“Elle...” I put a finger over her lips, silencing her with my stare. “Okay.”

“Okay?” Her lips brushed over my touch, making me shudder with desire.

“You win.” I leaned forward, my self-control at its end. Capturing her mouth with mine, I kissed her with every yes and apology I could. “I’m a fucking idiot, but I’m yours. I’m not going anywhere.”

It took a second for my vow to travel from her ears to her brain to her heart.

But when it did, she bounced into my arms as if she’d always belonged there.

“Truly?”

I chuckled. “Truly.”

She peppered my jaw with kisses. “You’re an ass. You know that, right?”

“I do know that. That was why I was trying to remove myself from your life.”

“Well, you tried and failed. Don’t you ever try again.”

I nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

“And don’t call me ma’am.”

“What do you want me to call you?”

“Something dirty while you take off my clothes and have your wicked way with me.”

My eyebrows rose. “In that case, turn around, Ms. Charlston. I suddenly have the overwhelming need to bend you over and stick my cock inside you.”

She trembled. “I thought you’d never ask.”

I swatted her ass, marching her to the bed. “Oh, I didn’t ask. You’ve been a naughty girl, going against my wishes and making me keep you. You need to be punished.”

Her laughter made my entire fucking galaxy blaze bright.

Chapter Forty-Six

Elle

“MARRY ME.”

My eyes flew wide. “What?”

Penn spun me around, shoved his clothes-strewn bag off the bed, and tossed me onto the mattress. “Marry me. Make our fake engagement real.”

“I—wow.”

“Wow isn’t the answer I want.” His voice was a seductive rasp. “Try again. Marry me?”

A shiver darted down my spine, loving his authoritative kinky tone.

I knew my answer, but I bit my bottom lip. “Um, how long can I think about it?”

I gasped as he pressed me onto my back, then hoisted up the silver dress and revealed my nakedness. I’d left him the gift of my underwear this morning and hadn’t replaced them.

He groaned. “God, you’re going to kill me.” He sank a finger inside me, burying his face into my hair. “Yes or no, Elle. Put me out of my misery.” Hunger poured off him, infecting me until I squirmed with starvation. He was so much bigger than me, so much stronger, so damn beautiful, yet with one little word, I had the power to break him into smithereens.

Just like he’d broken me.

I toyed with the idea of saying no. To give him a taste of his own medicine, but he withdrew his touch and rolled onto his side.

“You’re all I want, Elle. I was a jackass.” He kissed me reverently then contradicted it with sudden aggression. “It fucking destroyed me to go over there. To tell you to leave me. Feeling that god-crushing emptiness of having everything I ever wanted then giving it all away again. It hurt so fucking much.”

More tears sprang to my eyes at his confession and soul-bearing honesty. He cut me open, leaving me to bleed in his arms.

“I want you more than I’ve ever wanted anyone. More than I ever wanted a dry place to sleep. More than food even after two days of none.” A cocky smirk twisted his lips. “That’s the truth, but the one you truly need to know is I’m crazy in love with you, and you’re not leaving my bed until you say yes.”

“Is that a threat?”

“Do you want it to be?”

My eyes hooded. “Maybe.”

“I don’t mind spending decades convincing you.” Undoing his belt and zipper, he pushed his jeans and boxer-briefs down to mid-thigh. His erection sprang thick and hard.

My legs spread in invitation. “Good because I think I need convincing.”

Pressing over me, his body vibrated with tension. His arousal soaked from his skin to mine as he found my entrance.

His lips moved against mine, hot and wet. We devoured each other, turning wilder and more in lust every second. Bites and licks and the incessant urge to join, to mate.

His cock throbbed at my core, tormenting me, making me heavy and achy with need.

“I’ll be miserable without you, Elle. Please don’t make me be miserable.”

“You’re making me miserable.” I rocked against him, begging him to fill me. My senses were drenched in him—his scent and taste. I needed him to finish what he started before I went completely out of my mind.

“You want me?” He angled himself, mounting me in every sense. “You have me.” He plunged inside.

“Oh, God.” My eyes blacked out. The room spun.

A groan splashed from both of us. I couldn’t stop my hips grinding into him as he thrust inch by savage inch.

“Is this enough convincing?” He captured my mouth as his hips flexed into mine, driving me hard against the bed.

“Not...quite...” I patted myself on the back for even attempting to speak with him fucking me, drugging me.

“More?”

I moaned when he sucked on my tongue.

His kisses came wrapped in apologizes and screw-ups. His nips were loaded with passion and love.

He held nothing back. Giving me everything he had left to give.

But I was greedy.

“More, definitely more.” I sank my fingernails into his ass, pulling him harder, making him fill me deeper. He completed me.