The consuming hunger was still there, held barely in check. He moved a little slower. Softer.

Sweat beaded his upper brow. His hands, though lethally strong, were lighter on her flesh.

Gentleness. She’d only expected heat and hunger.

“I won’t break,” Jade told him.

“I’ll never let you.” A vow.

He kept the easier motions. Lighter, but still just where she wanted him. Now she could arch her hips against him, and every drive of his body rubbed against her clit. The sensation was a pure stroke of pleasure that vibrated through her body.

“I won’t lose you,” he said, the words a growl but his hands still gentle on her body.

She wrapped her legs around his hips. Her body was tightening and preparing for the release that was just moments away. She could feel it building inside her. Az leaned close to her, and Jade bit the curve of his shoulder.

He shuddered, but the control he’d grabbed didn’t break. He thrust slow. So slow. Forcing the pleasure on her with each movement of his body.

No, not forcing pleasure. Giving it to her.

She wanted to give to him.

“You make me want more than any other.” His hands rose. Found hers. His fingers threaded through hers and held them locked to the mattress. “How?”

She could only shake her head. “Az . . .” Jade trembled beneath him. “Harder.”

But he wasn’t giving her harder. He was controlled. Measured. And she was about to go out of her mind.

“Az!”

He drove into her. Again. Again. He bent and his tongue swirled over her breast. Her sex contracted greedily around him.

“This time, we take it slow.” His jaw clenched as he gritted the words. “I almost . . . lost—”

She spread her legs wider, lifted her hips, and he sank in deeper.

Her head tipped back at the hard stab of pleasure. Good, but . . .

He lifted her arms above her head. Caged her wrists with one hand. Then Az let his right hand stroke between their bodies. His broad fingers pushed down between her legs. Found the center of her need.

“I want to see . . . you . . .” Voice rougher, his touch became more demanding. He thrust—

She came on a long, hot explosion of pleasure.

His control broke. Yes. The small bed rammed into the wall with the force of his thrusts. He plunged into her, so deep she cried out. Not in pain. Oh, no, not pain.

The orgasm continued to rip through her. His thrusts seemed to double the pleasure, making the climax stretch longer on a wave that never seemed to end.

Az stiffened against her and called out her name. Not a gentle whisper. More of a roar as he came inside her.

His shadow wings rose above them. His blue eyes darkened so much they appeared black. And he held her so tightly she wondered if he would ever let go.

In that one instant, she actually thought he never would.

“You’re not dying.” Brandt grabbed Heather’s chin and jerked her face toward him. “The bleeding’s stopped, and you’re all stitched up.”

The witch’s eyelashes fluttered, then her eyes opened, just a crack. Dried blood had hardened on her face and neck. Brandt dropped her chin and crossed his arms as he looked down at her. “I’m not quite as talented with a needle as my brother is, but you won’t be bleeding to death anytime soon.” Well, at least not until he was finished with her.

Her pale hand lifted and, with trembling fingers, she traced the twisting path of stitches that cut across her chest and neck. Heather blanched.

He smiled. “Now, unless you want me to start slicing you back open . . .” Brandt let his claws burst out of one hand. “You’ll answer my questions.”

Heather’s too plump lips trembled. “I-is that why I’m . . . alive?” Her voice was a broken rasp. Probably from all that screaming she’d been doing when he stitched her up. Eventually, she’d passed out.

Eventually.

“I let you live because you were the one to bring Jade back to me.”

Now she tried to smile.

“Her and that f**king bastard that you led straight into my camp.” He lunged forward and sliced open the two stitches across her collarbone.

Heather screamed. Good, now her smile was gone. The witch wasn’t gonna play him. In this game, he was the one with the power. Time for her to recognize that fact.

“Don’t f**k with me,” he told her. “I went to a lot of trouble to save you.” He’d never saved anyone before. It had just felt . . . wrong. Heather had screwed him over. She’d attacked Jade. The witch had deserved her punishment.