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sent anotherwave of dark fury pounding through him. He’d never broken his word to his warriors before; they would expect him to keep his promise today, and rightly so. Which meant one of his men would expect to claim this woman, his mate, for his own, stripping her, pleasuring her, watching her climax.
    He couldn’t allow that.
    Every instinct he possessed demanded he do something, anything, to prevent it from happening. Yet there was nothing he could do now and he knew it. Eyes narrowing and hands clenching at his sides, he said, “ I will carry her,” an edge of steel to the words.
    Shivawn regarded him silently for a protracted moment, then shrugged, handing her over. “She’s a wild one. Be careful of her legs, for she’ll try to kick your manhood.” The moment his hands were free, Shivawn grasped another woman, a dark-haired beauty who looked less than pleased by the happenings around her.
    Hmm. Very odd. Another unhappy one. What was wrong with these surface females?
    Valerian forgot about her, however, as he gently clasped the moonbeam in his arms. She stilled, delicious little bumps breaking out over her skin. She kept her face away from him and wrapped her hands over her stomach. Unable to resist, he burrowed his nose into her neck, breathing in her fragrance of…snow and wild flowers—yes, that’s what her scent was—relishing the softness of her pale skin.
    â€œDo you smell my scent?” he asked her.
    â€œN-no. Should I?”
    His shoulders slumped with disappointment.
    â€œIf you don’t put me down,” she said stiffly, as ifeach word were forced from her throat, “I’m going to claw out your eyes and eat them in front of you.”
    He chuckled, disappointment forgotten. She had a sweet face and a bloodthirsty nature. What a delicious contradiction. “Why are you not begging for me to pleasure you?”
    â€œAre you kidding me?” she gasped out. “Someone needs to check into Egos Anonymous, I see. Now put me down!”
    â€œYou did not answer my question.”
    â€œAnd I’m not going to. For God’s sake, put me down!”
    â€œI want to hold you. Forever.”
    A muscle ticked in her jaw, but this time she didn’t reply.
    â€œI wish I could give you what you ask,” he said, “but too well do I like where you are.” The side of her body was pressed into his chest, and everywhere their skin touched, he burned. “Perhaps, though, I would be willing to bargain with you. Perhaps you could convince me to grant your request.”
    Finally she cast her glance in his direction. When their gazes met, blue against golden brown, he sucked in a breath. Awareness sizzled inside him, stronger than before. Such beauty. His nostrils flared, and he knew his pupils dilated. His body hardened painfully.
    She gulped, and her already pale skin became pallid. “No bargaining. Just put me down. Or do you and your steroid goon squad plan to rape us?”
    â€œRape?” he asked, unfamiliar with the word. Judging by her tone, it was not favorable. “Explain this rape to me.”
    She did. And in the most disgusted voice he’d ever heard.
    He chuckled again. Unconcerned male pig? Unwilling female? “Sweet moonbeam, how you amuse me. I’ve never forced a woman in my life, and I will never have to. No, when I get you into my bed, you will be desperate for it. Desperate for me.”

CHAPTER FOUR
    W HEN I GET YOU INTO BED , you will be desperate for it. Desperate for me.
    To Shaye, the utter confidence in his voice was more frightening than if he’d screamed the words. As it was, a delicious heat wove through her blood. A heat that begged her to stop resisting and enjoy every stolen touch, every caress of the man’s breath on her skin.
    Never mind that the other women in the tent were petting the warrior as if he were an innocent house cat. Make that an innocent blow-up doll. They