Brawn had fought him to protect Becca, his mate. Wrath had been too confused to understand their bond in his altered state. He’d just seen her human body and wanted to kill her in a fit of revenge. It haunted him, always would, and his body relaxed. His dick stayed hard but he managed to leash his desires.

“Wrath?” Lauren’s voice shook with fear. “What are you doing?”

He didn’t want to scare her, refused to hurt her in any way, and that helped calm him. She had a need and he wanted to meet it. He could do it without losing control. It would be a test and he wanted to tackle his fear head-on for her.

He made a decision. He was Species. Strong. A male in control of his own body, free, and no one could make him hurt anyone else. Lauren was so sweet, she scented so good, and he was curious.

Chapter Six

Wrath lifted his face and Lauren was shocked at the pain she saw in his dark gaze.

“You smell so good.”

His voice was super deep, gruff, and should have frightened her. She admitted experiencing some fear but he wasn’t hurting her. His behavior was more shocking than terrifying. Her body heated up more as they stared deeply into each other’s eyes. He was so close she could have just lifted a hand to touch him, and time seemed to stand still.

His breathing increased and he seemed to be searching her gaze for something. She just wasn’t sure for what. He growled and his hands released the edge of the bed to lightly settle over the top of her thighs. Fingers rubbed and slid upward to the waist of the sweatpants, where they hesitated. He suddenly pushed. She landed flat on the mattress. His fingers hooked the waistband and he tugged. She stared down at him, his gaze held hers, but she didn’t protest.

“I won’t hurt you, Lauren. You smell so good.”

“Wrath?”

She didn’t know what to do but she didn’t want to tell him no. A little voice reminded her that she shouldn’t be considering ha**ng s*x with a stranger, something she’d never done, but Wrath was different. That whole rule about not even kissing a guy until the third date suddenly seemed pretty outdated and stupid when someone as sexy as Wrath was so close and she wanted him so much.

“Close your thighs for me.”

She hesitated for a second but did it. Her body felt alive, ached, and the desire that darkened his intense gaze was reason enough to do as he demanded. She pushed her legs together and lifted as he pulled the material over her hips. It slid down her thighs until he removed them.

Lauren knew she should twist away and tell him to stop. He was New Species, a stranger, and she didn’t know much about him but desire overtook common sense. She couldn’t ever remember being more drawn to a man. She was sick of regrets—she had a lot of them but this wouldn’t be added to her list.

He dropped the sweatpants on the floor, removed her socks too, crouched over her, and gripped her knees. “Open up for me. I won’t hurt you.”

“I…” She was self-conscious about her na**d body and especially of showing him her sex—spread open for him to examine. No guy had ever really looked at her there. She’d always been too embarrassed and they hadn’t exactly pressed the issue. Curiosity was strong though over finding out what he’d do.

“Are you afraid of me?” He sniffed. “I don’t smell fear.”

Her cheeks grew warm. “I, um, the lights are on and they are pretty bright.”

He frowned. “I don’t understand.”

“You want to have sex, right? Can we turn down the lights first? I don’t want you to see me.” She pushed the shirt over her lap to hide her bare lower half.

“Why?” Confusion was an easy emotion to read on his face.

“Nobody has ever really looked at me down there and if I spread my legs…you’re on your knees. You’re going to get a really good view.”

“Your face is a bit red.”

“I’m embarrassed. My sexual experience isn’t, well, I haven’t slept with many guys and the ones I did, they didn’t want to see me with bright lights on. I can’t say I wasn’t upset by that. I’m a little overweight and aware of how I look naked.”

“Open up for me. I want to see you and I think you are very attractive.”

“You are curious?” She could understand that. “Have you ever seen, hell, are you…” She couldn’t say it. Wrath was way too attractive to be a virgin.

He sat back on his heels, frowning. “Am I what?”

“Have you seen a girl na**d before? I never really thought about it before but you were locked up for a lot of years. All of your life, from the stuff I read. I guess it was like prison.”

“I’ve shared sex but it has been a long time.” His features softened. “Are you shy?”

“Yes.” She blew out a relieved breath, grateful he wasn’t a virgin. The thought of having to teach him about sex stressed her out. Talk about pressure. “I’m not comfortable being na**d in bright light.”

“You will learn not to be shy with me. There is no reason to be.” His thumbs rubbed her inner knees. “Open up for me.”

“You want to take a look at my, um, down there?”

“I want a taste.” He licked his lips and dropped his gaze to her lap.

Her mouth opened but no words came out. The thought excited her yet left her unnerved. “I’ve never, I mean, no one has ever…” Embarrassment hit and she realized she probably shouldn’t have admitted that aloud. “You don’t have to do that.”