“I want you,” he murmured before turning his head to rest his cheek against my chest just above my heart.

  My breath caught in my throat as he slowly began to nuzzle me, kissing the skin just above my dress and continuing up as far as he could reach. He shuffled around until he could support my weight with one arm while the other drifted up my back and threaded into my hair, tipping my head back so he could lick my neck.

  “Oh my God,” I whispered pleadingly when he began to use his teeth. “Please, please let me stay.”

  He tugged softly on my earlobe before whispering, “You’re always welcome in my bed, beautiful. You don’t even have to ask.”

  “Then take me there.”

  His eyes held mine for a long moment before he jerkily nodded his head and crushed me tighter against his tall frame. I clutched his shoulders and locked my ankles together as he carried me through his apartment with ease, stopping at a closed door.

  “You’re sure? You could have anyone, Mallory.”

  “Then I choose you. I’d always choose you.”

  His expression softened into something tender as his hand blindly reached out to twist open the door. The light in his bedroom was dim, but plenty to see with as he carried me to his bed and eased me on my back.

  “Been dreaming of this since your first day,” he whispered against my lips. “Never wanted a woman more than I want you.”

  He moved down to my neck and pulled the straps of my dress to the side, kissing all the skin within reach. Between gasps, I choked out, “Likewise.”

  “Is that right? Do I make you wet?”

  I knew if he touched me much more, I wouldn’t be able to keep up with the banter. Making the most of the last of my coherency, I whispered, “You’ll have to find out yourself.”

  Brian growled against my neck and I felt my lips twitching to a smirk that faded away the second he pulled back.

  “No,” I groaned as he sat up on his knees. “Please don’t—”

  “I’m not going anywhere,” he interrupted as he jerked the hem of his t-shirt over his head and moved to his belt. “Just getting these out of the way.”

  The loud clatter of his belt as it hit the wood floor was startling. Brian inched back and reached beneath my dress, hooking his fingers on my panties and pulling them down. I tensed up out of habit. He paused with my underwear around my thighs.

  “I’m not taking my pants off yet,” he said slowly, tilting his head to the side as he studied me. “Just relax, Mallory.”

  “I’m sorry,” I blew out in a long breath. “I’m just… nervous. More nervous than I thought I’d be.”

  “Do you want me to stop?”

  “No!” I said a little louder than intended.

  Brian didn’t look comforted by the panicked look on my face, so I wrapped my arms and legs around him as best as I could and pulled him down before he had a chance to detangle himself. Relief washed over me that he couldn’t leave for a moment, but the nagging bit of fear spiked when I heard his groan and felt his hard length pressing against my thigh.

  I was about to have sex. This was really happening.

  Instead of being nervous, a hot flush of desire spread through my body, making me squirm with anticipation. For whatever reason, I realized I wasn’t scared.

  I was ready.

  “Keep going,” I said confidently.

  When he smiled down at me, I felt myself smiling back. Brian propped himself up on one arm and tilted himself slightly off my body and I found myself missing the heat almost immediately.

  Then his warm fingers touched my knee and traveled upward. His hand flattened out as he went north until he was cupping my inner thigh with his palm. He gave me a look that seemed like he was asking permission and I nodded.

  His hand slipped under my dress and went right for my core. I gasped as he explored the area with a single finger, sliding it up and down my folds.

  Brian hissed. “Fuck, you’re wet.”

  The tip of his finger circled around my clitoris and I sucked in a sharp breath, unable to respond. All I could do was buck my hips in a desperate search for more friction.

  Brian liked the reaction. A low chuckle came out as he repeated the movement and buried his face against my neck.

  “Grind against my hand. Show me what you need,” he whispered into my ear.

  His finger tensed up and I tried to rotate my hips in circles to rub myself against him, but it just wasn’t enough. I whimpered with need but it didn’t make him move. I tried moaning his name. I tried begging for more.

  When I was a broken mess and nearly sobbing from frustration, I bucked my hips twice. The first jostled us both—the second caused his finger to slip down enough to barely penetrate my entrance.

  Brian went wild.

  He slid two fingers into me and groaned, leaning over just enough to grind his erection against my hip. My internal muscles clenched involuntarily and I heard him exhale a shaky breath.

  “I’m going to make you come now,” his gravelly voice said. “Then I’m going to fuck you.”

  Though it was stated as fact, I could still hear the lingering note in his voice as he asked for permission. I nodded as best as I could and whispered, “Do it.”

  My head fell back against the pillow when his fingers went back to my clit and started roughly circling the bundle of nerves. The way I writhed and bucked under the onslaught made him growl and before I could even register what was happening, he was rolling back between my legs and using his strength to pin my hips down.

  It only took a moment before I was digging my nails into his shoulders and calling his name. The orgasm hit me like a freight train, harder than any of the ones I had ever given myself. I slammed my eyes shut as I rode out the waves, white lights flashing behind my lids as jolts of pleasure shot through my entire body.

  Somewhere during the climax that seemed to last forever, I heard his revenant voice whisper, “Beautiful.”

