I struggled to stay coherent.

Tess’s hand fell away, placing both palms on either side of her face. Her eyes squeezed tight, giving me complete control.

“I’ll try not to hurt you, esclave,” I grunted, grabbing her h*ps to anchor myself. With my jaw clenched, sweat trickling down my temples, I rocked into her. Time lost all meaning as I worked her, teaching her body I could fit—giving her no choice but to accept.

Centimetre by centimetre, I took her. Fucking worshipping this woman who trusted me so damn much.

Tess’s back glistened with moisture as my last thrust hit resistance.

I’d claimed her. My c**k was as far as it could go—balls resting against her cheeks.

“Damn, you feel amazing,” I whispered, bowing over her, kissing her salty shoulder.

She trembled. “You’re so big.”

I chuckled. “Thanks for the ego stroke, esclave.”

Her lips quirked. “I meant you feel huge. I’m throbbing and aching and sore and…”

My arms bunched. Go on—fuck her. The incessant demand thundered in time with my heart. But I couldn’t. She needed time to adjust—to grow used to the tightness. Wrapping the leash around my fist, I tugged gently. Her spine curved, moving with the collar around her throat.

“What else…you stopped yourself. Tell me. I want to know.” I dragged my teeth along her shoulder, lapping up her fear.

“I’m not going to lie and say it doesn’t hurt. That first thrust was worse than awful. But now…it’s fading. I can feel every inch of you. Every nerve ending is assaulted by overwhelming fullness, but the pain is changing…” A look flittered across her face, then she clenched.

I lost my f**king sanity.

Her tight strong muscles clutched my cock, milking me with fire. My stomach seized, my back bowed, my eyes rolled.

My hand came up, landing with a loud smack on her ass. Shit. I didn’t mean to do that.

“Je suis désolé.” I’m sorry. “It just—fuck it feels good.”

She did it again, dragging a stream of curses from my throat.

She laughed, creating even more pressure and sensation around my cock. I slammed a hand on her lower back, forcing her into the mattress. “God—you keep doing that and I’ll blow. I’m holding on barely, Tess.”

“What do you want, Q? Tell me…I want to know.”

I groaned. My vision filled with flushed skin, blood, and tears, but I swallowed those tendencies. I didn’t need them. Not today.

“I want to come in your sweet ass. I want to bruise you, so you’ll know this belongs to me—just like every inch of you does. I want to show you how much I f**king love you.”

Her inner muscles squeezed, hurtling me closer to the edge.

“Do it. I want all of it. Lose yourself in me.”

Lose yourself in me.

Lose yourself.

Damn, how I wanted to. But I couldn’t. Not completely.

With shaking arms, legs, f**king shaking everything, I thrust forward.

Her lips went slack; her eyes popped wide. “Oh.” The surprise echoed around the room. My stomach squeezed tight.

“Does. It. Hurt?” I growled, clutching her hips. I thrust again, rocking more than f**king—making love.

Once.

Twice.

Stop! I had to stop.

Sweat beaded; I battled waves after waves of a very determined orgasm. My balls were marble hard. My quads burned from tensing.

Tess rocked back. “More. Give me more.”

“Tess—” I couldn’t fight anymore. She wanted more. I’d give her more. I fell over her back, imprisoning her to the mattress. My forehead pressed against her shoulder blades and I thrust. Man, I f**king thrust.

She cried out. My heart lurched to a halt but her cries turned to moans. It wasn’t pain lacing her voice—it was pleasure.

“Describe it—what do you feel, esclave?” I whispered hoarsely. My eyes landed on her collar and the inscription: property of Q Mercer. I swallowed a groan of happiness.

“Like…pressure…you’re rubbing and bruising and it feels so strange, but it also feels….”

I drove inside. “Feels?”

Her lips parted in a moan. “It feels good. So good.”

My heart winged. I rocked again, biting the inside of my cheek, staving off another wave of pleasure. “I told you it would feel good.”

Her h*ps arched, pressing into mine, crushing my balls against our bodies. “So good,” she panted. “More, Q. Take me.”

