To her surprise, he smiled. It was the first time she’d seen him do it fully.
“A demon takes pride in his teeth and claws. You’ve paid me a great compliment.”
So basically, judging by the look on his face, it was the demon equivalent of stroking his muscles and calling him manly.
“They’re very formidable,” she said encouragingly. “I wouldn’t mess with you on my best day.”
“I won’t hurt you.” As he spoke, his gaze flicked to where he’d bitten her neck.
Instead of looking regretful, however, his eyes burned.
“I know.” At least, she knew he wouldn’t intentionally.
“It healed.”
“What?”
“The mark.” He touched the spot gently with a claw.
She unwound their clasped hands and put her palms there, feeling around for the broken skin and finding nothing. Just hours ago, it had been unmistakable. How…? She shook her head.Guess it wasn’t as deep as it looked.
She dropped her hands, and he drew her hair back, making her shiver. Stooping, he touched his nose to the skin below her jaw and inhaled.
He was smelling her again. His chest expanded with breath, and when he exhaled, it rumbled with a growl. Her heart pounded until she felt lightheaded.
But when he stepped back, he was frowning. “You’re afraid.”
“No—”
“I can scent your fear. Do not lie.”
“I’m not scared of you.”
His eyes narrowed. He obviously didn’t believe her.
“Well, I am sort of, but not because— The truth is, I’m more afraid of…” She picked at her nightie seam again. “My reaction to you.”
“This form repulses you.”
“No!” Her eyes shot up. “No, it doesn’t. And that’s partly why I’m afraid.”
A crease formed between his brows. “I don’t understand.”
“It’s just, I find you very— You’re so big and… not human, and I, well, maybe it’s not right to— I feel like I shouldn’t— It’s overwhelming.”
She winced at her inarticulateness.What happened to no more stuttering?
“I don’t understand.”
She looked at him. She couldn’t not look at him. He was everywhere. The moment she did, her stomach flipped over, and something clenched in her lower abdomen.His eyes. The way he watches me. The sheer size of him…
His nostrils flared as he inhaled, and his eyes widened.
“You smell like fear and…” He inhaled again. “Arousal.”
In a flash, his hand shot out and wrapped around her throat. She should have screamed, but that wasn’t what happened at all. Her lower abdomen clenched again, but this time it was unmistakably rooted in her core.
He used his grip on her throat to tilt her head, and he pressed his nose to her exposed skin. A growl rumbled in his chest, and her heart pounded faster.
