Every movement clashed like agonising cymbals. My body needed rest. I needed sleep, but I didn’t want to miss out on the best opportunity of my life.

I wouldn’t let any headaches, or battle wounds stop me from finishing what I’d started.

Tess was mine.

The second I lay down, Tess snuggled her back against my front, sighing deeply. I relaxed into the pillows, cupping her breast. The heaviness of her flesh activated every protective, possessive part inside. A guttural growl sounded in my throat. “You have the most incredible body. Made just for me. So accepting of anything I do.”

She snuggled closer, tugging a pillow to cradle her head.

I twisted her nipple, my mouth watering to give her tits the same attention as her pu**y. Tess didn’t move or make a sound.

I laughed gently. “Are you sleeping, mon coeur?” Nuzzling her neck, I breathed hard. Her soft form in my arms was too much. I couldn’t stop my h*ps rocking, pressing my c**k against her ass, seeking a release.

Tess moaned, wriggling closer. Her heartbeat fluttered under my touch. A minute ticked by while I held her. Slowly, energy entered her sex-sated limbs. She stroked my forearm wrapped around her. “I’m not sleeping, maître. I know what you want from me.”

My heart leapt. I clenched my jaw, forcing my h*ps to stop. “I won’t force you, Tess. If you’re still afraid…”

She pressed a gentle kiss on my bicep. “You’re not forcing me. I want you. Just…take me gently. I’ll do whatever you want—but you have to tell me what to do.” Her voice wavered, but I didn’t focus on her nerves, only on her permission.

My eyes snapped closed, loving her more in that moment than ever before. She’d put herself completely into my control. Trusting me to do this right. Loving me enough not to fear me. I didn’t need whips and chains to earn her complete submission—she’d given it to me—right here, right now.

My c**k wept as I stroked her shoulder. “Allonge toi sur le ventre, mon cœur.” Lie on your stomach, my heart.

Tess obeyed. I helped her roll over, scooting her body to the centre of the bed. I braced myself with an elbow, looking down the sweeping lines of her back to the perfect pillows of her ass. Fuck, I want to mark her.

The violent thought disappeared as fast as it came. My palm itched to strike—to paint the white with red, but the urge faded, leaving me with heavy sweetness.

Placing my fingertips on the base of her neck, I pushed the tangled strands away, leaving her back completely clear. Pressing a kiss to her shoulder blades, I murmured, “Don’t tense. Trust me.”

She nodded, breathing shallow as I very carefully, very slowly, dragged my fingers down her spine, over every bead, along every hollow, tracing the hills and valleys to the fullness of her ass.

Every touch sent my heart pounding; my c**k jerked.

Her face was unreadable but she flinched as my finger trailed her crack. This. This is mine.

Her face scrunched, eyes squeezing shut as I dropped lower. She looked so damn shy—so provoking.

My voice dropped to a deep command. “Tess—don’t fight me. Obey me and you’ll unravel.”

She forced out a heavy breath. “I trust you.” Her face smoothed once again, her body becoming boneless.

My breathing turned heavier. Sitting upright, I positioned myself, straddling the back of her thighs. I fisted my cock, pumping once, twice, f**king adoring the view of her untouched ass below.

So timid, so pure. But I knew the real Tess. She wasn’t timid or pure. She screamed for pain. She would scream for this. And the combination of the two made me the luckiest, happiest son of a bitch in the history of f**ked-up individuals.

Spreading her cheeks, I pressed firmly but gently against the puckered muscle. Her eyes squeezed tight, fingers whitening around the sheets. “Q…”

“Se détendre.” Relax. I ran a palm over her lower spine, fighting the quick urge to strike. Shit, I wanted to mark her—just once.

Her tension melted away again, turning her body limp.

With my other hand, I reached between her legs, pressing two fingers inside her soaking pu**y. “Remember how hard you came, esclave?” My fingers twitched, coaxing the pleasure to rekindle—linking her synapsis of release while probing her ass, getting her used to my request—knowing she would let me in…eventually. “You screamed when you came. Remember my tongue on your clit?”

Her mouth twisted. “Yes, I remember. I loved you using the vibrator—but I craved your cock.”

“And you’ll get it, esclave. So f**king soon.”

I was ready to blow just talking.

She moaned, rocking her h*ps into my hand. I pressed harder against her hole, letting her get used to the invasion. Her back trembled, but she didn’t pull away. My fingers gathered some of her wetness, gliding over the puckered muscle.

She bit her lip, her body radiating heat. “Don’t tease me, Q. Get on with it.”

I chuckled, leaning over her to bite her waist. “I’m enjoying you too much to rush this, Tess.” Diving two fingers into her pu**y, she groaned, pushing her face into the pillow.

Withdrawing, I ordered, “Open your legs wider.”

I let her go, grabbing the lube and uncapping the strawberry scented gel. Tess kept her eyes closed as I smeared a generous amount on my fingers. Her legs inched open, revealing how wet and swollen she was.

“Goddammit, Tess. You have no idea how much you turn me on.”

Her eyes locked onto mine, drifting to my cock. “I think I do. I want your cock. You’re making me wait and it’s making me wetter, hotter…if you don’t take me soon, I might have to do something drastic.”

I grinned, draping my broken body half on hers, half on the bed. “You want this?” I thrust against her thigh, gritting my teeth at the wave of desire locking my quads.

“Yes. I want you.” Her breathy voice hitched as I spread her cheeks again. With unforgiving fingers, I turned her dry skin slippery with strawberry gel, never taking my eyes from her face.

She bit her lip, forehead furrowing as I ringed and teased.

“Tell me—what does it feel like?” I whispered. Her back clenched as I pressed harder. Her body responded to the pressure by trying to escape. Her h*ps tilted downward, dislodging me. “Ah, ah, no running from me. You know I don’t like it when you deny me.”