And that was the extent of my self-control. I’d run out of strength.

Seeking her ear, I bit her lobe. “I’m going to take you now, Tess.”

She hummed in her throat.

My fingers looped around the leash, holding her firm. I would ride this woman. This insanely incredible woman. “I’m going to claim you as your husband, master, and owner. I’m going to fill you so deep, you’ll scream.”

“Please,” she whimpered, her body writhing beneath mine.

And that was all I needed.

My forehead resumed its position between her shoulder blades. I let go. My mouth fell wide as pleasure I’d never felt before rocked down my spine. Insanely sharp, spurring me on, slicing my soul into pieces.

I gave myself over to ecstasy. Tess cried out as I made love to her.

Harder.

Harder.

Long and invasive strokes.

Claiming.

Taking.

Loving.

Fucking.

Tess’s fingers opened and closed on the sheets, her pants meeting mine, her body rising to meet my every thrust.

Every second I came undone, losing my sense of self, giving my past, my darkness, my hopes and dreams to my wife. The master of my heart.

I lasted another ten seconds.

Ten mind-splintering seconds of bliss.

The desire in my blood lit a match, annihilating everything in my blood.

This was just the beginning.

The beginning of my eternal happiness.

The beginning of a future I never thought I would have.

I’m married. My sins aren’t awful. My desires aren’t frightful.

Tess was my complete circle. She was my home. My refuge. My best friend and partner. We’d found each other not just for this lifetime but forever.

My beast purred. My monster stretched.

I’ve been tamed.

And I f**king loved it.

I came.

Fucking came in rhythmic pulses. Splashing Tess with everything I had to give.

Wave after wave of thick, painful release shot from my balls. It ricocheted down my legs to my toes, building intensity before crashing from my body into my wife.

My wife.

I came hard and deep into the woman I’d married.

The woman I’d claimed.

The woman who would always be mine.

Epilogue

The crown to my throne.

YOU ARE MY HOME

I’d never been prouder.

Q. My master, husband, protector, and friend strode across the stage to shake hands with the prime minster of France. With a cool, professional smile, Q accepted the scroll, concentrating on whatever the prime minster said in his ear.

Holy hell, he’s handsome.

Suzette squeezed my hand. “I always hoped he’d be recognised for everything he’s done. Everything he’s kept hidden.”

I bowed my head toward hers, mixing my blonde with her mahogany. “I doubt he wants this much spotlight, though.”

Every time we went out in public, my instincts were on high alert. I’d learned to trust them—speaking my mind if I wanted more security, or asking Franco to do an extra background check on an association.

I would never let anyone take Q away from me again. I’d meant my vows and spent every day upholding them.

Suzette laughed. Franco poked her side, pointing at the stage where Q disengaged from the prime minister, heading toward the podium and microphone. “Pay attention.” His voice was harsh, but he winked. “That’s our boss up there.”

Your boss. My master.

I shifted in my seat, happily remembering just who my master was thanks to the ache between my legs.

Suzette sighed, her lips playing with a grin. I didn’t know what was going on with them—if anything—but whatever it was, they kept it a well-hidden secret.

Frederick and Angelique caught my eye across the aisle, giving me a warm smile. I returned the greeting, mentally reminding myself to check on the menu with Mrs. Sucre for their bi-weekly visit.

My eyes returned to the stage where Q stood tall and proud. No bruises marked his face anymore. His legs were a crisscross of silver scars from Lynx, the bullet-hole in his thigh healed to match the one in his bicep, and all check-ups on his heart were clear.

He’d been lucky.

I’d been lucky.

The honeymoon in Seychelles came back. The sun. The moonlight swims. The sex. God, the sex. Tame, soft, and slow. Angry, abusive, and fast. Q had evolved into a lover who read me so well. Giving me pain when I wanted it. Giving me pleasure when I needed it.

Q cleared his throat, scanning the crowd. His pale eyes latched onto mine. His lips curled into an affectionate smile before disappearing into aloof businessman.

