the fabric and shredded it like it was paper, making her aware that he could tear her body just as easily if he wished.
She gasped into his mouth, both shocked and excited at the same time. Cool air wafted against her naked skin before his hot hand was between her legs, sliding over her sex, just as he ripped his mouth from hers.
“I’ll tell you how you can help me. By spreading your legs for me.”
His eyes still held some of the anger in them that she’d seen there earlier, but now they were glazed with lust and desire, and she knew instinctively that he wouldn’t hurt her.
Without giving it a second thought, she unbuttoned his pants, lowered the zipper and pushed his jeans down to his thighs. Before she could do any more, he lifted her, spreading her legs wide.
Without a word, he plunged into her, his cock harder than ever.
***
As he thrust into her wet heat, Aiden knew what he needed now was to show her that he couldn’t be played with. He had to make it clear to her that she would be punished if she ever hurt him again.
When he looked at her face, he saw how she’d leaned her head back against the wall, her lips parted, her eyes half closed.
“More,” Leila panted.
She showed no sign of distress despite his rough handling of her. On the contrary. Her legs wrapped around his waist, urging him on to fuck her harder, to go deeper, to take more of her.
Unable to resist, he took her lips again, this time with more passion and less anger. Gods, she tasted good—so good he couldn’t imagine ever giving this up, ever giving her up. Despite everything, despite the fact that she was human, she’d held her own when confronted with his fury. She hadn’t backed down, just as she didn’t flinch now as he drove even harder into her.
“I need you,” he mumbled against her lips before he delved his tongue back into her, thrusting it in the same rhythm as his cock.
He wasn’t lying this time: he needed her. She gave him the strength not only to face the demons that were after her, but his own personal demons, the ones that had been haunting him since Julia’s death.
Breathing hard, Aiden released her lips and trailed hot kisses along her neck.
“I want you, Aiden, I want you so much,” she let out, and it sounded like a sob.
He looked back at her eyes and saw a multitude of emotions brimming there. “You have me, baby,” he whispered back and gently captured her lips, stroking his tongue over them.
When she sighed contently, his entire body filled with a newfound sense of strength. His balls tightened at the same moment, and he felt his orgasm overwhelm him. Unable to hold it back, he brought his hand between them and rubbed against her clit as he drove into her one last time. As his knees nearly buckled, waves of pleasure crashing over him, he wasn’t sure where his orgasm ended and hers began.
Breathing hard, his heart racing, he leaned his forehead against hers. “No more lies. I need the truth now.”
He felt her nod. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“Tell me why you did it. Tell me why you betrayed me after all we shared.”
“I love my parents, I love them so much. Like you loved Julia.” She sought his eyes, and it seemed as though she looked deep into him, where he couldn’t hide anymore.
“Julia was my twin. She was part of me. When I lost her, it felt like losing a part of myself.”
Leila pressed her hand against his heart. “I can’t even begin to imagine what you’ve been through. I never had a sister. I never had anybody but my parents. I feel responsible for them. It’s my duty to save them, to bring them back. When I met you . . . when you told me what was at stake . . . ”
“You didn’t believe me then, did you?”
She shook her head, regret evident in her face. “No. I didn’t. I doubted your words. But the more I saw, the more that happened . . . I started doubting myself, my own convictions. When you said you would destroy my research, I saw my dream slip away.”
Somehow, he understood her. “Not every dream will come true.”
“I know that now. I realized that the night at the farmhouse. I wanted to tell you then, but I was afraid