Page 13 of The Witch & the Hound
He groaned like I’d just punched the air out of his lungs. His forehead dropped to my shoulder. “Maggie.”
“What?” I asked innocently, biting back a grin.
“Don’t—” He hissed through his teeth, tail tightening around my thigh. “You’ll… you’ll never get rid of me like that.”
Laughter bubbled out of me before I could stop it. “Oh my God. Is that how it works? I clench and you’re stuck here forever?”
“You're already clenching, and I’m stuck here,” he shot back, half growl, half laugh, nuzzling my neck like he could hide his smile.
The absurdity hit me all at once. I was limp, sweaty, and attached to a barghest who’d just wrung me out six ways from Sunday, and somehow we were joking about it like two kids at summer camp.
He kissed the side of my neck, softer this time. “Don’t laugh. It’s dangerous.”
“For you or me?”
“For both of us.” He groaned again when I deliberately squeezed. “Gods, witch.”
I giggled into the pillow, the sound high and ridiculous. Then I sighed, settling back against him, warm and heavy. His hand kept stroking over my hip, my belly, soothing little circles that made me feel like I wasn’t just used; I was kept.
Safe. Wanted.
The pressure inside me finally eased. I gasped when I felt the thick swell at his base soften, slide, and we came apart with a slick heat that left me trembling.
I rolled to my back, panting. He started to move, but I caught his wrist.
“Stay.”
His brows knit, amber eyes glowing faintly in the dim light. “You want more already?” His grin flashed sharp, teasing.
Heat rushed to my face. “That’s not what I meant.” Then, grudgingly: “Though maybe.”
He chuckled, low and wolfish, and kissed my shoulder. “Don’t worry, witch. The first time, it’s always like that. Instinct. Barghest… wolf blood. The knot is nature’s way of making sure I don’t leave until I know you’re mine.”
“Nature’s bossy,” I muttered.
“You liked it.”
“I did not.”
His tail flicked against my leg. “You did.”
I huffed out a laugh and shoved at his chest, rolling him onto his back. He let me, though he could’ve stopped me with one hand. That restraint sent a thrill through me almost as sharp as his teeth had.
I propped myself on an elbow, staring down at him. Goddess, he was big stretched out like this, long limbs, broad chest, skin like velvet over muscle. His horns curved back, proudand dangerous, but his eyes had gone soft, watching me with something closer to wonder than hunger.
“I want to see you,” I admitted. “All of you.”
“Curious little witch,” he teased, hands folding behind his head. “Careful, curiosity has consequences.”
“Don’t threaten me with a good time,” I shot back, dragging my fingers down the center of his chest. His breath hitched when I skimmed lower, brushing the trail of dark velvet skin that led to where he was still thick and heavy against his thigh.
He caught my hand before I got too bold, pressing a kiss to my knuckles. “You’ll ruin me if you look at me like that.”
My heart squeezed in my chest. That wasn’t wolfish instinct. That was a man telling me he liked being under my hands.
I took my hand back and straddled his thigh, stroking him, watching him grow in my hands, watching his body respond to me. I licked him, tasted him until he coaxed me up his body.
I took him inside me again, only this time it was at my pace.
