Page 88 of The Witch’s Daughter

My wolf growled.

“No. It was never meant to be a burden.” My fingers ached to reach out and touch her, but I knew this feeling well, so I kept my hand pressed against my side. “Lisa knew I needed you. That promise was spoken for me.”

My heart raced at the admission. This conversation—the truth and vulnerability of it—was as close as we’d come in years. It tugged at dark places, threatening to expose them to the light.

We were right there. Somewhere I’d never thought we’d be again.

“You don’t need me,” Tisiphone whispered, adding a little smile to her tone. Keeping things playful. Shooting another arrow into my chest.

I closed my eyes, so fucking tired of this dance. “You don’t know what I need.”

In the silence that followed, I imagined her leaving and already forgave her for the cold lingering in her absence. But her scent never faded, and there was a rustle as she climbed into my small tent, zipping it closed behind her.

I couldn’t open my eyes, too afraid I’d wake from this dream, as she placed her hands against my chest and her sweet lips whispered a kiss against my cheek, moving to my ear.

“Show me.”

My eyes opened to see her wide, honey-brown eyes staring into mine. The question there would be my undoing.

“Show you?” I asked, needing to hear her spell it out so there was no more miscommunication, not like the many that apparently plagued us for years.

But we were foolish pups then, and there was nothing childlike about the way Tisiphone was looking at me now.

She straddled my waist, her heart beating as fast as mine. “Show me how to give you what you need.”

“You don’t have to do this.” I captured her wrists, pinning them against my chest. The last thing I wanted was her pity. “I’m fine.”

“I’m not.” She whimpered, rocking her hips forward so that she pressed against my pulsing cock. “I want you. I want whatever this is between us.”

Shut up and give her what she needs.

I didn’t know if the roaring in my ears was my beast or the blood rushing to my loins, but I wasn’t about to make her ask again.

My lips captured her soft lips, and I parted them with a growl, grabbing her waist and neck to press her closer to me as I drank my fill. I thrust upward, meeting the gentle rocks of her hips with punishing promises of my own.

I wanted more. To touch her again. Peel each scrap of fabric off her skin and taste her inch by inch until I memorized every part of her I hadn’t known before. I wanted to worship her body, to bend her over and drag her ass up, presenting her to me and claiming her like a wild animal as I drove myself home.

But I couldn’t stop kissing her. Not now. Not ever. Not when she felt like air, and I’d never fully breathed until this moment. Our tongues danced. I held to her tighter, groaning as she gasped and pulled away.

Not yet. Please, don’t leave yet.

“I haven’t…” She exhaled a worried breath. “I… Um…”

“I know.” I ignored the prideful howl of my wolf. “It’s okay.” I kissed the side of her neck, her shoulder, and slid the pretty little dress she was wearing up around her hips, wanting to tear the dainty fabric off.

I moved slowly, though. Still not quite sure I wasn’t dreaming. If I was, I never wanted to wake up.

“Have you?” Tisiphine panted as I kissed up the side of her neck, finding the zipper on her dress and tugging it down.

I stilled as her question met my ears.

She leaned back, pulling the dress up over her head in one gentle sweep, freeing her perfect breasts. Her pink nipples hardened under my gaze as her teal hair cascaded like water around her shoulders. She sat on my lap in nothing but a little piece of black fabric underwear that I could feel her heat seeping through.

I’d forgotten what she asked.

“You don’t have to tell me,” Tisiphone hurried to say. “And I’ve used toys for my heat, so I’m not some innocent virgin, but I never—”

“Once,” I cut her off before she could talk about anyone else ever touching her. The beast inside Tisiphone growled.