Page 14 of Desired for Her Blood

“I understand. It takes time.”

“No. It’s more than just time. Grizzly shifters are fully monogamous, forever. After our mates die, we never remarry, not ever, or even take on other sexual partners.”

She gasps, her head tipping back. “Never?”

“Not ever.”

Her legs rub together, her hips squirm. Her need is powerful, her discomfort clear. And that clarifies my selfishness.

Just because I won’t take that step—not ever—doesn’t mean I can’t help her through what she’s feeling now. Even if it was Ryker’s blood that brought on her arousal, that doesn’t make it any less real for her, and she’s clearly in agony over her need.

And she came to me.

Stepping away from her, I pick up her discarded t-shirt. “Do you trust me?”

“Completely.”

A smile teases my lips. “Then give me your hands.”

Without question, she reaches them toward me.

I quickly bind her wrists in the damp fabric. At least this way I can reduce the danger of her touching me, because as much as I know in my heart and my mind that I will never fuck her—it goes against my most ardent beliefs—one touch of her fingers and my cock might overrule my will.

“I can’t make love to you,” I say softly, “But I can help release that pent up energy inside you.”

With a sharp inhale, her back arches to press the mounds of her breasts forward, and I wish that I’d tied her hands behind her instead of in front.

Taking her face in my hands, I capture her lips in a soft kiss, a kiss as soft as I can muster given my own intense arousal, and she purrs against my lips, begging for more.

Her taste is like honey, like sunshine, like fresh air on a mountaintop and, in spite of my intentions, soon there is nothing gentle about my kiss.

Holding her head where I want it, I devour every part of her mouth, relishing every nuance of her flavor as she matches my fervor with her own.

What am I thinking, denying my cock? Other than my wife, I’ve never felt anything close to lust or desire for a female in human form, and I never thought that I would.

But this woman, Ember…

Fuck…

Her bound hands graze my body, and I pull back from her, turning her around to face away from me. But instantly I miss her lips, I miss seeing her face. My hands take her breasts, and I’m rewarded by her gasp, by the tip of her pelvis, and by her slight cry as I flick her taut nipples.

Positioning her like this hasn’t helped me though—not one bit—and my cock strains toward her lush butt.

The hooks on the wall!

Back when this cave was used to hide and transport illegal liquor, someone installed hooks in the stone. I found barrels back here, below the hooks, but never knew if they were used to secure chains or ropes—or for something more sinister. But I can use one of the hooks now to keep her hands away from my cock.

Chapter Five

Ember

From behind me,Axel’s huge hands knead my breasts, teasing my nipples, and the pleasure’s almost too much to bear.

My hips push back toward him, desperate to make contact with his body, and every flick and soft pinch of my nipples transfers straight to my clit—my body a superhighway of interconnected nerves all working together to drive me wild.

I slide my hands, bound with my t-shirt, over my mound, trying to create some pressure, but it’s not nearly enough to satisfy the raging need that he claimed he’d satisfy, but is instead making stronger.

I thought his reluctance to have sex was because of his size, and it broke my heart to learn that the real reason is emotional, not physical, that he might noteverwant it to happen.