Page 32 of King of Forest and Fur

Leila shook her head. “I don’t understand why I can’t use my own powers to protect myself. If I can’t even do that, then…”

Rehn crossed over the blanket and gently took Leila by the shoulders. She didn’t resist, and instead leaned into him. He held her close against his chest, stroking her back.

“It’ll be okay,” Rehn said. “I may not have powers of divination, but I know my own power very well. I know my strength, and what I would do to protect those I care about. And I care quite deeply about you, Leila.”

She snaked her arms around his chest, laying her hands on his back. Her cheek pressed against him, nuzzling against his tunic with a sigh.

“But why?” she asked.

Tell her, his inner bear practically roared.

Instead, he cupped his hand against her cheek and pulled her head back to look him in the face. She did, those beautiful dark eyes sparkling with unshed tears. Rehn leaned down and kissed those tears away, trailing his lips down her cheek, across her jaw, and lingered against her throat.

“How could I not care for a woman as sumptuous as you?” he asked.

Leila gasped as he nipped gently at her neck. Then he let go of her and moved, hands trailing across her abdomen and breasts, until he was situated behind her. He moved her hair off the back of her neck and laid kisses across her exposed skin.

He held her close to him, his mate, and knew no matter her worries and fears that she was his. Completely.

FIFTEEN

LEILA

She was drowning in emotional vulnerability and desire all at the same time. There was something in the way Rehn held her with no bias, no disrespect, just passion. She reveled in the strength and security of his hold. The way his body was warm and molded to hers.

Leave it to her to let her head sabotage something that she could see herself being a part of. Her brain may be telling her to run, but her heart felt otherwise. Her true feelings might be buried under these clothes, but there was nothing more she wanted right then than to take them all off.

And she did just that. She found herself turning around in Rehn's strong arms and straddling him.

Leila closed her eyes and took a deep breath, feeling the warmth of Rehn's body against hers as she slowly sank into his embrace. The way his muscles tensed under her touch sent shivers down her spine, and she couldn't help but lean forward to capture his lips in a passionate kiss. Their tongues danced together, teasing and exploring, as she felt the hardness of his erection pressing against her.

Without breaking their kiss, she reached down between them and grasped his growing manhood through his pants, stroking him gently. A soft moan escaped his lips at the touch and he pulled her closer still, his hands roaming up and down her back while his hips rose off the blanket to meet her movements.

He gritted out. "You're going to be the death of me."

She could feel the heat radiating off him as he let out a low growl of pleasure into their kiss. As they broke apart for air, Leila looked into Rehn's eyes and saw the raw desire that mirrored her own. She couldn't remember ever wanting anyone or anything like this—it was overwhelming yet exhilarating all at once. She could feel herself getting wetter by the second just from their contact alone—she was going to put her mind to rest and have this man tonight, damn the consequences.

With trembling hands, Leila unbuttoned Rehn's shirt while he helped undo her blouse. Soon enough they were both bare-chested with goose bumps forming across their skin from the cool afternoon air hitting exposed flesh. Every brush of skin against skin sent tiny sparks up both of their spines.

Leila leaned forward again, this time planting kisses down Rehn's chest toward his waistband before looking up at him questioningly; he nodded eagerly in response, giving permission for what she wanted most—to take off these clothes that separated them so much more than they should be separated right now.

She quickly unbuckled his belt then slid it out of its loops before instructing him to lift as she pushed down his pants and briefs; revealing him fully erect and ready for action—and Leila found herself unable to resist any longer. She let out a soft gasp at the sight before climbing onto him once more so that they were now skin-to-skin everywhere except her pants.

“Stand up Leila, now, spread your legs,” he said with an intensity that rivaled the storm brewing on the horizon.

Leila stood as he slid her pants down her thick thighs. He growled with approval as he leaned his head in and smelled her arousal that was evident through her underwear.

With skilled hands, he removed her underwear and tossed them to the side. Unable to resist any longer, he grabbed Leila by the hips and slammed her down on top of him, her ass cheeks pressed firmly against his now exposed cock as she slowly rocked back and forth.

“That’s it, baby, take what you need,” he crooned in her ear. She was enjoying the foreplay but needed something more.

“I need you inside me, now, Rehn,” she said, her voice laced with angst and lust.

Rehn looked at her, his dark eyes filled with a lustful intensity. Without saying a word, he adjusted himself at her entrance, the tip of him teasing her warmth. He held her gaze with a wicked gleam in his eyes, drinking in the sight of her flushed face and dilated pupils.

"Now," she reiterated, barely able to form coherent words amid the waves of desire coursing through her veins.

With one swift move, Rehn obliged and guided her down, impaling her on his length. Leila let out a moan as she felt him, a perfect fit.

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