I Kissed a Dog

by Carol Van Atta

With this realization, a knot of fear tightened in my stomach, squelching my desire, and freeing a barrage of menacing uncertainties.

  Another secret, something left to reveal; that had to be it. But what?

  We’d bared our souls during the first hour of our drive, committing to keeping nothing hidden from the other, no matter how uncomfortable confessing might be.

  I guessed if I wanted to share one final revelation, I could mention my ill-fated vow to Valamir. But I’d come to the conclusion that that particularly annoying promise was mine to deal with alone.

  The Master Vampire had helped us overcome our enemies. And he continued to prove himself useful by tracking Martin and the missing coins.

  If I told Zane now, he’d spend all his time worrying about me and would end up confronting Valamir. It seemed unfair to burden him with something that could happen years down the road.

  I’d tell him when the time came to fulfill my vow. Until then, it seemed irrelevant in light of everything else. I didn’t want to think about it either. The implications were too terrifying. Valamir could request anything of me, and I’d be forced to oblige. Considering how bad he wanted my blood …

  “I need to tell you something,” Zane started, sending another jolt of fear down my spine. I hadn’t realized how wound up I’d become thinking about my own predicament.

  Rolling onto my side, I faced my mate. “I knew you were upset. You know you can tell me anything. I mean it.”

  “My Princess, always perceptive and gracious. Thanks for staying out of my head. I just needed a second to piece together the puzzle floating around in there.” He tapped the side of his head, smiling, but the attempt to lighten the moment didn’t quite reach his eyes.

  I ran my hand over his shoulder and down his arm, distracted, as always, by his sculpted muscles. “I’m no mind reading bully,” I teased, holding his gaze, and hoping to inspire confidence.

  Taking a deep breath, he exhaled. “Okay, here I go. First, you know I love you, right?”

  “Ye-s-s-s …” I narrowed my eyes, suspicion overriding my fear. This wasn’t good. We were dealing with a major revelation here. I wasn’t sure I wanted to know. My mom always believed denial was bliss. Maybe she was right.

  “I have one last confession to make. On our wedding night, when you were so intoxicated …”

  “Oh, no! What else did I do?” His problem was with something I’d done. A secret he’d kept about me for me. “Can’t we just forget it?” I pleaded, before realizing the irony of my request. I had no recollection of anything following our blurry wedding ceremony. He was the one who remembered the details.

  “Babe, you didn’t do anything. That’s the point. I lied. When you threatened an annulment, I panicked. The mating marks had already …”

  Struggling to comprehend, I sat up. “What exactly are you saying? What didn’t I do?”

  “You, we, did not make love that night. You’re still a virgin. Please forgive me. I couldn’t lose you. There was too much danger, too much at stake. We needed each other. I couldn’t risk you leaving.”

  In one smooth movement, I leapt to my feet, unsure what to do next. This wasn’t some simple white lie. This was a life-altering admission with the potential to disrupt everything I’d grown to accept and love about my life, about Zane.

  Still a virgin? No wonder I hadn’t felt anything different that morning. And Zane had sent the sheets to be laundered before I’d had a chance to spot any traditional, telltale signs of our supposed night of passion. There’d been nothing to see, nothing but clean, unblemished sheets.

  His words, “I couldn’t risk you leaving” suddenly made sense. He’d needed me for the board meeting and to help investigate the murders. What if he’d been using me all along?

  “Chloe, please, you know what we have is real. The marks, your new powers, none of it would have happened if we weren’t fated to be together. You are my mate; my chosen one.” He paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts. Shockingly, he offered, “Explore my memories. Maybe that will set your mind at ease. You’ll see I had the best intentions.”

  Facing the lake, I shivered, no longer feeling sexy, but vulnerable in my skimpy bikini. Not able to face him, and uncertain how to respond to his mind-reading suggestion, I hurried to the cabin, keeping my eyes on the ground.

  Once inside, I grabbed my pile of new belongings and darted into the second bedroom. The one I’d discovered across the hall from the bathroom. Dumping everything on the bed, I quickly located a pair of underwear, bra, and jogging suit.

