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  Firm hands gently gripped her hips. “Easy, love,” he urged softly. “Nice and slow. I won’t hurt you.”

  “I know.”

  “Is this too difficult for you?” He stopped her by tightening his hold. “Does it remind you too much of him?” His tone deepened to a snarl.

  “No.” She twisted her head enough to look at him again. “I just want you.” His words sank in and surprise filled her. “You called me love.”

  The tension eased from his features. He said nothing though to explain why he’d said that, instead just slid one of his hands from her hip to curve under her belly, then lower until his fingertips teased the seam of her pussy. He growled softly as he located her clit, rubbing back and forth until a low moan burst from her parted lips. Her eyes closed as she faced forward, lowered her head and clawed the sheets.

  He didn’t enter her immediately. One of his knees brushed the inside her thigh and nudged. She spread them farther apart to give him access. He released her hip and came down over her until his body lightly rested against her curved back. The bed dipped, telling her that he braced his weight with one hand. He shifted until his legs were on the outside of hers and slid up until his cock hung heavy against her inner thigh.

  “You are so beautiful,” he rasped. “So responsive.”

  It was almost impossible for Beauty to think while he massaged the bundle of nerves with one talented fingertip. His finger slid lower, finding out how wet and ready she was to receive him, but he still didn’t enter her. He traced upward again to continue tormenting her clit. He applied a little more pressure, a little faster, and Beauty rocked her hips. The need to come grew from a steady ache to a gnawing necessity.

  “Shadow,” she moaned.

  Suddenly the crown of his cock pressed against her pussy. She moaned louder, urging him on. He didn’t stop playing with her clit as he slowly entered her. She knew her muscles were tense but there was nothing she could do about that since she was right on the edge.

  He pressed closer to her back after he was seated inside her a few inches. Shadow braced his hand on the bed in front of her shoulder, pinning her inside the cage of his body. His mouth was hot and wet as he placed kisses along her bare shoulder.

  She loved how hard his cock was, how big it felt stretching her vaginal walls as he sank into her a little deeper while still strumming her clit. He moved slowly, breaching her more, and she knew she wasn’t going to last. Her body quivered from the strong, intense pleasure and the last push to climax was when he withdrew almost totally from her pussy to drive back in with one powerful thrust. It was all it took.

  “Shadow!” She cried out his name as ecstasy tore through her. Her muscles clamped down strongly on his shaft and Beauty threw her head back against his chest. Her body quaked from her forceful release.

  He snarled and his hand left her oversensitive, swollen clit to wrap around her waist. He moved then, fucking her frantically, drawing out the climax until she couldn’t breathe, couldn’t do anything but feel.

  His cock felt harder, thicker, and he made sounds that normally would have scared her if it wasn’t so sexy. She wondered if it were possible to die from too much pleasure. The climax continued to roll through her, seemingly endless.

  A loud howl startled her and she thought for an instant that it was Shadow finding his own release but instead of slowing to pour his semen into her, he suddenly jerked out of her body. It was a shock to be bereft of him but then she was knocked over, his body totally ripped away from hers.

  She hit the mattress with enough force to nearly slide off the edge of the bed and was horrified to witness Shadow’s body slamming into the wall across the room. The sound of plaster cracking barely registered as he dropped to the floor. Terror gripped Beauty instantly as another figure blocked her view of Shadow. It was the man from the night she’d been chased by the wolves and he snarled, bent, and came up with both his hands firmly wrapped around Shadow’s throat.

  Her mouth opened to scream but nothing came out. The man threw Shadow and he hit the window, breaking the wood frame, and then he was gone. Horrified, she realized Shadow had just been thrown through the open second-story window.

  The man turned, his features twisted with rage, and Beauty whimpered. She hadn’t seen him well in the darkness, but she identified Torrent by smell as she panted, terrified. His black hair fell midway down his chest where it had spilled forward over his shoulders. Cold, terrifying blue eyes were fixed on her.

  She was naked, vulnerable, but managed to glance away from the dangerous Species to the window. Pieces of the broken frame hung from the top but there was no sign of Shadow and no sound to tell her if he lived. Fright over Shadow’s fate suddenly overrode the concern for her own safety.

  Is Shadow dead? Did the man kill him? The concept hurt so bad that physical pain stabbed through her chest. Pure rage came next. She snarled deep within her throat and surprised them both. She didn’t think before she acted. She had to get to Shadow, had to know if he lived.

  Beauty moved before she realized what she’d done and launched herself at the Species. The fact that she was naked didn’t factor into it when she hit Torrent’s chest. Her hands clawed as she grabbed his throat and her knees slammed into his stomach. Her fangs sank into his shoulder, tearing through fabric and into flesh. The taste of blood filled her mouth as she bit him viciously. He stumbled, howled in pain and then they were both falling.

  Beauty released him and jumped, using his body as a springboard to find purchase. She hit the floor next to where he landed, rolled, stumbled to her feet and dashed out of the room. Her palms hurt, her hip too from the impact with the floor, but she ignored them as she rushed downstairs. Panic was an emotion she knew well and she allowed it to jolt full force through her as she fled their attacker. The front door was wide open and she’d almost reached it when Shadow’s big form suddenly filled the space.

  Beauty couldn’t slow in time and twisted, trying to avoid him, but he was too big. Her side slammed into his body hard enough to knock the breath from her lungs. He grunted but his strong arms wrapped around her, lifting her right off her feet, and he staggered backward a few feet on the porch before regaining his balance.

  It was tough to suck air into her lungs but she did it, turning her head to stare up at him. He had a cut on his forehead that bled enough to run down the side of his face, small scratches were on his throat, but he didn’t look at her. He stared at something inside the cabin and snarled.

  She twisted to watch Torrent stomp down the stairs. Blood stained his shirt from where she’d bitten him, the material torn, clearly revealing the wound. His hands were fisted and he snarled, looking furious. He wasn’t looking at her though. He was fixated on Shadow instead.

  Shadow spun around, lowered her, and let go once she stood on trembling legs. He snarled, facing the other man, keeping her behind him. He swayed a little on his feet. The other Species suddenly crouched, growling, preparing to attack.

  They went at each other before she could grab Shadow’s arm to help steady him. Torrent sprang as Shadow entered the cabin. Beauty gasped as she watched them tangle and hit the floor, snarling and growling. Punches were exchanged and she was sickened by the sound of flesh hitting flesh.

  “Stop!” Beauty screamed but they ignored her. She rushed inside the living room as they slammed into the coffee table, sending it crashing onto its side. Their big bodies rolled right over the busted piece of furniture that it had been made of logs. The smell of blood penetrated her senses and she frantically looked for a weapon. Shadow was hurt yet still attempted to protect her against the aggressive man whom she assumed had come to snatch her. She just wanted to protect Shadow instead.

  The fireplace caught her attention and she scrambled quickly to it and grabbed one of the metal rods sticking up from a small box sitting next to it. It was a good weapon, firm in her hand. She spun in time to see Torrent end up on top of Shadow, pummeling his chest with meaty fists. She rushed forw