of her.

“Look at me.”

Her lashes flew up.

Was that pain in her eyes? Cassie couldn’t know pain. Only pleasure.

His hand eased between their bodies, found her clit, and stroked her. He choked back his own need as he brought her to a feverish pitch once more. He’d take no pleasure until she found her release.

Her h*ps started to arch against him, and her nails dug into his back.

Yes, yes, this was what he wanted. What he needed.

Cassie cl**axed beneath him, and he felt the strong contractions of her inner muscles along the length of his cock. Her gasp filled his ears—the sexiest thing he’d ever heard, sighing with pleasure—and he thrust harder, faster into her.

The headboard kept thudding against the wall.

The pleasure hit him, crashing over him, into him, and her name roared from his lips as the cl**ax seemed to rip him apart.

His hands fisted on the covers. His h*ps pistoned against her, and the pleasure consumed him.

His breath heaved from his lungs and his mouth took hers. He kissed her, tasting the pleasure on her lips, and Dante knew that nothing had ever been this good.

No other lovers. Only her.

The woman had just ruined him for anyone else. But he’d known that truth about her for a very long time.

Right from the moment he’d realized she had the potential to be a phoenix’s mate. One of the few who could handle the fire and fury that was within him.

His lips gentled on hers even as he still thrust lightly into her. He didn’t want to leave her body. After so many years of wanting, he was finally where he needed to be.

He licked her lower lip, then slowly raised his head. Her cheeks were flushed. Her eyes sparkling. And she smiled at him.

Lethal.

His breath stilled in his chest.

“That was”—her smile widened—“worth waiting for.”

He shook his head.

Her smile instantly dimmed.

“No,” he told her, his voice a growl because that was all he could manage, “that was just the beginning.”

His thrusts became stronger. Harder.