by Zena Wynn
Shay’s eyes narrowed. “While your little glimpse into the animal kingdom was fascinating, I don’t like her. I don’t trust her, and I always trust my instincts.” She punctuated her words by slamming the drawer shut.
Rory glanced at the furniture and then back at his mate, not liking the way the heavy mirror was angled, especially after the way Shay’s wolf had banged into it earlier. He went to make sure it was still secure. He didn’t want it to come crashing down, but he wasn’t so distracted that he couldn’t feel the jump in his mate’s emotions through their bond.
He thought about their earlier discussion along with her recent comments, and it clicked. Turning to lean his body against the wall next to the mirror, he watched his mate closely. “I can include her in the talk, but she’s not the real problem. Is she, Shay?”
“You think?”
Hmm, snarky answer. Even without the mate bond he’d know she was irritated. What concerned him was the underlying hurt he sensed that agitated both wolf and man. Asking outright what the issue was wouldn’t help. She’d only clam up like she had about Conor. He thought for a moment…
“Talking to the females might not be a bad idea. You’re not only my mate but their alpha-fem. It would be a good time for you to lay out your expectations.”
“Yeah, like it doesn’t matter how many times you’ve fucked him in the past, the alpha’s mated now so keep your grubby paws off,” she muttered en route to the bed to gather more items.
He smiled. “I can’t believe you’re jealous of Ashley.”
She stopped to glare at him. “I’ll admit I didn’t like the way she rubbed all over you like a bitch in heat—”
“I told you it meant nothing. It’s something shifter females do.”
“But according to Shannon, you’ve fucked your way through half the pack.”
His smile died. “I never touched Ashley.” Is that what she thought, that he messed with children? The girl was barely out of school.
“I never said you did, but it’s obvious she wants her turn with the pack’s stud.” Her expression turned to one of disgust. “Of course, that’s what happens when you mate with dogs. Always have to watch for leftover shit.”
For the first time Rory considered things from Shay’s viewpoint. He’d gone ballistic, and all his men had done was look at Shay. How would he feel if they’d rubbed their aroused bodies against her as Ashley had done to him? “I’m a bloody fool.”
“Nice of you to finally notice.”
He caught her around the waist and tugged her against his body, wrapping his arms around her hips to hold her close. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?” Suspicion was evident on her face and the way she held her body so stiff.
“For blowing off your concerns about Ashley. If one of my men dared to touch you the way she did me, I wouldn’t have been able to control myself.”
Shay shoved away from him, and he released his hold. She paced a bit before turning to confront him. “Don’t get it twisted. I’m not jealous of your perky little Skipper doll.”
Rory clamped his mouth shut.
“What you do with your harem is your business…”
This time he snorted. Yeah, like he believed that. His little she-demon would castrate him if his cock so much as stood at attention for another woman.
“…but I will not tolerate being disrespected, especially in my own home, in front of my face, and definitely not by that little twit!”
“You’re right.”
“Does she have any idea what I could do to her? I can screw up her credit so bad she’ll be an old lady before she untangled it all. I can have every law enforcement agency in this country and Europe looking for her, and she wouldn’t even know why. I can erase her Social Security number out of the system or report her as dead. Let her fix that!”
“No, you’re not jealous at all,” he murmured, withholding a smile. Damn, his mate was vicious. His perfect match in every way.
Finally she stopped ranting and hung her head. “Okay, I’ll cop to a streak of possessiveness, but not jealousy. I refuse to be jealous of that woman.”
Rory slouched and hooked his thumbs in the belt loops of his jeans. “And the difference between the two would be…?”
Shay raised her head and met his inquisitive gaze with a direct stare. “Jealousy is the result of one’s insecurity. My being jealous would mean I see Ashley as a worthy rival and feared her ability to steal you from me.”
He straightened and crossed over to stand in front of his mate. “Then I must be the most insecure man on the planet. The thought of someone desiring you, touching you”—he gripped both cheeks—“or smelling your luscious scent”—he leaned in close and inhaled—“drives me absolutely crazy.”
