“Thank you, Lauren. I was told what you did to get me out of there. You risked your life for mine.”
“You fought Vengeance to save me. I guess we’re even.”
He cupped her face. His gaze left hers to study her hair and he sighed. “I hate seeing it like that.”
She smiled. “I’m sorry. I could take it down.”
His hands rose to the top of her head. He pulled the pins out one by one and unwound her hair. Lauren felt the weight of her hair falling down her back. Wrath’s fingers brushed through it. He smiled and his hands rested on her shoulders.
“Much better.”
“Are you all right? I was worried when you didn’t wake up after a few hours.”
“I’m fine.” His fingers were playing with her hair. “What you did was very stupid but brave. They could have captured you too or just killed you for trying to save me.”
“I’m sorry you didn’t capture Bill.”
Wrath blinked. “He was captured. We captured Bill, two other males and the female as well. We are trying to identify them. Shadow, Brass and Brian were recovered. They are well, along with the two innocent females they used to control our males.”
Lauren let that information sink in. Her boss and coworkers were arrested and that put her out of a job. Of course on the whole, it was a good thing. They were monsters who’d worked for Mercile. “I guess I’ll be sent home.”
He nodded. “Tomorrow.”
Swallowing, Lauren hated the twinge of pain and loss she felt. “I guess I won’t see you again, will I?”
He leaned closer. “I would like to spend time with you while you are here.”
“I’d love that.”
Wrath nodded and his hands dropped. He glanced at Flame over Lauren’s shoulder. “I will go where you take her.”
“They have been assigned human housing. You can meet them there when you’ve been cleared.”
“The doctor said I am fine to leave.”
Wrath took Lauren’s hand and tucked it over his arm. Flame opened the door and offered Amanda his arm. They walked toward a golf cart that was parked at the curb.
Flame drove with Amanda next to him while Lauren and Wrath sat in the back. Flame took them to a cute yellow cottage-style house next to a large lake. He parked in the driveway.
Lauren just wanted to be alone with Wrath but came to terms with the fact that the other couple would be with them. Flame led Amanda into the house first. The living room was spacious with an open floor plan to a dining room and kitchen. Down a hall were two bedrooms that had their own bathrooms.
Flame pulled Amanda aside after the house tour but his words carried. “I am off shift now that I’ve brought you home. Would you still like to go see my apartment?”
Amanda smiled. “I’d love to.” She took his hand. “Is this going to be an all-night tour or am I coming back here tonight?”
“It’s your choice but I would like to keep you all night.”
Amanda reached down, grabbed her bag and waved at Lauren. “Don’t wait up. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Flame took the bag from her hand. “Allow me to carry it. Are you hungry? I’d like to take you to a bar. We can eat and dance before going back to my apartment.”
Amanda smiled up at him. “You’re perfect. Has anyone ever told you that?”
“No, but I like hearing it.”
Lauren watched the couple walk down the hallway and out of sight. She heard the front door close. She turned her head to peer into Wrath’s dark gaze.
“Tomorrow is goodbye.” Lauren felt depressed instantly. “Will you stay the night with me?”
He nodded. “I hoped you would ask me to sleep with you one last time.”
Lauren backed up into the bedroom, tugging on his hand. He closed the door behind them. Lauren released his hand and reached for her shirt. She shoved it over her head, dropped it and kicked off her shoes before she reached the bed. Wrath advanced on her, following her step for step. She stopped and unfastened her bra, let it drop and smiled at him.
Wrath growled. Encouraged, Lauren reached for her borrowed stretch pants. She hooked the waistband with her thumbs, making sure she caught her panties as well. She pushed them down her legs and stepped free of them. She stood in front of Wrath completely naked.
“This is our last night since I’m going home tomorrow.” Lauren moved, putting her hands on his chest. “I want to go all the way.”
His features tensed. “You want me to enter you?”
“Yes.”
The look in his eyes baffled her. He almost looked sad. “I can’t.” His voice came out raspy.
“Why not?”
“There are things you don’t know about me. I don’t want to risk hurting you. I have been damaged, Lauren. I could lose control and that would be a dangerous thing.”
She shook her head. “I know you won’t. You will be very gentle with me. I know that from the way you touch me. I trust you. Have some trust in yourself.”
“I—” He closed his mouth.
“You won’t if you’re afraid of getting me pregnant. I’m on something that prevents it. I have a clean bill of health.”
He shook his head. “That is not my fear. I have been harmed in the past and it makes me afraid I might revert to that conditioning. It could make me dangerous.”
Lauren sat down, ignored her naked state, and tugged on him until he sat next to her. She turned to face him, stared into his eyes and licked her lips.
“There’s nothing you could tell me that would change how I feel about you. I’ve done some reading on New Species and I heard rumors that sometimes some of you would end up killing the jerks who held you. Is that it? Did you kill some of them? If that’s it, I’d award you a medal. They deserved it for everything they did.”
The pain reflected in his eyes tore her apart.
“That isn’t it.”
She took a deep breath. “Just tell me. The worst thing is keeping a secret. Once it’s out, we can deal with it.”
