Deadly Kiss

LUCIAN

She stands there, driving me crazy with her scent, and I long to yank her into the stall with me—but I would never force her to be with me, no matter how burning my need.

“I did come to you for a reason,” she says quietly.

“I’m all ears, Princess,” I mumble, trying to focus.

“Am I right in thinking that you might want to—to take me back to the palace with you? So that we can—get to know each other?”

Oh Goddess, more than she could ever know. “You are right, indeed.”

“Will you…speak to my father?”

I have to laugh at that. “I hadn’t planned on kidnapping you, if that’s what you’re suggesting.”

She laughs too, but there’s an uncertain note in her voice. “I may have told my father a little lie…”

That stops me in my tracks. My whole body goes still, and I strain my eyes. Her outline is fuzzy—and so very far away from me. Unreachable. I turn the faucet to the cold setting and blast my body with icy water. Then I feel for my towel. She backs away from me as if any contact between us might be explosive.

“Please don’t get mad…you have to understand that I have my reasons for doing so.” Her voice is soft and nervous.

I wrap the towel around my waist, nodding. I need to calm my body the fuck down so that we can have a decent conversation. This stuff is important. My needs will have to wait, no matter how difficult that is in the circumstances. The cold shower didn’t do much for me, but her words are having a chilling effect.

I can understand her covering up the truth—or, at least, I tell myself I can—but I am curious what she has told him.

“I kind of told him that you asked me to come back with you to advise you on a matter…sort of like a job,” she says shyly—and I have to chuckle because it is adorable.

“Right…and what would this matter be?”

She shrugs. “I didn’t exactly get that far in my thinking.”

“Can I ask why you haven’t told him that we are—mates?”

Maybe she’s hoping she never has to tell him. Maybe she’s offering to come to the palace with me just to get me the fuck out of her pack’s mansion. Maybe she’s trying to work up the guts to tell me she’s in love with the male whose scent was in her bed.

She sighs. “Can’t you guess? I’m a princess…I’m supposed to stay home and marry a strong male who’ll become alpha in my father’s place. I’ve been groomed to be luna of this pack my whole life. I just don’t know how my father will react to the news…and honestly, Lucian? I kind of don’t want to let myself dive headfirst into a fantasy that I don’t even know if I can fulfill…”

“Okay.” My heart is thudding in paralyzing fear, but I try to look calm. What if she decides she can’t be with me, after all? I was getting too confident, after that kiss. It’s rare, but not unheard of, for a she-wolf to reject her mate. “I can understand that, I suppose. I’m not sure what to tell him, though—but I will work it out. For you…”

I think I see the outline of her smile. Her words twist around in my heart, though. I need to get her out of here, give her the freedom to see what her life could be, and get her mind off the damn male wolf I know is residing in there somewhere.

“Thank you. I just need a little time…”

“I think I can give you that, my love.” I step forward and she doesn’t back away this time. The idea of that male being with her has wound me up tight, and a devilish thought comes to mind. “But I think I’ll take my payment in the form of those lips,” I whisper before sealing mine over hers. The same glorious feeling returns. One of sparks and fire in my veins. She’s deadly; it’s far too addictive, how tasty she is.

She shocks me by pushing me back hard against the wall. She’s a lot stronger than she looks. Pressing her lips insistently to mine, she plunges her tongue into my mouth, invading me with her flavor. Taking and giving all at once.

Gripping her waist tightly, I yank her body as close as I can. I want her flesh to become my own, to absorb every feeling. I take a risk and grip onto her full ass, squeezing hard. Maybe too hard, I think for a moment, until she gasps and moans sweetly into my mouth, driving me wild with heat.

Our movements are messy and passionate as we desperately cleave to each other, longing for more. Her nails dig into my chest, creating a perfect balance of pleasure and pain that makes me growl. Her mouth moves to my neck, and she starts sucking and nipping at me. My whole body shivers, despite the heat I feel in my veins.

“Fuck!” I groan loudly, barely able to stand how intense this feels. I’m fit to burst, I can’t take much more. “Oh shit, this is killing me.”