Harley.
Calan wanted her. He had for years, and her confirmation that she felt the same only made his needs grow. She was the right choice for him, tainted or not. He couldn’t imagine spending eternity with any other woman.
Her scent reached him first. He took deep, slow breaths, drugging himself on her fragrance. His lust grew impossibly more. He embraced the feeling and let the desire he held for her consume him. Tonight he would worship his woman, because tomorrow evening, he’d ride and leave her behind, temporarily at least.
Calan dragged in more citrus-scented air, but her rapid heartbeat sped his. As he’d done before, he opened himself to her. Her fear rushed over him. He choked on the terror swamping her. Anger and anxiety added to it.
He gave a tug on her riotous feelings, and they slammed into him. He shook under the force of them. The fear gripping her lessened under his influence. The angst that caused it didn’t. She ran down the stairs before he could ask her why.
Harley settled her desperate gaze on him. “Calan.”
The urge to protect her flared with his name spoken in her panicked voice. He wanted to gather her close and ease all her sorrows while snapping and snarling at whoever hurt her.
“What’s wrong?”
She slipped the torch into the hook on the wall and hurried across the room. The rugs scattered over the floor silenced the thump of her boots.
“There’s a redcap in town. He…” She shuddered. “He wants me to claim him. Bind us together. He’s threatening my family if I don’t.”
Her words sparked the anger he’d taken from Harley and awakened the wrath he kept contained except for when the Hunt seized him. Claws burst from his fingers. A growl rumbled in his chest. His jaw ached, and his spine arched.
No, dammit, no. He snapped his teeth together and fought the rest of the changes the Hunt induced. He couldn’t risk frightening Harley with his Huntsman form.
She shoved at his shirt and skimmed soft, trembling hands over his heaving chest. “Calm down. You’re hurting yourself.”
Harley pushed his shirt higher and pressed her lips to his skin. She kissed him, caressed him, and her gentle touch calmed the remaining fury turning him into a beast from hell. The edges of his teeth flattened, the sharp talons receded, and his body returned to his normal size.
His breath escaped in a rush. “Harley.”
“I’m sorry.” More kisses, more featherlight strokes. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
Her words infused him with soothing warmth as easily as her rage had smothered him.
“More, Harley.” The rough bite to his tone spoke of the line he walked between beast and man. He was a monster in a way too, only he utilized the horrific power for good—hunting the creatures who killed for pleasure.
“Kiss me.” Calan used his free hand to lift her. Harley automatically linked her ankles around his waist and dug the hard edges of her boots into his ass.
“Yes.” A hiccupped groan fell from her lips. She grabbed the short strands of his hair and used her hold to guide his head to hers for the rough, desperate kiss he craved.
Her sweet taste invaded his senses along with her fresh scent. He could get drunk on her. He moaned his pleasure into her mouth. The sound ignited her passion. She clung to him and kissed him harder as if she wanted to crawl inside him.
“I need you.”
The groaned words against his lips were ones he’d heard from women many times. None had left him in a state of desperation. He had to sink his dick into Harley, had to fill her with his seed, had to finish his half of the bond.
Might die if he didn’t.
He slanted his lips over hers and took her mouth with the same fervor she’d shown him. She tasted of heaven. He nipped her lip, and the pure chaotic taint lacing her blood flooded his senses, drowning heaven with hell. The evidence of the battle going on in her body and soul didn’t bother him as it had the last time. It reminded him of her endurance and the strength of will she possessed. She’d lived and remained honorable for him.
The tang became a badge of honor and gave a wild flare to their kiss. Loving Harley promised uncontained passion as wicked as the chaos that had left its mark on her. She couldn’t escape her father’s sin, but Calan would harness the natural element and tame it, along with the woman. He’d own both. He wouldn’t stand for anything less.
He massaged her ass cheeks, enjoying the lushness of them, and teased the crack with his thumb. The thick, rough material of her jeans stopped him from exploring and learning every inch of her beautiful body. He gripped the waistband and resisted the urge to rip them off her. For all his many powers, he couldn’t create clothes nor could he give her the illusion of them. Magic was a fairy’s gift. Only a god could steal it, not a half god—demigod—such as himself.
The effort it took to tear his mouth from Harley’s surprised him. He could’ve kissed her all night and not tired of her tempting lips. “Release me.”
“Yes, yes.” A hard kiss punctuated each word.
She unhooked her legs and slid down his chest in a full-body caress. Plump breasts, her firm stomach, and the heat of her arousal skimmed a path to his aching cock. She ran her fingertips over the length and turned away. Unwilling to lose her touch so soon even though it was necessary, he grasped her wrist. He opened his mouth to speak, but words were beyond him. The heated stare was all he could manage.
A small smile spread over her swollen lips. Harley tugged her hand free and hurried to the bed, where the key lay
