"Because I've always wanted to be one of those tiny little women and I never have been."
He moved to stand behind her so that he could pull her against him and hold her close. "I don't want you skinny, Bride. I like you as you are." His breath tickled her neck as he spoke and sent heat all over her. "My people have a saying. Meat is for the man, the bone is for the dog."
"Yeah, but you're both."
"And when given a choice between ribs and steak, I go for top choice every time."
Bride hissed as he placed his lips against her neck and nibbled her. She closed her eyes and inhaled the warm, masculine scent of him. He felt so good holding her. It made her weak and breathless.
"Is this all there is between us, Vane? Just sex?"
He laid his cheek against hers in such a loving gesture that it tore through her heart. "No, Bride. Sex is just the physical demonstration of what I feel for you." He took her hand and led it to his heart where she felt it pounding against her palm. "No one has ever touched me like you do. You're like a whisper. Gentle, soft. Soothing. In my world, the people only shout and scream.
But you you're my haven."
She shivered at his poetic words. "God, you're good."
"It's not a line, Bride. I may be human, but I'm also an animal and the animal in me doesn't lie or deceive. I never thought that part of me would be tamed, but it is now. It doesn't want to lash out at anyone. It just wants you."
How could a woman say no to that?
Bride gasped as her clothes vanished. "Vane?"
Before she could get his name out, they were both lying naked in the bed, under the covers.
"That's some talent you have there," she said as he nuzzled her neck.
"You've no idea," he breathed in her ear before he licked it.
Bride's head swirled at the ecstasy of his touch. For once he didn't waste any time with her. He slid himself inside her with one forceful thrust.
They moaned in unison.
Bride looked up into the raw pleasure on his face. This wasn't playtime to him, he was most serious about taking her.
She slid her hands over his back, feeling his muscles ripple as he thrust into her, strong and powerful. He was the wolf and he was hungry. His green eyes devoured her.
Vane couldn't think straight as he felt her softness under him. The animal in him wanted complete possession. It wanted to mate and to dominate.
The man in him wanted her tenderness. Her heart.
Most of all, he wanted to spend the rest of his life staring into her amber eyes. They were dark now with passion. Her lips were slightly parted as she panted with pleasure.
Vane claimed that mouth. He growled at the taste of her. At the sensation of her tongue against his while he thrust himself deep inside her over and over again.
Famished for her, he forced himself to be easy with her body. To remember that she was human and frail.
He would die if he ever hurt her.
But oh, the feel of her hands on his back. The way she clutched at his ass.
She didn't just screw him. She made love to him. And that meant more to him than anything else.
Even if he were immortal, he would never feel anything better than her long, smooth legs entwined with his.
Bride was breathless as Vane devoured her. No man had ever made love to her like this as if he couldn't get enough of her. As if he were desperate to be inside her body.
There was so much power and strength in the arms wrapped around her.