~ CASIMIR ~ “Cazz… Cazz…” I was panting hard, fighting the urge to bite her, as she tensed and writhed, seeking my touch, my tongue, and the fleeting promise of her climax. But when she began pulsing around me, her breath stopping, I knew it was time, because I wasn’t going to give her that satisfaction. Not yet. So, when she began to shake and her breath was catching and holding, I dropped her knee off my shoulder, but cupped her thighs as I stood, pulling her knees wide and high, hitching them over my hips as I straightened, lifting her, pressing her into

 ~ JESSE ~ When I finally found the strength to raise my eyes and sit up, my legs were over Rake’s thighs where he sat with one of his thick arms on the back of the couch, the other elbow leaning on the couch arm behind me, and his face… his face was a picture of worried grief. I didn’t realize his hand was on my back until he moved it, catching my hair in his fingers and pulling it back over my shoulder as he sighed. “I’m so sorry, Jesse.” “Wh-what for?” I inhaled deeply, still trying to get control. “Because I saw this coming and didn’t stop it. I should have stopped it. I should have stepped in when h

~ CASIMIR ~Jesse tensed at first and didn't look at me. Her body a rigid, resistant plank. But I kept my touch gentle and as she began to enjoy the touch, she slowly opened up, eventually going so far as to rest her forearms on my thighs and watch as I lathered, and rubbed, then used the cloth all over her.“Scoot forward,” I whispered, annoyed with myself because I meant it to sound stronger, but my voice was gone. Little more than a hoarse rasp. I cleared my throat and tried again. “Put more room between us so I can wash your hair.”She went very still. “You’re going to… wash my hair?”I grunted.She did as I had asked and scooted her ass forward.“Hold onto the sides and use my legs to lay back, tip your head back, so I can get water over it without getting it in your eyes.”There was a moment I thought she would refuse. She didn’t move. But just a

~ JESSE ~The next morning I lay in the meadow just beyond the cave entrance, in the grass, watching the clouds drift lazily overhead. It was bright, but the sun wasn’t quite hot enough to remove the chill from the breeze.Kind of like Cazz’s desire, I thought dryly. Plenty of blaze, but it doesn’t quite beat back the shadows.When I had woken this morning—alone—it was to a messenger sent by Maya saying that she had to undertake healer duties and we would have to wait until the following day to meet, so I’d suddenly found myself with freetime.After the day—and night—before, I decided that was a sign. I was still fortifying the chinks in my armor after the roller coast

 ~ JESSE ~ Rake’s expression reminded me of a checkout guy I had once seen at the supermarket trying to help an old lady—he didn’t want to discourage me, but he obviously thought I’d lost my mind. I gave him a look. “I’m not being unrealistic. I know I have a lot to learn. I’m not going to start issuing edicts. But… but I’m going to show up, Rake. And over time…. Over time I’m going to make a difference.” His face softened. “I love that idea. I do. But… Jesse, wolves are very different from people. We don’t think the same way. I mean, we can understand you, but… a wolf Queen isn’t like your human queens.” That&rs