Lure of the Blood by Doris O'Connor Page B

the door with his foot, Ion yanked up his unbuttoned jeans, in danger
of falling of his hips. Marnie allowed herself a moment to feast her eyes on
all those rippling muscles, as he moved towards her with the fluid animal grace
she had come to expect of him, before raising her eyes to his face. His harsh
features were guarded and watchful, his eyes worried as he looked her over.
Marnie felt herself blushing, thinking what a sight she must be. No doubt her
hair was a mess and she looked like a harlot, clutching a hole-riddled sheet in
the middle of a bed that spoke volumes of last night’s shenanigans. What was
the morning after protocol when you had mind-blowing sex with a shifter, who
looked as though he wanted to be anywhere else right now?
    She dropped her eyes, uncomfortable under his
silent scrutiny. What was wrong with him now?
    ****
    Ion released the breath he’d been holding
slowly, willing his feet to move forward. She looked so lost and small in the
tattered remains of his bedcovers and he grimaced stepping over her torn
dress.  He’d done exactly what he’d sworn he wouldn’t do. He had lost control.
Ion flinched at the thought of how many times he had taken advantage of her
soft body last night. Admittedly, she had seemed with him every step of the
way, her passionate responses driving his wolf wild, but she had to be hurting
this morning. The way Marnie dropped her eyes tore at his soul, and he
approached the bed slowly, putting the tray on the nightstand.
    “I thought you could do with something to eat
after…”
    The soft hands, exploring his injured side with
a shocked gasp, brought him up short.
    He’d all but forgotten about the wound, but it
seemed Marnie hadn’t.
    Worried chocolate eyes looked up at him and she
tugged on his jeans pockets impatiently, gesturing for him to sit down.
    “Come down here so I can look at that. I don’t
understand. I’m sure that was much worse last night.” His skin burned
underneath the tentative exploration of her hands and his wolf growled low at
the sight of her exposed breasts, covered in a fine red rash, the sheet she had
been clutching to herself forgotten for the moment. The mark of his possession
pleased his wolf no end and at his louder growl, Marnie’s hands froze. She
blushed, realising where his gaze rested and he chuckled at the speed with
which she yanked that sheet up, embarrassment radiating off her in waves.
    “I have seen them before, my sweet.”
    Her blush deepened as he leaned into her
personal space, tucking the sheet back down, and she tried in vain to slap his
hand away. “It was dark then and we, well…”
    Her voice trailed off on a shuddery exhale,
when he let his knuckles graze her nipples and he couldn’t help but lean in
closer still. “You forget that wolves have excellent night vision.”
    Her mouth formed a silent O at that comment and
protectiveness warred with a surge of raw lust as she bit her bottom lip
self-consciously. Jeez, how the fuck was he supposed to keep his hands off her
when she did that? She clearly had no idea what a turn-on that was.  “Don’t,
little one; you’ll hurt yourself. I will have to kiss you senseless if you keep
doing that.”
    Her eyes widened at his drawled words. She
smiled and deliberately bit into her bottom lip, leaning into him.
    “Stop distracting me. What happened to your
injuries?”
    “I told you, it was just a scratch. We heal
fast, especially after fabulous sex. It energises us.”
    Why she should find that comment amusing was
beyond him, but she clearly did. Her soft giggles washed over him, breaking the
tension in the air. Some of his doubts and worries lifted off his shoulders as
he watched the rise and fall of her shoulders. His own lips twitched in
response to the bright smile she now gave him.
    “Sorry, but you have to admit that’s funny.
Big, bad wolves being recharged like Energizer bunnies.”
    “Are you comparing me to a rabbit?”
    Instead of an answer Marnie