“I want you in my bed every night. I want to take you once, twice, three times a day. I want to shoulder some of the burdens you’ve carried. I want to protect all your kids and teach them. But most of all, I want you to love me.”
She blinked and her eyes filled with tears.
He wanted to pull her into his arms and soothe her, but resisted the urge. She needed to know what she was getting herself into if she accepted him. He did, however, give in to her lure and rub his thumbs over her cheeks. She was so soft, so beautiful.
“Do you think I want to live in the city? I hate the crush of people, the stench and the lack of fresh air to breathe. I live for the woods, the wide-open spaces. Freedom.
“My younger brother, Joshua, is in charge of pack security when the job should have been mine. Want to know why?”
She slowly nodded.
“I had a sister,” he began.
Meredith gave a small cry.
Isaiah nodded. “Hunters got her. Rachel was only fifteen. She was in the woods alone.” He gave a bitter laugh. “I was going for a run and she wanted to go with me. I told her no. I never knew she followed me and got lost. By the time I returned that night the pack was in an uproar. She was gone. That was thirty-five years ago, but I’ve never given up looking for the hunters that took her.” He heaved a sigh of frustration. “For all I know, I’ve killed the sonofabitch who took her. I’ll never know for sure.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” Meredith whispered. She slid her arms around his waist, hugging him to her.
He closed his eyes and savored her touch and the caring behind it even though he didn’t deserve it. Opening his eyes, he pinned her with his dark gaze. “It was my fault and I’ve had to live with that. It’s why I refused to take over as protector of the pack after my father was killed. My family is everything to me. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to keep them safe. I couldn’t put the pack ahead of them.”
He buried the relentless feelings of helplessness and fury that filled him whenever he thought of his baby sister. “But your safety comes ahead of all of them. There is nothing I wouldn’t do to protect you. And since your children are an extension of you, that protection extends to them.
“You asked me what I wanted.” He placed a kiss on her forehead and took a step back. “I want you as my mate. Forever. But even if you say no, I’ll be watching out for you.” The corners of his mouth quirked up. “We’re neighbors. I rented an apartment down the road.”
Meredith didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Isaiah was so brash, so male, so everything. She couldn’t believe he’d rented an apartment in her neighborhood. She’d figured for sure he’d leave the city as soon as his pack business was done, and now he was telling her he was moving in, had already moved in.
The story of his sister tore at her heart. It had happened many years ago, but the anguish tearing at him was as raw as if it had occurred only the day before.
She pulled him closer, unable to let him bear such pain alone. Meredith had a feeling he’d spent too much of his life alone. And for a wolf, that was the worst punishment of all. Pack life was everything.
Her heart was pounding, her blood racing. She hadn’t expected Isaiah to put everything on the line—his heart, his pride, himself. He’d held nothing back. She could only do the same, praying she could be as honest and brave as him.
“I was mated once,” she began. Isaiah tensed, every muscle in his big body rippling. She told him the story of her mating, the way Maxwell had taken her when she was in heat and too weak to refuse him.
His jaw tensed and a nerve pulsed beneath his eye. “I would never do such a thing to you, Meredith. It is your choice.”
She swallowed the lump in her throat and asked the final question she needed an answer to. “What about Hank, Teague, Kevin and Neema? They’ll always be half-breeds.” As much as she loved Isaiah and wanted to be with him, she wouldn’t do anything to put her kids at risk.
Isaiah snorted. “So what? My sister-in-law is a half-breed. All wolf pups are to be protected.”
A huge weight slipped off her shoulders and she laughed. “Just don’t let any of them hear you calling them pups.”
He shrugged. “That’s what they are. They might be a few years past adulthood, but they have a lot to learn.”
She sobered. “That’s my fault. Maybe I’ve protected them too much. Living in the city certainly hasn’t allowed them to explore their werewolf side as much as they should.”
“You have nothing to apologize for.” Isaiah’s expression was fierce as he curled his hands into fists by his sides. “You’ve protected them and loved them. You’re a hell of a female, Meredith.”
