She grasped hold of his cock and moaned at the feel of him. He was thick, hot, and so hard in her hand. She couldn’t keep herself from stroking him up and down the rigid staff, just as she’d seen him do in the shower.

His lips tore away from hers to suck her breast into his mouth. When her back hit the front door, she sighed, her hands eagerly running over the strong bunch of muscles in his back and shoulders.

“Thane.” Her whisper was like a silken caress to his ears.

He grunted against her breast then released it. He gave her one last searing look before his eyes traced over her naked body, lingering on her high, full breasts, stomach, and firm thighs before landing on the thin line of hair leading to her sex. His eyes took on a darker light then; his cock bobbed, eager for her.

“More beautiful than I imagined.” His sweet words brought a flush of pleasure to her cheeks.

When he grabbed her bottom and lifted her against the door, she went willingly, her legs wrapping around his tight waist. She had only a moment’s hesitation. Should she tell him?

But then his tongue was working in and out of her mouth again and the hard round tip of him was sliding along her sex. Their moans filled the room as the scent of sex and sweat coated their skin.

Cock wet with her cream he slid the tip to her entrance and pushed in the barest of inches. Jackie’s eyes flew wide and she wrapped her arms tight around him. He took that as an invitation and buried his head in her neck, giving her sharp bites meant to show her his dominance. It only made her wetter.

He drove inside her a little more and she felt her channel spreading in a good but strange way. She’d only ever done it with her own fingers, but he was much thicker and hotter. The sensation was erotic and delicious as he pulled back out then worked back in again until he hit a barrier.

Startled, he pulled back to stare. “Jackie?”

She blushed crimson. He saw it and smiled softly. The kiss he gave her was sweet and gentle. When he pulled away the vice she held around him loosened some around his shaft.

“I’ll never forget this gift, Jackie.”

Then his soft expression transformed into a mask of erotic pain. He closed his eyes hard, gripped her hips in his hands and said, “Hold on baby. I hope this doesn’t hurt much.”

Then he thrust inside.

Jackie felt like she was torn apart. Her channel, even slick with need, stretched to a nearly unbearable level, burning and stinging at the intrusion.

“Thane, Thane, Thane,” she whispered, her head shaking side to side.

“I’m so sorry, honey.” His hand reached between them to caress her swollen bud in tight, quick circles.

Jackie gasped as her body tightened with an onslaught that would surely kill her. The burning sensation lessened until it was only a minor ache and so she relaxed her leg’s death grip around his hips. His shoulders sagged with relief and then he was pulling out of her so slowly, dragging through her wet, soft channel.

He groaned then couldn’t stop kissing her and tasting her as he slowly worked his way back in. And he never stopped working his magic on her clitoris, moving faster and faster. Jackie’s heart raced in her ears, blood pumping so hard. She wanted him to move faster but couldn’t speak as her throat was dry and tight.

Her fingers curled hard into his back, nails piercing. As if unable to contain himself, he groaned and thrust in a little bit harder. Jackie let out a cry as that thrust curled her toes and hardened her nipples into hard, painful peaks.

His eyes took everything in and then he was moving harder between her thighs. His thrusts were slow, measured but landed against her with a slapping of flesh.

Jackie lasted only a few more of those delicious thrusts because then she was blinded by piercing, wonderful pleasure. She shouted, her body tightening everywhere, eyes going blind, and she shuddered around him. Milking, shaking, and crying out as her body burst with hot pleasure.

Somehow she managed to stay with him and for that she was grateful, because she got to see him lose control. His hands left her sex to grip her ass in a hard grip, then he was thrusting inside her in fast, hard strokes.

He slid even easier inside her as her fresh cream coated him. Breathing heavy and erratic, he leaned back over her neck and bit her once.

Skin broke, blood poured out, and then he was mating with her. Jackie never knew, never expected...the incredible amount of pleasure that came with his bite. The heat inside her came back in full force as if this was all leading to one big build up and her previous release was just a tiny scratch on the surface. For a moment, her heart pounded with fear. Could she even survive this?

But she had no time to think about that question because he pulled back with a husky grunt and said, “Your turn.”

In the true ritual of shapeshifters mating, Jackie kissed his neck then used the beast’s strength inside her to break his skin. He tasted like he smelled—earthy and rich. She took all that she needed and pulled away as her body tore apart.

Screams pulled from her throat, deep within her chest as she came and came. He drove into her with a shout, and somehow he rode her through the waves crashing inside her body. He landed deep and jetted hot and thick inside her.

They were one.

Jackie had never felt better than she did in that moment. She let him carry her to bed because she couldn’t move. She settled across his bare chest with a sigh and fell asleep in her mate’s arms.

When the world reappeared, they were back in her room at Tyrian’s castle. She spun around taking in her antique chests, canopy bed, and lace draperies hanging from the window.

She turned to him. “What are you doing?”

Draven disappeared and returned a minute later with her luggage.

“Master—I mean, Draven, my lord, please tell me what’s going on. Why am I back here? I never said I’d go with you,” she rushed to add.

He cut her a sharp look. A look passed over his face like a shield and guilt nagged at her. Had she just hurt his feelings?

“You are my frimar. You will do what I say.” He looked away. When he looked back at her, his eyes were dark with something she didn’t recognize but it made her heart flutter like a pack of trapped birds in a net.

“You left me.”

She retreated before she was aware of what she was doing. Her legs hit the mattress of her bed. She held her hands out before her, pleading.

“Please, Draven. I truly did not want to leave you. I—”

He laughed, the sound hard. “But that’s exactly what you did, Lucinda.” Her name was a silken caress from his lips. He took a step toward her, backing her against the bed.

“I care for you, truly. You must know that after so many years.”

He gave her a hard look that silenced her. Another step forward and his body brushed along hers.

“You left me,” he said darkly.

Helpless she shook her head. “I merely wanted some freedom. I care for you but I need—”

He silenced her with his mouth.

Hot hands, passionate mouth touched her, tasted her everywhere.

He didn’t let her up for air until dawn crept in. Only when her body was a languid mesh. She attempted to talk but the only thing that came out was a yawn. He rolled against her, cradling her back to his front...and she fell asleep.

When she woke, he was gone.

 “I refuse to be treated like this,” Lucinda said softly.

She sat in a high-back, antique chair facing the fireplace. Even without seeing her eyes, he knew she was sad, angry even.

He ran a frustrated hand through his hair. Rarely in his life did he not know what to do. He didn’t always make the right choices, but at least he’d made one. But now? He had no idea what to do. He’d stolen her from her escape and kept her locked in her room ever since. It didn’t sit right in his gut at all, but damn if he couldn’t think of anything else he could do.