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I found it humorous he was so worked up about this It was just clothes, after all But I could understand pride and his need to take care of me So I kept anyabout Lycan males, it was that they were hella possessive

Soet used to for sure

“Besides,” I whispered “I’m yours”

His gaze dropped to the clairowled in pleasure, but then his broered as his eyeseither side of , he reached out and pulled the collar ofthe tops of my shoulders This low ruhly

“Ah, lass,” he said in a deep, whiskey-sounding voice “I dinna realize I was so rough last night I could no’ control ret on his face, the agony that he thought he’d hurt me “My as fierce with ye Too fierce, especially for yer first time”

I was shaking , then rose up on ainst hiselse between us” I kissed hi back “I liked it all I liked the roughness, how fierce you were” I felt h me “I liked the pain and especially the pleasure that accompanied it” Slowly that hard, sorrow-filled look on his face faded, and he leaned down to rest his forehead againstmoments we just breathed the same air

I hated that he felt bad, that he was in pain at the thought of hurting ood man, he cared for me, and he only wanted to keep me safe, even from himself and his inner animal

I lifted a hand and stroked his whisker-covered cheek “I’ain “Truly” My face heated when I whispered, “I hope it’s like that every tiain, e heard the front door open and footsteps co closer

“Christ, Cian,” Odhran said as he stepped farther into the kitchen, and his eyes latched to the area ofbrutal, yeah?”

Cian growled low and positioned his body more in front of mine at the same tiain

Neither male spoke, but they sure as hell had a stare off And after a tense moment, Odhran shook his head, cursed low, and walked over to the table to sit down

“The sight just tookterritorial Ye kno’ yer mate isn’t even on my mind”

Odhran sounded distant, and now that I really looked at him, I could see the darkness under his eyes that showed he hadn’t slept I felt my heart break now that I knew the truth about his mate

I placed a hand on Cian’s arently pushed him away He retreated instantly, and I realized howparanorentle touch of my hand on his arm It was a heady sensation, but one that also made me feel vulnerable

I walked over and took the seat across froaze, I knew he could feelhim It was the subtle way his shoulders went back, how his spine straightened I wanted to tell hi about hiht before, I eh I had never experienced what he had, I did know the pain of loss acutely

“I’h I wanted to take his hand in ate the jealous part of Cian, the one he couldn’t control because he was more animal than man

Odhran lifted his head, and our eyes locked I didn’t notice the large scar along his forehead and cheek I didn’t notice the bags under his eyes or the weathered, exhausted expression on his face What I noticed was ain his power to gain some control back

I saw athatto him I saw a man who’d had the one woman as born to be his taken away

And foras if they had no control or poas like a blow to the gut, draining their bodies until they were husks It was as if they didn’t have a purpose