Kain’s voice was husky and dark, sending a shiver through her tired body. It prodded at her instincts to awaken and be of service to the male who’d pleased her so, and when she glanced down past his head, she saw the unmistakable sign of his need.

“Let me help you, too.”

She smiled when he frowned up at her, then slid her palms over his strong, wide shoulders. He rose obediently when she tugged at his arms, but when she leaned forward and let her tongue swipe at his cockhead, he jerked back as if she’d burned him.

“What?” Selma knotted her brows in confusion. “Doesn’t that feel good to demons?”

“Of course it does,” he growled. “But I will not take pleasure from you again. I’d rather die than take advantage of you one more time.”

Oh, for Heaven’s sake! “You’re not taking advantage of me! Seriously, can’t you employ those damn voodoo senses you guys run around with to know that I’m not scared of you? That I like—”

A roar interrupted her mid-sentence, making her jaw clamp shut from surprise.

“I will not take pleasure from you! You are high from hormones and don’t know what you want!”

Kain glared down at her, but seemed to soften at the sight of her startled expression. He sighed deeply and reached out a hand to caress her cheek.

“I will tend to you if you so desire while you’re still in my care, but I will not be penetrating your body, nor will I accept a release from you. Once you regain your senses, you will be thankful. Do not press me on the matter, little one.”

Selma opened her mouth to argue, but his eyebrow quirked in warning made her change her mind. Nothing would be gained from fighting over it right now.

She wasn’t certain what had changed in her to make her actually want to be with him like that, but she did know something deep inside needed to feel the brutal stretch of his claim just one more time before they separated.

Ignoring the twinge in her stomach at the thought of saying goodbye, she closed her eyes and let her exhausted body collapse back onto the bed. She’d need rest before she’d be capable of anything, much less spreading her legs for him again.

And she would feel him move within her before he gave her up—no matter how much of a gentleman he was planning on being about it.

16

Kain

It was a pretty surreal experience sitting in his car next to what felt like the small, soft center of the entire goddamn universe—breathing in her intoxicating scent and knowing she belonged to him.

At least for a little while longer.

“Kain?”