Bas hooked his fingers under my arms and carefully lifted me to my feet. His eyes flared again when I licked my lips. He barely let me catch my breath before he devoured me with urgent kisses all over again. He lifted me, wrapping my thighs around his waist as he took me to the bed. He was gentle as he laid me down, spreading me beneath him. Bas gathered my wrists in one hand and pinned them above my head as he shifted his weight so he laid along the length of me. I quivered as he raked his eyes over me, liking what he saw.
"God, you're perfect. I wish I could keep you here like this forever."
And I wanted him too. Badly. As he trailed a finger between my breasts and over the slope of my stomach, I quivered. My body called out for his and I thrust my hips as he dipped that finger between my legs and found me wet and wanting.
"Please," I gasped. Strung taut, Bas knew how to play me. With a slow, lazy finger, he circled the tiny bud between my legs and coaxed me to my first orgasm within seconds. I couldn't help it. It exploded out of me as my legs fell open and he slid his finger inside of me. He had me shameless and wanton and he'd barely touched me. It was if he could command my body and bring me to heel just like he'd done with his wolves outside. Such was the power of Bas Lanier, and he wielded it to bring me aching pleasure.
"Bas!" I gasped, turning my body toward his. I meant to bring myself up and straddle him. I couldn't stand not having him inside of me for another second.
"Patience," he said. "I want to take my time with you."
He moved in a flash so quick my eyes barely had time to register it before he was back on the bed again. He'd taken the belt from his pants and held it out between his hands. I writhed beneath him with the erotic promise he held. He took my hands again and looped the belt around them, lashing me to the headboard.
Then, he was on his feet again, knotting the sheets around my ankles and binding me to the footboard. He had me open, exposed, spread-eagled before him. When his eyes shone with that lustful glint, I begged him to take me.
But, Bas was far from done. He settled himself between my thighs and licked me again. A sensual growl vibrated through him and into me, sending a fresh wave of juices for him to taste. He worked me there, bringing me to another climax, and another after that. He was merciless, enjoying the way I writhed beneath him and begged him for more.
Finally, he let me go and rose above me, his erection looming large. I craned my neck to take him in my mouth again and he let me. From this angle, I could reach all of him, tip to shaft and underneath. It was his turn to groan with delight and my turn to deliver sweet punishment at my pace.
But not for long. I felt him seize up and braced myself to take all of him in. At the last second, Bas pulled away and went to his knees between my legs. He stroked himself and I craned my neck to watch. As he hovered just inches away from my entrance, he had me begging for him again.
"Bas, please. I can't wait anymore. I need you."
Finally, he gave me what I craved. His thick head probed me and spread me wide. I arched my back to urge him forward. Then he entered me. Slowly. Filling me. Claiming me. He stretched me wide and made me whole. Bas leaned forward and began the slow, deliberate thrusts I'd begged him for. He rested his weight on one arm while he undid the bindings on my hands and feet with the other. I curved my body around his, trying to take even more of him in. His rhythm was smooth and hard and perfect. I pulled him into me, threading one hand through the hair at the nape of his neck, the other curved around his supple ass.
"Yes. Yes!"
More. Always. More. I couldn't get enough of him. I reared up and wrapped my legs around his waist as his thrusts became more erratic. I leaned up and caught his earlobe between my teeth. I bit him lightly, making him suck air through his teeth and sending a shiver through me. He kissed me. Hard. Almost bruising. But, it still wasn't enough. On and on he drove himself into me. And yet, still, I felt him holding something back. Whatever it was, I wanted it. I wanted all of him. It was foolish not to use protection, but I couldn't stand the thought of any barrier between us. Not now. Not ever. He called me his. I was. But he was mine and I was born for this. The moment I thought it, I knew on an elemental level that it was true.
"Abby. God. Abby."
"I want you. I want this. Please."
He knew what I meant, and for a fraction of a second he went rigid. Then, he redoubled his efforts and I tightened my legs around his waist as he drilled me even harder. I came first, my walls shuddering around him. My head and heart seemed like an explosion of light. As if my veins conducted electric fire. I almost couldn't contain the pleasure.
I screamed.
I dug my nails into the smooth flesh of his back, drawing blood. It only added to the pleasure Bas felt. His primal nature burst forth and he threw his head back and let out a guttural noise that thrilled me and made my body sing for his. I cupped his face with my hands, wanting to watch him as he came inside of me. His eyes went from man to wolf and back again. His lips trembled and curled back. I felt his hot seed shooting inside of me, and I pulled him close, wanting to take the last of this ride with him.
His eyes fluttered as he poured himself into me. I tried to keep my legs around him, but they'd already turned to rubber. I leaned up and kissed him. He tasted of salt and earth. There was a moment. A flash. I saw something go through Bas's eyes, and he lowered his head, brushing his teeth along the soft flesh where my neck curved into my shoulder. Instinct told me to turn my head. I exposed the back of my neck to him and the skin there burned hot as I felt his teeth scrape against me.
He wanted to bite me. The desire for it flared inside of me at the same time it did for him. Oh, God. I wanted him to. I craned my neck far to the left and arched my back again, inviting him to mark me.
Bas went very still. It was a moment in time as he held himself motionless, his teeth just scratching my skin. Then, he drew himself away, pulling out of me and leaving me empty and panting.
"Bas?"
He leaned down and gave me a quick kiss on the forehead. "Not today. Not this time."
Chapter Ten
I drew the covers around me, feeling a sudden chill from the absence of his skin against mine. Bas sat at the edge of the bed and watched me, his eyes filled with tenderness. He reached over and brushed the hair away from my eyes.
"What was that? At the end. Why didn't you . . . bite me? I felt your need to do it."
He smiled. "It means something. If I mark you, it's forever."
Forever. The instant he said it, I wanted to beg him for it again. Forever. If he marked me it would be forever. The answer flaring inside of me was yes. God, yes. I was meant for it, and he didn't have to tell me. But, a moment later I recoiled from it, frightened about what it could mean. And it seemed that was always how it was with him since the moment I laid eyes on him. There was something powerful compelling me to him. But that power terrified me too. I was beginning to forget what it felt like not to know him.
As I turned it around in my head, something was happening to Bas. One moment he was cool and in control. The next, he was on his feet, pacing near the window. The hairs stood on end at the back of his neck, and the shudder that went through him seemed to pass through me as well.
"It cost you something. Not to bite me, I mean."
I drew my knees to my chest and circled my arms around them. Every part of me wanted to leave that bed and go to him. But, I knew if I did, he might not be able to stop himself the second time. I wasn't ready. That was my head talking. My heart and points lower down had a decidedly different answer.
He carved a hand through his hair and opened the sliding glass door to the balcony. It was so late it became early. Orange streaks cut across the horizon as the sun began to rise. I should have felt a chill from the blast of cold air that moved through the room, but my skin still blazed from Bas's touch. I pulled the sheets around me and tucked them under my arm as I dared to venture out onto the balcony beside him. The vast, green landscape beneath us called to me. No. Not to me. To Bas. But I felt it too, through him somehow.
"Yes. It cost me something. The next time, I can't promise I can hold back."
I wasn't sure I wanted him to. The idea that there would be a next time was all I could hear. Oh. I wanted a next time. Right now, in fact.