Oriana and the Three Werebears by Tia Fanning

helped her out of the tub, wrapped her hair with one towel, and began drying her off with brusque pats from the other.
    Okay, perhaps she’d been too honest.
    “Don’t be angry, Jack. I understand if you don’t find me sexually attractive. I’m not holding it against it you. I’m a grown-up. I promise I’ll get over it.”
    “I find you very sexually attractive.” He crouched and started drying the lower part of her body.
    She gave his broad shoulder a placating squeeze. “That’s nice of you to say, but don’t feel obligated to spare my feelings. Honestly. I’m okay.”
    He tilted his head up and glared at her.
    The silent message was very clear.
    Yikes!
    Cringing, she bit her lip, then amended, “Thank you for the compliment.”
    “You’re welcome.”
    “I’m sorry.”
    He rose up and threw the towel in the corner. “Stay here,” he ordered, then left the bathroom.
    God, he was so fucking sexy. There was something about his strong-silent-authoritative personality that sent flutters of pure thrill through her blood. It made her want to test him, to push him, to see how far he would allow her to take it, and to see if he would correct her, and if she would defer to him again.
    Removing the towel from around her head, she scolded herself for wanting to be manipulative.
    But oh, the games they could play.
    Jack returned with clothing—her bra and underwear, an unknown tank top and pair of flannel pajama pants. He held them out to her. “You’ll be more comfortable wearing these than the clothes you came here in.”
    She didn’t take the offering.
    “Tell me why you were avoiding me,” she whispered. “And why you are here with me now.”
    A blink. That was the amount of time it took for him to grasp her arms, draw her to him, and seize her lips, capturing her breath of surprise as his tongue swept in and conquered her.
    Trapped within his the confines of his solid arms and hard chest, she yielded to his domination, moaning her acceptance and pressing against him in encouragement. Sensing her surrender, he slowed the assault on her mouth and deepened the kiss, which reignited the wanton flames within her. With her passion still smoldering from the bath, it took only a few seconds for her body to reach critical levels. Her breath labored, her heart pounded, her limbs trembled, her core throbbed.
    Jack abruptly released her and stepped back, his searing gaze raking over her. “That is why,” he said.
    Unfortunately, Oriana ruined his dramatic confession by succumbing to an orgasm so powerful that she crumbled.

Chapter Seven
     
     
    To Jack’s relief, he managed to catch Oriana before she hit the floor.
    Gathering her close, he lowered her down, holding her in his lap while she trembled against him, her hands clutching his shirt, her face buried in his chest.
    Hell, it was only a kiss.
    Yet there she was, falling apart in his arms.
    Jack tightened his hold and nuzzled the top her head, rocking her back and forth while whispering words of comfort and apology. Meanwhile, he tried to sort through the intense emotions rushing through him: fear, astonishment, remorse, pride, lust—just a few among the many.
    Collapsing like that had scared the living fuck out of him.
    He couldn’t believe that a simple kiss had brought her to such a powerful climax.
    He had meant to prove a point, not overwhelm her to the point of unconsciousness.
    But it thrilled him to have so much power over her body.
    And he wanted her more than anything in the world.
    Oriana slid off his lap and kneeled beside him. With one hand grasping his shoulder in support, her other hand jerked open his pants and delved down, her fingers grasping his cock, which throbbed painfully to life under her touch.
    “I want you, Jack,” she panted softly, her breath warm against his ear. “Will you let me?”
    Growling, he fisted the hair at the base of her skull and captured her lips in a fierce, punishing kiss. Because dammit—he was going to let