Stefano couldn’t pretend he hadn’t been with a lot of women before Francesca. He’d felt momentary pleasure—a lot of pleasure. The truth was, he had an intense job, and fucking was release to him. It was good and he liked it, but being with Francesca wiped out every other time before her. He knew he would never forget this moment as long as he lived. The way she looked. The way he felt. His cock was in fucking heaven, the pleasure ripping through his body, until every nerve ending he had was a part of the fireball streaking through him.

He used his hands to control her hips, to place her in the best position, tilting her until he heard her gasp as his cock sawed over her clit and hit that sweet spot deep inside her over and over. The pounding beat thundered in his ears, roared through his body as he felt her shudder from the pleasure he created with his cock hitting that perfect spot. He wanted to feel her come apart from the inside.

He watched her face. Her eyes. Her head thrashed and she moaned continuously, her breath hissing out of her. She was close. So close. He wanted it all from her. Her orgasm, so strong she convulsed, her submission, so total she knew she belonged to him. He wanted her to know he gave that to her, an all-consuming rush of fucking heaven.

“Keep looking at me, dolce cuore—don’t look away. Stay with me.”

Her lashes had begun to drift down, her head turning to one side. At his command, she struggled to obey.

“Francesca, come now for me. I want to feel it. Let go for me.” He wasn’t asking. He poured steel into his voice as he hammered deep.

He rammed into her over and over, harder than ever, each thrust jolting her body. He was merciless, relentless, pounding his cock right into her G-spot. “Now, baby,” he reiterated. “Let go.”

Francesca’s gaze clung to his, and he knew the exact moment she gave herself to him. The submission. The trust. She let go and gave herself into his keeping. She screamed, loud and long, a wail that filled the room as her sweet, scorching-hot sheath clamped down on his cock like a fucking vise, taking him with her. Her body shook, breasts dancing, hips bucking, legs stiffening as she mewed, her inner muscles convulsing over and over, as her climax ripped through her. Jet after jet of hot seed pumped into her, filling her, prolonging and adding to the strength of her orgasm.

He stayed locked to her, feeling her body convulse around his, over and over, the aftershocks nearly as strong as the continuous climax. He had no idea until then that perfection could actually be achieved, but that moment was utter perfection. Looking at her. The dazed look in her eyes. Her flushed body covered with his marks and brands. He fucking loved that. His body joined with hers so that they shared the same skin. Her sheath, so scorching hot surrounding him, still milking his cock while his seed boiled inside of her.

He wished he had recorded it, so he could replay his claiming her over and over. If he could have, he would have ordered his name tattooed across her breasts. He’d have it branded on her ass. He wanted every other man in the world to see her like this, under him, in complete and total submission. He’d been a selfish bastard taking her like that, but he wanted her to know who he was, the kind of man she’d be living with. He’d been half terrified that she wouldn’t be able to take him, but she’d loved every single thing he’d done to her. Yeah. She was exactly what he needed in his bed.

His woman. A woman he never believed he’d ever have. Not. Fucking. Ever. He hadn’t believed he would have anything or anyone that was totally his alone. He’d lived his entire life knowing his life wasn’t his own and never would be. He’d been born a shadow rider and that meant he had responsibilities not only to his family, but to others. He couldn’t walk away from those responsibilities, not ever.

“You’re so fucking beautiful, Francesca,” he said. “I’m not nearly finished with you. I’m going to take you in so many ways tonight you’ll be so sore you won’t be able to move tomorrow.” He wanted to come all over her beautiful breasts and rub his seed into her skin. Into her pores. Without unlocking himself from her body, he reached up and carefully unhooked his tie and gently pulled her arms down. The movement caused another powerful aftershock so that her sheath clamped down again, massaging life back into his cock.

She let out a small whimper and he immediately ran one hand down her body, from her throat to her belly in a soothing caress. “Relax, amore, let me get this.” He unwrapped her wrists and kneaded her arms, making certain the blood flow hadn’t been interrupted.

“Do you do that a lot?” The question was hesitant. Her voice trembled.