Laughing, Darla put her head on his shoulder while he brought her to his bedroom. He carefully placed her on the mattress. He kissed her, stepped away, but came right back and kissed her again. Before she knew it, she was stretched out across the bed, Eggie on top of her, his tongue exploring her mouth.

He felt so good under her hands, his big body pressing her into the mattress. She couldn’t believe how safe she felt with him, how comfortable. And yet she felt wild. Out of control.

Especially when he began moving down her body, kissing her jaw and throat, his mouth finally settling on her breast. He sucked her nipple between his lips, held it while his tongue teased.

Darla’s back arched, her hands digging into his shoulders. He moved to her other breast and she realized she couldn’t take it anymore. She pushed at him until he lifted his head and looked at her. She wiggled out from under him and got on her knees.

“Darla?”

She didn’t answer him. She couldn’t. She was all hot and itchy and needy and . . . and . . . she couldn’t!

Slipping off her sandals, Darla then went for her jeans and her panties, lowering them until she could go on her back and kick them off. By the time she’d gotten the darn things off, Eggie was there, reaching for her. He was naked now, too, and oh, Lord. The man was perfect. Just perfect.

He began kissing her again, his hands moving down her body, the rough tips easing along her skin. Darla began to squirm. She needed him so badly. Wanted him more than she could ever hope to say. At the moment she was grateful he wasn’t much for talking. She wouldn’t make any sense if she had to carry on a conversation. So she didn’t. She just groaned and writhed.

One of Eggie’s hands stroked down her side to her leg, easing around until it settled between her thighs. Darla immediately opened herself to him. When he didn’t move, she reached down and gripped his hand, tugging his fingers higher.

He chuckled against her neck and Darla smiled in spite of her frustration. Then Eggie eased a finger inside her, slowly stroking it in and out. It felt so good, Darla growled, her hips beginning to move. A second finger joined the first and Darla dug her hands into his hair. He kissed her again while his fingers moved inside her. They felt wonderful but she wanted him.

She kissed along his jaw, moving up until she was near his ear and whispered, once, “Please, Eggie.”

Eggie froze, his entire body rigid. After a moment, he slowly pulled his fingers from inside her and raised his big body over hers.

“Look at me, Darla.”

And she did, raising her gaze to his. He watched her with those eyes. Those beautiful eyes that told her he was more wolf than man but she didn’t care because it was the wolf that made her feel safe. Protected. Cared for.

He still didn’t want to hurt her. He still didn’t trust himself enough. So she leaned up and nipped at his jaw, hisneck, dug her fingers into his shoulders. That’s when, with condom on, he entered her, pushing inside her. He was bigger than she’d thought he’d be, but after listening to her sisters over the last few years, talking about the Smith boys, maybe she should have been more prepared.

Darla bit her lip and buried her face against his neck. She didn’t want him to stop but she was afraid if she showed the slightest pain, he would.

“Keep looking at me, Darla.”

Damn.

Taking a breath, she leaned her head back so he could see her face.

“Don’t hide from me. Okay?”

She nodded, but tightened her grip on his shoulders. She didn’t want him to stop. She wasn’t sure she could handle it if he stopped.

Eggie pressed forward again but Lord, he was really big, stretching her open. She swallowed but kept her eyes on him. It didn’t matter, though. He read her easily and stopped.

Damn!

But he didn’t pull away. Instead, he leaned down and wrapped his warm mouth around her breast again, his tongue and lips playing with first one nipple, then the other. Tugging, nipping, sucking. After a few minutes, Darla began to writhe and groan again. It felt so good what he was doing. It felt like little electric currents were shooting from her breasts to the rest of her body, even her fingers and toes.

She started to pant again, her body getting hotter, her legs opening wider. She didn’t know how long Eggie went back and forth between her nipples, teasing her with his mouth. It felt so wonderful.

Eggie’s hips pushed forward and she felt a sharp pain when he slid in, but it was so brief, it barely registered. Instead, she became more overwhelmed by how full she felt. It was like he’d taken over the entire area. Not that she minded. She didn’t know how something could overwhelm and feel so dang wonderful all at the same time, but Eggie had managed it.

Even more amazing, he waited a bit before he moved again. Just holding himself still inside her, still enjoying her breasts with his mouth, his hands roaming her body. He stayed like that, too, until Darla’s claws began to ease out and she ended up scratching his shoulders. He didn’t seem to mind. She just heard a grunt, a little laugh . . . then he was moving.

And, oh, God, please don’t ever stop. Please.

Eggie took his time, rocking into her, understanding her body wasn’t used to this and seeming to feel no need to rush her. Darla clung to him then, held onto him while he brought her up and up, until that climax hit her. She gripped him tight, her mouth pressed against his neck, her startled scream lost against his skin.

When she finally settled down, with her toes still curled and her body still wrapped around Eggie, Darla realized that tears were streaking down her face. She knew because Eggie was gently wiping them away with his thumb.