him into place.
The head of his cock nudged between her legs. Delphine bit her lip. This was happening. This was all really, truly happening. To her.
“Yes,” she whispered, and he thrust forward.
Her back arched as he pushed inside her to the hilt. His cock was thick, she knew that—but to have it all inside her, all at once, to feel it, was something else entirely. She’d gone onto tip-toes automatically, her body so surprised by the sudden intrusion, but Hardwick held her down. He nuzzled into her shoulder, soft words that made her melt against him.
Then he started to move his hips, and Delphine groaned.
Small movements. Tiny. The merest suggestion of a thrust, retreat, thrust again. But Delphine felt each one as though it was a lightning strike. The pleasure building inside her was so intense she thought she would go limp, but instead she strained backwards, pressing against him, desperate to wring more sensation out of every aggravatingly small movement.
“Not enough for you?” Hardwick teased. Hardwick. Teased. The newness of it shot through her and she laughed.
“Do I need to tell you?” she asked, twining one leg around his. Opening herself more for him.
“Always.” His voice was rough. Delphine flexed her leg, holding him tight against her. His heartbeat thundered against her back; she could feel every breath he took, deep and ragged. The hand she’d used to guide his cock to her entrance was trapped between them, fingers spread out against his abs.
“Then please,” she asked, her own voice catching. “I want you to fuck me hard.”
He kissed the side of her jaw, then pulled back and drove into her so hard she lost her breath. Before she could catch it, he fucked into her again. She cried out, her one free hand scrambling on the sofa back to keep herself upright. She tried to pull the other one free to help steady herself and he grabbed it. Hardwick locked her hand in place, not letting her move an inch as he thrust into her.
Whatever it was that telling the truth about she wanted had unleashed inside her, it had done the same to him. He whispered gentle, soft praise in her ear as he drove into her again and again, his words completely at odds with the brute force of every thrust.
Pressure built up inside her. Every time he filled her, she thought it would be too much, too hard, too overwhelming—and every time he pulled back it was too soon, leaving her crying out for more. His fingers dug into her hip, the nails scratching, and she keened as the pain arced deep inside her.
“Did you like that?” Wonder threaded through his voice.
Delphine made a noise that she hoped he read as yes, yes, fucking hell yes. She twisted her tongue around a few words, hoping they would come out right. “Did you?”
“Did I enjoy—” He thrust into her. “Hearing you make a noise—” Again. “Like that?”
He buried his face in the corner of her neck. “Yes.”
His teeth scratched her skin. “Do you want this?”
“Y-yes.” That had come out too uncertain. She licked her lips. “Yes, Hardwick, please—”
He bit down. Delphine gasped, then moaned as he released her, kissing and licking where it hurt. When he thrust into her again, he bit down, too, and the pain shot straight to the stretched, full feeling inside her, and Hardwick’s grip on her waist and her trapped hand. It all tangled up with the feeling of being held down and asking for what she wanted and getting it, and what she wanted being what he wanted, too, and all built up inside her.
She came so hard her legs collapsed beneath her. If not for Hardwick’s arm around her she would have collapsed over the sofa, helpless as her body clenched and throbbed around his cock. He groaned into her neck and thrust into her again, and her already sparking nerve endings exploded again. She arched against him, legs trembling, words pouring from her mouth—“Oh, God, Hardwick, please don’t stop, please—”and he came inside her, his cock pumping as he wrapped his arms more tightly around her.
They stood together, half-collapsed, holding one another as their breathing slowed. Delphine grasped for Hardwick’s hand on her waist and wound her fingers through his. He lifted their joined hands to her chest.
“It’s changed,” he whispered, his voice ragged. “Do you feel it?”
She didn’t need to ask what he meant. She didn’t even need to close her eyes to see that the bright