I wriggled in Nick’s arms asking to be let down to the floor, flashing him a quick smile when he linked his fingers with mine. “I told you not to come here, Tony.”

“You didn’t mean it.” But his expression didn’t back his words up. He was looking a little green, to be honest, and his eyes couldn’t stop darting to the men—sorry, shifters—who were lying dead on the floor.

I shook my head, hoping it would help break through his delusions. “I did mean it. You cheated on me with my best friend. It broke my heart.”

“See, you do love me!”

I was lost for words. Seriously dumfounded. I also couldn’t believe I’d ever actually thought I might love this man. What I’d felt for him hadn’t been a fraction of what I now felt for Nick. Not even a micro fraction. Wait, was there anything smaller? Well, that, whatever it was. “No, Claire broke my heart. You just pissed me off.”

“Shall I kill him for you, min älskling?”

I didn’t bother to hide my smile, letting it grow even wider as sheer terror drained the blood from Tony’s face.

“Aw, sweetie, you’d do that for me?” I hoped he could tell I was kidding.

“With pleasure.” He let go of my hand and growled, taking a step forward.

Ah, shit!

Tony screamed. Honest to God, opened his mouth and screamed. It was so high pitched, I was pretty sure there’d be a stampede of dogs anytime soon. Ah, double shit. I glanced at Nick. No dog jokes, not in a house filled with wolves. He was still advancing, drawing it out as Tony shuffled back, unable to take his eyes off the predator in front of him. Then Nick stopped, lifting his nose to the air. His nostrils flared. “There’s nothing like the smell of your enemy pissing themselves in fear.”

Sure enough, Tony now had a suspicious stain covering the front of his slacks. Which were beige. And just goddamn awful.

Stepping forward, I caught hold of Nick’s arm. “He can live. I don’t hate him, because I don’t feel anything for him.”

Swinging me into his arms, he pressed my hands against his chest. His very hard, muscular chest. I almost purred. Wait, would that be offensive to a wolf? “If you’re sure, min älskling?” he murmured, leaning down to nip at my ear. Lowering his voice, he continued, “I can’t stand that he hurt you, that he caused you a second of pain.”

Cupping his cheek, I sighed. “But the pain brought me here, to you.”

After a long moment, he nodded. “Then he can live.” He raised his voice, so Tony could hear him. “He can live … for now.” As Tony sagged forward, Nick shook his head. “You tell anyone about what happened here, they won’t believe you and I’ll kill you. You contact Tahlia again, I’ll kill you. You step foot in my country again, I’ll kill you. You breathe the same air as Tahlia, I’ll—”

I cut Nick off, “He’ll kill you. Simple enough for you, Tony?”

Tony nodded, hard enough that his goatee wobbled.

Nick smiled and flicked his hand. The gesture of a king dismissing a minion. I liked it. I’d have to practice a queenly version to use on enemy scum. “Now, piss off and don’t come back,” he growled. “My woman needs my attention.”

Aw, damn. I think I just melted.

* * *

Nick hit the door with his shoulder and it flew open, bouncing off the wall. Cradling me in his arms, his long strides ate up the lush carpet with single minded devotion as he made his way to the bed that dominated the center of the room.

Nick’s room. A place I hadn’t been before. The walls and carpets were a rich cream, the mahogany furniture large and bulky, like the man himself. Thick drapes hugged the window, a vibrant forest green that matched the sumptuous bedspread. And the bed. Ohhhh, wow. Huge four poster with carved posts spiraling up to the ceiling, a gorgeous forest scene carved into the headboard. A wolf watched over the bed, the detailed lines a mark of hours of labor. And love. It was almost as if he were alive, watching over his domain.

It was a barbarian’s bedroom, that’s for sure. And I’d also seen that wolf before.

This wolf had shown me his belly.

Bypassing the bed, Nick strode straight into a massive bathroom with marble fixtures coming out of its ying-yang. A flick of his wrist and the shower sprung to life, steam and water jetting out and filling the excessive tiled area that took up more than half of the room. I found myself deposited on the edge of the sink, his lips sealing against mine as his hands tugged at my top, breaking away to peel it over my head, then returning to hum his pleasure against my lips. Large hands cupped my breasts, his thighs nudging my knees apart as he licked and sucked my bottom lip.

I groaned, grabbing for his jeans and yanking him closer, making quick work of the fastening and shoving them down. His thick shaft sprung out, and I wrapped my hand around the steel length, grinning as he bucked into my hand with a snarl. Eyes hooded, he pinched my nipple, rolling it between his finger and thumb, his other hand diving down into my shorts and sliding between my curls. Without a word, he speared me, his large finger stretching me open and thrusting hard. Silent words passed between us, of lust and love and need. Mostly need as he captured my mouth again, the steam drenched room filling with our soft groans and hoarse cries.

Any hope I had of control shattered and I strained against him, clinging to his bicep as I screamed my pleasure into the air. The rustle of fabric as he kicked his jeans off, then my shorts were also gone and he lifted me into the shower. Hot water drenched me, sending shockwaves vibrating through my skin as I slid back down to my feet. Cool tiles pressed against my back, his teeth at my neck, then my breast. Firm hands steadied my hips as his hot tongue found my core, licking deep and hard, his steady fingers coaxing another orgasm to roll through me.

