Page 44 of Alpha's Claim

Plus, Teddy said he wouldn’t hurt me.

But Darius seems to think he will.

“This isn’t right. I didn’t want you to see that.” Darius carries me to the bedroom. “Lock the door. Lock me out. You’re not safe with him.” He tries to set me down, but I cling to his neck and wrap my legs around his waist.

“Not safe with whom? Teddy?”

“With me.” He walks over to the bed and tries to deposit me, but I still refuse to be put down. If he thinks I’m going to be locked in a bedroom again–even if it’s for my safety–he’s delusional.

“I’m safe here.”

“Not with me. Not with my bear.”

I lean my forehead against his creased one. “I’m okay,” I murmur against his skin. As if he were my horse, Starlight, spooked by something on a ride, I hold the presence of quiet for him. “I’m okay. Nothing bad happened. We’re okay here together now.”

He climbs onto the bed with me still in his arms and lowers us together, his naked body covering mine. We lock eyes. His still have the wild glow of amber–I understand now what I’ve been seeing. Darius isn’t human–he is something altogether different. Maybe that’s why I was so drawn to him from the very beginning.

I sensed he was nothing like the wretched men who have surrounded me for the last ten years. I mistakenly assumed he was one of them, there to buy me, but my bodyknew he was different. My body went electric in his presence.

He’s my electric yes.

I reach up and touch his face. “Darius.” His eyes burn bright, blazing with his animal side.

He lowers his mouth in a ferocious kiss. He pries my lips apart with his tongue as his hips settle in the cradle of my legs.

I reach for the tie of the sweatpants to unknot it. I manage to get it undone and shove the waistband of the sweats down the curves of my hips.

“Paloma,” Darius rasps. “I don’t know if I should–”

“You should. We’re okay,” I murmur. “We’re okay.“

“It’s not safe,” Darius insists between desperate kisses. “I’m not safe. Being here with you on this mountain…” He rips open the flannel shirt I’m wearing, popping all the buttons. He’s better than a Viking. He’s glorious.

“You see? I’m out of control.” He rents the fabric of my pink satin cami in half.

My exposed breasts bounce out, nipples taut.

He lowers his mouth, like he’s desperate to get his lips over my nipple. He sucks hard, and I cry out, the answering tug between my legs making the flesh tighten there.

“Sorry.” He lifts his head, breathless. “Was it too much?”

I grasp his ears and guide his head to my other nipple. “No. Keep going.”

He swirls his tongue around it. Scrapes his teeth.

The suave, controlling lover from the beach house is gone. I thought nothing could top him, but it turns out, there was something even better.

Because IloveDarius unhinged.

This rough passion is the magic that creates legends.

“I’m sorry.” Darius is still apologizing for his animal side. His rough hands tug me down on the bed, so he can nip at my neck. I sense his internal struggle, guess that he doesn’t like to be this way. To show this side of himself.

Finally,his brother said when he changed form.

Perhaps he’s rejected this side of himself. Exchanged it for the manicured Wall Street Hedge Fund manager. He’s at odds with the two sides of himself.

“No…no!” He roars, shaking his head so hard his neck cracks and snaps. My sense is that he’s not talking to me–he’s talking to his other half.

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