Page 122 of Blood & Claw

His breathing grew shallow then. He’d meant to go slow with her, but she’d turned into a wild thing.

And then, he’d matched her. In the midst of it all, the beast had stirred, had fought to get out.

Thanks to Ailsa’s binding tattoo, he could control it, yet his mouth had started to ache, and he’d felt his canines grow.

Even now, his gums were sensitive. He ran his tongue over one canine. It was still sharper than it should be.

Ailsa had seen his fangs too, yet she hadn’t recoiled. Instead, she’d shivered with delight as he’d gently dragged them over her naked breasts.

The clag-doo was growling softly in the back of his mind now.

Sated yet at the same time thwarted.

Ailsa stirred against him then, her rounded, firm arse nestling into his groin. He bit back a groan. This woman.

He hadn’t lied; he’d never bedded a virgin before. Such lasses weren’t meant for men like him.

But being Ailsa’s first was significant, and in the aftermath, he felt like a bastard.

“Cold?” he asked then. The air was bone-chillingly damp after the rain.

“No,” she replied sleepily.

“Good.” He paused then. “Ailsa.”

“Mm.”

“When you asked me to pin your wrists earlier … you were afraid, weren’t you?” He’d seen the way her gaze had dropped to his throat, and the panic that had flared in her eyes. “Of your … impulses.”

Her revelation was still fresh in his mind. He didn’t think he’d ever forget it.

Her lithe body stiffened against him before she eventually whispered, “Aye.”

He didn’t answer, although needles danced across his skin. Had she truly wanted to cut his throat and drink from him?

Aye, and the beast had wanted to fuck her as much as he had.

If he’d let it, the clag-doo would have torn her to pieces afterward.

Darach’s gut clenched at the thought.

“I’m sorry.” Her voice lowered further.

He tightened his hold on her. “I’m the one who should be apologizing,” he answered. “I took you roughly.”

“Aye.” She wriggled out of his grip and twisted around to face him. The fire was still burning brightly. After he’d taken her, he’d thrown some more wood on. Ruddy light gilded her pale skin, making the inky depths of her eyes look bottomless. “And that’s exactly what I wanted.”

They stared at each other for a moment, and curse him, his prick was already stiffening again.

He’d never met a woman like her. His breathing quickened then. A soft growl reverberated in his ears as the beast stirred.

He should have kept his hands to himself. He knew better.

But one night with Ailsa, and all that discipline had gone to shit.

Darach was used to being in control. After a tumble in the furs, he preferred to distance himself from his lover, but how could he, after what they’d just done?

He lifted his hand then, cupping her pale cheek, his thumb tracing the swell of her lower lip. “You, Ailsa” —he paused then, searching for the right words— “are trouble.”