Then he kissed her because the thought of anyone else having Shay was intolerable.
“You’re not insecure,” she told him when he allowed her to breathe. “You’re a werewolf. Possessiveness is coded in your DNA.”
As he claimed her mouth again, he knew she was wrong. He was terrified of doing or saying something to drive Shay away, and ending up living the rest of his life mourning what might have been.
* * * *
Rory left to cook dinner and organize his gathering. Shay finished unpacking. As she lined her lotions, perfumes, nail polishes, and other personal items on the dresser beside Rory’s, she contemplated the circumstances in her life that had brought her to this. Thoughts of being a mother made her realize she hadn’t heard from her parents since they’d left the reception.
She pulled her cell phone out of her pants pocket and dialed home.
“Dad,” she said with pleasure, happy to hear his voice and relieved he’d been the one to answer. “Just calling to make sure you made it home with no problem.”
“Sorry we didn’t call. Things got a little hectic, and I knew you were settling in on a new project. I didn’t want to be a pest.”
She scowled at the phone. “Dad, a two-minute call from you to say we made it home alive and in one piece is no bother.”
He laughed at her scolding. “As you can see, we’re fine.”
Shay pushed the empty suitcase to the floor and sat on the bed. “How’s your project going? You get it done?’
“Almost. Everything’s proceeding on schedule. I made up the time I lost by being away. What about you?”
She plucked nervously at the bedspread. “I don’t officially begin work until Monday. I’ll spend the weekend settling in.”
“Impressions of the people you’re working for?”
Professionally or personally? Shay winced, then bit back a chuckle at her discomfort, glad her father couldn’t see her face. “Not enough data to compute,” she lied. “But I admire their taste in equipment.” Shay always gave her clients three options when it came to purchasing the required hardware: cheap but functional, moderately expensive but will get the job done with a few added perks, and top-of-the-line. Rory had purchased top-of-the-line everything. The geek in her was impressed. The woman wondered just how much money the man had.
“Well, whatever the case, I’m sure you’ll whip them into shape soon enough.”
“Daddy! I’m not a tyrant,” she protested.
He laughed again, then said, “Speaking of tyrants, your mother wants to talk to you.”
“No, Daddy, wait! Tell her I’m… Hi, Mom.” Shay stifled a long-suffering sigh.
“Shay-Nei, how’s Rory? That’s one nice catch. You better hook him while you can. A man like that won’t stay single for long. His sister says you’re staying with him in his house. You’re a good cook. Cook for him. A big man like that eats plenty of food. Show him what I taught you and catch yourself a nice man.”
“Mom, he’s not a fish.” Wait till I see Shannon again. I have a few words for her.
“No, he’s a man, and just like fish, you need the right bait to reel him in.”
Shay rolled her eyes. “Or I could bash him over the head with an oar and dr
ag him off to my cave.”
“Shay-Nei, not funny. You're already past prime childbearing years. Wait too long and you’ll be too old. Your father and I want lots of grandkids. There’s no time to be playing around.”
Sick to death of her mother hounding her, Shay let her anger do the talking. “Tell you what, why don’t I crawl naked into his bed each night while I’m here, and if we’re lucky, in nine months you’ll have that grandchild you’re so desperate for. Then I can send the brat to you and Daddy to raise and finally get some peace!”
She held the phone away from her ear while her mother yelled at her. She supposed the chewing out she got was deserved, but damn, enough was enough. A woman could only take so much, and Shay had reached her limit.
Before her mother completely wound down, Shay shouted into the phone, “Gotta go. Love you both. Tell Daddy I said take care.”
“Shay-Nei! Shay-Nei! Don’t you hang up the—”
With an evil grin, Shay pressed the button, watched while the phone powered off, then tossed it onto the mattress. She wanted to throw it, but it wasn’t her BlackBerry’s fault her mother was a nag. Instead Shay rolled over, grabbed a pillow, buried her head into it, and screamed. It felt so good she did it again.
