“You should answer,” I said.Even though every instinct screamed at me to toss the phone out the window.

She hesitated, then picked up.“Hey, Mom.No, I’m fine.Really.”She rolled her eyes.“Yes, I know what the news said.No, he’s not holding me hostage.No, I haven’t hit my head.”Ariel sighed before she paused and listened to the other end.“Because I like him, okay?”

A primal satisfaction flared in my chest at her casual admission.

She glanced over at me for a moment before looking away.“Look, I’ve got to go.See you next weekend, okay?Love you!”She hung up a minute later, tossing her phone onto the couch.“Sorry about that.”

“Don’t be.”I wanted to wrap myself around her like a blanket and devour her lips until every bit of myself was melded with her.

Ariel cleared her throat and stood up.She gathered the empty takeout containers and stacked them inside the delivery bag.She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear nervously.“I should get some sleep.It’s late.”

I jumped to my feet and grabbed her elbow.“Ariel.”Her vulnerable eyes gazed at me and all I could think about was kissing her until her lashes fluttered closed.It was time to stop running.My thumb traced her silky soft cheek and before I could fuck it up and talk myself out of it, I dipped my head and crashed my mouth onto hers.We were past gentle hesitation.I was ready to take what was mine.

Her breath hitched before melting into a soft kittenish moan.

It wasn’t gentle.Teeth and tongues collided with zero subtlety.It was fire and need and weeks of pent-up passion crashing into one searing moment.My hands slid into her hair, knocking her glasses askew as I pulled her closer.She made a sound against my lips, half-laugh, half-moan, and then we were moving, stumbling back toward the bedroom, shedding layers between frantic kisses.

I backed Ariel against the door, my mouth claiming hers in a hungry kiss.She tasted like alcohol from the sake and a sweet flavor that was all Ariel.It was a heady mix that made my blood run hot.I had to consume her.My hands roamed her body, greedy for every curve, every line.I was going to possess her, to make her mine in every way.

Her hands clung to my arms, her fingers digging in as she pulled me close.The sting only excited the wolf.It clawed at my chest, testing the boundaries of my control.Mine!The beast roared for me to take her and dominate her.To mark her as ours.

“You drive me crazy, you know that?”I murmured against her lips.My hands slid up to tangle in her hair.I gripped the blonde curls tightly, wrenching her head back to expose her neck.She gasped, her eyes widening with surprise and desire.I leaned down, my mouth finding the soft flesh where her neck met her shoulder.My teeth grazed the soft spot where her pulse was so close to the surface.I taunted us both with how easy it would be to sink my teeth in and mark her.

Every untamed instinct roared approval as I imagined my teeth breaking skin, branding her where anyone could see.

Her breath caught in her throat.She pressed her body to mine until her heart pounded against my chest.I released her hair, my hands moving to her blouse.I undid the buttons slowly, my eyes never leaving hers.She swallowed hard, her chest rising and falling rapidly as I stripped her bare, one piece of clothing at a time.

Once she was naked before me, I stepped back, taking in the sight of her.She was so small, so delicate compared to me.I felt like a monster looming over her, a beast ready to consume her.Her eyes watched me, wide and eager behind her glasses.I cupped her generous breasts and brushed my thumbs across her nipples until they hardened into peaks.She was the perfect blend of soft curves and wild heat that beckoned my hands to follow them.My palms traced over the gentle curve of her tummy and the dip of her hips, becoming familiar with what was mine.All mine.Her chest heaved with rapid breaths as I stroked her.And when her eyes dropped to my belt, my cock jerked in response, as if it felt her touch.

“On the bed,” I ordered, my voice leaving no room for argument.She complied, sitting on the edge of the mattress, and worrying her bottom lip between her teeth as she waited for my next command.She was nervous, but she wanted this.She wanted me.

Her trust in me and willingness to obey was overwhelming.Every part of my body and brain felt that this was perfect and right.I stalked towards her and her lips parted in anticipation.Fuck.Wasting no time, my hands gripped her hips and pulled her to the edge of the bed.I stood between her knees and felt like a beast, my body towering over her.The wolf clawed to the surface.Mate her.Dominate her.Mark her.

By the end of tonight, I was going to obliterate all of her boundaries.My palm locked around her throat, thumb pressing just enough to feel her swallow.Collaring her, testing, claiming, needing that surrender.Her eyes widened and her breath quickened.She swallowed and I saw the fear in her eyes.But she didn’t pull away.A dark voice whispered in my head.She was mine to possess.Mine to control.Beneath my thumb, her pulse raced.At this moment, I held an enormous amount of power over her.The scent of a fresh rush of her arousal hit my nose.My wolf went wild at the scent of her sweet honeyed musk.She was turned on by this.My length swelled and I flexed my grip a little.

“You’re mine, Ariel.”My thumb brushed against her pulse point.“Every inch of you belongs to me.”

She cried out, her hands reaching up to grasp my wrist, but she didn’t push me away.Instead, she held onto me, her eyes filled with a mix of fear and desire.

I released her neck, trailing my hand down her body, between her breasts, and over her stomach, until I reached her wet heat.She moaned, her hips bucking against my touch.I slid a finger inside her, her tightness making me groan.“So wet for me, Ariel,” I murmured, my voice rough with need.“So ready.”

I added another finger, stretching her, preparing her for what was to come.She writhed beneath me, her breath coming in short gasps.I leaned down, capturing her mouth in a brutal kiss, swallowing her cries as I brought her to the brink with my fingers.

But I didn’t let her come.Not yet.I needed her desperate and writhing for me.I pulled back, my eyes locked onto hers as I brought my fingers, slick with her wetness, to my mouth.I sucked them clean, her taste exploding on my tongue.“Delicious.”

I stepped back, shedding my shirt and then undoing my belt and sliding my pants and boxers off.My shaft was rock hard, the tip already leaking with anticipation.I took my length in my hand and stroked up and down, making sure to spread the moisture along my shaft.She was captivated as she took in the sight of me.

I gripped her chin gently, tilting her head up to look at me.“Don’t be scared, Ariel,” I soothed.“Do you trust me?”

Her eyes searched mine for a moment before she nodded.“Yes, I trust you.”

I grabbed a silk tie from the nightstand.Wrapping it around her wrists, I tied them to the headboard.She watched me, her breath coming in short pants, but she didn’t protest.Once she was secured, I turned my attention back to her body.

My lips followed my hands, starting from her neck down to her breasts.I lavished attention on each one, sucking her nipples into hard peaks.Continuing my exploration, my mouth and hands roamed every inch of her skin, claiming it as mine.

Sucking one hardened nipple into my mouth, I let my teeth graze the sensitive flesh before moving onto her other breast.Ariel arched off the bed, a cry escaping her lips, half-pleasure, half-pain.I released her nipple with a pop, my hand coming up to smack the side of her breast, not hard enough to hurt, but firm enough to leave a pink mark.She gasped, her eyes flying open in surprise.

“You like that, don’t you?”I growled.I did it again, smacking the other breast, watching her flesh bounce and her eyes widen.She squirmed beneath me, her breath coming in short pants.I could smell her arousal growing stronger, her body responding to my dominance.