She stepped closer to the cage and cautiously laid her fingers over his. His hands weren’t healing as fast as she expected. “I know this is not the sum of you. Neither is the façade you wear so well, with your don’t-give-a-damn-attitude. You’re hurting. Let me help.”
Anger flamed in his eyes, his fangs cutting into his bottom lip. “Why would you, when even death spat me out? What can you do,laika?”
Ely understood his rage, her heart hurting for him. Her gaze lowered to their hands. She did the only thing she could, even if it drained her energy a little more. Ely let her healing powers flow—
An audible gasp escaped him, then he yanked free. “Don’t.”
“Why not? You’re not healing, and you’re in pain—”
“Because I want to hurt!” His eyes flashed red and topaz, and he started pacing again.
Ely laced her fingers over her head, pressing her palms to her skull, trying to understand him.
“Unlike those pretty boys you hang with,laika,” he baited as he passed her, cutting her a sideways look, “I’m no one’s hero. I hunt, I kill, innocent or not, because it’s what I do. This is perfect payback for all my sins, don’t you think?”
Irritation surged at his taunts, but she tamped it down, refusing to let him trigger her temper. She scrubbed her face and tried again. “Is this why you cage yourself?”
“It’s so I don’t take what I desperately want…” His voice became a rough purr. “You, on your back, on this pallet, to lick you from your lush mouth to your delicious little clit before burying my cock so deep—”
“Stop it!” She glared at him, despite desire stirring at his words. “If you want me, just say so because I want you too!”
He stopped dead as if she’d blindsided him.
“What? Now that I said I want you, too, you’ve lost interest?” she jeered, aware she was tugging a dangerous beast by its tail. “Typical. Just like all males. It’s only the chase you’re after, isn’t it?”
His eyes narrowed, and he prowled back to where she stood. Right then, he was the epitome of Big Bad with those black-as-night horns poking out of his messy hair, raptor-like talons, and fangs.
“Even the way I am?” He angled his head, watching her.
The inescapable truth was she did want him, even in his half-beast form, taunts and all. So damn much.He’s still Nate.He stirred something within her, something she’d never experienced in her long life. He alone chipped away at her protective walls, drawing her out of her shell, causing all these feelings to unravel.
Whatever this was, she didn’t want to let it go.
Her heart in her throat, she whispered, “Wouldn’t have said so if I didn’t mean it.”
A low growl escaped him. He stalked the length of the cage again, the black scales on his abs fading. “It’s a fool’s dream. Go.”
Ely watched him for a second. If she gave in now, she might as well call it quits. He’d never let her close again. What could she do to make him listen? For him to understand that she only wanted to help—and more, she cared about him?
She arched an eyebrow, and taunted, “Scared?”
He went dead still.
The next minute, the gate flew open. He grasped her wrist and dragged her inside. Then his mouth came down on hers in a wild, unbridled kiss. Her back hit the cage bars, his hips pinning her there. He tasted all male and decadent, and she kissed him back. His fangs nicked her lip—a coppery tang flooded her tongue—
Ely pulled back, panting for air. He stared at her with eyes still streaked red, but his pupils were back to normal. And they burned with heat—a heat she was familiar with—as if he would devour her.
He gripped her braid, tipped her chin up, and kissed her again in a carnality that had her knees caving. He sucked and tugged on her lip, then her tongue. A feverish moan escaped her, and she tightened her grip on his hair.
One scaly hand cupped her breast and squeezed. He lowered his head and mouthed her nipple through the fine knit of her t-shirt, tugging on her nub—a pull she felt to her core. Desire gathered like molten lava, and she moaned. He pushed up her top, pulled down her bra, and plucked her hardened nipples with his taloned fingers.
“By the dark stars,laika. You’re so fucking beautiful.” His warm mouth covered one aching nub, fangs lightly scraping her skin, tongue licking her. The eroticism at watching him torment her flesh had her body coiling like a spring. A tug on her nipple sent a rush of wetness between her thighs and aching need straight to her center. A whimper escaped her, and she squirmed against him.
He came back up and kissed her again, moving his hips and rubbing his rigid cock between the V of her thighs, against her sensitive flesh. The friction had her core tightening, and she moved with him, fighting for release.
“Nate,” she panted against his mouth, needing more. Her fingers slid through his sweat-dampened hair, and she grasped his horns—
“No!” He reared back, chest heaving, eyes still streaked red. “This shouldn’t have happened.”
