As soon as I entered the room, Romeo was against me, his breath blowing on my tempered skin-a mix of mint and beer-cooling my flushed complexion. "Walk toward the bed and take off the boots." His voice was tight and stern.

My legs moved forward as if they were perfectly attuned to his commands. I reached the bed and shucked off my boots.

"Turn around and face me."

I did as he said, trembling in a heady cocktail of apprehension and excitement. Romeo stood against the wall, the glow of the moonlight showcasing his handsome face, watching my silhouette as I complied eagerly with his instructions.

"Take off your dress... slowly."

I lifted the hem smoothly over my head, dropping it to the floor, standing only in my new black strapless bra and silk panties. Romeo strode determinedly before me and commenced circling around my scantily clad form, absorbing the view of my nearly naked body with a knowing smile. He stopped his assessing eyes at my upper hip and ran a finger across the lines of my small tattoo.

His stunned gaze met mine. "A tattoo, Shakespeare? You surprise me. You've never let me see this before." He immediately dropped to his knees and studied the writing, his face level with my stomach, warm breath breezing between my legs, eliciting a strangled moan from the back of my throat.

Romeo stroked the tattoo with his finger and the anxiety began at the memory of its source, and I stumbled and sucked in a telltale hollow breath.

Romeo lifted his hand without looking up and took mine securely in his. The panic immediately filtered away, his touch healing me.

"So are you to my thoughts as food to life, or as sweet seasoned showers are to the ground," he murmured as he read the quote out loud, pressing a kiss to my jutting hipbone. He peered up and asked, "What's this, baby? Why do these words take pride of place on this beautiful body?" Feather-light fingertips continued to trace the intricate loops and dips of the script.

I raked my hands through his hair and he held my bottom firmly within the hold of his free arm, keeping me close. "It's William Shakespeare, from one of his love sonnets, number seventy-five," I confessed as I struggled to suppress a whimper as his fingers dipped along the juncture of my thighs.

His eyes cracked open. "But why is it important, enough for you to brand yourself with it forever?"

My eyes filled with water and I chewed on my lip to keep from breaking down.

The strong grip on my hips tightened in warning and he licked along my lower stomach. "Tell me, Mol. I won't ask twice. I've got you; I won't let you be destroyed."

"I-it's just a quote that I like. That's all," I answered evasively.

Romeo's dark eyes narrowed. "I know that's not the full story, baby, but you can tell me later." I released a pent-up breath that I didn't even know I was holding.

Romeo got to his feet. I forcibly swallowed as his hands slowly fell over my shoulders and down to the sharp blades on my back. My heart pounded as he stopped on the clasp of my bra. I instinctively reached out and gripped his plaid shirt to right my unsteady feet.

I felt the slackening of my bra and it fell from my chest, revealing my round breasts to his heated scrutiny. My eyes lowered to my hands on his waist, unable to cope with the pressure of the exposure. Rome's hands pressed flat against the bare skin of my back and moved north to grip my hair in his fist, tilting up my chin.

My eyes were closed, but I could still feel his razor stare through my paper-thin lids.

"Open."

I shook my head, unsure if I could cope with the intensity of the tension radiating between us-the air almost crackled with sexual static.

His fist tightened and the pressure built at the crown of my scalp. "Open. I won't ask again."

I took a calming breath and lifted my heavy lids. Romeo leaned in, pressing a hard kiss on my lips, and his fingers ghosted along my collarbone, cupping my left breast in his hand. I expelled a moan into his mouth and his tongue slid against mine in circuitous movements as his palm brushed over my nipple, over and over, shooting an electrical need to my sex.

Romeo broke away from my swollen lips on a gasp and as though a strained cord had snapped within him, lifted me in his arms and dropped me to the centre of the bed.

Straddling my thighs, Romeo pinched at the peaks of my breasts with his fingers and I almost erupted at the sensation, my back arching off the sheets. Romeo's wide, muscled body loomed above me and he rid himself of his shirt, ripping open the snap buttons, leaving him only in his faded jeans that balanced low on his waist.

"You're beautiful, baby. All laid out for me. All mine."

I squirmed as he leaned above me, taking my mouth in a devastating salutation. His tongue plundered, only withdrawing to lick down my throat and to suck his soft lips around the centre of my breasts, my hips instinctively grinding into the mattress, searching for release.

