Page 326 of Once Upon a Fable

She set fire to every inch of my idiotic heart and greedy soul.

I wanted to be free with her. I wanted to indulge in things and take everything she had to offer, but most of all, I wanted to fucking remember those things after we’d finished.

Ripping my mouth from hers, I panted, “Make me a promise, Gemma Ashford.” Her head snapped up, lust-fogged eyes struggling to concentrate on mine. I kept her cradled in my arms even though my broken arm burned and my cock was seconds away from exploding. I had to make her vow. “Right here, right now, make me a promise.”

She swallowed, her lips swollen and face etched with need. “Anything.”

I bent and kissed her. Softly. Maddingly gentle. “Remind me.”

She sucked in a breath. “Of what?”

“Ofeverything.” I pulled her closer, my hips still rocking into hers. “Whatever I forget, remember for me. If I ask, tell me. If I don’t, understand it’s not because I’m running from knowing but because I’m not strong enough. I-I don’t know how long these symptoms will last. That damn book said it could take years...” My jaw clenched with denial, but I forced myself to finish. “I don’t expect you to record every little thing, but please...” I rocked against her heat, her incredible body. “Remember the important bits. Remind me to keep trying, even if it seems like I’m failing. Tell me how I treat you, how I speak to you—teach me to be the man you deserve, and I’ll do it. Help me to bebetter.”

She flinched, her eyes mirroring the sorrow that consumed me. She took a moment to reply, tears welling, making all the spaces inside mefill with haunted, harrowed things. Finally, she said firmly, almost coldly. “I promise.”

I kissed her.

She grabbed handfuls of my hair, holding on as my tongue dived deep and our kiss turned sharp and primitive. Both of us sealing the promise. Doing our best to convince ourselves that it would work.

It would keep me with her.

It would make mebetter.

“Take me, Kas,” Gemma moaned, our heads dancing, our tongues tangling, our breathing matching in haggard rhythm.

I stumbled to the side, my body rock fucking hard and no longer willing to tolerate not being inside her. Spinning around, I marched her to the wall.

Pre-cum rippled up my cock at the thought of taking her.

Urgency made me jerky and mean.

This would be quick and vicious. Whatever softness I might or might not have given last night was gone. Today, I was nothing but brutality.

She wanted it hard.

So did I.

I wanted bruises.

I wanted marks.

I wanted my body to be covered in mementos of what happened here so I would remember.

I will.

She cried out as her spine hit the wall. Ivy leaves scattered around us, landing in her hair as we crashed against the vines. I waited for her to tell me to stop even as my hands grabbed the hem of her dress, ripping it up her legs to bunch it at her waist.

I looked down.

Naked.

No underwear.

No obstruction.

Fucking hell, this woman.

She’d be the death of me.