Page 212 of Primal Bonds

“More,” she husked. “I need it harder.”

Oh, yeah.

Happy to oblige, he rolled over so she lay on her back on the sweaters. Bracing himself on his forearms, he gave her a deep, leisurely kiss and, when she wrapped her arms and legs around him, began thrusting again. Slow at first, and then, when she dug her fingernails into his ass and urged him on with broken cries, hard and fast.

Heated inner walls squeezed him. She breathed out his name and came, the pulsing of her sex almost sending him over the edge with her.

He gritted his teeth and slowed down, riding out her orgasm, and then pulled out. A few strokes against her abdomen, and a goddamned fireball exploded through him. He groaned and buried his face in her neck, breathing her in as he rode the searing wave.

In its aftermath, he curled over her body, breath sawing in and out of his lungs, careful not to put his full weight on her. When he could talk again, he pressed a kiss to each of her eyelids. “Thank you.”

Her low chuckle did funny things to his heart. “No thanks necessary.”

He heaved himself off her and then lay down beside her on the hard stone, half-off the sweaters. Somehow she found the energy to rearrange the sweaters so they made a small bed. He scooted over so he was fully on them while she rose to clean herself in the pool.

When she returned, she curled up next to him, head on his shoulder. He tucked her close to his side. He hadn’t figured her for a cuddler, but he liked it. He looked down at where her eyes were closed, her face relaxed. She looked so damn young. Too young to be a clan second.

His heart filled. I love you, he thought, but knew he couldn’t say it. She’d probably laugh in his face. Instead, he brushed his lips over her forehead.

Her eyes opened. “You didn’t have to pull out. If I did get pregnant, the clan would welcome the baby. We have so few cubs.”

“Even so. Since Evie, I’ve been careful.”

She glanced away. “I guess I’m not mom-material anyway. I…I’ll probably never mate.”

He made a low sound of disagreement. “You’d make a great mother.”

“How would you know?”

“Because you love with all your heart—your brother, your friends, your clan. And you’ve seen enough to know that life’s precious. Any kid would be lucky to have you as a mother.”

“Yeah?” She gave him a wistful smile. “Well, thanks.”

She was silent for a time, and then she pressed a kiss to the underside of his jaw. She smelled of sex and her own earthy spice. “You’re not what I expected.”

“Neither are you.”

“Mm. When I heard how Evie’s dad was never around when she was growing up, I figured you for a selfish ass. But then she told me about how you always seemed to show up when they really needed you, and I wondered why.”

“Don’t kid yourself.” He stared bleakly at the ceiling. “I am a selfish ass.”

“Maybe. But you love Evie, don’t you? I think you stayed away to protect her.”

He moved a shoulder. “I couldn’t be sure the king wouldn’t use her against me. Or worse, someone like Lady B. And as long as I’m under the geas, my life’s not my own.”

“Oh, Fane.” Her voice was sad. “You’re in deep, aren’t you?”

His stomach constricted. He hadn’t allowed himself to want for a long time. Not another person, anyway. But he wanted Marjani, bad.

He could guess what her life had been like up until now. The Baltimore Earth Fada were a small, poor clan. Most of their elders had died in those bloody feuds she called the Darktime. She’d probably had to fight for every last scrap she owned.

He yearned to pamper her. Drape her in pearls and diamonds, buy her flowers and chocolate. Indulge her with expensive clothes and trips to exotic, sunny places.

Evie’s mom had been a mistake, but he’d been good to her in his own way. When she’d found another man—one who loved her back and was willing to take on Evie—Fane had been happy for her. And he was older now, smarter.

But Marjani was her brother’s second, and intensely loyal. She’d never leave Adric and Baltimore.

And even though Fane was allowed his own women, there was no fucking way Sindre would allow him this woman. Besides, he was under a geas. Even if Sindre allowed it, it would just give the king power over them both.

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