His hand darted into my panties and his fingers worked furiously at my core. I clutched his hair, pulling on the golden strands to anchor my lust. Growling at my rough treatment, he lifted abruptly, snatching my legs, dragging me to slam against his hardness.

Romeo rid me of my panties within seconds, and I trembled in yearning. I'd never been so unconcealed, so open, and he saw it on my face.

Leaning down, he stroked my hair from my forehead. "I'm goin' to take you now. I'm goin' to show you what you mean to me, how much I want you, and show you that you're mine. You get me, baby?"

"I get you, Romeo."

Goose bumps ran along his skin at my words and I lifted, brandishing his chest and the valleys of his abdominal muscles with scorching kisses. He expelled a guttural groan and pushed me back, fire blazing in his eyes.

Romeo shifted to the end of the bed, snapping open his jeans, and I watched as the heavy denim hit the floor. He hooked his hands in his black boxers and I bit my lip as they accompanied his jeans. I took in the view of his delectable body in all its naked perfection, my thighs constricting at the sight.

Climbing on the bed on his hands and knees, Romeo lay flush against my body, his large erection resting teasingly against my thigh. With one hand hooked around my head, he used his free hand to lift my knee into a bend, his fingers drifting to my heat to ensure I was ready. I'd never been more ready for anything in my entire life.

Romeo's body moved off me and he reached for his jeans.

"Romeo, what-"

"Condom," he said, looking back at me.

I touched his arm with my hand, halting his movement. "I'm on the pill."

"Baby..." he groaned.

"Please... I just want you, nothing in the way."

In a flash, he was over me, his expression savage and feral. He grasped my hips feverishly and I lost my breath as I felt him brace at my entrance. In a moment of tenderness, he bent and kissed me with a delicate caress. Pressing his forehead against mine, he clenched his jaw and pushed forward in one swift thrust.

I shifted underneath him at the sudden feeling of fullness, but Romeo's large body pinned me down, ensuring I didn't slip away. His strong arms hooked under mine, resting against the mattress, rocking himself farther and farther within me. I raked my nails across his back and bit my teeth into his exposed skin to stop from screaming in pleasure.

"Romeo... God... I can't take it... It's too much..."

Lifting his head, he brushed a kiss on the tip of nose. "Yes, you can, baby. You'll love it. This is us; this is how we should always be."

He withdrew completely and stilled. "Now I'm gonna make you scream my name."

My eyes widened in anticipation and Romeo slammed into me-hard, direct, and rough. "Fuck, you feel amazin'."

I squeezed my eyes shut and my nails dug farther into the flesh of his back. "Romeo!"

His hips pumped forward and his arms moved from underneath mine as my legs wrapped tightly around his waist, my hands holding his neck. He reached up and gripped our hands together, using the position to increase his speed and force, hammering into me, stealing my heart. Moans involuntarily slipped from my lips as an unbearable pressure built at the bottom of my spine.

Romeo's chest lifted off mine, his legs widening to gain more traction, pushing me to open farther. "Grip my arms."

Releasing our hands, Romeo took hold of my wooden headboard and I complied, my fingers wrapping around his wide biceps as he used his strength to slam harder into me over and over.

"Do you like it, baby? Do you like it this hard?" he growled.

My toes curled. "Yes. Yes..." Flames of desire licked across my skin and my thighs constricted.

"Let go, Mol. Let go now," Romeo ordered as his knuckles turned white with the strength of his fists on my headboard, which cracked the paintwork on my wall.

I closed my eyes as my body hummed with ecstasy and on a scream, I let go.

Rome's loud grunts increased as I tensed around him and my eyes fluttered open to see his mouth gape open, his eyes pulling tight and he released an exaggerated rumbled groan. Romeo's heat spread within me and his torso crashed, almost bruising, against my chest.

Our breaths were fast in the aftermath, and I held tightly to his shoulders. When he finally lifted, the quiet serenity on his face knocked me breathless, and I ran my hand over his damp forehead and smiled.

"Hey, Mol."

"Hey, you."

He rewarded me with a smile, a full smile-he floored me at how stunning he looked. I wondered how it was possible that someone so attractive even existed... and he wanted me.

Dipping his head to my throat, he began to nip at the dewy skin. "You're everythin' I thought I could never have. Makin' love to you, it was... you know... beyond..." He buried his head, unable to complete the sentence.

