Page 13 of The Phoenix Inheritance

Until the bite of his teeth pierces through my mental haze, nibbling my flesh and sending a jolt of something sharp and urgent straight between my legs. My eyes fly open. His hand inches higher and claims my breast like it’s his to take. That hardness I grazed moments ago is now even more impossibly large, digging below my stomach with an insistence that makes my heart slam – excitement or panic, I’m not sure.

Because I have a fairly clear idea of what happens between a man and a woman from this point on. Most of the Hunters seem to forget that I’m female past a couple jugs of malt, so I got the gist of the mechanics at hand from those conversations. Add to that five years of living alone in a place where wildlife is scarce yet undisturbed, and I have a better understanding of the facts of life than most young women my age.

As he awakens the most wondrous sensations in my body, I clutch onto the last remnants of hard reality – my timeworn shoes. They’re what save me as I slam one on his head and push him away.

Given that Dane must be twice as heavy as me, I’m surprised at how easy it is to fling him to the ground. He glares at me from below, massaging his scalp, stormy grey depths looking like they could shoot bolts of lightning.

“What in the Sphinx’s left tit was that about!?”

“We had an agreement,” I accuse in a hiss. “And don’t tell me you weren't on your way to going a bit beyond practice, and a long way beyond kissing!”

“The deal was your idea. It sounds like something five year olds would do.” His gaze rakes over me again, and there’s more to that glint than frustration. “You don’t have a shred of social graces and I’ve seen burlap sacks with more shape than your dresses, but you’re a grown woman, Isobel.” His eyes practically scream, I saw so myself.

Indignation makes my cheeks burn as I’m sorely reminded of what he witnessed in the lake. I twist a knot in my frock – is it really that unfashionable? I have no idea of what the trends are in normal society.

“Perhaps you can find a maiden where you come from who suits your tastes better,” I snap back at him. And without a further glance, I whirl around and scurry to the safety of my home, where no giant of a man with flint eyes and russet hair awaits to drive me senseless.

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