Harper sucked in a soft gasp when I gently bit down on her hip, and I smiled against her skin as I took off the skintight black workout pants she was wearing and tossed them aside as well. Add those to one more thing I didn’t want her wearing around anyone but me. I made another trail up her stomach and sucked on a hardened nipple through her bra before pressing my body against hers, her legs already wrapping around my back.

“I want you.”

My head fell into the crook of her neck, and I groaned—as if everything else didn’t already show how much I wanted her as well, the painfully hard erection I was currently sporting was making it that much more obvious. I bit softly on her collarbone as I tried to make myself stop before this went any further. “I don’t have any condoms here, Princess.”

“I don’t care.”

I laughed. God, this girl will be the death of me. “Don’t say stuff like that, I’m only so strong.”

She grabbed at the button on my jeans, and her shaky, fumbling hands had me thinking Breanna was still right about my Princess. I grabbed her hands and pulled them away, just before she confirmed those thoughts. “Please, Chase, I don’t want to wait any longer. I want you to be my first.”

I leaned away from her and rested on my knees. “I can’t.”

Her eyes went wide with hurt. “You don’t want me?”

“Of course I do!” God, can’t she see that?

“I don’t—I don’t understand.” Her stormy gray eyes bounced back and forth between mine for a few moments before they filled with an understanding, and her cheeks darkened. “It’s because I’m a virgin.”

Shit, she has this so wrong. “Not in the way you’re thinking. Trust me, I want to make you mine.”

She cupped my face and pulled me down to her as she whispered, “Then please.”

“Princess, you can’t want it to be me. With what I’ve done . . . I don’t deserve to be given something like that.”

“It’s yours. I’m tired of ignoring what I feel for you and denying myself what I want.”

Her eyes fell down to stare at my chest, and I watched as they slowly looked back up to mine. I waited to see if there was any indecision in them like the days before. But there was only complete trust. “You’re sure, Harper?”

“I want you. All of you.”

I pressed my lips softly to hers again and stretched my body on top of hers as our kisses slowed, and her shaky hands reached for the top of my jeans again. Resting on my forearms, I took my weight off her so she could undo the button and zipper and slowly push them and my boxer briefs down. I helped kick them the rest of the way off and pulled her up to reach behind her and find the clasp for her bra. Once that and her underwear were on the floor with the rest of the clothes, I took my time studying every inch of her, learning what made her moan and her eyelids flutter shut, and memorizing every noise she made when I’d suck on her breast or trail my fingers against her heat.

Her heavy breathing cut off quickly, and her body locked up when I finally pushed inside of her, and I would give anything to have taken away her pain as a short, pained cry burst from her chest. But what she was giving me meant the damn world. When her body relaxed, we began to move against each other again, our mouths finding each other’s desperately, as I slowly made love to my princess. I held both of her hands in one of mine above her head on the pillow and whispered in her ear that I loved her as she came again just moments before I followed. I collapsed onto the bed, rolling so she was in my arms, and we were on our sides as our breathing calmed and we continued to kiss softly and pull each other closer.

Not more than five minutes later, Harper fell asleep wrapped up in my arms. I pulled the covers over us before pressing my lips to her forehead and vowing to love, and take care of her, forever.

THE SOFT SCENT of vanilla registered in my mind at the same moment I felt the tips of Harper’s fingers trailing up my arms and over my shoulders. I cracked open my eyes to see her mess of hair covering my pillow and her shoulder, and I couldn’t help but smile. Waking up to her in my arms was perfect, and though I wished I could have watched her sleep . . . watching as her stormy eyes roamed over my tattoos was just as good.

“Feels good.”

Her eyes flashed up to mine, and she grinned softly before looking back down to my shoulder. “I’ve wanted to do this since that first night in your bed.”

“Why didn’t you?”

“Well, you were a little intimidating, and plus, you not so subtly let me know I wasn’t the kind of girl you would ever be with.”

Uh, f**k that. All I remembered was trying to scare her off and her looking at me like I disgusted her. “What did I say?”

“I don’t remember exactly, you were just freaking out because you thought you’d let a girl stay over and proceeded to tell me you didn’t let girls you would screw stay with you.” She paused and chewed on her bottom lip for a moment before looking back up to me, and softly asking, “Speaking of . . . is it okay that I’m here?”

“I’ve never been happier than when I just woke up with you in my arms.” I gently kissed all over her face before kissing her swollen lips. “You’re the only girl I’ve ever fallen asleep with, and I want to keep it that way. You’re not just some girl. I’m in love with you, Harper, I wouldn’t want you anywhere else.” And, God, I want you here forever.