Addie eased off. “Sorry—am I hurting you?”

Kendrick seized her wrist and pressed her hand over him again. “No. You’re helping. I’m going to burn up.”

“I know,” Addie said. “It’s hot tonight.”

Kendrick squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head, kept on shaking it. “Not what I meant.”

Addie had known exactly what he meant. Kendrick’s body was fever-heated, his skin tight. Addie ran her hand up his cock, cupping the tip, and Kendrick arched into her palm.

“Like that.” His jaw relaxed, his eyes drifting open again. “Like that, Addison. Goddess, you are so beautiful.”

Addie touched his strong cheek, loving the rough of his whiskers. Kendrick looked straight into her eyes, the green of his bright in the starlight.

He kissed her as Addie stroked, his hips moving in time with what she did. Addie skimmed her hand all the way down to the tight balls at his base, the heat there the hottest. Wiry hair tickled her hand, and then Kendrick’s strength came to her as he thrust up through her closed fingers.

Kendrick tore his mouth from hers and raised his hips away so she lost hold of him. “No. I need more. I need you.”

“All right then,” Addie said. “You’ll have to help me out of my underwear.”

Kendrick snarled. The fingers of one hand became tiger claws, which tore her bikini panties without touching the slightest bit of her skin. Kendrick’s claws receded, and he pulled the shreds away.

“I knew I needed you as soon as I saw you,” Kendrick said rapidly. “I put you in danger, but I couldn’t stay away. I had to see you, be near you, every night.”

“Aw, and I thought Bo’s frozen pies were just that good.”

“Stop.” Kendrick brought his face to hers. “You are beautiful. Desirable. Perfect. Why the hell wouldn’t I want you?”

Addie could think of many reasons, but his expression was furious, his gorgeous, heart-stopping body right on top of hers. This wasn’t the time to tease, argue, play. This was the time to savor Kendrick and worry about the whys later.

“Have it your way,” she said softly.

Kendrick snarled again. His strong hand moved her thighs apart, and he was speaking, but in such a low voice she barely caught the words.

“I can’t go slow. I can’t, can’t. Damn it.” He was at her opening, Addie so slick with heat there was nothing to keep him out.

She gasped out loud, her whole body opening as Kendrick closed his eyes and drove heavily inside.

*   *   *

Kendrick’s words died as soon as he felt Addison around him. He opened his eyes again, finding her face softening with pleasure, her blue eyes warming.

He slid right in without barrier—she’d been with a man before. She wasn’t hurting; her gasp had been surprise, but most human women weren’t used to Shifters.

Shifters weren’t used to human women either, as a rule, but Kendrick’s body didn’t care. Addison was warm, welcoming, hot, beautiful. The hunger he’d carried for her since he’d laid eyes on her rose up and consumed him.

She’d smiled at him when he’d first walked into the diner, she wearing that awful salmon pink polyester dress and holding a coffeepot. But her eyes had been kind, sparkling with good humor, her smile, genuine. Kendrick had pictured himself lifting her to the countertop, throwing aside the coffee, ripping open the ugly dress, and taking her.

The fantasy had sustained him every night, but every night he’d renewed it, going back to see her. He’d tried to stay away and couldn’t.

He couldn’t now. He was in grave danger, as was every Shifter out there who looked to him for protection. And Kendrick couldn’t not be with Addison.