Over the years, Eva had had a thousand fantasies about losing her virginity, and though the details would change nearly every time, one aspect always stayed the same.

It had always been Jack.

She’d often pictured his home, but she’d never imagined his penthouse flat would look this way. She’d expected something modern and minimalist, all bright clean lines and angles. But this place had more of a homey look.

The floor-to-ceiling windows were there, but they were half obscured by overflowing bookcases of darkly lacquered wood—vintage English, Eva guessed, though she’d never been into furniture. Jack hadn’t struck her as an antique collector, and she’d never seen him in tweed, but there were enough wing-back and distressed leather chairs in the place to make her think she’d stumbled onto the set of Downton Abbey.

She didn’t have time to full-out gawk, however. Jack guided her, with no pretense, over lush oriental rugs to his bedroom.

There would be no tour tonight. That much was obvious from the way he’d unzipped and dropped her skirt to her ankles in the foyer and unbuttoned the top buttons on her blouse in the living room. Jack clearly had only one thing on his mind—getting her naked as quickly as possible.

Fine by her.

By the time he pushed open the door to his bedroom, he’d already succeeded in undoing most of the buttons on her blouse. She spotted an enormous, intricately-carved poster bed, but before she could fully investigate, he whirled her around to face him.

She lifted her chin up to him, desperate for his kiss.

Instead, he blinked down, past her mouth. A ragged breath fell from her lips as his hand cupped her breast, molding and massaging it with the pad of his thumb. Her nipple peaked instantly. She straightened her spine, offering more of herself to him. She didn’t care where he put his mouth. She just wanted it on her. Now.

She moaned aloud when he finally leaned down and flicked his tongue on the tops of her breasts, whisper-light. His warm breath alone was enough to make her skin prickle with a million goose bumps.

Then he encircled her nipple with his mouth, sucking it hard. She hadn’t worn her bra or panties, and all day she’d felt a little strange, but mostly free and sexy. She had to admit, it had felt good to be bad. She could get used to sharing secrets with Jack Bennett, she thought, as he devoured her breast, making wild, hungry noises.

As he sucked, his hands gripped her waist, and her mind went wild with possibilities. She looked down at his head as he laved her nipple, painting circles with his tongue. The sight itself was so erotic, so hot, she could scarcely believe it was happening to her. It pulled a groan from deep within her.

Both of her nipples were painfully hard, now. She could do nothing but tilt her other breast toward him, urging him to lavish equal attention on it. Every part of her body screamed for his touch. He dragged his hand from her hip to play with her other nipple, sending sparks of pleasure up and down her body.

A pulse beat between her legs. She was so wet now. So wet and ready.

He tore at the rest of the blouse, leaving it open, then suddenly stepped away, appraising her.

The lack of his touch made her ache even more for him. She watched his eyes travel the length of her nearly naked body, craving his touch.

She started to close her blouse over her breasts when he stopped her. “Take it off.”

She did so, hesitantly. She couldn’t shake the feeling that he was angry at her, that she’d done something wrong and now he was hell-bent on humiliating her. That old Boston accent of his, the one he tried so hard to hide, had made a reappearance, and that meant something wasn’t right with him.

Was it because she’d tried to act aloof about him seeing other women? No attachments—wasn’t that the rule?

Now she was fully naked, completely exposed, wearing nothing but her heels. “What should I—“

He put a finger on her lips, silencing her. His eyes were cold as he started to pace in front of her. “Don’t talk. Don’t say a word. You’ve followed my directions well so far. This is your lesson in submitting your will to mine. You will do what I say, without question, without making a single noise. Do you understand? Nod if you do.”

She nodded.

Frowning tightly, he strode over to the bed and motioned her to follow. “Lie on the bed.”

Thrilled to be given an order, she climbed onto the clean white sheets. Stretching out on her back, she propped herself up by the elbows as sparks spread through her from the anticipation.

She searched his face, seeking his approval.

He gave her none. He motioned to her legs. “Spread them. As wide as you can.”

She did, dragging her legs apart so that her pussy lips stretched open, leaving her more exposed than ever. He slowly began to loosen his tie, his eyes never leaving her. Her heart hammered in her chest, desperately awaiting his next command as he removed his tie and began to work on the buttons of his shirt. “That looks good enough to eat. Do you want me to eat you out, Eva?”

It was the closest thing to his approval she’d received, and her entire body shivered at the suggestion. She wanted nothing more than to feel him sucking on her clit, his tongue delving deep into her like it had last night.

Biting her bottom lip, she nodded.

“Not yet,” he said, removing his belt and shirt. “I want you do exactly as I tell you. If you do anything else, you will be punished, understand? And you’re not to come. Not until I say so.”

She couldn’t acquiesce to that. She was already so hot, so close. She knew it wouldn’t take much to drive her past the brink. Now he stood at the foot of the bed, dressed only in his boxer briefs, his cock bulging hard against the fabric.

He was as turned on as she was. That seemed a sure sign of approval.

He moved around to the night table and slid the drawer open. From it, he pulled out a condom.

Oh, my God, she thought. This is really happening.

A thousand thoughts raced through her mind, and her heart jammed in her throat, but he continued speaking, as if this was something he’d done many times before. “Play with your pussy. Like you did this morning.”

With a trembling hand, she reached down to rub her clit. Right away it pulsed under her fingers. She leaned back and closed her eyes, imagining it was him, like she’d done before. She pictured his muscled, powerful body between her legs, ready to claim her. She imagined the roughness of his hands on her skin, leaving no inch unexplored.

