Page 108 of Ruthless, But for Her

Cassia

She couldn't get close enough to him.

Their boots were the first to go, kicked aside. Ashton caught the hem of her damp riding gown and helped pull it over her head, the fabric clinging where the river had soaked it through. Her shift followed more easily, then his tunic, his belt and the rest of what stood between them.

Cassia barely noticed where any of it landed.

She only noticed him.

“I missed you,” she said simply.

When there was nothing between them, he took her cheeks in both hands, as he had before, and looked so deeply into her eyes that Cassia shuddered.

“Stay angry with me when I deserve it. Fight me when I’m wrong. But stay with me. Forever.”

Before she could respond, he brought her face to him and kissed her like never before. It was as if he were attempting to devour her, and Cassia went willingly.

Somehow, he'd moved them to the bed without her noticing. Cassia startled when the mattress touched her back. Unlike last time, Ashton was in complete control. He towered over her, knees on both sides of her legs pressed together, looking at her the way Cassia might look upon a rare, illuminated manuscript.

“You are magnificent, Cassia. Riding from that keep...” He let out a breath. “Magnificent. And mine.”

With that, he lowered himself and began to show her that he meant the words he'd spoken.

By the time he settled between her legs, the word mercy was so far from her mind, Cassia never imagined using it. Why in the devil’s name would she want him to stop?

“Ashton.”

When he looked up, grinning, Cassia was nearly undone.

His words held none of his usual restraint.

And neither did the man.

“Does this hurt?”

“Aye.” She reached up to cup his cheeks, as he had hers. “I love you, Ashton.”

She loved his restraint. His care for her. She even loved that he'd let her go, thinking it was best for her. Though misguided, everything Ashton did was because he loved her. In this moment, she knew not how she could have ever doubted such a thing.

“Let me love you back.”

And he did.

As last time, Ashton brought her to the height of joy, of pure pleasure. Except once, when the pleasure built and threatened to overwhelm her, he'd slowed down and brought them both back to even breathing.

“You torment me deliberately, do you not?”

“Perhaps. I wish to learn precisely what you like.”

“Aye.”

Again he brought her to the edge and began to back away.

Not again.

“Mercy,” she called. “But to take me.”

It was the broadest smile she'd ever seen from him. And then, he proceeded to show her how much she meant to him.