Wicked Bite (Realm Enforcers #5)(52)

Their threat remained.

Her knees gave, and he held her upright, kissing her as if to squash any defiance, any challenge.

She moaned into his mouth, lava rushing through her veins. Digging her nails into his ruined shirt, she stretched on her toes, trying to get closer.

He didn't let her move. Not an inch.

Thunder cracked again.

Faster than she would've ever believed possible, he ducked his head and tossed her over his shoulder. Her ribs impacted his solid shoulder with a dull ache, and the breath whooshed out of her lungs. Shock kept her immobile for several seconds. By the time she lifted her head to fight, he'd kicked open the cabin door.

She flew across the room and landed hard on the bed, bouncing several times. The man had thrown her? Her eyes widened, and she gaped at him. Without saying a word, he kicked the door closed.

Whoa. What had she done? Her mind spun, and if there were any words she could use, they were out of her reach.

He kicked off his boots and drew his shirt off over his head.

She swallowed. Her body trembled. So much need raced through her it was difficult to breathe. But the need was edged with caution. Maybe with fear.

"Clothes. Off." His wide chest gleamed in the firelight. Standing there in wet faded jeans and bare feet, he was every inch the determined male. "Now."

She pushed from the bed and stood, having to tilt her head back to meet his gaze. It was too late for submission. "No." Her voice trembled, but she didn't care. His animalistic senses were no doubt in full control, and he could smell her fear. Her arousal. Especially her defiance. 

Raw pain flared in her right palm, and she winced. Slowly, she opened her hand to see the perfect mark of a delicate Celtic knot. The mating mark. It was said fate decreed it would only appear when a mate was near, but biology and science probably had more to do with it. She'd decided to mate. There it was.

His gaze caught the marking. "Clothes," he growled, his fingers flexing.

She eyed the door behind him.

Color spread across his face, and he turned slightly to the side to give her a clear path.

She had to try. Gathering her strength, she lunged.

He stepped in her path at the last second, and she rushed into him. Using her momentum against her, he swung them around, landing them both on the bed. It protested with a loud creak and plunged to the floor.

Ignoring the splintered wood legs, he flipped her around to her hands and knees, ripping off her skirt and tights. Her panties were next.

She panicked, bucking against him, fighting his smooth movements. He countered every move, almost easily, and her jacket ripped down the back. She gasped-that was her favorite jacket. Claws shredded her shirt, barely touching her skin. She stilled completely and gathered herself. Oh God. He had to be in human form. He had to be.

She slowly looked over her shoulder to see him in full human form, all male.

He flashed his teeth. Mostly human form-his canines had elongated. Keeping her gaze, he unhooked her bra. It sailed over her head to land near a lamp.

Then his fingers found her core, the claws nowhere in evidence. Pleasure snared her, shooting up her entire body.

"Wet." His chin lowered, and he scraped a nail across her clit. "For me."

She arched and cried out, electricity coiling tight inside her. He pinched and released her.

Her head dropped from raw need. So much. She had to get him inside her now. "Bear," she whispered. It was all she could say.

He knelt behind her, unzipping his jeans and shimmying out of them. Strong hands grabbed her hips.

She elongated her back, tossing her hair down it.

He growled. "Spread your legs."

The order was sexy, the idea of submission a challenge. She gave a slight roll of her butt but otherwise didn't move. Then she held her breath.

His fingers tightened before releasing her hips.

No. Her body rioted. They couldn't stop.

Rough hands clamped onto her inner thighs and pulled. Her thighs spread, her knees pointed in, and her face fell forward to the blankets. She tried to push up, and his hand planted itself firmly across her upper back, holding her down. She struggled, trying to find leverage with her hands, but she lacked the strength.

The hollow ache between her legs widened to a painful emptiness-a furious need.

His erection probed her sex.

God. Now. Please. She bit into a blanket to keep from begging.

One of his hands manacled her hip, while the other remained on her back. He pressed against her opening, and then he stopped.

She tried to push back against him but couldn't move. He controlled her-he controlled everything. She shut her eyes, trying to dispel some of the hunger. Any of it. God, she needed him.

"Are you sure?" he growled, his voice barely recognizable.

It took her a second to translate. She was naked, vulnerable, and wide open for his use. There wasn't a thing she could do to stop him. And he'd stopped himself.