Leap of the Lion (The Wild Hunt Legacy #4)(61)



Yet he’d missed attending Gatherings and spending time with Daonain females.

Darcy squirmed under him in an unspoken demand that he move. Her body wanted a cock.

He grinned. This pushy little kit would probably walk all over younger, less knowledgeable males—and coerce them to fuck her immediately.

Unfortunately for her, she only had very experienced males tonight. She wouldn’t be getting any slam-bam-thank-you-ma’am quickies. Mature males preferred to savor their matings.

How soft she was. He ran his knuckles along the underside of her breast, feeling the tender skin, hearing her shaking inhalation, seeing her dusky nipple pucker to a rigid peak.

She tasted of female musk and the mint that Donal had found growing along the stream. The healer knew his herbs.

A shame Darcy was so new. If she were more experienced, Tynan and Donal would have taken her together, extending their time, and pleasing them all.

Ah, well.

Ever so slowly, Tynan kissed his way down her body, smiling at the way her belly quivered under his lips. He wouldn’t stop until he had her entire body trembling and her cries became incoherent.

And then he’d take her and satisfy them both.

*

After her third mating of the night, Darcy’s legs had turned to jelly. When she tried to stand, Tynan had to grab her or she’d have crumbled right then and there. She felt her face redden with her flush. “Sorry.”

“No need to apologize, lass.” He scooped her up and carried her to the stream to wash off.

Setting her on her feet in the water, he held her up with an arm around her waist. As the shallow creek flowed around her calves, she was still so overheated it was surprising the icy water didn’t start to steam.

A cougar padded out of the bushes, and Owen’s scent reached her a second before he shifted to human. “I think you could use some help.”

“I could, it is true.” Tynan moved to stand behind her, wrapped both arms around her waist, and held her against his warm body.

Owen stepped into the stream and went down on a knee in front of her.

She frowned. “I thought you were mad at me.”

“I was.” His deep voice was as rugged as the surrounding mountains. “You screwed up. But so did I. I should’ve realized you didn’t know the dangers. And that you were acting on your concern for others. Can you accept my apology?”

Shocked, she stared down at him.

In the moonlight, his hair appeared as dark as her own, and beard growth shadowed his jaw. Even down on one knee, the rough, deadly cahir was so tall his head came level with her shoulders.

And he wanted her to forgive him. She hadn’t lost him for a friend. Relief made her voice shake. “Accepted.”

Tynan handed him a handful of the leaves plucked from the banks, and Owen ran the soft bundle over her body, releasing the scent of mint. When he cleansed between her legs, ever so gently, the mint added a tingle to the coolness of the water against her swollen, sore flesh. She sucked in a breath.

“Sorry, kitten,” he murmured, not stopping until he was satisfied.

He rose. “Let’s go back to the fire and give you a chance to warm up.”

Tynan scooped her up, kissed the top of her head, and, to her surprise, handed her to Owen. “Her legs are getting wobbly.”

“I’m not surprised.”

Darcy stiffened. “I’m sure I can walk now.” Surely, the cahir didn’t want to lug her around.

He didn’t put her down. His arms were thick with muscle, and he carried her easily, holding her so close his body warmed her.

At the fire, Donal and Gawain moved aside, making a space for Owen to set her down.

As she curled her legs to one side in the soft grass, he sat behind her. Right behind her. His chest pressed against her back, and his long legs bracketed her sides and thighs. With the fire in front and Owen behind, she felt toasty warm.

And oddly happy.

The wind was a light breeze against her body. The fire crackled cheerfully, and a salamander was dancing in the flames. Its tail sent a spiral of pretty sparks upward into the black sky.

With a sigh, Darcy leaned back, and Owen’s arms came around her waist.

And she felt his cock thickening against her buttocks. She tensed and tried to…un-obtrusive-ly…scoot away.

With a huffed laugh, he pulled her more firmly against him. “Little cat, a male rises if he gets even a whiff of interest from a female. Doesn’t mean anything will come of it.”

“No?”

“No, you’re not ready for anything at all right now. If and when your need returns, you make a choice again—and you may or may not want me. Just relax and let me keep you warm.” His gravelly tone held no room for argument.

In all reality, she was so tired all she really wanted was to be held.

Only…

“Do you even like me?” she asked, whispering the pitiful question.

Owen’s muscles tensed as if she’d slapped him. “Darcy, I—”

“Never mind.” Blinking back unexpected tears, she looked down, feeling more alone than ever before, even in captivity. Wasn’t it horrible that sometimes she missed the lack of change she’d had in the prìosan. Maybe she’d never have discovered how many other kinds of pain were in the world.

No, she was being childish. Foolish. Her thinking was messed up by all the needs rioting through her system. The males were probably laughing at how na?ve she was.

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