The mattress dipped, jostling her. “Was that wise?”
Shay raised her head and glared when she saw the amusement on his face. “The woman makes me crazy.”
“That may be true, but she’ll remember this when you reveal that you’re pregnant.”
Shay tried not to look as guilty as she was suddenly feeling, but apparently she was unsuccessful.
His smile fled as Rory’s eyes narrowed. “When are you telling your parents about the baby, Shay?”
She shrugged. “Sometime before she begins school, I promise.”
Rory closes his eyes and rubbed his forehead. “Shay, don’t you think they’ll notice you’re pregnant at our wedding?”
Sitting up and tossing the pillow to the side, she aimed for nonchalance as she answered, “Since we’re not getting married, I don’t see that being an issue.”
He gripped her arm as she made to rise, halting her midmotion. “What do you mean, we’re not getting married?”
It was Shay’s turn to narrow her eyes. “You need a hearing aid?”
He scowled. “I can hear just fine, but your words make no sense.”
Shay shook him off and stood, taking a few steps to put distance between them. “We’re mated. That’s good enough.”
“No, it’s not.” His words came out slow and measured as he rose to his feet.
She placed her hands on her hips and tilted her head to the side. “Well that’s too bad, because I’m not marrying a man who doesn’t love me!”
Rory stared at her for a full minute, mouth gaped open like a trout, face turning redder and redder. Shay mentally counted. Five, four, three, two…
“Are you daft, woman? Not love you?” He threw his arms open wide. “You think I’d be doing all this if I didn’t?” he yelled.
She leaned forward and shouted in his face. “How the hell would I know? You aren’t the sanest of men. One minute you’re never letting me go, the next you’re calling Kiesha to come and get me and I’m supposed to think you love me?” She wanted to throw something at him.
“I already apologized for that!”
“When?” she demanded, furious now.
He dropped his hands to his sides as his mouth worked.
“Exactly.” She spun on her heel and walked to the dresser. No, too many weapons. She switched directions and headed to the window.
Behind her, Rory heaved a heavy sigh. Seconds later his image showed behind her in the glass she was looking at instead of through, his heat warming her back.
“Shayla, I’m sorry. I was wrong.”
Darn tootin’ you were.
“I love you so much it scares me.”
Uh-huh, pull the other one.
“When we met, I knew you were the one, my mate, and I fought it with everything in me. If it hadn’t been for events at the blue moon, I don’t think I would ever have claimed you.”
Shay frowned. Way to convince me, stud.
“But I did, and as a result I’m happier than I’ll ever be able to show. I’m also scared shitless that I’ll fuck up or worse, be the monster my father was and lose you as a result.”
That caught her attention, and she turned to face him. “Rory, you are not your father. How many times do I have to say it?”
He held her gaze. “Shay, you didn’t know him. You didn’t live with him. When I look in the mirror, I see his eyes looking back at me.”
“Well, look again or get your eyes checked, ’cause you talking like this is doing nothing but pissing me off. You think Shannon would love you if you were anything like him?”
“What about you, Shay? I’m wearing my heart on my sleeve here.”
She closed her eyes. Quit being such a wimp and answer the man’s question. When she opened them, he was still staring at her, waiting. “Maybe…I think…I don’t know, okay? I thought maybe I did, but then you went and got stupid on me and pissed me off. Then I didn’t know anymore. Bottom line, I’m not going to love you unless I’m sure my feelings are returned.” With her eyes, she dared him to complain.
Rory’s smile began in his eyes before spreading to his mouth. He stepped closer and put one arm around her waist. The other cupped her nape under her hair. His erection brushed her stomach. Why he was suddenly turned on she had no idea.
“You love me.” He sounded very sure.
“I said maybe,” Shay grumbled.
“That’s why you stayed and why you’re still here. It has nothing to do with the babe.”
She scowled. “Of course it doesn’t, asshole. You think I need you to raise my child?”
He smirked, and Shay, realizing what she’d said, stated hastily, “That means absolutely nothing.”
