Broods Of Fenrir - By Coral Moore Page 0,48

her chin in one hand. A pulse heated her skin. Strength flowed from his fingers into her body, burning 134

along her nerves. Her wolf rushed forward, and the pain dwindled. When his fingers dropped away, she shuddered and turned toward him.

His eyes glowed a deep, shimmering blue. “Please, let me help you.”

Heat radiated out of him, warming her chilled body.

The comfort Gunni offered enticed her. In fact, she couldn"t remember the last time she"d wanted anything so badly. Closing her eyes, she gave in with a small nod.

He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer so that her face rested against his shoulder. The power of his wolf embraced her, making her skin tingle. The ache in her head lessened at once. Her tensed muscles relaxed, and a drowsy sense of contentment filled her.

She listened to the beating of his heart and concentrated on the power rushing through him. Needing to feel his skin under her fingers, she raised a hand to his neck. He made a low sound in his throat that vibrated through her. A sudden tightness clutched her belly.

He pulled her hand away. She opened her eyes to look up at him. His half-lidded gaze burned with intensity. She reached to touch his face. He leaned into her hand with a barely audible murmur, and then turned to kiss her palm. “Alice.” His voice had an edge at odds with the gentle caress of his lips on her skin.

Her name had never sounded so wonderful.

She moved her hand around behind his head. He let her draw his face down until his breath tickled across her mouth.

Delicious heat fluttered through her belly. He held completely still, waiting, although she recognized the desire to crush her against him in the tension of his arms.

She lifted herself up to meet him. The chaste kiss wasn"t enough; she needed to taste him. Her tongue slid over the seam of his mouth. His lips parted with a soft groan, and his hands came up to support her back.

He never tried to take control, just responded to her, 135

increasing the intensity of the kiss only after she did. The slow, sweet pull of his mouth drew warmth from a place she"d thought long dead. He backed away and looked into her eyes.

She licked her lips, unable to get enough of the taste of him. “More.”

His smile carved dimples in his lean cheeks. He cradled the side of her face with one large hand. “There"s no need to rush. I want you to feel safe.”

Something in his tone bothered her. She scanned his face. “You know what happened with Arn.” His expression darkened. “Bera told me while you were unconscious.”

Regret tied her stomach in knots. It would be like Brand all over again. All he wanted was to help some broken thing, and she was tired of that. She tried to free herself from his grasp, but his arms were a cage around her.

A scream of rage bubbled up from inside of her. “I understand. I"m too delicate, too weak for you to be interested in. You wouldn"t want to break me. Let me go!” He held her firmly. “No, I don"t think you do understand. Will you let me finish?” She glared up at him. “Fine.”

“Bera told me because she thought if you woke up alone with me, you"d be terrified. I didn"t care; I had to hold you.” His eyes swept over her. “Not because you"re weak, but because I wanted to feel you in my arms.” Her heart raced under his hungry gaze. “I don"t want to be anywhere else right now.”

He held her eyes for several seconds before lifting his head to look at something behind her. “Satisfied?” She turned and was shocked to find Erik standing inside the open doorway. Judging by the menacing expression on his face, if her emotional sense had been working, she would have felt his anger long before he entered the room.

Erik gave a curt nod. “Now that she"s awake you should both join us downstairs. I"m about to go over what the plan is 136

from here on out.”

Gunni"s arms tightened around her a fraction. “We"ll be down soon.”

“Five minutes.” Erik clamped his jaw shut with an audible click of his teeth. He left the room and slammed the door behind him.

Gunni returned his attention to her and answered her unspoken question. “He came when you screamed.” He stroked the backs of his fingers over her cheek. “I"m glad you"re feeling better.”

She