For all anyone knew, his mother had died at his birth.
And so long as Ryper didn’t tell anyone they were brothers, no one could argue her case.
His only comfort was that so long as Ryper kept his silence, both her sons were as big a disappointment to her as she was to them.
But that was anger best left in the past.
Ryper nudged him. “Go to bed, Dash. You have a beautiful woman waiting for you.”
That he did. For that reason only, he didn’t argue. “You two should rest as well. We have a long journey ahead.”
But he knew Ryper wouldn’t sleep until he numbed himself.
Trying not to think about that either, he left them to find Tanis in their room upstairs.
She was already in bed, and the smile she greeted him with sent a wave of desire all the way to his rotten soul. Damn. Ryper was right. She was beautiful.
As he sat on the bed, she moved to help him pull his tunic off, then rested her hands gently on his shoulders. The softness of her touch singed him, and Dash took a moment to savor the sight of her warm and waiting for him.
Her dark brown eyes stared up at him as if he were all the things he’d ever wanted to be. In her eyes alone, he was noble. Decent. Heroic.
Not a despised king or a monster.
She made him feel like he was something more than the brutal demon who’d crawled out of Meara’s cruelty.
You need to leave.He knew it. He had no business doing this with her. It made him no better than his hated father.
Ironically, that was what he’d said to himself every single time and still he couldn’t resist her. He doubted if anything on this earth or beyond could get him out of this room tonight.
Because her touch healed him, and he was that selfish. She comforted his soul in a way nothing ever had.
I need her.
It was that simple and that impossible.
Tanis saw the look in his tormented eyes, and for a moment, she thought he would pull away from her and return to his planning.
Instead, he untied his laces, removed his pants, then slowly stretched out beside her. She shivered at the sight of his naked body lying beside hers.
His power and lithe grace was overwhelming. Her body ached and burned for his. And all she knew was that she wanted him. Even though this was impossible, and they had no future together.
She wanted to feel him inside her and share herself with him, to let him take whatever comfort or solace he could.
He lifted his hand to the laces of her gown and slowly opened the neck of it until she was bared to his hungry gaze. Tanis shivered at the dark, intense look on his face as he stared at her naked breasts.
She growled low in her throat as he trailed his hand over her tight, swollen nipples as if savoring the sight and feel ofthem before he took one into his palm and gently squeezed. She ground her teeth at the pleasurable sensation and her body melted.
Tanis wanted to claim his body too, to touch him in ways she hoped no other woman had ever touched him. She just wished she could make him see what a hero he was to her.
How much his kindness meant. How much she cherished every moment they had together.
He buried his lips against her throat, his breath branding her with heat. This was so vivid and hot. She’d learned to crave his touch in a way that scared her.
It was almost enough to make her want to be human forever.
But that was ridiculous.
Even so, she explored his body with her hands and delighted in the lean, masculine planes and dips. He was so hard and firm compared to her. His cheeks scratchy from his whiskers. And the manly scent of him sent her reeling.
