Warriors of Poseidon 02.5 - Shifter's Lady

stop.”
     
    He instantly pulled back from her, his breathing harsh in the quiet room. “I didn‟t mean to scare you, Marie. I‟m so sorry. Damn, I‟m no better than…Please forgive me.”
     
    She lifted a hand, wanting to touch him, then clasped her hands together to resist the urge. “No, stop. You have nothing for which to apologize. We were both present and willing in that kiss.”
     
    As the heat stained her cheeks, she forced herself to continue, cloaking herself in the protection of knowledge. “It is a normal response to the release of adrenaline in the body. Similar to the fight or flight mechanism. Attraction…magnifies in the face of danger.”
    Ethan lifted one of her long curls into his hand and brought it to his lips, then let it fall back against her breast. “Trust me, beautiful,” he said, voice husky, “there is nothing normal about my reaction to you. And it started way before we faced any danger.”
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    He stood up and stared down at her, then shook his head. “Attraction. Now there‟s a tame word. My insides are going to explode if I don‟t lay you down right here and fuck you until you scream my name.”
     
    Heat shot through her and pooled between her thighs as her body responded to the sheer hunger in his words. “I…I…”
     
    “No. Don‟t say anything. I‟m sorry to be so crude. Pack up your stuff. You‟re coming with me to my place until we can get you back to Atlantis and out of the way of Travis and his blood feud.”
     
    “But—”
     
    He sliced a hand through the air. “You‟re going. I command you to leave my territories while there is danger to you.”
     
    Anger shot through her, but she silently stood to comply with his command. As a visiting Atlantean, she could not jeopardize the treaty between their people by defying a command from the alpha.
     
    He started to turn away, then whirled around and yanked her to him, controlled violence in his movement. “But hear me well, ocean girl. When this is over, you‟re coming back, and we‟re going to explore this thing between us.”
     
    She lifted her head and gave him her iciest glare. “Hear me well, shape-shifter. You do not command the First Maiden of the Nereids. I am not one of your little kittens to be ordered about. You should consider that when you are issuing your various arrogant demands.”
     
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    “No, you‟re definitely not a little kitten. But either you come back, or I‟m coming after you, even if I have to swim the whole damned way. You should consider that.”
     
    With that, he kissed her again, a fierce, claiming kiss that left her senses whirling and her resolve splintered. Then he pulled away from her and strode over to the door, pulling his phone from his pocket as he walked. “The sooner you‟re packed, the sooner you can get away from my arrogant demands, Marie,” he said, and then began snarling orders into the phone.
     
    She stood there, wanting nothing more than to slap his egotistical, superior face.
     
    Wanting nothing more than to kiss his egotistical, superior face.
     
    She did neither but simply turned to retrieve her bag as ordered, accepting the truth behind his words. There was certainly something between them that needed to be explored.
     
    If she had the courage to do so.

EIGHT
    Ethan led Marie through the throng of silent, wary shape-shifters clustered around the entryway to his headquarters and home. He nodded to William, his second-in-command. “My office in ten minutes. Try to reach Kat. Her cell was turned off when I tried. If it‟s still off, track her down.”
     
    Marie lifted her head, the strain of the afternoon evident in her pale and drawn face.
    “She‟s with her…boss, if that helps, planning a meeting for tomorrow.”
    William nodded and headed toward the back of the mansion and Ethan‟s office, opening his phone as he went. Ethan stopped, realizing the necessity of introductions and some Shifter’s Lady – Warriors of Poseidon 2.5

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    sort of explanation. He put his arm around Marie‟s shoulders and scanned the group of his pride members who stared at her; some hostile, some neutral. All curious.
     
    “This is Marie, Bastien‟s sister from Atlantis. She came for a visit and is having the worst damn vacation on record,” he said bluntly. “I‟m sure William has told you that Fallon‟s pride