Seven nights.

Seven fucking long ass nights she's been in my bed, and I still haven't fucked her.

I've been patient. Funny. Charming. Sympathetic. Furious. Enthusiastic. Gentle. The perfect boyfriend listening to her stories, learning about her family, discussing Eli, tolerating her questions about my childhood, past girlfriends, job. The legit role overseeing my import and export business. Not the crime family I lead. I'd die protecting her from that merciless world.

And after all that, not a god damn fucking thing has changed. Frantic kisses leading to nothing more than an innocent goodnight hug before she drifts off without me even able to see her sweet face.

Not tonight. I'm fucking done. I can't wait any longer. Can't stand the temptation any more. She's mine.

I jerk the knob to the right and flinch from the icy cascade hitting my chest and angry cock. My balls pulled up so tight in my body I can barely walk. What an asshole. Now I sound like a fucking pervert. Furious more at myself than at her that I'm unable to get in her pants. Or her heart.

Maybe I should go out with Ty tomorrow night. Find some easy pussy to take the edge off. So he'll shut the fuck up and stop harassing me. About me failing our brotherhood. About Molly's frigidity. About me being even more of a dick than usual.

I shut off the water, and grab a towel. Nodding at my decision. Confirming my deception. It's perfect. I'll keep up the facade with Molly, and she'll never find out since I'll be home long before her fucking girls night out ends. Which I failed to stop too. Damn, I'm really off my fucking game.

Besides, it's not fucking cheating if we haven't even fucked right? She's not wearing my ring, and she sure as hell isn't acting like my woman. I rub the terrycloth on my face too hard. Burning against my scruff. Which I deserve for considering this. For being a pussy ass who wouldn't be able to go through with it anyway.

I yank down the fabric. Fuck me.

Molly.

"I-I'm so sorry. I called your name. You must not have heard me from the..." She gestures toward the shower but her gaze remains on my engorged cock bouncing against my stomach from the sight of her. Urging me to bite her bottom lip too.

"I want you angel. I'd be a fucking liar if I acted like I didn't."

She nods. Not sure if in understanding. Or, please god, be in fucking agreement.

I step closer, and she remains in place, her eyes finally lifting to meet mine. A smile curls my lips. I can't fucking help it. Only two people generate my happiness. One is tucked safely in his bed where he belongs, and the other is getting ready to be naked. Just like me.

Another foot, and I'm scooping her up, wrapping my right arm around her torso and directing her leg to circle my waist with my left. Fuck me when the crotch of her silky pants envelopes my dick. A tight grip digs into my back. No fear as I fist her hair holding her head in place. Claiming her so there isn't any uncertainty regarding my intentions. "You are mine."

We breathe in the same electrified air, and her eyes flutter shut when my lips reach hers. I thrust my tongue inside, savoring the intensity as I walk us to the bed, my knees bumping the mattress. Cradling her head, I lay her back. Watching her watch me. Both of us hesitant. Neither of us moving.

Because I can't bear the thought of her saying no. Out of fear. Or doubt.

Desperate to touch her again, I force myself to wait. Allowing her to call the shots tonight. A power shift I never thought possible. But I can tolerate it. For her.

I almost explode when she reaches for me. Jesus Christ. I've never wanted any woman this fucking bad. Water droplets drip from my hair onto her heaving chest as I cover her body with mine. Reminding me of the glorious bounty underneath the white cotton.

I take my time, stroking my hands over her sides and sliding the fabric up her raised arms before tossing the shirt on the floor. Fucking god damn she's not wearing a bra. Her dark pink nipples standing at attention for me in the cool air. "You're beautiful angel."

Her huge smile makes all the turmoil worth it. Clutching her tiny wrists with one hand, I continue to hold them above her head against the pillow. A hint of fear darkens her face, the grin fading fast.

"Why won't you let me move?"

Fuck me. A reminder of how innocent she is. I ease my grip but don't release her. "Because I don't want you to try and hide yourself from me. I want to see all of you."

This time a happy blush brightens her face, a cute giggle sneaking out of her mouth. "I saw all of you first."

Playful and naked. I fucking love it. "Touché. But I'm going to taste you first."

