Page 4

She rode him faster. That ridge felt so good popping in and out of her, she almost forgot about what she had to do. She had to make this monster come inside her before the day ticked over.

She leaned over him, staring into his fiery eyes. “How does it feel, big boy? Do I feel good?”

Wick made a strangled roar. His hips spasmed, his claws pressing into her hips.

“You feel,” he started, his voice so thick it was barely recognizable. “You smell like— You’re so?—”

He cut off with a guttural growl. His horns shoved against the nest, his wings shuddering under him.

Briar rode him faster. It was always more difficult when she let herself get swept away like this, but she had a job to do: not die. And she wasn’t going to get distracted just because of the pleasure jolting through her every time she bounced on his dick ridges.

“So big,” she moaned. “Feels so good.”

She was pulling out all her usual lines, but for once, she didn’t have to fake it. Her moans were short and shocked, none of the high, airy ones she usually made to make men come faster. The deeper she sat on his cock, the harder it was to perform for him.

She unlaced her shirt, kneading her breasts. “Touch me. I need you.”

Wick groaned, wings shuddering against the nest. He reached up with one shaky hand to squeeze her breasts, pulling at the nipples like she had just been doing.

His claws were so gentle. Every touch made her heart beat faster.

He could push her down at any time, could tear her to shreds, and yet he was being so careful to make it good for her.

“Just like that,” she encouraged.

His hips jerked up, forcing his cock impossibly deep.

Briar yelled. She was getting close again; she could feel it.

And the closer she got, the more she wanted him to disobey her rules.

To shove him over onto her hands and knees and take her, the way she wanted to be taken.

The way she never let anybody take her. She wanted his hot breath in her ear, his strong arms around her body as he plowed into her.

She wanted those spiked wings looming over her, those growls getting louder and louder as he fucked deeper inside.

Wick’s hips jumped again. He was fucking her properly now, and Briar knew she should warn him to stay still like she’d asked. But she was opening up so sweetly around him, a second ridge popping inside as she sank deeper. It felt so good that she let him keep doing it.

He dropped her breasts, his hands wrapping around her waist. He pulled her down with each thrust, and Briar wailed as he used her body.

Usually, it triggered a series of dirty feelings she had to ignore to enjoy things.

But it was hard to feel anything but pure pleasure as he shoved his ridged cock deeper and deeper.

Briar whimpered, bracing her hands on his chest as he lifted her, pulling her back down on his cock.

Wick’s growl grew louder. The fire in his eyes swelled until she could feel the heat on her face as he stared hungrily up at her.

It wasn’t just lust, she realized with a jolt. This was blood hunger.

But before the fear could truly take hold, her necklace glowed.

Briar looked down. The necklace bounced between her breasts with each thrust. White light filled the cave, washing them both in a pale glow.

Wick’s thrusts faltered. His hands loosened around her waist, his claws retracting where they were almost breaking the skin. The fire in his eyes dimmed, a shocked noise spilling out of his throat.

“Briar,” he rasped urgently.

He was going to ask if she was okay. She could tell. But she couldn’t handle that kind of sweetness, even from a Skullstalker. Despite all her efforts, she still had an unbearably soft heart. She wasn’t about to let an unnaturally kind monster near it.

“Big boy,” she replied, rolling her hips as fast as she could, breath hitching on every pass of those gorgeous ridges. “D-do me a favor and come for me, will you?”

She squeezed her inner walls around him. It took tremendous effort, given how stretched she was around him. But it apparently worked because he threw back his head and let out a ragged roar that made her heart skip a beat.

He gripped her hips bruisingly tight, holding her still as he emptied inside her. Briar’s mouth fell open as she felt him pulse, his spend coating her insides.

It felt incredible. But more importantly, the curse-fire was leaking away from her chest.

She was safe for another day. And just in time.

She sagged over him, bracing herself on wobbly elbows. His chest was so broad she could rest on it easily.

For a moment, there was no sound in the cave but their heavy breathing. She trembled against him, her body racing with the aftermath of pleasure and the relief of living another day. It took her a moment to realize Wick was shaking, too.

She eased up, wincing as his soft cock slipped out of her. They hadn’t fit his whole cock inside, but they had gotten pretty damn close.

“Thanks,” she panted. “I can’t believe a Skullstalker just saved my life.”

Wick made a low, gurgling growl. He let go of her hips, digging instead into the nest. His claws flexed in the furs and pierced the thick hide like a knife through butter.

Briar giggled weakly and lay down on his chest. She meant to climb off and gather up her clothes, like she did after every coupling since she had been cursed.

But she was so tired after the strange, exciting turn the night had taken, and the Skullstalker’s heart was beating so slowly under her cheek, like a lullaby.

Briar’s eyes drifted reluctantly shut. She would get up in a minute.

The last thing she felt before she fell asleep was a pair of huge arms closing hesitantly around her.