She shivered but leaned into his caress. “So what does the bracelet do, exactly? Is it some sort of a supernatural chastity belt? Seems a bit extreme that I can’t take it off.”
A startled chuckle escaped him, and he relaxed fractionally. Trust Kiri to find the humor in the madness. “Something like that. It also provides a level of protection, in case I get too rough.”
“Monte...” She flattened her hand over his heart, searing him with her touch even through the thickness of his fur. “I appreciate the concern but I’m not some fragile flower—”
“Compared to me—and the rest of the monsters on this island—you are, Kiri,” he corrected firmly and shook his head. “Every full moon, I’m more beast than man, ruled by my baser instincts.” He allowed his fingertips to drift down the silken skin of her throat, taking in the lack of fur and how he loved how smooth it was. “I refuse to risk your safety for anything.”
“Then let me help you. We can find a way to work through this together. You shouldn’t have to deal with this alone.”
The soft glow from the setting sun on Kiri’s face as she looked up at Monte made his breath hitch. Her hazel eyes held her trust in him, making his heart swell with both love and shame—shame for having her deal with him, deal with his baser, primal self. The warmth radiating from her body, coupled with the intoxicating scent of her skin, sent shivers down his spine and heightened his senses.
He could feel the beast inside him stirring, but he fought to keep it at bay.
“Monte,” Kiri said softly, resting her hand gently on his arm. “I trust you. I know you won’t hurt me.”
Monte knew she meant well, but she had no idea the danger she’d be courting getting close to him at a time like tonight.
The bracelet was designed to protect her from him, but he worried if it would truly work on a human like Kiri. He couldn’t bear the thought of causing her harm or worse, impregnating her with a monstrous offspring that she didn’t want.
“I will explain everything in more detail later,” he promised gruffly. “But for tonight, I need you to trust me. I promise you have nothing to worry about. Just wear the bracelet for now, and I’ll explain everything over breakfast, okay?”
Her fingers traced the intricate enchantment runes etched into the silver band as her gaze darted to the darkening sky, the fading light highlighting her profile in gold. “Tonight’s the full moon, isn’t it? That’s why you’re so on edge.”
His mate was both clever and perceptive.
“Yes,” he admitted hoarsely. Already he could feel the familiar prickle dancing along his nerve endings, the hot itch beneath his skin, his body demanding him to mate. There wasn’t much time. “Which is why I have to go. Now.”
She frowned, opening her mouth to protest. He silenced her with a searing kiss, his desperation bleeding into the contact. Kiri made a soft sound low in her throat and deepened the angle, her fingers clawing his chest fur.
It took every ounce of Monte’s formidable will to tear himself away, his chest heaving as he felt the pull of the moon growing stronger. “I promise, Kiri. Now, please, stay at the cabin. Enjoy yourself in the hot tub tonight. Relax, and I’ll be back in the morning to explain everything.”
She bit her lip as her hazel eyes searched his face, a hint of hurt flickering behind the steadfast trust she held for him. “Fine, but promise me you’ll explain everything when it’s safetomorrow. We’re a team, Monte. I refuse to have secrets between us, especially important ones like this.”
“I’ll return at dawn and we’ll talk.,” he rasped, desperation creeping into his tone. “I promise.”
“All right,” she murmured, reluctantly stepping back from him. “Until tomorrow.”
“Forgive me, Kiri,” he whispered, his chest tight with emotion as he forced himself to turn his back to her with clenched fists. “I’ll make this right, I swear.”
With every step, he fought against the beastly desires that threatened to overtake him. With each passing minute, his thoughts grew more primal, more urgent. He needed to distance himself from Kiri before the darkness swallowed him whole.
He prayed to the Moon Goddess that his mate would soon forgive him for his actions…
Fifteen
Kiri
Steaming water bubbled around Kiri as she sank into the hot tub, but the soothing warmth failed to ease her tense muscles. She closed her eyes and leaned back, willing herself to relax and enjoy the sensual pleasure of the bubbling hot tub under the starry sky.
Frustration knotted in her chest, refusing to dissipate no matter how hard she tried to relax. Her mind kept drifting, preoccupied with thoughts of Monte’s odd behavior earlier that evening. It had left her thoughts in disarray.
What was going on with him?
“Damn it,” she muttered under her breath, gripping the edge of the tub with wet fingers.
Kiri sighed and opened her eyes, gazing up at the full moon glowing above.
Her gaze drifted to the bracelet adorning her wrist, a gift from Lyra—as the moon’s pale light gleamed off it. She twisted it gently around her arm, the cool metal contrasting sharply with her heated skin—and yet no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t yank it off.
