Despite her impatience, she wanted to explore him, too. She traced the muscles of his back, savoring the way he tensed and twitched in response. Her palms ran over his shoulders and down his biceps, finding soft fur—and then, unexpectedly, skin.
“Huh?” She jerked upright in surprise, nearly cracking her forehead against his. “Shan, your arms!”
He still had stripes across his shoulders and back, but the fur on his arms was gone. His hands had changed, too. His fingernails were still jet black, but otherwise normal. He could have walked ungloved down a crowded street without anyone giving him a second glance.
Well, that wasn’t entirely true. Hewouldstill attract attention, especially in a tight shirt. But not because he didn’t look human.
“Hm.” Shan sounded pleased, but not surprised. He flexed his fingers experimentally. “I thought that might happen.”
“I didn’t know the changes could reverse. Is it because you aren’t fighting your qiongqi anymore?”
He smiled, bending to kiss her. “It’s because of you.”
She searched his face, finding the same yellow irises surrounded by darkness. “Your eyes haven’t changed, though.”
He shrugged, seeming more interested in exploring her curves with his newly human hands. “I’m used to wearing glasses in public. I don’t mind. As long as you don’t, at least.”
“Not at all. I like your eyes.” She couldn’t help pouting a little. “Though I rather liked your claws, too.”
“I can bring them back whenever you like.” His hand slid further down. “But they do make certain things more difficult.”
She caught her breath, back arching. “Oh.”
He made a pleased sound, dropping his head to her breast. His fingers crooked, and she bucked, clenching around him. Between his hands and mouth, everything dissolved into bliss.
She came back to herself to find Shan watching her with distinct satisfaction. She pulled him down for a kiss.
“Okay,” she admitted. “There aresomeadvantages to you not having claws.”
Shan chuckled, withdrawing. Rather than wiping his hand clean on the sheets, he absently put his middle two fingers into his mouth.
He froze, eyes glazing. A muffled groan ripped from his throat.
“Shan?” She propped herself up on her elbows, still shaky with aftershocks of pleasure. “You okay?”
“I was wrong,” he choked out, fingers still in his mouth. “This. This is what I crave. What I need. This taste.”
She stretched smugly. “That works out nicely for both of us, then.”
“More.” He licked feverishly at his hand, like he couldn’t bear the thought of wasting a single drop. His yellow eyes met hers, wild and glowing. “More.”
Shan, it soon became clear, would have been more than happy to feast all night. Even after he’d reduced her to a writhing, whimpering mess, he kept going, pinning her thighs apart as she shattered again and again.
“Shan,” she gasped at last, shaking and desperate. “Enough.”
He growled, not lifting his head. “Never.”
“I need more.” She clawed at his shoulders, shaking and desperate. “I need you.”
He must have been able to taste the truth of it. He pulled away at last, crawling up her body. He started to line himself up, but she twisted, flipping him onto his back. She straddled him, legs around his waist, hands pinning his shoulders.
“Mine,” she said, sinking down.
“Yours.” His hands clenched on her hips, claws pricking her skin. “Always.”
Lions were not complicated. She didn’t need any special ritual to claim her mate. Only this.
She rode him hard, the bond strengthening with every surge. Shan met her thrust for thrust, muscles knotted, teeth clenched. She could feel him desperately trying to hold back, struggling for control. Waiting for her.
