“I don’t belong to anyone.”

He chuckled at her shaken words and continued strok-ing her face, hair, throat, shoulders like he was soothing a pissed-off cat he only wanted to pet. “Jesus, you’re magnifi-cent. you never give up, and you’re not afraid of anything but this. of what you feel like once I touch you, command you, direct you to give me every part of that delectable body.” Her skin warmed and softened underneath his touch, her nipples painfully hard against the soft cotton barrier.

“I’m not spending night after night with an erection that won’t go down and a need in my soul to have you. you do belong to me, Julietta. your body is mine for the taking, and I’m taking it tonight.”

His mouth claimed hers. She waited for brutality and raw invasion. She got softness, heat, and a man intent on winning. She lifted her arms, poised to push him away and fight. His tongue sank deep between her lips, inviting her to play, tempting her to leave safety behind and plunge into the all the dark delights he was going to show her.

She grabbed onto his shoulders and surrendered.

His satisfied moan pushed the heat higher. Their tongues tangled together, and his taste swamped her, the delicious burn of alcohol and spice and a hint of mint tooth-paste. He gripped her head and dived in, over and over, taking her mouth like he intended to thrust between her legs with all the glorious power that left no room for thought or decisions or approval.

Still holding tight, he guided her against the far wall and pushed her against it, never breaking contact. Her hands greedily ran over the lines of his chest, the roped muscles of his shoulders and arms, the line of blond hair that trailed down the center of his stomach and disappeared beneath the waistband of his pants. He ripped his mouth away from her, stepped back half an inch, and gave her a wolfish grin.

Sawyer grabbed the delicate collar of her nightgown in the center and ripped it straight down the middle. Wetness ran down her thighs at the raw violence of the motion. He stared greedily at her naked body, and her clit pounded in demand. Sawyer touched a hard nipple, ran a thumb under the curve of her breasts, and continued down her quivering stomach. “you didn’t wear panties to bed. Why?”

His question demanded the truth. Her voice ripped from her throat. “Because it was too much. I was thinking of you, and I was too—”

“Aroused?”

She jerked her head. Lust gleamed from tiger eyes as he kissed her again, pulling her tight against his chest, devouring her piece by piece. He unbuttoned his pants and stripped quickly, then slowly turned her around. She fought to keep skin-to-skin contact, but he nipped at her neck in punishment and forced her hips to swivel.

“Hands on the wall. And don’t let go, Julietta.”

A shudder wracked through her. She placed her palms flat on the wall. He spread her legs wide so cool air rushed between and teased the swollen flesh. “I wish I could paint you like this,” he said reverently, tracing the line of her spine, the curve of her buttocks. “you’re everything beautiful and perfect and feminine in a woman. Graceful, muscu-lar, with gentle curves and golden skin that reminds me of a goddess.” He placed kisses down her back and nibbled on her nape, pushing her hair back over her shoulder. “I want to brand you so every inch of your body responds only to me. your taste haunts me. I watch you conducting a proper business conversation and dream of lifting your skirt and burying my mouth in your pussy.”

“Sawyer—” She turned in desperation but a quick smack on her buttocks stole her breath.

“Hands on the wall. you’re not allowed to have an orgasm until I’m inside you. If you do, there will be conse-quences.” He nipped at her shoulder. “And I’m going to do everything in my power so that you disobey me, baby. That way I’ll be able to punish you.”

His outrageous words stripped her sanity and turned her into a creature of animalistic needs. She squirmed and rested her forehead against the cool plaster, desperate for more. His low chuckle told her he knew every dark, dirty thought in her mind and intended to fulfill them all. His hands cupped her breasts and he played with her nipples, tugging, twisting, until they swelled and were so sensitive that pleasure leaked into the fine edge of pain. His tongue traced down the line of her spine and settled above the swell of her buttocks, then lower, spreading her cheeks and slipping his tongue to her dripping slit to pleasure her.

The slide of his tongue over her swollen clit, the nibble of his teeth, the strength of his hands as he held her open to everything he chose to do with her—all of it came crash-ing down into a raging climax that overtook her body and tossed her like a grain of sand in a tidal wave. She screamed, her hands clenching together as she bucked against him wildly, her body convulsing in pleasurable shocks. He helped her ride it out for a long time. Finally, her muscles quivered and relaxed. He supported her weight and held her against the wall, his erection pushing between her legs in pulsing demand.

“God, you’re sexy. you’re—everything.” The soft words wrung another shudder. He lifted her and brought her to the bed. “But you still disobeyed my orders.”

“I kept my hands on the wall.”

He laughed. “True. I’ll punish you only fifty percent for coming before I approved. on your knees.”

She muttered a curse under her breath but got onto all fours on the bed. “Why do you get to make all the rules?”

“Because I said so. And it’s more pleasant for you when you obey. Has anyone ever spanked you before?”