  Clothes in hand, I crossed the hall and locked the bathroom door. Leaning against the wall, I allowed the tears to fall.

  I’d half expected Zane to follow, but he’d stayed behind. Part of me was relieved, but a bigger part was disappointed. He should have pursued me. He should be begging my forgiveness. Not that I’d accept his apology. How could I?

  A few minutes later, the shower was massaging the kinks out of my neck with strong streams of near-boiling water. My skin was developing a pinkish hue from the blissfully brutal heat. I wanted the temperature hot enough to burn away the pain in my heart. If only it was that easy.

  The fact remained: I loved my brutish, bossy, lying, but deliciously desirable werewolf. He’d been willing to open his mind to my probing, giving me access to all his darkest secrets. Would I be willing to do the same?

  I didn’t like my answer.

  Gazing down at my mating sigils, I watched the soapy water slide over them, pooling at my ankles, all the while wishing they’d offer some cosmic cure for my latest impasse.

  But I knew better. The one with the cure was me.

  Chapter 5333

  Dressed in the designer jogging suit, with my curls cascading like an untamed mane around my face and down my back, I looked like what Melanie had always referred to as Lady Diva All-natural. All through high school, she’d been jealous of my ability to appear exotic without any help from the cosmetic counter, where she’d spent countless hours trying on every shade known to woman to highlight her plainer features.

  I missed my friend.

  I could use a female’s listening ear right now. Positive girl time was way overdue. One of my top priorities after returning home and calling my parents would be to contact Melanie. Hopefully, she wasn’t off on some extended promotional tour for her latest book.

  Putting thoughts of Melanie on hold, I intended to make peace with my husband. There was a slight problem: He was nowhere to be found.

  He’d left a bottle of expensive wine on the counter, and soft music playing in the background. The one ingredient missing was him.

  After wandering the house, and then patrolling the grounds, which were, thankfully, well-lighted, I’d given up my search and was brushing my teeth and wishing Alcuin had known what hair products to purchase. When it came to my copper-streaked tresses, I was picky. Without a hair band, I was stuck with what my mom had referred to as my ultra-big hair.

  After several more attempts to smooth the raging ringlets, I gave up. Who cared if my hair was rebelling? I had more concerning things to worry about.

  Like Zane.

  I trusted that he was somewhere close by, keeping vigil over the house. Despite our current relationship crisis, he was far too protective to leave me unattended.

  In lieu of the precarious circumstances, I felt an unexpected wave of heaviness as exhaustion invaded my limbs. I’d been through so much; now I had an opportunity to rest my weary body on a massive bed fit for royalty.

  With one final look in the kitchen, I trudged up the stairs connecting to the loft, eager to stretch out on a balanced mattress, firm yet yielding.

  I didn’t get the chance.

  Reaching the landing, I froze.

  The bed looked as inviting as I remembered, but more tempting was Zane, who blended into the shadows like a predator waiting for its quarry. His eyes glowed amber, flecked with hints of red, focused and alert, and trained on me with a look of desire and restraine
d anger.

  He was lounging languidly against the bed’s backboard, pillows propped behind him, his hair flowing around his face like waves of black satin.

  “Took you long enough,” he growled, his voice both raspy and sultry.

  It appeared that Zane had been concealing a great deal of his commanding, Alpha presence, drastically toning down his feral nature since we’d first met. Tonight it was on full display, sending ripples of fear and tingles of excitement rushing through my entire body.

  I took a step back, reaching for the railing, unsure how to handle this new, darker Zane.

  He seemed to relish my increasing heart rate, evidenced by his narrowing eyes and mischievous grin. “You’re not scared of me, Princess; are you?” his voice positively purred.

  “How did you get here?” I asked dumbly, knowing he had the supernatural capabilities to avoid detection.

  “The better question might be, how did you miss me?” He held my gaze, remaining inhumanly still.

  Before I could answer, he was in front of me, cupping my face. “You are mine, Chloe. I am The Alpha, and you are my marked mate. You chose me and will learn to abide by my decisions. I am fair and just, and have, since the moment I met you, thought only of your best interests.

