Defying Destiny by Olivia Downing

said. “If you want to stay with me,
    then I would be happy to have you as my
    guest.”
    “My things…are…” she lost her train
    of thought once again. Was she brazen
    enough to stay here with him? She had to
    stay in the area until the next full moon.
    She had at least thirty Wolves to slay
    before she could move on to exterminate
    the vermin of the next village, but to stay
    here with Nash... She had known him
    scarcely twenty-four hours. How could
    she even entertain such a thought?
    “We could go get your things from the
    inn after sunrise,” he said. “I’ve been
    meaning to do some shopping. It seems
    I’m all out of forks.”
    She smiled and then laughed. “Okay,”
    she agreed, her heart thumping hard in her
    chest.
    “I’m glad that’s settled,” he said,
    standing up from the table and stretching
    his arms up over his head. She caught
    sight of a flash of bare skin at his waist, as
    his sweater rose above his leather pants.
    Her eyes settled on a line of dark hair
    beneath his navel and traced its path until
    it disappeared into the waistband of his
    leather pants. Her breath caught and she
    squirmed in her chair. Why did he make
    her feel this way? She had never panted
    after a man before, had never even been
    interested in men really. What was so
    special and appealing about this one?
    “Come,” he said, holding his hand out
    to her. “Let’s go warm ourselves by the
    fire and I’ll tend your wound.”
    She took his hand and stood up from
    the table, following him to the living area
    without a word. He coaxed her to sit on
    the thick bearskin rug near the hearth and
    added a log to the fire before taking a seat
    beside her. He gazed into her eyes for
    several long moments until she lifted her
    hands and began to unbutton her shirt. He
    needed access to her wound if he was
    going to treat it again, she told herself. She
    pushed her shirt off one shoulder and he
    looked down at the scratches above her
    collarbone, touching them lightly with his
    fingertips.
    “This looks fine. I should probably
    leave it alone,” he said.
    “It still hurts,” she lied, tilting her
    head to give him access.
    He hesitated briefly, before leaning
    closer and drawing his tongue over the
    wound. She shivered, eyes drifting closed
    with bliss.
    “Are you cold again?” he asked,
    drawing her closer to share his warmth.
    “Yes,” she lied again, gasping when
    his tongue returned to her shoulder.
    “Am I hurting you?” He lifted his head
    to look at her with concern.
    “No, please don’t stop.”
    He lowered his head again and she
    sighed contentedly, burying her fingers in
    his thick black hair. She didn’t really
    mean to, but she pushed his head lower
    and arched her back until his delightful
    tongue caressed her breast above the cup
    of her bustier. When he nudged the fabric
    lower with his chin and drew his tongue
    over the swollen bud at the tip of her
    breast, she collapsed with a gasp, drawing
    him down on top of her.
    “Oh,” she breathed, as he stroked her
    aching nipple with his tongue. It was even
    better than she imagined. A throb pulsed
    between her legs, her flesh swelling and
    moistening.
    She
    wanted
    something.
    Needed something. Nash.
    Her hands moved from his hair to his
    back, drawing him nearer, longing for the
    caress of his tongue to continue forever.
    Her eyes drifted open when she found
    something sticky at the nape of his neck.
    She lifted her hand to peer her fingertips
    quizzically. They were covered with
    blood.
    “You’re bleeding,” she gasped and he
    lifted his head to look at her.
    He seemed unconcerned by the wound
    she had found. “Why did you want me to
    lick you here?” he asked, drawing his
    tongue over her swollen nipple again.
    She shuddered involuntarily and
    shoved him aside. “I didn’t,” she said,
    incredulous he could even suggest such a
    thing.
    “Don’t be embarrassed. I didn’t mind
    doing it and you seemed to enjoy it. I just
    wondered