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His breath is ragged, hungry.

Ethan lifts his head, pinning me in place with that hypnotic stare.

“Tonight you’re mine, Thalia. I’ll take you the way I want, when I want. And you agreed the second you stepped into my bedroom.”

I barely have time to react before his hands are on me, strong and demanding, forcing my legs wider while he settles between them, his body pressing me into the mattress.

Heat floods through me instantly.

Without thinking, I hook my ankles behind his back, pulling him closer, craving the contact.

He groans low in my ear, the sound rough, primal, then his hands slide over the metallic chains of my outfit, cupping my breasts, squeezing—making me moan.

My body moves against him on instinct, restless, searching, because I can already feel him—hard, ready, exactly where I need him.

Reality crashes into me then, piercing and undeniable. I don’t know how I’ll handle it when he finally takes me.

But I don’t want to stop.

Because the truth—the real truth—is that I want Ethan… for one night.

He drives me insane with a single look, infuriates me just by existing, and yet no one has ever made me feel this. Not once.

And maybe, just maybe, after tonight, I’ll finally be free of it.

Sex burns desire out, right?

God, I hope so.

My fingers tangle in his hair, guiding him lower as his mouth trails down my body, finally reaching my breasts. The metallic hearts that had covered my nipples are already gone, forgotten somewhere in the sheets.

His lips close around me and I gasp, arching into him, his tongue flicking before he sucks harder, pulling another broken sound from my throat.

I’m unravelling far too fast.

Jesus. I’m already on the edge, and we’ve barely begun. It’s humiliating.

My hand slips down his chest, fumbling with the buttons of his shirt, undoing them quickly, urgently, while his hand drifts lower—over my stomach, down my thigh—until it slips between my legs.

He pauses, just for a second. A breath.

A hesitation so small it could almost be missed. But I sense it.

Then his jaw sets, and whatever thought crossed his mind is gone just as fast.

He pushes aside the small piece of metal covering me with a sharp move, and then his fingers are on my clit.

A gasp tears out of me, followed by a moan that fills the room. My head falls back against the pillows, pleasure crashing through me, intense and overwhelming.

I tug harder at his shirt, ripping it open completely, buttons scattering across the floor.

His chuckle brushes against my ear. “Impatient much?”

He takes my nipple into his mouth again, biting softly before soothing it with sensual, precise licks, while his fingers move with a rhythm that sends my entire body spiraling.

Too fast. Too much. I’m not going to last.

With shaking hands, I reach for his belt, undoing it quickly, pushing his pants and boxers down in one determined motion.