She shivered, letting her head fall back, surrendering to me.

I bit her again—I couldn’t help myself. I nudged her diamond collar higher up her throat and bit hard. I couldn’t ignore the instincts demanding me to claim.

I wanted to give her a gift. A gift where I gave her more than just my body but my heart. There would be no pain, debts, or degradation. Only us.

“I want to care for you, Nila. I want to show you how much I value what you’ve given me.”

The driving urge to climb inside her grew with every heartbeat. The anticipation made it all the more sweeter, but I’d reached the end of my self-control.

Dropping my gaze, I followed my hand as I cupped her breast and squeezed. Her back curved, forcing more of her flesh into my fingers. I pinched her nipple then ducked and covered her other breast with my mouth.

She groaned, hugging my head to her, demanding that I lick harder. The erotic sound of her pleasure sent shock-waves through me.

Thank fuck she didn’t like sweet and gentle. I’d tried to be soft—for her sake. I’d tried to control myself. I wasn’t such a monster to add more injuries, not when she’d been through so much, but I silently thanked her that she needed what I did.

That she wanted me fierce and true. Nothing bared.

My fingertips flexed around her nipple, dragging another soft moan.

I couldn’t stand it any longer.

Standing to my full height, I captured her mouth in another kiss. Her beautiful lips met mine, her tongue licking with passion and hunger. As our kiss deepened, I banded an arm around her, pressing her flat stomach against my cock.

She arched into my caress, her fingers flying into the water to wrap around my length.

“Fuck,” I groaned as her tight hold sent my mind exploding with lust.

My hips rocked, forcing myself deeper into her palm. The joy of having her touch me—of me touching her—wasn’t enough. I needed more.

I need fucking everything.

Picking her up, I waded to the side and spun her around. The moment she faced away from me, I couldn’t stop myself from grinding my cock against the crack of her arse.

Her fingers clawed at the earthen side, her head flopping forward as I cupped her breasts from behind and squeezed to the point of pain.

Dropping one hand, I trailed it down her belly, not stopping until I found her slippery cunt. I sucked in air as I found a different kind of moisture.

Her arousal was thicker, silkier than the water around us.

I bit the back of her shoulder, pressing a finger deep inside her. The way she gave in to me made me soar. The guilt, the hate—it all faded.

She bucked, her mouth falling open. “Ah…”

Her gentle sound of bliss unravelled me faster.

This was what I needed. Her. Where had she been all my life? Why had I fumbled for so long without her in my arms?

Never again.

Never fucking again would I be so alone.

Her torso twisted in my arms, her hand cupping my bristle-covered jaw. “I can feel you.”

Fuck, she was too perceptive.

I couldn’t speak.

Nila’s lips tilted into a sensual smile. “I can feel so much when you let go. When you let me in.”

I kissed her.

I had no choice.

Her body wriggled against mine as I slipped another finger inside her pussy, rubbing her clit with my thumb.

“You’re so fucking gorgeous…so strong.” Words spilled from my mouth, disappearing into her hair, down her back, dripping into the water. “I’m so damn hard, I’m in agony. All my life, something was missing. And now I’ve found it.” I rocked my dick against her, making my need so much worse. “I found you. I stole you. I took you from others who didn’t appreciate the gift of what you are, and now I’m never letting you go.”

She moaned, her eyes blazing with lust.

I thrust again, welcoming the heat and bliss of being naked with this woman. “See what you do to me? See how much I need to crawl inside you and never fucking leave?” I rolled my hips, panting at the delicious friction.

Nila gasped, her spine bowing in invitation. “God, don’t stop. Tell me everything. Don’t be afraid. If you want me to beg, I’ll beg. If you want me to scream, I’ll scream. Just…” Her legs spread in the water as she bent over the side, looking at me over her shoulder. “Just never stop being honest with me. This…what you’re giving me, Jethro, it makes everything worthwhile. It makes everything I believed real.”

Her cheeks glistened as she smiled through her tears. “Nothing could’ve prepared me for this. Nothing could’ve taught me to feel this way. I’m ready to forget everything. I’m ready to be selfish and steal you like you stole me.”

She cried out as I thrust my fingers deeper inside her, tearing my name from her lips.

“I—I only want you,” she groaned. “Only you. Promise me that I can keep you. Promise me.”

My heart…shit, my heart.

It unlocked.

The padlock fell free.

Her words were a key. Her forgiveness and love and strength and everything that made her pure stole me from my life of pain.

She changed me.

Right there.

Right then.

I became hers.

Irreversibly.

“I promise,” I swore. I needed to climb into her soul and cement everything we’d just confessed. “I’m so messed up over you. I—” I couldn’t talk anymore. I was too fucking fragile. Too overwhelmed.