a girl, she had been picking berries with her mother when they had found a wolf in a trap. The wolf had tried to attack them, but her mother had very carefully fed and watered the animal while talking gently to it. By the time the wolf had finished its meal, her mother had been able to approach it and free it from the trap.
Afterward, her mother had taken her aside and set her on a stump with her basket of berries in her lap. Her mother's blue eyes had been bright as she held her hands and spoke softly to her."One day, my Seren, you'll find another beast such as this one. He, too, will be hurt by the thoughtless cruelty of others—by their fear of him. Remember that no matter how feral he seems, no matter how much he snaps, he is only trying to protect himself. It will take time to show him that you only want to help. Time to teach him that not everyone means him harm. Then he will be yours alone and he will fight to the death to protect you."
Odd how she hadn't thought about that in years. Her mother had often been possessed of visions. It was why they'd moved so often. As soon as others learned of her mother's wisdom, they would grow nervous and start whispering of witchcraft.
Now Seren wondered if on that day her mother had been speaking of the man in her bed…
Kerrigan most certainly fit her mother's description. He was like the wolf in the wild that snapped every time they neared it.
He'd been hurt; she sensed it. It was why he was so wary of everyone. Wary of her when all she wanted was to touch him.
Reaching up, she cupped his face in her hands. He was so beautiful in the sunlight as he moved to place himself between her legs. It somehow seemed wholly natural that he should be her first, and something inside told her that he would most likely be her last. She couldn't imagine ever wanting another man like this.
Her heart softening, she brushed the hair back from his face an instant before she kissed him. His whiskers scraped her palms and lips. She moaned at the feral taste of him. At the rawness of his touch.
He pulled back to give her a look so tender that it brought an ache to her chest. He might claim not to have changed toward her, but that look denied all his protestations.
Gently, he moved to kiss a path down her stomach. Seren hissed as her body erupted in chills. Her head spinning, she watched as he spread her thighs wide an instant before he leaned down to take her into his mouth.
She groaned deep in her throat as she balled her hand in his dark hair. It was the most incredible sensation she'd ever known. Biting her lip, she looked up to watch him in the mirror above as he pleasured her.
At least until she felt a strange, pleasurable burn at the center of her body.
"Kerrigan?"
He pulled back to look at her. "You are a maiden no more, Seren."
"But you haven't…"
He led her hand back to the center of her body to show her that her maidenhead was already gone. Then he pressed her hand against his swollen shaft.
She saw the pleasure on his face as she gently wrapped her hand around him. He was so strangely soft and hard against her palm and fingers. He shuddered in her arms as she explored the length of his shaft. "Did I hurt you?"
"Nay," he breathed as if he were indeed being tortured.
Seren had never given thought to what a man would feel like in her hand. But she liked the feel of him there. The look of pleasure on his face. Carefully, she circled the moist tip as his breathing turned ragged. He moved slowly against her hand, letting her feel the way his soft flesh moved in contrast to his hardness.
It really was like petting a ferocious animal. She knew tenderness was not in his nature and the fact that he was being gentle with her now made her feel special. Wanted.
His eyes flared brighter an instant before he kissed her deeply, then moved her hand away from him so that he could bury himself deep inside her.
Kerrigan couldn't breathe at the tightness of her body welcoming his. Using his magic, he made sure that she wouldn't feel anything except the pleasure of