The Alpha's Promise

by Renee Rose

  “I had a trauma last year. Some enemies of Ben kidnapped me to blackmail my sister into ruining him. Jeremy was part of it all—I owe him my life.”

  Cody had stiffened at the mention of Jeremy, but he didn’t speak.

  “I had nightmares for a while. When I saw a therapist, we worked on forgiveness. The guys who kidnapped me are dead, so there wasn’t a question of justice needing to be served. The therapist thought if I could forgive everyone involved, it might free me from…” She trailed off.

  Cody turned and propped himself up on an elbow. “From what?”

  Her nose burned. She didn’t want to cry—not tonight. Not now. “From feeling like a victim. Feeling powerless.”

  Cody remained very still, his brows knit. “Did it help?”

  She nodded. “Yeah. I think so.”

  “I hope… Jesus.” Cody rubbed his face. “Please tell me I didn’t make you feel that way.” The stricken look on his face turned her insides to a warm goo.

  She touched his face. “Not once. I felt strong and sassy arguing with you. And turned on. Mostly, I felt turned on.” She dropped her eyes, suddenly shy.

  Cody’s grin warmed his face. He grasped her jaw in a commanding way and pulled her face toward his. “I think you know the feeling’s mutual, baby,” he growled before attacking her mouth.

  Chapter Ten

  Cody didn’t think he’d sleep lying beside Melissa, knowing she was panty-less beneath his threadbare t-shirt, but he woke to her climbing out of the bed.

  He reached for her automatically. His body didn’t want to be separated from hers.

  “I’ll be right back.” Her smile was sweet and soft. He loved this side of her, almost as he loved the feisty, back-talking girl he’d first met.

  She padded to the bathroom, then returned with the rope in her hands.

  “You want me to tie you up again?” he teased, interlacing his fingers behind his head as he lay on his back.

  She wore a playful expression, one he hadn’t seen on her before and he definitely liked it. She crawled up over him. “I’m going to tie you up.”

  He shook his head. “Sorry, baby. Not going to happen. Not now, not ever. I’m the one in charge around here.”

  She seemed prepared for that answer, only half-listening as she unbuttoned his jeans and slid the zipper down. His cock, perpetually hard around her, sprang out.

  “That’s too bad,” she purred, taking his cock in her delicate hand and closing her fingers around the base. “Because I was going to suck you off. But not if you’re in danger of losing control…” She batted her eyelashes.

  His thighs gripped from the pleasure of her touch and he groaned. Yeah, he wanted the blowjob. And yeah, he was in danger of losing control. But he doubted a little rope would hold him if it came down to it. He closed his eyes, shoving the wolf back down and drawing several cleansing breaths.

  “Okay. Do it,” he rasped and offered his wrists up to her. “I hope you know how to tie a good knot, baby, or you’re going to get fucked into the next galaxy.”

  Her breath shuddered in, hands trembled as she looped the rope around his wrists. She tied a simple knot, then stopped and undid it. “Actually, I don’t know my knots at all. I’d make a terrible boy scout.”

  She was so damn cute. He smiled and shook the loops of rope off and formed a quick pair of rope cuffs. “Hold these.” When she did, he shoved his big hands through the loops. “Now pull the loose end until they’re tight. That’s it. Now attach the end to the headboard.”

  “I should’ve known you’d be bossy even when you’re getting tied up.”

  He flashed a wicked grin. “Believe it, baby. I’m always in charge, whether my wrists are wrapped in rope or not.”

  She smiled sweetly. “We’ll see.”

  He suspected, then, he was a goner. He was sure of it when she peeled off the nightshirt and gave him the mouthwatering view of her perky breasts with their hardened peach nipples.

  “Squeeze your nipples,” he rasped, cock straining, eyes glued to the hardened peaks.

  She hesitated, as if debating whether she was going to take orders from him when she’d clearly been attempting to take the lead, but it seemed what he’d been suspecting about her was true—she liked to serve. Submission and surrender were natural for her, even if she thought she had to fight them.

