She relaxed. “I hissed at Kit but she did it first. I hadn’t ever done that before.”

“Never?”

“Not that I can remember.” Beauty allowed her mind to roam as she relaxed, pressing her ear against Shadow’s chest. His heart rate had slowed to normal. “I know when I was young that I made funny noises and got into trouble for it.”

His body stiffened. “They abused you for being what you are?”

She knew he was angry without looking up at his face. Her fingertips traced his skin, attempting to calm him. “I learned to be quiet.” She refused to share the memories of her childhood. Not many were good. “To always think before I did something.”

“You can just be now.” Shadow rested his chin on the top of her head. “You can do or say anything.”

She smiled. “Anything?”

“Yes.” There was no hesitation, his voice firm.

Her palms slid from his shoulders down his chest until they rested over his ribs. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

Her fingers suddenly dug into his skin firmly and wiggled. She didn’t know if Shadow was ticklish but she was about to find out. He gasped before his back arched. He twisted his torso and they were suddenly moving. The rapid motion startled her when he rolled over. It happened so fast she wasn’t sure how she ended up flat on her back with her wrists jerked above her head and held firmly by his hands. He came down on her, pinning her with his weight.

Amusement sparkled in his eyes. “You want to play?”

“You are ticklish!” She laughed.

“Very.” He glanced down. “Are you?”

“I don’t know.”

“Don’t move.” He let go of her wrists and shifted his body until he braced his weight on one elbow. His hand slowly opened while she watched him place it on her stomach.

Her heart pounded as she wondered what he’d do. The raspy texture of his calloused fingertips was pleasant when he slid that hand higher over her rib cage to pause under her breast. He glanced up.

“Does that tickle?”

“No.”

He slid it higher and cupped her breast, one thumb lightly rubbing back and forth over the nipple. It instantly responded by puckering. A tingle began there that spread lower to her sex.

“How about that?”

She didn’t trust her voice as she licked her lips and shook her head. “It makes it feel heavy.”

“My hand?”

“No. My chest.”

The sheet was tangled between their lower bodies after Shadow had changed their positions. She kicked free of it with one leg and hooked her heel around the back of his thigh, then higher. She couldn’t see his back but she could feel bare skin. The sheet didn’t cover his beefy ass. It was right there for her foot to explore.

A deep grumble rumbled from Shadow as she stared into his eyes. “That feels good.”

Beauty no longer wanted to tickle him. “Keep touching me.”

Passion was an emotion she was quickly learning to identify on his face as his nostrils flared and his eyes narrowed slightly. Shadow’s mouth closed and the hand on her boob began to massage, his thumb drawing circles around her taut nipple. He was so sexy with his hair messy despite its short length. If he allowed it to grow out he’d be devastatingly wild in appearance. It made her want him more. An ache began between her legs, making her very sexually aware of him.

“I like that. Do more.”

He removed his hand, disappointing her. It only lasted a heartbeat because his head dipped to replace his thumb with the tip of his tongue. Beauty closed her eyes and arched her back to give him better access.

His mouth was really warm when it closed over her nipple but nothing prepared her for when he sucked, using his tongue to tease the tip. She forgot his order to stay still by grabbing his head, her fingers sliding into his hair, clutching him to keep him in place.

“Yes,” she whispered.

He growled in response.

Shadow tore away the remaining sheet between them. His big, muscular body settled down on her more firmly and there was no missing his stiff c**k pressing against the inside of her thigh. She wished he were higher on her body so she could have him inside her while he played with her, suspecting it would feel incredible. She didn’t need experience to guess that would be true.

He released one breast to give the other his attention. She had to refrain from clawing his scalp to force him to keep doing that to her. Sensations overtook everything as pleasure and need filled her. She freed her other leg and hiked it around his ass, hugging him tightly.

He sucked on her breast in strong tugs and growled again, his chest against her belly. The ache radiating between her thighs became painful and her cl*t throbbed, wanting attention.

“Shadow,” she pleaded.

His mouth released her as he lifted his head and peered down at her. “What do you need? Tell me. It’s yours.”

The way he spoke did funny things to her belly again. His voice was so deep, so raw and animalistic, that it called to something inside her. She let go of his head to grip his face. “You.”

He sniffed at her once and groaned, lifting his upper body away.

“No!” She clung to him, refusing to release him. “Don’t stop.”

He froze, his arms straight but his h*ps still snug against her. “Do you trust me?”

“Yes.”

“I want you to get on your hands and knees in front of me.”