by T. S. Ryder
Self-conscious, Clara hid her face in her hands, shuddering as he reached up and gently pried them away from her face.
“I want to see you,” he breathed, leaning in and sliding their lips together sweetly while his hips slowly ground against her own.
Nipping at her lip with a growl, the scent that had been driving Clara mad seemed to increase, leaving her hips bucking up to meet his own. Chuckling huskily at her plaintive cry, Nate slipped his fingers between her legs and slowly slid down her panties. Tossing them aside, he growled playfully, sliding down between her legs as she keened.
She had never felt so out of control in a situation, her entire body welcoming every touch he provided her with. Gasping when her legs were lifted onto his shoulders, Clara let her head loll back. The sensation that the mark on her arm was sending through her body was leaving her legs quivering, her body opening up to his advances eagerly.
“I want you,” she begged, gasping when he let a long finger slide between her folds and gently tease at her clit. Whimpering as she arched her back, she was stunned to feel an orgasm roll through her body at the gentle touch. Gasping in surprise at the sudden feeling, she curled her toes and whined lowly.
“One thing that I forgot to mention was that the marks allow us to arouse our partner just being in their presence. I suppose you’ve noticed that,” Nate chuckled heatedly, mouthing at her throat and chuckling when she bucked her hips down against his gently moving finger.
Sitting back a bit so that he could slide out of his own pants, Clara felt her heart flutter in her chest when she finally caught sight of his length. He was far larger than any of the partners she had had in the past, and the idea of him being inside of her left her entire body quivering with need.
“I told you it was nothing to worry about,” he winked, leaning down to kiss her as he slipped his fingers between her legs again. Gently slipping a finger inside of her, he let another wave of the scent roll between them, leaving her arching her back in delight.
“Ah! Nate!” she groaned, biting down on his seamless shoulder, marveling at the way the sparks traveled across his beautiful body. Trembling lightly when Nate slipped a second finger alongside the first, rubbing lightly at the bundle of nerves inside of her that left her arching towards his touch, Clara let out a delighted cry.
“Your body is so ready for me. I don’t even need to stretch you out, do I?” Nate smirked, his free hand sliding over one of her hips with a grin and rubbing at the soft skin there. Obviously relishing at the way she squirmed and gasped beneath him, he leaned down and slid his tongue over one of the nubs on her chest, his teeth sliding over the nipple slowly.
Wrapping her arms around his shoulders, Clara marveled at the contrast of their bodies, her soft skin pressed against his muscular chest. Gasping when his fingers slid out of her, she whined lowly as he leveled the tip of his throbbing erection at her opening.
“Ready for me, love?” he breathed in her ear, smirking when she nodded eagerly. Trembling as he slowly pressed inside of her, she gasped at the sensation of every inch of her being filled. Biting down on his shoulder once more to keep from screaming, she wrapped her legs around his strong waist, gasping as he pressed into her until his hips pressed firmly against her backside.
“Nate, you’re s-so big!” she gasped desperately, her entire body quivering around his shaft as he rolled his hips forward slowly. Letting out a delighted gasp as he gradually started to pick up speed, Clara clung onto his broad shoulders, letting her nails drag over his back eagerly.
The sound of their breaths tangling together and the slap of skin on skin in the otherwise silent room left Clara writhing under her lover.
“Nate!” she cried, her eyes rolling back in her head and her mouth falling open with a gasp. Whimpering when he slid their lips together, their tongues sliding together in a battle for dominance, Clara felt her body twitching around his massive length.
She had never felt this way while making love to a man before. Her entire body felt as though it were on fire, and her hips jerked up to meet his thrusts with a need she could barely contain. Whimpering desperately as Nate held her in place, she let out a desperate keen and bit down on his shoulder, finding her climax with a muffled scream.
Above her, Nate groaned, his hips snapping forward into her once more before he too found his release, filling her to the brim as he held her in place. Groaning softly, he pressed his face to her chest, his breathing heavy as Clara clung onto his shoulders desperately.
