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He reached down between their bodies and unzipped his jeans. His erect length bumped her thighs as he shifted and then lifted her hips. She almost laughed at the intimacy of this moment, him fumbling, losing that cool exterior, his breath panting as hard as hers.

“Hold that thought, darling,” he whispered, shifting off her slightly to reach over to a nightstand. He yanked open the top drawer a few inches, his hands rifling through the contents of the drawer until he pulled out a silver square. He tore the packet open with his teeth and hastily slid the condom over his erect cock.

Kat ducked her head a few inches, and her cheeks flamed with heat. She wanted to watch him put it on, but she was too shy to let him know she was watching.

“You ready for me?” He feathered his lips over hers.

Kat answered with a shaky nod.

“Tell me if I get too rough.” Tristan’s murmur against her neck had her shivering in new excitement.

“Fuck,” he groaned, then positioned himself between her thighs. “Tell me you can take it hard.” He was almost begging, his word ragged and rough.

“Yeah.” The word was barely out of her mouth before he thrust in.

Hard. Pain seared her inside, but she breathed through it. She was so turned on, that even the pain of her virginity being taken didn’t last long, not when Tristan kissed her with that raw, open-mouthed hunger that seduced her completely, reducing her to a pure primal woman.

The sudden tightness, the almost suffocating fullness overwhelmed her. For a second she couldn’t breathe. She felt…
owned
.

He waited, seemingly content to kiss her while their bodies remained joined, but his muscles were tense beneath her exploring palms.

When their mouths broke apart, he whispered, “How do you feel? Is there a lot of pain?”

With a shiver, she shook her head. “Not much, I’m okay, I think. Don’t stop kissing me.” Her thighs clenched tight around his hips, and she rocked against him in encouragement.

Tristan braced his body above hers, his arm muscles flexing on either side of her head as he stole her mouth with his again. His tongue entered in slow, deliberate thrusting motions, echoing the movement of his hips. But the jerk of his pelvis increased in speed. Sharp, deep penetrations, hitting a sweet spot over and over again.

Brilliant stars burst in front of her eyes.

“Like that?” he growled in her ear.

She could only answer with a soft whimper of pleasure.

He drove into her again and again. The headboard slammed against the wall—
bam-bam-bam
.

“So good, so fucking good, Kat.”

Their mouths broke apart, and he continued that almost violent pounding, but his words, whispered harshly, were rushed, as though he could barely think. It would have made her smile if she could find any strength left to control her face. Her world shattered in tingles, then hard explosions, and silent cries of ecstasy, the likes of which she’d never experienced.

“Kat, darling,” he moaned, his body shaking hard above hers, his muscles quivering as much as hers as he came, too.

Now she understood when Lacy joked about how some nights she couldn’t walk after she and Mark had sex. Kat was positive if she tried to move off the bed, she’d fall flat on her face.

“Kat,” Tristan whispered as he leaned in to kiss her. The wild, animal look that had been in his eyes had vanished. In its place was a feral protectiveness that was softened by affection. That startled her, but she couldn’t deny the skittering response in her heart.

“Tristan.” She laughed breathlessly and lifted a hand to brush his dark hair back so she could see his eyes. God, she adored his eyes.

His body tensed and his hips gave a small jerk in natural response to her touch. He wasn’t hard like before, but he still filled her and the sudden push against her swollen tissues made her suck in a breath.

“Sorry, darling,” he apologized, with another leisurely kiss. “How do you feel now?”

“Like I’ll never walk again,” she said, completely honest.

Tristan’s smile faded.

“In a good way. That was the best I’ve ever had,” Kat hastily added.

He trailed a finger down her cheek. “Considering you’ve never been with a man before, I’m not sure that’s a compliment.”

“It is. I’ve never felt like this with
anyone
…”

Confessing that, telling him, even in the darkness of his room and in the warm embrace of his arms, made her afraid he’d laugh at her, tell her that she was a fool for feeling that way.

He beamed. “I was only teasing.”

The truly happy expression on his face was such a delight that she grinned back. He was so unguarded, unjaded with her at that moment. Perhaps it wouldn’t last, but she’d enjoy this as long as she could.

“I like it when you tease me.” She brushed the back of her knuckles over his cheek and he leaned in to the caress. It made her body quiver with a secret joy.

It’s just the two of us, but it feels like the entire world is in this room with us, ours of the taking, for the living. An adventure at last
.

