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“Please…” she breathed, the word slipping past her lips before she even understood what it was she begged for. Her body was a storm of need she couldn’t name, hollowed out by an ache that only his touch seemed able to fill. Yet Marcello’s cruelty was in how he fed the fire without quenching it.

Her back remained pressed to him as his mouth wandered over her skin, teeth grazing, lips tugging. Each slow, deliberate bite coaxed her spine to arch, drawing her body into a taut bow that had him caught in a spell of her beauty.

His fingers trailed lazily down the ridge of her spine, stopping at the small of her back. She gasped sharply when a sudden sting cracked the silence his palm against her rear.

“What the” Her words dissolved into another gasp as the sound rang out again, another sting making her jolt. She tried twisting to face him, but his hand broad and unyielding pinned her down. His hot breath brushed over her hip before his teeth sank into the soft flesh, his other hand groping with shameless possession.

“What the hell are you so hungry for? I’m not your damn meal,” she snapped, wriggling under his hold.

His smirk was wicked. “You’ll understand by morning.”

She hissed when his mouth claimed another patch of skin.

“Stop it--it hurts,” she protested, glaring at him through the curtain of her hair.

“Does it?” His eyes gleamed as her jaw tensed.

“Let me do it to you, then we’ll see,” she shot back, defiance slipping into her trembling voice.

He froze, eyes flashing. “Fuck… I’m trying to take this slow.” His growl was rough, but in a swift movement he flipped her, pressing her back to the mattress and looming over her. She clutched at her chest, covering herself, and his gaze sharpened.

For fifteen minutes he’d tormented her with nothing but teasing his teeth marking every inch of her skin. She couldn’t fathom his obsession with biting. It thrilled her, yes, but it also gnawed at her patience. She wanted more, wanted everything, yet he reveled in dragging it out. She’d never even seen a man’s body fully, and curiosity burned her alive while he feasted on her frustration.

His fingers tangled in her hair, gripping firmly as he pulled her up to him. His lips brushed hers, gaze locked with such intensity it left her breathless. She couldn’t hold it; her eyes fluttered shut as she pressed into him, their mouths meeting in a kiss that sent a shiver down his spine.

The mate bond thrummed between them, heightening every sensation.

He deepened the kiss, his tongue tracing the seam of her lips until she gasped. His hand slid down her waist, claiming her rear with a rough squeeze. She parted her lips, and he took full advantage, his tongue stroking hers with a hunger that had her following his lead. Her timid response earned a guttural sound of approval.

He angled her head, kissing her harder, then smacked her rear before gripping it possessively. The sharp contact made her yelp, her body lurching against the hard press of his arousal.

Without warning, he shifted her so she straddled him, her long hair tumbling forward to veil her breasts. She ducked her head, shy and flushed.

“Don’t hide from me,” he snarled, seizing her wrists and holding them behind her back until her chest arched forward. His mouth watered at the sight.

Their gazes clashed.

“Stop--stop torturing them,” she pleaded, but he ignored her. His tongue flicked across her sensitive flesh and she flinched, trembling as he blew cool air against the dampness. She squeezed her thighs together in instinct, only to grind against him, drawing another growl from his throat.

“Fascinating,” he rumbled, before latching onto her breast with fervor. His tongue licked and sucked until she shivered violently, her body surrendering to the onslaught.

She wrenched a hand free and fisted his hair, tugging hard enough to break his rhythm. He snarled low in his chest, glaring at her for daring to interrupt what he clearly considered a feast.

“Sl… slow down,” she whispered, her breasts sore beneath his relentless mouth.

Marcello released her wrist only to grip the nape of her neck, yanking her forward as he crushed his lips against hers. The kiss was devouring, a rough pull and suck on her lower lip making her gasp. He bit down, then soothed it with another kiss before claiming her mouth wildly again.

His hand slid upward, cupping her breast in his palm and kneading roughly. She broke the kiss with a strangled moan, only for his lips to descend upon her neck. He scattered kisses along her jawline, licked the spot where her mark lay, and bit down gently, sucking until sparks ignited under her skin.

She jolted when he pinched her nipple, groaning as his large hand fondled her with merciless skill. His grip on her hips tightened, jerking her upward until her breasts brushed against his mouth once more.

Her heart pounded as his gaze locked on hers, his lips ghosting the swell of her breast before devouring it. She trembled, torn between fear and raw excitement, toes curling as his breath fanned hot across her chest.

He handled her like she was his alone, lips closing around her with greedy intent while she tried to stifle her cries.

“Enough don’t be so rough,” she complained, tugging at his hair. But he refused to relent.

Her cheeks and ears burned scarlet. “Marcello…” she gasped when he bit, then soothed the sting with a kiss.

She was undone panting, trembling, helpless in his arms.

In one fluid motion he shifted again, laying her flat on the bed. He loomed above her, his leg pressing between her thighs as she instinctively clamped them together, her hands flying to cover her breasts. His fingers encircled her wrists, pinning them in place with effortless dominance.