“I know.” She gives me a watery smile. “But I like being more of my full self with you. And not hiding anything with you.”
Her full self. She probably doesn’t even realize how telling that is. With a sweep of my thumbs, I stroke the tears from her cheeks. “Maybe that’s what your beast is afraid of? That if you tame her and heal the rift that the curse tore between you, that part of you will be exposed and hurt?”
“I don’t know.” A breathy little sob escapes her. “Maybe.”
“Then she needs to know that you’ll keep on protecting her. That you’ll never have to expose that part of yourself to anyone if you don’t want to. That if you do show it—like you’ve done with me—it’s only because you’ve made a choice to share yourself. And that your choice won’t be taken away. Even on the full moon.”
Which all sounds easy. But I bet isn’t easy to truly believe.
Though she seems to be trying to. Alicia gazes at me with her green eyes softly glowing. Then she kisses me. So sweetly, so hopefully, the salt of her tears infusing the heat of her mouth.
And Christ, I need her. Need her to know how she’s everything to me. Need to show her right here and now.
But there’s something else I want to show her first. Something I don’t think she’s seen yet.
Never breaking our kiss, I carry her into the house, up the stairs. This is a trek we’ve made so many times the past few weeks, ending up in the bedroom. This time I head past her bedroom door, stopping in front of the big mirror that makes the hallway look twice as long. The gold in my eyes is sparking bright—and I know she’s seen that every time I’m inside her. Every time I kiss her, touch her. My fangs and claws, too. Because with her, I don’t even try to hold them back. I don’t hide anything. And she doesn’t with me, either.
But I don’t think she knows how much she shows me.
She gasps as I set her down on her feet, then go to my knees. Her fingers twist in my hair. “Ranger,” she says breathlessly, then cries out when I cover her pussy with my mouth.
So goddamn sweet. My hunger for her never ceases. Every slick of my tongue just makes me crave another lick. Every time she moans, I just want to hear another. And when she comes, Christ—when she comes, it’s only sheer fucking willpower that stops me from eating her up all over again.
With my hands clamped on her hips to hold her upright as her thighs shake through her orgasm, I tease her pulsing clit with the tip of my tongue before rising to my feet again. My cock’s aching to be inside her. But not yet.
Instead I pull her back against my chest and face the mirror, telling her gruffly, “Look at yourself, baby. Just look at yourself.”
Red hair wild. Green eyes shining. Fangs visible through her parted lips. Nipples pebbled beneath the borrowed T-shirt. Claws at her fingertips.
“You know what I see?” My fingers dip down between her thighs to gently stroke through her wet folds because I can’t fucking help myself. “I see a woman who’s sharp and sweet and vulnerable and sexy and brave and so strong. And I love every part of you. What about you?”
“Oh, Ranger.” Her breath shudders, tears glimmering. “I love every part of you, too.”
“I know, baby. But do you love every part of you?”
She goes utterly still. Those glowing eyes take a long survey of her reflection. Not just seeing the fangs and claws and hair, I know, but looking deeper.
Then a trembling smile curves her mouth. “I…think that I do.” Tears slip over her cheeks even as a happy laugh escapes her. “I really do.”
As she damn well should. I spin her around, and the glint of gold in the mirror isn’t from my eyes as I bend my head to kiss her, devouring her sweet lips. She feels it, too—the chain that just appeared around my neck.
Gasping, she pulls back to examine it. Made of gold, each link solid, but so light I can barely feel it. And long, too. One end trails to the floor and into her room, like a leash on a collar. A leash that connects me to her bed. The end of the chain is wrapped around the leg of her bed frame.
Well, hell. I sure as fuck wouldn’t mind being tied here for eternity. But as soon as I accept her, as soon as I give myself to her, it’ll be gone—and her beast will be tamed. So I’m not wasting any time.
Neither is Alicia. Suddenly grinning, she grabs that leash and tugs me toward the bed. “Let’s go, Ranger Ranger.”