  When I came back to earth, I realized he was gently lifting me up and tugging down the zipper to my dress. He laid me back to the bed and soothed the straps down, shifting it little by little until he had pulled it all the way down my hips and off.

  “So fucking sexy,” he growled as he crawled up my body, his eyes focused on my breasts as his hands followed.

  He cupped one in his hand while his mouth went to the other and sucked the stiff peak between his lips. I instinctively arched my back, moaning when I felt his teeth gently bite down at the same time as his fingers pinched the other. He switched sides once he had his fill, giving equal attention to both nipples.

  Brian didn’t stop until I was once again a writhing mess of need. I wasn’t sure if it was intentional or if he was just that caught up on my chest, but I decided to take matters into my own hands.

  I snaked between our bodies, hesitating for a split second before I reached down and grasped his cock through his pants.

  The shift was immediate. He froze and his eyes popped open. They landed on mine and I felt my heart pound hard in my chest from the hungry look he gave me.

  “I’m ready,” I assured him one more time, giving his thickness a squeeze as I added, “Take me.”

  He nodded and pushed himself up, reaching into his nightstand for a moment before dropping the packet on the bed. I was fascinated watching him strip off his remaining layers, my eyes widening when I finally got a good look at his cock.

  Holy shit.

  “Relax,” he said gently as he rolled the latex over the intimidating thickness. “I’ll take it slow.”

  Slow or not, I was beginning to worry that it was going to hurt like hell. He was bigger than any of the guys I’d seen in porn. Not that I had watched many, but still.

  Brian’s hand paused and I looked up to see him wincing as he said, “It’s okay if you changed your mind. I won’t be mad.”

  My admiration for the man grew stronger along with my resolve that he was the one I’d been waiting for.

  “I haven’t. I want this. I want you.” I love you.

  He nodded and kicked his pants off before coming up to settle between my spread legs. He rested his forearms on either side of my head and leaned in to kiss me sweetly before pulling back just enough to stare into my eyes.

  “I’ve never taken someone’s virginity,” he said, smiling once he finished. “So it’s a first for me as well.”

  His confession went straight to my heart and my pulse kicked up. It might not have meant much to anyone else, but I knew that it was his way of assuring me that this was just as special to him.

  I leaned up to kiss him one more time before spreading my legs as far as I possibly could. The invitation was clear and a split second later, I felt his cock nudging at my entrance. A slight shift of his hips and the head of his cock pushed in.

  Brian groaned and I clamped down on his shoulders tightly, gritting my teeth while I struggled to control my breathing.

  “More,” I choked out, hoping not to prolong the pain for longer than necessary.

  But he was just so big. He pushed deeper into me and I couldn’t suppress the whimper that slipped out.

  “Fuck. Are you okay?” Brian groaned as he froze above me. “Mallory?”

  “I-I’m okay. It’s just... uncomfortable,” I managed to get out between my labored breaths. “Just give me a second.”

  Brian was patient, though I could tell he was strained by the way his shoulders gently shook. Once I felt okay enough to take more, I nuzzled my face against his neck and whispered, “Go all the way.”

  “Are you—”

  “Do it. Please.”

  He sucked in a shaky breath and thrust forward, burying himself to the hilt in one smooth stroke. I cried out from the pain and was mortified to feel tears springing to my eyes.

  “Shit, shit, shit,” Brian muttered as he wiped away the tear that slipped past my closed lid. “I’m so sorry, beautiful. I’m so fucking sorry.”

  He continued to mutter apologies as he kissed all around my face, but after a few moments of having him in me, the sharp pain subsided and a weird ache settled in its place. He made it clear that he would wait as long as I needed him to or stop altogether, but I had no desire to do so.

  I shifted my hips experimentally, blinking rapidly when he moaned in response. Well, that was... neat.

  With a smile, I did it again—only this time, I watched his face as I did. His jaw went slack for a moment before it clenched again. When his eyes opened and locked on mine, I realized he was struggling to hold himself back.

  It was incredibly hot. The look he gave me reminded me of what almost happened in his office and my walls clenched at him, forcing a hiss from between his clenched teeth.

  “How does it feel?” I quietly asked.

  “Like you were made for me. Fucking perfect,” he said, chuckling a little as his eyes drifted shut. “How does it feel for you?”

  “It hurt at first. But now...” I trailed off as I wiggled around until I could feel his cock moving a little in me. “Now it feels kind of good.”

  “Can I move?” he huskily whispered.

  “Yes, please.”

  Even though it was starting to feel nice, I still hung on to Brian just in case more pain was coming. He pulled out so slowly that I swore I could feel every ridge in his cock. As I was trying to wrap my mind around how to articulately describe the sensation—he pushed back in.

  The noise that came out of my mouth would have embarrassed me under any other circumstances. As it was, all I could focus on was the sensation of his cock opening me up and my walls clenching in an attempt to keep him inside as he pulled out.

  When he realized I was fine, he pushed himself up just slightly and began to roll his hips in smooth, fluid thrusts. I let go of his shoulders and twisted my fingers in the sheets, panting hard as the pleasure built.

  But when I opened my eyes to look at Brian, I saw something on his face I didn’t like. It took me a few moments to realize that it was the focused look of a restrained man.

