In a heartbeat, Caine catapulted from who-the-hell-cares about the males in her past to insane jealousy. “And you spent time with these men?”

“A few.” A reminiscent smile curved her lips, making his wolf snarl in possessive outrage. “There was a very handsome fairy who used to sneak me chocolate when he visited.” She sighed. “I adore chocolate.”

“A fairy,” he muttered. He hated fairies.

“And then there was a charming vampire.”

“Charming vampire is an oxymoron,” he snapped, deciding he hated leeches even more than he hated fairies.

She shrugged. “He swore he could release me from the demon lord.”

Lying bastard. The only way to release her from the demon lord was to cut off the creature’s connection to this world. And she still wasn’t completely free if the tattoo on her stomach was any indication. But she must have been tempted.

“Why didn’t you go with him?”

“Because I knew I had to wait.”

“For what?”

She planted her hand directly over his heart, her gaze holding his captive. “For you.”

“Oh, shit.” His eyes slid shut as he leaned forward to rest his forehead against hers. The warm scent of lavender filled his senses, his entire body trembling with the driving need to claim this female in the most basic way possible. “You’re killing me.”

Her arms wrapped around his neck, her lips brushing against his ear. “Take me to the bedroom, Caine.”

His nobility died a swift, unmourned death as he plucked her off the breakfast bar and headed out of the kitchen.

“Yes.”

Chapter 9

Caine registered Cassie’s soft chuckle as he charged with lightning speed through the living room and up the stairs to the loft. The soft sound brushed over his sensitized skin like a tangible caress, winding him impossibly tighter.

He was on fire. The desire he’d kept leashed for so long threatening to burn out of control.

Belatedly realizing the danger, Caine forced himself to slow his pace as he reached the loft. No matter what his instinct, he wasn’t going to take Cassie like an animal in heat.

If she was willing to offer him the gift of her innocence, then he would offer her the respect she deserved.

Crossing the polished wood floor, he gently laid her on the bed, which had been hand-carved by the finest craftsmen and matched the armoire tucked in a far corner. The ceiling was open-beamed with a skylight built into the sloping roof that allowed the early morning sunlight to pour over her nearly naked body.

His heart went crazy, skipping beats and then pounding at a frantic pace, as if trying to catch up for lost time. She was just so stunning. An exquisite work of art made of alabaster and gold and shimmering emerald.

He ripped off the ridiculous apron, his aching arousal twitching as he felt her gaze examining the hard length. He paused, searching her expression for any sign of hesitation. Then she smiled, holding out her arms in welcome, and he was lost.

With a leap he landed on top of her, pressing her slender body into the mattress covered by a hand-stitched quilt. “Last chance, pet,” he warned, his voice a low rumble.

She rubbed against him, her hands clutching at his shoulders. “Enough talking,” she protested, lifting her head to nip his bottom lip.

A growl rumbled in his throat. “You want action?”

Her tongue peeked out to soothe the tiny wound she’d made. “I want you.”

Caine didn’t need any further urging. Swooping down his head, he was kissing her, a forceful demand that hinted at the endless nights he’d spent tormented by his need for her.

Later there would be time for soft seduction and hours of foreplay. For now he allowed the delicious sensations to flood through him, drowning any lingering concern.

Gently parting her soft lips with the tip of his tongue, he plunged into the moist temptation of her mouth, groaning at her sweet taste. He heard Cassie give a small sound between a gasp and a moan, her nails biting into his skin.

The tiny pain made his back arch in response, his erection pressing against the soft skin of her stomach. On some level he was aware of the small tattoo that radiated a brutal chill just below her belly button, but that was a worry for another time.

In this moment he was far more interested in the exquisite heat blasting through him. He eased his kiss, moving to trace a soft trail down the line of her jaw. “I should have brought the wine with us,” he whispered.

She brushed her hands down his back. “Why?”

“It would be intoxicating to lick it off your beautiful body.”

“My body?”

