“But.…” Her voice trailed off as her gaze focused on his fangs.
“Be brave, Little girl. Trust me.”
“I don’t understand. My heart tells me you’re my Daddy, but my mind wants me to run,” she whispered.
“Say it again, Little girl,” he commanded.
“What?” Her eyes focused on a space over his shoulder. Marcus suspected she was replaying her statement. “Daddy?”
Before the treasured title had emerged completely through her lips, Marcus hugged her tightly to him. He silenced her gasp at his sudden motion as he kissed her deeply. Carina stiffened for a fraction of a second before her mouth moved under his, returning his urgency with her own. Her arms looped around his neck as she rubbed herself against him.
Never releasing her from his embrace, Marcus backed up slowly until his calves brushed the side of her bed. He held her securely against his strength and fell backward onto the mattress. Carina spread her legs, bracketing his hips with her knees.
Marcus groaned as her heat rested directly on his aching cock, challenging his determination to be gentle. He clasped his hands around her hips and ground her pussy against his rigid shaft. Erect since he found her, Marcus had never experienced such hunger as he felt toward his mate. He found the hem of her soft nightgown and tugged it up to grip her bottom once again.
Tell me you want me, Carina.
She hesitated for a split second before whispering against his lips, “Make love to me, Daddy. I’m yours.”
A groan of delight rumbled from his chest. She’d acknowledged him. Marcus swept his hands farther up her back, sweeping her nightgown with him. “If you treasure this garment, take it off, Carina.”
She looked down at him and bit her lip. Slowly, she shook her head.
He ripped the material and swept the pieces from her body, revealing the beautiful curves he’d forced from his thoughts during his shift at Nightfall. Alone at last with his mate, Marcus would reward her bravery.
Chapter
Six
Carina loved the flash of heat in his eyes. She gasped when he spun their entwined bodies around so he pinned her to the mattress. Feeling small and fragile under him sent a thrill through her. She rubbed her hands over his powerful chest and shoulders, savoring the hard strength of his muscles. She needed to touch his skin.
Grabbing a handful of his T-shirt, she ordered, “Off. I get to see you too.”
“So demanding,” he chuckled as he rose to his feet.
Marcus loomed over her, and his gaze traveled over her. The hunger on his face both frightened and aroused her. Being with him was a thrilling risk. He watched her like she was the most desirable woman on earth. Reassured that he would never harm her, she pushed her doubts away. Poking at the darker part of him, Carina stroked a hand up her torso slowly and trailed her fingers between her breasts. His growl of arousal made her smile.
“Hurry up, would you?” she teased and ran a finger over her collarbone and lower to the swell of her breast.
“Think, Little girl. How much do you want to taunt the beast?” He tore his T-shirt over his head and pulled his belt from his pants.
Carina froze, remembering his teeth and glowing eyes. A day ago, she would have run away screaming. The way he touched her—demanding at times and gentle at others—reassured her. He looked at her as if she was the most precious and arousing woman on earth. Could he have a vicious, lethal side?
The answer came to her. Yes, but he would never harm her.
She smiled at the handsome figure in front of her who watched with concern. Daringly, Carina ogled his chest, rising to her elbows to see him fully. His muscles had muscles. Her gaze focused on the movement of his hand as he unzipped his pants. His heavy shaft bulged from his open fly, pressing against the material of his briefs.
“I can think of better things to do with the beast than taunting….” She finally answered his question, allowing her voice to trail away suggestively. Did he just get bigger?
He hooked his fingers into his waistbands and thrust both garments over his powerful thighs. As she studied his chiseled form and thick erection, Marcus toed off his shoes before stepping out of the fabric puddled on the floor. His body wasn’t beautiful. Scars twisted his flesh in many places. He’d fought in battles she couldn’t imagine. Tears burst into her eyes at the thought of how much pain he’d endured.
“Carina, no tears. I survived to find you.”
He leaned over the bed and threaded his arm under her torso. As he crawled onto the bed, Marcus towed her effortlessly to rest on the pillows. Needing his kiss, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled his lips to hers. She kissed him with the wealth of emotions that had developed inside her since meeting Marcus. Lust, happiness, greed, and sorrow that he’d been through so much mingled together to form alevel of connection she’d never imagined possible. Everything linked together in some irrevocable way that exceeded her comprehension. When he was close, she felt complete.
Marcus lifted his head to check on her. He kissed away the moisture that lingered on her cheeks. Carina cupped his face before sliding her hand over his chest. When her fingers discovered an old remnant of his life, she smoothed over it, trying to erase the pain the injury had caused him.
When she brushed the velvety head of his cock, Carina’s curiosity pushed her sadness over his battle scars to a back burner in her mind. She wrapped her fingers around his shaft and looked up at him in shock when her thumb and forefinger didn’t meet.
