Warm breath feathered over her ear as he bent close, his voice a husky whisper. "And then I put my mouth on you everywhere. Lick you from head to toe. I give you so much pleasure you scream and your cries echo through the house."

As his gaze dropped to her breasts, her skin felt stretched too tight. She wanted to remove all her clothing and rub herself against him to relieve the ache pulsing low in her belly. Then Sam remembered their first time together and shrank back. "You want me tied up and helpless? What if you went feral again? I can't risk it, Darius."

He held up his hands. "If you wish, you can tie me up instead. Do with me whatever you wish."

"Oh!" She felt intrigued. "Seriously?"

"For you, I'd do it. For now, I have something else in mind to control my urges. Something I should have done our first time together. Let me show you..."

He'd released his wolf before, using his superior strength and his raging lust to claim her in the flesh. Darius knew on some deep level, by obeying the wolf's howling call, he'd shattered all Sam's innocent trust in him, which had brought them together as childhood friends.

This time, he would not violate her body or her boundaries. He would ensure Sam would be with him all the way.

Or not at all.

The lovely flush of passion darkened her skin. He wanted her naked in bed, but her pleasure, and her emotions, came first. "Don't be afraid of me, Sam."

When she followed him upstairs into the bedroom, he wanted to howl in triumph. The man inside him trembled with the need to make it good for her.

He switched on a bedside lamp and then went to his suitcase. Tucked into a side pocket was a vial containing a liquid that reduced a male Lupine's lust and allowed him to maintain control during sex. His friend Kyle had given it to him before he'd left. Unfortunately, he'd forgotten about it before taking Sam the first time.

He unscrewed the top and held it up for her inspection.

"This is a special potion my Lupine friend Kyle used when he first had sex with his mate, Arianna. It dampens a male Lupine's libido, but increases a female's arousal. The potion enables a male to have more control during sex, especially their first time together."

Sam took the vial and sniffed. "It smells like vanilla and cedar. Does it have flavor?"

He grinned. "It takes on the flavor of the individual." He took back the glass bottle and swallowed a few drops.

Darius glanced down. His erection immediately went down considerably. When he looked up, Sam had a look of disappointment on her face. Grinning, he set down the bottle. "Don't worry, darling. It's a temporary effect. You'll like the results because now I can take my time. All the time you need, and want."

He went to the closet and pulled open a drawer in a chest. He found four velvet ropes and handed them to her.

She gave him an inquiring look. "They always keep restraints in the closet?"

"It's a vacation home."

He lay down on the bed and stretched out. "Tie me up. You can do whatever you wish to me."

She held the ropes and hesitated. And then she threw them down to the floor. "No. I trust you."

He sucked in a breath as she slowly undressed and then joined him on the bed. Her renewed confidence in him recalled their earlier, innocent days when he saw the world reflected in her eyes.

Darius hoped she would trust him like that once more.

She had to place all her faith in him or walk away forever. If she didn't give him this chance, they were through. This was Darius, her childhood friend who'd made her laugh, taught her how to fish in the river, who had come to her with a wounded look in his eyes and humbly asked her to teach him to read.

Darius was bigger, stronger and very male. He could easily overpower her, take her as he pleased. But he'd made a promise and this time, she believed he would follow through.

His hand encircled Sam's waist as he pulled her against him. She suddenly wondered about his fantasies and wanted to know more.

"Did you ever think of me...when you were alone at night? Or in the shower?"

He chuckled, the sound vibrating against her cheek. "My dear Sam, every time I went into the shower, I'd imagine you were there naked with me. I'd stroke myself and then come hard, imagining taking you against the wall as the water streamed over us."

His mouth hot, Darius placed a small kiss on her neck. She squirmed against him, the need suddenly very great. The visual of him in the shower, working his sex, imagining he was loving her as the water beaded down on the thick muscles of his back, made her core clench.

Sam slid her arms around his neck and kissed him fiercely. As their tongues tangled together, he splayed his hands over her breasts and squeezed, flicking his thumbs across her hardened nipples. She melted into the kiss, wanting to melt into him, this wolf who'd pleasured many women but now only wished to please her.

As he angled his mouth over hers, her sex pulsed hard. She felt his erection grow as he pressed his tongue against her mouth, coaxing her to open for him. Darius teased her tongue with skillful thrusts. This savage wolf captured her in his muscled embrace and attacked every raging nerve in her trembling body.

He continued massaging her breasts as his kisses grew more authoritative and demanding. Then he stroked the right side of her neck, tracing her jaw, nearing the place where he'd marked her with his fangs.

He sucked her tongue into his mouth, then lightly bit her lower lip. Sam curled her arms around his neck as he cupped her ass and squeezed. Her breasts tingled as she rubbed their softness against his hard chest. Darius groaned as she writhed against him. Deep inside, her wolf growled, wanting more.

