HannasHaven by Lorna Jean Roberts Page A

your vulnerability.
You shouldn’t feel guilty over your lack of attraction for him, over the fact
that you didn’t really love him. You can’t force feelings where there are none.
He should have taken care of you without conditions.”
    She patted his arm. “Not everyone is as good a person as you
are, Marcus.”
     
    She was looking at him as if she thought he could conquer
the world.
    He should do something to wipe that look of worship off her
face. Except he liked how she looked to him to protect her. He was a dominant
wolf. And in any relationship, however short, he had to be in charge. Maybe it
was an ego boost, maybe it made him feel more in control, but when Hanna stared
at him that way, he wanted to be all those things for her. Lover. Protector.
Warrior.
    Mate.
    Lust surged through him, almost blinding him.
    Rye was right. He needed to focus on his job. He couldn’t do
that if he became too involved with Hanna. But his lust grew stronger with each
passing minute. She wanted him, he could scent her arousal. Perhaps they could
just slake their need, maybe one night was all it would take and then he could
go back to doing his job with his mind clear and his cock under control.
    Christ, what an asshole he was. She wasn’t a one-night sort
of girl.
    “Marcus?” The vulnerability in her voice brought him
crashing back.
    “I want you, Hanna,” he drawled, riding the edge of his
control. “I want to throw you onto your back and push my way inside you. I want
to fuck you until you scream, until we both reach satisfaction. Don’t ever
mistake me for a good guy, because give me half a chance and I will use you.”
    Her fingers tapped against her arm, her eyes wide, breath
coming in heavy pants. “And if I wanted the same thing?” she asked.
    Marcus peered down into her too-innocent eyes. “You don’t
want what I’m offering, sweetheart. You need a man who can give you kindness,
who can help you grow, a man who will give you all of him. All I can give you
is sex.”
    She swallowed. Pain flashed through her eyes, gone as
quickly as it appeared. “I understand.”
    With a nod at her decision, a decision that made his wolf
howl in anger even though the man approved, Marcus put her on her feet beside
the bed. But she grabbed his hands, refusing to let him go.
    “I understand you can’t promise a relationship. But I still
want to have sex with you. Please. I… I need you.”
     
    Hanna took a deep breath to still her nerves. She knew this
could never be more than sex. But she wanted him, even if it was just for one
night.
    “But maybe you don’t want me. I’m not attractive. I look
like a boy. I’m weird. I’m probably frigid.”
    Marcus narrowed his eyes. “Let’s make something clear right
now. You are a gorgeous, sexy women. There is no way you are frigid and if I
didn’t want you, my dick wouldn’t be rock hard and throbbing.”
    “Then why couldn’t I feel anything when Dan touched me?” she
wailed. “I’m a fucking joke.”
    Suddenly she found herself spinning, lying facedown, her
stomach landing over Marcus’ lap.
    Smack!
    She squealed in surprise as Marcus spanked her. Again and
again, his hand landed a stinging slap on her poor bottom.
    “I don’t ever—” Smack! “ever—” Smack! Smack! “want
to hear you talk about yourself in such a way again.”
    He raised the shirt up over her back. Grabbing her panties,
he completely stripped them off before she could take another breath.
    “Marcus!” she yelled. “Have you gone mad?”
    “I’m spanking you. You’ve been asking for this a while, my
girl.” He rubbed her warm butt cheeks.
    Smack!
    She tried to throw herself off his lap. “Stop it!” He held
her easily. Grasping her flailing hands with one of his, he brought them to the
small of her back.
    “You do not put yourself down like that, understand me?”
Pain flashed over her, burning her. Tears pricked her eyes. She kicked her
feet, disbelief and shock washing over her,