Page 9 of Reaper
A blush darkened her cheeks.“I was going to ask you what animal you shifted into, but yes, I would love to see you shift.”
“Okay, but after, we will work up a list of your powers and see if there is any research that can point us in the right direction.Deal?”
She scrambled off his lap and nodded, eager to see what most humans would shy away from.
He almost growled aloud as his need for her flamed to life and almost overwhelmed him.There was no question that he wanted her from the moment he spotted her, but he needed her to trust him.He swallowed his desire, and willed his body to calm.
Taking deep breaths, he realized that being near her since she arrived at his home had mollified the wildness inside him, especially his wolf.He’d never met a shifter who had taken a mate, so he had no idea whether she settled him for that reason or another, but he knew that he loved it when she was near.He hated when she ran from him.The instinct to chase and claim grew each time he’d lost her.But she had trusted him this time, and he wouldn’t break that trust.
“You might want to close your eyes,” he said.
Her brows drew down in confusion but didn’t move to do what he suggested.
He shrugged before he reached for the back of his shirt and pulled it off over his head, taking the time to toss it onto the chair they’d vacated.Her eyes grew wide as she glanced over his naked chest.When he heard her breath catch, he willed his body to still, even though all this instincts had him wanting to pounce on her.Her eyes on him alone had his lower body responding and he swallowed, hard before he turned his eyes toward the ceiling.
“I have to get naked because I grow larger in my wolf form.”
A flush spread on her cheeks, and before he could appreciate the brightness that shone from her eyes, she flung her hand up to cover them.
His fingers fumbled on the button and zipper of his jeans, and by the time he slid out of the rest of his clothes, he could feel the heat of her gaze on him as if she stroked his body from head to toe.Her eyes landed on the intricate sleeve tattoo that covered his right shoulder and bicep.
“It’s—”
For the first time since they’d met, she took the initiative and stepped forward to touch him.The light caress of her fingers traced over the intricate design of sharp angles etched in black on his skin.Her touch was the most exquisite feeling he’d ever experienced in his existence and he found the next words flying out of his mouth.
“The assassins all have sleeve tattoos.”
Her soft touch as she studied the ink had his wolf howling to get out and for a split second, his tight control slipped.His hand slid underneath her hair and cupped her neck, holding her gaze as her loud intake of breath caught his attention.
The silent question hung between them and she answered when she closed her eyes and slanted her body closer.
His other hand slid to her hip and the moment her softness pressed against him, he could no longer hold back.He brushed his tongue over the corner of her bottom lip, loving the vibration of her moan against his mouth that encouraged him to continue.She lifted herself on her toes to get closer to his mouth, and his mouth curved against hers.
“Please,” she begged when he didn’t deepen the kiss.
What was left of his control snapped and in the next moment, he devoured her mouth in a kiss that devastated his senses.He could smell her sweet desire that drifted around them and loved when her body arched into his, as she kissed him back with abandon.
When she moaned aloud, he took advantage and slid his tongue inside.
He quickly grew addicted to the sounds he drew from her and the taste he sipped from her lips, and for a long while, forgot about everything but Ara in his arms.
He hadn’t meant to get carried away with the passion that threatened to drag him under.With a rush of clarity, he knew he had to end the kiss.She needed to become comfortable with her powers, and as much as he wanted to continue to explore the heat that flared between them, they needed to learn and develop them to keep her out of danger.
With trepidation, he broke the kiss before he trailed his lips to the spot underneath her earlobe.They would have all the time in the world to explore.Later.Fuck.
“Ready?” he asked.
A shudder passed through her.“Yes, I would like to see.”
He gave her a smile before he stepped back, giving himself room.The heat that indicated the shift had begun shivered down his spine, and he closed his eyes as instinct took over.Falling to his hands and knees, he could feel his back arch, but not from pain.He relaxed the muscles that wanted to tense and let the natural process take over.A few moments later, he opened his eyes and searched for her reaction through his enhanced vision.
The heightened senses he experienced as a wolf focused on the flecks of gray in her light-brown eyes as they roamed over his form, and the infinitesimal tilt of her mouth as her heart beat faster at the sight of a giant timber wolf so close to her.He could feel her excitement at what she had witnessed, but he didn’t move as he studied her emotions to see whether she feared him.When he found no fear in her, he let out a whine of warning before he paced toward her.
“Reaper?” she asked in disbelief.
He moved closer and let out the low growl she had become used to.
She surprised him when her smile widened and she dropped to her knees, her gaze even with his.She studied his eyes for a long moment before she lifted her hand.Her hand stilled as if she were unsure whether she could touch him, but he couldn’t stand the distance between them.
