A wave of heat crashed over me and I replied, “Good.” Valentin went to move in when I stopped him with a hand on his chest.

He immediately stilled and frowned. “Zoya?” he questioned.

Swallowing back any nerves trying to creep into my heart, I said, “I want this with you.” Lifting my head to move into his personal space, I added, “I want you, Valentin, to steal the rest of me.”

The muscles on Valentin’s shoulders bunched, and on a loud roar he crushed his lips to mine. His mouth was hot and searing, and I gripped the hard muscles of his back with my desperate hands.

He groaned low as he pushed his tongue between my lips, immediately dueling against mine. My hand lifted from his back and wrapped around his neck, trying to push him even closer. I needed him as close as he could get. I wanted him to feel wanted. I wanted him to feel loved.

Valentin’s hard body pressed down on mine. As we did not once break from the kiss his thick thigh nudged my legs apart.

My head snapped back at the feel of his length running against my core. My nails dug into the hard flesh of his shoulders. But Valentin’s attention never wavered. His mouth pressed kiss after kiss to my cheek and jaw. His hips rolled, pushing himself farther between my legs. A deep flush overtook my body. Valentin’s tongue slipped from between his lips, and he began licking at my neck, a hungry rumble echoing in his chest.

Shivers ran down my spine, before splintering apart and chasing through my veins. My hands moved to hold on to his shaven hair, the rough feel of his black hair tickling my palm.

His mouth ravaged my neck, nipping and grazing his teeth against my flushed skin. “Valentin,” I cried, my hips beginning to roll in search of the release that was building in my thighs.

Valentin broke from my neck and dragged the tip of his nose over my cheek, until he hovered just above me. His blue eyes were sparkling in need. As our gazes met. We stilled, suspended, just staring at each other.

Valentin’s hot breath blew in short pants over my face. My hand fell to cup his beautifully scarred face. “You are so beautiful,” I found myself confessing.

Valentin’s nostrils flared and he leaned down to press three sweet soft kisses on my cheek. “I am not beautiful,” he replied. “I am scarred and worn. An ugly beast.”

Turning my face to his cheek, I kissed the skin just below his ear, watching as the skin grew bumps at my touch. “I decide who and what I think holds beauty, and Valentin, you do in my eyes.” Valentin’s body was still with tension, so I brushed my mouth past his ear and declared, “My beautiful monster.”

I had licked over the curve of Valentin’s ear when, on a strained moan, he placed his hand on my jaw and turned my face to meet his. Full lips kissed mine in quick and ravaging caresses; then he moved down my neck until he reached my chest. Valentin shifted down my body, his strong rough hands heating my skin. He palmed my breasts and licked at my nipples as their flesh hardened, yearning for his touch.

My eyes fluttered shut, and I pushed on the back of Valentin’s head, wanting him to take me harder and faster, the feel of his mouth on me reaching every cell. He was possessing me, owning me, and I had never felt more alive.

His teeth pulled at my nipple, the sensation shooting straight between my legs. His mouth moved to the next breast, and my head rolled on the mattress. It was too much, the feel of this rough and dangerous man, this born killer, this assassin, taking my body as his own.

Then he dipped lower.

Valentin’s tongue traced down over my torso, until it reached the bottom of my stomach. Valentin ran the tip of his tongue back and forth over where my short hairs began. I writhed on the bed, and cried out in shock when I felt the wetness of his tongue dip to the creases of my thighs.

Valentin growled and, lifting his head, his eyes intent on mine, asked, “Are you sure?” My heart melted, knowing he didn’t want to push me.

“Yes.”

Valentin licked along his lips, never breaking his gaze, then with his hands on my inner thighs pushed them apart. I shivered in anticipation of him touching me so intimately. Touching me so intimately with my consent, not as my torturer, but as the man who understood my soul.

Then, to my shock, Valentin lowered until his broad shoulders were between my thighs, the hot breath from his mouth washing over my most sensitive part. My eyelids fluttered, trying to shut at the feel of him so close to me, but I fought to make them stay open, to watch him making me his.

Valentin’s attention was solely on my core. His teeth had gritted together as though he was fighting hard to hold back. My chest tightened when I saw his hips pushing into the mattress.

He was as lost to this moment as I.

Valentin moved his hand, and I cried out as his finger ran through my folds. He teased and teased until I squirmed for him to touch me more. “Valentin,” I whispered as he kissed the inside of my thigh.

“You’re so wet,” he said, his voice low and husky with need. “So fucking beautiful.” He laid another kiss to my inner thigh, only closer to my center this time, the feeling causing my skin to blaze with fire.

“Valentin, please,” I begged, unsure what I was asking for. Instinct was driving me, pleading for this man to touch me.

My hips lifted, and as they did, Valentin groaned, slipping his hands below to grip my behind, and he smashed his mouth against my core. I screamed, my back arching off the mattress as his hot tongue circled my entrance.

My fingers searched to find purchase, but his hair was too short. Instead my nails scraped across his scalp, the action causing Valentin’s hands to grip my behind even harder, pushing me farther into his mouth.

I moaned and moaned at the new sensation wrapping me in its hold, but nothing prepared me for the feel of Valentin’s tongue flicking over me. As his tongue brushed past the bundle of nerves, I jerked and my back lifted off the mattress.

My hands fought to push Valentin away, the feel of him licking me there too much to stand. But the killer within him rose from the ashes. The assassin, the dominant monster, took control and with a strong hand pressed on my chest. The strength of his hand pushed me back to the mattress, the action keeping me pinned to the bed as the flat of his tongue slowly and teasingly lapped against me.

My arms spread out, my hands gripping the edges of the bed just for something to hold on to. My body was alight. He was setting me on fire.

Then his tongue moved faster, his hand on my chest gaining in strength, pinning me down. Moan after long moan issued from my lips as his mouth devoured my core. Valentin shifted his body, his wide shoulders keeping my legs spread apart. His tongue never paused as he moved his position. He withdrew his hands from my behind, and I screamed when I felt his finger circle my entrance, before slowly pushing inside.