He gripped her hand and his gaze drifted away from her to stare at the carpet near their feet. Lauren waited patiently, didn’t want to push him, and wondered if he’d really talk to her. She was hopeful.
“My life in the testing facility was rough.”
She squeezed his hand but remained silent, waiting for any details he wanted to share.
“But then they moved a few of us to a new place. There was Shadow and another male we didn’t know. He had a mate but the humans killed her.”
Tears filled her eyes at the horror of what he must have seen and endured but she kept silent, waiting. He refused to look at her and she saw his mouth tense, a coldness seep into his stare, and his voice deepened with emotion.
“They drugged me to make me aroused, hooked me to a machine and showed me videos of human naked women touching themselves to force my seed from my body. They would do it for hours until the pain became too much and I would pass out. I grew to hate the sight of human females.” He paused and finally lifted his gaze to hers. “I feel rage, thinking about what was done to me, the humiliation I suffered, and I know you aren’t responsible but I’m afraid of losing control. I might have a flashback and cause you pain.”
Lauren blinked back tears. “I’m so sorry, Wrath. You’re a victim and you’re right—I wasn’t there and I’d never be a part of that.” She gripped his hand tighter. “They can’t hurt you anymore and we don’t have to have sex if you aren’t ready. We could hold each other. I’m okay with that. I don’t believe for a second that you’d hurt me though. You’re the gentlest man I’ve ever met.”
His eyebrows arched.
“I mean that. The way you touch me is special and you make me feel that way too.”
A soft growl rumbled from his throat. “I never believed I’d be attracted to a human female but you’re all I want.”
“I’m right here. We can do whatever you want or what you feel comfortable with.”
“Do you se
e me as less now?” There was a catch in his voice. “Less male now that you know what was done to me? I should have been stronger and resisted more. They took my seed by force.”
Her heart broke. “No. God no, Wrath.” She moved, released his hand and climbed onto his lap. He let her and she wrapped her arms around his neck, pressed her face against his throat and clung to him. “You’re amazing, strong, determined and brave. You hunt down those assholes that hurt your people. That’s so noble and yeah, brave. I admire you and think you’re the sexiest guy ever. I’m so glad you came into my life.”
His arms wrapped around her and he clung. “I want you but I’m afraid.”
Her lips pressed against his skin and she kissed him. “I’m not afraid of you. Why don’t you get naked? I love holding you.”
“I want that.” His voice deepened again.
She leaned up enough to see his eyes and smiled. “We’ll just take everything slow and see how it goes. You’re highly overdressed.”
He chuckled and suddenly lifted her off his lap, placed her in the middle of the bed and rose to his feet. “Give me a moment to fix that.”
He stripped out of the shirt, revealing that wonderful array of perfectly sculpted abs first then his broad shoulders. The discarded shirt hit the floor. He bent, tore off his shoes and straightened. Lauren held her breath as he reached for the front of his pants and opened them. She loved the expanse of skin that assured her he was going commando.
“No boxers?”
“They didn’t have the kind I like. I’d rather do without.”
“I like you without.”
He chuckled and shoved the pants down, freeing his cock, and impressing her by revealing how thick and hard he was. He might not be ready for sex but his body said otherwise. He stepped out of the jeans, kicked them away and hesitated.
“I don’t want to just hold you.”
Her gaze lingered on his hard-on. “I see that. I’m all for anything you want to do with me.”
A soft growl came from him as he slowly took a step toward the bed. Lauren stretched out on her back, hesitated then spread her arms and legs apart on the bed. Wrath’s eyes widened and he put a knee on the mattress.
“What are you doing?”
“You’re in charge.” She held his gaze. “I’m all yours.”
The color of his eyes seemed to darken as they widened but he put his hands down flat, crawled over her, and a deep snarl came from his parted lips. “Don’t say that.”
She wasn’t afraid. “That you’re in charge or I’m all yours?”
His gaze lowered down her body and he licked his lips. “That you are mine. I might believe it and you wouldn’t want that.”
“Why?” Her heart raced.
He lowered, his face hovered by her throat and warm breath fanned her there. “You have no idea what I want from you.”
“Tell me.”
Dark eyes stared into hers. “Right now I want to touch you.”
“Go ahead.”
He leaned in and brushed a kiss over her throat. Lauren turned her head and exposed it to his wandering mouth. His tongue traced a pattern, sharp teeth gently brushed too and she resisted the urge to reach up and grip his shoulders just to have something to cling to.
He lowered down her body slowly, teasing and awakening her desire with each caress of his hot mouth. She moaned when he sucked on one taut nipple and her restraint broke. Her hands lifted, opened on his chest and she stroked him.
A deep growl came from him, his hot, rigid cock brushed her leg and she spread them wider apart. Wrath suddenly pulled away and their gazes met.
“I want you. I hurt for you.”
“Take me. I said I’m yours.”
One of his hands opened on her belly, slid downward and Lauren moaned when his thumb rubbed against her clit. His fingers tested to see how turned-on she was, found how sleek and wet he’d made her with his mouth, and just the sight of his body.
“You’re so ready for me.”
“Always.”
