Animal Instincts (10 page)

Chapter Nine

Danika had planned on seeing
Damien after work anyway. After she spoke to Hayden about that asshole that
attacked her in the bathroom, and how he was now in the hospital, she had to
speak to Damien herself. Just knowing that he might have been the one to hurt
that prick had
her this
jittery mess. It wasn’t that
she didn’t think the man deserved it, but that Damien had been the one to
deliver that beat-down. He had told her that he was going to take care of
whoever hurt her, that he’d find out one way or another who the guy was that
harmed her. She hadn’t thought much about it, because she hadn’t known the
man’s name. But now she stared at Damien as he stood in the doorway of his
cabin. The fierceness and determination that covered his handsome, rugged face
showed her he would never stop until he had delivered on that promise.

She wanted to just ask him even
though she knew without a doubt he’d been the one to go after the asshole. And
although she’d never been one for confrontation, she also wanted to make some
things clear with Damien.

“We need to talk,” she said and
walked into his home. His cabin was gorgeous, although small, but it was
intimate and she knew for what Damien wanted—solitude and isolation—it fit the
job.

“I can smell that you’re upset,”
he said without a hint of worry or anger in his voice. He shut the door, and
she turned and faced him. “What’s wrong?” He crossed his big arms over his
chest, and for a second all she could do was
stare
at
the way his shirt tightened around his biceps and chest, outlining his muscles.
He was quite the male specimen, but she couldn’t allow her libido or emotions
get the better of her right now.

“Did you go after that guy that
attacked me back at the party last week?” She wasn’t angry in the sense she was
going to bitch at him, or scold him for beating up a guy that was so much
younger and weaker than he was. The truth was a part of her liked the fact
someone had wanted to avenge her because she’d been hurt. She felt this warmth
at the idea that he had wanted to find out who had touched her, and teach them
a lesson on the repercussions of touching what was his. She’d never been in a
situation like this, in a relationship that was all-consuming.

“Yes,” he said with no emotion in
his voice at all. He moved away from the door and walked over to the kitchen to
grab two glasses from the cupboard, and a bottle of whiskey. After he poured
both shot glasses, he held one out to her.

“No, thanks.”
She watched as he tossed both
shots back, while staring at her the entire time.

“If you want me to feel sorry
about beating that punk’s ass I won’t, Danika.” He placed his hands on the
counter, and this rough note in his voice told her that he felt no remorse over
his actions. “And I’d do it again with anyone that thought they could put their
hands on you.”

She shook her head, set her purse
on the couch, and breathed out. “Listen, Damien, this is all so new to me. I’m
still trying to get my head wrapped around the idea that I’m your mate, and
that this is a lifelong journey we are going to be on together.”

He didn’t move, didn’t speak, but
his amber colored gaze held hers as if he had his arms wrapped tightly around
her, causing her to be immobile.

“I understand that shifters are
more animal than human, and that you want to protect me. I’ve never had anyone,
besides my
father,
want to make sure I’m safe like you
do—”

“I don’t think you truly
understand how much I am more animal than human, Danika.” He moved around the
counter and walked up to her. She had to crane her neck back slightly just to
see into his face. He was upset, but she could tell, could feel, that it wasn’t
directed at her. “I know you’re angry with me for being physical and hurting
that asshole, but he put his hands on you, and thought he could take something
from you that
wasn’t
offered.” That last part came out
of him on a growl.

“I don’t want anyone getting hurt
because you want to exact vengeance for me, Damien.” She lifted her hand and
placed it on his chest. The steady beat of his heart was right below her palm.
“I don’t want violence because of violence, Damien, and I’m sure you have seen
enough of that in your life.” She spoke softer this time. “I want to be here
with you, to work this relationship out and experience it all with you.”

He stared in her eyes, lifted his
hand and cupped her cheek, and she felt this zing go through her entire body.
“I don’t want you upset with me, Danika, and I understand what you’re saying. I
want you to be happy.”

Rising on her toes she pressed
her lips to his, knowing that although he said he understood, that his animal
genetics might make it very difficult for him to refrain from using his
strength. He lifted his other arm and wrapped it around her waist, pulling her
close to him. The feel of his erection prodding her belly had a flash of
wetness leaving her pussy. God, even when she meant to come over here just to
talk this out with him all she could think about right now was taking their
clothes off and letting him control her body.

“I’d do anything for you,
Danika,” he said against her lips. “I’d do anything for you, and if you want me
to try and refrain from going after someone that hurt you,” he pulled back
slightly and stared into her eyes for several seconds. “I’ll try, baby, but you
have to know that you’re my mate, and when it concerns your safety my animal is
the one that is taking control.” He went back to kissing her, harder this time,
and slid his hand that cupped her cheek to the back of her head. He held her
face close to his as he fucked her with his lips and tongue.
  

“Damien?” Her eyes fluttered
closed when he moved his mouth to her neck, and his warm breath teased the skin
right below her ear.

“Yeah, baby?” His voice was low,
husky, and she swore she smelled his lion pheromones.

“I…” She breathed out on a moan
when he ran his slightly elongated canines on her throat.

“You’re mine,” he growled, and
she heard the lion in his voice right then. The feel of his tongue on her
throat had a small mewl leaving her. “I won’t ever take anything you’re not
willing to give.”

Her head was suddenly too heavy
for her to hold up, and so she let it fall back, baring her throat for her mate
even more.

“That’s it, surrender to me
willingly, and I swear to fucking God, baby, I’ll make you never regret it.”

She didn’t regret it, would never
think twice about giving herself to Damien. Danika wanted to let go, so she
brought her hands up, gripped his massive biceps and nodded her desire for him
to continue. “I want you, want this, but…” He lifted his head and looked down
at her.

