“No,” I murmur, my arousal growing despite my good intentions. “I didn’t tell anyone.”

“Why not?” Nora all but purrs as I slide my fingers through her hair again, lightly massaging her scalp in the process. “You didn’t think they would believe you?”

“No, I knew they would believe me.” I withdraw my hands from her hair as my need intensifies, threatening my self-control. “I just didn’t have close friends, that’s all.”

Something uncomfortably close to pity flickers in her gaze, but she doesn’t say anything or ask any follow-up questions. Instead, she leans closer and presses her lips to mine, her small hands coming up to rest on both sides of my face.

Her touch is strangely innocent and uncertain, as if she’s kissing me for the first time. Her lips just barely graze mine, each touch a hint, a promise of more to come. I can almost taste her, almost feel her, and the urge to fuck her is so strong I shudder with it. It’s only the memory of last night—of the wounded, betrayed look in her eyes—that enables me to stay still and accept her not-quite-kisses, my hands resting on her shoulders. I know I should stop her, push her away, but I can’t.

Her hesitant kisses are the sweetest thing I’ve ever felt.

When I think I can’t bear much more, her hot little mouth moves to my jaw and then trails down my neck, kissing and nibbling with the same torturous gentleness. Her hands release my face and slide down my body, her fingers closing around the bottom edge of my shirt. She begins to lift the shirt, and I groan as her knuckles brush against my naked sides, her touch leaving my skin burning in its wake.

“Nora . . .” I suck in my breath as she scoots down and kneels between my spread legs, her face at the level of my navel. “Nora, baby, you need to stop teasing me.”

She ignores my directive, keeping my shirt bunched up. “Who’s teasing?” she whispers, looking up at me. And before I can respond, she leans in and places a warm, damp kiss on my stomach.

Fuck. My entire body jerks, my balls tightening on a savage surge of lust. The sight of her kneeling there pushes my buttons in all the wrong ways, calling to my darkest desires. My hands knot into fists, and I take short, deep breaths, reminding myself that she’s fragile right now.

That she’s pregnant with my child, and I can’t take her like an animal again.

Except she’s licking my stomach now. Fucking licking it. Tracing each muscle indentation with her tongue, like she’s trying to imprint it on her memory.

“Nora.” My voice is hoarse. “Baby, that’s enough.”

She pulls back, looking up at me through those long, thick lashes of hers. “Are you sure?” she murmurs, still not letting go of my shirt. “Because I think I want more.” And leaning in again, she scrapes her teeth over my lower abs, then sucks on the spot, her mouth hot and wet on my bare skin.

Skin that’s right next to the throbbing cock still confined in my shorts.

Fucking hell.

“Nora . . .” I can barely form the words, my fingers digging into the bark of the tree in an effort not to grab her. “You don’t want this, baby, stop it—”

“Who said that I don’t want it?” Moving back, she looks up at me again, her gaze dark and heated. “I do want it, Julian . . . You made me want it.”

I suck in a hard breath, my cock jerking as she releases my shirt and reaches for my belt buckle instead. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

Her lips curve up. “Yes, Julian, you do.” She succeeds in undoing the belt, and her hand delves into my shorts, her slender fingers closing around my swollen length and squeezing lightly. “Don’t you?”

I nearly explode, my hands reaching for her before I even realize what I’m doing. “Yes . . .” My voice is closer to a growl as I drag her onto my lap, forcing her to straddle my legs. “I want to hurt you, fuck you, take you in every way possible and then some. I want to mark your pretty skin and hear you scream as I drive deep into your pussy and make you come all over my cock. Is that what you want to hear, my pet?” Gripping her arms tightly, I glare at her. “Is that what you want?”

She runs her tongue over her lips, her eyes gleaming with a peculiar darkness. “Yes.” Her voice is whisper-soft. “Yes, Julian. That’s exactly what I want.”

Fuck. I close my eyes, literally shaking with lust. With the way she’s straddling my lap in her dress, only a tiny thong separates her pussy from my dick. If I shift her up a few inches, I could be inside her, pounding her tight little body . . .

The temptation is unbearable.

One, one thousand. Two, one thousand. Three, one thousand. I force myself to do the mental count until I regain a modicum of control.

Then I open my eyes and meet her gaze again.

“No, Nora.” My voice is almost steady as I let go of her arms and move my hands up to cup her face in my palms instead. “That’s not how this is going to go.”

She blinks, looking taken aback. “What—”

I bend my head, cutting her off with a kiss. Slowly and deeply, I invade her mouth, tasting her, stroking her with my tongue. Then I fist my hand in her hair and push her down between my legs, enjoying the look of shock on her small face.

“You’re going to suck my cock,” I say harshly. “And then, if you’re a good girl, you’ll get your reward. Understand?”

Nora’s eyes widen, but she complies right away. Pulling my dick out of my shorts, she closes her lips around it and begins to stroke it rhythmically with her hand. The interior of her mouth is hot, silky, and wet, almost as delicious as her pussy, and the pressure of her hand is nothing short of perfect. I’m so near the edge all it takes is a couple of minutes, and the orgasm boils out of my balls, blasting ecstasy through my nerve endings. Groaning, I grip her hair and push deeper into her throat, forcing her to swallow every drop.