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Vero killed the snowmobile’s engine, the sharp silence of the snowy expanse slamming into him like a physical force. Lyrica sat stiffly behind him, her arms wrapped around his waist, her body vibrating with defiance. She hadn’t spoken a word since he’d dragged her out of Maeve’s place, but her anger simmered in every b reath she took.

Good. He was pissed too.

Without a word, he swung off the snowmobile, gripping her waist and lifting her down before she could protest. She wobbled slightly on the icy ground, her lips pressing into a tight line as she cinched her coat tighter. Her fierce glare was adorable, but he’d appreciate that later. For now, if she thought her anger could match his, she was wrong.

“Inside,” he said, his voice low and commanding as he took her arm. They had mated, which meant there was no going back. Their courting and their sex had been consensual, and neither of them had thought mating a possibility. He’d had no fucking clue he was a demon. But no w, it was done.

It wasn’t until he’d discovered she was out alone, with a serial killer stalking victims in his territory, that the reality of that truth nearly took hi m to his knees.

She was his.

“Let go of me, Vero,” she snapped, her tone sharp enoug h to cut glass.

“Not happening,” he growled, tugging her toward the lodge. Snow crunched beneath their boots as he led her into the warmth of the main building, his grip firm despite her attempts to wrench free. He didn’t stop until they reached her office, slamming the door shut behind them and fli pping the lock.

Her glare intensified as she ripped her arm free. “What is your problem?”

“My problem?” He stalked toward her, his broad frame dwarfing hers as he backed her against the desk. “You are my problem, Lyrica. You don’t listen. You put yourself in danger—alone—then act like I’m a human asshole for caring abou t your safety.”

“I can take care of myself,” she shot back, her voice sha king with fury.

“Really?” he asked, his tone cutting. “Because from what I’ve seen, you couldn’t care less if you’re h urt. Or worse.”

Her eyes widened, her breath hitching as his words struck home. But just as quickly, her chin jutted out in defiance. “I’m not one of your soldiers. You don’t get to or der me around.”

“No,” he said, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. “You’re my mate. And that means I’ll damn well order you around if it keeps you alive.” Taking the virus to break the mating bond while both mates still lived was too dangerous, even if they both wanted that. Wh ich he did not.

The word “mate” hung in the ai r between them.

“You’re not understanding me,” she said, vulnerability i n her eyes now.

He pressed forward, his hands bracing the desk on either side of her hips, caging her in. “Oh, I understand you. Scared little girl who’s afraid to take a chance. Terrified of counting on somebody. Of b eing let down.”

She sucked in a bre ath. “Shut up.”

“Mature,” he countered. “But you’re not seeing me.” His tone turned raw, his chest heaving as he reined in the storm inside him. “I have spent my entire life keeping people safe, Lyrica. My people. My cousin until he betrayed me. My newly found brother. And now you. Do you think I can just turn that off because you want to play like some rebel from a te levision show?”

She blinked up at him, her breath coming faster now. He could feel the heat of her body, the way she responded to his nearness even as her instinct for self-preservation, the one that forced her to shield her heart, tr ied to kick in.

“I’m not playing anything.” The war battling inside her emerged with a new octave in her voice. “This is who I am, Vero. You don’t get t o decide that.”

“You don’t get to decide my role in this,” he sho t back. “I do.”

She froze at his words, her lips parting as if to speak, but no sound came for several tense seconds. Finally, she swallowed. “We didn’t ma te on purpose.”

“I know.” He gentled his tone. Somewhat. “But this is where we are. It’s too dangerous to take that virus, so we’re n ot doing that.”

She faltered. “You can’t want to stay mated.”

Ah, there she was. The female who thought she was alone in the world. “I do—with ev erything I am.”

She blinked. Desire darkened her stunning eyes along with a healthy not e of disbelief.

He’d have to show her. His hand slid into her hair just enough to tilt her head back and expose the column of her throat.

“Take all the time you need to learn this,” he said, his voice rough, his thumb brushing her jaw. “You’re mine, Lyrica. I won’t let anybody harm you—whether you like that fact or not.” Whether she worked w ith him or not.

Her pupils dilated, her lips trembling as his words washed over her. “You can’t control me,” she whispered, though the defiance in her vo ice was fading.

“Control has a lot of connotations,” he said, his other hand sliding to her hip, possessiveness gripping him. “I want to protect you. To shelter you. You’re a fighter, and I like that, but this fight you can’t win. So don’t waste your time.” He couldn’t be anybody other than who he’d become, so he let her see all of him.

Her breath hitched, and he didn’t give her a chance to argue. His mouth crashed down on hers, claiming her with all the emotion he didn’t know how to express. She gasped against his lips, her hands fisting in his shirt as she gave in to the pul l between them.

