Now it was complicated beyond measure. He was in love with a female who was already mated, a female with complex issues when it came to mating and sex. If he were smart he'd walk away from her.

But it was already too late. Chrissten was in his heart and soul. She belonged to him in a way he couldn't begin to describe. And he belonged to her.

She was worrying her bottom lip with her teeth. He couldn't resist leaning down and running his tongue over the small injury. Soothing it.

She released a small sigh, her breath a light puff against his face.

He smiled at her, ignoring the pounding in his temples and the pulsing in his groin. "Tell me if I do anything you don't like."

"Okay." She tried to relax. He could see the way she took a deep breath and consciously unclenched her hands.

He shook his head. This wasn't going to work unless he could get her out of her head and more into letting her body simply feel and enjoy the experience.

Talking wasn't going to help, and delaying was only serving to make her even tenser than she'd been. Not good.

Letting his instincts guide him, Hank reached behind his head, grabbed a handful of fabric and yanked his shirt off. He tossed it aside and swooped down to kiss Chrissten in one motion.

He took it slow, letting their mouths touch, then meld tighter. Her lips were soft and warm. He was very aware of her every movement, every action. She was still wound up tighter than a coiled spring.

He gently ran his tongue along the seam of her mouth and pushed inward. She gave a little gasp but yielded. Tension seeped out of her body as if she'd finally exhaled and let go.

Hank teased her tongue with his, lapped at the inside of her mouth and stroked her bottom lip. She responded to each and every touch. Her breathing was becoming more rapid, a new tension seeping into her bones. This one was good though. Sexual tension brought a heightened awareness with it, their senses growing sharper.

He brought his hand up and carefully covered her left breast. Through the thin fabric of her nightgown, he felt the heavy thud of her heart against the heel of his hand. She clutched at his wrist, not to push him away but to press him closer.

Fuck, yes. This was the reaction he was hoping for. He wanted her to want him.

He rubbed his thumb gently over the distended nipple, drawing a low moan from her. His jeans were way too tight, but he didn't dare remove them. He'd given Chrissten his word and he would not break it. She was fragile enough at the moment, her trust a delicate and treasured thing. He wouldn't do anything to destroy it.

He shoved the sheets down to her waist. He wanted to throw the damn things on the floor but it was too soon to do anything of the sort. Patience was the key.

Hank ignored the pounding of his blood through his veins, the howling of his wolf within him, the never-ending ache of his cock. This was all about Chrissten.

The nightgown she wore had four buttons and he slowly undid them one at a time, exposing a thin swath of pale skin. Her flesh was warm and goose bumps rose beneath his fingers.

He glanced up at her face to gauge her reaction to what he was doing. Her eyes were closed, her lips parted as she sucked air into her lungs. He could tell she was still thinking too hard. Her eyes were scrunched tight and she was nibbling on her bottom lip once again.

Hurriedly, he spread the fabric wide, exposing two perfect mounds. Her breasts weren't overly big or small. They were full and tantalizing, perfect for her height.

Hank cupped one breast and rubbed his thumb around the swollen areola. Chrissten whimpered and the small sound shot straight to his balls. Breathing became next to impossible as he struggled to keep from coming. If he was this aroused by a sound what would it be like if she actually touched him.

Bad thought. His cock jerked as if it approved of that idea. Every muscle in his body tensed, coiled, ready for action. He wanted her hands on his shoulders, his chest, his cock, wherever he could get them. His wolf paced restlessly inside him, urging him to get on with things.

Every cell in his body cried out for Chrissten. He took a deep breath and turned his laser focus on her. He leaned down and ran his tongue over the tight nub he'd aroused with his touch.

Chrissten moaned and her hands came up to clutch his shoulders. Her fingernails dug into his shoulders, the sting sweet. This was what he wanted, Chrissten lost to her own sensual desires. He wanted to feed them, to fan the sensual flames until she came. He wanted to replace her bad memories with ones of pleasure, of him.

He closed his lips over the hard nub and gently suckled. She speared her fingers through his hair and clutched his scalp, tugging him closer.

He was in heaven as he licked and sucked, petted and touched. Her legs scissored against the sheets, restricted by the gown she was wearing. He wanted to remove the garment but knew it was too soon for that.

"Hank." His name was no more than a breath, a sigh, but it pierced his heart. To hear his name on her lips when she was in the throes of sensual desire sent his libido soaring to an entirely new level.

He prayed no one would decide to look in on Chrissten. He'd probably kill whoever came through the door and interrupted them. She was getting closer to losing control. All she needed was a little push.

A warm musky scent filled his nostrils and he inhaled deeply, taking it into his lungs. It was sweet and inviting. Chrissten was aroused.

He had to find out for sure, had to feel the wetness against his fingers.

While he continued to pleasure one breast and then the other, he shoved the sheet down until it hit her knees. The hem of her nightgown was up around her thighs and he slid his hand beneath it and started an upward journey.

She stiffened briefly and he paused, waiting for her to say yes or no. He prayed she wouldn't stop him. Not now. Not yet.

