He was also exciting her wolf with the hungry look on his face. Roni was no less affected by him; her nerve endings sprung to life as that lazy, hooded, sensual gaze fixed on hers—the hunter was awake again. “Don’t.”

His mouth curved. “What?”

“Don’t look at me like that.” She backed away.

“How am I looking at you?” He moved toward her, and she immediately backpedaled. Not wanting her to back away any farther, Marcus halted. So did she. And so they both stood there, caught in the grip of an escalating sexual tension that had them both fairly panting.

“Just go.” But he didn’t. He stayed totally still, his electric-blue eyes focused completely on her, glittering with a promise of sexual satisfaction she’d never experienced before. She felt her cautiousness slipping away, replaced by a need so fierce and hot it was frightening. It was also beginning to drown out the rage.

“I’m not going anywhere. Not just because I want you so badly I ache with it. But because if this is the only form of comfort you can take from me, that’s what I’ll give you.” A growl rumbled out of him as her tongue flicked out to lick over that bottom lip he wanted to bite. “Come here, Roni.”

She wanted to. Really, really wanted to. But using him would be wrong. Besides, the guy was living, breathing junk food—he’d taste good, he’d fill her up and leave her satisfied, but he’d also leave her wanting more, craving him again and again. To go to him now would be stupid and reckless. Still, it was so unbelievably tempting, especially when he was looking at her like that—like he could eat her up and lick every inch of her.

But would he continue looking at her like that if he saw her naked? Probably not. Marcus had been with countless beautiful females; she’d pale in comparison. Her wolf, however, was aloof to Roni’s human concerns—she pushed at Roni to go to him, to take what he offered.

“Come here,” Marcus repeated, sensing her uncertainty beginning to crumble. “I’ll give us both what we’ve wanted since day one.”

“I never said I wanted this. I don’t want this.”

“One thing I really like about you, Roni, is that you don’t bullshit. But you’re bullshitting me now. Why?”

Pinned in place by the dark heat in his eyes, she couldn’t lie. “I don’t want to be another female that uses you.”

She just about broke his heart with that. “Ah, sweetheart, that’s not how I see it.”

“My body . . . it’s not anything like what you’re used to.” It wasn’t all curves and soft skin. It was all battle scars and smooth muscle. It had never made her feel self-conscious or insecure before—she wasn’t vain. But with him . . . it was different somehow.

“You’ve shifted around me, remember. I’ve seen your body. And I want it. Now.”

Fuck it, she thought. Both moving at once, they collided; their bodies instantly locked together—desperate, frenzied, out of control. His mouth was greedy and demanding as it dominated hers, licking and biting and tasting. His tall, powerful body pressed her back against a tree, crowding her, trapping her. Rather than prickling her dominant instincts, it made her even more frantic for him; so frantic that she ripped at his T-shirt as she yanked it off—revealing a broad, hard chest covered in sleek, tanned skin.

“I have to be inside you.” In seconds, Marcus had her completely naked and pinned against the tree with her legs wrapped around his waist. No finesse, no preamble, no smooth words—he was simply too caught up in Roni, in the feel and scent of her. He retained just enough sanity to remember he needed to be sure she was ready for him.

Not the passive type, Roni tackled his fly, wanting him inside her more than she’d wanted anything in a long time. Then his cock was in her hand and he was groaning as she gripped him tight. She would have pumped him, but she couldn’t concentrate. The brief sting of his teeth on her nipple, the soothing flick of his tongue, the feel of sure, strong masculine hands roaming over her . . . it was too much sensation, but she wanted more. He gave her more, repeatedly pumping two calloused fingers inside her, sucking on her neglected nipple so hard it hurt, and fluttering his thumb over her clit, making it tingle and—

She exploded. He caught her cry with his mouth, swallowing it down. He only gave her a few seconds reprieve before positioning her to take his cock. She shifted in his arms, trying to impale herself on him. But his teeth locked around her shoulder in warning, and the shock of the dominant move made her freeze. As if to reward her, he thrust hard and she sucked in a breath. He was thick and long and he stretched her, causing the most delicious burn. One more forceful thrust and he was balls deep inside her.

Marcus groaned as her pussy clamped around his cock. “Fuck, you feel good.” He’d known she would, had known it would be good between them, but he hadn’t expected it to be this good, this powerful or primal. She’d have him addicted to her after this; his need for her would get worse, not better.

As he stared into her dazed eyes, Marcus felt a sharp tug in his chest. And he knew, he knew, that if he didn’t leave right then, there was a strong possibility he would cross that line from “simple, safe, and uncomplicated” and topple right into an emotional pit. It didn’t make sense, but there it was.

The smart thing to do would be to walk away—he wasn’t good at emotional intimacy, wasn’t built for it. But he couldn’t walk away from her. Not while this drive to have her, to take her so completely that all she’d feel and think of was him, was pumping through his system. “Now I’ve got you.” His wolf growled in satisfaction at that.

“Hard and fast,” panted Roni, sliding her hands over the solid bulk of his broad shoulders. “Slow won’t do it for me.”

“Good, because that’s the one thing I can’t give you right now.” He gripped her ass tight as he powered into her, knowing she could take it, loving the demanding prick of her claws. “That’s right, sweetheart, show me how much you want it.” Other times, Roni was reserved and distant. But here and now, she was open and honest in her responses; she didn’t hold back or hide what she wanted and felt. This was how he wanted her: open to him, accepting and unguarded.

Roni practically melted when his mouth latched onto her neck and suckled as he pounded into her harder, relentlessly, and so damn deep she felt him in her womb. God, no wonder females flocked to him. The guy knew exactly what he was doing, exactly where to touch, exactly how to use his cock. Reminded of how experienced he was, she couldn’t stop herself from slicing her claws into his back—leaving a temporary brand there for all the Zaras of the world to see. Oops.