Free Only After Dark The Boxed Set Books 1 - 4: Shifters Forever Worlds by Elle Thorne Page B

ultimatum in his kiss resulted in a searing pulse that flowed through her body, and awakened her own tigress with a fury that matched his tiger’s.
    Need overwhelmed her, causing her to touch his chest, where she could feel the bunched, hard, taut muscles beneath the soft fabric of his shirt. His hand closed round hers, pressing it into his flesh, forcing her to feel the throbbing, primal beat of his heart, in sync with the beat that pulsed inside her own body, a beat that proclaimed her desire and screamed her need.
    She tore her hand free of his to run it downward. Relishing in the flexing muscles that responded to her touch, she slipped her hand beneath the fabric, scoring his flesh with her nails, running her fingers through the hair that broadcasted his maleness.
    A growl deep within his chest mirrored her own longings. She slid the fabric upward, higher and higher, until she’d pulled it over his head. Then she marveled at the latte-colored flesh beneath the shirt. She yielded to the urge and lowered her lips to the tender flesh between his neck and shoulder.
    A groan, hoarse and raw, was torn from him as she scraped her teeth across his flesh, letting her canines nick his skin, leaving behind a tiny trail that erupted into miniscule drops of blood.
    Who am I? She didn’t recognize this part of her. She’d never been this way before.
    She was still in his lap, his hand on her hip holding her close, the hardness of his desire pressed against her thigh. He pulled her closer, and his other hand tangled in her long hair, twining it around his fist. He pulled her mouth to his and kissed her deeply, drawing her tongue into his mouth, sucking the flavor of his own blood off of it.
    The pulse between her legs matched the beat of her heart and the snarls of her tigress. Passion unfurled, claiming both Natalya and her beast.
    She heard the sound and recognized it immediately: the sound of fabric giving way to the sharpness of claws. She knew at once he’d unsheathed his. That was followed by the sensation of air cooling her exposed flesh as the dress fell away from her body and draped her lap. The swell of lust trailed behind, picking her up in its waves and carrying her to another place.
    “Lézare.” Her voice was wispy, like delicate tendrils of fog floating just above the water’s surface before the sun could dissipate it completely.
    “Natalya, you are mine.” The throatiness of his growl was like a dam holding back the power of destruction, completion, and even resurrection.
    “I am.” There’s been no question in his statement, and there was no doubt in her reply.
    It was as if she’d never breathed before Lézare.
    Her murmured words seemed to spur him to action. He stood up from the chair, holding Natalya against him. Her dress drifted downward, settling at their feet on the shiny wood flooring. He glanced around the luxurious cabin, then made for the upholstered bench seat.
    “There’ll be no more running away from me.” He took a seat on the bench, flipped her over his lap, face down, her luscious ass skyward.
    “No more running.” She whispered, her voice tinged with anticipation. She was turned on. She couldn’t deny it. His hard cock pressed against her body, teasing her with what he had to offer. Her breathing was irregular. Shoving her dress up, he pulled her panties down just enough to bare her ass.
    “What are you doing?”
    “What I promised. To spank that delicious derrière of yours, chère .”
    She struggled, though desire pooled between her legs. Lézare threw one leg over hers, keeping her in place.
    “You think you’re in charge?” She panted the words out in short bursts of breaths.
    With one hand on her ass, searing her flesh, the other slid down the crease between her ass and thigh, tracing her flesh so lightly he left tiny bumps in his fingers’ wake. When he slipped his fingers against her folds, and his fingertips feather-stroked her swollen lips, her muscles tightened with