She tapped her upper arm, feeling the matchstick sliver under the skin. “I have a birth control implant.”
Catalina leaned in close, bracing her hands on his shoulders. His lithe muscles flexed and relaxed under her palms. “Shane...”
He stopped breathing, waiting for what she had to say. They looked deep into each other’s eyes. He wasn’t using his power, but she could sense that he was dangerous, and he knew it, and that was why he kept himself so cool and calm. But she knew, too, that he would never hurt her. She hoped he could see who she was, like she could see who he was. He was a dangerous man and she was a woman in love with danger. He didn’t need to control himself around her.
“Bring it, Shane,” she whispered. “Go wild. I can take it. I want it.”
He drew in a deep breath, his chest expanding against hers. Next thing she knew, he was on top looking down at her, and she had her back pressed into the cool floor. She couldn’t believe how fast he’d moved.
His scent of clean sweat and masculine musk filled the air. She could feel his heart pounding against her chest, speeding as fast as her own.
“I love you,” he said. “That’s me losing control. Not sex. Love.”
For the first time, she saw the shadow of fear in his eyes. It made her heart ache at the same time that his words made her want to laugh for sheer joy. All this time, he’d been holding back because he’d thought she wasn’t into him?
She cupped his face in her hands and pulled him down to her. “I love you too.”
He released a long breath, warm and soft against her lips. Then he was kissing her, hot and passionate, on her mouth, her throat, her breasts. His fingers dug into her upper arms, hard enough to bruise, but she didn’t care. There was a wild abandon in his kisses, in the strength of his grip, in the brightness of his eyes. It made her feel wild too. She arched her back and spread her legs, offering herself to him.
He slid into her as easily as a key into a lock. She gasped at the intensity of the sensation as she stretched to accommodate him, and at how right it felt to have him inside her. Her nails dug into his back as he thrust into her, rubbing against her swollen clit at every stroke. They were both panting, sweat slippery between them, hands sliding over wet skin, giving each other clumsy urgent kisses.
His thrusts grew faster, harder, as did hers. Then his teeth closed over her shoulder and bit down. The shock of pain unexpectedly pushed her over the edge. She called out Shane’s name as she came, bright light expanding within her like the rising sun.
Then he was coming too, his face hidden in her hair, his teeth still locked on her shoulder. She felt him shudder and jerk against her, and then he released her and slid down to lie beside her.
Catalina managed to break the lazy stillness of the afterglow enough to raise herself on one elbow to look at Shane. He lay with his eyes closed, more relaxed than she’d ever seen him before. Even when he slept, there was a sense of watchfulness about him, as if he was ready to leap up and do battle at the slightest disturbance. Now he lay still and content, the few lines in his face smoothed out.
She wasn’t going to disturb him, but he opened his eyes, rolled over, and kissed her.
“Guess my secret’s out,” he said.
“You’re not very observant,” she remarked. “I felt like I had a giant neon sign over my head that said I HAVE A CRUSH ON YOU.”
“You did,” Shane said casually.
Catalina blinked. “You knew? Then why was it a secret how you felt?”
“I didn’t want Apex to know,” he explained. “I was afraid that if you knew, your neon sign would light up with SHANE LOVES ME.”
She punched him lightly in the arm. “Thanks a lot. I’ll try to turn off the neon. But what happens if they do find out?”
The peace in Shane’s eyes faded away. “They’ll threaten you to control me.”
Catalina had expected something much worse. “That’s it? They’ve already tried to control me by threatening you.”
“Well, yeah, but that’s me.”
She punched him again, a little harder this time. “You matter too.”
He seemed taken aback. “Well...”
“Shane.” Catalina pulled him close, holding him tight. “You matter to me.”
She felt him release his breath in a long sigh, but he didn’t reply.
“Hey, strong silent type,” she said. “Want to tell me what you’re thinking?”
He took a deep breath, then another. When he finally spoke, she’d stopped expecting it and twitched in surprise.