My heart beat heavily with love. He looked distinguished and delectable in a graphite suit and sea-green shirt. He’d forgone a tie in favour of revealing a small piece of tanned skin—the exact place I kissed last night while he slid inside me.

The click of camera lenses sounded like a lightning storm behind me, illumination flashing like tiny fireflies. The hive of reporter’s voices itched across my skin. I still hadn’t warmed to being in the public eye—but they came with the package now.

Everyone wanted a piece of Q…and me. And he’d finally agreed to let them in.

I’d taken my place completely beside him—becoming the face of Feathers of Hope officially three months ago. The invitations to events, fundraisers, and interviews never ceased. I feared we’d drown in an avalanche of attention.

This ceremony was a small gathering—only twenty or so members of parliament, and people who’d had direct contact with Q in his endeavours—such as the doctors who’d been with him from the start, therapists, and police chiefs.

The next part was for the world.

That part scared me. Our private existence was about to be gossip and tabloids. We would lose all anonymity. Q would be thrust into more fame than he already had from Moineau Holdings, and the unauthorized stories written about him coming to find me.

The cameras flashed harder as Q held out his hand, beckoning to me.

“What is he doing?” I murmured, slinking further into my chair. Today was about him, not me. I would never get used to being in the spotlight. I’d gone from a small town Australian girl to a married billionairess, who stood beside her husband by day and submitted to her monstrous master by night.

My brand had been on magazines around the world—the woman who scarred herself for love. I was proud to show Q’s mark—it was the other intimate ones I didn’t want them to see. The bite marks on my inner thighs. The wax burns on my br**sts. Even though life swept us swiftly with its current, Q still found time to tie me in Shibari and broaden my horizons on what my body could feel.

Franco laughed. “You didn’t expect him to open up his life to complete strangers without having back-up did you?” He grabbed my elbow, forcing me to stand. “Go on. Be his back-up. He doesn’t need me this time.”

Franco’s injuries had healed well. His thumb was in the process of undergoing regular surgery to equip his brain receptors to accept the trial robotic. He’d be one of the first in the world to have one—top of the line—a thousand times better than a real digit.

I fought his hold. “Wait. He doesn’t want me. I can’t wave a gun at anyone and tell them to back off. You go do it.”

Franco chuckled. “Words are needed here, Tess. Not bullets. Now go.” He shoved me, stumbling into the aisle.

Damn egotistical ass. I’d have him fired.

Suzette giggled. “I don’t think the prime minster would appreciate bullets.” Her eyes flickered to Q, whose face had darkened with growing annoyance. “You better get up there before he loses it.”

Holy hell. I wasn’t ready for this.

Tucking a curl behind my ear, I second guessed my outfit—worrying I’d come across as a young idiotic woman who had no right to be on Q’s arm. My hair was a messy tangle of curls—Q hadn’t exactly left them sleek and blow-dried fresh after getting carried away in the limo.

We’d been married for six months and our need for each other grew more insane rather than depleting. Who knew how many household items could be used in play? Who knew how much love my heart could contain when he adored me so sweetly? Who knew how many different tears I could shed when he let himself free?

Happy tears.

Fearful tears.

Lustful tears.

Vengeful tears.

Franco moved his legs out of the way, so I wouldn’t trip. He patted my butt. “Get up there, Mrs. Mercer. Your husband needs you.” Shoving me again, I had no choice but to lurch toward the stage. I glowered over my shoulder.

Suzette slapped Franco’s arm. I couldn’t hear what she said but Franco smirked, grabbed her hand, bit her palm, and placed it on his thigh.

I smiled. I knew it.

Q’s voice cut through my nerves. “Sorry for the delay, ladies and gentlemen. The minute my wife decides to join me up here, I’ll begin.” My attention flashed to the stage, goosebumps spreading with a mixture of fear and need. I loved when he called me his wife. Especially in that tone.

He wouldn’t hold back when we got home.

I better hide the collar. He’d scared me last time he used it—letting himself get a bit carried away. But he’d made it up to me by loving me sweetly and importing a pair of beautiful parrots—slowly filling his aviary once again.