She could have remained here forever with him making love to her mouth. Desire birthed from feminine need nudged aside all fear. She struggled to remember to breathe as her Lupine senses awakened. She felt overwhelmed by the delicious scent of him, the slightly salty taste of his mouth mingling with mint, the feel of his callused palm heating her nape as he cradled it, the sound of her own low moans.

He nuzzled the column of her throat, dropping tiny kisses there and then stroked his tongue over her skin. It felt so good that she shivered, caressing his silky hair, toying his thick, dark curls. Gods, she loved his hair.

Darius pulled away and stared at her, coaxing a flush to her already heated body. Sensual promise lingered in the depths of his eyes, but there was concern as well. Sam knew he would not hurt her. If she gave the word, he'd leave her alone.

Sprouts.

It might kill him, she decided, eying his thick erection, but he would do it.

His hand dropped between her legs and found her wet. As he stroked, kissing her softly, she wriggled in frustration. More.

"You like this, sweetheart?" he murmured.

Sam stroked a line down his muscled backside and squeezed his ass. "Not as much as I want you inside me. Now."

"In time." Very gently, he took her earlobe between his teeth and bit. Darius trailed his mouth over the curve of one breast and then closed tightly over her nipple. His tongue rasped over the peak, flicking and swirling. Then his teeth lightly clasped down as he suckled.

The sweet pressure blossomed and clawed as she wrapped a leg around his lean hip, wanting him closer.

Passion glinted his eyes as he raised his head and regarded her. When his naked body covered her, old fears returned. She squeezed her eyes shut, fearing to see his wolf emerge.

Darius laced his lean fingers through hers. "Open your eyes. I need you to see me, Sam. Only me, your Darius."

She did, gazing into his face. This position was so intimate, so close, she felt vulnerable. His eyes held the darkness of a male ready to take her body, but his mouth, oh his wet, firm mouth, trembled. And then she knew how much this moment meant to him, how much she meant to him.

Connection and bonding. They had shared so much in the past. Sam inhaled his musky, masculine scent and parted her legs wide in full acceptance. The need for him overrode her feelings of fear and vulnerability to this strong male taking not only her body, but her heart as well.

He pushed hard, and slid past her wet, swollen folds deep into her core. Sam sucked in a breath. Darius was big, and the pressure bordered on pain. He lowered his forehead to hers. "Are you all right?" he asked softly.

She nodded.

"If you're not..."

"Do it."

Sam wriggled her hips and he pulled out, then pushed back slowly inside. Each movement brought exquisite friction against her tight, swollen core. Sam finally released the breath she'd been holding.

"It's not the same." She marveled at the feelings, at the tenderness in his gaze twining with fierce passion.

"This is making love."

She wrapped her legs around his lean hips, urging him closer. He smiled down at her, lacing his fingers through hers. Slick with sweat, his hard body slid across hers.

Sam needed more, wanted more.

"Harder," she pleaded. "Faster."

But he kept a slow, gentle rhythm as her tiny interior muscles stretched to accommodate his thick cock. With an impatient sound, she arched upwards, urging him on. His movements took on a new urgency. He increased the pace, surging into her with raging need. Climax lingered out of reach. Darius seemed to understand and adjusted his position, his shaft sliding against her clit, creating excruciating friction. Screaming his name, she shattered, digging her nails into his thick back muscles. Darius threw his head back and groaned, shooting his seed deep inside her. He collapsed atop her, but then rolled to the side, taking her with him.

Entwined like snakes, they lay together, their mingled breaths echoing in the room. Sweat slicked their bodies. Sam opened one eye to see Darius regarding her with a combination of male satisfaction and pride. Filled with joy and mischief, she tugged at his chest hairs.

"Darn. I forgot to say it. Sprouts."

Eyes widening, he muttered a curse. "Seriously?"

"Sprouts. Love sprouts, sprouts, what a wonderful food." She sat up, picked up a pillow and playfully swatted him. "You should eat more greens, wolf."

Giggling, she rolled away, and then squealed as he tickled her ribs. Darius pressed a single kiss to her belly and licked her navel.

"Sprouts," she told him.

A sullen pout pulled his beautiful mouth downward, but he stopped.

Sam laughed and kissed his mouth. He watched as she slid out from the sheets. "I'm taking a shower."

Darius wanted to howl with triumph, but settled for watching Sam. He loved the way her hips swayed as she walked toward the bathroom. Made him hot and hard all over again, as if he hadn't had sex in months. Sam paused at the doorway and cast a coy glance over one shoulder. "Join me?"

Oh yeah. "You get started. I'll be there in a minute."

He glanced ruefully at his groin. "Stay," he admonished. "Don't blow this chance."

