He withdrew. “I’ll give you a head start.”
Her eyes were wide, pupils dilated, and she was breathing fast. “You want me to run outside? Naked?”
His pretty little wolf was turned on.
He nipped her lip. “Yes. There’s no one around. This is my own private stretch of forest, and I don’t sense any of my people close by.” He lowered his head and nipped the side of her breasts, then her belly. She moaned, her hand sliding into his hair. “And it’s safe. Like the safe zone, it’s protected by sensors and patrols.”
He bit her on the thigh.
“Okay,” she said breathlessly.
His pulse spiked. He sat back. “Then run. And be ready when I catch you.”
She slid off the bed, her breasts rising and falling. She was so petite, slender, and perfectly formed. He could hardly believe she could take him.
“Poppy,” he growled.
She blinked, dragging her gaze off his naked body. Then she whirled and ran. She darted down the stairs, and was gone.
Brodin’s blood heated, pumping thickly. He’d played with his lovers before, but he’d never hunted a woman down to claim her.
His hands flexed on the sheets, his cock hard and throbbing again. He wrapped a hand around his cock and pumped it a few times. Just the thought of running Poppy down had him on edge.
With a growl, he rose.
It was time to claim his woman.
He took the stairs two and at time, then ran into the forest.
The birds were chirping, there were rustling sounds in the undergrowth. He breathed deeply and scented Poppy—and the spice of her excited arousal.
He ran, moving fluidly. He heard animals darting away. They knew a predator was close.
But they were not his prey. He reached a clearing where her scent was stronger.
He moved to a tree and spotted claw marks. He looked up, then rammed his claws into the bark and climbed.
A strand of golden hair was caught on some leaves. He smiled. His clever wolf. She’d slowed him down with this little trick.
He leaped off the branch and landed with a bend of his knees. He took off running again.
Poppy was smart. Ahead, she’d passed through a small creek and dispersed her scent. It took a few minutes to pick it up again.
His wolf preened. He loved to hunt challenging prey, and he was happy that his woman was so clever.
Her scent got stronger. He was close.
He heard her light footsteps. She was moving with stealth and speed, but not to the level of a trained cleaver.
Brodin cut through the trees and caught a glimpse of creamy skin and golden hair.
He smiled, desire an inferno in his gut.
She paused, looking around. So beautiful in the early-morning light. Like a nature sprite from the forest stories his mother used to tell him as a child.
He crept closer and pounced.
He took her to the ground.
“Oh, God.” She wiggled and managed to get free.
She leaped up, but with a growl, Brodin chased her. A primitive smile touched his lips.
Her hair was tousled around her face, her cheeks flushed. She circled the tree, laughing, then darted off again.
He grabbed her, and she squealed and twisted.
He took her to the ground on her belly, his gaze on that sweet ass. He let his fingers explore her slick wetness.
“Brodin.” She pushed back against him.
Gorr, she was so tight and hot.
With his other hand, he circled his aching cock. It was so hard for her.
He covered her, notched the head of his cock between her legs, and then buried himself inside her.
His groan mingled with her shocked cry. Her inner muscles closed on his cock like a fist. He moved slowly, giving her time to get used to him.
“Move faster,” she moaned.
He pulled back and yanked her hips up, then slammed back inside her.
The sound she made, the musky scent of her arousal, they all drove him crazy.
“Brodin, fuck me!”
He moved faster, harder, giving into the wild urges inside him. He needed to mark, claim, take.
“Poppy.” He covered her and bit her shoulder.
She bucked, coming hard. Her body stiffened and shook. Her inner muscles clenched on his cock, and her scream echoed through the trees.
His own violent release slammed into him. He thrust deep and arched his back. He threw his head back and howled.
When he could think again, he was breathing hard. Gorr. He pulled out of her. She whimpered.
He scooped her up and looked into her wide, blue eyes, and face flushed with pleasure.
“Did I hurt you?” he growled.
She smiled. “Absolutely not.”
“I’m not finished with you, yet,” he said, in a gritty voice.
“Good. I’m not done with you yet, either.”
She wrapped her arms around him, and he carried her back to his lair.
Later that day, Poppy munched on a piece of guara. The fruit was crunchy on the outside, with a gooey center. Mmm. It tasted so good.
She’d burned a heck of a lot of calories in the last twenty-four hours. She could eat a truckload of these. She glanced at Brodin walking beside her.
Instant heat curled low in her belly. God. She’d become insatiable. She was sore in quite a few places.
She felt a flush of heat.
Screw it. She was not going to be embarrassed that a big, wild, hot, alien king had given her loads of off-the-charts orgasms. That he’d wanted her—sensible, smart Poppy Ellison—beyond reason thrilled her.
She’d been wild, sexy Poppy Ellison.
She smiled.
Then she remembered where they were headed, and sobered. The infirmary appeared ahead. They were going to talk to Fillian.
“Okay?” Brodin asked.
She finished the last bite of the fruit and nodded. “I’m great. Actually, I feel a little guilty to feel this good, when the teenagers are still missing. When people are still hurt.”
He pulled her close and kissed her. She gripped his powerful biceps and drank him in.
“How can I want you again?” she whispered.
He shot her a wolfish grin.
She smiled and shook her head. “I’ve never wanted anyone like this before.”
He fingered her hair. “Me neither.”
She stilled. “You must have tall, gorgeous, Damari women throwing themselves at you all the time.”
“Sometimes.”
She smacked his arm.
He rubbed his nose against hers. “But I’ve never wanted any of them the way I want you. It seems I have a liking for small, blonde, smart women from Earth.”
Pleasure filled her.
He took her hand and tugged her inside.
Cassanra appeared. She studied them both, then her gaze dropped to their joined hands. A smile broke out on the healer’s face.
“You both look rested.”
“How’s Fillian?” Brodin said, smoothly ignoring the woman’s teasing tone.
“He’s doing much better. We’ll release him today.”
They walked into the room. Fillian was sitting in an armchair, not in the bed, this time. He looked much better. Annora sat beside him.
“Sire. Poppy.” The man started to rise.
“Don’t get up, Fillian,” Brodin said. “You look much better.”
“I feel much better.” He waved at the synth maps on the low table in front of him. “Annora’s been grilling me.”