Eva eyed Crystal. They had just shared a pretty intense, intimate experience. Eva felt open to the other woman like she never had to anyone before. Maybe talking would help.

“I… Ever since my divorce, I decided I’m in charge of my own pleasure.”

“In other words, you think Larson’s going to hurt you.”

Eva shifted uncomfortably.

“Your husband screwed around, right?” Crystal asked.

Eva nodded. “But even before that, when he made love to me, if you could call it that, he didn’t care about me.”

“He never gave you an orgasm?”

“No, he never even tried.”

Crystal leaned forward and took Eva’s hand.

“Look, honey, that was him and Larson is Larson. Obviously, Larson knows how to make love to a woman. And it’s clear he really loves you. He’ll always make sure you’re happy.”

Eva stared down at their linked hands.

“But how can I know?” She drew her hand away. “How can I take the chance?”

“Oh God, honey. How can you not? How can you turn your back on a guy who’s going to love you and bring you pleasure at every opportunity? Look how he held back when he obviously wanted to make love to you. He left himself totally at your mercy. How can you chance losing that?”

A few moments later, a buzz sounded and the door to the quarters slid open. The man named Terrien stood in the doorway. Despite his somber expression, Eva could see all too clearly the love in his eyes as he gazed at Crystal. And the pain.

Crystal clasped Eva’s hand and squeezed, then stood. Crystal avoided looking at Terrien as she crossed the room.

Clearly, the two of them had some issues to work out. Crystal had said she couldn’t be with one man and clearly she denied the link between them, but it was so obvious.

To Eva, anyway.

The same as Eva’s link to Larson seemed to be obvious to Crystal.

The door closed behind them, leaving Eva alone. She sank into the chair.

Could it be true? Was Larson really Eva’s soul-mate?

That would mean she could find true happiness in his arms. He wouldn’t stray because, according to his own beliefs, she was the perfect woman for him.

And he was the perfect man for her.

Oh God, she wanted to believe. If he loved her…truly loved her…they might find a happily-ever-after. A love that could endure time.

A few moments later, Larson stepped into the room. He sent her a guarded glance, his hands balled into fists at his sides.

“Don’t worry, Eva. I know you were caught up in the moment. I’m not expecting you to jump into bed with me again.”

He was angry with her. She could see it in his stance, in the tautness of his muscles, in the set of his jaw. She walked toward him, drawn to him like a magnet, and gazed into his eyes. No, not anger. Restraint.

He wanted her, but he would not push himself on her.

As she continued to gaze at him, his eyes softened. She could see love in the teal depths. Tender and sweet. If she allowed herself to accept that love, it would fill their lives with bliss.

She felt her barriers breaking down, bit by bit. Could she trust him? No question. He’d proven himself time and again. Would he stay by her side? Absolutely. He believed he was her soul-mate and that was forever.

Her heart swelled as love bubbled up from deep inside. She wanted him. Heart and soul.

She closed the distance between them and cupped his cheeks, then brushed her mouth against his. The sweetness of the contact almost brought tears to her eyes. He slid his arms around her gently as he answered her kiss with a light brush of his tongue across her lower lip. She opened and swirled her tongue against his.

“Come with me,” she murmured in his ear, then took his hand and led him to his room. “Where are those bands?”

His eyes lit up and he opened the drawer on his bedside table and pulled out the two black bands. He started fastening one around his wrist, but she caught his arm and took the band.

“On me,” she said, and released the tie on her robe, then dropped the garment to the floor.

His gaze lingered on her round breasts, then roamed lower, his eyes simmering with heat. He took her wrist and stroked up her arm, then kissed her inner elbow. Heat melted through her and her eyelids fell closed. His fingers brushed delicately against her skin as he slid the band around one wrist, then the other.

Her eyelids fluttered open as his lips teased the palm of one hand.

“Can you get another pair?” she asked.

His smile broadened.

“Anything for you, laiya.”

He strode to the cabinet on the wall, pressed some buttons, then retrieved another pair from inside.

“My ankles,” she instructed.

His fingers tickled a little as he fastened them.

“I want you to do all the things you’ve dreamed of doing to me.”

