Page 68 of Fang & Fury

She craved it like air.

“It’s rising,” she gasped then, scraping her nails through the carpet of moss beneath them as she fought instinct. “Help me, Darach. I can’t stop it.”

“Aye, you can,” he ground out, even as he hauled her hips down to meet him and dragged her in a slow, sensual circle.

Hot pleasure twisted deep inside her, and she threw her head back, a ragged cry tearing from her throat.

Trembling, she clenched her hands into fists. Her long nails dug into her palms. They hurt, but the pain didn’t make the bloodlust withdraw. If anything, it fueled it.

“No, I can’t!” she cried. “Grab my wrists … pin them to my sides.”

“No, lass.” His left hand left her hip then, sliding to the wet curls between her thighs. There, the pad of his thumb found her most sensitive spot, and he began to circle. “That’s not what we’re doing here … remember?”

Ailsa shuddered, another cry catching in her throat.

Did the man have a death wish?

This was a mistake. She couldn’t control herself. Not when he touched her like this.

Did he want to work her up into a frenzy so that she slashed his throat blindly?

“Fuck, I love you.” He dragged in a ragged breath. “I didn’t mean to … didn’t even see it happening … until I realized I couldn’t lose you.” He was panting now, body sweat-slicked, eyes glistening.

Heat shivered through her. Trembling now, she dug her nails deeper into her palms.

What was he saying?

“This isn’t love,” she gasped, her voice almost a snarl. “We’re just fucking.”

His eyes flashed gold, irises turning into vertical slits, the beast showing itself once more. “It’s more than that. We’re right for each other.” His words came out in bursts, punctuated by thrusts as he lifted his hips to meet her. “You know it.” His chest, glistening with sweat now, rose and fell sharply. “Let me in, Ailsa. Trust yourself with me.”

A sob caught in her throat.

Trust.

Such a small word, yet so hard to feel. She didn’t trust herself. How could she when she knew what she was?

“Touch me,” he said as his thumb continued to circle gently. “Face what you fear.”

Ailsa’s eyes started to sting, her vision blurring.

The blood-hunger was still there, yet other emotions fought against it now. And to her surprise, they were just as strong. And as the two parts of her dueled, something deep inside her chest softened.

The hunger receded, just a little.

Slowly, she unfurled her fingers and lifted her hands, bracing them on his shoulders.

Gods, she was so close to climaxing again. Her core clutched at the long, thick length of him as she brought him deep. However, her gaze returned to his throat, to the pulse of that delicious vein.

“Touch me.” His voice was urgent now. Rough. “Don’t be afraid.”

Tears trickled, scalding, down her cheeks.

Oh, but she was—and she wasn’t used to feeling so much. The need to feed howled in her ears. It wanted to gorge. But something else pushed back against it now.

Acceptance.

Darach knew what she was, yet he still wanted her. Loved her.