To Tempt A Tiger(92)

Rose squeezed his knee to get his attention. “You okay?”

He pulled in a breath and looked down at her. “I’m good. I think we should run away to Alaska for a few weeks now, though. I need a vacation.”

Rose laughed. She studied his face for a moment before saying, “You lied to the elders.”

He narrowed his eyes in question, frowning slightly.

“About making sure Zoe would run. You lied to them. You have no intention of pushing that on her.”

“Of course not. Our daughter will have choices.”

“Then why did you lie?” There was no accusation in her question. She was genuinely curious. Her relief at knowing now that she’d recognize his lies probably helped her attitude.

He shrugged. “It was expedient. I didn’t want to argue the point. Not yet anyway. We have years ahead of us to worry about it, and you heard Alexis, it might not even be a worry.” He gave a rueful snort of a laugh. “I should have known you’d notice. I never could lie to you.”

That surprised her. “You couldn’t?”

He shook his head. “With you, I’ve always been an open book. Sometimes much to my dismay.”

She chuckled, but raised a disbelieving brow when she said, “That’s why I knew about the shifter thing all along?”

He made a face. “Okay, I kept a few secrets because I didn’t want to scare you off. I would have told you eventually. I intended to before I let you marry me.”

“Really?”

“Really. I only ever wanted honesty between us.”

She smiled, and kissed him, and decided a vacation to Alaska sounded wonderful so long as she had Vlad and Zoe with her. She wrapped herself around him, as all the pent up emotions of the last few days exploded and the need to feel him, hot and naked and hers, overwhelmed everything else.

He stood with her still in his arms, a feat of strength that made her tremble, and carried her to his bedroom.

She kissed and nuzzled him, basking in his heat and the feeling of finally being safe, finally being able to relax and savor him.

He closed his bedroom door gently with a tap of his foot. Then he had her on the bed, sprawled beneath him and his hands were everywhere. They pushed and tugged at clothing until every stitch hit the floor. When she had him naked, Rose rolled him onto his back and kissed her way across his chest, down his abdomen to his erection, and took him in her mouth, needing his taste like she’d never needed anything before.

He arched up under her, his hands clenching in her hair. She sucked and licked, taking him to the very edge of his control. She loved the way he gave her so much power over his body. She loved the way he held nothing back. And she returned the favor, giving him everything she had to give.

When his muscles trembled and she was sure he wouldn’t be able to take much more, she straddled him, positioned his cock and eased down, sighing as he stretched her, savoring the friction of his entrance. “I’ve missed this. It’s only been a few days and I’ve missed this so much.”

He reached up to cup her breasts, pinching her nipples as she started to move in a steady, even rhythm. “You’re so beautiful,” he murmured and then groaned when she tightened her inner muscles around him. “I’m never letting you go again, Rose. You’re mine.”

She was, completely and forever.

But then, she always had been.

As her pace increased, he moved one hand down and pressed his thumb against her clit, pushing her building orgasm over the edge. She strained against the pressure for a moment and then let go as everything burst apart.

By the time she settled, he’d rolled her onto her back. He nudged her knees up and hooked one arm under one of her legs, a position which tightened her entrance and started a surprising second orgasm building. She panted and clenched at his shoulders as he took control of her body and sent her reeling. He groaned her name as he pounded into her. The sound of his sexy, deep voice pushed her past any remaining restraint. This time they went together, leaping out over a chasm and flying free.

For long moments after, she couldn’t manage more than holding him close and breathing in his familiar scent, savoring the peace.

He levered up onto one elbow and smiled down at her, the expression making her heart thump faster.

“So. Alaska, then?” he asked.

She laughed. “Absolutely. Though, my parents are going to want to see us before we go.”

“Good. I need to ask your father a question.”

“What?”

“I want to formally ask him for your hand.”

“What?” she repeated, not sure she’d heard him correctly.

“That’s what humans do, right? Suitors ask their prospective fathers-in-law for permission to ask for his daughter’s hand?”