Waking the Beast by Lacey Thorn Page B

were really going to have to work on his caveman attitude.
    She closed her internet browser then did a quick delete of the history cache. It wouldn’t hinder anyone if they really wanted to see where she’d been, but it would be enough to halt the average snooper.
    The clerk stopped her and asked if everything was okay.
    She did her best to ignore the growl behind her, but there was no ignoring when Tah stepped forward and pulled her back against his chest.
    “We’re leaving,” he stated clearly with a hard glare at the guy.
    She would have laughed, except she could tell Tah wasn’t joking. He was getting territorial of her and jealous. His palm moved to the small of her back and that easily he had her turned away and heading toward the door. No one interfered or stopped them again.
    As soon as they were in the parking lot by the bike, he pulled her against him and nuzzled her hair, rubbing his cheek over hers and then licking at her neck.
    “Tah? What are you doing?” she squeaked out, embarrassed by the public display.
    “I need to be able to smell myself on you,” he informed her, as if that made perfect sense and didn’t sound crazy as hell.
    “Tah?”
    His mouth took hers, his tongue thrusting deep and fast as he found hers and sucked it into his mouth. She felt the sharp point of one of his canines and went back to explore it with her tongue. He growled into her mouth, and she felt the rumble in his chest. His palm cupped her ass and lifted her into him. If she didn’t help him get control, she was afraid she might just lose her virginity in the parking lot.
    She pulled her mouth away, panting as he moved to her neck. It shouldn’t have excited her to feel the scrape of his teeth against her skin. But it did, and his deep inhale assured her he smelled just how much it was affecting her.
    “Tah, let’s go back to the motel.”
    “God, yes,” he moaned as he patted her ass. She squeaked again when he lifted her off her feet and put her on the bike. “I need you, Abby. I’m ripping apart with the need.”
    His eyes. Brown, yellow, brown, yellow, brown. And was that a sliver of blond she saw in his hair?
    He thrust the helmet into her hands and straddled the bike in front of her. She barely had time to put the helmet on and wrap her arms around his waist before they were roaring out of the lot and heading back. She could feel the coiled tension in his body.
    I need you, Abby.
    His words were tearing her up inside too, tearing apart every excuse she was still clinging to that would allow her to deny him, deny them, again. His whole world was changing. She could see the changes occurring in him, but he was dealing with them. And what was happening that she couldn’t see, changes hidden inside him and not visible to the eye. How could she refuse his need for her? Especially when she needed him too.
    No words were spoken as he parked the bike and helped her off. He laced their fingers as he led her to the room. Another inhale and he pulled they keycard out and unlocked the door. His eyes met hers as he held it open for her. Everything was about to change again, and she only hoped these changes didn’t destroy her heart.
    She heard the soft click as the door shut behind her, and she turned to watch him. He’d picked up some type of safety bar and used it to secure the door before he turned to her. She licked her lips in anticipation as he caught the hem of his T-shirt and almost ripped it as he pulled it off and tossed it aside.
    “Tah.” Her voice was breathy, husky, and she couldn’t stop herself from backing to the wall as he stalked toward her.
    “Strip.” The words left his clenched jaw as he dropped his hand to his belt.
    She could see he was shaking.
    “Too long,” he growled as he pulled the belt free and tossed it aside before going to work on his jeans. “We were apart too long.” He rolled his shoulders and neck as he popped the button loose and tugged down the zipper. “I can’t be