Nothing had ever smelled as good. Sex and flowers. Sin and temptation.
Paradise.
He climbed onto the bed. Settled between those long, silken legs, and put his mouth right between her thighs.
She whispered his name, and he kissed her through the thin silk of her underwear.
The panties were getting wet. Good. He wanted her wetter. He needed her wetter.
Marna had to be ready for him. She had to want this as much as he did.
Want me more than your next breath.
The way he wanted her.
His fingers slid under the panties. Found the tight entrance to her body. Thrust inside. She squirmed beneath him. Not trying to get away.
Closer.
He tore away her panties. Put his mouth against the flesh he wanted to taste. And he tasted. His tongue slid over her. Into her. Her hips arched and her breath panted out.
He licked. Learned every curve of her body.
She whispered his name.
He kept tasting. More. More.
She came against his tongue.
The first time.
The second time, he’d make sure she came when he was buried deep in her.
The climax had her stiffening beneath him. Arching her body. Closing her eyes.
He loved the taste of her pleasure. Rich, but sweet.
He jerked open his jeans. Pulled out his cock. Her body waited, open, perfect.
With one hand, Tanner guided his c**k to the entrance of her body. Her eyes were on him. Wide. Eager. No hesitation. No fear.
Jaw clenched, he began to thrust inside her. So hot. Hot and tight. He pushed slowly, yanking back on the beast and fighting for control as hard as he could.
“It’s okay.” Marna’s whisper. “I want you.”
But for her first time, he had to use care. Later, he’d let the beast break free. This time . . .
Has to be for her.
His mouth took hers as he pushed deeper into her. His tongue slid over hers. Her legs wrapped around his hips.
Nothing had ever felt so good. So damn perfect. Her sex wrapped around him, the best dream he’d ever had. Wet. Warm. Tight.
His muscles clenched as he fought the urge to plunge balls-deep into her. He wouldn’t hurt her.
Her nails dug into his shoulders. Her mouth broke from his. Her hips lifted up against his, demanding, even as she said, “More!”
Tanner gave her more. He pushed into her, one long, deep glide, and they both gasped.
So good. But . . . “Am I hurting you?”
Her nails dug deeper into him. “Give me the pleasure . . . again. ”
What his angel wanted, he’d make sure she got.
He withdrew, thrust, again and again. Sweat slickened his back, and he kept the beast inside chained up tight. Not too hard. Not too wild.
Not this time.
He caressed her breast. Sucked her nipple. Enjoyed the way her moans filled the air, and the lush scent of sex deepened in the air around them.
He took her hips and positioned her so that he could thrust deeper—and slide right over her clit with each move of his body.
She gasped his name again. Her sex tightened more around him. Her climax was close. He could see it in the blindness of her eyes, hear it in her gasps.
Close.
The panther snarled inside.
Tanner put his mouth on the curve of her shoulder. Licked her flesh. Scored her with his teeth.
Bite.
Beasts liked to mark what was theirs. After this, there’d be no denying what she was anymore.
Angel.
Fallen.
Mine.
He thrust. Withdrew. Thrust—
Marna came. Her sex clenched around him as pleasure flashed across her face.
That was what he’d wanted. Her climax milked his cock, silken strokes that shredded his control.
Mine.
Deeper. Harder. He drove into her. Again and again. He pushed her legs over his shoulders. Opened her to him completely.
Fast. Frantic. He plunged. The base of his spine tightened. He took her mouth. Tasted her—
And came harder than he ever had in his life. Tanner held tight to her, shuddering, as the pleasure pounded through him in a powerful wave that left him hollowed out.
But wanting more.
Of her, always, more.
His head lowered. He licked the small wound he’d made on her shoulder. She wouldn’t know the mark for what it was.
Claiming.
But he did.
“I understand.” Her voice was soft and satisfied.
Tanner forced his head to lift. His c**k was already getting hard inside of her again.
Her gaze found his and a smile lifted her face.
Fucking trouble. His chest began to ache.
“Now I know why.” She licked her lips, a fast swipe of her pink tongue. She’d offered to use that tongue on him before.
He thrust into her again.
Her eyes widened.
But he asked, “Why . . . ?” Not sure what she’d meant.
Marna’s smile widened. The sight took his breath away even as she said, “I know why humans are so interested in sex.”
Ah, getting that part, was she?
He pushed up onto his elbows and stared down at her.
“They fight, lie, even kill . . .” Her breath whispered out as he pushed into her. “For the pleasure.”
A pleasure that could make a strong man break.
Or drive him to destroy anyone or anything that came between him and the woman he wanted.
“I-I didn’t know . . .” Marna’s voice stuttered a bit as her hands curled around him.
He almost slid out of her, then pushed back.
“I didn’t know how good it would be,” she told him in a rush.
Tanner stilled and stared down at her. “Baby, it’s only gonna get better.” Time to show her that he was a man who could keep his promises.
Always.
Her sex was still slick from their releases. Pushing deep, he had her arching toward him. He rolled them, sliding so that she was on top, giving him one phenomenal view.
Her hands flattened on his chest. “Tanner, I—”
He locked his hands around her hips. Lifted her. He saw the flare of her pupils. She liked that.
Her knees pushed into the mattress as she pressed back down. Up. Down.
The second time should have been easier. Softer.
It wasn’t.
It was rougher. Harder.
She moved quickly on him, rising and falling, and he thrust into her wet heat. His hips pushed off the bed, and she gasped when he went deep inside of her.
Then Marna tried to take him even deeper.
Did she know her nails drew blood on his chest?
The panther growled.
His own claws wanted to break free—were breaking free. He yanked his hands up and away from her. The claws would be too sharp.
Not. Her.
He lifted his arms over his head and drove his claws into the wooden headboard. She stilled for an instant, and her gaze tracked up to his hands.