He waited. It was the hardest thing he’d ever done. He was used to conquering and mowing down whatever was in his path. But not this time. This time, all he could do was wait on a tiny pixie who had so much more power than she knew.
It was worth it, though, when she turned back to him, all her fears and doubts shimmering in her gaze, hidden no longer. “The pain you felt, the shame, it went away?”
“The wounds stopped hurting me long ago. The pain’s still with me every rotation. My sister’s empty eyes the last I see before I go to sleep.” He wished he could tell her otherwise, but it was the truth. “I still hate that I failed her, but I turned that pain into rage and action. It’s why I want so badly to be a leader among my people and bring those missing females home and make sure you’re safe.”
He swallowed hard. “Remember that kill I told you about? The one I said was my first and that I never forgot? That was father. I wasn’t able to save my sister. She refused to run away with me. She refused to leave him even after all he did to us both.” He shook his head. “I kept hoping I’d reach her and it would be enough. It never was. She took her own life when I was thirteen. I killed him that very night. Too damn late to save her, but at least I stopped him from hurting anyone else. I made it my business from there on out to do for others what I could never do for her.”
Another frown crept across her pretty face. “That is why you come for me? Because you see me like sister?”
Now it was his turn to frown. “There are parallels, for sure. But you’re nothing like my sister. And don’t make the mistake of thinking what I feel for you is in anyway brotherly.”
Lust flickered in her gaze. “Good. I don’t want pity. I want…I want respect.”
“Then, don’t ask, Nayla. Take. Forget all the times Talg forced you to be silent, and go for what you want,” he growled. “You asked for my honesty. I gave it. Now it’s your turn. You want my respect? Be truthful about what you need from me right now. That fire between your legs is not going to go away on its own. I put it out for you once. I can do it again.”
Her chest rose and fell as if she battled herself even now.
“Refuse to let Talg and all his lies get in the way. Take what you need, wild thing. For both our sakes.”
She straddled him.
He thanked every goddess in the universe as she sank onto him, her heat nestled sweetly against his cock, her thighs tight around his hips as her fingers dug into his shoulders.
Eyes bright with a mix of excitement and nerves met his. “This. This is what I want.”
“Then we’re a perfect match.” He nuzzled her nose with his. “Because there is nowhere else I want you to be.” And nothing he wanted more than that look of open vulnerability and need in her gaze. It lightened the darkness in him as nothing else could.
At his words, some of the worry in her gaze cleared and he wanted to pound his chest with pride.
He loved seeing the confidence creeping into her stare. It turned him on like nothing else, his cock hardening even more beneath her sweet ass and turning his voice to a deep rasp. “What else do you want?”
The lines at the bridge of her nose deepened. “I…I don’t know.”
Lucky for them both, he did. “Rock against me, beautiful. Use my cock to make you feel good. Let’s learn together what you like.”
The slow drag of her hips as she followed his command almost sent him over the edge. “Yes, that’s so good, wild thing.”
Her eyes sank shut. Her head lolled back. “V-very good.”
Hands still behind his back, he dragged his teeth across the sensitive tendon at her neck, her low moan all the reward he needed.
Was it wrong to use their desire to hammer down the last of her walls once more? He had no clue. All he knew was that he needed this and so did Nayla, and ruthless did as ruthless was.
The slow grinding circle of her hips sent the cloth rubbing against his dick and her clit.