Page 137 of Dominion

To mark her.

She started to scramble back, to run, but remembered his warning from their first night together.

Never run from an aroused wolf. Especially not an alpha.

Instead, she blocked him, planting her foot in his belly and bracing her leg. “Cody,” she begged, hoping he’d find control.

His hand found her foot and he gripped it, looking down and frowning. His eyes shot to hers and locked there. He drew two deep breaths and his irises changed back to gray, the fangs disappeared.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry, princess.” He dropped beside her on the bed, gathered her in his arms and kissed her temple and her hair.

Relief mingled with something more complex—the intensity of how much she loved being on the receiving end of Cody’s affection—and her eyes filled with tears.

Cody stiffened beside her, even though there was no way he’d seen them—his face had been buried in her hair. His head jerked up and he stared at her as she blinked back the water.

“Did I hurt you?” he whispered hoarsely, brows drawn low.

She shook her head and pulled him down for a kiss.

He returned it, lips moving softly over hers, nipping her lower lip as he pulled away. “I smelled your tears.” He wouldn’t drop it. “I’m sorry.” He rested a hand on her waist and propped himself up on one hand, gazing down at her. “I scared you, didn’t I?”

“No, I’m okay. You scared me a bit. It hurt, but in a good way.” Oh, hell, was she blushing? It was true, her pussy felt completely pummeled, her internal wall battered, but she loved the well-used feel. Orgasmic bliss still flowed through her limbs.

He unwound the busted ends of rope that still hung from his wrists, as if just becoming aware enough of his appendages to notice them.

“Are you hungry, baby? I know this amazing little store with the best cinnamon rolls you’ve ever tasted.”

She beamed at him. This Cody—the gentle, considerate one, blew her mind. Was this really the same crude, dirty-talking stooge? She watched his tattooed muscles flex as he climbed off the bed and pulled on his clothes. Yes, it was the same guy. And if she was honest, she’d admit she freaking loved the dirty talk. Especially since he backed it up with the hottest action she’d ever had. Whipping included.

She hopped out of bed. “I’ll just take a quick shower.”

He looked over his shoulder and then stilled, eyelids dropping to half mast, expression turning hungry once more. “Don’t come out without clothes on,” he warned.

Her laughter turned into a shriek when he fake-lunged for her.

“I mean it. I’ll keep you tied to that bed all day long, baby,” he called after her.

She caught sight of herself in the bathroom mirror and stopped, seeing her reflection through new eyes. Her cheeks were flushed with excitement. Her body, while nothing she’d ever considered that special, still showed the marks of his possession—the finger marks on her hips, a few marks on her ass from the spanking the night before. The memory of that punishment sent flutters of excitement twittering in her belly. Had he really spanked her pussy?

She’d always been one to enjoy sex—her sister had called her a serial dater before Jeremy, but Cody made her feel desirable, like an absolute sex goddess.

She took a quick shower and dressed in the change of clothes she’d packed in Cody’s saddlebag. Not finding a hair dryer, she didn’t bother asking Cody, knowing he’d only mock her.

“Ready, beautiful girl?” Cody had cleaned the place and packed their things. He handed her the motorcycle helmet.

There went her hair. She took it without comment. Cody held his leather jacket out for her to put on. She couldn’t help the way her eyebrows shot up in surprise before she accepted his help.

“Yeah, I know. I didn’t think I had it in me, either.”

Did he sound a little embarrassed?

She slid on the bike behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. The ride up the mountain yesterday had been harrowing. She’d had a feeling Cody had driven the Ducati fast and loose on purpose, to shake her up. Today, he showed restraint, easing into speed, not leaning the bike as much around the bends.

They wound around unmarked mountain roads, up and down hills until they reached a little hole in the wall market, tucked into a hill in the middle of nowhere. A stump of wood carved into a bear stood near the doorway.

She pulled her helmet off and finger combed her hair. An elderly couple greeted them when they came in, and Cody headed straight to the counter to order two cinnamon rolls. He grabbed a small carton of milk from the dairy case and paid for everything at the old-fashioned register.

He led her back outside. There wasn’t anywhere to sit, so he stood while she perched on the motorcycle seat. Cody pulled one of the breakfast rolls out of the paper bag and held it up to her mouth.