Fire and fury, the kiss turned into a battle of wills that spiraled heat through his body as if he’d been shocked. He swept his tongue into her mouth, tasting sass and berry tea, demanding everything she had to give. She met him with equal passion, her nails biting into his shoulders as if trying to anchor herself.

His hands moved to her waist, lifting her onto the desk with effortless strength. She made a sound—a mix of protest and surrender—but he silenced it with another kiss, his lips trailing down her neck to the twin indents he’d already marked her with. But they weren’t deep enough. Not even close.

“You drive me insane,” he murmured against her skin, his voice hoarse with need. “Do you have any idea how hard it is to know there’s someone out there who would kill you just to get to me?”

Her hands slid into his hair, tugging hard enough to make him growl. “I was re latively safe.”

“Relatively is unacceptable.” His lips trailed lower, his teeth grazing her collarbone. “I’m telling you that I’ll tear apart anyone who tries to hurt you. Keep that in mind next time you venture out a gainst orders.”

Her breath shuddered out, and she arched against him as his hands slid under her sweater. Her skin was warm beneath his palms, her heartbeat hammering aga inst his touch.

“Vero,” she said, her voice breaki ng on his name.

He pulled back just enough to meet her gaze, his hands framing her face. “You have never had anyone put you fi rst, have you?”

She blinked at him, her lips trembling, but she didn’t answer. She didn’t have to. H e already knew.

“I will, Lyrica,” he said, his voice fierce. “Every single day, I will put you first.”

Her lips parted, and for a moment, he thought she might push him away. But then she pulled him closer, her body melting into his as if she’d finally st opped fighting.

For the first time since he’d heard she was out there alone, the furious storm inside him shifted from anger to something else.

Hunger.

* * * *

Lyrica’s breath came in short, shallow bursts as Vero’s lips moved against hers, demanding and consuming. The weight of his body caged her in, pressed her against the desk, and shock slammed through her at how much she wanted to let him take over.

How much she wante d to trust him.

She plastered both hands against the hard muscles of his chest, and that defined masculinity made her knees weak. “Vero. Wha t do you want?”

“Yo u. All of you.”

Panic jerked her shoulders toward him. “ It’s too much.”

Slowly, he shook his head, his callused fingers brushing her bare abdomen. “No. There is no ‘too much.’”

She gulped, her lungs on fire. Her entire body felt like she’d been dipped into a volcano, and every time she breathed in, she breathed him. Male, wilderness, even the snow. “This isn’t sane. We barely know each other. Mating wa s an accident.”

His hands stilled on the sweater, his fingers merely touching her skin and shooting sparks of electricity to her clit. “My people? They believe in fate.” His gaze darkened to the blue of twilight just before the darkness sm others the day.

Her heart hitched and her brain rebelled. “Fate? That’s just a cop-out. An easy way out of taking a risk. Of taking r esponsibility.”

He whipped the sweater over her head, tossing it across the desk. “I’m taking responsibility. And I’m sure as hell taking a risk, woman. The question remaining is whether you have the guts t o do the same.”

“That’s a dare,” she whispered, her eyes widening. “Give me a break. I know what I’m doing.” But d id she? Really?

“Do you?” he asked, his tone cutting. “Because I’m not seeing it. What I see is someone who thinks she can take on the world alone, who refuses to acknowledge her own vu lnerabilities.”

Her lips parted to argue, but no words came. His gaze pinned her, sharp and unyielding, and she hated how much truth there wa s in his words.

“I’m not alone,” she said finally, her voice trembling despite her best effort to sound strong. “I’m h ere. With you.”

“Yet you’re still fighting us,” he said, his voice softening. “Still trying to prove you don’t need me.”

Her stomach twisted, the weight of his words hitting harder than she wanted to admit. She’d spent so long fighting for every scrap of independence, every shred of control over her own life, that letting someone else step in—even someone like Vero—felt like giving up.

“I don’t know how to let someone in,” she admitted, the words spilling out before she could stop them. Her voice cracked, and she hated herself for the vulnerability that crept in, but it was the truth.

Vero’s expression softened, though his eyes remained intense. “Baby, you didn’t stay in this territory because you wanted a job.”

Her mouth dropped open and she quickly shut it. Had she been that transparent? If she truly looked at herself, if she finally went for honest reflection, she’d been falling for the deadly warrior since the first day they’d met. That timeline she’d put on her job here had been to p rotect herself.

“I felt it too.” He cupped her face with one hand, his thumb brushing her cheek. “Dreamed at night about you. Wanted you. But I figured that I’d be dead soon, so I didn’t let myself dream in the dayligh t. Now, I can.”

His vulnerability, true honesty, halted any retort she might’ve made. “But your so-called fate took away t hose thoughts.”

“Fate just spurred me along,” he countered, one finger releasing her bra. “There was no turning back for either of us, but we just didn’t know it. I’m never turning back.”

