Page 42 of Escaping Wonderland

Once the bow was undone, he hooked his fingers beneath the lacings. Their backs brushed over her soft skin as he worked his hands up, loosening the laces a little at a time.

Alice shivered, and her breath quickened.

The dress parted, and the top sagged when he pulled the ribbon free of the uppermost loops, giving him a clear view of her bare back. He couldn’t stop himself from lightly trailing a finger down her spine.

Her breath hitched, and she tensed. “Shadow…”

He caught a hint of her arousal on the air as he slid his finger beneath the lowest open portion of the dress to brush his claw along the cleft of her ass. “Alice…”

A tremor ran through her. Suddenly, she stepped away, turned, and pressed a hand against his chest. Without a word—without even making eye contact—she pushed him out of the room and closed the door in his face.

Shadow’s tail twitched, and he blinked. He’d been too caught up in his own excitement to realize what she was doing before it was too late. Curling one hand into a fist, he settled it lightly on the door and leaned his forehead against it while droppinghis other hand to his groin. His cock ached; he couldn’t recall ever reacting this way to a female. He couldn’t recall ever being in discomfort—especiallythismuch discomfort—for wanting something so badly.

Against his will, his fist opened, and his claws scratched the wood. “Alice? Did I do something wrong?”

“No,” she said, her voice slightly muffled by the door. “I’ll be out soon. Promise.”

Suppressing a groan, Shadow squeezed his throbbing cock. Her scent lingered on the air and in his nostrils; how easy it would be to open the door, to go throughit, and have her. She was on the cusp of giving in to her desire. She was soclose. It would only take a little push for her to cross that line and fall into his arms.

Shadow glanced down at himself, noting the dried mud, muck, and grass clinging to his clothing. He had some cleaning up of his own to do. She could have this bit of time to herself; when he returned, she would be his.

He grinned. “Take your time, sweet Alice. When you get out, I’ll be waiting.”

CHAPTER 12

Alice stared across the bathroom with wide eyes. Her back was pressed against the door, and her chest rose and fell with quick, shallow breaths. She could almostfeelShadow on the other side of the door. The warmth left by his fingers brushing over her back lingered, and, for a moment, she wished he’d come through that door to pursue her, to touch her again, to follow his hands with his lips and tongue…

So why had she just run from him?

Because I’m confused and scared.

She was scared of his intensity, scared of what he made her feel, scared of what would become of them, just…scared.

But God, I want him.

It would have been so easy to have just turned around and embraced him, kissed him, welcomed him into her body.

He’s an alien! He has cat ears, claws, a tail, and?—

Oh, who was she kidding? She didn’t care about any of that. Interspecies relationships were common all over the place, and though she’d never been in one, she found his differences even more intriguing.

He’s utterly insane!

Even that didn’t matter. She knew that, beneath the surface, he was a broken man.

He’s dangerous, unpredictable.

She still wanted him. Her body trembled with need, and her thighs were slick with desire. His slightest touch had aroused her so swiftly.

He’d never hurt me.

Whywas she fighting this?Whywas she resisting? What did it matter that she didn’t know him? This place, this simulation, wasn’t real. Anything she did in here, with him, wouldn’t matter in reality. Why deny herself? No one would know. She could take what she wanted, submit to him, enjoy herself.

Play the game.

Could she?

And even if it was real…

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