Curled up in each other’s arms, they both started to doze. Nate groggily slid out of her before pulling her against his chest with a yawn. Too tired to protest the mess he had left, Clara pressed against his chest with a moan, falling asleep in his arms without another word.
Chapter Five
After a few weeks, Clara wasn’t sure how to explain her relationship with Nate. She had woken up the next morning to Nate cleaning her off gently with a soft warm cloth, his eyes soft and adoring. They had exchanged gentle kisses and a warm shower, but as soon as they entered the workplace they became two separate people again.
He explained to her that as much as he wanted to show affection to her during the day, the last thing he wanted was for her to end up with a bad reputation because of him. They could have each other in their free time and at night, but during the day they weren’t lovers. They were employee and employer, and Clara was happy about this.
Things were going great until she started feeling nauseous in the mornings. After waking up and rushing to the bathroom immediately for a week straight, she shook off the idea of food poisoning or a stomach bug and quickly realized that they might have a far more severe problem on their plates.
She was pregnant, and she had no idea how she was going to tell Nate.
Sitting at her desk with her head in her hands, Clara groaned as she glared down at the decaf tea sitting on her desk, wishing desperately that she could have coffee or at least something with caffeine with it. She had a headache that could split a board and her stomach felt as though it was attempting to escape her body through her esophagus.
“You don’t seem to be feeling well this morning,” a voice hummed behind her, earning a grimace from Clara as she looked up. Her supervisor, Jeremy, was eyeing her slowly as he tapped a pencil on his clipboard. “Late night?” he asked, raising an eyebrow at the cup of tea on her desk. “I could get you something with some caffeine if you’d like. It might help.” He grinned, his eyes flashing as if he knew.
She had never liked Jeremy. He was aloof and incredibly self-important. He had never liked her either but had never had an excuse to get rid of her. She was good at her job and close to the boss, and as his personal assistant, this seemed to infuriate him.
“No thank you,” she grumbled, forcing a smile onto her lips as she looked up at him. “I’m trying to cut caffeine out of my diet. Healthier for you.” She shrugged, her hand unconsciously fluttering to her stomach when she saw the irritated look on his face.
“Ah, I see. Good for you. I understand how difficult it is to give up one of your vices,” he rumbled, his pale eyes flickering towards Nate’s office before returning to Clara’s face. “Who knows, maybe you’ll be able to let this one go?” He smirked, turning and walking towards Nate’s door as it swung open.
“There you are, Jeremy. Would you mind running these files down to the first floor for me?” Nate asked, handing the man a stack of files before moving over to Clara.
Clara couldn’t help but notice the glare that Jeremy sent their way, her already unhappy stomach clenching at the near murderous look in his eyes. She knew that the man hated her, but she wasn’t sure why he had suddenly got so violent.
“Clara, I got your memo.” Nate smiled, meaning the text that she had sent him saying that they needed to meet up. “Would you like to get lunch and discuss it now?” he asked with a raised eyebrow, resting against her desk with a carefree smile.
“I don’t think I’ll be
able to eat, but I do need to discuss this, so yes.” She nodded, moving to her feet and snagging her purse. “C’mon, let’s go,” she whispered to him, ignoring the worried look in her lover’s eyes as he followed her into the elevator.
“Is everything alright?” he asked, once they were alone in the small space, his hand reaching out to rest on her cheek, his thumb brushing over her warm cheek gently. Pressing against his warm palm, she hummed softly, reaching up to clutch at his hand gently.
“Everything is fine,” she mumbled. “I just have something I need to tell you that’s very important and potentially life changing.” She sighed as he pulled back before the doors opened. Nate looked back at her with a worried expression on his face but said nothing to push the matter.
The diner that they selected to eat at to be alone was a bit further away than anyone would normally travel to lunch, but it was quiet, and Clara enjoyed everything on the menu. Sitting across from her lover with a sigh, she smiled when Nate’s hand gently took her own and his lips pressed against her knuckles gently.