  She slid her small hands up her sides to squeeze her breasts.

  “Pinch them.” He sounded desperate.

  She moistened her lips as she obeyed and he groaned, rolling his hips. The rope actually helped because when he yanked at his hands, the bite into his skin reminded him why he was bound.

  “Lick one. Can you? Can you suck it?” Watching a woman suck anything turned him on, and there was something so dirty about her sucking herself.

  Melissa cupped her breast and lifted it toward her mouth, extending her glorious pink tongue to circle her nipple, then suck it into her mouth.

  “Oh, Jesus-fuck!”

  She straddled his legs and lowered her mouth to his cock, her eyes glued on his face. There was something so erotic about the move—the fact that she was watching his face, his reaction so closely made it vastly more intimate. So sexy.

  His hips thrust forward the moment her lips landed on the head of his cock and when she licked around the rim, he yanked the ropes so hard the bed frame groaned. He hoped the rope broke before the bed, because he’d carved it himself.

  She took him deep in her throat.

  Forget that—he didn’t care which broke first, so long as it broke immediately. His eyes had changed color, need burned hot in his belly. The room spun and blurred, his awareness only on his straining erection and her hot, wet mouth.

  The rope broke.

  Dimly, he registered Melissa’s shocked face, but the scent of her arousal filled his nostrils, the intoxication complete. He lunged forward and picked her up by the waist, arranging her on all fours and shoving her chest to the bed so her ass remained in the air. The rope still wound around his wrists, torn ends flapping as he gripped her hips and shoved balls deep into her delicious heat.

  “Cody!” She sounded alarmed, but it only excited him. “Condom! You forgot a condom,” she gasped.

  He swore loudly. It came out more like a roar of anger, but he forced himself out of her, yanked the entire bedside drawer out and grabbed a foil packet. His teeth clamped down on it and he tore it open and sheathed his length.

  Melissa, his beautiful mate, remained in the position he’d put her, waiting. She wanted this. That knowledge fueled his lust even hotter. His sense marginally returned, he reached around her hips and stroked her slit. “You’re so fucking wet for me,” he growled in approval, “You’re always wet for me, aren’t you?”

  He slapped her clit.

  “Yes,” she gasped.

  “Were you this wet for him?” He shouldn’t have asked it, didn’t mean to bring her fucking ex into the space between them, but now that he’d said it, he needed to know.

  “No—never.” Her husky voice answered immediately, without hesitation, and his inner wolf did the moonwalk around the bedroom.

  He slapped her clit again. “Are you going to let me fuck you?” It was a little late to ask permission but now that his mind had returned, he needed to be sure she wasn’t afraid of him.

  “Cody, now. I need you now.”

  He pushed into her and his senses exploded. Time disappeared. He fucked her hard and fast, holding her hips to brace them for his pounding thrusts. He wanted it to last forever and he needed it to end as soon as possible. The room bled to white as cum shot down his shaft. He buried himself deep and came with a shudder.

  * * *

  Melissa’s internal muscles spasmed and squeezed around Cody in waves and lights shot in front of her eyes like a meteor shower. Cody pulled out and flipped her onto her back, as if she weighed nothing.

  His inhuman appearance made her scream. His eyes were pale blue and his canine teeth had elongated i
nto sharp points. He surged over her.

  To mark her.

  She started to scramble back, to run, but remembered his warning from their first night together.

  Never run from an aroused wolf. Especially not an alpha.

  Instead, she blocked him, planting her foot in his belly and bracing her leg. “Cody,” she begged, hoping he’d find control.

  His hand found her foot and he gripped it, looking down and frowning. His eyes shot to hers and locked there. He drew two deep breaths and his irises changed back to gray, the fangs disappeared.

  As if nothing had happened, he dropped beside her on the bed, gathered her in his arms and kissed her temple and her hair.

  Relief mingled with something more complex—the intensity of how much she loved being on the receiving end of Cody’s affection—and her eyes filled with tears.

  Cody stiffened beside her, even though there was no way he’d seen them—his face had been buried in her hair. His head jerked up and he stared at her as she blinked back the water.