The promise held weight. “What a re you saying?”

“I mated you as a demon. There’s no going back from that.” He kissed her again, scraping his fangs along her neck. “I want to mate you as a Kurjan. I am going to do so.” He flicked her ear, his chuckle low when she shuddered. “But not until y ou ask nicely.”

She couldn’t think with his mouth on her skin. “I, ah, I wouldn’t, um, hol d your breath.”

“Kurjans can hold their breath for hours.” Slowly, his fangs sank into her neck, right as his hand shot into her pant s, cupping her.

Her k nees went weak.

He licked the wound. “You taste like berries. Sweet with just a hint of sass.” He slipped inside her panties, brushing easily through wetness. “For now, I want a promise that you won’t go into danger again.”

Her breath stopped. If he just moved his hand slightly upward, she might orgasm. “I’m not, I mean, I don’t answer to you.”

He paused.

Awareness r an through her.

His free hand jerked her pants and panties right down to her ankles. “We can do this one of two ways. You’re gonna want to answer to me right about now. Promise me.” He plunged two fing ers inside her.

She cried out from the delicious invasion. Streaks moved across her vision. “No,” she gasped, so close to orgasm she h eld her breath.

“Hmm. Unfortunate.” His fingers twisted and he pressed his thumb against her clit, shooting her instantly into an orgasm that had her eyelids shutting and her body gyrati ng against him.

She whimpered as she came down, shocked. He’d taken her right over the edge with just his hand. Quickly. She blinked. So, defying him led to spectacular orgasms . Good to know.

“Wrong conclusio n,” he drawled.

She stilled. Had she said that out loud?

Still keeping his hand in place, he flipped her around. His other hand, strong and wide, flattened against her upper back and p ushed her down.

She went easily, turning her head on the cool oak surface, desire ripping through her. He kicked her legs farther apart with one booted foot and she tried to lift up and protest.

He kep t her in place.

Live wires uncoiled inside her, sending more wetness to co at his fingers.

He chuckled, brushing her clit again. “I’ve asked very nicely, Lyrica. Give m e what I want.”

She shut her eyes as more waves of pleasure rippled along her every nerv e ending. “No.”

The hand on her back slid up to clasp her neck, while he remov ed his fingers.

She bit her lip to refrain from moani ng. Or begging.

The air whistled, a slap echoed loudly, then pain careened thro ugh her bottom.

She jerked, trying to lift herself, but the hand on her nape kept her pinned. “What in the world ?” she snapped.

“The hard way,” he said congenially, span king her again.

Hard.

Her body jolted, and fire spread from her butt to her sex and up her entire torso to her breasts. She couldn’t breathe. Nobody in her entire life had dare d to spank her.

He nudged her legs even farther apart and slipped his hand between them, bru shing her clit.

She gasped.

“You might like this. We’ll see.” He spanked her again, setting up a hard and oddly rhythmic motion that forced her up on her tiptoes in a worthless attempt to a void the blows.

The pain spread with electric tingles through her skin, her body taking both pleasure and pain, confusing her.

At her nape, his hold relente d. “Stay here.”

“Or what?” she gasped, butt aching, her body empty and needing him. She flattened both hands on the desk to push u p. To defy him.

“Or I use my belt.”

She stopped moving.

“Good girl.” Clothing rustled, his head brushed her thigh, then he turned, between her se x and the desk.

“What—” She gasped as his heated tongue scraped across her clit. She relaxed against the desk, no longer wantin g to move away.

His hands grasped her butt, strong fingers digging into bruised skin, but before she could protest, his mouth and tongue went at her. Another orgasm rushed through her, and she gasped, her body vibrating . Then another.

She mumbled something ag ainst the desk.

Then he moved again, sliding back behind her. She was too spent to argue. The release of a zipper echoed around them, his hands grabbed her hips, and he powered inside h er to the hilt.

She stiffened, breathing out as pain and pleasure mixed so there were only feelings. All of them. Then he started to pound, holding her with rough hands, taking this time. Gasping, stiffening, she climbed toward that pinnacle, still unable to move. She felt him everywhere.

The desire to ask for his fangs, to ask nicely, as he put it, had her biting her lip again. She couldn’t think. Only feel. When she crested this time, she cried out his name, her body going lax as he shudder ed against her.

Silence fell.

She couldn’t move. She might ne ver move again.

He must’ve fixed his clothing before pulling up her pants and yanking his shirt over her head. Tugging her around, he ducked and tossed her o ver a shoulder.

“Wait. What are you doing?” she asked g roggily. Spent.

“Taking you to bed. You’re not ready to ask nicely to be mated by a Kurjan. However, you are going to promise to behave yourself and stay safe.” He punctuated the last with a firm slap to her abused butt. “I promise, before the night is over, you will give m e those words.”

It turned out the Kurjan war rior was right.