The cool air made her skin break out into goose bumps.

“Now can we get under the covers?” She circled one of his nipples with her index finger. His focus dropped to his chest, watching her finger tease him.

“We can now.” Tristan caught her hand and raised it to his lips, kissing her palm.

They pulled the covers back. Kat was so limp and exhausted she flopped ungracefully between the sheets. Tristan swatted her bottom, and she squealed, rolling over to stare at him.

“What was that for?” she demanded, but the wicked glint in his eyes made her want to giggle.

He wiggled his brows. “Some bottoms are made for spanking.”

Before she could stop him, he smacked her ass again, creating a bare hint of a sting that warmed instead of hurt.

“You have a kinky side, don’t you?” Kat remembered his leather belt. With another guy, it might’ve scared her, but not him. He’d proven he was worthy of her trust. And she trusted herself around him enough to admit that she’d like to explore that edgier side to sex with him someday.

“A little,” Tristan agreed, pulling the covers up over her. He left the bed and went into the bathroom to dispose of the condom. She heard water running a minute before he came back to the bed. He settled in beside her and tugged her back against his body.

It struck Kat in that moment. She’d had sex with Tristan. She wasn’t a virgin anymore.

They were naked, cuddled up in his bed. It was insane, but oh so wonderful. She was with Tristan, just them in his bed, bodies pressed together, limbs entwined. Sweet and tender after the intensity of what they’d just shared.

“Stay the night,” he whispered, shifting closer. “Tell your friends you’re staying. I can take you back to the dorm in the morning.”

The man was the devil, offering up a sweet temptation she couldn’t resist.

“Okay.” She looked up at him. “Can you get my coat? I left it in the study. My phone’s in the pocket. I’ll call Lacy and let her know.”

“Done.” He kissed her before sliding out of bed and pulling his jeans on. He paused at the door to look back at her. The sight of him in nothing but unbuttoned jeans flushed her body with a new wave of heat. The tender spot between her thighs throbbed and she clenched her legs together.

“I’m glad you came tonight.” He dropped his gaze, but it was too dark to see if her British playboy was blushing.

Surely not. He could be with
anyone
. Having her here had to be only a temporary satisfaction. He’d move on, but for now he was hers, and she wanted to enjoy every minute she had with him.

The idea was bitter to swallow, but she managed to resurrect her smile.

“Me, too.”

He nodded, patted the door frame, and then disappeared.

Kat’s smile faded, and she slid back down in Tristan’s bed, feeling very small and alone. She’d made the choice to be with him. The question was, how long would it last? And would she be able to keep her heart safe?

W
hen Tristan returned to his bedroom, Kat was already asleep, snuggled in his blankets, using one pillow as if she was clutching a stuffed animal. The sight created an odd blend of warmth and hunger inside him.

He didn’t have the heart to wake her, so he dug through the coat’s pockets until he found her phone. He scrolled through the contacts until he saw
Lacy
listed. Standing just outside his bedroom, he listened to the phone. On the third ring, Lacy answered.

“Kat, where are you? Mark and I are freaking out.”

“Lacy, this is Tristan Kingsley. Kat has asked me to inform you she’s spending the night here with me. I’ll bring her back to the dorm tomorrow morning.”

In the background he heard laughter and music, which meant Lacy and Mark were still downstairs somewhere.

“Put her on the phone,” Lacy ordered.

“She’s asleep. I won’t wake her.”

“I don’t care if you happen to be the most eligible bachelor in London. Put her on the bloody phone or so help me, I’ll search every room in this house until I find you, and you won’t like what I’ll do when I get my hands on you.”

Her fierce protectiveness earned his respect.

“Very well, but I don’t like having to wake her when she needs rest.” He also didn’t want her to reconsider staying the night with him. If Lacy talked her out of it, Kat might grab her clothes and run from him again. More than anything, he wanted her to stay right there in his bed…with him.

He didn’t miss the snarl on the other end of the phone.

“Did you sleep with her?” Lacy demanded.

Tristan ignored her as he sat on the edge of the bed and shook Kat’s shoulder.

“Kat, Lacy wants to speak with you.” He handed Kat the cell phone as she sat up. Blinking, she brushed the waves of her hair out of her face. Seeing her all mussed and rumpled stirred Tristan’s body to life all over again.

She took the phone, yawned, and put it to her ear. “Lacy?”

