“Mine,” she whispered back, arching up to meet him. “My own.”
He wound his fingers in her hair, lost to everything but her. So soft, so strong. And wearing far too many clothes. He hooked a claw into her T-shirt, ripping down to expose her curves. She gasped as he dropped his head, mouth closing over her breast?—
A shrill cry split the air, right overhead. There was a confused moment as they both instinctively shifted, each trying to leap to the other’s defense. Shan found himself crouched over a bristling lioness, tails tangled, her back paws braced against his belly.
Leonie peered past his spread wings. She relaxed, shrinking.
“It’s all right.” She patted his muzzle. “Just another owl.”
The bird stared down at them like a scandalized chaperone. It screeched again and flew off.
He growled, shifting back to human as well. “I am going to have words with Alder-in-Winter.”
“It does rather kill the mood, knowing that the local wildlife might be reporting your every move back to a prudish unicorn.” Leonie wriggled out from underneath him, tugging her torn T-shirt back over her breasts. “Pity. I was enjoying that.”
He breathed in, savoring the sweetness. “Truth.”
“Oh, well.” She flipped her braid over her shoulder, wisps of hair escaping around her face. “Much as I’d love to have my way with you right here, we’d better take this indoors. Is your animal satisfied?”
“Not even close.”
She grinned down at him. “Good.”
Leonie had been a little anxious that the walk back to camp would give Shan time to have second thoughts. He was such a careful, deliberate person, and he’d spent most of his life suppressing his instincts. But after that wild chase, she wasnotin the mood to talk.
She needn’t have worried. The second the door of her cabin closed behind them, he pinned her against the wall. His hand fisted in her torn T-shirt as he captured her mouth.
“Off,” he growled into her mouth, and pulled.
Oh, thank God.Never breaking the kiss, she kicked off her shoes. Her shorts soon followed. She started to pull her bra down, but Shan got there first. The straps fluttered off her shoulder, neatly cut by his claws.
“This relationship is going to be very hard on my wardrobe,” she teased, as he kneeled to remove her socks. “Are you going to keep destroying my clothes?”
“That depends.” His hands slid up her legs. “On whether you keep wearing them.”
She caught her breath as he sliced through the thin cotton of her underwear. “I’m beginning to think I shouldn’t.”
He was still on his knees. He looked up at her as if she were a goddess, the rough paw-pads of his fingertips tracing her curves. “Yes.”
She looped her arms around his neck, drawing him close. His hands tightened on her hips as they kissed. The tips of his claws pricked against her skin. He must have felt her shiver, because he immediately pulled back, claws retracting.
“No.” She grabbed his hand, flattening his palm over her hip. “Don’t you dare. That waspleasure,you silly man.”
His touch was still a bit tentative. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You won’t.” She tugged impatiently at his shirt. “Your turn. I want to see you, too.”
A flicker of something—uncertainty?—crossed his face, but he nodded. He pulled his shirt over his head, muscles flexing.
“Mmm.” She traced the stripes running across his shoulders. “How far downdothese go?”
He sucked in his breath as her hand moved lower. “I’ll show you.”
As it turned out, her sisters would have been disappointed.She, however, very much was not.
“Shan,” she gasped, wet just at the sight of him. “I don’t think I can wait much longer.”
His only answer was a deep, hungry growl. He guided her to the bed, laying her down. His own need was obvious—extremely so—but he still touched her with that maddening gentleness.
