“Spread your thighs apart and bend your knees up.”

A shiver ran down her spine at how he growled the words. It was sexy and kind of wicked, in the best way, showing his animal side. Species men were known for being protective of women and she liked that side of him being more prominent than the human one.

“No kissing first?” She thought that was how sex started.

His gaze lifted to hers. “You said you’d trust me.”

Beauty tried to relax but it was difficult. “I do. I’m not turned-on yet and…” She wanted to die from embarrassment. “I, um, I’m not ready for you to go inside me. You’re big. I read that the wetter I am, the easier it will happen.” Shadow had admitted it had been a while for him so maybe he had forgotten. She wanted to work with him so they could help each other. “You can take off your boxers. You won’t scare me.” She glanced down his body. “They don’t really hide your size anyway and I’ve seen it.”

“I’m not going to just mount you from the front immediately.” He bent forward and his hands flattened next to her knees until he was over her lower legs. “I want you open for my mouth.”

Her eyes widened and she fisted the flat sheet under her. “Oh.” She knew he meant o**l s*x. “Um, are you sure you want to do that?”

One eyebrow lifted. “Why wouldn’t I?”

Beauty glanced at one of his broad shoulders, unable to keep looking him in the eye. “I’ve never done that before or had it done. I mean, what if I…” She couldn’t say it, sealing her lips.

“You won’t enjoy it? I’ll make sure you do.”

She glanced into his dark, piercing gaze. “What if I don’t taste good?” There. She’d said it.

His nose flared as he inhaled and another low growl came from him. “You will. You smell incredible. Sweet. I’m Species.”

“What does that mean?”

“I want to. I need to taste you. I crave it.” He took a heavy, shuddering breath. “Open up for me and stop thinking. Just feel. Trust me, Beauty.”

She hesitated, not sure she could expose herself that intimately. She experienced a new level of vulnerability but that moment was about trust. She wanted to know how it would feel to be touched and it wasn’t going to happen if she didn’t do as he said.

Shadow reached out and his big hands caressed the tops of her thighs. “Just open them for me. It’s that easy. Lift them up and spread your knees apart. Please.”

His voice held an intensity that made her want to do anything he asked. The soft plea was all she needed to relax and let go of her inhibitions. She bent her knees, drawing her feet out from under him, and pulled them up to her chest. She released the sheet to grip her knees as she spread them. Her eyes closed, unable to stare into his anymore to gauge his reaction. Doubt nagged her. She had a tuft of hair on her mound when others didn’t and she was smaller in build. It might turn Shadow off.

The snarl made her start and her eyes flew open to stare at his face. He wasn’t holding her gaze though, instead he was staring between her legs where she was completely exposed. He licked his lips and lowered his body until he was flat on the bed with his face directly over her lap. He glanced up and she noticed the color of his irises seemed darker, nearly black. It wasn’t her imagination.

“Keep them spread open to me. Don’t hold back.” Two big hands gently settled on the inside of her thighs, pushing her legs farther apart. “I want to hear your sounds. It will help me learn what you like best.”

My sounds. She nodded though, unable to trust her voice to speak. She felt as if a lump had formed inside her throat that might choke her.

His head dipped and she squeezed her eyes closed, tense despite trying to loosen her muscles. Hot breath fanned along the seam of her pu**y and she jumped when he nuzzled the lips of her sex. It felt as if his chin had brushed against the top of her mound.

“Soft,” he whispered. “I like the hair.”

That’s good that he likes it, right? She hoped so. It sounded as if he didn’t mind. She regretted not shaving it off.

His thumbs, at least she thought that’s what he used, parted her sex lips and she gasped when a hot tongue gently licked across her clit. It came as a shock to feel someone else touch her there but the fact that he used his mouth really had her heart racing. He did it again slowly and applied a little more pressure. He came at her again, doing it over and over.

A soft moan rose and she let it out through parted lips. Her breathing increased and she clawed at the bed. It nearly hurt but in a good way. It was as though he touched her soul so intensely that she couldn’t build a mental shield to block out the sensations that flooded her with each flick of the strong muscle manipulating her lower half. It stripped her bare, heart and essence, until nothing was left but each rasp of his tongue.

He growled and vibrations were added against the bundle of nerves that seemed to become her entire being. There was just Shadow and his mouth. She forgot where they were, forgot her discomfort at being so defenseless under him and only focused on the pleasure that grew brighter and hotter. He felt much better than her own fingertip, which had rubbed that area to find release. The comparison seemed unfair. It became too much until she couldn’t take any more, her knees trying to slam together. He was going to kill her if it continued.

Strong hands clamped tighter around her inner thighs, holding her open. His lips sealed around her swollen cl*t and sucked while still rubbing his tongue back and forth rapidly. Beauty thrashed under him, begging with words she couldn’t control or understand. She doubted he could either since they were more whimpers than speech. He was going to kill her.