I’m riveted to this spot, pinned not only by his arms bracing him above me but by the gentle touch of his lips brushing against mine and the compelling look in his eyes. In a fury, he flips us both to lie on our sides facing one another while still fully engaged in the slow drugging attack of our mouths. I can feel his uneven breathing and know mine is the same, but I have no desire to back out of his embrace. I need this, and I want more.

Slipping my hand under his shirt, I feel the smoothness of his skin under his hard, rippling muscles when his stomach clenches at my touch.

“Elianna, careful principessa. You don’t know what your touch is doing to me. You’re begging for something you may not be ready for,” he groans.

Not willing to fight a battle with my own restraint anymore, I don’t heed his caution and proceed to explore. I can feel all my defenses weakening, no matter hard I’m trying to guard the parts of myself that will break. I’ve never wanted to give anyone this part of me, but I want more than anything for Lucas to have it. Though a big part of me is scared for what this could mean.

Giving him an irreplaceable part of myself I can never take back requires me to trust him in ways I’ve never trusted another person, but I think I already do. This could be a huge mistake in a moment of weakness, and I’ll have to chalk it up to a case of poor judgment, but what if it’s not? What if this riot of emotions I’m feeling is because this thing happening between us is real. I feel like there’s more to this. If it didn’t really matter in the grand scheme of life, would I be this affected by him? I feel more alive right now than ever. That must mean something.

But can I take the leap of trust and allow myself to take the risk? My emotions are getting the best of me, and I refuse to be the girl who cries every time things get hard. I’ve been too strong for too long to start this now. So why are tears misting in the corners of my eyes?

The bigger the risk, the better the reward, Matteo used to say all the time. I suppose it applies here too. Without ever asking, Lucas has taken countless risks for my benefit. In my heart, I already trust him. Now it’s time to accept and acknowledge these feelings for the man in front of me.

“Lucas . . . will you touch me, please?” I ask, breathing softly before pressing my lips tightly to his. His eyes lock onto mine, studying me with caution.

“Sunshine, if this is making your eyes wetter than your panties, we’re doing it wrong. I’m so sorry, principessa. I’m trying to keep you from more heartache, not cause it,” he says, suddenly sitting up. The flash of guilt in his eyes rips through me.

“That’s not it, Lucas. Not at all.” My mind whirls as I try to get a handle on my doubts. It’s going to be over before it ever begins, and it’ll be my own fault. I’ve lost and had to give up too much in this life to sacrifice what’s happening with us here as well.

“Elianna, I don’t know what’s causing the tears to build in your eyes, but I know nothing will ever be worth that for me. I’m deeply sorry I took things too far with you. This is my fault, and I knew better. I promise, principessa, this won’t happen again,” he vows, again showing me he’s willing to sacrifice himself for me, but in this case, he’s wrong. I’m really not sure what I’ve done to deserve him.

“Bestia, I assure you, I want this. The thought of you stopping because you’ve misinterpreted my emotions makes me very sad. You haven’t taken things too far, but you haven’t taken them far enough either. I’m asking you for more. Can’t you see that? This is just so much at once. These feelings overwhelm me, but I feel safe, and most importantly, I trust you, Lucas. I trust you with parts of me I’ve never felt secure enough to share. I trust you to erase the doubts that make me want to run or just exist in a world when there’s so much more to life when I actually live it. I trust you completely, and now I’m asking for more, please.” His gaze travels across my face, stopping on my eyes. There’s a softness in them now that I haven’t seen before. He reaches out to gently caress my cheek with the tips of his fingers, and his lips slowly ease into a smile.

“Elianna, you trust me?” he asks, his voice pulsating with surprise. The tenderness in his expression fills me with relief.

I try to suppress the giggle, but it escapes despite my efforts. Smiling, I nod without any words. Kneeling beside me, he bends forward, forehead to forehead, and his eyes capture mine. My. God. This bad boy bestia is changing me.

His lips hoover over mine without touching. “Principessa, I could start fires with the way hearing you say that makes me feel. Your trust in me is invaluable. Thank you, Elianna,” he says softly, his tone filled with awe and respect.

