Page 13 of Desired for Her Blood

Her hard nipples press against the damp fabric of her t-shirt that clings to her shape and somehow makes her even sexier than if she were fully nude.

The damp garment’s hem grazes her upper thighs, hiding the treasure between her legs, but the lack of visual is no hindrance. The scent of her arousal, which has filled my head since the moment she came out of the water, has only grown stronger, and my cock twitches, moving with a will of its own.

My cock’s on the same page as she is. Clearly I need to be the rational one.

“Ember, my size.”

She nods, her teeth grazing her lower lip. “I know you’re big, but I want to try. I just drank Ryker’s blood, so…”

I look away. “It’s not just that.”

“Then what?” She steps toward me. I sense the movement, feel the change in the air, but don’t dare let my gaze fall upon her again. If it does I won’t be able to resist.

“I haven’t…” How can I explain this?

She takes another slow step toward me, and makes another motion I sense but don’t see, and then her wet t-shirt lands on the stone next to me.

My cock bounces in reaction, throbbing so hard I have to swallow my groan.

“There’s been no one…” I look down, flooded with sadness and memories. “Not since my mate.”

“Oh. I see,” she says softly, disappointment clear in her voice. “I understand. We don’t have to. But…can I just give you a hug?”

I lift my gaze, my heart flooding with so many powerful feelings, feelings I never thought I’d experience again.

“Tell me about her.” She covers her bare breasts as she steps toward me. “Your wife. What was she like?” She slides up against my side, careful to avoid my cock and I wrap my arms loosely around her.

“Was she your first?” Ember asks softly. “Your only sexual partner?”

I shake my head. “Not even close.”

“Bit of a ladies man in your bachelor days?” she asks, her tone light, trying to hide her desire as her fingers tease through my chest hair.

“Not especially.” My fingers stroke up and down her back, and I don’t stop them, even knowing I shouldn’t touch her this way, knowing it will only make this worse—for both of us—but I can’t stop them.

“As the Alpha of my clan,” I continue, hoping that talking will help the danger of this fierce craving subside. “And even before I was Alpha, as a young male I was expected…” I shake my head, remembering the differences between grizzly and human cultures, hoping I can make her understand. “It’s part of grizzly culture for the large unmarried males to…toservicethe sows.”

“The sows?” Her body tenses. “Do you only…is that why we can’t… Can you only have sex when…”

Through her stuttered questions, it’s not hard to gather her meaning. “Shifters can have sex in either form,” I answer, “but we onlymake lovein human form—and only once we have chosen our mates. Also, the females only become impregnated as humans.”

“Oh.” She nods against me, and the feel of her head against my chest hair, makes my cock jump.

“We do tend to call our offspring cubs,” I continue, spilling out information to distract myself. “But our children are always conceived and born as humans.”

“So the onlywomanyou’ve ever been with, in human form, is your wife.”

“Yes.”

The backs of her fingers slide lightly over my chest. “And you’re still mourning, still not over her. I understand.”

My heart cracks open further. Because that’s not it.

Yes, I’m still consumed with anger and sadness about how Ulla died, but it’s been decades and I’ve worked through my grief.

In a profound sense, I am over her. But that doesn’t matter. Sex with Ember would be wrong.Especiallysince I feel more for Ember than simple desire.

“Shifters, our clan at least, we mate for life,” I tell her.