Page 303 of Primal Bonds

The gray-and-orange crystals were lit deep within with a new color, a brilliant sea-green that spiraled through the center in a graceful twist. A green the same color as Rosana’s dolphin’s eyes.

What the hell? His brows drew together.

“Wow,” she said. “Just…wow.”

He shrugged mentally and decided to worry about his quartz later. He lifted up and she gave him a broad smile that warmed him clear to his toes.

He kissed her, wanting that smile against his lips. She was warm, her skin moist with exertion. She smelled like woman and sex—and him. He rubbed his cheek against hers, mingling their two scents even more. For this night, at least, she was his.

“Mm.” She slid a languid hand down his neck, petting him in a way both man and cat craved. Fingering the gold stud in his earlobe. Tracing a finger over his jaw.

He licked her just beneath her ear. She tasted like the sea.

Inside her, his dick lengthened. He’d come hard. No, he’d fucking exploded—and still it hadn’t been enough.

He had the sudden, sinking conviction that with Rosana, it would never be enough.

He wanted to thrust into her mindlessly. Imprint his body on hers so that she’d feel him all week. But she had to be tender, even though she’d been an eager, if innocent, partner.

Hell, he’d been too rough—at the end, his mind had blanked with pleasure and he’d forgotten he was fucking a virgin. But he was fully aware now, so he gritted his teeth and withdrew from her.

Her soft hiss told him she was hurting, at least a little. Guilt tightened his belly. “You okay?”

“Mm-hmm.” She curled on her side, cheeks flushed, eyes half-closed, the picture of a well-pleasured woman.

His guilt eased. He kissed her cheek. “Be right back.”

He made a trip to the bathroom to dispose of the rubber, returning with a warm, wet washcloth. “Let me.” He bent up her top leg and, pressing the cloth to her sex, gently cleaned her.

She winced at even a soft touch, and he grimaced in sympathy. “Sorry, love. I was too rough. I—”

“Was amazing.” She grinned up at him. “It’s fine. I’m just a little sore.”

A wave of tenderness rolled through him. Unexpected and unwelcome—because he couldn’t let this be anything more than it was.

Returning to the bathroom, he rinsed the cloth and tossed it over the towel rack, and then slid back into the bed. He pulled the sheet up over them both and reached for her, but she was already there, tucking herself into his side, one hand on his heart, as if they’d done this a hundred times.

Her hair spilled onto his chest in silky dark tendrils. He pressed a kiss to her temple.

The tenderness mixed with something basic. Primal.

Mine.

He wanted to keep her. Lure her back to his lonely den. He might even be able to convince her it was her idea. Just for the next few days, until he left…

He fingered his quartz, considering. He had a rare, little known Gift—he could hypnotize people with his quartz, compel them to obey him. He could induce Rosana to come back to Baltimore with him.

It wouldn’t be that hard to get her to do something she wanted anyway. Just a nudge would probably work.

But even the cat, primitive beast though it was, knew that was wrong.

And the man admitted that having Rosana move into his den—even for a few days—would be hollow if she didn’t do it with her full knowledge and consent. If she ever came to him, he wanted her whole heart and soul.

His lip curled. Gods, he was pathetic. Next he’d be lighting candles and scattering rose petals on the sheets.

He tightened his arm around her. “Last night—why did you come to me?”

She traced a finger over his heart. “It was time.”

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