Ally gasped in surprise as Derren’s mouth slammed down on hers, his tongue thrusting into her mouth and stroking her own. One hand fisted in her hair while the other gripped her hip, keeping her body aligned to his as he crammed her against the counter. He was all she could see, feel, taste, and smell. Her body instantly responded to him; her mouth met his demanding kiss, her hands threaded through his hair, and she began grinding against his hard cock.

It was frantic, rough, and desperate; she’d never experienced anything like it. That scared her enough to make her shove him away—something that only worked because she’d caught him by surprise—and put some distance between them.

“Come here, Ally. I want you.”

Those words made her stomach clench. “Yeah? Well, after what happened with Zeke, the last thing I’m interested in is getting involved with anyone.” She wouldn’t set herself up for more pain.

“It doesn’t have to be more than sex.” But even as he said that, Derren knew it wouldn’t be an emotionless fuck. She was someone he’d come to respect, who’d earned his loyalty, and who even had some of his trust. None of that was minor for him.

She scoffed. “That’s what Zeke said in the beginning.”

Covering the space between them in one stride, Derren put a finger to her lips. “Don’t say his name.”

When he would have kissed her again, she planted a restraining hand on his chest. “You hate my kind, remember.”

He cupped her jaw. “I told you that I don’t feel that way anymore.” She’d changed the way he saw things. “I meant it.”

Ally believed him. How could she not, when his sincerity smoothed over her like the softest silk? Those eyes of dark velvet were glittering with a raw, vicious need—one that she could feel as surely as she could feel her own. She closed her eyes against the dangerous temptation of him, because one thing she’d never been good at was resisting temptation.

Derren licked along her throat and swirled his tongue around her pulse. “I want to see my cock in you. Want to watch it moving in and out. Taking you.” Finally.

She wanted the same. No, she craved it. And that was the problem. Ally wanted him with a desperation that was unlike anything she’d ever felt for another guy. That spooked her, especially since her wolf’s hunger for him was just as intense. Add in that Cain would go ballistic that his friend, who thought of her as a little sister, had “used her” and . . . “It’s not a good idea,” Ally whispered, her eyes still closed.

Derren nipped her pulse. “No, it’s an amazing fucking idea.”

“But Cain—”

He bit her bottom lip hard. “This is about you and me, Ally. No one else. Look at me.” Finally, she opened her eyes. “Just us. Got me?”

The intensity and heat in his eyes trapped her, demanded what he wanted. Could she just forget everyone else, forget all the reasons why she shouldn’t do this? Maybe, maybe not. But she damn well wanted to. “One night.” That was all she would allow herself.

“One night,” Derren agreed. He gripped her chin, warning her, “But don’t think I’ll only have you once tonight.” He took her mouth again, needing her taste, needing every single response she had to give.

Ally hissed as the tips of his claws dug into her hip through her shorts. Their clothes were quickly removed as they feasted on each other’s mouths—licking, sucking, biting, and giving no reprieve. He kept her so flush against him, it was almost hard to breathe. His hands were firm, purposeful, and possessive as they roved and clutched her hard enough to bruise.

She raked her claws down his solid abs, feeling the urge to trace the dips and hollows with her tongue. She felt hot, restless, and empty. Flames of need were licking over her, building the tension. A hand fisted in her hair and arched her body so he could suck a nipple into his mouth; every tug was so hard it was painful. There was an urgency to his every movement, as if he’d waited too long for this. They were out of control, and she knew it.

Ally drew back, trying to gain some balance. “Wait—” He didn’t; he snarled and took her mouth again—this time harder, rougher, and more insistently. With one swift move, he had her flat on her back on the oak floor, his powerful body covering her. Not at all gentle, he shoved his finger inside her.

“Fuck, you’re so wet for me.” Derren thrust another finger inside her, groaning. It was going to be a tight fit. He pumped his fingers in and out of her, scissoring them, stretching her. When her pussy began to tighten around them, he knew she was about to come. “That’s it, baby. Come. Give me what I want.” He curled his tongue around her nipple and suckled hard. Moments later, she cried out as she came.

Shit, he wanted to taste her, but he didn’t have the control to hold back any longer. “I need to be in you.” Needed it so badly he practically shook with it. Gripping her wrists, he pinned her hands above her head. “Look at me.” The second her eyes met his, he slammed into her. He groaned as her pussy clamped around him. Tight. Slick. Hot. Perfect. He watched where their bodies were joined as he withdrew from her pussy before then driving himself balls deep inside her. “I like seeing my cock in you.”

Ally struggled against his restraining hands as he frantically pounded in and out of her. But even as both she and her wolf balked at being dominated that way, Ally was curling her legs around his hips and arching into his fevered thrusts. “Let go of my hands,” she snarled.