Avenging Angel (The Fallen 4)

He wouldn’t let Marna slip away from him.

So next time . . . he reached for the edge of his bloody shirt and tossed the garment aside. Next time, Tanner would make sure he was the one hunting—and the one killing.

He’d keep both Marna and Cody safe. He had to. There just wasn’t any other option for him.

He kicked off his shoes. Finished stripping. The water continued to pour from inside the shower. The steam rose, and drifted into the room like smoke.

Tanner glanced down at his arms. He’d shifted a few more times, trying to push his body’s natural healing powers into overdrive. The burns and blisters had all but faded. Now there were just faint lines, scars, left to remind him of how close he’d come to death.

More scars. More pain. At this point, his body was a mess of memories. Most days, he just wanted to forget them. But these new marks . . . the ones that reminded him that he’d gotten Marna out of that blaze, that she was safe . . .

He wouldn’t be forgetting them anytime soon.

Tanner stalked toward the bathroom. The old hardwood creaked beneath his feet. A few more steps, and his hand pushed the faded bathroom door open all the way. Marna stood behind a thin, clear shower curtain. He could see a perfect outline of her body. Water dripped down her curves. Such a gorgeous body. He’d touched and kissed every part of her.

I want to do it again.

“I was wondering if you would come in.” Her voice drifted to him, but Marna didn’t turn to face Tanner. “You sure took your time about it.”

He swallowed and realized he could already taste her.

“How’s your brother?” she asked. Still under the water. Still so perfect she made him ache. His c**k couldn’t swell any bigger.

In her. That’s where he wanted to be.

He was almost drooling. Right. Way to be in control. Tanner cleared his throat. “He’s stable.” For now. The doc, a lady who’d barely looked twenty—but then paranormals were good at hiding their real ages—had patched Cody up the best she could. He was resting, and as for surviving, he’d better.

Marna faced him. Finally. She pushed the curtain aside and stared at him through the steam and pouring water. Her gaze dropped to his chest. Lingered. “You’ve got blood on you.”

He’d always had blood on his hands. It would never wash off. He took another step toward her.

She lifted a hand. “You were an ass.”

His angel and her dirty mouth. He rather liked that. When she cursed at him, he always got turned on. How screwed up was that? “I was . . .” He cleared his throat and managed to drag his gaze off her br**sts. Want them in my mouth. “Jealous.”

Her brows rose.

Did she really think they were just gonna stand there, naked, and talk? If so, Marna didn’t understand a whole lot about shifters.

He was managing to keep his claws in and the beast on a leash, and that was pretty much all he could handle.

Tanner climbed into the too-small shower with her. Deliberately, he let his body brush against hers. “Yeah, jealous.” The water crashed over him. “As in . . . if that vamp touches you again . . .” He’d been able to all but smell the vamp’s lust, and it hadn’t just been lust for her blood. “He’ll lose those fingers.” Not an idle threat.

And, unlike a few other paranormals that Tanner knew, the vamp wouldn’t regrow those appendages.

“I don’t want him to touch me.” Her gaze met his. “I don’t want him.”

His hands rose. Sank into the heavy weight of her damp hair. “You want me.” Not a question.

Her chin lifted. “As much as you want me.”

Enough talking. He couldn’t handle any more. Tanner’s mouth took hers. The kiss was deep and hot, and just made the shower steam more. He’d never be able to get enough of her taste. Sweet but rich. Flowing right on his tongue. Making him insane with need.

Her body, so slick and warm, pressed against his. His fingers skimmed down her back, over the scars that he’d learned could bring her pleasure and not just more pain.

He only wanted her pleasure. Always.

She moaned into his mouth, and his fingers trailed lightly over the marks on her back. Raised ridges and the ghosts of wings that were gone. Only . . . he could almost feel those wings. So soft and silken beneath his touch.

But her hands rose and pushed against his chest. She shook her head at him, and Tanner’s gut clenched.

That damn vamp was right. And Tanner had been wrong. Marna didn’t want to have sex with him. She was still angry.

Some women don’t want animals.

His breath seemed cold in his chest. Strange, when the water was so warm.

“This time,” Marna told him, and her voice had become a husky rumble that skated right over his flesh, “it’s my way.”

Uh, her way? He’d take her any way.

The water poured over them, and she gave him a smile of pure sin. Not an angel.

Then she stepped out of the shower. Naked, body glistening, she was the sexiest thing he’d ever seen.

Compared to her, he was big, rough, and scarred.

But her eyes were hot as they tracked over him, and Marna licked her lips as she stared at his erection. “If you want me,” she said, “come and get me.”

Just the kind of game that the beast inside liked. Nothing was better than a hunt for your mate.

Mate.

The word had slipped through his mind again, but as she disappeared through the open doorway, he knew that was exactly what she was.

Did she realize it?

Tanner yanked the shower knob and turned off the blasting water. The drip, drip, drip of the water followed him as he followed her, nice and slow. No need to rush. He’d get her in his bed.

Sooner, not later.

Tanner didn’t bother drying off. What was the point? She had him so hot steam was rising from his own skin.

The bedroom was dark. The bed was empty. His gaze scanned to the left. The right—

“Get in bed,” Marna told him.

His eyebrows rose. Since when was Marna into giving orders?

But he’d keep playing, for now.

He climbed into the bed. Still naked, she crept from the shadows. Did she know how well he could see in the dark? She should. The lady seemed to know all the secrets that shifters carried.

Marna stared down at him; then she climbed onto the bed. The mattress dipped beneath her weight.

Her hands pressed against his legs. “I’ve been wondering . . .” Her breath blew lightly over his aroused flesh. “Just how you’d taste.”