Even from two feet away, Tristan could hear Lacy’s tirade in a high-pitched screech. Kat sighed and held the phone about six inches away while she listened to Lacy’s admonition.

“I’m staying here tonight,” she said, wrinkling her nose. When more screeching occurred she spoke again. “I’m fine, I’ll explain everything later, okay?”

The yelling tapered off, and Kat’s gaze flicked to Tristan. Her lips curved in a shy smile.

“Yeah…I promise, I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” She disconnected and tossed her mobile off to the far side of the bed.

He raised an eyebrow. “Everything all right with your friend?”

She tugged the covers up as she seemed to realize that her breasts were exposed. “Oh, yeah. She’s just protective of me, that’s all.”

“I’m glad you have friends like that,” he said.

He stood and unzipped his jeans. The responding blush on her face as she watched him strip out of them was rewarding. He loved how she responded to him and the way she seemed caught off guard by her innate sensuality.

Her lips were slightly parted, her hair a wonderful tumble of color, like Sleeping Beauty brought to life in a faraway tower with a kiss. The fantasies she created in his mind were sensual and powerful. Everything about Kat was unusual and fascinated him.

Passion awakened for his Katherine,
his
Kat.

“Have you ever slept naked before?” he asked as he climbed back into bed.

She shook her head. Another deep blush spread from her face to the tips of her breasts.

“You’re tempting me, darling.” Tristan leaned over and teased her lips with his before he gave in to kissing her fully. After a minute, he pulled away. “Now go to sleep.” He laughed at her put-out expression.

She rolled to face him, one arm stretched out. Kat paused, as though catching herself. Her eyelashes fanned up and down as she fell asleep again.

Tristan reached for her, curling an arm around her waist. She reacted by cuddling against him, holding on to him like she had the pillow.

In the past, he hadn’t been too fond of his lovers staying the night. There was too much intimacy when people slept together, sharing breaths, their dreams close enough to collide. But with Kat, he wanted to hold her, feel her heartbeat, and listen to her breathe.

It was clear she craved the same physical connection he did.

“Thank you,” she murmured. Her words were muffled by her drowsiness, her eyes still closed.

“For what?” he asked, trying not to laugh at her stubborn fight against sleep.

“Tonight. I found out recently that my dad”—she paused—“is dating someone. It’s been…hard for me the last week, trying to adjust and everything.” She rubbed her cheek against his shoulder, and the action filled his chest with a cottony warmth.

There she was, opening up to him about what she was thinking and feeling. It was everything he thought he didn’t want when it came to women and relationships, but with Kat, he
wanted
to know her inside and out.

“I’m sorry.” He tightened his grip around her. “I know how you feel. My mother has also started dating, too. I’m not thrilled. The last man she dated was an absolute cad. I’ll have to inspect this man before he receives my approval.” It felt good to know he wasn’t the only one having to accept his parent dating again. His mother was a beautiful woman, and it shouldn’t have shocked him as much as it did that she was seeing a man romantically.

“‘Approval’? You sound like royalty.” Kat giggled, the sleepy sound going straight to his cock. He wanted to roll over on top of her and give her something to laugh about. But they’d already done enough for her first time. She’d be sore.

He stroked her waist as they talked, amused that this was…pleasant. Talking with a woman had never been enjoyable before, not after sex, at any rate. He’d always felt trapped when he couldn’t get a woman to leave his bed fast enough. Now he wanted to find ways to make Kat stay.

“Why do I sense that my acting ‘like royalty’ isn’t a compliment?”

Kat shrugged a shoulder. “Whatever you say,
my lord
.”

He stroked her body beneath the covers, enjoying the feel of her, pressed skin-to-skin with him. “I’ll be an earl one day. It’s not royalty, but it is the peerage.”

“The peerage,” she echoed in a British accent and giggled again. The sound was infectious, and it made him laugh, too.

“What’s so funny?”

Kat, eyes still closed, hugged him a little tighter. “I’ll tell you in the morning.” She was so close to sleep, he didn’t have the heart to keep her awake.

“All right, darling. Sweet dreams.” He kissed her brow and held her as she drifted to sleep.

Tristan wasn’t tired, and for some reason, he was perfectly content to hold Kat and count the faint freckles on her shoulders. He wanted to memorize the sight of her pert little nose and her long dark lashes. He didn’t wish to be anywhere else or with anyone else.

What the bloody hell is happening to me?