“Tell me what’s going on that is so life changing,” Nate ordered, his soft eyes locking onto her own with a concerned look on his features. Sighing softly, Clara lightly squeezed her lover’s fingers and ran her fingers through her hair slowly.
“Nate, I’m pregnant,” she mumbled, looking up at the other through her lashes to catch the change of expression on her lover’s face.
It seemed to take a moment for him to realize exactly what she was saying. His face was frozen in a sort of dazed expression, his mouth hanging open while he fought for the words he needed to say right then. Reaching out to touch his hand, she smiled when she seemed to draw him out of his daze, his eyes fluttering up to meet hers while a smile formed on his face.
“Sweetie, that's great!” He laughed, a beaming smile forming on his lips as he took her hands in his. “This is amazing! I mean, this changes a few things, of course, we’re going to have to announce our relationship to the company, but we can figure out the logistics and such later!” He grinned, earning a laugh from Clara as she rolled her eyes.
“I’ve been applying at a few other corporations so we don’t have to worry too much about a scandal,” she explained, laughing when he leaned across the table to kiss her on the lips.
“We can figure all of this out once you get off maternity leave,” he insisted, squeezing her fingers with an adoring look on his face. “I just hope that the baby has your looks.” He grinned, pressing a kiss to her button nose and earning a soft hum from his lover.
“I’m just going to be happy if it comes out with all its toes and fingers,” she grinned, leaning back with a relieved sigh when he continued to all but bounce in his seat with excitement. “Why did I think you were going to be upset?” she asked, earning a laugh from the man.
“Not a clue! I love children! I just wish we could have gotten married first,” he lamented, earning a snort from Clara.
“No marriage until this thing is out of me. The last thing I want to do is try to fit a baby bump into a wedding dress,” she insisted, earning a shrug from Nate, who leaned in and kissed her once more.
“You’re my mate. The marriage is just for the press.” He winked, cupping her cheek in his palm. “I promise everything is going to be just fine, my love,” he whispered, rubbing circles on her cheek before pulling back with a sigh. “Now, what are we going to order?” he asked, lifting up the menu.
Chapter Six
Clara’s hope that Nate would be able to take her home after work was quickly destroyed when she realized after their lunch that the man had meetings that were going to run late. At least, she figured, she would be able to take a shower and relax before the alpha returned home.
Pulling into the garage of Nate’s home a few minutes after leaving work, she slid out of her Elantra and locked it behind her. She hated coming home by herself. She could never shake the feeling that someone was watching her. That someone else was there.
Pulling her jacket a little further around her shoulders, Clara pushed open the door and slid inside, locking it behind her. Letting out a sigh of relief as she flipped on the lights in the hallway, she moved into their room and settled her purse on the bed.
Sliding out of her heels and pantsuit, she pulled on a lacy nightgown and a robe before moving into the kitchen. She hoped that Nate was ok with take out because she certainly wasn’t feeling like cooking that evening. Nate was usually the cook, and he was pretty good at it. She had a tendency to burn whatever she put in a pan.
“Chinese or pizza…” she mumbled, wondering if she could have Nate swing by and pick up something at another restaurant so she had a broader range of choices. Lifting her cellphone out of her pocket, she felt a shriek fall from her lips as a hand caught her wrist.
Kicking and attempting to spin around, she screamed as a hand clamped over her mouth and her body was hefted up into the air by a pair of powerful arms. Kicking and screeching into the hand over her mouth, she let out a sob as she was forced down onto a chair. She felt the man holding her down snap something around her wrists and attach them to the chair arm.
“Stop!” she wailed, kicking her legs furiously as the man shoved a gag into her mouth, her eyes huge when she looked up into the eyes of her assailant.
“Oh hush now, Ms. Maddison,” Jeremy grinned, kneeling beside her and attaching her kicking legs to the chair legs with a chuckle. “There’s no need for these theatrics!” he hummed, earning a terrified noise from the woman as he eyed her slowly. “Honestly, struggling is just going to wind up hurting your fragile little body, or worse! The poor baby!”
