“Talg is never going to let you in.” His hands cupped her cheeks as he stared down at her. “I know bullies like him. He’s never going to allow you to remove the anazi, either. No matter how many tests you pass. No matter how many punishments you endure. I know you want to protect your kind, but who is busy protecting you? You deserve so much more than he is ever going to give you.”
Her breathing hitched. “Y-you say such n-nice things.” Panting, shaking, she tried to clear her mind. “No one ever say to me before.”
“You have no idea how nice I want to be to you, wild thing.” Voice low, he skimmed his palm down her belly.
Her back arched, a groan of need wrenching from her.
She opened her legs wider. “Sh-show me.”
“Hells, Nayla.” His green eyes darkened with desire. “You have me crossing so many lines I swore I never would.” His rough palm cupped her mons. Possessive. Merciless.
“Yes.” Her gaze locked on his hand, the sight of his thick, veined wrist between her thighs sending her arousal higher. She was crossing lines, too. Just like he was.
His grip at her thighs tightened as his other hand slid between her swollen folds. “I want you to know only nice. Only pleasure.”
“Y-yes.” Something was building inside her. A monstrous cresting wave that threatened to drown her. To splinter her apart.
It was as if she tottered on the precipice of something life changing.
“Tell me the rest.” His rasped voice was an anchor in the surging storm. “You’ve had to carry this burden alone for too long.”
Grif was strong. He was forceful and knowing, yet he hadn’t hurt her.
Maybe he was right.
Maybe just this once she could trust him—and bask in the pleasure of his touch. “Th-hey in eastern quadrant.” Her body shuddered as he worked her needy core faster “Across the canyon. Hidden in cave at bottom of h-highest cliff with two round domes at top. P-please.”
“That’s good, Nayla.” His voice gentled, but his fingers never stopped. “What about guards?”
The pressure built and built, her body winding tighter as her toes curled.
“Tell me.” A light tap against her clit.
She sucked down a desperate breath and tried to remember. “G-guards? Th-three at most. Lazy. Forced to watch because not good hunters.”
“Good girl.” He worked her clit faster. “Such a fucking good girl.”
“Grif!” She ground against his fingers, his praise adding to her pleasure. She had never been a good girl before.
“That’s right, wild thing. Say my name. I’m right here with you. Doing every nice thing you deserve and more. You aren’t to blame for anything that happened. I know exactly what you need.” Tap. Right on her swollen, needy clit.
Her body jerked, arched, her mouth opening on a silent scream as indescribable pleasure slammed through her.
Limitless.
Exquisite.
The rush of sensation lit up every cell and sinew, shattering her into a thousand pieces, hurtling her body through space until she was truly one with the Void.
No pain. No fear or sorrow or loneliness. Only pure pleasure.
She floated in silver, shimmering paradise.
How had she never known such a thing was possible?
She had no idea how much time passed before the rough rasp of a familiar voice rolled across her skin like a purr, coaxing her back toward gravity, sound, and scent.
“You did so good, baby. So good.”
She drifted down from the stars, some part of her registering that she was in Grif’s arms, flopped against his chest, held as if she was something precious.
It seemed like a dream.
Yet, here she was. Alive. In one piece. But forever altered, the pieces of her soul reconfigured. Remade by pleasure and touch and the knowledge of all she hadn’t known before.
Dazed, her body still tingling, the terrible storm that had surged inside her since his first touch, was finally, blissfully silent.
Exhaustion beat at her, her skin slick, but it was a good kind of tired. Every part of her humming and alive.
Small shivers coursed through her. A warm, firm hand anchored her to this world. The heat of Grif’s palm as it stroked her hair another form of exquisite bliss. A connection. Deeper and more profound than she’d had with anyone else.
“Give yourself time. One’s first climax is pretty intense.” More warm caresses along her spine. “I’ve got you.”
Climax? Was that what that was? Her body tingled, her mind trying to function. To recall why she was making low animalistic noises that almost sounded like pain. Why there was something dark and shameful trying to push its way past this cloud of pure bliss. Why his voice sounded tinged with guilt, as if he knew something she didn’t.
“Shh, sweetheart.” His big palm covered her lower back, spanning almost the entire area and radiating wonderful warmth. His other hand gentle as he brushed a sweat-slicked strand of hair back from her forehead. “It’s going to be okay. I know it’s going to feel like it’s the end, but it’s only the beginning. I wasn’t lying. I am going to take care of you. Everything is going to be all right.”
Her spine snapped straight, her breath drawing in on a sharp inhale as the fog cleared and the reality of what had happened slammed into her.
The haze of bliss imploded as pain ripped it to shreds.
She’d told.
She’d broken.
She was a traitor now. Dead to the pack. Her dreams destroyed, her chance for the life she’d always wanted, gone.
Because of him.
Enraged, she threw back her head and tried to hurl herself from his arms.
“You’re lashing out because you feel exposed. Embarrassed. There’s no reason to feel that way.” He held her fast. “It’s okay, Nayla. I promise.”
“Promise? Liar!” She clawed at him, fighting to get free. “You destroy me.”
He’d preyed on her weaknesses, just as she’d feared.
The pack would be out to kill her now. She would be more scorned and hated than ever. Her death would be far more excruciating than a slow cleansing ritual, and no less than she deserved.
Ancients help her, she’d proven to be exactly as unworthy as Talg had predicted.
Now Grif knew it, too. He knew her shame and her ugly truths, and all the dishonor she had kept to herself until now.
She could bear that least of all.
“Stop thrashing.” Her captor’s hands clamped down on her shoulders, locking her in place. “You’ve been through a lot. Your body is at its limit. You need to rest.”
She only screamed louder. His false care making her shake with rage. He’d done this to her. Flayed her wide. Turned her body against her and exposed her shameful weakness.
“Enough.” The weight of his hands increased. Not painful, but firm. “You were always going to have to tell me where they were. Accept it. Now that you have, we can move on. Make things better.”
“Better?” Rage gave her a burst of renewed strength and she bucked harder. “No better for me, or you. Talg still going to force your females make glow-spears. He going bring down all Others. Take final stand. Fight or die. No other way.”
Grif’s grip tightened, his expression turning deadly. “Are you saying there’s a war coming?”