She heard the note of finality in his voice and she knew she was in danger. His woman. Smart. She stepped back. He stepped forward, maneuvering her toward the wall. He stalked her like the leopard he was, gaze focused on her, his mouth set in grim, determined lines. Deep inside, his beast surged toward the surface over and over in elation. So close. They were so close.

Her back hit the wall and she held up her hand as if that would ward him off. Stop a leopard. Stop an enforcer. Stop a man like him. He was a big man. He towered over her, his shoulders wide, his chest broad. He dwarfed her in size. One of his hands easily spanned her throat, his thumb tipping her head up. He stood close, so close he could feel the brush of her soft breasts against his ribs. So close he felt every breath she took.

“You. Are. Mine.” He enunciated each word carefully so there was no misunderstanding. He knew she would protest, but he didn’t want to argue. There was no arguing with fate.

He bent his head and took her mouth. Her lips were soft and trembled beneath his. She didn’t part her lips for him so he coaxed. Gently. Rubbing his lips over hers. Tiny kisses when no part of him had ever been gentle. He caught her lower lip between his teeth, that bitable lip he fixated on often, and he did exactly what he’d been fantasizing about for months. He bit down and tugged. She gasped. He took instant advantage, both hands cupping her face, fingers sliding around to find her thick hair while he kissed her. Deep. Hard. Passionately. Sparing neither of them. It was a claiming and they both knew it.

She wasn’t very experienced, but that made it all the sweeter for him. Her untutored mouth, the taste of cinnamon and spice, did something to him—something extraordinary. He came from a family of users. The men used women to get what they wanted. He’d been no different. He’d fucked women to get off and he’d made certain they were women who were willing but knew he’d walk away immediately after. And he had—to save their lives. He’d done that. Got up. Got dressed. Left without a word. Fast.

He’d never enjoyed kissing. It was too—intimate. He took a woman from behind so he didn’t have to look into her eyes. So he didn’t have to pretend to smile. To pretend he felt anything at all but his body’s reaction. He took her hard and fast. He was every bit as savage as his leopard, and he found women who enjoyed that sort of thing. Getting off as he got off and just walking away.