wasn’t a good man, but at least I could be a tamed beast.
Except I wasn’t done with my hunt yet.
I stood, unbuckling my pants and stroking a hardness that only thickened when presented with a stunned beauty shivering in desire before me.
I didn’t let her speak. Didn’t let her move. Didn’t let her touch me or kiss me.
I wanted only her unconditional surrender before I gave her mine.
Piper arched as my cock slid into her, forced into that blinding tightness. She stretched, and her excited gasp gave me the opportunity to grip her hips, shove in as deeply as I could, and slam into her soul.
I kissed her, nibbling on her lip, struggling to hold myself up and not give in to the urge to fuck her and fuck her hard.
Not yet.
First she had to know. Had to feel. Had to understand.
“I love you.” I rasped a growl, but it wasn’t meant to frighten her. My words were a vow of protection and promise. “I’ve never loved anyone before, beautiful. You’re the only one in the world who understands me and what I need and what I’d give to just…”
I folded my hand in hers, resisting my instinct to mindlessly rut in passionate bliss.
Piper groaned, and every shiver of her body clenched me tight. “Take me, Cole.”
“You’re too beautiful.”
“Take me.”
“I want to treat you right.”
Her voice cracked. “Then take me.”
I wasn’t leaving a damsel in distress.
I thrust, hard. Her breasts bounced, a beautiful sight. I gripped them, holding tight and squeezing as my hips slammed into hers.
Piper loved it. She arched, begged, and bumped her own hips so she could meet me in furious rhythm.
It wasn’t dominance or ugliness, nor was it gentle and timid. I pierced her, and Piper met every punishing thrust with a gasp of pleasure. She stared at me, eyes heavy-lidded, lips parted and breathing the sweetest words.
She submitted to me and dominated me in the same breath.
I grabbed her, rutted her like and animal. I bit her neck.
And she caressed my arms. Murmured my name.
Whispered her love.
It was a balance I never knew was possible. She understood me—every part of me, even the darkness I tried to hide. That monstrous aspect worshiped her, fucked her, but it abandoned the violence and rage and aggression in the comfort of her arms.
I offered everything that was me to her, and she accepted it.
So did I. For the first time. Not the last time.
I lost myself in her, and we clutched at each other in sweaty, perfect bliss.
“Cole…” Piper’s body tightened, and she squeezed her eyes shut. “Please…”
She didn’t have to ask. I was there with her, in perfect sync as our bodies slammed, crashed, and surrendered to each other.
She came for me, whispering her love.
I came for her, but my words choked in my throat.
I had to prove it instead, thrusting hard and deep until that pulsing crest paralyzed my body and slammed me completely against her.
Usually my mind blanked when I came.
Not this time.
This time, I pumped inside her, and I imagined a life where this bliss happened every day.
Where I could have Piper. Hold her with me. Take her every night. Wake with her every morning. Let her soothe the beast. Live with her. For her.
Marry her.
Build a bigger family with her.
Live happily ever after with her.
She kissed me as I gasped for air. I didn’t pull from her—couldn’t, not while everything in life revealed itself to me in such simplicity and passion I had no idea what was real or fairy tale.
But I knew I wanted it.
All of it.
I kissed her, earning her smile as she brushed her fingers against my cheek.
“I love you,” I whispered. “Stay with me.”
“You asked me that once before. Are you sure?”
“You tell me.” I kissed her again, softly. “Do you think you can handle living with a beast?”
“I don’t see any beast here.”
“No?”
“I only see the man I love.”
Epilogue - Piper
Ten Months Later
My phone rang for the fifth time since I put Rose down for her nap.
I answered it with a growl. “Lachlan Reed, I swear to God—”
“Just one last question.”
There was never just one last question with Lachlan. He was worse than my toddler.
No wonder Dad pawned the rookie off on me. It was like he knew the first-round draft pick to the Ironfield Rivets would be as easy to manage as a puppy in a mud puddle.
“The contract says no motorcycles…” I could hear his grin through the phone, like he tried to sell me on