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prime?"
    "I figured you thought they were limp."
    She smiled at his insult. It was so classic Fury. "No. I was waiting for you. I wanted you to be my first." She trailed her hand down to cup him in her hand.
    Fury sucked his breath in sharply. It was so hard to think while she fondled him. Hard to remember why he wanted her to leave.
    "Be with me this one time." She nipped at his earlobe.
    Chills ran the length of his body as the wolf in him howled in pleasure. In all honesty, he'd never taken many lovers. Mostly because of the woman whose hand was squeezing his cock through his jeans. How could he trust another one after the way she'd betrayed him?
    He'd always held himself back from the other wolfswans . When they'd been in heat, he'd withdrawn until the woman had claimed another wolf.
    It was easier that way. He didn't like human emotions, and he didn't like any kind of intimacy. It left him too vulnerable. Left him open to hurt, and he didn't like being hurt.
    He should shove her away and forget how good it felt to be held. He was just about to do that very thing when she wrapped her arms around him and gave him the one thing he hadn't had from anyone other than his nephew.
    A hug.
    "Do you have anyone who holds you?"
    That one question shattered his last resistance. "No."
    She walked around him and lifted herself up on her toes to reach his lips. Fury hesitated. Wolves didn't kiss when they mated. It was a human action and it was one he'd never experienced.
    But as her lips touched his, he realized why it meant so much to the humans. The tenderness of her breath tickling his skin. Of their breathing mingling while her tongue parted his lips to taste him. That was something the wolf in him understood.
    Growling, he pulled her into his arms, tasted her fully.
    Angelia moaned at the gentle ferocity of his kiss. He cupped her face in his hands as he explored every inch of her mouth. Part of her couldn't believe she was touching a wolf.
    But it's Fury. ..
    Her Fury.
    Even though they didn't pick their mates, he was the one man she'd given her heart to, even when she'd only been a child. "You'll always be my best friend, Fury, and one day when we're grown we'll be warriors together. You protect my back and I'll protect yours." How innocent that promise had been.
    And how hard to keep.
    Fury pulled back from the kiss to look down at her with those eyes that seared her with his pain and uncertainty. She was afraid. He could smell it. He just didn't know what she was afraid of. "You know that I am, Lia . You're about to den down with an animal. Are you ready for that?"
    Den down . . . it was Katagaria slang and repugnant to the Arcadians.
    Angelia traced the outline his lips. "If this is my last night to live, I want it to be with you, Fury. Had the Fates not been cruel to us and turned you into an animal when you hit puberty, we would have done this centuries ago. I know exactly what you are and I love you in spite of it." She smoothed the angry frown on his brow. "Most of all, I love you because of what you are."
    Fury couldn't breathe as he heard words he'd never thought to hear from anyone's lips.
    Love.
    But did she mean it?
    "Would you die for me, Lia ?"
    It was her turn to scowl. "Why do you ask me that?"
    "Because I would die to keep you safe. That to me is what love is. I want to make sure that this time we both understand the terms. 'Cause if love to you is stabbing me and leaving me to die, then you can keep it."
    She choked on a sob at his heartfelt words. "No, baby. That wasn't love. That was me being stupid, and I swear to you if I could go back and change that moment, I would stand there and fight for you . . . like I promised you I would."
    Closing his eyes, he nuzzled his face against her cheek, stroking her skin with his whiskers. Angelia smiled at the purely wolf action. He was marking her as his. Mingling their scents together.
    And honestly, she wanted his scent on her skin. It was warm and masculine. Pure