Page 60 of Wild Games

“You’re not going to die.” I take another step closer.

His whole body goes rigid, muscles tensing, fighting not to move. Another step. I can feel the heat radiating from him now, and can see the way his chest rises and falls too quickly.

“My wolf wants to claim you.” The words come out guttural, forced through clenched teeth. “Right now. He’s barely under control.”

“Good.” I close the final distance between us, watching his whole body go rigid. “Because I want to be claimed.”

Nothing like laying it all out there. I never thought I’d be begging my mate to mark me, but here we are.

“Camille.” My name is half warning, half plea. “Don’t.”

“Don’t what?” I reach up to touch his face, feeling him shudder at the contact. “Don’t want you? Too late for that. Don’t trust you? I trusted you with my life tonight, and you saved me.”

When I press closer, I feel his control fracture.

His hands come up to grip my arms, but the chains snap them back, too short to let him reach me.

“Once I mark you, it can’t be undone. You’ll be tied to me forever. To this.” He gestures at himself, at the basement around us, and the heavy-duty chains.

“Good.” I meet his glowing eyes. “I want all of it. The wolf who saved me. The healer who took care of me. The man who’s trying so hard to protect me, that he’s hurting himself.”

Something breaks in his expression. The careful control he’s been maintaining cracks, and he shows the raw need underneath.

“I can’t be fixed.” The words are desperate.

Ignoring his warning, I slide my hands up his chest, feeling his heartbeat racing under my palms. “I want you exactly as you are.”

Giving into temptation, I reach up, threading my fingers through his hair.

He stares at me for a long moment, searching my face for doubt or fear. When he doesn’t find any, something shifts. His mouth crashes down on mine, all teeth and desperate hunger. There’s nothing gentle about it, nothing careful. It’s just raw need and possession and everything he’s been holding back.

I meet him with equal fervour, showing him without words that this is what I want.

What I choose.

When he pulls back, we’re both breathing hard. His eyes are pure wolf now, glowing in the darkness. He tugs at his chains like he just remembered they were holding him in place.

A growl rumbles through his chest, but I ignore it, dropping to my knees in front of him.

His whole body goes still. “Camille...”

“Trust me.” I look up at him, letting him see my determination. “Let me show you I’m not afraid.”

27

JAX

“What are you...” The words die in my throat as her hands move to my waist. Her fingers tease open the tie on my scrubs, and my brain short-circuits.

“Shhh.” She grips the material, holding my gaze. “Just watch. Feel. Let me take care of you.”

She pulls the fabric down slowly, deliberately. The scrubs slide over my hips, catching briefly before continuing down my thighs to pool around my ankles. The cool basement air hits my heated skin, and I realize I’m already hard, and have been since her scent first hit me.

Conflicting emotions burn through me, making me strain back against the wall. I want her too much to keep control.

“Don’t.” The chains rattle violently as I try to pull away, but there’s nowhere to go. The stone is cold against my bare skin, rough texture scraping my shoulders through the thin shirt. “This isn’t...”

Licking her lips, she tilts her head with a wicked smile.