  Had you walked away in Vegas, you would have broken my heart, and many of the people you now call friends would have died. And, ultimately, so would’ve you.”

  I started to respond, but he placed his index finger over my lips.

  “And, if you remember, you feared, at one point, that I was a vicious brute, capable of raping a helpless female, one too drunk to remember. You better believe, had we made love, drunk or not, you would remember, and you would have been willing. I would never have taken you without your consent, ever.”

  Gasping, suddenly fearful, I attempted to flee, but instead his hands grasped my shoulders, keeping me facing and focused on him. As if I could look anywhere else in light of his powerful presence.

  Somewhere in my mind, it occurred to me that I should be flaming mad. The only problem was the harsh truth he’d so clearly articulated, and the way his aggressive wildness was igniting my own animalistic passions.

  Dipping his head, he brushed his lips against mine. “Wolf got your tongue, Chloe?” he chuckled deep in his chest, and proceeded to slide both hands around my neck, seizing a mess of my curls in each fist.

  I heard myself groan, all anger forgotten, released for good, as he stared into my eyes, his own saying everything I needed to forgive.

  Hungrily, his mouth covered mine. I relaxed; my tongue danced in perfect rhythm with his. “By the way, I’m willing,” I whispered huskily into his mouth, my voice filled with expectancy.

  In answer, he tightened his grip on my hair and kissed me harder, his tongue swirling.

  Without removing his mouth from mine, he lifted me into his arms and carried me to the bed, tenderly placing me in the center, and then stood again to look down at me, his expression sinfully heated as he pulled his t-shirt over his head, revealing the glorious pectoral muscles and flat board abs I appreciated so much.

  Those Calvin Klein underwear models, splashed across the billboards, had nothing on my mate.

  By the gleam in his eyes, I had the feeling he wanted to love me hard and fast, but I knew he’d honor my virgin status. In spite of his animal nature, he’d proven to be a gentleman in every way. I could anticipate having all my needs met.

  The seething passion that seemed to hang like a haze between us, made it impossible for me to halt my own hands as they worked overtime to remove my jacket and tank. I wiggled out of my pants at the same time Zane dropped his on the floor.

  Rushes of burning heat flooded my face and pooled between my legs when I caught the first glimpse of his very impressive manhood, thick and heavy with need. My legs parted automatically.

  A throaty moan rushed from his lungs, as his eyes lasered in on my black-laced panties, soaked by my arousal, the only item remaining between his erection and my flesh.

  He moved over me like a silent predator, crouching above his captured prey.

  There was no doubt; I was certifiably Zane-captured.

  I quivered wildly when his mouth found the soft mound of my breast, his hand possessing the other. He tasted and tugged, devouring me

  Rising up, his knees on either side of me, he looked ferociously at my splayed legs, his gaze once again resting on the triangle between them. “I hope you’re not too attached to those panties.” The sensuality in his voice created a raging inferno between my legs that I knew he alone could extinguish.

  I whimpered, “Take them off, now.” I arched my pelvis to meet his hand.

  With one swift motion the lacy material was tossed to the floor with the rest of our discarded clothing.

  I lay bare; my legs open in invitation for this god of men, my very own werewolf, who I realized, without any lingering reservations, I couldn’t live without.

  Instead of thrusting in as I expected and half-hoped for, he repositioned himself and began leisurely tormenting my body, bringing it into complete and utter submission.

  Squirming beneath his touch, I gave myself over to his skilled hands.

  His tongue taunted and teased my nipples, while his hand circled my stomach, creating a trail of fire as it made its way lower.

  A moment of insecurity invaded when his hand caressed my mound for the first time. Being a sun lover and avid bikini wearer, I shaved a majority of my hair off.

  My worries were squelched, at the sound of his appreciative groan.

  “Oh, baby, you are so smooth, so sexy,” he crooned, parting my folds and exploring my wetness.

  A primal moan escaped as I rocked in perfect rhythm to his expert touch, begging with my body for more. Sensing my urgency, he slipped one finger inside, fueling my passion. One finger was joined by another, than a third, stretching me impossibly wide. The thrill of such excruciating pleasure, overpowered the sting his fingers triggered. I grew slicker and hotter as he increased the speed and growled wildly.

