I had only a second to decide. My pulse hammered against the grip on my wrists. I saw the amber fire in his eyes. A pure, desperate need terrified me. I chose survival. I had to. The fear of being torn apart was immediate. The fear of failing to escape him was secondary.Slowly, carefully, I raised my free hand. I did not look at his teeth. I kept my focus on the veins cording his powerful neck. My fingers found the damp hair at the back of Rian's head. I pressed my palm flat against his burning skin. The effect was instant. Shocking. The pressure in the air seemed to equalize.The violent shaking that had taken his body stopped. The desperate tremor vanished. The intense heat radiating off him dropped slightly. The pressure on my wrists softened. It became a heavy, immovable hold. He held me captive, but the immediate threat of violence receded. He stayed pressed against me, motionless, breathing in deep, ragged bursts against my neck. He pulled my scent in deeply. The heavy, musky s
Last Updated : 2025-12-03 Read more