Adam didn’t reply. His expression was hard, his thick brows knitting over his strong nose. The scowl he wore grew, his nostrils flaring, and then he hooked his arm about her middle, hauling her in front of him. Before she could breathe, he pressed his forehead against her ribs. “Eliza.” Such pain in his voice. He gripped her skirts, his breath heating the fabric of her bodice, but said no more. Eliza’s fingers threaded through the silk of his black hair, and he sighed.

What was there to say? Their time together was at an end. “You’ll be leaving soon?” Her question came out garbled and rough.

Adam burrowed in closer. “Yes.” Did he want to stay? It did not matter; the GIM needed him, and they both knew as much. Eliza looked towards the windows, thick, green bottle glass windows that let in light but no view. The back of her throat prickled. Ask me to go with you.

She almost said it aloud. But she couldn’t. Everything had been thrown off kilter. And he no longer needed her. Perhaps he never truly had.

Eliza moved, intending to back away, when Adam lifted his head. The look in his eyes took her breath, and she tensed with sweet pain. He watched her as though he’d devour her bite by bite, taking his time, making her feel it.

Neither of them spoke. His gaze trailed down her throat and honed in on her breasts. Those strong hands grasped the edges of her sleeves, pulling the fabric painfully tight against her flesh. Her breasts swelled against the constriction, and then he yanked. The bodice tore like paper, the sound sharp. And she bobbled forward, braced up only by his hands upon her corset. His angry scowl stayed set as he made short work of her undergarments, shredding them with nary a flinch.

“I see you’ve regained all your strength,” she murmured, a low and steady throb building at the sight of her unbound breasts bare before his gaze.

He didn’t answer, but merely slid his hand up her ribs, trailing a fine heat in its wake, until he cupped her breast with firm fingers. He held her where he wanted her, his grip possessive, and then he leaned forward and licked her. Eliza whimpered as the warm flat of his tongue dragged over her nipple. Dear God. The way he tasted her. Melting heat spread over her heavy breasts, licked between her thighs. Her knees grew weak, but he had her, one hand gripping her waist, the other holding her breast captive.

His lids lowered, a small sound of need escaping him as he drew her nipple into his mouth to gently suckle it. So gently, a counterpoint to the firm way he touched her.

“Adam.” She cupped his head and held him close.

With a muffled sound, he wrapped his arm about her waist and brought her down upon his lap, as he kissed his way up her neck. Soft lips and warm breath. He found her earlobe and nipped it, even as his strong hands drew her tattered skirts over her knees.

His fingers traced the soft curve of her thigh, raking over tender flesh. Such a hard touch with his warrior’s hands. Hard touch, gentle mouth. Eliza wiggled closer, needing him too. She pulled at his shirt, desperate to get at the solid heat of his chest. His skin was tight satin, and touching him did nothing to satisfy her hunger. It merely made her want him more. She wanted to touch him endlessly, taste him, fuse her flesh with his. Anything to ease this agitation. This want. Something near a growl rose up within her as she reached between them and freed his cock, wrapping her fingers around its hardness and giving it a firm tug.

Adam hissed, his hips canting. Just as frenzied, his mouth moved over her, biting kisses, licks of his tongue. His wide chest rose and fell with each breath. She pressed against it, antagonizing the throbbing ache in her breasts. Adam grunted, his big hands finding her bottom. With an impatient noise, he hauled her against his cock. They both shuddered. Stilled a little.

His mouth was at her ear, his breath a pant, as he slowly lifted her, sliding her wetness over his length. Adam trembled, his massive thighs tensing. “Take me into you, dove.”

Eliza’s head fell to his shoulder, lust making her boneless. Hand wrapped around the root of his cock, she lifted a little, guiding him to her entrance and biting her lip as the thick, round crown pushed into her. A broken, weak cry left her.

And then he gave her no mercy but ploughed into her. There was no more thinking. Just mindless want as he worked into her, his hands upon her arse. She found his lips. Their kiss was messy, an uncoordinated meeting of lips and tongues.

“Adam,” she said into his mouth. “Please. Please.” She didn’t know what she was asking for, only that she needed more. It couldn’t stop, this feeling. It couldn’t end. Fear that it would rode her hard. She twined her arm about his neck, desperate to get closer still.

And he held her secure, one hand holding the tumbled-down hair at her nape, the other clasped on her bottom. But he suddenly slowed, his movements becoming more steady, yet no less intense. And she quaked, her eyes closing, her forehead pressed to his sweaty cheek.

“Look at me,” he rasped. “Look at me.”

He cupped her chin, bringing her head up, holding her there. Golden eyes glowed with the power of the GIM. His power. It took her breath. His expression was near pain and filled with a tenderness that battered her heart. “There will never be another, Eliza.” His cock moved within her, slow, steady, deep. Her eyes fluttered, but he held her tightly, not letting her break eye contact. “Do you hear me? You are my first” – he thrust – “my last” – he kissed her jaw – “my forever.”

She kissed him, her lips barely brushing his, her tongue lightly licking along the edge of his mouth as they shared a breath. “Yes, Adam.” She suckled his bottom lip. “Yes.”