He worked at keeping the edge out of his voice, but he didn’t like having to justify himself and his choices. He stalked across the room and yanked the covers back, exposing her naked body. For the first time he was able to really look at her body. The evidence of his possession was on her thighs, along with trickles of blood.

She had a gorgeous body. Her curves were definitely lush and soft. Her skin was satin, her hair silk. Even the tiny curls at the junction of her legs looked soft and silky. She blushed and reached for the sheet. He bunched the material in his fist and kept her from pulling it over her.

“I’m putting you in the bathtub, woman. You have to get used to being naked around me.” He caught her up, cradling her close to him. Their combined scent made him hard all over again. He liked the way they smelled together, hot and primal and straight out of a rain forest.

She was forced to reach back and hook his neck with one arm. The action lifted her breast toward his mouth. He dipped his head and licked at the nipple. She did a full body shiver and her breath rushed out of her lungs.

He set her down, feet first, in the tub and she sank low, holding the thick mass of hair out of the water. He had forgotten that her hair would be everywhere. He stepped behind her, gathered the heavy fall in his hand and deftly tied a loose knot on top of her head.

“I think we need to get something straight,” she said, not looking at him again.

“Eli,” he prompted.

Her blue gaze darted to his. She made a face. “Eli, then. It’s important for you to know that even though I totally screwed up, it doesn’t change anything. It was sex. That’s all. Sex. There is no reason for me to get comfortable being naked around you. I don’t plan on being naked often. In fact, I prefer that you’re not in the room while I’m taking a bath.”

He didn’t take his eyes from her face the entire time she made her little speech. He felt slow amusement start somewhere in the vicinity of his gut, climb into his chest so his heart felt lighter and a small smile finally reached his mouth.

“Did I say something funny? Because you’re smirking and it isn’t very nice.”

“Yeah, you said something funny. Kitten, we didn’t just have sex. That was off-the-chart sex and you know it. I look at you and get hard. You look at me and burn between your legs. You think I don’t know when a woman wants me? We’re going to have sex, as you so delicately put it, often and in ways you can’t imagine in your wildest dreams. So it is very important that you are comfortable being naked around me. And comfortable talking about sex, what you like and what you don’t.”

“I don’t like you smirking and being so sure of yourself,” she said. Her blue eyes flashed a deep violet that only made her all the sexier to him.

“At least you know your partner knows what the hell he’s doing. You’re in good hands.”

She sighed and closed her eyes, leaning back against the tub. “I don’t trust you, Eli. I really don’t. I don’t want to be with someone I don’t trust. It was a mistake having sex with you. I couldn’t help myself. I take full responsibility for throwing myself at you, but that doesn’t mean I want to repeat the experience.”

He made a low sound in his throat, somewhere between a growl and a laugh.

Her gaze jumped to his. “I don’t. Maybe my body does. I won’t lie to you about that, but that doesn’t mean I can’t show restraint and learn control.”

“You do that, baby,” he said, still amused. She had no idea how much she was turning him on with her nonsense. She didn’t know the first thing about a wildfire out of control, and that was what they were together. But she’d learn and he was going to have fun teaching her. “In the meantime, while we’re here in this house, you can lose the panties and be very comfortable.”

She rolled her eyes. “I can see you’re going to be difficult.”

“I’m not trying to be, Cat, but seriously? You think this is a onetime shot?”

She nodded slowly.

“So when I put my mouth between your legs you’re not going to start pleading with me to be inside of you?” he demanded.

Color swept up her neck to turn her face a pretty pink. Her eyes went bright. Hungry. Her legs moved restlessly beneath the water. “I’m not expecting you to put your mouth between my legs.”

“You can’t give a man a taste of all that honey, baby, and then try to take it away from him. It doesn’t work that way. I want to eat you alive. I’ve got the taste of you in my mouth and it isn’t going to go away. I’m not going to be able to be inside you for a little while, a few hours or a day or two so that means I have to sate my desire on your taste. And you’re going to learn what to do with my cock in your mouth.”

“I’m not your sex slave, Eli,” she snapped. “I told you. I don’t like you. I don’t trust you. I don’t even know who you are.”

“Well you’re finding out fast, aren’t you, Kitten,” he said.

Eli leaned his hip against the sink and crossed his arms over his chest. Steam rose from the tub, wrapping her in mystery. A light sheen covered her skin, giving her a glow. Her leopard had subsided for the time being. He knew because his leopard wasn’t pushing him so hard. A female leopard rising several times close to the surface and then settling was fairly standard.

That was hard on the female human counterpart, but he intended to take good care of her. In the meantime, he had a lot to make up for.