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I wasn’t sure I was strong enough to endure that.
Warm palms cupped my cheeks, forcing me to focus on the alpha before me again. I didn’t know if we’d been in the car for two minutes, or two hours, only that the pain receded when his hands were on me, and it was getting harder to hang onto the reasons why I needed to get away from him.
“Cadence, please. I know you’re scared and you’re still not ready. But please, let me help you.”
I sniffled, leaning into his touch as the muscles in my abdomen coiled again. The seat beneath me was too hard, my clothes too rough, the lights shining through the windows of the car too harsh. I knew I wasn’t someone who could cry prettily, my nose and eyes grew blotchy and my face puffy, yet Leo still stared at me with desire, softened by the care I knew was inside him. A thin ring of green showed around his blown pupils, and I knew this was the best chance I was going to get to convince him before we were both too lost.
“I can’t, Leo. I can’t let you claim me.”
“Shhh. It’s okay.”
He pulled me closer, pressing his lips to mine. The gentle touch sparked something inside me that buried the pain and fear beneath an avalanche of need, and my arms moved to tangle around his neck without any direction from me. I tried to drag myself over the center console, irritated at the hard edges digging into me when I wanted to feel his warm body against mine. Mashing my lips to his, my tongue demanded entrance, and I let out a growl of my own when Leo peeled my arms off and pushed me back.
I wavered in the seat, instincts demanding I launch myself at him again, while my brain screamed that I needed to run, and runnow. My skin burned, my chest heaving with short, sharp breaths, and my mouth watered at the scent of whiskey and coffee. I knew I was losing myself, that it was too late for me to be able to drive myself anywhere, but even though I could feel my resolve slipping, I couldn’t stop what was happening.
“I promise I won’t claim you without your permission. I just want to help you. That’s all. I want to make sure you’re safe and taken care of.”
I tried to focus on his words, on what he was saying, but it was getting harder and harder to think past the lust and pain fighting for dominance inside me. I whined again when I tried to lean forward and Leo stopped me, but when he reached behind him and popped open his door, the rush of air thinning our pheromones helped me grasp hold of the last shreds of my sanity.
“Don’t lie to me, Leo. I know you want to claim me.”
His eyes darkened, that ring of green growing thinner as he grinned. His smiles were usually playful, but this one was menacing.
Hungry.
The smile of a predator who’d caught its prey.
“I never said I didn’t want to. But I want you to want it too. When the time comes, I want you to beg for my bite, and I want to know it’syouthat’s asking for it, not instincts. Nothing else will be good enough.”
I trembled, another wave of burning heat rushing through my limbs to pool in my belly before it spasmed. The puddle of slick beneath me grew, and there was no denying I was past the point of having a choice about it. I couldn’t drive like this, and I couldn’t risk going out on the street. Leo was my only option, and if he wouldn’t drive me home, I was trapped.
More tears ran down my cheeks, but Leo brushed them away.
“Have I ever lied to you? Have I done anything to make you mistrust me?”
I dug my nails into my palms, trying to keep my focus. He was right, but it was still hard to believe he wouldn’t take advantage now that he could.
“No biting.”
His teeth flashed in a smirk.
“Only love nibbles.”
I narrowed my eyes and he chuckled, sliding his arms around me to pull me over into his lap. There wasn’t really enough space between him and the steering wheel, but being held so close soothed my instincts, and the clearer air from the open door helped me focus.
“No. Biting.”
His chest rumbled, not quite a growl, but close enough to have everything in me tightening. I whimpered at the spike of pain digging through my womb, and he cut off the sound as he pressed his lips to my forehead.
“No biting. I promise.”
With no other choice, I gave in to the inevitable.
“Then take me upstairs.”
Chapter Two
Leo