But his dick did not listen, only bobbed eagerly.

"Sprouts," Darius told his erection.

He watched it dwindle slightly. "Damn, it works."

Not enough though. He took another swallow of the potion and headed for the bathroom.

The bathroom had a large glass window overlooking the river. The shower was an enclosure of black marble, with twin sprays and a waist-high wall. A shower built for two.

Or three. Before Sam came back into his life, he'd have showered with two or three women, and the shower would turn into sex. Now he only wanted Sam.

Sam stood inside, the spray raining upon her, plastering her long blonde hair to her back. She looked like a Fae caught in the rain, but she was no Fae, his Sam. She possessed a steely core that had survived the loss of her family and had made her way into the world alone. For a moment he stood watching her, wondering if he would have been as strong. Had he not found Aiden and a new purpose with the Mitchell pack, would he have surrendered to the lone wolf's call and turned feral for good?

It was a thought that often haunted him late at night. Darius did not wish to entertain it now. He wanted Sam. Only Sam.

Water beaded on her full breasts, a droplet catching on one coral nipple like a wet diamond. He studied the sweep of her shapely legs, the dark blonde hair covering her genitals, the roundness of her hips. Desire pulsed in his blood, turning it hot and thick. Darius stepped into the shower behind her.

He wrapped his arms around her in a tight embrace, needing the contact. The spray wet his curls, and ran into his eyes. Darius felt the softness of her breasts beneath his forearms, the tempting crevice of her bottom cradling his erection. But sex could wait. He craved the touch now, simply needing to hold her in his arms.

Sam leaned back, raising a hand and caressing his wet cheek. The movement lifted her breasts. He slid a palm up and cupped one, gently flicking his thumb over the tight nipple. Then he lowered his head and kissed her neck and the rounded curve of her shoulder. Darius nuzzled her jaw and then ran his tongue along the sweep of her throat. Her delectable scent of musky arousal and freesia shot straight to his already throbbing groin.

She undulated her hips, grinding against him with an impatient sound. Darius understood and positioned her over the wall, spreading her legs wide for him to take her. He stroked a palm over the inside of her soft thigh, smiling as she wriggled against him. Then he leaned close, licked the curve of her neck again, and grasped her hips.

"Hold on," he murmured.

Darius pushed the slick head of his penis against her wet center. Writhing, she undulated her hips again, the movement driving him into a frenzy. Careful. Easy now.

Her soft, excited cries echoed in the bathroom, mingling with the water padding down upon their wet, naked flesh. He drove deep, shuddering at the ecstatic feel of her tight core stretching to accommodate his size. She was snug against his shaft, squeezing him like a wet fist. Darius withdrew slowly, looking down to watch their bodies join. He felt her vaginal walls pulse as he pressed into her again.

"More, more," she breathed, gripping the wall. "Harder. Please, Darius!"

Smiling tenderly, he bent down and whispered into her ear. "As my lovely Sam commands."

He thrust harder and faster, his cock hammering into her, his heavy sac slapping against her damp thatch.

They climaxed together, shattering, as he shouted her name.

Darius collapsed atop her and then slowly withdrew. After turning off the water, he helped her out of the shower. He toweled her off and when she shivered, fetched her his robe. Only when she was dry and warm did he take a towel and dry himself, enjoying the way her eyes darkened as she watched him.

Sam's eyes gleamed with mischief. "I'm hungry."

"For food, and not for sprouts, I hope." He made an exaggerated sound and clutched his chest. "I can't do a repeat performance. Not for at least another five minutes."

Laughing, they headed downstairs into the kitchen. Darius hunted through the fridge and found a carton of strawberries. Peeling it open, he plucked one out.

"Open wide," he said, running the fruit over her parted lips.

Sam opened her mouth, and he slid the berry inside. She bit hard. Juice exploded in her mouth. She chewed and swallowed and then Darius dropped the carton and kissed her, his tongue licking the inside of her mouth.

Never had she dreamed it could be this wonderful, this exhilarating. Making love with Darius was everything she'd ever dreamed about.

When they came up for air, he slid a hand around her nape. "Gods, I could never get enough of you. You're as sweet as berries, spicy as cinnamon..."

"Sickening as bad poetry," a voice spoke from the darkened living room.

Sam gasped and shrank against Darius, who whirled and put her behind him. "Who's there?"

A lamp clicked on. Fear skidded down her spine and she clutched the lapels of Darius' robe. "Tristan."

Dressed in black, this time wearing a long black velvet cloak, the wizard paced the living room, his dark gaze snapping. "What a lovely scenario. Lupine meets his mate, whispers sweet nothing into her ears." He stopped and whirled, his cloak flowing around him like water. "Do you think that is what mating is, Samantha? Do you?!"