Kim closed her eyes before their lips met again. Was this required for a kiss? Liam kept his eyes open, liking to watch the way her lashes curled against her skin, how one lock of her hair slid over her cheek.

She put her tongue inside his mouth again. Liam caught it, licking, lapping, playing. He tilted his head so he could better fit their mouths together.

Damn, this was good. Humans had something going with this kissing, even if they gave it a French name, like the fries he insisted on calling chips. Liam’s erection was getting massive now. He wasn’t sure whether he’d be embarrassed if the tip peeped above the waistband, or whether he’d be pleased to show her how much he wanted her.

Playing catch-me with Kim’s tongue, Liam slid his hands to her thighs, wishing she still wore the skirt from this morning. If so, he could inch his way under the hem, latch his fingers over the tops of her stockings, unhook the garters, peel the stockings down…

Kim eased back, her eyes half closed. “Liam, you’re going to kiss my lips raw.”

Liam smiled. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

“I thought you were hurt.”

“I’m feeling so much better.” Liam dug his fingers into the denim covering her thighs, his strength returning. He could roll her over onto the bed, press her down into the mattress, have her teach him some more about human kissing.

He touched her lips again. “You’re a sweet, beautiful thing, do you know that?”

“For a human?”

“For an anything, love.”

He kissed her one more time, then made himself push away and sit up. This was getting dangerous. His strength was growing and with it, rampaging lust.

Kim looked at him in confusion, her lips swollen and red, her eyes dark, pupils wide. “What’s the matter? I thought you wanted more lessons.”

“Afraid not, sweetheart. I have to get out of here before you regret it.”

She smiled a little. “I don’t regret a little kissing.”

It would be so much more if he didn’t leave. Goddess, she was delectable. “You’ll be safe here tonight, I promise you. No one, not even Fergus himself, will get through Dad, me, and Sean. Even Connor’s a good fighter, young as he is. They like you, and we’ve taken you in. You’ll be protected like you were one of the pride.”

She looked surprised, then thoughtful, as though she hadn’t considered it that way. “I admit I’m afraid to go back home right now. But I can stay only until morning. All right?”

Liam didn’t answer as he stood. He knew damn well she could see his erection—how could she miss a thing of that size pushing at her? If she asked him to, he’d unbutton and unzip to let her see him, or touch him, or take him in her mouth.

Bloody hell, he had to get out of here.

Kim wet her lips. Liam put his hands on his hips, his pulse thumping so hard his fingers hurt. Her mouth was lush and red, lips plump, making him want to bite them.

“I should sleep now,” she said, sounding as though she had to make herself acknowledge it. “I have a lot to do tomorrow.”

Sleep. In his bed, her head on his pillow, her body damp and warm. Maybe wearing that little wisp of a silk thing she’d been in when he’d rescued her tonight.

“See you at breakfast then,” he made himself say.

“What do Shifters eat for breakfast?”

“Wheaties. Or I can fix you my pancakes, like I promised.”

Didn’t she look mouthwatering, sitting cross-legged on the bed, her blouse half unbuttoned, her ni**les hard enough to press through her bra and the white fabric? He could push her back onto the pillows, close his mouth on one taut point through the shirt.

Kim picked up a pillow and hugged it to her chest, cutting off the beautiful view. “Good night, Liam.”

“I won’t be sleeping much, that’s for certain. Not thinking about you down here in my bed.”

“Down here? Where will you be?”

He pointed at the ceiling. “Connor’s got the whole attic floor. Plenty of room for me to bunk down with him. Want me to knock on the floor, let you know when I’m there?”

Kim got off the bed, still hugging the pillow. “What I want is to sleep and forget about this awful night. Then get up and go home. I don’t mind staying here tonight because I’m scared, but tomorrow, when I’m done being afraid, I’m going home.”

She wouldn’t be going home. Liam wouldn’t argue with her right now, though. No point in it.

He smiled at her, forced himself to turn his back on her compact body and pretty eyes and leave the room.

He had to stand in the hallway a long time after he closed the door, waiting for his fierce hard-on to go down. He needed to talk to Dylan, but he couldn’t face his father with an erection that could stop a train.

Seeing the light go off under the door behind him and hearing the squeak of his bedsprings as Kim climbed into his bed didn’t help deflate him at all.

An hour later, Glory opened her back door to admit a moody Dylan Morrissey.

Glory had never met a Shifter who turned her on faster than Dylan could. So what if he was a Feline? Glory’s friends didn’t approve, but they could eat their hearts out. Dylan was tall, broad-shouldered, and temperamental, with the best ass she’d ever seen on any male, Shifter or human.

Glory let Dylan pace, happy he’d responded to the veiled invitation she’d thrown out when she’d talked to the human girl. Dylan didn’t always respond to hints; he did what he pleased. Damned alpha male.