“More, you say? Tell me, what do you want? Do you want my mouth and hands on your body, making you forget your name? Are you ready to feel the earth melt away from us because I’m not sure we’ll ever be able to touch the ground again?” he asks with so much passion in his eyes it makes my body ache from anticipation.

“All of it, Lucas. I’m more than ready to fall,” I admit, meaning every word.

“Sunshine, I’ll always be here to catch you if you were to fall,” he says with a mischievous little grin and sparkle in his eye.

“I know, bestia. Now show me, please,” I beg insistently and Lucas smirks.

Sitting up, Lucas looks me over seductively. I see his fingers tensing with restraint from caressing my body. I nod approvingly, and he finally reaches out to give us what we both want. Allowing his fingers to slip beneath the hem of my top, he ever so slowly strokes his fingers across my stomach. His eyes meet mine, and once again, I see the question there. Something about the way he’s able to look at me and see beyond the surface soothes me in ways I never thought possible.

Lucas makes me want to believe in the impossible. I want more from him. I need more of him. I’ll give him everything.

“Lucas,” I whisper, entirely caught up in the emotions behind his touch. As if his name on my lips fuels the already growing flames, he moves to grasp the hem of the tee shirt and pull it up. I arch my back to help in the progress.

He tosses the shirt to the floor next to the bed. His eyes are hooded like those of a hawk to my bare chest, and his hands move to outline the circles of my breasts, gently massaging. The tips pebble and I unintentionally moan out loud.

Lucas moves lower, his lips tracking across the entirety of my chest and abdomen, searing me with even more need. When he reaches the waistband of my pajama bottoms, he slips his fingers under the edge, pausing to find my eyes and lock on them before he proceeds. More than willing to help, I lift my hips, and he slides the bottoms down my legs. After tossing those aside too, his touch is tantalizingly painful, but I still wonder if he’s able to notice my vulnerability as I lie here in front of him completely naked and unguarded.

“Elianna, you’re so beautiful.” Tracing his fingers up one side of my body from ankle to shoulder, he pauses the motion as he reaches my throat. He places a kiss on the tip of my nose, then each of my eyes, and finally, my lips, lingering and savoring the moment before completing the path of his fingers back down the other of my body to my ankle.

“Lucas, I’m not sure how we can both feel the earth melt away if I’m the only one without clothing,” I suggest, hoping he takes the hint.

“Oh sunshine, I don’t think I’ve had my feet on the ground since I climbed onto this bed and felt your body next to mine,” he admits casually, still not moving to lose his clothes.

“Bestia, get naked, or I’m getting dressed,” I threaten, boldly for someone in my position.

His posture rises, and with a look that changes from surprise to devious amusement, he smirks. “Is that so, princess?” he asks.

“Absolutely,” I retorted firmly . . . until his fingers trail up my thighs flirtatiously continuing straight to my center. His fingers delve between my slick folds, and I gasp.

“Oh my God,” I cry.

His thumb finds the hardened nub, tickling in a circular motion, while his long finger then slides through my folds and inside my body.

Holy sweet heaven.

“Do you still want me to stop, Elianna?” he asks.

Even if I wanted to answer his stupid question, I couldn’t right now, but he doesn’t seem to be concerned with an answer because he continues, the movements of his magic fingers causing waves of pure and explosive pleasure. I might as well be spinning off somewhere in outer space because I have no concerns about anything happening outside the indulgence my body is experiencing.

When his mouth connects with the point of my tortured desire as well, there was no way to disguise my body’s response. With my body writhing under Lucas’s incredible assault and the whimpers and moans escaping my lips the only sound I hear, he works my desire up to a sky splitting high. Shivers of pleasure consume my body as my heart is filled to the brim with completeness. Then, with one last stroke of his tongue hitting the perfect spot, I shatter into a million glowing stars.

After several deep breaths, I sigh in pleasant exhaustion, finally noticing Lucas gently massaging me back to life.

“In case you were wondering, outer space is incredible. You should really try to visit there sometime,” I inform him with my eyes closed, completely relaxed.

