“Is this comfortable for you?”
“You’re turned-on again.”
He chuckled. “I’ll always be hard when you are this close to me. Sleep, Lauren. You are tired and I need rest too.”
Wrath’s body was hotter than hers or maybe she was just still flushed from what he’d done to her. Either way she fell asleep quickly. It had been a long, stressful day but she felt safe in his arms. As she drifted to sleep, Wrath sniffed at her, his hold tightened, and he whispered, “You fit so perfect in my arms and I want to keep you. If my life were different perhaps our time wouldn’t have to be so short.”
* * * * *
Wrath knew when Lauren drifted to sleep—her breathing slowed and her body relaxed against him. Having her in his bed seemed right and she fit perfectly there. The desire to keep her became so strong he had to resist the urge to wrap his body around hers protectively.
His heart rate spiked and his breathing increased when he thought about losing her. It would happen when the team located Bill. She’d be set free and he’d no longer have a reason to keep her with him. She’d be returned to her world where he’d never see her again.
A snarl threatened to surface but he choked it down. She was little and he could easily force her to stay with him. No way could she get away from him if he decided to prevent that from happening. Part of him wished to do just that but the logical side of him rallied against those crazy urges. She deserved her freedom, wasn’t something he could just keep, and she’d grow to hate him if he caged her. He didn’t want that.
A shiver ran through his tall frame at the memory of her hands touching him and he breathed her in. Each slow inhalation through his nose accumulated more of her scent and it seemed to reach his soul. The possessive feelings he suffered were bad. They were wrong. He was damaged inside and this was just more evidence of that fact. No sane male would be considering the things he was.
He’d set her free when they captured Bill. There was no other option. Things between them hadn’t advanced to the point of no return. He’d avoided causing her any harm, something he took pride in, and the apprehension eased from his corded muscles. Lauren wasn’t his to keep. He just needed to remind himself of that often.
Chapter Seven
Lauren woke on her stomach to the sound of running water and the shower door shutting. Her eyes opened and she turned her head to peer at the empty space beside her. Wrath stood inside the shower stall. She could see him since he’d left the bathroom door open and she watched as he tipped his head back in the spray of water. A smile curved her lips as he washed his hair.
The urge to join him made her sit up, push away the blanket he’d covered her with and rise to her feet. The sight of his lathered hands scrubbing down his chest drew her closer. It was fascinating to watch his nipples harden. The palms of his hand slide lower to his flat, firm stomach and desire shot through her as he soaped up his cock. He was hard again, a sight she enjoyed, and she entered the bathroom.
Wrath turned his head, his eyes opened and he smiled at her through the clear glass. She smiled back, used the bathroom quickly, and decided to join him as he rinsed the soap from the small amount hair he had on the top of his head. He looked surprised when she opened the door to step into the tight stall with him. He backed up to make room but his eyes seemed to darken.
“You shouldn’t come in here with me.”
Humiliation hit her hard. “Oh. Sorry.” She spun, shoved at the door and tried to flee. Her feelings were hurt. She’d assumed he’d welcome her. Obviously she’d been wrong.
A soapy hand shot out and grabbed her arm before she could flee. Lauren turned her head and stared up at his frowning face.
“You have an expressive face and I saw pain, as if I rejected you. That’s not the case. My control isn’t very good in the mornings until I shower and eat. Never think I don’t want you, Lauren. I just don’t think it’s safe for you to be in here with me right now.”
“Why not?”
He hesitated. “I may pick you up, pin you against the wall and take you.” His voice deepened as he spoke. “I need more time after I wake until you are naked near me. It was difficult enough leaving the bed with your body against mine.”
Lauren turned to face him. “We could do other things besides have sex.” Her gaze lowered down his body. “Let me touch you.”
He hesitated but growled. The sound made her smile and his cock grew longer and harder as she watched him physically respond. She inched closer to reach the body wash, opened it and dumped a handful into her palm. One hand fisted his cock while she put the bottle back. Two hands gripped him as she leaned in closer. Her mouth opened and closed over his nipple.
He snarled. It probably would have scared the hell out of her before but she wasn’t afraid of Wrath now that she knew the louder he got, the more he seemed to be turned-on. He pressed his back against the tile, arched his hips and gave her full access when he spaced his feet farther apart. She released his shaft to run one hand between his thighs and gently massage his nuts.
His chest vibrated against her lips as she sucked on his nipple, pressed her breasts against his belly, and scored him gently with the fingernails of both hands. He sucked in air, growled loudly, and his hands gripped her hips.
He didn’t push her away but instead clutched onto her. His hips rocked slowly and she stroked his shaft with one hand, continued to use her other hand to tease his body, and her mouth left one nipple to taunt another. She glanced up to watch him in the throes of passion. His eyes were closed, his fangs showed and he moaned as he rolled his head against the tile.
His body tensed and stayed that way. He looked almost like a sexy flesh-and-blood sculpture to her. She flicked her tongue over his nipple and then nipped him with her teeth. His entire body jerked and he suddenly thrust against her hands so hard it almost knocked Lauren into the wall and probably would have if his hands weren’t gripping her. His shaft swelled in her hand and she used both of them to fist him, stroke faster, and knew he was on the edge of coming hard. He groaned before jets of hot semen hit her stomach. Wrath stopped moving except for his heavy breathing.
Lauren smiled and released him. She reached for the body wash to clean him. Her gaze appreciated Wrath’s relaxed features and the small smile that played at his lips. She started to wash his chest with her hands, loving touching him and that he wasn’t protesting anymore.
His eyes opened. “I want you in all of my showers.”
She smiled. “I wouldn’t mind you being in my showers either.”
He suddenly turned her in his hold until her back pressed tightly to his stomach and chest. He leaned over and his hands slid down her hips to the front of her thighs. His fingers gripped her inner thighs and softly applied pressure.
“Spread open for me and grip the wall in front of you. Bend,” he whispered in her ear.
Excitement hit her that he’d take her from behind. The idea of being fucked by Wrath did things to her, good things, and made her instantly hot all over. She’d never wanted anyone more in her entire life or felt so drawn to someone so quickly. She shoved her hands under the water to wash off the soap, flattened her palms on the wall as she bent over in front of him, and braced. Her legs parted to make room for him.
His hands caressed the inside of her thighs, one hand cupped her pussy and she moaned as his fingers rubbed against her clit. Water hit her back but she barely noticed as he continued to stroke her, build her excitement, and she waited for him to enter her from behind. His fingers left her clit and she gasped when one finger suddenly slid inside her. He growled behind her when he found her ready to take him, withdrew it, and she squeezed her eyes closed, ready for him to fuck her.