He stepped close and rested his fingers tenderly on her cheek, his eyes glittering as he stared into hers.

“I’ve dreamed of making love to you willingly.”

“And you did. When Crystal was here.” She brushed her lips against his. “I was totally willing.”

She stroked his face, gazing into his eyes.

“Larson, I’ve been afraid to trust. You know that and you understand why. You’ve been patient and loving. You’ve done everything you can to make me feel safe. And even with another woman in your bed, you still only had eyes for me. You are not like my ex-husband. In fact, you’re not like any man I’ve ever been with before.”

“That’s because I’m your one true love.”

She smiled. “Yes. But it’s also because of the man you are.” She felt tears welling in her eyes. “I’m lucky to be loved by a man like you.”

The intensity of his turquoise eyes took her breath away.

“Does that mean you believe we are soul-mates?” he asked, using the English word for the first time.

“Yes, I do.”

He pulled her close and kissed her with a passion that took her breath away. She melted against him, enjoying his gentle onslaught, but after a moment, she eased her lips away.

“Larson, I love you.”

The joy that lit his features made her heart swell. Then he tugged her tight against his solid chest and stroked her hair.

“Oh, laiya, I was beginning to fear I would never hear those words from your lips.”

She laughed as the tears finally fell from her eyes. How could she have denied these feelings for so long?

But this was no time for tears. She wiped them away and smiled up at him, then escaped his loving embrace.

She backed up against the wall, then placed her hands about a foot from her head on either side and opened her legs.

“Larson, I want to show you how much I trust you. Now pin me to the wall and show me how much you love me.” She arched her breasts forward in encouragement.

He laughed out loud, his eyes glittering with joy, then pushed the controller button. It hummed and she felt the bands tighten around her flesh, forming a snug, but comfortable fit. She released the muscles holding her arms up, allowing the bands to do the work. Her wrists felt no discomfort at holding the weight of her arms. It was as if they were light as a feather.

He stroked along her arms, then over one breast. The nipple jutted forward painfully, needing his touch. He leaned forward and drew it into his warm, moist mouth. She moaned as pleasure spiked through her. One of his hands stroked up and down her body—along her waist, over her hip, down her thigh—as the other cupped her other breast. His tongue dabbed at her nipple and she arched forward. His mouth captured her other nipple, the first swelling in the cool air.

He shifted downward, his lips tracing a line down her ribcage, then over her hip and down her thigh. As his mouth moved back up, along her inner thigh, she tensed in anticipation, ready for him to cover her pussy, but he ignored it as he moved back to her breasts. He lingered over each one, laving the nipples with his tongue, sucking them deep into his mouth, leaving them hard and needy.

He shifted downward again, but this time kissed a straight line to her pussy. He leaned back and just stared at her slit. With her legs held wide open by the bands, he had a clear view of her intimate flesh. He stared at it so intensely, she tingled inside. Her breathing accelerated. Her whole body tensed with need, teetering on the brink, sure she would orgasm if he kept staring at her like that.

Then he touched her with his tongue and she jumped, pulsing with pleasure. He stroked her slit with his thumb, then licked her clitoris. She shuddered at the intensity of the blissful sensations thrumming through her.

His warm tongue continued lapping over her sensitive bud, driving her need higher and higher. Her body quivered, then seemed to fold in on itself, contracting to a tight ball, then exploding in an intense, thrilling orgasm.

She wailed as he sucked her clit, then dabbed and licked mercilessly, driving her over the edge again and again.

Finally, he showed her mercy and let her pleasure subside.

“Please, Larson, I need you inside me. Drive your huge cock into me.”

He positioned himself at her opening. The feel of his hot tip brushing her excruciatingly sensitive flesh made her gasp.

“Ready?”

“Oh God, yes. Do it now. Hard and fast.”

He thrust forward, ramming her into the wall. The exquisite pleasure of his cock buried deep inside her shot her over the edge again. Ecstasy exploded within her.

He drove forward again, banging her into the wall as she wailed in pleasure. He kept pumping into her, faster and faster. Then he groaned as his semen shot into her. The heat pulsing inside her sent her over the edge again. He kept rocking his hips, keeping her orgasm going on and on.

