Page 40 of Crimson Shifter

“Having to choose between what you personally want and what the mission demands of you.” She tilted her head, a pang of sympathy drenching those gorgeous brown eyes. “That must be an awful position to be in.”

“I've never had to think about it before,” I admitted, although now that I was in the position of having to, I definitely didn't like it.

Didn't like having to feel guilty for wanting her. For wanting to delight in the taste of her before helping with the mission.

“I think you should take what you want,” she said. “I think that you’ve dedicated yourself enough, and since it's not urgent, you should put your needs first.”

“I don't know if I've ever done that before,” I said, racking my brain to think of when I'd ever put a female over my mission.

I hadn't.

And that made this entire thing a thousand times more dangerous. Nothing was supposed to get in the way of a hunter’s mission…except, maybe, a mate.

“I'll take whatever option you decide, Talon,” she said. “If you want me to get out of this tub and dry off and strategize until dawn, I will. Just as I won't hesitate to do the other.”

Something flooded me, a combination of heat and need and comfort and hope—it was all-encompassing and heavy and light at the same time. I felt like it might knock me over.

I stripped out of my sweats, abandoning them on the cool marble floor, and stalked toward the tub. I flicked my fingers, and Cassandra scooted up, allowing me to step into the water behind her.

“Fucking hell,” I growled. “Do you have it hot enough?” I hissed as I sank into the lava-water, stretching my legs on either side of her.

Cassandra laughed, leaning back against my chest. “I had no idea a Viking could whine about water temperature.”

“I don’t whine,” I argued, sighing as my body adjusted to the water. “It’s hotter than the sun in here.”

She laughed again, glancing up at me over her shoulder. “It is not, you big baby.”

I captured her chin with my fingers, tilting her head up as I dipped mine down, slanting my mouth over hers in a punishing kiss that made her whimper.

“Keep insulting me,” I warned, my blood hotter than the tub water around us. “See what happens.”

She shifted against me, rocking the globes of her ass over my cock. “I’m not afraid of you,” she said.

I was instantly hard, and she gasped when she rocked back again.

“Big bad hunter,” she continued. “A Viking vampire who survived Nordic times, yet he balks at a little warm water. Maybe all the legends about Vikings aren’t true?—”

My fangs punched out, and I bared them at her like a wild animal. I gripped her chin harder. “You insult my heritage,” I snapped, using my other hand to clutch her hip and yank her harder against me. “You will suffer for that sharp tongue.”

“I’m so scared, I’m shaking,” she breathed the words that dripped with sarcasm.

“You should be,” I growled, despite knowing I’d never hurt the gorgeous creature in my arms. I’m not sure the exact moment that had changed, but it had.

I released her chin, gliding my fingers over her warm, supple breasts, rolling a nipple until it was perked and rosy for me. I moved lower, sliding my hand between her thighs. Gods, she was on fire, all slick and searing.

She rocked into my hand, but I jerked her back with my other hand on her hip to keep her in place.

“You’ll come when I say you can,” I said, touching her lightly.

“Talon,” she groaned, trying to move against my fingers, doing her best to get that pressure she needed.

I kept her in place, shifting to stroke my cock through her heat before pulling back, relishing the sound of her agitated moan tumbling from her lips.

“You need to learn to watch your mouth,” I said, keeping up the game. I removed my hand where I teased her needy little clit and smirked widely at her whimper of protest. I gripped the base of my length, sliding my thick head down the seam of her ass, teasing the tight hole.

“Talon,” she said my name with a shot of reverence that had every muscle in my body clenching. Fuck, I wanted to end this torture. Wanted to fuck her senseless in this tub, but this was too much fun.

“Oh,” I teased, continuing with my slow torture. “Do you like that?”