in his and held it above her head. He kissed her lightly on the lips and slid himself deep inside her. As he filled her, she bit her bottom lip to keep from crying out at the unexpected pain that intruded on her pleasure. He was so large that her body ached at the foreign feel of him.
But at least it was done.
She was a virgin no more.
Adron held himself perfectly still, waiting for her body to adjust to his. The last thing he wanted was to hurt her, but by the fierce grip she had on his hand, he knew what she was hiding.
He also knew better than anyone that a person couldnât feel pleasure and pain at the same time.
And he refused to hurt her tonight.
Reluctantly, he let go of her hand and raised himself up on his arms to look down at her. He was used to the darkness. So much so that he saw her eyes tightly shut.
âDonât be afraid,â he whispered, skimming his hand down her body until he touched her between her legs again.
Livia sighed as his hand stroked her nub. The pain receded behind a wave of building delight.
âThatâs it,â he said before he slowly started to rock his hips against hers.
Livia arched her back as his hot touch washed away the pain. He felt so good inside her, and every stroke seemed to reach deeper as she clung to his broad, muscular shoulders. Sheâd never imagined it could feel so wonderful.
Adron watched her face as she surrendered herself to him. He ground his teeth at the incredible feel of her. She was so wet and hot beneath and around him. Heâd forgotten the pleasure to be had in a womanâs arms.
Had forgotten the incredible feel of someone just holding him in the darkness.
He lowered himself and took her into his arms, where he cradled her head in his hands as he thrust against her. Her breath fell against his bare shoulder, burning him.
She turned her head to kiss his neck as she ran her hands over his back.
He growled, scalded by the bliss of it. Gah, let me die right here and right now. Before the pain returned. Before he remembered what a worthless piece of shit he was.
Desperate for her, he didnât want this moment to end.
Livia wrapped her legs around his lean waist. He held her so tenderly that it touched her deep inside her heart. Krista had told her he would use her without any feelings for her whatsoever.
But it didnât feel like that.
Not the way he held on to her like she was unspeakably precious.
He returned to her lips, and she moaned at the taste of his tongue. He stroked her faster. Deeper. Harder. She held him close as her pleasure started building again. Oh goodness, what was it about him that made her feel like this?
And this time when her release came, he joined her. He growled low in his throat as he delivered one last, deep stroke and shuddered in her arms.
Adron collapsed on top of her. Completely spent, he lay there, holding her as he waited to drift back down from heaven and into his body. So much for meaningless sex. There had been absolutely nothing meaningless about what theyâd just shared. And what terrified him most was the fact that he didnât want her to leave.
He didnât want to return to the vacant emptiness of his life. Heâd been alone for so long. Had lived without anyone other than servants and family.
But sheâd changed that, and he didnât want to go back.
âThat was amazing.â Her breath teased his ear. âCan we do it again?â
He laughed, and was shocked to feel his body already stirring. âYes, we can.â In fact, he wasnât going to stop until she again begged him for mercy.
TWO
Adron came awake slowly to the most incredible feeling heâd ever known.
Livia by his side.
She lay nestled in his arms, facing away from him. He wasnât sure what time theyâd finally fallen asleep. All he knew was that heâd never experienced such peace. Such warmth.
And there was no pain. Neither physical nor mental.
Reveling in