“Tell me what you want, and it’s
yours.”

She licked her lips, knowing that
she really did want this, but for this first time it had to be her way.

“Will you let me lead?” She
didn’t need to elaborate, because by the sound he let out she knew he
understood.

“Anything,
baby.
Anything and everything I have is yours.” He brushed his lips against hers,
like he was ready to let her take the reins. She knew it was probably for this
one time, because Damien was a very dominating man, and she liked that he took
control. It made her feel like a woman, and that he knew how to make her feel
good because he
knew
her so well. He
took a step back, and for a moment all they did was stare at each other. The
shirt he wore was a button-down, and so she lifted her hands to his chest, and
rested her open palm right over his pectoral muscles. Her hands shook slightly,
but it wasn’t from apprehension, but liquid arousal. Danika slipped the buttons
out one at a time, and when the material was hanging open she smoothed her
hands along the hard, smooth ridges that were clear through his white
undershirt. His chest rose and
fell,
his breathing
increasing with each passing moment.

Pushing the shirt off his
shoulders, she started to lift the hem of his tee, seeing the ripped six-pack
that was revealed, and the dark blond hair that started right below his belly
button and disappeared beneath his jeans. How had she gone from wanting to have
an in-depth conversation with him to being wet and ready for him to take her?
In one swift move he lifted his arms over his head, gripped the back of his
shirt, and pulled it over his head and tossed it aside.

All other thoughts left Danika’s
mind, and she breathed out roughly when she saw his hard chest. It was wide,
golden in color, and so muscular she felt like a small, insignificant female
beside him. Even though she had seen him naked before, her emotions had been so
raw at the time that a lot of it was just sensations and feelings inside of
her. He growled low in his throat. She knew it must be hard for him to just
stand there, not taking control when she knew he wanted to. Nervousness was a
living entity inside of her, but she pushed it aside and reached for the belt
at his waist. His erection was already tenting his jeans, and it was enormous.
After getting the button undone and his zipper down, she took a deep breath,
gripped the edges of the denim, and pushed them down. He wore no underwear, a
fact that turned her on even more. His shaft sprang forth like another limb,
and all she could do was
stare
at it.

“You see what you do it me,
baby.” His voice was so low, so rough, that her nipples instantly hardened and
her pussy swelled with her arousal. “You have total control over me, Danika.
You’ll always have this control over me.” His gaze was lowered to her chest
that was rising and falling from her rapid breathing. “Touch me, Danika, before
I lose my control and just take you right here and now without giving you the
chance to take the lead, baby.”

Keeping hold of his gaze with
hers, she reached out and smoothed her hands over his chest again. Slowly
moving her hands down the granite-like, hairless, and hard expanse of flesh,
she gripped his shaft without waiting for her nerves to come back to reality.
He was so thick and long that she couldn’t even wrap her fingers fully around
his girth.

“Yeah, Danika, that’s it.”

She wanted him, wanted to feel
Damien touch every part of her. Power surged through her when she started
stroking him and he couldn’t hold his eyes open any longer. The fact she
couldn’t seem to get enough oxygen into her lungs had her feeling lightheaded.
She wanted it all, and she wanted it with this lion shifter. Letting go of his
erection and taking a step back, she watched the different emotions pass across
his face.

“Take me, Damien—” She didn’t
finish that sentence, because this low, animalistic growl left him, and then he
had her in his arms. He kissed her like he couldn’t get enough. He moved her so
her back met the hard wood of the living room wall. Damien ran his teeth up and
down her neck, and had his hands on her upper arms, holding her in place for
him.

“I could devour you right now,
Danika.”

She breathed out at his erotic
words.

He moved his other hand down her
waist, over her outer thigh, and snaked it around until he could grip her
behind the knee. “You own me,
Danika,
own every part
of my body and soul.” He licked at her pulse. “You are the only one that can
bring me to my knees.” When he lifted her leg and brought it flush with his
hip, it put her pussy in direct contact with his erection. Damien thrust his
hips forward, and she groaned as his cock pressed against her clit. The skirt
she wore had him in direct contact with her panty covered pussy. Sparks of
pleasure went straight through her body. He did it again and again until she
started grinding herself on him, seeking more pressure. If he kept it up she
would get off from this alone.

He kept moving against her,
bringing her pleasure higher and higher until she was gasping for air. “Fuck,
baby.”

“God, Damien.” Curling her hands
further into his arms she started moving her hips in time with his, but harder
this time, bringing herself closer to her climax. She wished her panties
weren’t in the way, and that she could feel how smooth and hot he was against
her bare flesh.

Her head fell against the wall,
and a moan spilled from her right when he thrust especially hard against her.
He cupped her breast with one hand while still holding her leg with the other.
“I could come in my jeans from doing this alone.” He ran his palm up and down
her nipple, causing the little bud to tighten further. She wanted the damn
shirt and bra off, wanted the offending material that blocked her from fully
feeling his skin against hers to be torn away.

Yes, she had said she wanted to
take control, but right now she wanted Damien to be the one to dominate her. “I
want nothing between us.”

In the next instant he had her
shirt off, and reached behind her and unlatched her bra. The material slid down
her arms, and he tossed it aside. When he pulled back and looked at her bare
breasts it was like he was reaching out and touching her. It penetrated her,
seeped into her body, and had her only thinking about being with this lion. He
stepped closer, pulled her into the hardness of his body, and claimed her
mouth. His groan vibrated against her lips. He moved his mouth down her neck.
The lower he went, the deeper the sounds he made.