Mira

I obey. I gaze into his eyes as he proves just how completely he possesses my heart and body by sucking my clitoris. My head falls back of its own accord, and my eyes roll upward.

Elliot pulls away, then presses his thumb against my most sensitive spot.

"What did I say?"

I prop myself up on my elbows to watch him feast on me. The movements of his mouth against my sex are sensual. He slides two fingers inside me and sends my pleasure climbing again. Their thrusts match the rhythm of his tongue against my clitoris. Panting, I clutch the sheets in my fists and try to stay grounded.

Elliot doesn't like me resisting. He makes that clear with his increasingly unrestrained movements. He wants me both wild and begging. Every action that follows proves it. His fingers turn relentless. He torments my G-spot as though it belongs to him. I arch beneath him, but his hand remains firm, pressing me into the sheets and forcing me to feel everything.

An orgasm suddenly crashes over me out of nowhere, like a colossal wave of pleasure that begins in my head and runs all the way to my toes.

When the clink of his belt buckle breaks the silence, I'm so drained that I can't move.

Elliot moves up my body, leaving several kisses along the way.

"I love you so much, Mira."

It's incredible how three little words can bring an entire swarm of butterflies to life in my stomach.

"Would you be willing to try something new with me?"

I found his alpha side sexy, but there's something about the uncertainty in his voice that makes me stroke him reassuringly. He kisses me gently on the lips.

"Do you trust me?"

After everything we've been through, I shouldn't. But even though we still have a long way to go, I know Elliot loves me. He gave up his future in Chicago for me. His actions speak louder than words, even if it took him a while to get there.

"Yes."

"Good. I don't want to use a condom with you."

"Excuse me?"

I'm stunned. Elliot knows I get contraceptive injections, but I never expected him to want something like this, given what women have done to him in the past.

He places a hand against my cheek.

"I don't want anything between us from now on."

My eyes fill with tears. I shouldn't cry, but it's hard to resist with all the emotions swelling inside my chest.

After being manipulated and used so many times, Elliot is ready to surrender this last small piece of control over his life and trust me.

I nod because I'm not sure I can speak.

I'll remember the smile he gives me then for the rest of my life. Elliot rises and pulls me to the edge of the bed so abruptly that I let out a small cry. He places my legs over his shoulders. When he gives me the gentlest kiss on my inner thigh, I nearly melt into the sheets.

Elliot positions his cock at my entrance.

"Now that I have you, I'm never letting you go."

He enters me slowly. The sensation makes me claw at the mattress.

"I don't want you to."

"It's adorable that you think you have a choice."

As he slides a little deeper inside me, my breath catches. He holds me in place with both hands as he sinks in all the way.

This time, it's different. Every touch feels like a promise and every kiss like a vow. Elliot thrusts slowly. He continues worshipping my body while whispering in my ear,

"I don't know what I did right in life to deserve your love, but I'll stop at nothing to protect it."

His lips find mine, and he kisses me softly.

"Every day, I'll make sure you have a reason to smile, even if it means I have to share your smiles with the rest of the world."

He pulls out and slides back into me, this time with a little more force.

"And I'll destroy anyone who threatens your happiness."

I can't hold back my tears any longer. They stream down my cheeks, and Elliot kisses each one like a silent promise.

After a few more thrusts, we fall over the edge together, just as we're meant to.

---

Elliot holds me tightly against his chest. Following the contours of his muscles, I trace an improvised pattern with my fingertip.

"I might have said some mean things to your father after your presentation."

"I really don't want to talk about him while I'm naked in bed with you, but now I'm too curious."

I laugh and lightly smack his chest.

"Well, I sort of told him to go fuck himself."

Elliot bursts out laughing. I love his laugh, and I look forward to hearing it more often.

"You have to tell me the entire story from beginning to end."

"There isn't much to tell, actually. He hasn't been a good father, so I told him exactly what I thought of him."

"In public?"

"Yes?"

Was I supposed to talk to him in some secret corridor?

"And what did he say?"

"Nothing."

"You told my father he was a terrible parent and then told him to go fuck himself, and he stayed silent?"

"Um…was he supposed to say something?"

"I've heard he fired employees for breathing on him in a way he didn't like."

"That seems a little extreme."

"You don't know him."

"Thank God. It's the little blessings that keep me going every day."

His chest shakes with silent laughter.

"I don't even know what to do with this information. My father would never let that kind of behavior slide from anyone."

Elliot grabs his phone and texts his brothers about this latest development.

"Maybe he already knew I resigned."

"I doubt it. I didn't let Tessa submit your resignation, so you're still considered an employee."

"What?"

I jerk away, but Elliot immediately pulls me back against him and wraps his arms around me tightly.

"I couldn't let you go."

"Well, you can't hold my resignation hostage simply because you feel like it. That's illegal."

He shrugs.

"According to your contract, I'm allowed to do it until you have an exit interview with me. That's why you always need to pay attention to the fine-print clauses."

My mouth falls open.

"I thought I wasn't exceptional enough for fine-print clauses."

"You're so exceptional to me that I plan to let no one near you except a family member or a woman."

I roll my eyes.

"You're too possessive."

Elliot rolls us over so he can hover above me and presses his erection against my lower stomach.

"How is it possible that this conversation turns you on?"

His lips settle on the sensitive spot on my neck that he has already marked with a hickey.

"Why settle for talking about possessiveness when I can demonstrate it?"

Throughout the night, Elliot shows me precisely what it means to be cherished by him.

This man's love is addictive. Luckily, I have the rest of my life to love him in return.