His head rose and Az’s eyes locked on hers. She stared right at him, not seeming to see the monster that had to gaze so hungrily back at her.

Why couldn’t she see him? Why wasn’t she running?

I won’t let her run.

He kissed her neck. Scored her flesh with his teeth. Sucked the skin. Licked her.

“Az . . .” His name was a whisper of need that spilled from her lips. Her nails dug into his arms. “You don’t have to go easy with me.”

Good. Because he didn’t want easy or gentle. He needed hot and hard and wild.

His hands pushed between her legs. He wanted the clothes gone. Wanted flesh to flesh.

Her nails sank deeper into his flesh, marking him, as she arched her hips against him. “I don’t want to wait . . . not the first time.”

He yanked off her shirt. Threw it and her bra. Az kept her pinned with his body and stared down at her flesh. Pretty little pink ni**les. Full br**sts that would fill his hands. Perfect.

He lifted her higher, holding her easily, and took her nipple into his mouth.

She moaned. He licked her. Sucked her. His c**k shoved up from his open jeans, hungry, eager.

For her.

Holding her tight, he whirled away from the wall. Five steps, and he had her on the narrow bed. Two seconds, and he had her completely naked. She waited for him on the bed, arms on either side of her head, eyes on him.

He’d never taken a woman before. Angels didn’t need—

I need her. “What if I hurt you?” He didn’t want Jade to feel pain. Only pleasure. It was so important that she wanted him as much as he wanted her.

And Az wanted her more than he wanted his next breath. She had to feel the same.

“Don’t worry, I’ve already left scratches on you.” She smiled at him, and her dimple flashed. “You won’t break me.”

She still didn’t understand how dangerous he could be.

But he couldn’t warn her any longer. The need to take was too strong.

Az ditched his clothes and climbed onto the bed. She touched him, sliding her hands over his flesh even as she rose up to lick his nipple. The wet touch of her tongue sent desire knifing through him.

His c**k strained toward her. Her thumb stroked the heavy tip of his arousal, and then she brought her thumb up to her mouth and tasted—

Tasted him.

Az put his fingers between her spread legs. She was wet, warm. Ready for him.

He couldn’t wait any longer for her. It felt as if he’d waited too long already.

Centuries.

He caged her under his body. Pushed his hips between her legs. The head of his c**k brushed against her slick sex. His eyes held hers as he began to thrust.

Tight. So tight and hot—

Sweat beaded his brow. He couldn’t look away from her gaze. He knew she would see too much in his stare, but he couldn’t look away.

He wanted to pound into her and race toward the promised release, but she seemed so small beneath him. Fragile. Human.

Her nails scratched down the base of his back. Her hips slammed up to meet his.

Az’s control broke. He thrust into her as deep as he could go. She gripped him, her delicate, inner muscles straining around his cock, and the pleasure lashed through him.

His hands slapped onto the mattress beside her. He lifted up his hips. Withdrew. Drove deep.

Again and again and again.

She shuddered beneath him as her breath panted out. Her legs curled around his hips and her neck arched as Jade choked out his name.

Thrust. Thrust. He couldn’t get deep enough.

Her body was perfect. Her sex a fist-tight glove. The back of his spine tingled. His thrusts became harder. Deeper. He kissed her. Drove his tongue into her mouth even as he took her body.

He kissed her, became even wilder for her. His lips tore from hers and he pressed his mouth to her throat.

Then she screamed, and he knew that high cry was only from pleasure. Her climax rippled around him as her sex contracted. And he drove deeper into her. Az never wanted to let her go.

Couldn’t.

Thrust. Th—

His release ripped through him and seemed to consume him as the blasts of pleasure shook his body. And in that moment, he held on to Jade tighter than he’d ever held on to anyone or anything in his very long life.

Sex. Lust.

Pleasure.

The world seemed to splinter as he focused only on her.

Now he understood . . . now . . .

Need more. Must have her.

Temptation.

How was he supposed to resist?

Tanner walked slowly through the halls of the empty magic shop. Customers, even curious tourists, rarely came inside this place. Maybe they could feel its darkness, and it kept them away.