Page 29 of Alien Huntsman

Korrin was drowning in Tessa’s taste, in her scent, in the softness of her lips against his. His hands slid up her back, one tangling in her dark curls as he deepened the kiss. She made a small sound in the back of her throat, her fingers digging into his shoulders, and the beast inside him roared in triumph.

Mine.

The possessive growl rumbled from deep in his chest, vibrating against her mouth. The primal sound shocked him back to awareness. He jerked away from her, his breath coming in harsh pants, his body burning with need.

“I shouldn’t have—” He couldn’t even finish the sentence. His hands were still on her, unwilling to let go despite his words.

Her eyes were midnight dark, her lips swollen from his kiss. She looked dazed, beautiful, her cheeks flushed with color. There was no fear on her face, only desire, and the sight of her like this—wanting him—nearly broke his control again.

“Why did you stop?” Her voice was husky, sending another bolt of desire through him.

He forced himself to set her gently aside, rising to put distance between them. His beast howled in protest, demanding he return to her, claim her fully.

“Because if I don’t stop now, I won’t stop at all.” The raw honesty in his voice surprised even him. He ran a hand through his hair, trying to regain his composure. “You don’t understand what you’re doing to me.”

She stood, taking a step toward him. “What if I don’t want you to stop?”

The words struck him so hard he could barely breathe. He closed his eyes, gripping the edge of the table until the wood creaked beneath his fingers.

“You don’t know what you’re asking for.” His voice was rough, strained. “I’m not… gentle. And you’re…”Human. Innocent. Too good for someone like me.

His beast clawed beneath his skin, demanding he close the distance between them again.

“It shouldn’t have happened,” he added roughly.

She tilted her head, studying him with an intensity that made him want to look away. But he couldn’t. Not from her.

“Why not?” she asked simply.

A dozen answers crashed through his mind. Because he was dangerous—he’d proven that today, shifting into a beast before her eyes, fighting like the animal he truly was. Because she didn’t belong to him—no matter what his instincts screamed. Becausehe had no right to want her this badly—this human woman with her gentle hands and brave heart.

His jaw clenched as he fought for control. The cabin suddenly felt too small, the air between them charged with something he couldn’t afford to name.

“It won’t happen again,” he said flatly, forcing the words past his teeth.

Liar.

His own mind betrayed him with the truth. Even as he spoke the words, he knew they were false. The taste of her lingered on his lips. The memory of her body pressed against his was branded into his skin. His beast knew the truth his rational side refused to acknowledge—he would kiss her again. He would claim her if she let him.

He turned away, unable to bear the hurt that flashed across her face. His claws threatened to emerge as he clenched his fists at his sides. He needed to get out, to run, to hunt—anything to escape the overwhelming need to go back to her.

Instead he retreated to the far side of the cabin, positioning himself by one of the windows where he could watch the clearing. His muscles remained coiled tight, his body still vibrating with the aftershocks of both the fight and that kiss. He needed to maintain control. To remember why he couldn’t have her.

But his eyes betrayed him, tracking her every movement.

She knelt to tend the pups, her small fingers stroking their fur as they tumbled over each other to reach her. The sound of her soft humming drifted across the cabin, a melody he didn’t recognizebut found himself straining to hear. His beast purred in approval at how naturally she cared for the young creatures.

The cabin was saturated with her scent now—sun-warmed honey mixed with desire—tormenting him with every breath. When she reached up to place dried herbs on the high shelf, the curve of her waist made his mouth go dry. His claws emerged unbidden, sinking into the window sill where his hands rested.

She glanced over her shoulder, catching him staring. Instead of looking away, he held her gaze, unable to pretend disinterest any longer. A flush spread across her cheeks, but she didn’t turn away either.

“I need to check the perimeter,” he growled, the words barely human.

He pushed away from the table, leaving deep gouges in the wood. The cabin was too small, too full of her. If he stayed, he would break his promise within minutes. His control hung by a thread, and that thread was unraveling with each moment in her presence.

As he reached the door, her voice stopped him.

“Korrin.”

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