Her head rolled around to glare. “What do you think?”

His lip quirked in amusement at her sarcasm. “I think no. you get ten whacks by my hand.”

“I’m not a child. That’s humiliating. And if you continue, I’ll make sure you lose that hand.”

“oh, I like games, baby, and I’m the master. How about me torturing you for hours without letting you orgasm?” She opened her mouth to say something smart, then snapped it shut. The idea of it tantalized her, but she was deathly afraid he was telling the truth. “Hmm, smart response. Though I may have to try that in the future; you looked way too intrigued to see if I could accomplish the feat. For now, you get the spanking.”

“What could this possibly do for you or me? I’ve never heard of such a thing.”

“I guess you’ll have to tell me. one.”

His flat palm hit her right cheek. A quick sting made her suck in her breath. Her ass was probably as red as her face, completely embarrassed at her position and vulner-ability. Three more quick hits on the right, then he moved to the left. Julietta locked herself in position before each swat, cursing him, wondering why the heck he’d get aroused over such a ridiculous game.

Until she realized her body was dripping wet. Sensitized.

ready to go over the edge with one touch.

As if he knew, Sawyer paused halfway through to rub her heated skin. The massage only revved up her crazed response. She squeezed her eyes shut at the realization the whole thing was turning her on horribly. He continued on the left cheek for three more. each time, instead of suf-fering through it, she arched against him without thought, craving more of the delicious prickly warmth that oozed through her bloodstream and sensitized every nerve ending. She held her breath for the last two.

“Widen your legs.”

She pushed her thighs apart one inch. Two. Waited for the pain in horrible anticipation. His fingers settled on her buttocks, rubbed, then slipped between her thighs.

“Mio Dio! ”

Her clit pounded for release and her nipples stabbed open air in a terrible need to have his mouth and tongue and teeth. Just as she was about to orgasm, he slid his fingers out and swatted her backside with two strong strokes.

Her arms trembled, unable to take her weight. Her arousal rose to her own nostrils, and a low animal moan escaped her lips and echoed in the air.

His control must have snapped. With an answering groan, she heard the rip of a wrapper, and suddenly he mounted her. Grasping her hips, he slid into her in one hard thrust, filling every inch of her body and claiming her completely.

Julietta surrendered. Body, mind, soul. With long, full strokes, he brought her straight to the edge and held her there mercilessly, guiding the rhythm and not allowing her to do anything but hang on and give him what he wanted.

Her channel milked him, and he tortured her for what seemed like forever until she begged.

“Please, oh, please.”

He paused. Held himself deep inside of her, not moving, as her body spasmed around his penis. “you belong to me. Say it.”

“I belong to you, Sawyer. Take me.”

He reached around, gently squeezed her clit, and plunged.

The orgasm hit hard. His dim shout told her he followed her over. She sobbed in relief and let go, giving him everything he asked for and more.

…

“I think I’m dead.”

Sawyer kissed her cheek and pulled her closer. She burrowed under the sheets, and her silky warmth pressed against him. The scent of sex filled the air. Moonlight leaked through the window and cast shadows over the bed. “Then I’ve done my job for the night.” He caressed her bare arm, enjoying the feel of her skin. He didn’t think he’d ever get enough of her.

“Will you kill me every night?”

“yes. I hope that’s okay with you, or we’ll have to play out this caveman scene on a daily basis.” Sawyer held his breath and waited for her answer. Somehow, some way, this woman had crawled under his skin and buried herself there.

He needed this from her, needed the connection of sex, and then he was sure the tension would finally relax between them. After all, they were married.

“No. I don’t want to fight you anymore. Fight this.”

“Good.” They lay in relaxed silence for long minutes.

He was about to drift off when she spoke his name. “What, sweetheart?”

Her tone was wary. Unsure. “I know you said you never talk about your past. I understand. But I feel as if you know so much about me. It feels unbalanced. And I feel—”

“What?”

“Vulnerable,” she whispered. “I need something. of your choice.” She paused. “Please.”

The memories swamped him, but her confession touched a tender part in his soul. She was so honest about her needs, even though she opened herself up to his ridi-cule. And Julietta was right. He hadn’t given anything of himself other than his body. He reached down and sought what he could sacrifice. The words flowed out without hesi-tation, as if always waiting on the surface for the right person, the right time, to escape.

“My parents died when I was nine. I had no other rela-tives, no friends to take me. I went into the foster care system, and I wasn’t prepared for what I found. No one wanted a young boy on the edge of being a teenager. I was placed a few times before I found a permanent residence. But things were bad. Worse than for someone who never had the experience of good parents I think. Like a shock to the system, I had to change my thinking about what life was in order to survive. When I finally escaped at eighteen, I roamed the streets, made a place for myself, but it was rough.