One hand remained on my hip as he sank all the way inside, rocking harder when he filled me as if he could climb deeper. His other hand crept to my breast, tweaking my sore nipple from a nighttime of pleasure, then fisted my hair to hold my head exactly the way he wanted. He consumed my mouth with his. His hunger palatable—washing off him with droplets of needs.

The unabashed way he desired me made the upcoming separation so incredibly painful.

We’d wasted so much time when we could’ve been together. We’d lied and ruined, and who knew what the future held.

Now, we were together and committed, but we weren’t permitted the freedom to consummate, grow, and find a home in this new relationship.

How cruel. How unfair. How unjust.

His thoughts must’ve been where mine were because he kissed me desperately. He kissed me savagely. We kissed as if we were starving. Our tongues fought, our teeth nipped, we became drunk on fucking with our bodies and our lips.

He pounded into me, slamming me repeatedly against the wall. There was nothing gentle. Nothing kind about the slapping of our skin against skin.

But my body ached and slicked, welcoming him to take me harder, faster.

His teeth captured my ear, breathing hard. “Fuck, I love you. I love fucking you. I’ll never stop.”

I trembled, undone by the circle of his hips and the frantic way we clawed at each other.

The ferocity unbound me. The fury at not being allowed to be together made us rebels in our desire to consume each other.

Perhaps, we did want to hurt each other. Perhaps, that was what our love was—forever tangled up with hate from past misconceptions. But God, it made for hot sex.

“You’re going to make me come.” He sucked on my throat, deliberately marking me, branding me for the entire world to see when he couldn’t be there.

I sank deeper onto him, trusting him entirely to support my weight while he drove me off the cliff. “Good because I’m going to come. God, I’m going to come.”

The tingles were back. The stars, the streamers, the candy floss and fairy wings. They all vortexed in my belly, spiraling outward, clenching my core as bliss I’d forever associate with Penn wiped me out completely.

I shuddered in his arms as I gave into the bands of pleasure.

“Christ, you’ll be the death of me.” He gripped my thigh, sinking fingernails into flesh. “Don’t wash me away.”

I wanted to ask what he meant, but his head fell back as his entire stomach sculpted into granite. His muscles seized as the pulsing of his orgasm deep inside me echoed with his groan of release.

His knees buckled as endorphins drenched his body, making him lethargic and sated.

Dropping my legs from around his hips, he gently placed me on my feet, withdrawing from me, watching the vision of his cock sliding free for the last time.

Tears wobbled over my retinas, but I sniffed them back.

He tipped my head up, kissing me. “Promise me you won’t shower for the rest of the day. I need to know a part of me is still with you, even though I’ll be locked up in here.”

“Of course.” I threw my arms around him, hugging him so damn hard. “God, I hate this so, so much.”

He hugged me back, squeezing me until I couldn’t breathe. “I love you.”

And then the guard knocked on the door. “Ten minutes. Get ready to go.”

Penn let me go.

We dressed in silence.

We kissed goodbye in pain.

We separated in agony.

Letter from Penn

I DON’T KNOW how you knew, but you did.

You knew I needed a reminder on how to fight. You knew I needed to taste and touch you, not just talk to you across a fucking table.

The fact you knew that—that you managed to find a way for us to be together—proved I was right to fall for you.

You’re everything I want and everything I need.

Because of you, I feel strong again.

I won’t give up.

I won’t let those bastards win.

Tell Larry I’m ready to take him down. I’ll testify if he gathers the evidence. I’ll do whatever it damn well takes to get out of here and be with you.

Because one thing’s for sure, Elle—that night in the alley, I wanted to keep you.

After last night, I want to fucking marry you.

Letter from Elle

FROM FAKE ENGAGEMENT to prison letter proposal, your romance never fails to astound me.

I think you know I won’t argue this time. In fact, if you tried to walk away, I’d use everything at my disposal to convince you otherwise.

Your letter took a week to be delivered.

A week where I couldn’t stop thinking about you and how good it felt being together.

All my life, I’ve had privilege. I thought I never took it for granted, but I know now that I did. I’m grateful for the staff who do what I tell them. I’m thankful for the company that gives me power.

But none of that experience helps me help you.

I’m going out of my mind, needing to do something.

I spoke to Greg when I probably shouldn’t have. I told the press you were innocent when I should probably have kept my mouth shut.

You’re in there because of me, and I can’t help.

Do you know how helpless that makes me feel? So pointless. So useless.

Knowing I was able to remind you to keep fighting helps me keep fighting because missing you is the most exhausting thing I’ve ever done.

But it’s worth it.

Because that night in the alley, I needed you.