Aimee smiled at the look on Fang’s face. She loved to tease him and to taste him. The saltiness of his skin made her ache for more, but like him, she wanted for once to know exactly what it felt like to have him inside her.

He sank down in front of her. On their knees, facing each other, he kissed her again. It was hot and demanding as he skimmed his hand down between them to touch her. It made her even wetter as she throbbed.

The quickening inside her rose until it was blinding and her body demanded appeasement. “Don’t make me wait, Fang,” she whispered, afraid that something or someone would interrupt them again.

Fang kissed his way to her back, making chills spring up all over her body. Holding her in front of him, he brushed her hair from her neck so that he could inhale her scent. Every part of him burned as he ached to be inside her.

He’d waited and dreamed of this moment, never thinking to really have it. He’d almost convinced himself that he could live without ever tasting her again.

But it’d been hard, especially since other females had stopped being appealing to him. Letting out one long breath, he slid his fingers inside her as he positioned himself to take her. He couldn’t ever remember a woman being more wet for him and none had ever been more enticing.

Aimee trembled in fear of what was to come as she felt the tip of his cock pressing against her. But this was what she wanted more than anything and at least it wouldn’t hurt the way it did for human women. He nudged her knees farther apart as he took her hand again in his and led it to him.

“Guide me in, baby.”

With his help, she reached between their bodies and gently slid him into her body. She bit her lip as the thick fullness of him sank deep inside.

They moaned in unison.

Aimee’s head reeled as he buried himself in to his hilt. It felt so good to have him there, to feel connected to him like this. She was sharing with him what she’d never shared with anyone else.

Fang pulled her back against him, into his arms as he slowly thrusted against her. He took their weight from her as he laid his cheek against hers and let her scent intoxicate him. In all the times he’d been with a woman, none of them could compare to this. She was so tight and warm. And unlike a wolfswan, she wasn’t bucking and clawing at him. Biting.

Aimee was tender.

Most of all, she loved him. In all the world, she alone had tamed the part of him that he’d never allowed anyone else to see. Always fierce and fighting, he only found peace with her. She’d tamed him.

She reached up and placed her hand to his cheek. That one gentle action shattered him. He didn’t want to die. He wanted to stay here like this for the rest of eternity.

It was so unfair. His brothers were mated and happy.

Why couldn’t he be too?

But he knew better. Even if he lived, her family would never accept him. None of their people would. This was unnatural.

And yet it didn’t feel that way.

“You are the best part of me,” he whispered in her ear as he thrusted and cupped her breasts.

“I love you, Fang.” Aimee leaned back so that he could kiss her while he trailed his hand down the front of her body until he could stroke her in time to his thrusts. She could feel him getting larger inside her. Thicker.

She was completely open and exposed to him in a way she’d never been before. She should be embarrassed, but she wasn’t. This seemed so right. So perfect.

And as they made love, she wondered what it would be like if they didn’t have the world to drive them apart. If they could stay together and be like this. All she wanted was her wolf.

She would give anything to have his children. To give him all the love no one else ever had.

He quickened his strokes, which intensified the pleasure. Her breathing ragged, she returned them with her own until her body couldn’t stand it anymore. In a searing burst, she came.

Fang had to bite back a howl as he joined her in release. But it was hard. He pulled her close and kept her weight on his body, knowing they’d be locked together for a while yet as his body continued to release inside her. That was the most difficult part about being a wolf. When they came, it was a lengthy process and if they were separated before he was finished, it would hurt her. And right now his senses were so alert and strong that he felt as if he could defeat an entire pack.

Aimee leaned her head against his chest as he held her so tenderly. “I’m not too heavy, am I?”

“Not at all.”

She turned his palm over to look at it. Like hers, it was still blank.

Tears stung her eyes. “We’re not mates?”

“It doesn’t always show up the first time. You know that.”

True, but the way she felt for him… she was actually disappointed.

“I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

She smiled at his question. “No, baby, you definitely didn’t hurt me.”

He wrapped his arms around her, making her feel so safe and loved. She fingered the weird mark on his shoulder that he refused to tell her about.

He nibbled her cheek. “Did you know your facial markings are showing?”

“What?”

He reached up to draw the pattern with his fingertips. “Your Sentinel marks are showing.”

She used her powers to remove them. “What about now?”

“Still there.”

Oh, dear gods… she’d had no idea that they would show when she had sex. What if she’d mated with a Katagari bear and they’d come out?

It would have been disastrous.

“I’m sorry I can’t hide them.”

He kissed her cheek. “Don’t apologize. I think you’re beautiful.”

She tightened her arms around his as those words warmed her to the core of her being.

Fang trembled as he was finally able to withdraw from her. He hated doing it, but he had no choice.

She turned in his arms to kiss him deeply. “Can I go with you?”

“No,” he said, his tone firm.

“Fang-”

He shook his head. “No, Aimee.”

“I want to be there with you.”

“You can’t.”

She growled at him. “Why not?”

He leaned his forehead against her cheek while he cupped her face with his hand. “Because if I see you there, I won’t be able to go through with it and I can’t do that to my brother.” He looked up at her and the painful torment in his eyes scorched her. “Do you understand? I have to do this alone.” He brushed her tears away with the back of his hand. “I love you, Aimee.”

Those words infuriated her. “Now you say that? Now? What is wrong with you?”

He smiled tenderly. “I never once in my life had good timing. Too late to start now.”

She pulled him to her and held him close. “I love you, Fang. Damn you to hell for it!” Then she took her necklace from around his neck and and placed it in his hand. “If I can’t be with you…”

He clutched it tight and repeated the words that were engraved in it. “Where I am always thou art. Thy image lives within my heart.”

She nodded as more tears flowed. “Mate or no mate, you are the only one I’ll ever love.”

He kissed her gently before he made himself leave her. If he didn’t go now, he’d chicken out completely.

Because honestly, it was hard to justify his brother’s happiness and life by breaking the heart of the only woman he’d ever really loved.

It’s all right, he told himself. He’d be waiting for her on the other side. One day he’d see her again and there the demon wouldn’t have any control over him. He wouldn’t have to fear ever hurting her.

She would be safe and there wouldn’t be anyone who could keep them apart.

But in this life, he had to do the right thing.

Sick to his stomach, he dressed himself and took one last look at Aimee. Completely naked, she kissed his hand that held her locket.

He bent down to take one last breath in her hair so that her scent would give him strength and carry him to his grave. “I love you,” he whispered, then he made himself leave.