Her eyes widen as I dip my head and suck in her erect nub, filling my mouth with her luscious breast as her back arches off the mattress. Fucking gorgeous how responsive she is to my tongue. Can't fucking wait to see how she reacts to my cock.

A cry of pleasure as powerful as lightening to my balls fills the silence when my teeth sink deeper. Marking her without her even realizing it. I lick over the soft mound, crossing the valley between them, and lavish the taut skin around her other nipple. Swear to fucking god she really does taste like honey. So pure and sweet. Just for me.

I scrape my whiskers across the sensitive skin of her belly, sinking and lifting as she pants. Anxious to delve beneath the waistband I'm stroking. I dip a finger underneath, caressing over her hip bone, making her body lift again for me.

Fucking weird how foreign this is to me. Usually I'm the last one to the party. Showing up after Ty's already told her what she's going to do and receive from us. Just the way a girl who's picked up in a club at three a.m. for a ménage wants it.

I can't remember the last time it's been just me. Alone with a woman in my bed. But, I know for damn sure Molly's the only woman I've had in here that I've actually cared about. The only woman who I have to make sure her needs are satisfied. I suck on the tender spot behind her ear, while my free hand caresses over her panties. Already soaked. Asking a question I've never thought to pose before. "Tell me what you want. What you like."

"I-I don't know."

Her distracted tone fuels the fire. I so fucking need to be inside her. But confusion stifles my movements. Unable to understand why she won’t answer me honestly. I need to teach her to speak up more. At least to everyone else anyway. "What do you mean?"

"I've never done this before."

I still. Fighting with my greedy cock who jerks from the confirmation of what I've suspected and god fucking damn hoped to be true. So fucking stoked that I'm right. But damn, how is that even fucking possible? Some slick bastards somewhere would have had to try and at least one of them succeed. "Never done what?"

"Made love." She stares at the ceiling. Like the answers can be found in the drywall. "I mean I've kissed a guy, but I wasn't ready for more. He was. So..."

Her words fade away like the inferno between us. The spell broken from her heartbreak and my ire. Grateful he didn't take what's mine, but still furious he fucked her over. "You broke up?"

"Something like that."

Too easy. Too quick. Too ambiguous. She's hiding something. More than him dumping her from a lack of sex. I need to know what the fuck it is. After releasing her arms, I prop up on my elbow, and stare down at her. Cringing from the despondency marring her beautiful face. That I'm going to fucking relieve. "Molly, I—"

A soft hand caressing my cheek halts my words. But it's the determination flaming in her eyes that hypnotizes me even more. A resolve in her expression that I can't fucking get enough of.

"For the last four years, I've promised myself that I wouldn't let what Hunter did to me make me jaded. That if I found a man I could love, and who loved me, I wouldn't let him hold me back from being happy."

All the air escapes from my lungs. Stolen by the heaviness weighing on my chest. Contrasting with the hope floating in her eyes. She's asking me to be that man. To be the one who replaces the pain that bastard caused with a new beginning.

God that I so fucking want to. If I can.

"But, I have to know it's love. I can't go through what I went through before."

If I tell her now, I'm not sure if she'll believe it. Even though it's as true as my love for Eli. Albeit in two very different ways. I have to prove it. Earn it. Accept it. Which is actually the hardest of all three.

"I won't ever hurt you like he did. Believe that."

She entwines her fingers with my hand resting on her stomach. "I do."

I drop back down to my shoulder and curl her against me. Breathing in her vanilla scent, which releases the remaining anxiety clenching my muscles. I can wait. But I refuse to let her think her hesitation has changed anything between us. That I don't want the little bit she offers if I can't have it all. I nuzzle her neck, licking across the delicate skin of her slender throat. Smiling from the shudder rolling through her. When I reach her ear, I shove my lips against the delicate lobe. "One taste isn't enough."

Her petite body rises, as I make my way down her chest to her taut nipples. She squirms underneath me. Sweet pussy grinding against my dick. For pleasure she's not ready for yet. I scrunch down and bury my dick against the mattress instead of inside her. Down boy, tonight's not your night.

It's all hers.