Her mind scrambled for reasons; her body had none ready. Her thighs trembled. He dipped his head to take her lips in a kiss.

“Don’t…” she started, then swallowed. “Don’t hurt me.”

“Never,” he said, with a certainty that almost stole some of her fear, until he said, “I’ll wreck you and use you. I won’t hurt you, but you would hurt yourself by resisting my touch.”

He tipped her chin with two fingers and slammed his mouth to hers.

The kiss was nothing gentle. It was ...