Free Wild Night by Nalini Singh Page B

might be submissive,” she’d whispered against his lips as both their hearts
thundered, “but I know my own mind. And I’ve known
you
my whole life.
I trust you.”
    Hearing that from her had broken him in the best way. He’d been hers, utterly
and without question.
    “Where?” he whispered to Riaz.
    Taking pity on him, the lieutenant told him to avoid the corridors near the
lieutenants’ offices. “She’s going over a report.”
    “Thanks.” Tai cuddled Evie closer and kept on walking.
    He made it to her room without running into either Indigo, or Evie’s parents.
Evie had lived with her folks until recently, now had a room in the section for
unmated packmates who weren’t soldiers—the rooms were more internal and
protected than the ones assigned the soldiers. She was only here part of the
time, spent the rest at college. Tai missed her with his every breath, but he
knew he couldn’t clip her wings. Evie had to grow, as he had to grow.
    And he had to have faith that they’d grow toward each other and not away.
    Walking into her room after managing to open the door, he nudged it shut behind
himself, then took her toward her neatly made up bed. Soft white comforter with
fluffy white pillows printed with cherry blossoms, that bed shouted “female”
loud and clear.
    He’d never been in it with Evie, the two of them going slow so Tai could be dead
sure Evie was with him every step of the way. He had a feeling she might lose
patience again and haul him right into bed one of these days, and he’d be
fine
with that,
but for now, they were enjoying learning one another piece by piece, kiss by
kiss, touch by touch.
    Tai had never been as frustrated or as happy.
    When he tried to lower her to the comforter, she clung to him. Eyes still
closed, she kissed his throat, her hand sliding around to the back of his neck.
His skin prickled, his cock pounded, and his mouth watered at the thought of her
kiss, her taste. “Baby, stop.”
    “I don’t wanna.” More kisses.
    Tai could’ve broken her hold in a heartbeat, but he wasn’t about to hurt Evie,
not in any way. “Let go,” he coaxed, “and we can get in bed.”
    “Bed?” A suspicious glance through her lashes. “Really? You won’t run away?”
    Tai wanted to laugh despite the aching stone of his arousal. “Promise.”
    “’Kay.”
    He placed her on the bed, but she got off and onto her feet. Before he knew what
was happening, she’d undone the zipper on her dress and shimmied out of it. Her
panties were lacy pink and tiny.
Tiny.
She wasn’t
wearing a bra.
    Someone hates me
,
Tai thought.
Someone
really hates me.
    Flipping back the comforter, he said, “In.” It came out a growl, but Evie just
smiled, well aware that as far as she was concerned, his growl had no bite.
    She jumped in, then pinned him with reproachful eyes when he just stood by the
bed looking down at the gorgeous woman he couldn’t have. Not tonight. “You said
you wouldn’t run away.”
    Shoving his hands through his hair, Tai sat down on the bed and took off his
boots. Otherwise fully dressed, he lay down on top of the comforter after
pulling it back up to cover Evie to the neck. When he stretched out his arm,
Evie snuggled up to him, placing her head on his shoulder, but when she tried to
tug the comforter out from under him, he turned around and nipped at the tip of
her ear.
    “Owie.”
    Evie did not say things like “owie.” Ever. She was more drunk than he’d
realized. Not that it made a difference. As soon as she’d finished her second
drink, he’d known he wouldn’t be sharing any sexual skin privileges with her
tonight. “Go to sleep,” he said, holding her snuggled up against him.
    Her hand crept over the top of the comforter to lie on his chest, her fingers on
the buttons of his short-sleeved black shirt. “
Tai
.”
    Closing his much bigger, rougher-skinned hand over hers, he squeezed. “Go to
sleep and if you still want