It was her only warning. It was his victory. And it was a sign it was time to overwhelm her. “We do not politely couple in bed, little one. We make love, and our love is not soft, or gentle, or sweet. It is vicious, eternal. It has teeth and claws. When I fuck you, at no time will my attention be on the placement of your pillows—unless I put that pillow under your hips so I can fuck you even deeper. You want a pretty nest like you see on COMscreen articles? Build it, knowing that I will leave it in ruins as I do things to you in it that will leave you screaming my name.”
The flush in her cheeks after his statement, the tightness of her nipples… she hated that his vulgarity excited her. Because it wasn’t done out of cruelty or disregard. It was done because to him, nothing mattered more than her ultimate pleasure. If she was distracted by silk and satin, then she was wasting thought that should be on them.
Her only focus when she dared tease him with a wicked lick of her lips should be taking the pleasure her beast would give her.
A little line grew between her brows. An expression Shepherd could read like a book. Just as he knew she was about to look to the side and sigh before she spoke.
“Sometimes, I want you to be soft.”
Rolling to his back, despite the feathers, he laid her on his chest in the position she loved best. And Shepherd gave her soft in the way she really desired it. With gentle touches and luxurious purrs. He soothed all her aches. When the knot diminished, he pulled her body so she might straddle his face, and contentedly lapped between her legs—a shiver going down his spine to feel her little hands burrow into his hair as she took her pleasure.
A shiver. A sensation he had never felt before Claire. Before Greth.
That shiver… he would go to any length to know that shiver under her touch.
She came with his tongue strumming her clit, his fingers buried deep and rubbing the nerves that sought a knot. Eyes glowing, jaw loose, and breath shallow, Claire let go.
And he considered the lesson complete.
The sleepy sex-drugged smile that followed left the link singing in the perfect pitch of Omega joy.
And it lasted a few seconds longer each day.
“I love you.”
Tucking herself against his side as if she might tempt him to laze about with her all day, she offered a contented murmur. “I know you do, Shepherd.”
Carding his fingers through silken black hair, he purred. “And you love me.”
It was not a question, nor did it require an answer. It was fact.
Snickering, she put a hand to her cheek and closed her eyes.
There was little he loved more than her natural laugh. “What is funny?”
Still snickering, she said, “This morning, I added a banana to your green sludge and some local spice I can’t pronounce. According to my COMscreen, beyond its excellent flavor, it is favored by wives to calm their overly sexual men.”
Cocking a dangerous brow, he took her chin and met wickedly dancing green eyes. “You want me to be less sexual?”
She bit her lip, playful, before she teased, “I wanted you to stop destroying my nests. I suppose next time I should double the dose.”
Such cheek earned her a light swat on her ass, which only turned her giggles into outright laughter.
“The room will be cleaned and fresh bedding provided. Fluff your pillows to your heart’s content after your language lesson.”
“I build the nests for you.” Letting her fingers trace the definition of his abs, she hummed, content in his arms. “I can tell that you’ve been tense lately, and I’ve made an extra effort to create somewhere comfortable for you to relax. Which makes me wonder… why don’t I plan a fun distraction since my nest genius hasn’t hit the mark? There’s this film…”
The predatory kind of stillness came over the Alpha. “I’m listening.”
“Beyond my love of nest design”—she gave him a little poke—“and, yes, I know you have been spying on my COMscreen history, creep. I have been watching local films to work on my language skills… which I know you also know, as every one of my instructors tells you everything I do.”
There was no point in denying it. “They do.”
“Very cute, Shepherd. Now, hear me out. From my lessons on the culture here, I learned that it’s considered a pleasure to watch the films outside, projected on a wall. Fresh air, cocktails… a common community event.
His hands stopped petting her back, Shepherd’s focus exact. “You wish to be outside, in a crowd, at night?”
She leaned up to meet his gaze, black hair spilling over his broad chest. “I was thinking something more intimate. There is a wall in our garden. That nook in the corner where I like to read. I can make us a nice dinner and set up a place for us to relax and try this Greth experience.”