  “Stop. Brian, stop,” I panted as I put my hands on his chest. A look of alarm flashed across his face, so I quickly added, “I’m fine. Just wait a minute.”

  “What’s wrong? Did I hurt you?”

  How did I explain the problem without sounding crazy?

  “Not at all. That’s... kind of the problem.”

  “What?”

  Well, he was certainly looking at me like I was crazy. Hell, maybe I was. I rolled my eyes and shook my head before giving it another go.

  “I mean, you’re just... You’re not into it.”

  Brian laughed. “Are you joking? I’m—”

  “You were wincing, Brian. Not a look a woman wants to see when you’re inside her.”

  Understanding dawned in his eyes, but all he did was shake his head and frown as he said, “I don’t want to be rough with you. It’s your first time. You deserve better.”

  “Is what you think I deserve more important than what I want?”

  Brian let out a sound of frustration before he said, “No. Tell me what you want.”

  “I want it like it was that day in your office. I want to feel that passion. Does that make sense?”

  “Yeah,” he huskily agreed. “I just don’t want to accidentally hurt you.”

  I cupped his cheeks in my hands, forcing him to stare me in the eye as I said, “I trust you.”

  We held eye contact for a long moment before his lips descended to mine as his hips began to roll again.

  Only this time, there was a grunt at the end of each thrust. The movements were rougher. Faster. Almost animalistic. Completely driven by instinct. When I managed to open my eyes to see his face, I found him watching me. That restrained look was gone—replaced by a slack-jawed look of hunger.

  I loved it. I loved him.

  Just as I thought it couldn’t get any better, he pushed himself up and gripped the headboard with one hand, the other going beneath my hip and raising me from the bed. I screamed his name when he began to pound into me. He moaned my name at the same time and my toes curled.

  “I’m—Ohh, Brian, I—”

  “Come. Come for me,” he demanded, the pupils under his hooded eyes dilating even more. “Mallory.”

  I pressed my feet against the mattress and arched up toward him just as the dam broke and pleasure went rolling through me again. My head fell back against the pillow as I let it happen and I listened to the choked groan that slid from Brian’s mouth as I came around him.

  I opened my eyes just in time to see the look of wonder on his face right before his eyes slammed shut and his cock pushed deep into me one last time. He came with an almost startled gasp followed by a long, broken groan. His cock twitched so hard I could feel it against my walls.

  “Holy fuck,” I murmured in awe. “That was...”

  “Too rough?” he panted as his eyes scanned over my face.

  “No. It was so worth the wait.”

  He eased himself down until our sweaty foreheads were pressed together and he kissed me—a tender, lazy kiss that I’d never experienced before. One of total satisfaction.

  I was smiling to the ceiling when he made the final move to make the night perfect. He got out of bed to dispose of the condom and turn the lights off, then slid in beside me and immediately tugged me in close.

  “Do you wish we would’ve waited longer?” he quietly asked in the darkness.

  “No. This just feels… right.”

  “Yeah. It really does.”

  I nuzzled up against him, smiling when his arms tightened around me. It didn’t take long for the sound of his heartbeat to lull me to sleep.

  12

  Brian

  Sex had never been so satisfying as it was with Mallory.

  Hell, nothing had ever been so satisfying. Not graduating school or moving out or even starting my company. There was just something deeply moved in me that I couldn’t quite put my finger on—something that said having her was more important than anything else.

  And I did have her. I kept her in my bed for almost the entire Saturday and half of Sunday before I finally let her go back to her apartment.

  I didn’t say it, but I wanted her to stay. The way she looked walking around my apartment in my robe made my chest ache. I wanted her there every damn day. I wanted free rein to look at her and touch her and kiss her and…

  Mallory entered the break room, drawing my attention away from the fridge. I turned in time to notice that she was walking extra carefully and the heels she typically wore to work had been exchanged for flats.

  The shift in her walk was barely perceivable. I only noticed because I was looking for it. The concern that was making my stomach tight eased when her eyes came up to mine and I watched as she failed to subdue an automatic smile. She was clearly sore, but not hurt. She wouldn’t be smiling so brightly otherwise.

  Which meant I was free to smirk in response. My male pride swelled even more when she blushed.

  “Good morning,” I said softly as she stepped up beside me to place her lunch in the fridge. “Did you have a nice weekend, Miss Jones?”

  “Incredible,” she said softly. “And yours?”

  I took a step toward her, all too aware of the many people who were walking around preparing for work. Once I was sure nobody was paying attention to the two of us, I whispered, “Best weekend of my life.”

  Mallory’s head ducked down shyly as her blushed deepened. The endearing move made me want to run my hands through her hair and kiss her until we were both breathless. Her head tipped back to look at me and I could instinctively tell that she was thinking the same thing.

  I swallowed roughly. I was in so fucking deep it wasn’t even funny.

  The chilly air coming from the refrigerator brought me back to the moment and I stepped aside to shut the door. It put me closer to Mallory and I couldn’t deny that I’d done it on purpose.

  “Brian...” she whispered, trailing off just before a loud noise outside the room startled us both.