Wounded Kiss (To Be Claimed 1)

“Grace?” His voice is caressing yet still dominating.

“Yes?” I answer easily, rubbing my cheek against his chest.

“What do you know about werewolves?” he asks again, keeping his voice low and soothing. His chest rises higher with a deeper, longer inhale. I’m so relaxed that I hardly hear his words. Nuzzling into his neck, I have an intense urge to lick his throat and leave open-mouth kisses all over his chest.

As quickly as the urges come on, they leave me. What the hell? The realization of what I’d intended to do strikes me with a force that jolts me awake. I jerk out of his embrace and stand up so quickly I almost fall flat on my face. Devin doesn’t move. He merely raises one eyebrow in question.

“Are you doing this to me?” I stare at him, meeting his gaze head-on. Of course he’s doing this to me. I’m not a damn toy he can play with!

“Doing what?” he asks as though he has no idea.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about.” I make an attempt to yell, but my cadence wavers and my voice cracks.

He stares back at me without any indication that he’s even heard me. “Calm down.”

Calm down? I want to cry at his response. What’s happening to me? I need to get away from him. I search for the door, still disoriented and light-headed. I grip the edge of the desk to maintain my balance.

“Grace?” This time he sounds concerned and he gets up to try to steady me, but I push him away and nearly stumble into the wall, the push moving only myself and not him.

“You drugged me?” I say it as more of a statement than a question and I can’t keep the sadness out of my tone. How the hell did I let that happen? I think back, searching for a moment when they could’ve slipped me something, but I haven’t eaten anything. I haven’t had so much as a single sip of water since they took us. It had to have been when I was asleep.

He approaches me cautiously, like the way one would approach a wild, wounded creature that’s startled and backed into a corner. I don’t blame him. I’m so unpredictable that I don’t even know how I’m going to react. It’s like I’ve lost my mind around him. He holds up his hands. “No one drugged you.” He reaches for me, but I take a step back and round the desk.

“Grace, you’re safe. It’s okay.” I shake my head at his words. The action makes me feel dizzy again. My skin feels heated and a tingling sensation takes over my limbs. He hasn’t tried to grab me, but I take another step away from him to get closer to the door. My breathing is erratic and I don’t know if it’s from the drug or my anxiety. I try to swallow again, but I can’t.

“Grace, I think you’re going into shock.” He stays planted where he is with his arms still raised. “Just try to calm down, okay?” I stare at him like a deer in headlights.

Shock? Is that what this is? No, that doesn’t explain the urges. I bite my lip at the sordid thoughts. I’ve never felt this way before. My gaze travels over his body. He’s absolutely gorgeous. He’s got a vibe to him that lets you know he’d pin your legs back and fuck you until you begged for more and then some. My lips part and I let out a small moan as I picture it. My pussy clenches and heats.

A look of relief flashes across Devin’s face almost too quickly for me to notice. I notice, though. I give him a questioning look.

“Calm down, Grace.” His voice is firm now.

“No, not until you tell me what the hell is going on.” I just barely get out the words while maintaining an air of authority. My body is begging me to bow to him. A hot sensation pulses through me, starting at my core and making me squirm. Something’s wrong. I can’t stop my facial expression from showing my desperation. My eyes plead with him to help as the tears fall.

“What did you do to me?” Any semblance of authority I had has vanished. I’m practically begging him to give me answers.

“I didn’t do anything. I promise you.” His eyes look so sincere, but I know something is wrong. “It’s only because you’re around me that you feel this way.” His tone conveys his sympathy.

“Then I need to leave now!” His eyes harden and his fists clench.

“No.” His stern reply offers no alternative.

My body crumples and heats, making me feel weak and light-headed once again. “I’m not okay. Please help me.”

He nods his head and says, “I’ll help you, sweetheart. Come here. Let me hold you.” What other choice do I have? I can run, but how far would I get? I feel so weak right now. If he can help me, I’ll let him. I’ve been told I’m independent to a fault, but I’m not stupid. My body is begging me to listen to him and obey. I cave and make my way back to him, sulking the entire time. As I near him, he sits down and opens his arms. He wants me to sit back down on his lap. I’m about to surrender to him but then I remember Lizzie, and it makes me hesitate.