Page 68 of Fastlander Fallen

“But you stopped it. I saw you standing between us and the bear and the boar. And you separated Gunner and Owen, too.”

“They wouldn’t have been trying to kill each other if I hadn’t started the fight. I didn’t like it. I didn’t like being ramped up because of your foot, and I didn’t like thinking about what could’ve happened.”

“My foot feels fine, and I’m still kicking. I’m not that fragile, friend.”

He made a soft sound in his chest, pushed a loose tress of hair back from her face, and eased back to look her in the eye. “Call me Bat Boy before you call me friend anymore. That’s done.”

“Okay,” she whispered through a baffled smile. “Bossy vampire.”

“I’ll only be bossy when you want me to be.”

She leaned up and kissed him, then eased back by inches. “I kind of like it.”

He brushed his fingertips against her cheek and looked at her like she was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. She’d never felt prettier than she did in this moment. “You were scared tonight.”

“When I thought you were a tornado shifter? Yes. I thought you were going to blow the house down.”

He kissed her, bit her bottom lip gently, and then pulled her closer. He slid his hand down the front of her jean shorts, under her panties.

Corey spread her knees instinctively to give him more room as he slid his fingertips against her. He slowly rubbed up and down, and kissed her again. When he ended the kiss, he murmured, “Tell me you aren’t scared of me.”

“I’m not scared of you.”

“Tell me you understand.”

“Understand what?” she asked softly, rolling her hips against his exploring touch.

“Tell me you understand you are safe with me.”

“I trust you,” she said. “I understand.” And she truly did. She’d been paying attention. He got protective of her. Defensive of her. He didn’t like the way Owen talked about her, but even in the heat of battle, he’d pulled off to come inside and make sure she was safe. There was great value in a man like that.

She reached down and pulled at the hem of her baggy sweatshirt, and he helped her remove it completely.

“Now you,” she murmured.

“What do you need?”

“I need to feel your skin.”

He gave her a crooked smile as he pulled his hand from her panties and tugged his shirt off. She clumsily helped, and threw the thin fabric onto the floor with a soft laugh. His hair was all mussed, and she ran her fingertips through it. She reveled in the fact that he rolled his eyes closed and made a purring sound.

Corey lifted her hips and unfastened her jean shorts, then shoved them down her thighs. Now all that remained was her thin bra and panties.

He dug his fingertips into the grip at her hips as he dragged his hungry gaze down her body. The smile that took his lips was positively wicked.

“Jeans,” she whispered in the dim light of the single lamp in her bedroom.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Mmmm, are you going to let me be the boss in here?” she asked as he pushed his jeans down his hips. Now he had nothing on, and she ran her leg up his.

He grabbed her leg and slid his hand down to her knee, and then back up. “Soft.”

“I shaved.”

“Oh?” he asked, his dark eyebrows arching up. “You had plans for me?”

“It’s not my fault. You are a sexy vampire-lion who opens the door for me and calls me pretty and feeds me. This is on you.”

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