That was it.
Royden’s control shattered and a deep growl rumbled in his chest. He rose up off her and with a forceful grip tore her nightdress off her, pulling it out from under her to fling off the bed.
Oria had waited forever for this moment to share with Royden, dreamt about, had been eager for it and yet there was something different—unfamiliar—in his dark eyes. It was as though she stared into the eyes of a stranger.
“Royden,” she whispered suddenly, oddly needing to make sure it was him.
He straddled her waist and leaned down over. “Change your mind, wife.”
Was that a rumbling growl she heard? And what was it in his dark eyes she failed to see?
His nose almost touched hers as he said, “Too late. I’ll have you here and now and not just once.”
Now she knew where she had seen that look in his eyes before—in the savage warriors the day the clan had been attacked.
Fear shivered her.
“Afraid, wife?” he asked, sitting up. “You should be.”
“Royden,” she said again softly hoping to calm the savage that had surfaced and reached out to touch him, her hand falling on his stump.
He swung her hand off him, his nostrils flaring in anger and the rumble in his chest growing. He shook his head and hurried off her and the bed, going to stand in front of the hearth, his back to her.
Oria hurried after him.
“Don’t!” he commanded, swinging his arm out to the side, warning her away.
His powerful voice froze her and though he had spoken only one word, she could see he struggled to keep control of the untamed emotion that had risen inside him.
“Royden,” she said softly, hoping by hearing his name again and again, he’d break free of whatever held him prisoner.
“Stay away,” he ordered.
There was no mistaking the sneering growl in his voice, but she heard something else as well, just a hint, but she heard it. There was heartbreak there and it hurt her heart to hear it, to see him warn her away when it wasn’t what he truly wanted. But he did it to protect her.
She didn’t need courage to respond. She responded out of love. “No!”
He swerved around and Oria gathered her courage then, needing it when seeing the intense feral look in his dark eyes. She thought any moment that he’d reach out and—
She jumped and winced when his hand grabbed her arm, but he didn’t loosen his grip.
“You’ll do as I say, wife,” he commanded and shoved her away from him. “Get out of here now.”
She stumbled but remained on her feet and her chin went up defiantly. “I’m not leaving you. Not now. Not ever.” She kept her defiant pose as his eyes roamed over her with a look so hungry she thoughts he’d—
He scooped her up so fast, her gasp got caught in her throat and for a moment she lost all breath. He carried her to the bed and dropped her down on it and she scrambled to right herself. She didn’t even see his hand reach for her waist, though she felt his fingers dig into her and the next thing she knew she was on her stomach. She felt him straddle her and before she could turn her head to the side, she felt his teeth at her neck.
Her shoulders shot up as he bit along it, not harshly, but enough for her to feel the tug. It was what the she had seen the cats do time again and Purity had told her it was the way the male cat showed his love and dominance over his mate. A feral action for sure, but still a sign of love and she wondered if he realized that. At least she did and that made a difference to her.
It didn’t take long for his nips to follow down along her shoulders and back. She pulled away when he nipped at her side, it tickling her, and he stopped.
“Spread your legs,” he ordered.
She didn’t have the will or wont to deny him, besides, her desire to make love with him hadn’t wavered. It had heightened, realizing just how much Royden needed her, needed to be loved. She jumped when his fingers found their way inside her, igniting her passion, while his teeth returned to nip along her neck.
She wasn’t surprised that her passion continued to mount. The combination of his loving nips and the teasing nature of his fingers made it impossible for her desire to do anything but grow, and in leaps and bounds. She only wanted to make sure that this time his seed was left inside her to grow.
She said his name repeatedly and softly like the purr of a kitten who enjoyed being stroked. It wasn’t a savage who caressed her but a husband who loved her.