A heartbeat later, a stronger burst of energy danced across my skin as silver eather dotted his fur. What happened next wasn’t as dramatic as it had been when he shifted. I didn’t hear bones cracking and realigning or see his body change forms. This was quick. The shimmering light swept over him, and in the next second, Casteel was crouched before me, his golden eyes locked on mine.
“Thank you,” he said, his voice low and rough with a distinct purr to it that caused my brows to rise. A shudder ran through him, and then his wide, amber eyes swept over me.
“I’m fine,” I assured him.
Swallowing, he leaned back and bowed his head. His shoulders rose with a deep breath, and then he looked at me through strands of glossy, dark hair. “So, you think my fur issovery soft?”
I stared at him for a moment and then snapped forward, smacking his arm. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me you could shift! That’s such—”
Casteel moved fast, and his lips were suddenly on mine. The kiss was fierce and deep, and the taste of wildness on his tongue made my heart race. He parted my lips as his still-rougher-than-usual palms coasted down my sides and over my back, leaving shivers in their wake.
Casteel tilted his head as a growl rumbled against my chest, the sound distinctively feline. His hands slid down to cup my ass,and heat unfurled low in my belly as his grip firmed. I knew I needed to put a stop to this. Reaver was still out in the Solar, and he clearly had a reason for coming here. But I didn’t stop Cas as my knees left the floor. Nor did I say a word when he positioned me over his cock. Instead, I kissed him back with the same fervor. I was lost in him—in his taste, his kisses. Completely lost as I felt the head of his cock at my entrance, slipping through the wetness.
He captured my cry when he pulled me down and thrust up. My eyes snapped open, and my breath caught at the sudden stretch, pleasure tinged with a sharp bite of discomfort. He felt…thicker, which didn’t make sense.
Casteel rocked forward, driving me onto my back, his mouth still moving over mine. I lifted my legs and wrapped them around his waist. Lifting my hips, I met each thrust as I clung to him. His movements were hard and fast, and my back scraped the floor. This wasn’t even fucking. No, it was too feral for that. It was…rutting.Wild and utterly sensation-driven. I didn’t even know what I was doing when I shifted my legs and dug my knees into his hips, taking control and rolling him.
Casteel’s eyes snapped open in surprise, his plump, damp lips parting as I stared down at him.
He didn’t speak.
Neither did I.
I pressed my hands against his chest and moved, lifting myself up and down, grinding on him as the tension built in my core. His hands clamped down on my hips, the veins in his forearms bulging. His back bowed, his body straining as my head fell back. The coiling knot fisting deep in my core started to unravel. He snapped up, his hand tangling in my hair as he yanked my mouth back to his. The kiss was harsh and messy, his fangs scraping against mine, our tongues tangling as all that tight, curling tension unraveled. His mouth swallowed my cryof release, and mine smothered his groan. I could feel his cock spasming as I went limp against him, his tight hold on me the only thing keeping me upright. Our lips parted, and for a couple of moments, there was only the sound of our breaths slowing between us.
“Never, Poppy.” he rasped, the grip on my hair loosening. “I never forgot it was you.”
I shuddered against him.
“Never,” he repeated, his mouth finding mine in a gentle, soft kiss—
“If you think I don’t know what’s happening in there,” came Reaver’s voice, causing both of us to stiffen, “you’d be wrong.”
My eyes snapped open.
Casteel’s sigh turned into a deep growl. “I’m going to kill him,” he said.
I rested my forehead against his. “No, you’re not.”
“He saw you naked.”
I squeezed my eyes shut. “I really don’t need that reminder.”
“Hold on,” he muttered, and I did just that as he eased himself free of me and rose. He placed me on the edge of the bed and then dropped his hands on either side of my legs.
“Are you two done?” Reaver demanded.
“I didn’t mean for that to happen,” Casteel said, ignoring Reaver. “I was caught off guard by a presence in the Solar, and my mind went to the Rev who’d gotten in. And with what has happened the last two days…I don’t know. Instinct took over. I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
“You didn’t,” I told him.
Reaver’s sigh made it through the thick door.
“I did, though.” Casteel leaned in and pressed his forehead to mine. “I think the only time I’ve heard you scream like that was when a snake was involved.”
My cheeks warmed. “Admittedly, I was caught off guard, but I wasn’t afraid of you.” I touched his cheek. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I wanted to,” he said, his voice rich and smoky, “but I wanted to wait until you shifted first.” He swallowed, and I swore I felt his skin warm under my fingers. “I only shifted once before, and I…I didn’t want to do it again. I wanted to share that with you.”
