Page 156 of A Promise so Bold and Broken

Lessia dragged her thumb over the tip of his cock, savoring the wetness already forming there, and Merrick growled again—a pure guttural growl that made her squirm beneath him.

Gripping the hand encircling him, he dragged it over her head.

Then he grasped her other one.

When both lay above her head, he wrapped his fingers around her wrists and pressed them down into the mattress.

“I don’t think you need t-to teach me how to please you,” Lessia panted as she fought the grip, needing to touch him again—or perhaps herself, as he was slowing this down too much.

Merrick’s eyes closed for a moment. “Gods, Lessia.”

Opening them again as he pressed his hard length against her, he groaned as it slipped against her wetness. “I think you’re right.”

She writhed under him again, rubbing her legs together and pushing up against him, trying to find some—any—relief, and Merrick laughed roughly.

“I am taking my fucking time with you.” He lowered to nip at her lip, still holding on to her hands. “I’ve waited a damned eternity for this. Please don’t deny me.”

As if there were anything she would deny him.

She’d meant it.

She loved him.

Utterly and completely.

Not just because of the mating bond.

Perhaps even despite it, she loved him.

With everything in her.

Lessia stopped squirming, biting her lip as she rasped, “I promise never to deny you anything.”

She got the response she’d hoped for.

“You… fuck, you’re incredible.” Merrick’s mouth fused with hers, his tongue sweeping across her lips until she opened for him, and his weight pressed down on her, his cock finally rubbing against her sensitive bundle, the pleasure so intense she cried out.

“Fuck, Lessia.” He growled as his muscles went taut. “You feel so fucking good.”

“Merrick,” she whimpered, her eyes drowning in his. “Please. I want you.”

He shut his eyes, his face freeing from whatever hardness remained. “Say that again.”

“Look at me,” she whispered, and when Merrick opened those beautiful eyes, she echoed, “Iwantyou.”

He cursed again—some words she knew and some she’d never heard—as he shifted her beneath him, lining himself up exactly where she wanted him.

Lessia lifted her hips, and the first part of him eased into her.

Truly eased, because as Merrick pressed further, stretching her in the most delicious way, it was as if he was made for her.

They held their breaths until he was all the way in, and as his strong hips met hers, they released it together.

You and me.

The words echoed in her ears as Merrick pulled out and drove into her with one single stroke.

It was so simple.

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