He wanted to let out a whoop of joy when her thighs relaxed and parted slightly. Goddamn, she was brave. The courage it took for her to let him touch her this intimately after everything she'd been through humbled him.

He raised his head from her breast to look at her. "I'll stop whenever you want me to." He had to be clear on that point, wanted to reinforce the fact that she was in charge.

"Not yet."

She was so fucking beautiful lying here with her gown opened to expose her breasts and rucked up around her thighs. Her skin glistened in the dim light. Her lips were moist from his kisses.

Even the sound of her limbs moving against the sheets was arousing to him. The light slithering sound made his balls ache.

Hank knew it would be a hell of a long night. No way would he be able to relieve the pressure of his erection until someone replaced him on guard duty in the morning. After that, he'd probably spend at least an hour in a cold shower, giving himself a hand job or three. The way he felt right now it would take at least that many orgasms to sate him.

Her hips arched slightly and Hank grazed the inside of her thigh. Her skin was so soft. He could easily spend hours simply touching her, stroking her. But he didn't have the luxury of time. Any moment she could change her mind. Or someone might come to check on her.

Time was of the essence.

Hank slipped his hand between her thighs and moaned when he touched her slick folds. She was warm and wet. He wanted to burrow between her spread thighs and taste her essence, suck her slick folds until she screamed his name.

Probably way too soon for that but a guy could dream.

He stroked up and down the length of her labia, gritting his teeth against the storm of arousal that threatened to swamp him. His dick was leaking and he could smell the tang of his own arousal as it hovered just out of reach.

He rimmed her opening and slipped one thick finger inside. The muscles of her channel wrapped around it. Hank thought he might lose it then and there.

Chrissten tilted her hips upward, taking him deeper.

It was now or never. He had to make her come before he did.

Chrissten closed her eyes and listened to the sound of her own breathing. She could barely hear it above the pounding of her heart.

Her skin felt too small to contain her body. Every part of her seemed swollen and sensitive. Waiting expectantly.

Hank hovered above her like something from a dream, a very hot, erotic dream. His every touch, every stroke was designed to push her deeper and deeper under his sensual spell. She should have been frightened by how easily he accomplished this. Instead, she was reveling in it, embracing it.

Brian had taken something precious from her. But it was her choice to take it back.

She'd had sex with several long-term boyfriends over the years, but she'd never really enjoyed sex, hadn't understood what all the hoopla was about. Then Brian had happened and sex had become a nightmare, more about pain and subjugation.

This was something totally different from any of her previous experiences.

Hank's every touch ignited sparks beneath her skin, leaving her wanting more. She felt alive with sensation. She could smell his dark, musky spices mixing with the scent of her soap and the sweet tang of her arousal.

His breathing was harsh, but controlled. That was Hank-controlled. Chrissten didn't think she'd ever met a man who was more in command of himself than Hank was. For a brief second, she wondered what it would be like to make him lose that control.

His lips closed around the peak of her breast and he suckled gently, drawing the nipple deeper into his mouth. She arched upward, wanting to give him more, wanting him to take whatever he wanted.

The hand between her legs teased and tormented her slick folds. He slid one thick finger into her core and Chrissten couldn't suppress the moan of pleasure that broke from her throat.

Oh, that felt amazingly good. Better than she'd ever known it could.

Being touched by a male she genuinely liked and respected was so different from the way it had been with Brian. Her arousal hovered on the edge of a knife as his name evoked so many nasty memories. She banished that male from her head. He had no place in this bed. She was with Hank. He was all that mattered.

He lapped at her nipple before releasing it and shifting his attention to her other breast. He nuzzled the mound, his stubbled beard arousing her sensitive skin. "Okay?"

Tears filled her eyes. Even now his concern was all about her. She swallowed hard. "Better than okay," she assured him.

"Good." He tilted his head back so he could see her face and winked at her. That lighthearted gesture drove back the sadness. She laughed before she knew she was going to.

Her laughter turned to a moan as he inserted a second finger into her channel. The muscles contracted and then relaxed. Accepting him.

His thumb rubbed her clit and her hips jerked upward, seeking more of his touch. She moaned again and Hank surged upward, covering her mouth with his. In the back of her mind she knew she was making too much noise. Much more of that and she'd have her brother and the others in here checking on her. She didn't want that. Not until she got the prize. She was so close to coming.

Hank's kiss was passionate, not gentle as his previous ones had been. She loved it, loved the fact he wasn't holding back. It made her feel more whole, more like a real woman and not one who'd been damaged.

He worked his fingers in and out of her core, driving deeper with each thrust. His thumb continued to stimulate her clit. Round and round. Back and forth. Driving her up and up until she had to burst or go crazy.

When he pulled his fingers back to the edge of her sheath, he curled them upward, touching a spot that pushed her over the edge. Explosions of light burst behind her eyes. She cried out and Hank took the sound into his mouth, smothering it, keeping this moment between only them.

Her eyes opened wide and she met Hank's gaze. Pure masculine pleasure shone from his face.

Her entire body shook and quivered as her orgasm continued to swamp her. Gradually the trembling lessened and Hank withdrew his hand from between her legs. He carefully smoothed her nightgown down and tugged the sheets to her waist, covering her.