I feel movement at the end of the bed and open my eyes just enough to find Lucas undressing hastily. Seeing him shirtless for the first time since we were kids, I feel my heart skip a beat. His chest is a work of art, and I am eager to get my hands on it. But when he drops his pants, and I get my first glimpse at his iron-hard shaft, I’m completely breathless. Oh my, this is really happening.

He slowly climbs his way up my body once again. Only this time, his mouth and oh-so-very talented tongue work me back up into a squirming frenzy of need under him. Feeling the braced weight of his body over me is oddly comforting. Once we’re face to face, he kisses me slowly and thoughtfully, watching me closely.

I’m nervous, but there’s no question I want what’s coming next. I can only hope my eyes portray the same message.

“Elianna, please tell me there’s cause for a gorgeous virgin princess to be on birth control if baby-making isn’t in your near plans. I don’t think I can deal with the thought of anything between us, but especially this first time. I need to feel every single part of you.”

I feel a heat rise that starts at my cheeks and spreads to my chest. I swallow nervously, trying to find my voice. “Yes, to birth control,” I whisper, unable to say anything more.

“Elianna, are you okay, sunshine? It’s not too late to change your mind,” he soothingly reminds me.

Biting my bottom lip in an attempt keep my quivering jaw still, I nod.

Lucas lowers his head. Forehead to forehead, his eyes penetrate every surface of my soul. There’s heart-rendering tenderness at the moment.

“Elianna, right now, nothing else in the world matters except the two of us. Okay?”

“Okay. I’m ready, Lucas,” I tell him with a broken whisper.

Transferring his weigh to one forearm, he reaches down with his other hand to guide his twitching shaft to my entrance. He holds the tip in place, watching it there, captivated. He doesn’t move to push in, though. Dragging his eyes up my body, he meets my eyes.

“Elianna, you’re so gorgeous, sunshine. Inside and out. You have no idea how much this means to me, principessa. I’m going to sweep away all those storms in your eyes before too long. Just stay close and give me a chance,” he says, his voice calm and gaze steady.

Slowly pushing himself in, he releases a tormented groan. My chest is heaving with rapid breaths from the overwhelming fullness. I grip his shoulders, my fingers digging in unconsciously. When I feel him at my barrier, I flinch, squeezing my eyes shut, and Lucas freezes.

“Principessa, I need your eyes,” he gently requests.

Opening my eyes, I know there’s traces of waterworks. I silently pray it won’t cause him to stop. I don’t think I could handle that, if so.

He smiles sympathetically, not for a second releasing the connection of our eyes. “It kills me that something that brings me so much pleasure causes you even the slightest pain, principessa, but I promise I’ll make it feel better as soon as I can. Do you trust me, sunshine?” he asks.

Without a second thought, I respond as welled tear slips from my eye. “Implicitly, bestia.”

Our eyes stay open and foreheads connected, but Lucas somehow manages to kiss me at the same time as well. Sparks blindingly flash in my eyes, causing me to blink excessively to brush the wetness away, but it only stings for a moment or two and is quickly a bearable ache. Lucas lays soft kisses all over my face while holding himself perfectly still.

When I loosen the grip I have on his shoulders and instead lace my fingers together behind his neck, he takes the cue and begins moving. It doesn’t take long for the feeling to become pleasurable, causing whimpers and moans of pleasure to slip from my lips.

“Nothing has ever felt this fucking incredible, principessa. I’ll never have my fill of you. Do you understand that? I’m completely addicted to you in every way now,” Lucas growls. A fire glows in his eyes as our bodies move in exquisite harmony together.

“I’m not going to be able to resist you long, tesoro,” he tells me through his labored breaths. Seeing the effect I have on him does something to me, causing a burning sweetness that spreads from deep inside.

Bracing himself on one arm again, he reaches between us to where our bodies are connected and masterfully strokes the swollen nub as if playing a priceless instrument.

My body reacts to the raw act of possession, causing a tremor inside. Before I can another breath, I feel the passion rising like it’s the hottest fire to exist, and then another second later, it explodes. I’m lost in the clouds of passion and smoke that fogs my brain.