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He grows still, his breath stuttering.

I press my lips against his cheek. “I love you.”

In a snap, his lips are on mine. His kiss is all consuming. Devouring, but it’s not out of joy. No. I think he’s trying to drown out my words.

Because he doesn’t believe them.

When he pulls away, we’re both panting.

“I love you,” I say breathlessly.

“Stop.” The word is delivered through clenched teeth. “I don’t want to hear it.”

“I love you.”

His eyes grow wild. He yanks me by the waist and pulls me against his chest. His feet thump on the floor, and then I’m in the air. He carries me over to the giant mirror near his closet and sets me in front of it.

“Look,” he says, and our eyes meet in the mirror. “Watch me put a baby in you.”

He lifts my nightgown, and the air cools my skin. His hard cock pokes between my legs, fumbling around—a sign of his frazzled temper. Then, in one thrust, he’s inside, and I let out a shriek, but not of pain.

No, this is a wonderful feeling. A fullness. A sense of being one with the man I love.

Even when he’s acting like a madman.

“There.” His voice is hoarse. “See? This is what you were meant for. To be mine. Forever. To have my babies.”

After the first thrust, he winces. When I try to turn my head to kiss him, he grabs my chin and forces my face back to the mirror.

“No. You’re going to watch me fill you with my come.”

He thrusts so hard that the sound of smacking resonates through the room. He grimaces, as if in pain.

“The baby will grow inside you, Ava.” He grits his teeth. “And you won’t be able to leave me. Not like what you—” He lets out something between a groan and a whimper. “Did… Tried to… Last night.”

Warmth blooms low in my belly and then spreads outward like a slow burn. I moan. “I was…never—” I shriek when he slams into me. “Never…going to leave you.”

“Don’t lie to me,” he shouts, his thrust so powerful it lifts me off the floor. “You almost did. One wrong move, Ava.” He bares his teeth. “Never do that again. Ever!”

I whimper. “I won’t.”

“No, you won’t.” He kisses my cheeks softly. “Because you’ll have a baby to think about.”

He reaches around me and places his hand on my pussy. When he starts flicking my clit, my belly catches fire. His thrusts become rapid, jerking bursts.

“Yes, precious girl,” he croons. “Let go.”

Stars appear behind my eyes, and I scream. Distantly, I hear him let out a roar, and a moment later, hot liquid fills my insides.

“That’s it.” His voice is breathless. “Take all my come.”

My body is so heavy, and I droop in his arms for who knows how long. After a while, I turn to kiss him. He lets me, but he’s not as tender as he was in the moments just before we came together.

“Get on the bed,” he says. “We’ll be doing that a few more times tonight.”

My heart sinks. I haven’t broken the barrier yet, but I won’t stop trying.

Not for anything.