Hehad saved her.
And God help her, because all of it comforted her. Without him, she wouldn’t be breathing right now.
He set her down, and she sank onto soft sand. “Give me a second.”
A splash sounded.
Ash exhaled sharply, then looked up to find him swimming across an enormous, deep blue lake with powerful strokes. He dove under, then resurfaced closer to the shore before wading out, water streaming down his tall, naked body—all traces of blood washed off—even the brutal slashes across his abs had healed.
Despite the horror still rattling her bones, her stare remained fixed on him—on the savage, breathtaking beauty of a deadly predator in human skin—a male she was helplessly drawn to. His broad shoulders flexed as he raked wet hair back from his face.
Her heart continued its hammering. Whether from the dreadful fight moments ago or from this powerful male in front of her, she had no idea. Probably both. Her gaze lowered to the hard planes of his torso, glistening with water, then to his arousal jutting out as unapologetic as the beast itself.
Swallowing hard, she looked away, but even as she tried to calm down, her attention slipped back to him.
Hopeless, truly. He drew her like a moth to flame.
And judging by his body’s reaction…that might not be one-sided. Adrenaline, maybe.
Or her.
Black trousers materialized, snapping her out of her gawking as he drew them on, the fabric low on his lean hips. Long wet hair slipped through his fingers as he braided it and flipped it over his shoulder. He was no less wild, no less dangerous, even partially clothed.
The late sun gilded his skin as he crossed to her, but it was the faint glow in his burning claret eyes—a reminder of the perilous beast that lived just beneath his skin—that both thrilled and terrified her.
“Ash…” He crouched in front of her, his fingertips touching her torn neckline before his warm palm gently cupped one side of her sore face. “It’s over.”
With a shuddering inhale, she threw herself at him, knocking them both onto the sand. “I was terrified when he dragged me off. You weren’t there.”
He sat up and shifted her onto his lap. “No apology can ever make what happened right. The fault’s mine. I shouldn’t have left you to hunt him. The bastard stayed downwind, camouflaging himself with dung.”
She swallowed hard as his darkened gaze skimmed over her, lingering on the left side of her face. He lifted one hand and gently ran a finger over her throbbing jaw, his own tightening. Then he lowered his head and ran his warm tongue along her jaw, over her cheek, and to the corner of her mouth.
Ash froze. She hadn’t expected that. While the throbbing eased, something deeper rushed through her in its wake, and her body hummed in response. “Does it hurt anywhere else?”
“I’m fine…” Before her mind could connect, she reached up and pressed her mouth to his.
He went utterly still.
Ash jerked back, mortified, heat flooding her face.He was healing you, idiot. “It’s… I, er, just want to thank?—”
His hand closed on her nape, tugging her closer again. A growl rumbled in his chest as his mouth claimed hers—not gentle or careful—but with a need that set her blood on fire.
He tasted of fresh water and burnt embers, of absolute decadence.
Ash melted into him as his tongue caressed hers, prompting a moan from her in response to his sensual sucking connecting straight to her core. She kissed him with equal desire, her fingers tangling into his damp hair.
A low growl rumbled in his chest, and something primal ignited between them, fierce and consuming. He flipped her onto the sand, settling between her thighs and bracing himself on his forearms, pinning her with that molten stare. Heat and hunger burned in those claret depths, stealing her breath.
He kissed her again, deeply, thoroughly. His body pressed against hers, a wall of heat, and she arched up, sliding her fingers down his naked back, pulling him closer. His hard cock pressed against her core, drawing a whimper from her throat.
God, yes.Her legs locked around him as he rocked into her. Ash moved with him, desire gripping her in a merciless vise?—
A snarl erupted, then he was gone.
The sudden emptiness stole her breath.
Ash lay panting, her body humming with need, her lips still tingling as she stared at the space where he’d been.