Even with her eyes closed, his presence was obvious. Ignoring the sound of the condom package ripping open, she tried to think only of how much her body craved release.

This was no time for virgin nerves. It was time to go for this, to embrace everything Jack had to give her.

She stroked furiously, working in wider and wider circles until he said, “Put your fingers in your cunt. Feel yourself. Find that place that feels good.”

She slid her finger in, then another, biting back the urge to cry out. All of it felt good—mind-blowingly good.

“Pump your fingers in and out. Hit that spot and don’t stop unless you get too close.”

She was already close. She started to pump her fingers, this time imagining it was him thrusting in and out of her. It was so much feeling, but still not enough to make her forget her audience. Above all she wanted to please him, so that he would end the anticipation and take her for real. She cupped her breast with her other hand and massaged it, letting the moan rising inside of her escape her lips, hoping the sound would turn him on.

God, she was so wet that she didn’t even fear his monster cock. She was ready, so completely ready. She spread her legs wider, silently inviting him in, letting the maelstrom of sensation build.

“Are you going to come, Eva?” he asked.

She knew she couldn’t stop now. She nodded.

His voice was hard. “Don’t, or there will be consequences.”

This was already punishment of the worst kind. With a whimper, she willed her hand to slow and tried to force unsexy images into her head. But it was so hard.

Maybe she’d already gone past the brink. Maybe this was inevitable. All she knew was that she was beyond words, nearly beyond thought.

Silently she entreated him with her eyes to put her out of this sweet, maddening misery. She found herself mouthing the word please…

“I told you not to speak,” he growled.

She hadn’t realized she’d said it out loud. Before she could apologize, Jack was between her legs.

With one swift movement, he slipped his hands under her hips and dragged her to the edge of the bed. There, he fisted his hands in her hair and crushed his mouth against hers.

“You need to learn self-control,” he said, his breath coming fast against her lips. “We’ll work on that more. As soon as I make you come on my cock.”

She felt his blunt head at her entrance, spreading apart her lips, and could hardly manage a breath before he drove himself fully into her.

The fusion of pleasure and pain ripped through her as he stretched her insides. She cried out, unable to keep silent any longer.

He held her at the edge of the bed, his cock deep within her, frozen for what seemed like forever, until the pain ebbed and a strange realization overtook her.

This was where she’d always wanted him to be, needed him to be. As much as it hurt, it also felt completely and utterly right.

She looked up at him, surprised to see something on his face other than the raw power he usually exuded. But his expression was uncertain, maybe even…worried.

“Eva,” he murmured. “Are you a virgin?”

She looked between them, at his shaft driven to the hilt within her, and nodded slightly, her face heating.

“You may speak now,” he said.

She sucked in a breath. “Yes. I am. I was, I mean.”

If he was dismayed or overjoyed by the fact, he didn’t let on. He simply moved her gently back on the bed, holding her hips with one hand so that they remained joined. When they were face to face, with his forearms resting on either side of her pillow, he kissed her softly, stealing her breath. After his aloof routine, she hadn’t expected anything quite so tender.

He started to pull out, slowly, with much more gentleness than he’d driven inside her. “Does that hurt?”

Yes, but that hardly seemed to matter now. She shook her head.

His voice was soft, the anger gone. “Can I move? Slowly? Like this.” He glided back inside, sending fresh pleasure washing over the pain.

She nodded, wanting nothing more.

“Tell me if it hurts,” he said gently. “We can stop anytime.”

“I don’t want to stop.” She ran her hands down his strong back and clung to him for dear life, wrapping her legs tight around his ass. “Don’t stop, Jack.”

“God, Eva,” he groaned as he began to move.

Gradually, the pain and soreness was eclipsed by the fact that this was Jack, inside her. Fucking her.

No. This was more than fucking. This was communion, wonder. This was her drowning in the sweetest heat, and Jack was the sun.

Maybe her friends had been right. Maybe it was impossible to separate emotion from sex, and she was destined to suffer for letting Jack into every place inside her—body and soul. But she liked what Jack had said better. That sex without connection was pointless. That whatever she was thinking or feeling right now was not only okay, but necessary.

His movements fluid, he thrust in and out of her, slowly and gently, until she was trembling all over, a full, heavy feeling spreading through her pelvis until it felt like she was being wickedly, deliciously turned inside out.

“You’re so fucking perfect,” he murmured into her skin. “So hot and wet. I can’t wait to feel you come. I can feel how close you are, beautiful. Come for me. Let me feel you tight on my cock.”

It was his words that finally drove her past the brink. Her fingernails raked his back as her climax crested, and she exploded, her pussy locking down around him. Mouth open, eyes closed, she came with a wordless cry of bliss, as Jack’s tempo increased between her legs, drawing out her release until the pleasure was almost painful.

“Yes, God, yes,” he groaned. “I’m going to come, Eva. I’m going to come.”

He thrust one last time and came apart, shuddering, jaw clenched as he moaned low in his throat. She’d never seen a man come before, and at that moment she realized this was her favorite part. Seeing the Jack who wasn’t so put-together, the human, vulnerable, exposed Jack so few people ever saw.

Afterward, they held each other in silence. She knew the time was coming when he would pull out, leave her, and everything would change.

For the worse? For the better? She couldn’t guess. She didn’t want to guess. She just wanted to enjoy this moment of closeness with Jack—this moment, however short, when everything seemed damn near perfect.