Page 40 of With this Ring (Mastered #7)

Three months later

The crunch of tires on gravel brought Sasha’s head up from her laptop. Through the wall of windows overlooking the Colorado mountains, she watched Gregorio’s black SUV wind its way up their private drive, early morning sunlight glinting off the bulletproof glass.

Their compromise of a home—a high-security estate set on twenty private acres outside of Evergreen—had seemed excessive when they’d first found it.

But now she understood why Gregorio had insisted on the security features and isolation.

Here, he could relax his guard, at least marginally.

And she had enough space to work from home most days, heading into the Denver office when cases demanded it or for meetings.

She’d formed an alliance with Hawkeye Security to handle some of their smaller cases.

As a result, she’d hired another three investigators.

Nadia was doing an excellent job managing all the day-to-day details, allowing Sasha to make sales calls, concentrating most of her efforts on growing the business.

The front door opened, and his presence filled the house. Even after months together, her pulse still quickened at the sound of his boots on the hardwood floors. Some things would never change.

“You’re back early,” she called out, not turning from her computer. The faster she finished this report, the sooner she could focus on him.

“Had Wolfe cover the rest of my shift.” His voice was closer now, rough with exhaustion. “Damien’s handling the expansion details.”

Then his hands settled on her shoulders, strong and possessive. “You’re working too hard, Petal.”

She leaned back into his touch. “Says the man who just pulled a double at the Den.”

“Mmm.” He bent to press a kiss to her neck, right where it made her shiver. “But I’m not the one who spent yesterday chasing a bail jumper across three counties.”

“I was perfectly safe. Stryker had my back.”

His grip tightened fractionally. They’d had this discussion before—her insistence on keeping some fieldwork, his instinct to protect her. They were still finding the balance.

“Besides,” she added, tilting her head to give him better access, “you’ve been busy with that Hawkeye mission in Vegas.”

He made a noncommittal sound against her skin. They both knew there were parts of his work he couldn’t talk about, even with her. But he’d cut back on the most dangerous assignments, splitting his time between the Den and Hawkeye’s local operations. It wasn’t perfect, but it was working.

“Shower with me?” he asked, though it wasn’t really a question. His thumbs worked into the knots at the base of her neck, and she melted further into his touch.

“Let me just send this to the client—”

“It can wait.” There was that edge of command in his voice that still made her stomach flip. “If my guess is right, you’ve been at it since dawn.”

She started to protest, but he spun her chair around to face him. The sight of him—still in a black leather jacket, fresh scruff darkening his jaw—made the words die in her throat. His diamond earring caught the light as he studied her.

“Don’t make me carry you, Petal.” His eyes glittered with both amusement and warning. “Your ribs are healed enough that I won’t feel guilty about throwing you over my shoulder.”

Heat bloomed in her chest. They both knew he would do it, and they both knew she secretly loved it when he did.

“Fine.” She lifted her chin in mock defiance. “But only because I was almost finished anyway.”

His answering smile was pure sin. “Whatever you need to tell yourself.” He pulled her to her feet, then paused, his expression softening as he caught sight of her ring. He still did that sometimes—looked at it like he couldn’t quite believe she was his.

“I love you,” she said quietly, because she could. Because they were past the point of holding back.

The fire in his eyes banked, turning molten. “Show me how much.” He pulled her close, his touch just this side of rough. “Upstairs. Now.”

As she followed him toward their bedroom, Sasha smiled to herself. They might have traded the drama for domesticity, but some things—the electricity between them, the way he commanded and she yielded, the bone-deep certainty that they belonged together—would never change.

And she wouldn’t have it any other way.

Outside their bathroom window, a deer wandered past. In the near distance, evergreens reached for the sky, and their needle-covered branches swayed in the breeze.

This view was so different from the one she’d had at her Denver apartment—open, vast, and soothing. Would she ever get used to it?

Gregorio moved behind her and once more placed his hands on her shoulders. His touch was firm yet gentle, as it always was. “I’ve had a hard-on the entire drive home.”

“Oh? See something interesting at the Den?”

Against her ear, he growled as he brought a hand firmly against her right ass cheek.

Yelping, she turned to face him.

“You know there’s only one woman who gives me that reaction.”

She loved his possessiveness and reassurances.

“I was thinking about being balls-deep in your pussy. That’s why I came home.”

His raw words always made her tremble with anticipation.

“I want you naked. Now.”

When she reached for the hem of her long-sleeved shirt, he brushed her hands aside.

“I’ve been thinking about doing this.”

Her future husband—her Dominant—stripped off her shirt. Then he made short work of her bra.

Finally, he crouched in front of her to pull down her leggings and panties.

He cupped her pussy and squeezed it a little, making her suck in a breath.

“This belongs to me.”

“Yes,” she whispered, tipping her head back. “Yes, Sir.” There never had been another man for her. Never would be.

Before releasing her, he squeezed again, this time much harder.

Response rushed through her.

“I love the way you react to me.”

Desperate for him, she reached for his black henley. “May I?”

“Make it quick.” There was fire in his eyes, like there always was when she was naked and aroused.

Once she had taken it off and dropped it on top of her discarded clothing, she traced the lines of his chest, feeling the ridges of his muscles and the rough edges of his scars.

Some were still healing. But he’d regained most of the muscle mass he’d lost after taking the bullet that would have ended her life.

She finished undressing him, savoring the sight of his hard, powerful body.

