Page 27 of Kidnapped By the Beast (Beasts of the Kindred #11)

brANDT

Brandt sat motionless on the moss-covered couch, Alexandra’s head heavy in his lap. Her breath came slow and even now, her lips curved in the faintest smile of contentment. Her long brown hair spilled over his thighs, silky strands tickling his bare skin as he stroked them absently.

Guilt stabbed him like a blade.

Gods, what have I done?

He had let her take him into her mouth. He had spilled his seed down her throat not once but many times, holding her gently while she swallowed him greedily. The memory made his cock twitch again, and he clenched his jaw against the flood of lust that threatened to rise.

This was wrong. It had to be wrong. He had sworn an oath, years ago, over his wife’s cold body. An oath never to call another Bride…never to Bond…never to knot or breed another woman. Never again.

And yet…

He drew a long breath, his hand smoothing over Alexandra’s hair.

No. I haven’t broken my oath. Not truly.

He hadn’t called her as a Bride. He hadn’t bonded with her, hadn’t spilled his seed in her womb, hadn’t tied her to him for life with his Bonding Knot.

Everything that had happened had been necessary—driven by the science, by her body’s need.

The Bacillus in her system demanded his seed.

He had only given her what her body required.

He swallowed hard, staring down at her peaceful face.

Yes. For science. For her health. Not for myself.

Even as he thought it, the memory of her lips wrapped tight around his cock, her throat swallowing him eagerly, surged back and made his chest ache.

He shook his head and tightened his grip on her hair gently, a silent vow forming in his mind.

I won’t go further. I won’t knot her. I won’t breed her. I won’t cross the true line of my vow. Whatever else happens between us…it ends here.

The promise steadied him. He exhaled slowly, bending to brush his lips over the crown of her head.

“Rest, Alexandra,” he murmured. “I’ll keep you safe.”

Then he leaned back and went on stroking her hair, telling himself he could live with what they had done—as long as he never let it go any further.

But he was already wondering if she might need him again when she woke…