5 Minutes of Compliance.

Caedes' smirk widened at Mariah's teasing, his eyes gleaming with amusement and a fierce, all-consuming desire. Sure. He was confident. He didn’t need to assure her of that. But it was more than confidence — his need for her was a gnawing obsession that he could never fully sate.

The warmth of her body, the softness of her fur against his battle-hardened exterior — it was intoxicating. A sensation like no other. They were so different, near complete opposites; which may well be the reason he was so drawn to her. Every contrast between them only deepened his fascination. The scent of arousal thickened the air, heady and potent. Guiding her back slowly, the space between them and the bed became smaller and smaller, each step a deliberate dance, a prelude to the inevitable.

Her teasing and laughter only fueled his desire further with every syllable she uttered. ‘What if I did?’ Her voice was a tantalizing blend of mirth and anticipation. Her question, paired with her playful challenge, sent a thrill through him — a grin capturing his lips easily in response. Her silver eyes locked with his, sparkling with excitement. Oh, wicked woman, how she enthralled him.

“If you did,” The scarred brute whispered, his voice low with longing, “Then I suppose I'd have to fulfill your every fantasy, starting with that one.” His words were a promise, laden with the raw, untamed possessiveness he held for her. His mind raced with visions of her, of all the ways he wanted to claim her, to make her his in every possible manner. How much time did they have before someone came looking for the little healer?

As Mariah's fur brushed against his, her steps backward were a tantalizing invitation. Every sway of her hips, how willingly she let him be her guide. His touch grew more commanding, his desire evident in every movement. Burning was his flesh, a hard ache between his legs. His senses were wrought with her — her scent, her touch, her every breath consumed him. He wanted to consume her in return.

When she fell back onto the soft furs, looking up at him with pure, unguarded desire, he felt a profound satisfaction. His emerald eyes darkened with desire as he took in the sight of her, following every curve and angle of her delicate frame. “You are so beautiful.” Reverence incarnate. Towering over her, the dire brute’s shadow danced with the flickering firelight at the other end of the room.

He lowered himself to her, his lips finding hers in a kiss that was both tender and commanding. The wild urgency between them throbbed with a life of its own, urging him to take her as he had many times before. With two massive paws to either side of her head, he was careful not to crush her. Every movement, every touch — a silent proclamation to his deep-seated obsession with her, obsession that burned hotter with each passing moment.