When he was naked, she sank to her knees. The position was one of her favorites—making her feel both vulnerable and in control.

Glancing up at him, she saw the desire making his eyes even darker.

Keeping her gaze on him, she grasped his hips, digging her fingers into his defined, firm muscles.

“Sasha,” he warned.

“What, Sir?”

He fisted a hand into her hair and held her tight as she closed her mouth around his cockhead.

His taste was intoxicating. She loved the way he responded to her touch, the way his body tensed and his breath caught.

“Woman…”

She swirled her tongue around his shaft as she sucked, taking him deeper.

Gregorio let out a low groan, his hand tightening even more. “Just like that, Petal,” he murmured, his voice gruff.

He grew harder in her mouth, and tension built in his body. She loved doing this to him, loved the way she could bring him to the brink with just her mouth and her hands.

“Enough,” he said finally, his voice strained. He pulled her to her feet, his eyes blazing with need.

His cock was hard, throbbing, and his taste lingered in her mouth.

Motions abrupt and efficient, he led her to the shower, turning the spray to hot until the room was filled with steam.

Before they entered, he adjusted the temperature and set the spray to a jet setting.

The sensation of the water pounding against her skin was almost as intense as the feel of Gregorio’s hands as they roamed over her body.

“I’ll never get enough of you.”

He turned her around, his hands lathering soap over her skin. He massaged her shoulders and her back, his touch as soothing as it was arousing.

“Do you like this, Petal?” he asked, his voice a low growl in her ear.

Did she really need to answer? “Yes, Sir,” she whispered. “I love everything you do to me.”

He smiled, his hands moving lower. “And what do you want me to do to you now?”

She leaned back against him, her body shivering with anticipation. “I want you to take me, Sir,” she said, her voice filled with longing. “I want you to make me yours, again and again.”

“Always,” he promised, his voice filled with love and dominance. Slowly, he slid his hands to her hips, then he tightened his grip. “Always, Petal.”

He spun her around to face him before lifting her up.

Her back hit the cool tiles as he pinned her against the wall. Instinctively, she wrapped her legs around his waist, opening herself up to him.

His cock, hard and eager, pressed against her entrance.

Not long after his proposal, she had gotten on birth control. There wasn’t anything she liked more than the feeling of him being inside her without any barrier between them, then his hot seed spilling inside her.

“Are you ready for me?”

Without waiting for an answer, he slid a finger between her folds and ensured she was slick. “I have been, Sir,” she told him. Since the moment she heard his car on the driveway.

In a single, powerful thrust, he was inside her, filling her completely. She gasped, digging her nails into his shoulders as her body adjusted to his size.

“God, you feel incredible,” he growled, his voice hoarse with desire. He began to move, each thrust deep and demanding. “I couldn’t stop thinking of you.”

The water cascaded over them, making their bodies slick and slippery.

He ground his hips against hers with each thrust, ensuring she felt every inch of him.

Her breaths came in short, desperate gasps, matching the rhythm of his movements. “Gregorio!” She clung to him, her body shivering with pleasure as he fucked her hard and deep.

His grip on her tightened, his fingers digging into her flesh as he held her in place. The sensation of his body against hers, his cock filling her, was overwhelming. Deep inside, her orgasm built, the need intensifying with each of his strokes.

“Give it to me,” he commanded, his voice sharp. “I want to feel you come all over my cock. Do it now.”

His order pushed her over the edge. With a cry, she climaxed hard, her body convulsing around him as waves of pleasure crashed through her. He didn’t let up, continuing to thrust into her, drawing out her orgasm until she was a trembling, gasping mess.

“So fucking hot. So perfect.”

Only then did he allow himself to find his own release.

With a deep, guttural groan, he came, his body shaking as he spilled himself inside her. The heat of his release flooded her, and his cock pulsed demandingly as he took his satisfaction.

They stayed like that for a moment, their bodies pressed together, their breaths ragged and uneven.

Slowly, he lowered her, holding her steady while she found her balance.

Beneath her palm, his heart pounded reassuringly.

“Jesus, Petal.” After adjusting the water pressure so it was more of a gentle, rain-like spray, he captured her mouth, kissing her deeply.

When he finally pulled back, her mind was swimming in pheromones once more.

“That will do for starters,” he told her.

She gulped. “Starters, Sir?”

“I think it’s been far too long since you had a spanking, my Petal.”

“Oh?” She laced a teasing note through the question.

“And I’m not going to dry you off first.”

Sucking in a sharp breath, she looked up at him. “Isn’t that supposed to sting more on wet skin?”

“It is indeed.” With a wolf-like grin, he swept his gaze over her. “Problem?”

“No, Sir,” she replied quickly. Despite the warm water, she shivered. “Of course not.” If she complained, he’d give her a few extra strokes.

“That’s my girl.”

He was awful, showing no mercy.

“Since I’m so considerate, I’ll give you a choice. What implement do you want to sear your ass? A leather paddle? My hand? Or my belt?”

She wrinkled her nose. None of the above.

His grin deepened. “In that case, I’ve made the choice for you. And when your rear is on fire, I’m finally going to fuck your ass. You’re mine in every way, Sasha. In a few minutes, there’ll be no doubt in your mind.”

She shivered deliciously. There had never been anyone else for her.

And being his in every way possible suited her just fine.

“What do you have to say for yourself?”

With a sassy glance she asked, “What are you waiting for, Sir?”