Finally, he leaned against her, his body pressing her to the wall, crushing her breasts with each heavy breath he sucked in. His cock remained steel-hard inside her. He swirled his hips, spiraling the rigid shaft inside her. She plummeted over the edge again.

“How many orgasms do you think you can have in a row?” he murmured against her ear.

She’d already had four. Or was it five?

His cock slid in and out of her at a leisurely pace now while his finger found her clit and vibrated over it.

“Oh yes.”

Unbelievably, another orgasm flamed through her.

Slowly, it subsided and he claimed her lips.

But this was no ordinary kiss. Not that anything Larson did was ordinary.

When his tongue swept deep inside, stroking her tongue, her whole body began to quiver. His hand skimmed her face then he cupped her cheek, his other hand gliding around her head. The tenderness of his mouth moving on hers and the sublime sensations everywhere his tongue brushed inside her mouth made her head start to spin. Her whole body tingled with delight and her internal muscles contracted around his marble column.

His cock wasn’t moving, but pleasure swelled inside her, then soared to another earth-shattering orgasm.

When he finally released her lips, his smug smile made her giggle.

“Let me down,” she murmured.

She was surprised how needy her voice sounded, but dammit, she still hadn’t had enough of him.

He released the bonds and she eased him backwards, pushing him to the floor. It was incredible how his cock stayed hard even though he’d just ejaculated inside her. Not when he’d been with Crystal, though. Then it had taken Eva’s touch to bring him back to life. Now he stood erect without pause. She had that much control over him.

She climbed on top of him, longing for his pulsing cock inside her again, impaling herself on his erection. She moved up and down, taking his cock deep inside on each downward pulse.

“Eva, I can do something…different. I think you’ll find it exciting.”

“More exciting than that orgasmic kiss?” she asked, still moving on him.

He curled his fingers around her face and drew her forward, then brushed his lips against hers.

“Do you trust me?” he murmured.

She paused and met his solemn gaze.

“Totally.”

He cupped both her cheeks and kissed her soundly. When their lips parted, joy danced in his eyes as his lips turned up in a broad smile.

“Okay, here goes.”

She felt his cock swell inside her, stretching her vagina, the head dragging on her sensitive tunnel as she kept moving.

“Oh my God, that’s incredible.” She kissed him and urged him to roll sideways.

He flipped her beneath him and stared down at her.

“Now, take me,” she said.

His cock grew a little more, stretching her.

“Oh yes.”

He pulsed forward, stimulating her sensitive flesh and she moaned.

“Longer, baby. Can you make it longer?”

He did and she wailed at the feel of him gliding deeper into her. Another orgasm pulsed through her.

He lay still, his cockhead pushing deeper inside her. His penis shortened and narrowed, then swelled and lengthened. Again and again, he changed within her, extending her orgasm forever. Then he grew long and wide, and started moving again.

“Oh… Yes…”

He pounded into her, deeper and harder than she’d ever felt a man before.

She screamed at the intensity of the pleasure rocketing through her.

Finally, she collapsed on the floor, unable to handle any more, even though she was certain he could keep her in orgasm indefinitely.

She smiled.

“What about you? You haven’t come?”

“Yes, I did,” he responded.

“I mean this time.”

He kissed her. “It doesn’t matter, sweetheart. Being with you is my greatest pleasure.”

She almost cried at his words. As she sucked in air, staring into his warm turquoise eyes, she realized this man truly loved her.

She rolled him under her, then kissed down his belly and swallowed him into her mouth. Too enthusiastic, she gagged, and his penis changed shape in her mouth, filling it comfortably like a large pacifier. She sucked him until he spilled his seed into her mouth.

She swallowed and smiled.

“I won’t allow my man to go unsatisfied.”

“Your man?” He smiled.

She snuggled into his arms. “That’s right. My man. And don’t you ever forget it.”

He stroked her hair back from her face.

“I love you, Eva.”

Warmth spread through her body as she gazed at him.

“And I love you.”

He kissed her with a passion she’d never known before and would cherish for the rest of her life.

This man, she knew, truly was her soul-mate. Her tanash’ae. And every day with him would be filled with joy.