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  Shadow tried to catch his breath while he worried about Beauty. She clung to him as if she were terrified. He bit back a snarl of self-loathing. He’d totally lost control once his dick was sheathed inside her hot little pussy. It had been a long time since he’d known the powerful pleasure of sharing sex but he couldn’t remember a time when it had ever been so passionate.

  The sounds she’d made had urged him on and so had her taste, which lingered on this tongue. She’d been so wet, the aroma of her desire a drug that made him higher than anything Mercile had ever given him. The way her body had received him, fisting him with her pussy, had driven him insane. Every stroke of his cock had nearly undone him by making him come fast and hard. After about a dozen or so times of thrusting inside her, he’d snapped.

  He’d shed his humanity while taking her. The animal side of him had manifested and wanted to mark her. He had with his semen and almost with his teeth. He breathed in and out through his nose, assured there was no scent of her blood. He hadn’t bitten into her the way he’d longed to do.

  His dick was locked inside her or he’d move, release her. Her vaginal muscles twitched and he bit back a groan of pleasure as it milked out more of his seed. She was probably attempting to push him out of her but couldn’t. The base of his shaft had developed a lump from the swelling, keeping him there for fear of tearing her if he tried to withdraw.

  It wasn’t easy to adjust his weight, not wanting to move, but he braced on one arm while managing to reach between them to grip his nuts. He found the area on the underside and massaged it to reduce the swelling at a faster pace. It was a trick he’d learned during the worst of the testing at Mercile. It hurt but he clenched his teeth, continued to rub and the pressure eased until he slowly pulled out of the heaven he’d found inside Beauty’s body.

  He released his balls and reached behind him, tapping her ankle. “Release me.”

  She shook her head against him, refusing. He flattened both hands and lifted. It stunned him a bit when she came with him. It left him no choice but to sit back on his legs with her on his lap. Her limbs were locked tight around his hips and shoulders and she gave no indication of letting go any time soon. Her strength astonished him for someone so small.

  He hugged her back, slowly rocking her in his arms to soothe her. It just proved his point that he never should have been the male to live with her. No one had heeded his warnings and now he needed to find a way to let Beauty know she was safe. He’d never attempt to share sex with her again.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered, brushing his lips against her throat. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

  Her arms loosened their hold and she pulled back to look at him. Deep gratitude surfaced that there were no tears. He wasn’t sure he could have withstood seeing them, knowing he’d been the cause of her pain.

  “You didn’t.”

  “You’re being so brave.” He wished he could kick his own ass.

  “That was wonderful.” She smiled.

  It was his turn to hug her tightly as the meaning of her words sank in. “You didn’t yell my name from pain?” He wanted to make certain.

  “No.” Pink rose in her cheeks before she dropped her gaze to his lips. “I, um, you know.” She glanced up and smiled. “Twice.”

  Shadow tucked his head again, pulling her close. He was out of practice enough to mistake her body’s reactions but he was just grateful he hadn’t totally fucked up everything. Her muscles hadn’t been constricting trying to get him out of pussy but because she’d climaxed.

  Thankfully. He began to rock her in his arms once more, ignoring his still-hard dick trapped between his thighs. He wanted her again but he wasn’t going to press his luck for a second time in one night.

  “Shadow?”

  “Yeah, Beauty?”

  “May I sleep with you?” She yawned. “I’d like to.”

  He smiled. “I’d like that. You have to let me go though. I’ll turn off the light and then we’ll cuddle if you want.”

  Her arms and legs slackened around him until he gently laid her down again. She peered up at him with trust. He flipped off the light but in seconds he was back, crawling into the bed. She rolled to face him as he pulled her against him. He curled around her to cocoon her inside the safety of his arms.

  Her breathing changed so fast it stunned him that she could fall asleep so easily after what they’d shared. She’d been through a lot. He wasn’t so quick to join her in slumber.

  All the things she’d said circled in his thoughts. She didn’t want other males but was interested in a relationship. The mere idea of someone else touching her enraged him. He’d break their fingers if they tried to put their hands on her. He’d tear them apart and rip out their hearts if they dared to lure her from him. He’d kill anyone who tried to mount his Beauty.

  Shit. Breathing in her scent cooled the intense rage. I already think of her as mine.

  Chapter Eleven

  Beauty didn’t want to move but knew she’d have to soon. Shadow’s warm body made her feel safe and protected. She’d turned in the night or he’d repositioned her until he spooned her back. The feel of his hard cock pressed against her butt where it was trapped between her and his stomach wasn’t something she could ignore. The urge to use the bathroom finally forced her to wiggle away.

  The arm around her waist hauled her back and a deep, masculine growl filled the room. It startled her enough that she turned. His eyes were only partially open as he peeked at her and his lips parted, fangs flashing.

  “Don’t leave me.”

  “I’ll be right back.” She cleared her throat. “Bathroom.”

  His hold eased. “Okay.”

  She slid out of bed and tried not to be embarrassed that he saw so much of her in the early morning light spilling through the still-open window of his bedroom. It wasn’t logical to be shy about her nakedness after the things he’d done to her. That didn’t completely alleviate the bashfulness though.

  He sat with the sheet covering his lap when she returned. One leg was bent upward on the side of the bed. She was glad she’d taken the time to wrap a towel around her middle before returning to the room, not comfortable being naked. Shadow looked less fierce just waking from sleep with his expression more open and readable. He smiled tentatively.

  “How are you feeling?”

  “Good.” She wasn’t sure if she should get back into bed with him or not.

  The smile faded. “What is wrong? Do you regret coming into my room?”

  Her teeth sank into her bottom lip as she shook her head. “I don’t know what to do.” Honesty was best. “None of the men spend the night with the women so I have never overheard the morning-after etiquette. Is there such a thing?”

  “What do you want to do?”

  She dodged his question. “What do you want to do?”

  His leg slid flat on the bed and she gaped a little at the sight of the sheet over his lap. His erection jutted upward instead of lying flat. “Don’t ask a male that. This is the answer.” He reached up to grip the headboard above him, looking relaxed except for his hard-on. “Will you come back to my bed?”

  “I want to,” she admitted, happy he wasn’t shutting her out.

  His hands tightened their hold on the wood enough that his knuckles turned white.

  “What is wrong?”

  He glanced at his hands before looking at her again. “I’m trying to appear docile, not to frighten you.”

  She laughed before she could prevent it and tugged at the towel to loosen it.

  “What’s funny?”

  “You’re so big and strong. You couldn’t pull that off. You just look extremely sexy.” Her cheeks warmed. “Should I not tell you that?”

  He grinned. “What makes me appealing?”

  “The way your arms are up and you’re stretched out a little across the pillows. It reminds me of something I read in a romance novel but the leading man wore handcuffs.”

  “I wouldn’t we