Clara looked up at the man with a terrified look in her eyes, her body quivering as she looked down at her stomach. How did he know that she was pregnant? She hadn’t told anyone but Nate, and that had only been earlier that day! Trembling as she watched the man circle her, she let out a terrified noise when she saw his fingertips shift into familiar claws, her eyes going wide with terror when his claw slid over her cheek slowly.
“Hush now, don’t cry dear,” Jeremy hummed, his eyes flickering over her form with a hungry look in his eyes. “You know I didn’t have a problem with you until you started sticking your nose where it didn’t belong,” he spat, his eyes flashing murderously. “Nathaniel, he’s a fantastic alpha, but he can’t keep his damn head out of the clouds! If he had just listened to me and dropped you when I told him to, we wouldn’t be in this mess!” he explained, earning a confused and mortified look from the woman.
Straining against the handcuffs attaching her to the sturdy wood of the chair frame, she let out a squeak when Jeremy slapped her across the face, her breath hitching in her throat as a muffled sob fell from her lips.
“You see, Clara, he’s not just risking his own reputation by dating a pretty little upstart like yourself, he’s risking the security of the pack!” Jeremy pointed out, his eyes changing from pale blue into something dangerous, the irises a poisonous yellow. “I have been his second in command for years, and I will not let you ruin this pack! I will not let that parasite inside of you risk everything that our people have worked for in this god forsaken company!” he snarled, grabbing her jaw and forcing her to look up at him,
“You understand that this isn’t personal, of course?” he hummed, his nails digging into her chin painfully as she let out a weak noise of protest. “I’ve been keeping an eye on you for weeks, and I was hoping you would wise up and leave the bastard, but when I realized that you were pregnant? Oh, sweetheart, you didn’t leave me much of a choice!” He laughed, lightly patting her cheek before moving over to the counter and lifting up a nasty looking blade.
Letting out a strangled noise, Clara shook her head and attempted to get her leg free, trembling as he twirled the blade in his hand nonchalantly. This man was going to kill her. He was going to kill her and her unborn child and Nate was never going to know.
“Don’t worry, I’ll make it painless. No re
ason to make you suffer for my dear Nathaniel’s mistakes, hmm?” He chuckled, moving closer and trailing the blade over her shoulder slowly, slicing through the silky fabric of her robe easily to reveal the bloodless skin beneath. “It’ll be quick! Just like ripping off a band-“ He cut off with a roar of pain when her foot broke free from the binding, slamming into his groin and sending her falling backward with a cry.
Gasping as she writhed on the floor, she desperately fought to break free. The chair arm had snapped off from the back when she landed, and with her free hand, she tore desperately at the straps on her other wrist. Looking up as Jeremy lurched forward, she gasped, slapping his hand away from her and kicking upwards with a muffled shriek.
“You bitch!” he roared, attempting to get ahold of her as she writhed and thrashed away from him. She was not going down without a fight.
Gasping when he grabbed onto her hair, she yelped and felt her head lurch back. Kicking out with a cry, she managed to kick the blade away, grimacing when the blade cut into the pad of her foot in the process.
Panting and livid, Jeremy let out a snarl as he grabbed onto her throat. Lifting her up, he slammed her and what was remaining of the chair against the wall.
“Fine. I’ll do this the hard way then,” he snarled, his nails digging into her throat as she gagged and thrashed in his hold. Her vision swimming, Clara desperately clawed at his hand, her body going numb as she started losing consciousness.
Air rushed into her lungs a moment later. Landing on the ground with a painful thud, she looked up blearily as Jeremy went flying backward, her breath rasping and weak as she clutched at her throat. Coughing, she rolled over onto her side with a moan and felt hope swell in her chest as she saw Nate looming over a startled-looking Jeremy.
“How dare you touch her? She is my mate, you backstabbing whelp!” Nate roared as he threw Jeremy into the table, his eyes flashing as he shifted into his wolf form with a shudder. Dominant and stunning, his massive form loomed over Jeremy with a snarl that sent shudders down Clara’s spine.
