She’s pregnant.

I shuddered with joy.

With a soft sigh, she reclined against the sheets. “What are you going to do to me?”

My hands fisted.

That question was far too dangerous.

My hands shot to my shirt and trousers. Tearing them off, I threw them to the floor. My shoes were kicked off into hotel corners and my boxer-briefs were banished. The second I was naked, I towered over Tess and fisted my hard length.

Tess licked her bottom lip, her face filling with wanton invitation. “I love when you stand over me. Do you want my mouth?” She drew her index along her bottom lip. “Or do you want my pussy?” With all the seduction of a goddess, Tess spread her legs for me, her fingertips gliding down her toned body to play with her clit.

Her stomach showed no hint of pregnancy. No clue to holding my unborn child. But I had to believe that Tess would keep whatever baby she carried safe. She was strong enough to do that for me. For us.

Squeezing my cock, I ordered, “Get up.”

Her gaze drifted down my chest, over sparrows and ink to latch onto my very hungry erection.

It jerked under her inspection, begging for her wet heat.

Her body moved like silk, rising from the starched white bedding to stand in front of me.

Goddammit, she was stunning.

I locked my muscles to stop from reaching for her.

I saw two women: the one I’d promised to fight and hurt. And the other I vowed to love and cherish. And now, she would be a third woman. A mother who I’d protect with every last fucking breath.

The desire started as a fireball in my gut—igniting my blood until my entire body set alight with furious lust.

I needed to take Tess ruthlessly and painfully. I needed to remember who I truly was at heart. My arms banded around her. “I’m going to make you remember who I am, mon coeur.” My heart.

My mouth stole hers. Our naked bodies slammed together, our fingers clawing at delicate skin. Her lips opened, submitting to my tongue as I licked inside her. I groaned as she kissed me back. Her hands skated over me, dragging me forward as her nails scratched down my spine.

“Q—please—”

My lips latched harder onto hers, kissing so deep. I wanted to crawl into her soul and capture her forever. The monster inside—the one who I’d forced to lay dormant for weeks—roared back to life.

Control.

The sickly need slithered in my blood, whispering of violence.

I shook my head, dispelling the rapidly building darkness. I would let him play, but I wouldn’t let him rule. Not now. Not ever. My darling esclave was pregnant. She could handle our fucked-up love, but she couldn’t handle total annihilation.

My fingers crept up, latching around her throat. Her muscles worked hard as she swallowed.

“Do you like destroying me, Tess? Is that why you called me here to hurt you?” I ran my nose down her cheek, inhaling the scent of expensive hotel soap.

She squeaked as I spun her around, pressing her chest into the bed and keeping her ass locked against my aching cock. “Answer me.”

“Yes…I love watching the battle inside you. Knowing that you’ll give in if I push you hard enough.”

I rocked into her. “And is this giving in?”

She smiled over her shoulder through tangled wet hair. “It’s a start.”

I loved her.

I adored her.

I didn’t want to hurt her.

Lies.

I did want to hurt her.

And she wanted me to.

That was ultimate freedom.

Bending over her, I scattered kisses down her spine. There were no toys in the hotel. We hadn’t come prepared. We weren’t at home where any number of apparatus was available to us.

We would have to compromise and invent, but all I could think about was taking her the way I didn’t often do. A way that would punish her and reward her.

Her eyes locked onto mine.

Tess had such power over me—power I’d never be free of.

“What are you thinking?” I asked, keeping my voice low.

Her thighs clenched. “I’m wondering what you’re about to do and hoping you lose all control.”

I bared my teeth, heart heating with irritation. “I may be a lot of things, Tess, but if you think I’m going to open my cage fully while you’re pregnant…you don’t know me very well.”

She pouted. “But I thought—”

“You thought wrong.” My lips twitched in a cool grin. “However, it doesn’t mean I won’t punish you in other ways.”

“Face away.” I motioned for her to look at the bed and not me.

Unwillingly, she obeyed.

Not seeing made her oversensitive body hum with uncertainty.

My hand tickled as I indulged in the call inside. I spanked her once, turning her cooling skin pink with punishment.

She groaned, rocking back, sandwiching her ass against my erection. “I need you.”

My hands landed on her hips, grunting as she rocked harder. Dragging my fingers over her bare pussy, I growled. “Fuck. Will I ever get enough of you?”

“God, I hope not.” Tess jerked as I positioned my cock at her entrance. Normally, I’d play with her and tease, but after the incredible news of our future, I just needed to connect. Immediately.

A much-needed release throbbed in my blood.

“Q…yes, Q.” Tess threw back her head as I slipped inside her. The heavenly warmth of my wife sheathing me sent my heartbeat colliding with my ribs. I entered her an inch at a time.