Page 97 of Bitten & Burned

“I’m glad you think so,” he murmured, his hips slowly starting to move. “Because you are driving me crazy…. You feel so good, Rowena. You take me so well…”

“Oh gods, fuck me,” I begged. “Please… don’t make me beg.”

“You already are, and it’s magnificent,” he murmured, snapping his hips into me—filling me so completely I thought Imight break.

“Oh, gods…Anton… fuck… don’t stop. Don’t ever stop.”

He didn’t. He didn’t stop.

He rolled his hips slowly, deeply, like he had all the time in the world to ruin me—again. My hands clutched at his back, nails dragging lightly down his skin, and he groaned into my neck.

“I could live inside you,” he whispered, voice frayed and hungry. “Make you fall apart like this every godsdamned day, until you never doubt who you belong to.”

“Yes, yes, Anton, please… again…”

“Anything, darling.” He thrust harder, faster now. The headboard hit the wall in a steady rhythm, and I moaned—louder, freer—feeling myself spiral again.

I came around him with a cry, and this time, he didn’t hold back. He moaned my name like it was sacred, like it was his, and thrust one last time as he came with me, deep and hot.

And then he stilled—shaking, breath ragged, body trembling against mine.

He didn’t move. Just rested there, forehead pressed to mine, lips brushing mine as we both tried to catch our breath.

“Rowena…” he murmured, voice barely audible. “I can’t feel my legs.”

I smiled, eyes fluttering shut as my fingers curled against his chest. “Good.”

He chuckled, wrapping his arms around me, careful as he rolled us onto our sides, still connected, still joined. My legs tangled with his, and I exhaled into the crook of his neck.

Sleep tugged at me, warm and heavy.

He stroked my hair, voice velvety smooth against my ear. “I’ve got you.”

And I believed him.

Even as the world blurred and my breathing slowed, I believed him.

Because for once—finally—I felt safe. Whole. Loved.

And I slept.

Still full of him. Still his.

Devastated, as he promised. And I’d let him do it again.

Fourteen

MARKED

Serpentine Bay, Euraline, Verdune

21 Ebry, Year 810

I woketo the warmth of his lips on my cheek. First the right, then the left. Then, finally, on my mouth.

My eyes fluttered open. I smiled lazily, reaching up to thread my fingers through Anton’s maddeningly perfect hair. Perfect even after the night we’d had.

I tugged him closer, kissing him, my hands moved down his torso—and I was mildly outraged to find him fully clothed. Again.