Her decision was so easy to make she knew it was the right one. Smiling, she held out her hand to him. “Come with me.”
Chapter Eighteen
Isaiah took her hand and allowed her to lead him away from the bar area toward the back stairs.
Michael passed them on the way, a roll of tape and some butcher paper in his hand.
“Don’t worry about the club. I’ll handle things and start the cleanup.”
“Thank you.” She was so proud of her son. His acceptance of Isaiah and her choice warmed her. She was under no misconception that things would be easy. Isaiah was definitely an alpha male. But her sons needed a male to look up to, to teach them, and Neema needed to see that there were werewolves who would accept and embrace half-breeds.
She still couldn’t believe his sister-in-law was a half-breed. If only she’d known earlier. It would have helped ease some of her fears. No matter. He was here with her now. The threat was behind them and the future loomed before them, more positive than it had been in a long time.
Isaiah’s fingers squeezed hers, the heat of his hand seeping into her skin as she led him up the stairs to her apartment. She could hear the voices of the others, muted as they talked. They all knew Isaiah was here. Michael would have told them.
Meredith pushed open the door of her apartment, pulled Isaiah inside and closed it behind them. The silence was deafening. The refrigerator hummed. A garbage truck rumbled down the street. Isaiah’s breathing was deep and slow.
She started toward the bedroom, but he dug in his heels, stopping her. Turning, she raised her eyebrow in question.
“Give me the words,” he commanded.
He was so big, so tough. His battle-scarred body was a testament to his strength and determination. His dark hair framed his face—the broad forehead, slightly crooked nose and stubborn jaw. His lips were full and sinful and very talented.
A shiver skated down her spine and she licked her lips. His deep brown eyes followed the motion of her tongue, his chest expanding with each breath he took.
He braced his legs slightly apart. The denim of his jeans hugged the thick muscles and curved lovingly around his erection. She wanted to touch him, taste him.
“The words, Meredith,” he growled.
She realized he’d meant what he’d said. It was her choice. Unless she asked him to mate with her, he would walk away.
She felt lighter than she had in years. Like a young female tempting and enticing her chosen mate. And he was her choice. Unlike her first mating, this was about what she wanted.
Isaiah was a male with honor. He was stubborn and possessed a deep streak of protectiveness, which would probably drive her crazy on occasion. But she wouldn’t change anything about him. He was perfect for her just as he was.
“I love you, Isaiah. Mate with me. Share my pack.”
He didn’t move, didn’t twitch. His eyes narrowed and his nostrils flared. Then he pounced. He moved so fast she had no time to react. She was in his arms and he was barreling toward the bedroom.
The door slammed shut and the bed was in front of her. He lowered her, starting to strip off her clothing before her feet had barely hit the floor.
“I’ve got to have you naked,” he gritted out from between clenched teeth. His desperation was infectious, and she jerked
at his shirt. She needed to see his bare flesh.
They both tugged and pulled. Fabric ripped and then the cool air hit her skin. They were both naked from the waist up. Isaiah gave a low growl, dipped his head and captured one of her straining nipples between his lips. His tongue curled around the bud before he suckled.
Meredith moaned, sliding her fingers through his hair, her nails digging into his scalp. The heat from his mouth migrated from her breast to the rest of her body. Her slick inner channel pulsed and cream slid over the folds of her sex, coating her, readying her for his penetration.
It was all happening so fast, yet not fast enough. She trailed her hands down his shoulders, feeling the strength that resided in him. And she knew without a doubt that he’d always use that strength to protect her. It was a heady feeling.
Isaiah scraped his teeth lightly over her nipple before pulling away and blowing on the damp tip. She gasped and shivered. Her body felt alive, sensitized like never before.
If she wasn’t careful, he’d have her facedown on the bed and be mounting her before she got her chance to touch him. Not happening. Not this time.
