He pulled back some, giving her a heavy-lidded look of pure need, and a prickle of alarm skittered along her spine. Not because of how much he obviously wanted her, but because the dark Sorcerer was back. The wicked one who would take no prisoners, show no mercy.
As if sensing her unease, he cupped her face and whispered, “I’ll never hurt you. Never. I’d die first.”
“I believe you.” She laid a hand on his chest, feeling his heart beating so hard. Strong and steady. Like his gaze, full of fierce determination to ward off the shadows. For her. “Take me to bed. Please.”
With a growl, he lifted her into his arms and strode for his bedroom. She’d never been inside his place, but it was the same layout as the ones belonging to the other Pack members, only more sparse in furnishings. There were no decorations or personal touches at all. Given his background, that wasn’t surprising, but it was sad. She’d change that if he’d allow it.
In his room, he set her gently on the covers as though she were the most precious gift on earth. Pulse jumping, she eyed him as he slid off his jeans and underwear, leaving him naked. The man was a delicious feast for the senses. Such a bad boy with those black painted fingernails and kohl-rimmed eyes.
She’d always had a thing for bad boys. Didn’t a lot of good girls?
“I missed you at dinner.”
“I fell asleep,” he said as he knelt on the bed and crawled toward her.
“Aren’t you hungry?”
“Oh, yeah.” His lips curved up and he reached for the button on her pants. “Don’t know why you even bothered to put these back on.”
“Because I have a little problem with being naked in front of all the guys. Even if they don’t have the same issue.” The Pack didn’t worry much about walking around in the buff, before or after shifting. Made for nice eye candy.
“There is that.” In short order he had her pants and undies off, and her blouse and bra soon followed, joining the rest on the floor. The only item on her person was his silver pendant around her neck, hanging between her breasts. “You, my lady, look good enough to eat.”
“Me first. Let me?” Reaching out, she wrapped her fingers around his erection.
Sucking in a breath, he rocked his hips toward her. “Whatever you want, baby.”
Eagerly, she stroked his straining member, loving the silky hardness of his skin sliding through her palm. She enjoyed the rush of making a grown man tremble, reducing him to a quivering mass of want. Men believed they were so powerful, but when it came to a lover’s touch, being fondled, licked, and sucked? They weren’t so mighty.
Bending, she tasted the head of his cock, capturing the pearly droplet that escaped through the slit. He groaned, urging her on, and she took him in her mouth as she cupped his balls. She’d never get tired of this.
She sucked him slowly, taking him deep, to the base and up again to the tip. Bobbed and laved like he was a lollipop, while massaging his heavy balls. She even traced the treasure trail leading from his belly button to the trim, neat nest of black hair at the base. So manly.
“Honey, I’m not gonna last if you keep that up.” Carefully he disengaged and gave her a smirk. “My turn now.”
She let him push her onto her back on the bed, admired him as he crawled between her thighs and spread them. Bared her for his appreciation. Let him look all he wanted—although she wasn’t into streaking in front of the whole Pack, she wasn’t shy about her body. Never had been. No, as an adult, she’d always been a sensual woman, very attuned to her needs and not afraid to see them met when the opportunity came about.
And this man more than satisfied.
“You’re beautiful,” he murmured.
Lying down, he nuzzled her sex. Stole a taste. Immediately she melted, gave herself to his care. His tongue parted her folds, licked with slow thoroughness. She moaned, let her legs fall open wider.
“God, yes. Eat me,” she begged.
He made a sound of pleasure and his tongue snaked deeper, stroking along her walls. She gasped, realizing he’d let his panther out just enough to allow his claws to dig into her hips and his cat’s tongue to pleasure her in the kinkiest way she’d ever imagined. She almost came from that alone.
“So fucking sweet.” His voice was gravelly. “Why did I ever think you were innocent? What a bad girl you are.”
“Yes, and you love it.”
“I do. And you’re mine!”
“Yours! Please . . .” She clutched at his hair.
“Want my cock, baby?”
“Do you have to ask?”
Crawling over her, he smiled and met her eyes, and she got another surprise. His eyes were elliptical—those of his panther. They were captivating. Feral.
After positioning his cock at her entrance, he eased inside. Bracing his elbows on either side of her head, he pushed, burying himself to his balls. “Save me, Mackenzie,” he whispered. “Drive out the darkness. Be my light.”
Oh, God, she would try. For him.
As he thrust into her faster and faster, she began to spiral toward the edge of release. As she did, she noticed that his features sharpened even more. A half shift, she realized. She’d seen the men take their half forms on occasion, but never from this perspective. Sex like this was more than kinky; it was mind-blowing. And it triggered an internal red flag as well.
She couldn’t heed the warning, even if she could’ve voiced what it meant. By the time she figured it out, it was much too late to stop what came next.
“Mine,” he snarled, pounding her into the mattress.
“Yes! Fuck me!”
Just as that wonderful, familiar quickening began, Kalen buried his fingers in her hair, yanked her head back and slightly to the side. For one split second, she took him in, poised above her, fucking her senseless, his brutally handsome face all planes and angles, huge canines bared.
“Kalen, wait—”
Then he struck, sinking his fangs into her throat. The blinding pain was like nothing she’d ever felt—but it was instantly replaced by ecstasy that detonated her body. Her orgasm exploded and she screamed, clinging to his shoulders as they slammed together again and again. Rode wave after wave of euphoria so intense she almost passed out.
A golden thread stretched between them, strengthened. Somehow she sensed that this was the link that would bind them forever.
The bond he’d made without asking.