“I’ll replace those memories with my hands on your skin,” I said, voice like a promise. “With your name on my tongue while you come apart in my mouth. I want you to remember what it feels like to be craved.”

“You don’t even know me,” she whispered.

I brought my hand to her cheek, thumb brushing across her flushed skin. “No, but I see you.”

She swallowed hard.

“I want to be the man who reminds you how fucking powerful you are,” I said, breath hot against her lips. “You think you’re broken? Then let me put you back together the only way I know how.”

She didn’t answer right away.

Her eyes dropped to my chest, then to the sand between us, like she was weighing something heavy. A war waged behind those lashes—desire and doubt, need and self-protection. I could feel it in the way her breath caught, in the way her grip faltered for just a second.

“I don’t do this,” she whispered, barely audible.

I tilted her chin up gently, forcing her to meet my gaze.

“Maybe tonight, you should.”

Her lips parted, but she didn't speak.

I leaned in, voice low and rough. “You want to know what I’d do if you came to my room?” I whispered, grazing her lips with mine. “First, I’d peel that dress off slowly. I’d want to see it fall. Want to watch you step out of it like you’re stepping into fire.”

Her thighs pressed together, hips shifting ever so slightly.

“I’d run my hands up those gorgeous legs and feel how wet you are already—how badly you need to be touched.”

She whimpered.

“Then I’d get on my knees. Right in front of you. My mouth on your pussy until you forget every single man who didn’t know what the fuck he was doing.”

I braced one hand beside her head and lowered the other to rest on her hip, thumb brushing bare skin beneath the hem of her dress.

“I’d suck your clit until you’re crying my name. Make you come on my tongue. Twice. Maybe three times if I’m feeling generous.”

“Jesus,” she breathed.

“And then,” I growled, lips inches from hers, “when your legs can’t hold you up anymore, I’d fuck you so deep and so slow, you’d swear I was the only man you’ve ever had.”

Her hands grabbed fistfuls of my shirt. Her body was shaking, eyes wild and blown wide.

“You’d beg for more,” I whispered, “and I wouldn’t stop until I knew you wouldn’t walk straight tomorrow.”

We stayed like that for a beat—panting, eyes locked, hearts pounding.

Then her hand slid into mine.

“Okay,” she whispered, voice wrecked and raw. “One night.”

I didn’t smile.

Didn’t need to.

I just took her hand, laced our fingers tight, and led her straight toward the fire I already knew we’d set together.

Chapter 3

Ella