Forcing my eyes open, I glanced down. Water streamed off his large shoulders, plastering his inky black hair across his skull and into his eyes, so that they played peekaboo with their silver blue glint. The stubble of his jaw scraped my thigh as he pressed a kiss to my center, his lips curling back with satisfaction as I shivered. Strong hands reached around and kneaded my ass as he continued his assault, dragging sounds from me that I hadn’t thought possible, until my legs were shaking and my cries had turned to begging.

Then he stood, towering over me, his body enough to make a woman swallow her own tongue. Tongue. Oh, yes.

I slid down the wall, ignoring his growl, and wrapped my hand around his shaft. Tugging, I took him into my mouth, swirling my tongue and hollowing my cheeks, his taste exploding in my mouth. He groaned, low and feral, his hands sliding into my hair, releasing it from its band. His hips jerked, and he cursed under his breath. “Tahlia, min älskling…” But I was too busy to answer him. Plus, I had my mouth full. Spurred on, I gave it everything I had, which wasn’t a whole lot of experience, but I’d like to think I made up for it with enthusiasm, and when he tugged at my hair, pulling away with a groan, I couldn’t help but smile at the look of torture on his gorgeous face. That was the face of a man who couldn’t think straight. Then his face darkened, eyes narrowing and jaw clenching with lust.

Oh, oh. I’d poked the beast and now he was—

I shrieked as he scooped me up, then moaned as he slid between my legs, rubbing his thick length against me. His arms caged me, his mouth demanded attention, his growls sent ripples of pleasure flooding through me, until I couldn’t wait another damn second. I bucked against him, breathing my plea against his mouth as he snarled, “Nick!”

“What, Tahlia?” He yanked me closer by my ass, his shaft dragging across my sensitive nub. “What do you want?” He stared at me with the kind of hunger I’d only read about, intense and consuming, like I was the only woman in the world and it was his right to please me. To do anything he wanted to me.

But, first, I had to give myself to him. His words from our first meeting came rushing back, finally making sense. Fate tells us that the perfect woman will tame the beast inside. That she will command him and he will listen. We would give ourselves to each other.

I held his eyes, caressed his face, following the hard lines of his jaw with my thumb. Leaning in, I rubbed my cheek against his, bringing my lips to his ear. “Make me yours,” I whispered.

The room spun and jolted as we exited the bathroom on a rush of warm air, then the soft fabric of the bed hit my back, his body covering mine. Hot, slick skin and hard muscle abraded my nipples, my thighs pushed apart as he held me firm, then he slid inside me, hard and thick. My body strained, my back bowed and lips parted as he thrust inside, his hips jerking back and forth and hands coming up to cup my face. Leaning back, he curled himself over me, bringing us face to face as kissed me long and slow, his tenderness at odds with the way he slammed in and out of my body, his eyes screaming of love while he drove me crazy with lust.

I kissed him back, pouring everything I had into my mouth, my breath, meeting his thrusts and drinking in his low, feral groans. Pleasure built, swirling in my stomach, hardening into a ball that threatened to explode.

He retreated, urging me onto my hands and knees, his hands guiding my hips into position. Then he slid back inside, harder, deeper, and this time my moan was feral, a long, low groan that ended in a whimper as he began to move. My head hung low, hair falling into my eyes as he thrust in and out of me, sending my breasts bouncing and thighs clenching with every jerk of his hips. His hand slid around to caress my stomach, trailing up to cup my breast as he pulled me back, into his chest.

“I love you, Nick,” I whispered and he shuddered, his hand clenching me hard as his thrusts grew wilder.

Pressing a kiss to my neck, his next words were hoarse as his heart thudded against my back, “I love you, Tahlia, min älskling. My mate.” His teeth slid into my shoulder, piercing my skin, but I barely felt it as the ball of heat exploded inside of me, spiraling out with such force that I screamed. It was as if my soul was shattering and reforming, reaching out of my body and joining with his. A feeling a peace wrapped around me, hugging me close, a surge of love bringing tears to my eyes.

He jerked, grinding himself against me as he roared, shuddering as he finished inside me.

Ever so slow, I drifted back to myself, lethargy washing over me as we sank down onto the bed. For several moments we didn’t speak, just content to stare at each other, then he dragged me closer, pressing a kiss to my lips. “You have made me the happiest man alive, min älskling.”

I blinked as I felt the wave of love pour out of him and settle inside my chest. “Ahhhh, what was that?”

Tracing my hip with his finger, he chuckled. “The soul bond.”

I shoved his hand away. I hadn’t been kidding when I’d said I was ticklish. “Right. Of course. Silly me.”

“Mates never go to bed angry with each other.” He sounded smug and happy. A dangerous combination. But, then again, he had every right to feel smug. The man had skills.

“That’s a damn shame,” I mused. At his shocked look, I winked. “Make up sex can be a lot of fun.”

His eyes narrowed and he scratched his chin, as if giving it serious thought. “Okay. You can pretend to be angry with me so I can convince you to forgive me.”

“Convince me?”

His voice dropped to a low rumble as he rolled on top of me, pinning my arms above my head, “With orgasms. Lots and lots and lots of orgasms.”

My eyes had widened with every word, enough that my eye sockets strained and I probably looked like a startled deer. “Lots?”

He grinned, sliding back inside me. Okay, the man didn’t just have skills, he had inhuman stamina. Well, duh. Shifter.

“Lots.”