I arched my neck, giving him full access, and I stroked his hair soothingly. "Romeo... it was... beautiful."

His moist lips dragged across my throat, latching onto my mouth, softly nibbling at my lips and sucking on the tip of my tongue as he gently he pulled out of me. I winced and sucked in a breath.

Romeo snapped his head up to study my face. "Are you sore?"

I tentatively drew my legs together and flinched. "Yes. I told you, I'm not very experienced with all this. I was practically a virgin. You've definitely left your mark!"

Smiling, he laid his head on my stomach, surprising me with his affection, and his fingers ran slowly along the juncture of my thighs. "I'm sorry it hurts you, baby, but I'm not gonna lie. I like that you feel thoroughly fucked."

I rolled my eyes. "I'm glad you're pleased with yourself."

He lifted his head at my obvious sarcasm, eyes narrowing. "Oh, you have no idea, Shakespeare. Just wait 'til you see what else I have in store for you."

I trembled at his words and the knowing gleam in his expression showed me that he was satisfied with my reciprocated hunger.

Settling beside me, he pulled me to his embrace and played with my hair. "Tell me somethin' that you've never told anyone."

I stiffened and he wound his free hand in mine pre-emptively, imploring me to speak.

"Like what?"

He shrugged. "Anythin'. Just somethin' no one else knows. Some deep secret or fear that you have."

I stared into his hopeful eyes, and I boldly decided to do as he asked. I would share what hurt me most.

"I get so lonely that at times, I literally think it might kill me."

Devastation engulfed his features and he rolled on top of me, urgently pressing his mouth on my lips, on my cheeks, on my forehead. "Molly, baby, you're breakin' my fuckin' heart."

I subtly wiped away a stray tear. "It's true and I've never told anyone that until just now... until you. For me, it's been the hardest thing. It's amazing how loud the sound of silence can be screaming at you relentlessly, reminding you that you're completely on your own in the world."

Romeo licked his bottom lip anxiously and his eyes began to glisten. "Can I tell you somethin'?"

I nodded shyly. He ran his finger down my cheek, but almost as if the action fuelled his strength rather than gave me comfort. "I'm desperately lonely, too."

I couldn't help it. Tears flowed like a sweeping torrent from my eyes and Rome tucked his face into my neck, breathing through our combined pain. We held on to each other as if we were one another's lifeline.

I could taste the bitter taste of salt dripping onto my lips and after several minutes of much needed closeness, Romeo lifted his head and a tranquil calm had settled in his shielded eyes.

"We don't have to feel lonely anymore, baby. I have you and you me."

"This is crazy, Romeo. We've known each other for such a short space of time, yet I feel as if I've known you my whole life."

A smirk spread on his lips. "We're star-crossed, Shakespeare. Fateful star-crossed lovers. We have a lifetime to get to know each other, unlike our namesakes. I'll make sure we get our happily ever after."

I drew him to my mouth with my hands on his flushed cheeks. He let me lead for a while before drawing back and playfully waggling his finger in front of my face to not push the boundaries of his controlling limits.

With a sudden roll, Romeo fell onto his back and I wrapped my arm across his stomach, my head lying comfortably on his chest.

"Mmm..." I mused.

"What, baby?" he asked, stroking my hair.

"Just how amazing it sounds to hear another heartbeat besides my own."

"Mol..."

"Shhh... just... let me listen. It makes me incredibly... complete."

Safe hands pressed my head tightly against his chest and I relaxed listening to the trance-inducing rhythm of his heart.

After several minutes of quiet, Romeo asked, "That quote on your hip, tell me about it." I tensed and Romeo's arms held me tighter. "I've got you, baby."

"My..." I cleared my throat-thick with emotion. "My father quoted it in his suicide note. He used to say it to me at bedtime every night and I wanted something to remember him by, just so I can never forget him."

I heard Romeo sigh quietly in sympathy, and then he asked, "Is it from memory?"

I nodded against his warm, bare skin. "Yeah. It's well and truly imprinted there, but I still have the note."

He shifted slightly. "You do?"

I lifted to my elbows, contemplating his nervous demeanour. I could see he had no idea what to say to me in response.

"Would you like to read it?"

He looked surprisingly scared. "Why?"

"Because no one but me and my grandma ever has. I'd like to share it with you. I find myself wanting to let you in more and more every day. It may help you understand some things... about me."