when he worked her with his ropes.
“You like that, baby?” One knee hit the bed, then the other, the bed sinking under his weight as he straddled her hips, careful to keep his bulk off her.
Leaning over, he pressed a kiss to her temple. Another to the corner of her gorgeous mouth. Licked the valley between her breasts.
She shivered.
He traced a honey nipple with his tongue. “You want more?”
“Y-yes.”
He slid the rope between her thighs and through her soaked folds. “Then tell me what you’re keeping from me that’s got you worried.”
Her eyes went wide, then wary, her body stiff.
He resisted the urge to snarl.
“Grif, th-that’s not fair.” Her ears twitched.
“I don’t play fair when it comes to you.”
She stared up at him, one tiny fang gnawing at her lower lip, a clear sign of nerves.
His chest went tight. She never hesitated to tell him anything.
“Do you want to spend more time with the pack, beautiful? Because if that’s it, all you have to do is ask.”
“No, I like to visit, but that was never my home.”
“Okay, then. We’ll keep to the schedule.”
They’d gone several times already and planned to return after the next wave of dust storms passed. Nayla was serving as translator and prime negotiator as the commander and Ramm hammered out trade deals and grew more comfortable with the idea that they could be allies, rather than enemies.
It was amazing to see Nayla in her new official role. She’d been a little hesitant at first, but by the end of the first meeting she’d been hissing and clicking and standing up to Ramm and his sabertooth-like tusks like a champ. Or at least, that’s what it looked liked to Grif.
Nayla was teaching him to speak her language, but he had a ways to go. Until then, he just sat by her side and glared at anyone who even thought about uttering the word Gazi or making her feel like anything but the incredible, worthy person she was.
He also saved a little extra glare for the pack leader.
Grif didn’t miss the way the male looked at Nayla when he thought no one was watching.
Not that Grif was worried. He and Nayla were as tight as two people could get. Tied together with or without his ropes. Bound by a love he’d never imagined was possible when she’d sunk her teeth into him all those rotations past.
He racked his brain. “Is it Malin? Is he pestering you too much?”
The male had done a one-eighty. Now, he was determined to safeguard Nayla, and even more intent on having her put in a good word for him with her closest friend, Lana.
“No. Malin is no trouble.”
That was definitely up for debate, but not something he wanted to get into right now. “I need you to tell me, Nayla.”
“Okay. Yes. It is time.” Resolve mixed with nerves. “But I-I need you untie me.”
His heart slammed against his ribs. She loved his ropes. And her New English hadn’t slipped in a long time. Whatever this was, it couldn’t be good.
“What is it, beautiful?” He released her restraints and pulled her to sit in his lap, her legs straddling his hips. “I saw you whispering with Lana and Ava. I knew something was up.”
“I am fine, Grif.” She cradled his jaw in her hands, understanding in her gaze.
It didn’t happen often, but sometimes the specter of his sister still rose and the choking terror that he would lose what was most precious to him threatened to drag him down a hole so deep and dark he feared emerging again.
“You do not need to worry, Grif. I am healthy and happy and I am going to stay that way. How could I not?” She pressed her lips to his throat, undulating her body against his, rekindling the fire that burned between them always. “I am guarded by the fiercest savage of them all. There is no one safer or more loved.”
“You got that right, wild thing.” He pressed his forehead to hers. “Nothing is happening to you on my watch.”
“I know.” She smiled up at him. Then, seizing the rope from the bed, she looped it just as he’d taught her, and dragged it down his cock, the scrape of the silky fibers making his head drop back, the vein in his dick throb harder. “Nothing will happen to you on mine, either.”
He bit back a curse. She’d gotten so damn good at that—especially when she didn’t want him telling her yet again that that