Since he didn’t want to choke he had to make sure he gnawed the last steak properly. He’d never been more aware of his nature. And he’d never loathed it so much. He could sense Rachel’s tension, watching from the corner of his eye as she paced from one side of the room to the next. He slid the last bit into his mouth and retrieved the beer.
With food in his gut, he felt a hell of a lot better. “All finished.”
She stopped burning a strip in his carpet, gazing over at him. Her eyes darted to the plate he’d placed on the bed and she rushed to collect it. He wanted to comfort her but didn’t have a chance. The instant he lifted the beer to his mouth, she took off. He watched her—still only clad in a towel—sprint away.
Closing his eyes, he nursed the beer.
She was edgy. Nothing he could say would help that.
All he could do was wait.
The ball was in her court.
Rachel put the plate inside the dishwasher and took a deep breath.
Declan wasn’t human. He required special things. This was a part of his nature.
I just hope it’s not mine.
He could eat all the raw steak he wanted but the sight made her nauseous. She’d been fine in the shower, finding that she enjoyed taking care of him. But as soon as he dove into the meat she’d been unable to look. She hadn’t wanted to see or hear it.
Get a grip. This isn’t the end of the world. He’s hurt and needs you. She felt disgusted with herself all of a sudden. You probably hurt his feelings again. Idiot.
Drawing her shoulders back, she forced her chin up.
Declan didn’t need a weakling right now. He needed a woman who’d care for him, accepting him exactly the way he was. Instead she’d acted like a moron, unable to look at him, running from the room the minute she had the chance. That wouldn’t work. They’d come too far to hit a roadblock due to her fears and insecurities.
Adjusting the towel and covering her breasts, she marched from the kitchen. After all the care he’d shown her she refused to give him less. The hallway wasn’t as long as she thought, however, and she found herself walking into the bedroom before she felt ready. She suffocated her discomfort, meeting his gaze as she neared the bed. He hadn’t pulled the blankets up so it was easy to see his cock remained semihard.
Her eyes darted up to his torso and she wanted to wince.
Dark smudges—bruises—marred his beautiful skin. His ribs looked the worst, mottled and purple. She drew closer, her previous hesitation gone. He was in pain and he was exhausted. There was something she could do for him. It wouldn’t require any work on his part. It wouldn’t be easy—she’d certainly want more—but she could give him something he needed.
“What’s going on in that beautiful head of yours?” A faint smile sweetened his features.
She dropped the towel, meeting his eyes. “You’ll see.”
He lowered the beer to his thigh, his irises lightening several shades. She crawled over the end of the bed, her breasts touching the comforter, her nipples hardening as they caressed the silken material. With a soft sigh she continued forward, her attention on his cock.
“Rachel.”
Ignoring the warning in his voice, she wrapped her fingers around the base. He hissed, bucking into her hand. “I want to do this for you.” Winding her hand up and down his length, she added, “Relax.”
His position forced her to scoot up on her knees in order to have the right angle. She nearly teased him, lapping at the crown, then she decided it would be best to go for the kill. Over the years she’d heard men liked to hit home base and drift to sleep right after. Sexually frustrated women the world over bitched about it constantly. She took the tip into her mouth and went to work, sucking and brushing her tongue along the bottom, using her hands to make sure his entire length received attention.
“Damn.” He rested his hand on the back of her head. “That’s good.”
Encouraged, she kept going.
She was able to take him deeper, swallowing when he bumped the back of her throat. Her clit throbbed, her pussy clasping. She tried not to pay attention, making sure to keep her breasts away from the sheets. Her nipples were so sensitive the smallest bit of contact got her hot.
Declan tugged at her hair, trying to pull her away. “Come here.”
She didn’t comply with the request, bobbing her lips up and down his shaft. He was hard and thick, making her jaw ache. Just a little longer and he’d lose control. She wanted to hear him come. He sounded so sexy, a mixture of heavy groans and deep growls.
“I can smell how turned on you are.” The next yank—much harder this time—got her attention. “Get up here and ride me before I flip you over and fuck you like the animal I am.”
Lifting her eyes, she peered up at him. Shit.
He’d put the beer aside. Even if he hurt he meant what he said. She could see the tic in his jaw, the way his muscles flexed. His irises were no longer human. She glanced at his hands and noticed his nails had lengthened into claws. Shockingly, the sight didn’t scare her. Rather it appealed to her wolf, sending a wave of blistering fire along the underside of her skin.
“I feel like shit and hurt all over,” Declan confessed. “Don’t make me ask again.”
A pang of regret stabbed her chest but she let his cock slide from her lips. Since she was already on her hands and knees it wasn’t hard to crawl up his body. She did so cautiously, making sure not to touch bruised places. Stopping over him, she went up on her knees. He fisted the base of his cock and grasped her hip.
“Put your hands on my shoulders,” he instructed hoarsely and glided the tip between her wet folds. She did, carefully placing them where he’d asked. He parted her pussy, the broad head spreading her wide. “Ease down on me. We’re going to take this nice and slow.”
She sank down, taking him a bit at a time. Her eyes darted to the bruising on his ribs. “I don’t want to make things worse.”
“Then don’t. Rock on me, sweetheart. Make us both feel good.” The hand he’d placed around the base of his cock moved and she took the last inches of him. The head bumped her deep inside and she put her chin on her chest. She felt his fingers search for and find her clit. “We’ll come together. You only need to get us there.”
The events of the evening vanished.
All she could think about—all she could feel—was Declan.
His nails receded and his fingers raked over the skin at her hip, the pressure on her clit teasing and not what she needed. Bringing her head up, she met his gaze. Her breath caught and fizzles built in her tummy. He was studying her, as though he wanted to know her reactions. The darkening along his jaw had faded to a soft yellow.
They’d had sex before but this time something was different.
Energy radiated between the two of them. There was a change in her lover she couldn’t place. A part of her wanted to ask him about it and share her feelings. If she shifted successfully, they’d be together forever. This time the idea didn’t scare her. She’d actually started liking the idea. There were so many things she could do now that she had a second chance, and she could do them with the sexy and thoughtful man who’d claimed her.
She maintained eye contact, rocking her pelvis. “Tell me if I hurt you.”
“You won’t.” His eyes drifted closed and she noticed how full his lashes were. “You feel so good, mate. So snug and warm all around me.”
Making sure she didn’t bump him, she lifted away and started moving up and down. As usual he was thick enough to brush all her sweet places, the wideness parting her vaginal walls. He didn’t stop touching her, rasping his fingers over her clit. The air in the room felt thick, her breathing quickly becoming heavy.