I reached out and stroked the hard outline pressing against his jeans. Wheeler sucked in a sharp breath. “I trust you,” I whispered. Then I put my arms up and lay beneath him. “Show me your teeth, Mr. Wolf. I’m not afraid of you.”

We both knew that I could shift and heal, but still I saw fear glittering in his eyes. He gently swung it in a simple maneuver and then closed it.

“I’ve seen you use that thing, Wheeler. Show me what you can really do.”

When he spun it again, I arched my back. I thought his willpower might break, but it fueled him. He did tricks with that knife that were blindingly fast.

I’d never seen anything more erotic in all my life—watching his hands deftly spinning that blade around and the intense look on his face as he kept his eyes centered on mine. He suddenly locked the case with the knife out and tossed it across the room at the wall, where it stuck.

I gasped. “I didn’t know you could throw those.”

Wheeler stripped me out of my jeans and panties. “Years of practice.” He fell over me, creating a friction with the bristles on his face as he worshipped my body with his mouth.

“This is real pretty,” he said in a soft voice, brushing the back of his hand over my sex. “Tell your wax lady she’s got my approval.” His hands gently spread my thighs apart and I drew up my knees. Wheeler’s hot breath made me quiver with anticipation, and when his tongue lapped at my skin with one greedy stroke, I arched my back, moaning with need.

He gripped my round hips, and after another sensual kiss, he began to tremble. Wheeler climbed up my body, desperate to get me completely undressed.

“I need you naked,” he breathed, panting as if he’d run a mile, and the race hadn’t even begun.

I leaned up, and Wheeler fumbled with the latches of my bra beneath my shirt. I heard them pop when he pulled them apart, and then he stripped me out of my blouse.

“Mmm, I can tell I’m going to need a large wardrobe with a man like you,” I purred, slowly tossing the destroyed garment to the floor.

He hovered over me with yearning in his eyes.

“Is this what you want?” I asked, sliding my fingers into his jeans. It didn’t take long before I found the source of all his discomfort. With dexterous hands, I unfastened his pants and shoved him onto his side.

His elbow hit the wall and he hissed in pain. “Wait,” he said, gripping my wrist and scooting toward the center of the bed as if fleeing from me.

“What?”

He wouldn’t say whatever it was that had caused a flash of terror in his eyes. That’s when I knew he was hiding another secret. Without taking my eyes from his, I pulled at his jeans and shorts beneath. Wheeler had softened, losing some of his arousal as unwelcome emotions began to take hold. He swallowed hard and then clenched his jaw.