Rae clung to Zander as his kiss turned fierce. Carson was below them, Miles and Ezra somewhere on the boat, and the cabin door was unlocked, but Rae couldn’t seem to care.

Zander kissed her as though he’d never have another chance. His mouth was commanding and at the same time tender. Rae stroked her hands down his back then wormed her fingers under the giving sweatpants to cup his very firm ass.

Zander jumped but Rae didn’t withdraw. His backside was tight and nice and she pressed her fingers into it as she kissed him back.

Zander made an mmph sound in his throat. He lowered Rae to the mattress and shoved the sword out of the way. The sword fell from the bed, rang once as it hit the floor, then went silent.

Rae couldn’t be bothered to see whether it was all right. Zander rose, taking his wonderful heat with him, but not for long. He stripped off his shirt and came down on the bed on top of her, his warmth driving all the bad things away.

Zander slid Rae’s sweater and tank top up her torso, fingers finding the back hooks of her bra. He pressed a hot kiss to her abdomen, pushed the garments up to her shoulders, then took her breast in his mouth.

Rae groaned with the joy of it. She arched to meet him, hands cupping his head. His tongue played on her nipple, his mouth hot and wet, a place of fire.

Rae was lonely and scared, had been terrified by the Graveyard, and was mad as hell at Zander for . . . everything. But, oh Goddess, he knew how to hold her, touch her, make her feel wanted, protected, treasured. He caressed with his hands and mouth, his hunger coming to her. Shifters loved sex—for mating, for comfort, for fun. Never any shame in it.

Zander had no shame at all licking Rae’s breast, thoroughly pleasuring it before he moved to its twin. He closed his teeth over the nipple, tugging, and the tiny dart of pain seared her with liquid heat.

Rae felt pliable and open. She wanted this man inside her with a mindlessness that would be alarming if she cared about such things right now.

Rae closed her legs around Zander’s hips, urging him down. His sweatpants weren’t thick enough to hide how rigid his cock was, the beautiful length of it pressing hard on her between her legs. He wanted to be inside her as much as she needed him there.

Zander lifted his mouth from her nipple, taking away the lovely warmth, but he cupped her breasts in his big hands as he dipped his head to kiss her lips.

Yes . . . Rae planted her feet on his thighs, pulling him onto her. His full cock slid along her opening under her jeans, the friction hot and exciting.

Zander planted his hands on either side of her head and dragged his mouth from hers. “No,” he said hoarsely.

“Yes,” Rae answered. The sound that came out of her throat sounded like a purr but she was a wolf. Must be a growl. She wrapped her entire body around his, rubbing against his cock, unable to stop herself.

“No.” The word was firmer this time, though heavy with regret.

“Yes,” Rae repeated. She pulled Zander closer, kissing him hard before he could speak again.

He groaned in his throat as he came down to her, the silken ropes of his braids touching her skin. His mouth was hot as he kissed her in need and desperation, and Rae just as desperately kissed him back.

Zander tore his mouth from hers again, his breath coming fast. “Goddess, Little Wolf, you’re gonna kill me.”

“Then we’ll die happy,” Rae said, smiling.

Zander growled, the note in it ferocious. “If I start with you, sweetheart, I won’t be able to stop myself. I’ll keep going no matter what. If the ship goes down, I’ll be too busy to care.”

“Me too.” Rae’s chest felt heavy, her nerves buzzing. “We almost died, Zander. We should celebrate.”

“No kidding. We will.” Zander’s eyes were alight with the same fire running through her. “We will, but later. Hell, I’d be in here with you until the boat ran aground and I still wouldn’t want to leave. Carson will get free, come in here, and shoot us both.”

Rae tried to tell herself Zander was right. They had to remain vigilant—they weren’t safe yet. Carson wasn’t stupid. He’d find a way to take over again if they didn’t watch out.

Rae’s body, heart, and desire had other ideas. If they were in so much danger, if Shifter Bureau might be waiting for them wherever they docked, then Rae needed to be with Zander as much as she could right now. This might be their only chance.

She reached for him, but Zander pinned her arms above her head. Not bad. Rae wriggled against him.

“Mating frenzy,” Zander said, his voice harsh. “It’s crushing us.”

“You think?” Rae tried to free her hands but Zander was too strong. Only made her position more enticing.

Zander went on, his dark eyes full of heat. “We escaped certain death, the damned sword is flaring all kinds of magic at us, and our mating instincts are running amok. True frenzy. We want to lock our bodies together and not come up for weeks.”

“I know.” Rae arched, using his weight on her wrists to send her hips up to his. “I’m not hating it.”

Zander growled a laugh. “Neither am I, Little Wolf.” He removed his powerful grip to touch her lower lip. Rae smiled and bit his finger.

Zander’s face darkened. “Oh Goddess. We’re so screwed.”

“Just hold me,” Rae said. “I need that at least.”

Zander shook his head, his eyes closing in pain. “No, I’m fighting this. I have to.”

Rae desperately cupped his face with her free hand but Zander jerked away.

“No,” he said firmly. He opened his eyes, a light in them that broadcast his strength, his drive, and his bear-strong stubbornness. “Only one way we’re going to fix this. Even if it’s temporary.”

He dragged Rae up and off the bed. Rae came readily, hoping he meant they’d find somewhere more private to work off their longing.

Zander shoved Rae’s tank top and sweater down to cover her breasts and pulled her into the hall. The boat rocked in the heavy sea, the passageway listing back and forth. Zander carefully towed Rae down the hallway and opened a door.

Inside was a bathroom, one obviously designed for men. Two urinals decorated the wall on one side and the other held two showerheads and a drain. There was a short tile partition between the showers but no curtains or any other screen in front of them. Sailors had to get used to little privacy, she supposed.