Shadow - Dohner Laurann (книги онлайн полностью TXT) 📗

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, brushing his lips against her throat. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

Her arms loosened their hold and she pulled back to look at him. Deep gratitude surfaced that there were no tears. He wasn’t sure he could have withstood seeing them, knowing he’d been the cause of her pain.

“You didn’t.”

“You’re being so brave.” He wished he could kick his own ass.

“That was wonderful.” She smiled.

It was his turn to hug her tightly as the meaning of her words sank in. “You didn’t yell my name from pain?” He wanted to make certain.

“No.” Pink rose in her cheeks before she dropped her gaze to his lips. “I, um, you know.” She glanced up and smiled. “Twice.”

Shadow tucked his head again, pulling her close. He was out of practice enough to mistake her body’s reactions but he was just grateful he hadn’t totally fucked up everything. Her muscles hadn’t been constricting trying to get him out of pussy but because she’d climaxed.

Thankfully. He began to rock her in his arms once more, ignoring his still-hard dick trapped between his thighs. He wanted her again but he wasn’t going to press his luck for a second time in one night.

“Shadow?”

“Yeah, Beauty?”

“May I sleep with you?” She yawned. “I’d like to.”

He smiled. “I’d like that. You have to let me go though. I’ll turn off the light and then we’ll cuddle if you want.”

Her arms and legs slackened around him until he gently laid her down again. She peered up at him with trust. He flipped off the light but in seconds he was back, crawling into the bed. She rolled to face him as he pulled her against him. He curled around her to cocoon her inside the safety of his arms.

Her breathing changed so fast it stunned him that she could fall asleep so easily after what they’d shared. She’d been through a lot. He wasn’t so quick to join her in slumber.

All the things she’d said circled in his thoughts. She didn’t want other males but was interested in a relationship. The mere idea of someone else touching her enraged him. He’d break their fingers if they tried to put their hands on her. He’d tear them apart and rip out their hearts if they dared to lure her from him. He’d kill anyone who tried to mount his Beauty.

Shit. Breathing in her scent cooled the intense rage. I already think of her as mine.

Chapter Eleven

Beauty didn’t want to move but knew she’d have to soon. Shadow’s warm body made her feel safe and protected. She’d turned in the night or he’d repositioned her until he spooned her back. The feel of his hard cock pressed against her butt where it was trapped between her and his stomach wasn’t something she could ignore. The urge to use the bathroom finally forced her to wiggle away.

The arm around her waist hauled her back and a deep, masculine growl filled the room. It startled her enough that she turned. His eyes were only partially open as he peeked at her and his lips parted, fangs flashing.

“Don’t leave me.”

“I’ll be right back.” She cleared her throat. “Bathroom.”

His hold eased. “Okay.”

She slid out of bed and tried not to be embarrassed that he saw so much of her in the early morning light spilling through the still-open window of his bedroom. It wasn’t logical to be shy about her nakedness after the things he’d done to her. That didn’t completely alleviate the bashfulness though.

He sat with the sheet covering his lap when she returned. One leg was bent upward on the side of the bed. She was glad she’d taken the time to wrap a towel around her middle before returning to the room, not comfortable being naked. Shadow looked less fierce just waking from sleep with his expression more open and readable. He smiled tentatively.

“How are you feeling?”

“Good.” She wasn’t sure if she should get back into bed with him or not.

The smile faded. “What is wrong? Do you regret coming into my room?”

Her teeth sank into her bottom lip as she shook her head. “I don’t know what to do.” Honesty was best. “None of the men spend the night with the women so I have never overheard the morning-after etiquette. Is there such a thing?”

“What do you want to do?”

She dodged his question. “What do you want to do?”

His leg slid flat on the bed and she gaped a little at the sight of the sheet over his lap. His erection jutted upward instead of lying flat. “Don’t ask a male that. This is the answer.” He reached up to grip the headboard above him, looking relaxed except for his hard-on. “Will you come back to my bed?”

“I want to,” she admitted, happy he wasn’t shutting her out.

His hands tightened their hold on the wood enough that his knuckles turned white.

“What is wrong?”

He glanced at his hands before looking at her again. “I’m trying to appear docile, not to frighten you.”

She laughed before she could prevent it and tugged at the towel to loosen it.

“What’s funny?”

“You’re so big and strong. You couldn’t pull that off. You just look extremely sexy.” Her cheeks warmed. “Should I not tell you that?”

He grinned. “What makes me appealing?”

“The way your arms are up and you’re stretched out a little across the pillows. It reminds me of something I read in a romance novel but the leading man wore handcuffs.”

“I wouldn’t wear those but I’ll keep my hands here if it makes me less threatening to you.”

The towel hit the floor as she stepped closer to the bed. Shadow’s gaze fixed on her breasts. All humor faded from his features, the tense look returning. She could identify that expression now. He wanted her and it filled her with a sense of courage as she climbed on the high mattress near his feet.

“Why wouldn’t you wear handcuffs?”

He looked away, not speaking. She froze.

“Did I say something wrong?”

He glanced back. “It would remind me of bad times.”

“I’m sorry. I was just curious.”

“Come to me,” he rasped. “I won’t hurt you.”

“I know. I’m not afraid of you.” She crawled up the bed and surprised them both by straddling his lap. Her ass eased down over his sheet-covered thighs. Both her hands flattened on his chest. “I want to hug you. May I?”

“You can do anything you’d like to me,” he stated gruffly, swallowing hard.

“Anything?” The idea did funny things to her stomach, making it flutter.

“Yes.”

One deep breath and she inched closer to him. “I want to kiss you.”

Surprise registered but he nodded. “Okay.”

She studied his mouth. It was full and lush—tempting. “Maybe you should kiss me.”

“I haven’t done this before. Not mouth to mouth.”

“Me neither.” She smiled. “We’ll learn together.”

“Together,” he repeated, wetting his lips, focusing on hers. “Open to me.”

She closed her eyes, parted her lips and tilted her head slightly. The first brush of contact was almost ticklish. He pressed his lips firmly to hers. They were mouth to mouth. The texture of his lips was unbelievably soft. His tongue licked hers and she melted into him. It took a few seconds but she repeated what he did, tasting him and wanting more. It was amazing, that intimacy, and he growled, deepening the kiss.

Her senses focused entirely on Shadow and everything else faded away. Pleasure and excitement seeped into her slowly, radiating from the point of contact, spreading lower. She moaned and Shadow slowly broke the kiss.

They were both a little out of breath. Beauty liked kissing. Judging by Shadow’s heated stare, he did as well. She couldn’t wait to do it again.

She leaned forward until her body rested against his and slid her hands up to his shoulders. She pressed her ear over his heart, relaxing. “Will you hold me?”

Strong arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her more firmly against him. He shifted his hips, sliding her body closer until his cock was trapped between their bellies with only a sheet as a barrier. She inhaled his masculine scent and a funny noise escaped her—it almost resembled a whine.