Chapter Twelve

Cora stood outside the narrow door, which blended into the castle wall. Her powerful eyes scanned the surrounding hills. She did not know what she had smelled out on the moors, but she knew it had not followed. With confidence, she looked away. Fear would no longer be her guide. She could trust her instincts, and at that moment, she was far from danger. Turning back to face the door, her heart quickened. Alex, on the other hand, was close at hand.

She pulled open the door and slipped inside. Her body still trembled with excitement as she reached for her kirtle draped on the first steps, steps that would bring her to her husband's room. She closed her eyes and inhaled Alex's scent. Eager to see him, she started to pull the fabric over her head, but then she stopped. A smile curved her lips.

Dare she?

Her body still burned with the power of the wolf and the thrill of the night.

Grasping her kirtle in one hand, she mounted the stairs. Her hips took on a sultry swing. She would be true to herself with the one man she knew would accept her. When she reached the narrow door she pushed it open.

Her eyes flitted to the warm fire that blazed in the hearth, then to the open window, and then to the man who was sitting up in bed, staring at her.

"Please God, tell me I'm not dreaming," Alex said, his voice low and husky.

A wicked smile curved her lips as she tossed her kirtle aside. She crossed the room, slowly. Her hands caressed her taut, lean body. She pulled her shoulders back, thrusting her full breasts out while she stared hard into his beautiful mismatched eyes. His tongue darted out and licked his lips. His eyes ravished her sleek form like a predator ready to pounce, making her whole body ache and throb. She hungered for his touch. His body grew hot and hard. Her own body burned, but instead of fighting it and being afraid of the fire, she savored it, reveling in the heat.

She stood in front of the bed, eying the blanket covering just above his hips. Her eyes raked over his strong, thickly muscled chest and arms, and the beauty of his chiseled stomach. Her eyes traveled past his hips and stopped to feast on the hard length of him, which the blanket could not hide.

Hunger surged through her, and she felt her teeth sharpen. She ran her tongue across her pointed canines while she stepped onto the bed and stood in front of him. Her hands skimmed down her waist, following the curve of her hips. Then she knelt and slowly crawled toward him, easing the blanket down his hips as she moved. Her heart pounded. Her body blazed. A growl rent the air, but it was not she who made the sound.

Alex gritted his teeth and reached for her, pulling her into his arms. He kissed her with wild abandon. His fingers roamed over her body, teasing her nipples, coursing down her waist, and then at last stroking her heat. She cried out when he slipped his finger deep inside her. She flung her head back and straddled him, letting his touch plunge deeper. She arched her back, running her fingers over her full breasts, but his lips forced her hands away, drawing a nipple into his mouth.

"Harder," she cried.

He growled again and tossed her off of him, pushing her back onto the bed. His fingers pulled on her nipples. Then his tongue and teeth raked across their hard, taut peaks. His hands squeezed her hips as his lips and tongue trailed down her stomach. And then his mouth hovered above her warmth, and she watched him inhale her scent. She arched her back as the ache within her begged for relief. His tongue delved inside of her, driving her wild. She hungered for the ache. She wanted to shatter. Her fingers gripped the bed, tearing at the sheet.

"I want ye," she cried. She reached down and grabbed his shoulders, pulling his weight over her. She writhed beneath him, spreading her thighs apart, arching into his warmth.

"Open your eyes," he said, his voice hoarse. Her eyes flipped opened and locked with his. "I want to watch your face while I make ye mine."

She felt the tip of his hardness against her wet heat, and then slowly he pressed into her. She closed her eyes and jerked her head to the side as sensation gripped her. But then his hand forced her head straight.

"Open your eyes," he growled.

She opened her eyes. Her hands reached up and cupped his face while he slowly sank inside her. And then he stopped.

She gritted her sharp teeth at him, thrusting her hips, but he continued to stare hard into her eyes while she writhed beneath his still, taut body. It was exquisite pain, a torture that drove her need higher and higher. A wicked smile curved his lips as he slowly eased his body out of hers—slowly, so slowly until his hard length pulled free and a rush of cool air caressed her. She cried out and gripped his shoulders. Agonizing pain shot through her, and then at last he thrust into her, hard. And then again, harder. She wrapped her legs around his hips. Arching against him, she lifted her hips to meet each thrust. The higher she rose, the greater the ache. Then her body seized. Shuddering, she cried out against the release that tore through her. Sweat dripped from his body, pooling with hers, and at last he cried out and poured himself into her.