She stepped back and reached for the waistband of his jeans. Somehow the button had already come undone. She reached for the zipper. The rasp of the metal being lowered seemed unusually loud. Isaiah didn’t stop her, but every muscle in his body tensed as his erection popped free into her waiting hand.
He was thick and large and quintessentially male. Bluish veins ran up and down the length of his shaft, pulsing like a heartbeat. The flared plum-shaped head was much darker, almost reddish in color. A pearly bead of fluid seeped from the tip.
Meredith licked her lips. She had to taste him. She went to her knees in front of him. He growled her name, his fingers tangling in her long hair. He tugged until she was looking up at him.
His penis was mere inches from her mouth.
“You don’t have to do this.” His tone was harsh, but his eyes were gleaming with lust.
She flicked out her tongue and lapped at the liquid leaking from the slit. He was salty and musky and warm. “I know.”
Isaiah groaned as she shoved his jeans down his hips and thighs. He toed off his sneakers and kicked his pants away. Naked, he towered over her.
God, she loved his body. She ran her gaze over him, stopping when she hit the stitches on his thigh. She’d forgotten he’d been shot. How had she forgotten that? Then there was the cut on his chest and the slashes on his shoulder. They were already starting to heal, but were still red and raw.
She must have made a small sound of distress because he took her face in his hands and gently caressed it. “Hey. It’s okay. Just a graze.” He dropped his hands, wrapping one of them around his cock. “This hurts more.”
She laughed and shook her head. He wouldn’t admit if he were hurting or not. “I’ll be gentle,” she promised.
“Not too gentle, I hope.” He smiled at her and her heart almost stopped. He looked relaxed. More than that, he looked happy. She’d given him that.
“Meredith.” She could hear a tinge of frustration in his tone and smiled.
“In a hurry, are you?” She closed her fingers around the base of his shaft and squeezed. The veins pulsed against her palm.
In reply, he tugged her mouth closer to the head of his cock. Meredith teased the tip with her tongue. She lapped and twirled and flicked. He grew larger, his shaft throbbing now.
He swore and brushed the top of his penis against her lips, urging her to hurry. Without warning, she opened her mouth and took him as deep as she could. He groaned, his hips jerking, driving his erection deeper.
She gagged slightly and he eased back immediately. He started to pull away, but she dug her nails into his butt, keeping him where she wanted him. Pulling back, she released him. “I’m okay. Just took me by surprise. It’s been a very long time since I did this.”
His eyes glowed, but he still looked concerned. He smoothed her hair away from her face. “If you’re sure.”
Even now, he was concerned for her. Love burst inside her, shimmering around her like a rainbow, painting the world in a beautiful light.
She leaned forward and took him into her mouth once again. She used her tongue and teeth to tease his shaft as she moved her mouth up and down his hard length.
The skin covering his shaft was so soft. But what was underneath was pure steel. She savored the taste of him. The way the thick hair of his groin tickled her nose and fingers. She kept one hand twined around the base of his penis, pumping in rhythm to the action of her mouth.
Using her free hand, she gently raked her fingernails over his balls. He groaned and tugged on her. “Stop. Meredith,” he gasped. “You have to stop. I want to be inside you when I come.”
She wanted that too. She didn’t want to waste another minute without being mated to Isaiah.
Releasing his shaft with a wet pop, she sat back on her heels. He reached down and dragged her to her feet, all but tossing her onto the bed. She laughed as happiness bubbled over inside her.
Isaiah grinned as he flicked open her jeans and dragged them down her legs. Her right shoe went flying but her left one tangled in the fabric of her pants. He swore and tugged until it came free. She didn’t wait for him, but pulled her panties over her thighs and tossed them away.
“Let me look at you.” The reverence in his voice brought tears to her eyes. He crawled on the bed beside her. His eyes flowed over her, pausing at her breasts and the juncture of her thighs. Her breasts swelled, nipples puckering. Her slick channel spasmed.
“I can smell you. So sweet and hot.”
