“No.” He stroked the back of her hand with his fingertips. “Mercile did some things to me that make me afraid I will hurt you.” He stopped rubbing and gripped her hand. “They used images of human females to cause me pain. I’m afraid I will lose control if I’m inside you because they combined pleasure with severe pain. I don’t trust myself enough yet to risk taking the chance that I’d lose the ability to separate the experiences.”
“You, um, were so rough with, um, you know.” Her cheeks burned.
“They gave me a high pain tolerance while forcing me to give them my seed.”
Tears filled her eyes but she blinked them back. “They forced you to masturbate? Do you like pain now with sex? Is that it? I read a lot of books and I know some people need that.”
A soft growl rumbled from him. “No. I don’t wish pain for either of us. I just am afraid if I enter you that I’ll lose control because it will feel too good. I’m terrified I’ll take you too roughly and I won’t be able to stop.”
She stared deeply into his eyes. “I don’t believe that.”
“It happened. They did vile things to me.”
“I meant I don’t believe that you’d be rough with me and cause me pain. You’ve been nothing but wonderful. I admit my sexual experiences aren’t that vast but I wish you could see yourself the way I do now.”
“Give me time.”
The humor struck her and she laughed. “I can’t go home, remember? We have plenty of that.”
“I’m sorry you’re stuck with me.”
She squeezed his hand. “I’m not.”
“We should get dressed and go eat. We’re both hungry.”
“Okay.”
“I am sorry.”
“It’s okay.” She meant it. There was a lot she didn’t understand but he was a tortured soul, one who had experienced deep emotional pain as well as physical, and obviously actual intercourse was something he feared. “We’ll work through this.”
He released her hand, stood, and got them both clothes from his dresser. She was becoming accustomed to him seeing her naked, didn’t hesitate to drop the towel, and made the best of the sweats he gave her. They were too large but he used a knife to cut off some of the legs and the arm length enough to free her hands and feet.
“This is not my most fashionable look.”
Wrath studied her body. “You look very attractive to me.”
That made her smile. “Thank you.”
They both used the bathroom and Wrath insisted on brushing out her hair. She sat on the bed facing away from her while he tenderly removed all the tangles. It was nice, a bit too personal, and a new experience for Lauren. No man had done that for her but she enjoyed it.
“Let’s go.” He stood, dropped the brush and walked to the door.
He opened it and waved Lauren to step out into the hallway. Wrath gripped her hand in his and stayed at her side until they reached the main room. Lauren hesitated when she saw two of the men from last night seated at a table. Vengeance wasn’t one of them.
“He’s gone,” Wrath said softly, as if he could read her mind. “Vengeance was sent back to Reservation early this morning.”
Lauren felt relief. The two men at the table stared at them as they approached. Shadow was the one to speak.
“You both overslept and missed breakfast. I put your plates in the refrigerator for you.”
Wrath nodded. “Thank you.” He showed Lauren to a seat. “I’ll warm them. You relax. You’re a guest.”
Lauren glanced at the two men to discover Brass openly staring at her hair. It was still wet from the shower. She watched the large man until his gaze flicked to hers.
“It is beautiful hair. I imagine when it is dry it is breathtaking.”
“Thank you.” She smiled.
“How are you today?” Shadow drew her attention next.
“Better.”
“Vengeance caused you no injury?”
“I have a few bruises but I’m fine. Wrath said he’s gone now.”
Brass nodded. “Yes. A helicopter and some of our people came to take him home. We apologize again for what he tried to do to you. Forced mating is forbidden and so is forced breeding.”
“Wrath explained the difference to me.”
Shadow blinked. “He did?”
She nodded. “I was curious and asked him. I didn’t understand what Vengeance was talking about.”
Shadow glanced at Wrath before meeting her gaze again. “I wondered how the subject came up.”
Brass shook his head and the two men frowned at each other. Shadow turned back to Lauren.
“We would like to ask you a favor.”
