My heart stalled for a moment at the endearment. Because that’s what it was, an actual tender word. And I felt the protective, cold shell covering my broken heart — yes, it had been broken, shattered, really, from the mind rape — melt some and begin to heal. And that hurt and scared me. “Don’t…” I sucked in a harsh breath. “Don’t mess with my heart…please.”
His thumb brushed back and forth over my jaw, again dragging his wedding ring along my flesh. Not backing away, he spoke bluntly. “I’m just as scared and confused as you, thrown into this situation our previous selves decided for us. But I did marry you. I chose you even if I’m only just beginning to see why from a stranger’s eyes.” Said green eyes flittered over my face. “I give you my word…I won’t hurt your heart.” His lips stroked mine slowly as my breath caught.
And I wasn’t quite sure how it happened, between my heart seizing at his brutally honest words and our mouths melding together, but somehow he ended up under the covers with me, lying directly on top of me and lifting his arms as I pulled his silk shirt over his head and tossed it away. His hard, warm chest connected with mine and I groaned, pressing my soft curves up against him and instantly grabbing onto his back, digging into the muscles flexing there. His pulled his mouth away from mine, breathlessly muttering a curse as he lifted his hand away from my face to dig into his pant pocket.
“Just a second,” he rumbled, his eyes holding an apology as he pulled his cell phone out and hit a number on it, listening with it at his ear, but it didn’t stop his mouth from reconnecting with mine. Even as I kissed him back just as generously and hungrily as he was me, I heard a masculine voice answer, and Ezra lifted his lips from mine, muttering into the receiver, “Guard my tent. I don’t want anyone entering, not even you.” The voice over the line said something, apparently assenting because Ezra snapped the phone shut, dropping it beside us to grip both sides of my face…and his warm and slick tongue dove inside my mouth, sliding against my tongue before I could warn him.
Spiced heat exploded on my senses, and I groaned deeply at the potent, intoxicating taste, which was uniquely my husband’s own. My wolf woke instantly, growling quietly, and Ezra froze for a moment before blurring his head back to stare me in the eyes. I didn’t move, wondering what my wolf was planning for him as I rubbed my tongue on the roof of my mouth, savoring his taste. Ezra stared as I continued growling softly, and he stated slowly, “Just like I knew before seeing those videos that hybrids could do an Awakening,” a slow blink, “I somehow just know that Shifter sex the first time around is rough…and I think I just woke your wolf.”
I nodded once and blinked, realizing my eyes were glowing dimly, their blue glow slightly on his face. “Yes, it is, until the partner proves himself.” My wolf was riding my voice hard, but my eyebrows puckered as I felt my wolf staring out at him. “But I think my wolf already considers you mine, and me yours, since we’re married.” Another blink…yes, I was feeling my wolf’s satisfaction and basic hunger for this man. “Otherwise, this would be going a whole lot differently right now.”
He stared as a soft chuckle escaped, a bit of real amusement gracing his features. “Since that wasn’t general knowledge I had before the mind sweep…”
My grin was real. “It would be nice to remember what our first time together was like.”
His eyes were at my lips. “I’m sure I didn’t run, since I don’t run well.” His tongue peeked out, and I almost groaned at the sight as he slowly licked his bottom lip, his predator growling just as quietly as mine was. “It’s safe to kiss you now?”
I nodded, and I did what I wanted — hell, what even my wolf wanted — and pulled his head down to press my lips to his, instantly sliding my tongue back inside his mouth to run it across his, wanting to taste him again. I groaned at the sensual glide, our tongues sliding against each other, and heard his Vampire growl more loudly as the warmth in my gut started to burn brighter, filling me with fleshly heat. His hands fisted my hair, turning from gentle to dominant as he tilted my head the other way, his tongue diving in more forcefully, owning my mouth as he tasted every part and only just pulling back enough so I could do the same.
Drowning in what our mouths were doing, I hardly noticed when he lifted some of his body weight off me, altering his position as his knees slid over, then between mine, spreading my legs so his thick cock nestled directly against the wet heat of my core. His deep moan vibrated against my chest as he ground against me. I lifted against him, but I shook my head because I wanted to taste him, all of him.