  “Did I hurt you?” he whispered hoarsely, brows drawn low.

  She shook her head and pulled him down for a kiss.

  He returned it, lips moving softly over hers, nipping her lower lip as he pulled away. “I smelled your tears.” He wouldn’t drop it. “I’m sorry.” He rested a hand on her waist and propped himself up on one hand, gazing down at her. “I scared you, didn’t I?”

  “No, I’m okay. You scared me a bit. It hurt, but in a good way.” Oh, hell, was she blushing? It was true, her pussy felt completely pummeled, her internal wall battered, but she loved the well-used feel. Orgasmic bliss still flowed through her limbs.

  He unwound the busted ends of rope that still hung from his wrists, as if just becoming aware enough of his appendages to notice them.

  “Are you hungry, baby? I know this amazing little store with the best cinnamon rolls you’ve ever tasted.”

  She beamed at him. This Cody—the gentle, considerate one, blew her mind. Was this really the same crude, dirty-talking stooge? She watched his tattooed muscles flex as he climbed off the bed and pulled on his clothes. Yes, it was the same guy. And if she was honest, she’d admit she freaking loved the dirty talk. Especially since he backed it up with the hottest action she’d ever had. Whipping included.

  She hopped out of bed. “I’ll just take a quick shower.”

  He looked over his shoulder and then stilled, eyelids dropping to half mast, expression turning hungry once more. “Don’t come out without clothes on,” he warned.

  Her laughter turned into a shriek when he fake-lunged for her.

  “I mean it. I’ll keep you tied to that bed all day long, baby,” he called after her.

  She caught sight of herself in the bathroom mirror and stopped, seeing her reflection through new eyes. Her cheeks were flushed with excitement. Her body, while nothing she’d ever considered that special, still showed the marks of his possession—the finger bruises on her hips, the raspberry lines on her inner thighs and ass from the belt the night before. The memory of that whipping sent flutters of excitement twittering in her belly. Had he really used his belt on her pussy?

  She’d always been one to enjoy sex—her sister had called her a serial dater before Jeremy, but Cody made her feel desirable, like an absolute sex goddess.

  She took a quick shower and dressed in the change of clothes she’d packed in Cody’s saddlebag. Not finding a hair dryer, she didn’t bother asking Cody, knowing he’d only mock her.

  “Ready, beautiful girl?” Cody had cleaned the place and packed their things. He handed her the motorcycle helmet.

  There went her hair. She took it without comment. Cody held his leather jacket out for her to put on. She couldn’t help the way her eyebrows shot up in surprise before she accepted his help.

  “Yeah, I know. I didn’t think I had it in me, either.”

  Did he sound a little embarrassed?

  She slid on the bike behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist. The ride up the mountain yesterday had been harrowing. She’d had a feeling Cody had driven the Ducati fast and loose on purpose, to shake her up. Today, he showed restraint, easing into speed, not leaning the bike as much around the bends.

  They wound around unmarked mountain roads, up and down hills until they reached a little hole in the wall market, tucked into a hill in the middle of nowhere. A stump of wood carved into a bear stood near the doorway.

  She pulled her helmet off and finger combed her hair. An elderly couple greeted them when they came in, and Cody headed straight to the counter to order two cinnamon rolls. He grabbed a small carton of milk from the dairy case and paid for everything at the old-fashioned register.

  He led her back outside. There wasn’t anywhere to sit, so he stood while she perched on the motorcycle seat. Cody pulled one of the breakfast rolls out of the paper bag and held it up to her mouth.

  It was enormous—far too big to fit in her mouth—so cream cheese frosting coated her lips when she attempted a bite.

  Amusement crinkled Cody’s eyes, but the way he stared at her lips sent heat curling between her legs. He didn’t eat himself, seeming interested only in feeding her.

  “You’re right. These are the best cinnamon buns I’ve ever had.”

  “Say it again,” he teased.

  “Cinnamon?” She feigned innocence.

  He stepped closer and stroked a hand up the back of her neck. “Say it, baby.”