His tenderness and concern for her touched her heart. Hank was a very special man. She wished she'd met him before her life had exploded and become the living hell it had. But she had to deal with reality. Even now she could smell the faint odor of Brian on her skin. She hated it with a passion and fought the urge to go to the bathroom and scrub her skin until it bled. There was only one way to get rid of Brian for good. And soap and water wasn't it.

"Hey, you okay?" So lost in her thoughts, she hadn't even realized Hank had stopped kissing her and was doing up the buttons to her nightgown. When he was finished, he pulled the covers the rest of the way up.

She shoved the negative thoughts aside and concentrated on the beautiful gift Hank had just given her. "I'm wonderful. How about you?"

Chrissten glanced downward. There was no hiding the heavy thick erection pressing against the front of Hank's jeans.

He gave a chuckled that sounded a little strained to her ears. He moved gingerly as he rolled off the bed, picked up his shirt and pulled it back on. "I'll live."

She felt awful. She'd taken with little thought to how he would feel.

The side of the mattress depressed as he sat down next to her. He cupped her face in his hand. "Hey, none of that. I got what I wanted." He leaned down and this time she met him halfway. Their lips met in a tender kiss. She slid her hand around to the nape of his neck, feeling the strong muscles beneath her palm. So much strength, but he never used it to hurt her.

Hank was a revelation to her, reminding her that not all men were abusive jerks. Intellectually, she already knew that. After all, she had two brothers who were both examples of what a good man was. But in her heart she'd feared they might be the only ones. Irrational, to be sure, but considering everything she'd been through she'd cut herself some slack.

"Sleep." He eased down onto the bed beside her. He was on top of the covers and she was tucked beneath. She felt warm and safe and cared for.

"Wake me early." She needed a shower before her brothers showed up in the morning. Craig might not notice anything different, but Quinn would surely smell the essence of her climax on her skin and nightgown.

"I will."

She knew he understood without her having to explain it. Hank seemed to understand her better than anyone else she'd ever met. She snuggled against his body and released a sigh, totally relaxed.

As she started to drift off to sleep, she wondered what it would be like to touch his skin, to have the muscles rippling beneath her palms. What would it be like to touch his cock and make him come?

Maybe it was too soon for them to have intercourse, that's assuming she could even find the courage to do so, but there were other things they might do. If she was brave enough to reach out and take them, the possibilities were limitless.

Chapter Ten.

Hank tilted his head down and let the cool water rush over the back of his neck and down his body. He was so hot he was surprised he wasn't steaming. The cold shower did little to alleviate the sexual arousal riding him.

With his eyes closed, he could still see Chrissten when he woke her this morning. She'd given him a sleepy, sexy smile that had made him want to roll her onto her back, slide into her hot depths and fuck her until they both screamed with pleasure.

Instead, he'd gotten her out of the bed and into the shower. It had been pure torture to have to listen to the rush of water over her skin and know she was naked behind that closed door, rubbing soap over her lush breasts and between her slick thighs.

To distract himself, he'd changed the sheets on the bed and aired out the room. Chrissten had still been in the shower when Bethany had come knocking on her door, and Hank had taken the opportunity to slip away, needing some time alone.

He hadn't gone downstairs, had not wanted to face any of the others yet. Instead, he'd gone up to the roof and watched the city come to life, the traffic getting thicker as the morning went on.

When his body was finally under control, he went back to his apartment, grateful to find the women were gone downstairs for breakfast. He'd slipped into the shower and cranked the water up to cold.

Which was where he found himself now. Shivering but still aroused.

"Fuck it." He turned down the cold. The water warmed gradually and he lifted his face, letting it cascade down his front. His cock was at full attention, the cold shower had done nothing to alleviate the persistent ache. He couldn't remember the last time he'd been this horny. He hadn't been this bad when he was a teenager. There was something about Chrissten that kept him on edge and his body primed.

He grabbed the cake of soap from the ledge and rubbed it between his large hands. When he had a substantial lather, he dumped the bar back into the tray and grabbed his cock. There was only one way to get rid of his hard-on since he didn't anticipate having sex anytime in the next ten minutes.

He gripped his shaft and squeezed. Soapy bubbles frothed from between his fingers and coated his penis.

He closed his eyes and reveled in the pressure. It felt good, but it wasn't nearly enough. Visions of Chrissten ran through his mind like a movie. Chrissten smiling. Chrissten sleeping. Chrissten's soft, lush breasts and long, shapely legs. Oh, yeah. Picturing her naked was easy. Her image was burned onto his brain.

Hank pumped his hand up and down, the soap making it slide easily. His testicles were tight. Heavy. He'd almost come a couple of times last night, but somehow managed to keep it together. He deserved a medal for that.

He wanted Chrissten so bad he could taste it. He licked his lips, easily remembering the salty, sweet taste of her skin. He'd wanted to go down on her and bury his face between her slender thighs. But that would have been too much too soon.

Patience. He needed to woo her with patience. Even if it killed him.