His gaze drifted down to the curve of her breasts, and her mind darted to other activities she hadn’t practiced yet.Taking on this shifter’s scent would be a pleasure, although he might ruin her for other men.Thoughts and fears, hopes flashed through her mind at lightning speed.Silly, girlish dreams of happy ever after that she’d never have with her first lover.
The future…
It was murky, like the darkest winter night.
Trepidation replaced some of her feel-good mood.No!Best to take each day one at a time and focus on survival.Her grandmother might’ve landed her in this mess, but Mikhail had treated her decently.So far.She might find him attractive, but the situation could implode.What if he beat her, abused her, and nothing—no one—would stop him?
Edwina quivered and tried to calm her racing pulse.Then there was the other problem—the insidious urging from her feline.Her leopard wanted this man, wanted to rub against him and give herself to his care.She’d have to stay strong because there had been the odd moment when she’d wished for this too.It would be so easy to surrender.
Fierce need washed through her, fueled partly by her feline, but she tingled with desire too.
Her feline had half convinced Edwina that Mikhail would make them purr with happiness.His presence was imperative to their well-being.She peeked through her lashes and found him studying her.Her breasts prickled with an edgy fervor that made her want to wriggle and brush against him like a cat in heat.The thought popped into her mind, and a blush swept across her skin.
“You have experience.”
The tone of his voice had her freezing.Her gaze jerked to his, and the faint accusation she spotted had her mouth firming.
“So have you.”
She refused to apologize for the exposure she’d secured, and his implications jabbed at her temper.Edwina bit back her irritation and waited for his next salvo.
“You told me you are a virgin.Your grandmother assured me you were untouched.”
“Double standard, much?”she said, with an overload of sweetness.Pompous windbag.The nerve of him expecting purity when she was positive he’d had many women.Then there was the fact he was accusing her of lying.
His nostrils flared, and he bared his canines, the sharpness of his mood reflecting in the firm set of his mouth.The bitter tang of his anger fragranced the air and choked her throat.A sliver of fear tap-danced down her spine.Had she gone too far?They traded glares, and she weakened first, glancing away.She silently cursed, miffed because he’d take this avoidance as a victory.A concession or even guilt.
The silence pulsed between them.The longer the hush stretched, the deeper the unease that assailed her.Her feline trembled, unhappy.Maybe she shouldn’t have poked the tiger, but she was tired of everyone pushing her around.By marrying him, she’d exchanged her cage for another, albeit an expensive and luxurious one, judging by appearances.
She’d agreed to the marriage to save her family, as her grandmother had guessed she might.Valerie McClintock had planned and used her understanding of her granddaughter, her love for her parents to ensure Edwina followed orders.
Yeah, she’d had no choice, but that didn’t mean she’d let Mikhail disrespect her.
She’d fulfill the marriage contract with this sexy tiger and walk away to live the life she wanted for herself.Edwina tamped down the doubt that slinked into her mind.Her feline opposed this radical plan, and she understood.The man sported attractive qualities.A problem.
Mikhail sprang without warning.He pushed her flat against the mattress and kissed her.This kiss differed from the first.This one inflamed and punished.It was a kiss to show Edwina he was the boss.He ground their lips together and forced his tongue into her mouth.Initially, she fought and nipped his bottom lip.She tasted blood and heard him groan.Not one of pain or anger, but more of surprise and…
The kiss gentled, and she hesitated, unsure.Her feline released another loud purr as Mikhail’s hands wandered, roaming down her arms, over her butt.Her pulse lurched, and she wasn’t sure how to react since her limited experience took her only so far.Mikhail wasn’t helping, although his anger had faded.Even as she thought this, he parted their mouths and swiped his tongue over her bottom lip.The rasp had her nerve endings jumping to attention, and she drew in an audible breath.
“Steady,” he whispered, sliding his mouth across her jaw and down her throat.His teeth scraped pulse points and tendons, and she bit back a startled groan.So good.
Gods, she hadn’t considered a physical relationship until they’d reached the bed, fury at her grandmother driving everything from her thoughts.
He stilled.“What’s on your mind?”
Rattled now, Edwina didn’t bother to prevaricate.She loosed a truth bomb.“Everyone at our destination is a stranger.I have no one to count on if I need help.If you rage and kill me for mouthing off, that’s it.I won’t get to realize my hopes or dreams.You control everything.”She scanned his face, his expression puncturing her run of speech.
The wretch was smiling.
“No need for humor,” she snapped.“You understand my situation.If I displease you, no one will make you stick to the deal you inked with my grandmother or force you to honor your promise to let me leave after a year.”
“You’d better obey me in everything,” he said silkily.
“What does that mean?”Angry again, she glowered.“If you kill me, Iwillcome back to haunt you.You’ll regret messing with me.That is a promise.”
“Noted,” he said, drily this time.
“You can laugh at me all you like, but I’d make you pay.”