  Somehow, the simple joke became sexual. His thumb stroked over her lower lip.

  She took it in her mouth and sucked, hard.

  Cody groaned, looking as if he was in pain.

  “You’re right,” she whispered, knowing she’d turned the tables on him.

  He closed his eyes, as if gathering control, then opened the carton of milk and chugged it all down.

  She fished the burner phone out of her purse and checked for reception.

  Cody frowned. “Who do you need to call?”

  “My boss. To tell him I can’t come into work tonight.” When his lip curled in disbelief, she explained, “At the nightclub where I bartend.”

  Shock sent Cody’s eyebrows flying to his hairline. “You bartend?” Disbelief rang in his tone.

  She punched the keys with her thumb. “Yeah. I’ve been working there since I was eighteen. I thought I’d be able to quit when I became a real estate agent, but I don’t make enough yet.” She shrugged as Cody frowned.

  Harry, her boss, didn’t pick up, so she left a message about her mom being sick and hung up.

  “You bartend?” He still seemed surprised.

  “What? You think I don’t know about hard work? I’ve been supporting myself since I went to college. It’s good money. Pays the rent, because Lord knows, Jeremy never did.”

  Cody’s scowl had returned in full force. “What did you see in that guy?”

  She shrugged and looked away, not wanting to get into it with him.

  “No, really.” He grasped her jaw and turned her face to his. “Tell me what you saw in him. I need to know.”

  She nibbled her lower lip. “Remember I told you about being kidnapped last year?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Well, Jeremy was one of my kidnappers. He and a friend flirted with me at the bar and I went home with them after work.”

  Cody looked murderous. “He kidnapped you? I’m going to kill him with my bare hands when we find the little bastard.”

  “He didn’t know what he was getting into. His friend had just offered him a couple hundred dollars to get me into bed. Once they had me, it got more serious, and then he was like a prisoner too. He escaped and came back for me. Freed me before they could kill me. So you see, I owe him my life.”

  Cody’s nostrils flared and his fists clenched. “I see. So all I have to do to win you over is kidnap you and then set you free?”

  She shoved at his immovable chest. “It’s not funny.”

  “I’m not laughing, either. I am serio
usly going to beat that guy to a pulp.”

  “No, you’re not. Did you not hear what I said? He saved my life.”

  “I think the favor—if you can call it that—has already been repaid. But for the record, I don’t think you can call it saving your life when he’s the one who put it in danger in the first place.”

  She crossed her arms over her chest. Tears were threatening, not because she was worried about Jeremy’s life—which she should be—but because Cody was mocking her personal sense of honor.

  “I won’t kill him if it means that much to you, but I’m definitely going to beat his ass if Rabago doesn’t finish him first.”

  A tear leaked from the outer corner of her eye. “Why is it all physical with you wolves? You have to resolve everything with violence. Punishing females because they’re smaller and weaker—is that what it’s about? No wonder that woman we saw at the apartment building is hiding. She’s not safe from the males in her life.”

  She’d been so busy delivering her tirade to cover her own anguish, she didn’t see the effect of her words on Cody until she stopped.

  He’d gone pale, eyes wide, mouth set in a grim line. His gaze drifted from her to somewhere over her left shoulder in one of those fixed stares that told her he saw nothing. The muscle in his jaw jumped. Without a word, he crumpled the paper bag and milk carton into a tight ball and tossed them into a trash can, got on the bike, and started it up.

  She grabbed her helmet and thrust it back on just before he took off, not waiting for her to put her feet up, not saying a word.

  * * *

  Cody felt as though Melissa had thrust a javelin through his chest. Was this really what she thought about shifters? They were abusive and violent? Had she felt abused by him? He couldn’t even bring himself to try to explain. His initial assessment of her had been right—they were worlds apart.

  The closeness they’d felt over the last twelve hours hadn’t been real. It had been the full moon and hot sex.

  She was human.

  Humans didn’t understand shifters. They didn’t belong with shifters. And he was alpha. He needed a strong female like…