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“Dove,” he said with a voice that sounded like someone had taken sandpaper to his vocal cords.

“Um…”

Slowly, he rose to his feet, and the hair on his monster chest brushed the very tips of my nipples. He was breathing hard when he loomed over me, with a look on his face that held the kind of pure unrestrained hunger that actually made my knees feel weak.

My hand had slipped from his hair to his shoulder, and I could have pushed him back as he leaned in. I should have, but I didn’t. I blamed it on the poison, even though it was quickly leaving my system thanks to Warrick’s…tongue.

I also could have told him no when he closed the gap between us, but I didn’t do that either. His hands slid up to either side of my neck, thumbs brushing my jaw, and his eyes locked with mine before our lips touched. That’s all, just lingering there waiting, waiting for me to do just that, to push him back. To tell him no. Again, I didn’t, because I had thought about this, dreamed about it, fantasized about it more times than I would ever admit to anyone.

He huffed out a breath through his nose, and his fingers slid into my hair. He tilted my head back, gaze searching mine, then he said something I didn’t understand. It was deep and low and in that same coarse language, more a series of harsh sounds than actual words, then he closed the gap with a snarl and took my mouth.

He kissed me like I knew he would if I’d ever let him. Like a warrior beast, a conqueror, like the alpha he was. His lips parted, his mouth opening wide, forcing mine to do the same, and his tongue swept deep, consuming me, putting every bit of pent-up lust into it.

It was the best kiss I had ever experienced, and I knew without doubt there would be no topping it. I didn’t know it was possible to kiss like this.

His other arm hooked around my waist, and he hauled me off my feet, pressing me into the cool tile of the shower. My legs lifted instantly, scratches forgotten, and banded around his waist like they had a mind of their own.

His cock was right there, hard and hot. Huge. If I shifted a little to the right, he could thrust right into me—

Someone banged on the door to Warrick’s quarters.

It was like a bucket of cold water being tossed in my face. I froze.

They knocked again with more force, and on the bathroom door this time.

“Fuck off,” Warrick said.

I shoved at his shoulder, and his gaze sliced back to mine. The muscle in his jaw jumped, not missing my retreat, and he lowered me carefully to my feet but didn’t release me or take a step back.

“Axton’s back,” Jagger called.

Now I wasn’t being kissed senseless, and blood wasn’t rushing through my ears, I had a silent freak-out at what I’d almost done, what I almost begged him to do.

“Who’s Axton?” I asked.

“I have to go.” He released me and took a step back. And no, there was no missing how much he wanted me. “Get into bed, get some sleep. I’ll tell Ren to come wake you when it’s time.”

Then he climbed out of the shower and quickly dried himself off. I should have looked away, but I couldn’t make myself do it. I was still blaming the poison from that asshole’s scratches, even though it had completely gone thanks to Warrick’s…help. He reached for the door—

“Warrick.”

He stopped and turned back.

I almost asked him when he’d be back but stopped myself. Instead, I stupidly said, “Thanks.”

His lips quirked up on one side. “Any time, dove.”

He opened the door, and I realized how that sounded, like I was thanking him for kissing me. “I meant for licking me, not kissing me.”

Jagger laughed in the other room and I flushed hot.

They left, and I dragged my tired, weirdly loose-limbed body out of the shower, and ignoring the humm of arousal still pulsing through my body, tugged on a shirt and climbed into Warrick’s massive bed. This also wasn’t a good idea, but I’d made a deal and I was too tired to find somewhere else to sleep.

A moment later, I was out.

Chapter 10

Willow