He cupped her breasts in his hands. His thumbs flicked over the swollen tips sending a flash of heat down between her thighs. She moaned and arched her hips.
His cock stood out proudly in front of him, eagerly proclaiming how much he wanted her. It was a heady feeling.
Isaiah smoothed his hands over her ribcage and around her waist. “You’re so tall, sometimes I forget how much smaller you are than me.” He shifted lower so he could cup her hips. He raked his teeth over her hipbones. Goose bumps broke out all over her body, skating over her legs and arms.
“Isaiah,” she moaned as he knelt between her legs and used his broad shoulders to push them wide.
“Hmm,” he answered. He settled on the mattress, his mouth mere inches from her core. “You have such a sweet pussy.” He lapped at one side of her labia. “So hot.” He licked the other side. “So juicy.” His tongue flicked against her clit.
Her hips rose up to meet him, but he continued to tease her mercilessly. She dug one heel into the mattress, pushing upward. The other foot thumped against his back, urging him to hurry.
As if sensing how close she was, he eased two thick fingers past the opening to her channel and pushed. He stretched her sheath in such a delicious way. Her inner muscles rippled around him as his fingers withdrew and then advanced.
Her scalp tingled and her toes curled. Sweat coated her skin and she panted hard, trying to catch her breath. “Isaiah,” she gasped. She loved saying his name, knowing he would soon belong to her forever.
“Come for me, Meredith.” It was part command, part plea. She couldn’t deny either. Her sheath rippled. Then she exploded with a strangled cry.
Hips bucking, she clung to him. He rode the storm out with her, keeping her safe, bringing her down slowly. When it was over, she sighed and relaxed, letting her body sink into the mattress.
Isaiah, however, had other ideas.
He moved swiftly, flipping her onto her stomach and pulling her hips back toward him. In spite of her resolve, she tensed. Her blood pounded in her ears and her heart raced.
Isaiah stilled. “Meredith?”
This was what she wanted, what she needed. Finding renewed strength with the adrenaline coursing through her veins, she pushed up on her hands and thrust her bottom toward him. “Claim me. Make me yours.”
His hands were gentle as he held her hips. She knew he was
letting her know she could move away at any time. Love for him swelled up within her. Isaiah was a male like no other. Willing to forgo his own pleasure, to give up what he wanted, for her.
The broad head of his penis nudged at her opening. She sucked in a breath as he pushed past the constricted muscles, nestling just inside.
“Please,” she moaned. She had to get him inside her. Her body was crying out for him. Her channel was wet and aching.
His fingers dug into her hips and he surged inward, not stopping until he was buried to the hilt. He stilled and she could hear his heavy breathing. It matched her own.
Her inner muscles gripped his cock, squeezing and releasing it over and over.
He swore. “I’m going to come without even moving.”
Pride filled her. She affected him as deeply as he did her. In this, they were equals. This time she squeezed him on purpose. He leaned down, his large body curling around hers, and nipped the curve of her neck. The slight sting was an erotic caress. She leaned forward, rubbing her swollen nipples against the sheets.
Breathing was getting harder with each passing second, and she didn’t care. Breathing was overrated. The pleasure coursing through her was more necessary, more vital to her.
Isaiah reached around her and cupped her breasts in his hands. Then he began to move. Short, hard jabs that stimulated all the nerve endings in her slick channel.
He seemed to grow larger inside her and she knew he was close. She arched against him, bucking her hips, trying to get closer.
He tugged lightly on her nipples one final time. He banded one arm around her waist and slid the other hand between her thighs, teasing the nub of nerves at the apex.
Meredith whimpered and moaned, crying out as he thrust into her over and over. His fingers stroked her clit. His arm tightened around her, holding her steady while he pounded into her.
She felt him swell, felt the rush of heat. His shaft pulsed. He filled her, stretching her sheath. Throwing back her head, she came in a burst of pleasure. Light flashed behind her eyelids. She splintered apart, her body no longer her own.
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