His voice sounded gravelly, but he knew it was the strain of holding everything together. And also trying not to scare his newly deflowered mate with the strength of his needs.
Ava met his gaze, her eyes full of the fire he knew was in his. And then she lowered her gaze. Slowly. He felt that fire as if she were touching him and knew that this time would not be as gentle as the first.
He stepped closer and grabbed the hem of her T-shirt before slowly pulling it off her. She had bruises on her torso that already looked like they were fading. The rest of her clothes came off just as slowly. And she was still looking at his naked body.
The moment he picked her up and wrapped her legs around him, he lost all sense of himself. His movements were desperate, but he could feel the same in his mate. He didn't care who could hear them as they both took what they needed from each other.
It took hours to soothe his beast and his mate. And only when she fell asleep in his arms was his head clear enough to decide what he had to do.
They would leave tomorrow, but there would be some reckonings first.
Everyone who hurt Ava was going to die.