“I know. You don’t need to do anything.”
“Ya took care of me. Now it’s my turn.”
His voice took on a husky quality that warmed me. It was almost comical to watch his huge hands open the small Band Aid wrapper and place it carefully on my forehead.
“There, all better.”
But he didn’t move. Neither did I.
We just stayed that way, his fingers trailing down my cheek and jaw as his hulking frame knelt between my legs. I wanted him to run those claws down my throat and between my breasts, to feel the clutch of his strong hands on my hips as he pulled me forward. I wanted to bury my face in his neck as he drove into me. This vision came on so suddenly and so clear, taking my breath away and making me wet. I knew that he smelled how he affected me because his nostrils flared and his eyes closed, as if he were savoring the scent.
“You shouldn’t want me,” he whispered. “Mundanes don’t like monsters like me.”
“That’s rubbish.”
His eyes flew open on a chuckle.
“Is it now?”
I flushed and bit my bottom lip. Fraser’s gaze zeroed in on it and I knew, like I knew my own name, that he wanted to kiss me.
“Monsters like you,” I breathed, “are the stuff of fantasies.”
“Yers?”
His hands landed on each side of me on the bed, caging me in as he pitched forward. I leaned back on my own hands, my back arching so that my breasts were thrust forward. The tip of Fraser’s nose grazed my throat and collarbone as I trembled beneath him. My breath came in short gasps and I was hot all over, but especially where he’d bitten me. It throbbed and ached, matching the sensation building between my legs.
I wanted say ‘yes’, to reveal to him how much I wanted his teeth and claws to mark me more. None of it made sense. I’d only just met him, and while it had been a while, I was never one to have casual sex. But since last night, nothing felt casual between us. The connection was raw and illogical, it defied every box my mind tried to place it in. And inexplicably, I found myself running head on for it.
One huge hand came to my waist as his tongue began to slip under the neck of my blouse. The hot, rough feel of him had me gasping. As his hand began a slow ascent up the side of my body, his chest rumbled with a growl that I felt everywhere. I was just about to beg him to take me when the phone on one of the nightstands gave a shrill ring.
Fraser leapt back as if I’d burned him, our eyes meeting with mutual shock and barely concealed arousal. For a second, neither of us moved, our bodies heaving as if we’d just finished a run. Finally, when it registered that the phone was still ringing, Fraser ripped the receiver off the cradle.
“Aye?” he snapped. “…Okay…I understand, Angus…No, I—… There’s no reason to—…Fine.”
He slammed it back down and stalked away from me.
It took me another moment to collect myself, to know that my voice would not betray the molten desire that had been over taking just a minute ago.
“Trouble?” I asked.
“Aye. Scuffle with some of our men and the Campbells. Angus is furious, still thinks that it was them on the train no matter what I’ve told him.”
“This could be the artifact,” I said, grateful for something to bring us back to the mission at hand. “You can’t blame him.”
“I know that, but if he’s not thinkin’ straight, it’s gonna cause serious problems.”
I nodded, my mind focused again problem solving. Even though the mission had become fraught with difficulties and dangers, it was still a hell of a lot safer than the territory Fraser and I had been in just a moment ago.
“Then let’s see if we can figure out a few things before we arrive tomorrow. Who was the most vocal in their disapproval? Or might the most to gain by the marriage not happening?”
Fraser’s shoulders slumped.
“Reuben, he’s Lizzie’s brother. He was furious at Angus for breakin’ things off with her and enterin’ an engagement with Imogen. But he was never a hot head, and I don’t think Reuben would ever do anythin’ to put the clan in danger.”
“But sometimes emotions cloud judgment.”
Fraser’s eyes shot up to mine and I knew exactly what he was thinking.