“Aye, it does.” He kissed the protest off her lips.
Rory stripped her shirt over her head and dived back into the kiss once her face was clear.
He backed away, pulling Shay with him until their progress was halted by the bed. “Don’t ever wear a bra. I love looking at your breasts. They make me hard.”
“Everything makes you hard.”
“You make me hard.” He sniffed. “And I make you cream. I can smell your arousal.” His smile was full of self-satisfaction.
“Beast.”
“Yeah, and you love it when I go wild.”
Since it was true, Shay didn’t see the point in arguing.
“Strip.” Rory sat on the mattress and leaned back on his elbows to watch.
Shay raised her eyebrows but obligingly removed her shoes, pants, and underwear.
“Now me.” He raised his arms. Shay straddled his lap and lifted his shirt over his head before tossing aside.
Rory bent his head, captured a nipple, and suckled lightly, releasing it with a pop. Shay grabbed his face and directed him to the other one. He toyed with it, then the folds of her sex, easily penetrating her with one, then two fingers.
Shay was lost in pleasure, riding his hand, when a stinging slap to her butt had her rearing back, fist clenched and raised, ready to strike.
“I’m not naked,” he reminded. One eyebrow arched as his gaze drifted from her face to her fist, then returned to her face.
Eyes narrowed, Shay lowered her feet to the floor and reached for the waistband of Rory’s jeans. She popped open the button, then eased down the zipper. The shiny, engorged head of his cock popped out, tempting Shay to taste.
She dipped down and swiped her tongue over the slit. When his hips jerked, she did it again, then engulfed the tip in her mouth.
Rory said something Gaelic that sounded like a curse as he lifted her off him. “Love, as good as that feels, I’ve something different in mind.”
He gently moved her out of the way and rose to remove the rest of his clothing. Then he lay on the bed and p
atted the mattress. “Ride me.”
Shay stood there, taking him in. He reclined like a pasha waiting to be serviced by his harem. Viewing all his manly glory—ripped abs and thighs, powerful arms and furred chest that couldn’t hide the underlying muscle, a thick, swollen cock standing at attention—Shay felt like a highly favored sex slave honored to be chosen by her master.
Rory groaned, the sound part frustration, part need. “Shay, I’ve been dreaming of this for weeks. I’m begging you, put me out of my misery.”
No, he wasn’t begging yet, but he would.
Slow and seductive, Shay sank to her knees between his legs. Beginning with his calves, she trailed moist kisses and nibbles to his inner thigh, stopping short of his balls. Ignoring his increasingly impatient demands, she worshipped his legs—stroking, caressing, and rubbing her needy breasts over every inch.
When she was satisfied they’d received enough attention, she moved to his stomach and covered the surface with the same. Rory gripped her by the upper arms to maneuver her into the position he wanted, and Shay bared her teeth.
“My way!”
With a hiss that sounded more feline than lupine, he subsided, dropping his hands to dig into the mattress instead.
Shay directed her attention to his chest and the reddish-brown nipples puckered there. Straddling his thighs to give her more leverage, she licked, tugged, and basically tormented the hell out of Rory.
There was a sharp ripping sound. A quick glance revealed Rory’s claws had sprouted. She smirked. “Hope you have money for a new mattress.”
“Witch,” he griped in a tight, husky voice.
“Yep, and loving every minute of it.”
Claws were good, but Shay wouldn’t be satisfied until he completely lost it. There was something about being wanted so much by a man that he couldn’t control himself that just did it for her.
Bracing her hands on either side of his torso, Shay nibbled her way to his throat. She pulled a pinch of skin between her lips and suckled until a bright red mark appeared. Kissed the hollow in his neck where his pulse pounded a rapid tattoo. Licked his Adam’s apple and then worked her way over to the protruding tendon connecting his shoulder and neck. As she played with it, moistening it with her hot breath and licking the sweat off his skin, Rory grabbed her thighs with his hand and thrust up with his hips. His cock slid through her slick folds, briefly catching on her opening before jumping free.