His eyes closed and his head hung a little. Lauren’s hands left his chest to cup his face. Wrath looked at her then, his gaze tortured with longing and something else…maybe fear. She hated to see it and lifted up until their mouths were mere inches apart.
“Kiss me, baby. It’s okay.”
An eyebrow arched and his lips curved upward just slightly. “Baby?”
“An endearment. I could call you sexy. You really are.”
“So are you.”
“Please kiss me?”
His focus fixed on her mouth. He paused and glanced back up. “I’ve never kissed someone before on their lips.”
She tried to hide her shock. “Never?”
His gaze slid away as he avoided hers. “My experience is limited to breeding experiments. Mercile enjoyed testing pain drugs on me more. The few females who were brought to me didn’t want that kind of intimate personal contact since they didn’t know me.”
“Look at me, Wrath.”
He did and she identified his pain for sure then. “I’ll kiss you. Everyone has a first time. I’m honored that I’ll be yours.” And I wish I were your last. The idea of him touching someone else, being with them, made her chest hurt. “Just relax and put your mouth over mine. I’ll show you.”
Wrath wanted Lauren, wanted to experience everything she offered and so much more. Fear of losing control gripped him but he breathed through the worst of it. She was waiting for an answer.
He allowed all the feelings he experienced to surface and quickly determined that he’d do anything to avoid causing her any harm. It gave him confidence to face down his ultimate fear of having a flashback to his abuse strike at an intimate moment.
He was a strong male. He needed to have faith in his ability to control himself. He refused to allow the past to ruin his future. Lauren stood before him, willing, ready and eager to share sex with him. Nothing had ever tempted him more.
He took one deep breath and made a decision. I can do this. I’m stronger than my conditioning. Lauren isn’t someone I’d ever harm and that will keep me from losing control.
He leaned in closer, closed his eyes and Lauren fused her lips to his. Her tongue darted out, licked the seam of his mouth and entered to explore. He was hesitant at first but caught on quickly, devouring her with passion as they stroked each other.
His weight pinned her down as he stretched out over her. Lauren lowered her head back to the bed, released his face and wound her arms around his neck. She only paused for a second before wrapping her thighs around the backs of his legs. With his height, he’d have to move up for him to enter her since his cock was below her pussy. She arched her back to urge him on. Her breasts pressed tightly against his chest and Wrath snarled.
Kissing her, the taste of her, drove him insane. He wanted more, needed it, and quickly knew he was about to lose control. The desire to take her nearly overrode everything else. Calm, he ordered his body. You can do this. Focus on her desire…her desire…
He knew they needed to slow things down. He was determined to be the male she deserved and that would be one who could take her with tenderness. It might kill him but he wanted her bad enough to face his own inner demons.
Wrath broke the kiss, breathing hard, and their gazes held. Desire made his eyes appear almost black as he stared at her. Lauren gazed back and ached for him to continue kissing her. Her lips parted but he spoke first.
“I want you.”
“I want you too.”
He braced his arms on the bed and pushed his chest off hers, put space between their bodies, and Lauren refrained from protesting. She unlocked her calves from behind his thighs to free him. She didn’t want him to feel trapped by her in any way and prayed he wouldn’t call their lovemaking to a halt.
“Will you roll over for me?”
Her mind worked. “You want to take me from behind?”
“Yes.” His voice deepened.
She nodded. “I like dog
gy style.”
He suddenly laughed.
Her face burned, realizing he might take that wrong considering he was New Species and had mentioned he was canine. “I mean—”
“It’s fine. I knew you meant the position. It is my favorite.” He chuckled again. “I wonder why.”
Lauren laughed and rolled over, breaking eye contact with him. Wrath rose to his knees, his hands gripped her hips and he pulled her up to her knees.
“Spread your legs just a bit more,” he urged. “I’m much taller than you. I need to put my legs on the outside of yours but you’re so small I’m afraid I’m going to hurt you.”
She looked back at him and arched her eyebrow. “Most people don’t tell me that.”
All humor left his face. “I don’t want to hear about other males touching you. It makes me angry.”
“I meant that people don’t call me small.”
“You are, compared to me.”
She couldn’t dispute that. Wrath was one big, tall, buff man. She spread her thighs, braced her palms flat on the bed and watched him shift his legs to the outside of hers. It made them more level in height that way. One of his hands settled on the small of her back and his gaze locked on the curve of her ass. He stared into her eyes finally.
“I will go slow. Tell me if I hurt you.”
“I’m hurting already but it’s because I want you so bad.”
His tense features relaxed slightly. “I am in control.”
“Yes, you are.”
He smiled. “I was reminding myself of that, not you.”
“You aren’t going to hurt me, Wrath. You’re large.” She glanced at his straining cock. “But I can take you.”
“I hope so,” he muttered.
“I’m a lot of things but fragile isn’t one of them.”
Lauren turned away, lowered her head and waited. She knew he was worried about having a flashback to being abused but she trusted him. His hand pressed down and she lowered, tilting her ass higher, and he leaned in closer until the head of his cock touched the slit of her pussy. He rubbed her there, stroked her clit, and she moaned. The blunt head of his cock slid higher, pressed against the entrance to her vagina, and he slowly pushed.