The strength she'd shown earlier was nothing in comparison to the strength she now used to toss him off her. Scrambling from the bed, she stumbled backwards until she struck the dresser. She sank to the floor and leaned her throbbing shoulder against the solid oak. "Ow! Damn it all to hell and back. You bit me!"

Devlin rose up on one elbow, blinked at her as if trying to focus, and swung off the bed. "Tala, let me explain." His amber eyes slowly gained more brown.

Tala gripped her shoulder, blood oozing onto her hand. "Are you nuts? What do you think you are? Some kind of animal? You bit me!" She grabbed an old T-shirt from the dresser and stuck it on top of the wound.

"You said that twice already."

She scowled at him, his remark stoking the volcano threatening to erupt from within her. If he thinks I'm angry now...

He winced. "I know. I'm sorry. I should've prepared-"

"Get away from me." She attempted to calm the mix of pain, shock and-God help her-lust trying to overwhelm her brain, but couldn't. "Why the hell did you bite me?" Does it really matter? She gave the question a moment's thought. Yeah, the why does matter.

"I didn't mean to. I just got carried away in the moment." Pushing his hair away from his remorseful face, he beseeched her. "Tala, please, listen to me."

He inched nearer until she stuck out a hand to stop him. "Please listen? What next? 'Please let me go for the jugular this time?' Would you like me to lie still while you finish the job?" Keeping her eyes glued on him, she grasped the furniture and hauled herself to her feet. I can't believe it. This guy bit me! Gritting at the pain, she snatched up her robe in the process, and headed for the bathroom.

Devlin started to follow her but she would have none of it. "Oh, no you don't. You stay where you are. Or get the hell out. But don't you dare follow me." She thrust her finger at him in a threatening jab and stalked into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.

Tala fell against the door and tried to catch both her breath and her sanity. What the hell just happened? One minute I'm getting laid and laid good. Okay, laid great. And in the next, I've got teeth in me. Had their rough play gotten out of hand? She crossed over to the sink to stare into the small oval mirror above the basin and frowned at her white complexion. Sure, I've had rough sex before and even a little biting, but this is wild. Too wild. With two fingers, she gently removed the robe and blood-reddened shirt to examine the injured area. Two major holes flanked a row of smaller indentations with similar marks in another semi-circle below. Looks like an animal bit me.

Reaching for a washcloth, she wet the soft cotton under the faucet and gingerly dabbed at the gashes. The sting shot down her shoulder and into her arm. I will not cry. I will not cry.

"Tala? Are you all right? Do you need my help?"

Is he kidding? "Never mind. I'll take care of myself."

Tala continued cleaning the area until the bleeding finally slowed down. She fumbled through her medicine cabinet, located the rubbing alcohol and poured some onto the cloth. Inhaling a long one, she held her breath and placed the alcohol-soaked material on her shoulder. A quick yelp escaped her before she could stop it.

"Tala, please. Let me help you."

She ignored Devlin's knock on the door as well as his words. Tears came to her eyes, and she stuffed the bathrobe's collar into her mouth to stifle her cry. Gripping her robe with all her strength, she waited for the pain to lessen.

"Tala, are you all right? Answer me or I'm going to break down the door."

Oh no, he didn't! She'd thought she was angry before. But the fury boiling over in her now put her previous ire to shame. How dare he threaten me! First, he tears up my car, then he bites me like some caveman-or more like a sabertooth tiger-and now he has the nerve to threaten to break down my door?

"Devlin, back off or I'm going to bite your balls off."