Sigma by Annie Nicholas Page A

for good. “Clementine, I–I want you to stay.”
    She nodded. “I am.”
    “I mean more than just today.”
    “I am.” Laughing, she threw back her head. “I’m so relieved you asked. I didn’t know how to broach the subject without sounding desperate.”
    “You are?” His beast howled inside his head with blinding pain.
    “Daedalus thinks it would be safest if I stayed. I want to, but I didn’t want to force myself on you. I–I hoped you would ask.”
    The strong band constricting his chest grew tighter. “I want us to get to know each other so I–I can be, so we can have a relation–well, we–”
    “You want to court me?” She squeezed his hands.
    “Yes!” He let go his breath. God, what was wrong with him? He was being a jackass.
    “Good.” She kicked his bedroom door closed. “Because I plan on keeping you.” She shoved him, her small body more powerful than most would think.
    The bed caught the back of his knees and he landed on his back. Blinking at the ceiling, he shook his head, then raised it as Clementine crawled over his body. Her eyes glittered with an inner light, her short curls wild around her delicate face. He grabbed her shoulders and pegged her with a stare. “Do you mean that?”
    “You doubt me?”
    “I’d rather not lay my heart on a platter to be feasted on.”
    “My dear shifter.” She moved closer until she straddled his hips and cupped his face. “I do not leave a trail of broken hearts in my wake.” She pressed a kiss on his lips, butterfly-light and sweeter than any other they’d shared. “And I plan on feasting on your whole body, not just your heart.”
    “Well, I know for a fact that I haven’t broken any hearts.” He whispered against her lips. “Someone would have to love me first to do that.”
    She blinked and ran her fingers in his hair. “You have the power to break mine.” Tugging him closer, she deepened the kiss.
    Moaning, he took what she offered, his spirit soaring at what she hinted at. He wrapped his arms around her and guided them back onto the mattress with her on top. He gave a throaty laugh when her dainty fingers curled under his waistband, and he lifted his hip to help make undressing him easier.
    * * * *
    Clementine would have floated away if Sam hadn’t held her so tight. He’d asked her before he’d known she was staying. Her chest strained with contained joy.
    Slipping his pants off his hips, she sensed his arousal against her stomach. He wore nothing now, since he hadn’t changed out of the shorts after the fight. A wave of heat spread over her body. “I can’t get enough of you.” She clawed at her own clothes.
    In a flurry of hands, Sam helped her undress. He went to rise and switch their positions, but she pinned his shoulders to the mattress. “Not so fast.” She slid her pussy over his hard cock.
    He arched under her weight. Pressing against her, his breathing grew heavier. “Are you going to take me by force, sweet Clementine?” He added a southern twang to his voice.
    It sent shivers through her limbs and broke through her self-control. With a swift jerk, she yanked his head aside and punctured his neck. The spill of his warm blood rushed down her throat, easing the need in her gut. He’d be her only source as long as they were together.
    “Shit, yes.” Sam cupped her ass and pushed his cock into her core.
    Her pussy burned with the stretch as he stroked a little deeper with each thrust. He’d dominated her every time they’d been together, but not this time. She released her bite as she guided his hands from her hips to her breasts. Sitting, she took control of the thrusts.
    Residing at Pal Robi had been safe, controlled, and stale. She hadn’t realized it until meeting Sam. For the last few decades she’d only existed, not lived. Her wild shifter risked his life to protect those around him and showed her that taking a chance could be worth so much more than hiding behind a veil of safety. How could she