There was something that seemed familiar about him—the man, I mean, before he changed.
He tensed at that. How so?
Not sure. Something about his scent seemed like I should know it.
Her mate’s displeasure at that came through their bond loud and clear. She couldn’t help what she’d noticed, and she couldn’t understand why he’d be upset. But as they ran back to the compound, he grew more and more unsettled.
At last they made it onto his patio, and shifted. The change was much easier this time, and she figured she was over the hump and on her way to mastering her wolf. But her biggest concern was Ryon, who stalked into his quarters and waited, regarding her with his lips pressed together, blue eyes snapping.
“What the heck is wrong with you?” Crossing her arms over her breasts, she did her best to ignore the fact that they were having a serious discussion while naked. Probably wouldn’t be the last time.
“What was familiar about that man?” His voice was cool.
“I don’t know,” she said, frustrated. “There was something underneath his odor, more than just a man who needed a bath. He smelled like . . . Obsession.”
“What?” He blinked at her.
“Obsession for men. You know, that cologne that’s been around forever. It was faint, but there. It’s funny, I only knew one man who ever wore it—”
Instantly, she cut off that thought. It wasn’t possible, so she refused to think it. But Ryon latched on to her words like a snapping turtle.
“What man wore it? Tell me.”
“Ryon—”
“Who?”
She sighed. “Fine. My former fiancé used to wear it all the time. Happy?”
“No. I’m not thrilled that some man in the woods who’s been turned into a murderous beast reminds you of your former lover,” he growled.
“It’s not like I can help how the guy smelled, for Christ’s sake! I can’t help it that the man’s build even resembled Ben’s . . . Shit.”
Now her mate was pissed. She hadn’t done anything wrong, but at the mention of another lover, even a past one, he was going all alpha on her. It was annoying as hell.
And it was also a huge turn-on.
Ryon stalked her, pressing her against the glass patio door. “You remember how he smells? Not for long. Because I’m gonna fuck you, mark you with my scent until there’s nothing left in your memory but me.”
“Ryon,” she whispered.
He claimed her mouth, kissed her senseless, tongue exploring. Tasting. Then he picked her up and carried her into his bedroom, where he proceeded to make good on his delicious threat.
Daria, his mate, recalled Ben’s scent? His naked form?
Fuck that. Not for long.
Pulling her onto the bed, he tucked her into his side. The soft roundness of her breasts nestled against his arm, and he hardened, his length pressing into her thigh. She laid a hand on his bare chest, smoothing her palm over his pecs, the taut nipples. She journeyed to the curve of his jaw, stroked his face. One dainty finger found his lips, traced them as though she was remembering his kisses, perhaps thinking of savoring more.
His pulse quickened as she explored at will, and went a long way toward soothing his jealous wolf. Not to mention those lovely brown eyes shining with passion, just for him. She combed her fingers through his hair, sending exquisite little tendrils of pleasure down his spine, radiating to his fingers and toes. Heat surged between his legs, his arousal brushing her belly. He groaned, and Daria purred in his ear.
“Like that, do you?”
His body hummed beneath her hands. “Oh, yeah.”
“That’s good, because I really want to continue.”
Before he could form an answer, her lips captured his. Gentle, urging. Her tongue found his, rasping. She sucked the breath from his lungs, the reason from his brain. He loved the taste of her, the wonderful feeling of her lithe form sprawled across him. Tender kisses nibbled his jaw, the base of his throat, and his chest. Her hot tongue worked its magic, circling each nipple in turn, teeth grazing them.
He had planned to be the one in charge, but he liked this. A lot.
She slid down his body, palm skimming his stomach as her tongue blazed a fiery path to his navel. Her hand dipped lower, fingers lightly stroking the hard ridge of his erection, and he nearly came undone.
“Ohh.” He lifted his hips, seeking more.
“I see only you, my mate,” she whispered. “Nobody else.” Her hand slid down his belly, lower, finally encircling his shaft. Rubbing, stoking the fire.
“Daria,” he breathed. His fingers dug into the blanket underneath him. He burned to touch her, to bury himself in her sweetness.
“Relax, let yourself go,” she whispered. Her breath fanned against his groin. “You’re mine and I’m yours.”
Ryon was nearly robbed of speech. “For as long as you want. Anything you want.”
She bent to him, long hair trailing across his lap, and rocked his world. With gentle strokes and kisses, laving him until he was mindless. Bodiless. She owned him, and he surrendered willingly.
“Daria, yesss!” He cupped the back of her head, near to losing control.
She pulled back, moved up his body. Captured his face in her hands and kissed him, the hardened tips of her nipples branding his chest. Blood pounded in his ears as his arms came around her. He smoothed her naked skin. Her bare back, the flare of her hips, and her small, firm round buttocks. She rolled to her back, pulling him with her. He took her mouth, licking his way inside. Their combined flavors maddened him, and he craved more.
Ryon kissed his way down the slender column of her throat to her breasts, returning the attention she’d given to him. He cupped them, enjoying her softness and how the perfect globes seemed to be made to fill his hands. He took the taut nipples between his thumbs and forefingers, not pinching too hard, but just enough to give that tiny electric shock that borders pleasure and pain.
“Oh, yes.” She arched under his touch, inviting him.
He bent his head, suckling them, nibbling until his name became a murmur on her lips. Not nearly enough. More. He inched downward, parting her thighs. He skimmed her flat stomach, fingers delving into the curly thatch nestled below.
Daria’s legs opened wider. He slipped a finger into her slick heat, and she moaned. With a feral smile, he began to work it in and out. Slow, agonizing. He wanted to make her as crazy as she’d made him, send her flying apart. His cock throbbed, begging to be buried inside her. Not yet.
“Ohh! Oh, yeah.”
God, she was hot and wet. Ready. His tongue joined his finger, tasting the soft skin. Reveling in her sweet honey. She bucked beneath him, pulling at his shoulders.
“Ryon, make love to me, please.”
Trembling with need, he covered Daria, bracing his arms on either side of her head. Settling them together intimately, he sank into his mate. Grinding his hips, he filled her as deeply as possible. Their collective gasps rang in his ears, and she gripped his shoulders, urging him.
Ryon began to move, loving her. Never, never anything but this. She surrounded him with warmth, fitting to him perfectly. Never anything so fine, so right as burying himself in this woman. My mate. Mine.
“Baby.”
Daria buried her fingers in his hair, rising to meet him. He pumped faster, harder, sealing them so tight he couldn’t tell where his flesh ended and hers began. They were joined completely, one soul. One mind.
“Ryon!”
She wrapped her legs around his waist and met his thrusts with wild abandon, shredding him. He drove into her again and again, sending them spiraling into space. She stiffened with a cry, clinging to him, and he let go. Shudders racked them, gradually subsiding to a gentle rocking, like a ripple in a pond.