  “I can’t take this. I …”

  In a blur of motion, Zane was poised over me, his manhood nudging, pressing against me, seeking entrance.

  “Yes,” I pleaded, grinding my hips and pushing myself eagerly against his shaft, opening my legs even wider. The idea of a gentlemanly love making session no longer appealed. I wanted it to be fierce. “Don’t hold back, please.”

  “I love you, need you,” he groaned, meeting my eyes.

  With a conquering roar, he plunged inside my folds. A searing pain and tearing sensation sliced through me, to be almost instantly replaced by penetrating pleasure. I rose to meet his deepening thrusts, wrapping my legs around his back, and gripping his shoulders to gain purchase.

  Something was building inside me, a hot throbbing response to his smooth stabs. I felt myself stretching wider to accommodate his increasing size.

  “Oh, Zane …” I cried, bucking beneath him.

  Feel everything, my Princess, Zane spoke into my mind. Experience what I’m feeling.

  I was totally unprepared for what followed.

  My core shattered into a million tiny pieces of unparalleled pleasure as everything that Zane was experiencing exploded into my mind, intensifying every kiss, touch, and thrust.

  Wanting him to have the same experience, I flooded his thoughts with my own overwhelming ecstasy.

  Hearing myself scream, I reached a place of fiery release so intense I sobbed as the aching swirls of pleasure mounted and erupted, sending stars shooting behind my eyelids.

  In that same moment, Zane cried out, a roar feral and inhuman, overflowing with gratification. I dug my nails down his back, whimpering his name over and over. He flung his head back, pounding into me harder, and then he shouted my name, sending me further over the edge as his release poured into me.

  A few minutes later, I rested securely against his chest.

  He stroked my hair. “I hope I didn’t hurt you. I wa
s having difficulty controlling my wolf. I think you put a spell on me.”

  “Hey, no pain no gain, right? I’ve never hurt so good,” I giggled softly.

  “That’s my girl, singing the lyrics to some old song to soothe her savage beast.”

  “When it comes to you, Zane Marshal, savage is damn seductive.” Wasn’t that the truth? I couldn’t wait for round two and three.

  I glanced at the glowing clock on the bedside table. We had plenty of time before dawn to explore his softer side and take another walk on the wild one.

  I think I’d like some more ravaging savagery, I encouraged, flipping over to straddle him.

  Already ready, Princess. Prepare to be appropriately savaged.

  I was dazed and perfectly dazzled to discover just how ready. It was going to be a long night.

  Chapter 5434

  We were nearing the outskirts of Plum Beach. I rested a hand on Zane’s thigh. My thoughts continued to drift to last night. I’d never felt so cherished, so loved. So sore.

  We’d spent the remaining hours until dawn exploring every inch of each other. I hadn’t realized my body could twist and turn into so many positions. I felt like a very happy human pretzel. And I couldn’t wait to do it all over again, sore or not.

  Zane was right. Had we made love in Vegas, I would have remembered. He was unforgettable, and I knew without a doubt that he felt the same about me.

  “Five more miles,” he stated, breaking the companionable silence.

  Grumpily, I groaned, “Five miles too soon.” I wanted to grab the steering wheel and insist that we reverse course, heading back to our lakeside hideaway.

  Reading my thoughts, he laughed, “Princess, we have a bed, counter, floor, and any number of potential places at home for me to ravage you. I’m flexible.”

  “That you are,” I agreed, squeezing his leg and picturing the tree house on the property. Hum … interesting location.

  “What now,” he muttered, his attention diverted to something in the rearview mirror.

  Curious to view the object of frustration, I twisted around to see what was behind us.

  A charge of adrenaline fired a fresh dose of unwanted anxiety when I spotted the police car. I’d gone from calm to climbing the walls in two seconds flat. Probably because our last interaction with law enforcement, more specifically, Agent Green, hadn’t gone so well. His unveiled threats were resurrected as the flashing lights indicated the necessity of pulling over.