He chuckled at her puzzled tone. “Here.” He nuzzled the hollow at the base of her throat. “And here.” He kissed down the line of her collarbone, his hands cupping her breasts. Her skin quivered beneath his light touch, her breath coming out in a small explosion as his lips found the tip of her tight nipples. “Yeah, especially here.”

She shifted beneath him, one leg wrapping around his hips to allow him to settle more firmly against her feminine core. They groaned in unison.

“I feel intoxicated enough without the wine.”

“Tell me what you like, Cassie,” he rasped, teasing her nipple with the tip of his tongue. “Tell me what feels good.”

“That,” she moaned. “That feels so good.”

He captured the nipple between his teeth, biting it just hard enough to have her gasping in pleasure, her hips pressing up in a silent plea for release.

Oh yes. No matter how vivid his fantasies, nothing could compare to the sensation of her slender body spread beneath him, her hands cupping his ass as her soft pants filled the air.

Continuing to caress her breasts, Caine allowed his fingers to trail downward, following the curve of her waist. He took time to appreciate the delicate flare of her hips before moving to the soft skin of her inner thigh.

He felt her tremble as he stroked tiny circles that brushed near her clit without touching her most sensitive flesh. Up and down he moved, smiling as she gave a choked curse.

“Caine, please.”

Her harsh plea sent a shudder of need through him. Giving her nipple a last lick, he surged up to bury his face in her neck.

“Are you sure you’re ready?” he whispered, his body trembling as his canine fangs erupted from his gums at the scent of her arousal. “My hunger for you is too great. I’m not sure how gentle I can be.”

Without warning, she reached between them to press his hand to the wet slit between her legs. “Do I feel ready to you?”

Caine hissed, his finger sliding into her body as his thumb sought out the source of her pleasure. Slowly, he stroked his finger deeper and deeper, listening to her short gasps as she spiraled toward release.

“No more teasing,” she moaned in a strangled voice, her hands grasping his hips.

He quivered, his hunger so intense it filled the air with pulses of heat.

“Cassie,” he growled, his voice oddly strained.

“Now, Caine,” she commanded, her other leg shifting to wrap around his hips, blatantly demanding his penetration.

Pulling back far enough to meet her gaze, which glowed with the hunger of her wolf, Caine grabbed her fingers, wrapping them around his hard shaft to guide him to the entrance to her body.

His teeth clenched at the feel of her slender fingers circling his cock, his balls tightening as she gave him a slow, destructive stroke.

Christ. He was close.

Too close.

Gently tugging her hand away, he pushed his hips forward, breeching her with the head of his shaft. He paused one last time, giving her the opportunity to protest. Even if it killed him.

When she lifted her head to sink her teeth into his neck, Caine lost all ability to think.

With a choked howl, he grasped her hands and jerked them over her head, pressing them against the quilt as he slowly forged a path into her tight body, breaking through her virginity with barely a hesitation.

“Yes,” she breathed against his neck, her legs tightening around his waist. “Oh, God, Caine.”

His eyes squeezed shut as he struggled to rein his savage desire. He wasn’t going to pound his way to paradise. Not when slow and steady was so much sweeter.

With care he pulled back, bending his head to the side. “Your teeth, Cassie,” he managed to rasp. “I want to feel them on my neck.”

She didn’t hesitate as she sank her teeth back into the base of his throat, sending a jolt of pure adrenaline through his system.

“Cassie. Gods.”

He surged back into her slick heat, his harsh groans matching her soft sighs as he found a steady pace, his hips rolling upward with each thrust.

Her teeth clenched harder on his neck as she lifted to meet his quickening onslaught, her nails raking across his back.

He forgot to breathe, his heart thundering in his chest. Deep inside, his wolf howled in primitive satisfaction.

This was more than sex. More than a passing hookup with a female who stirred his lust.

This was soul-deep and forever.

The terrifying thought barely had time to form when he felt Cassie stiffen and then shiver beneath t²e force of her orgasm. The sensation of her convulsing around his erection toppling him over the edge.