Territory - Prequel

by Susan A Bliler

  She didn’t respond.

  “At least give me the opportunity to defend myself. I need to explain.”

  “You didn’t give me the opportunity.” Her eyes locked on his.

  Dell dipped his head, “I know, and I regret it. I attacked you when I should have comforted you.”

  The waitress arrived at the table, her brows hiked high as she looked from Dell to Chloe. Obviously she’d heard his statement. “Uhh, we ready to order?”

  Chloe shot the waitress an annoyed frown, “No, I’m waiting for my mother to return.”

  The waitress turned to point over her shoulder with her pen. “She already ordered. She said to tell you two to enjoy your dinner; she’s eating with his mother.” She turned and jabbed her pen in Dell’s direction.

  Chloe frowned across the room at her mother, who simply waved then returned to her conversation with Mama. Shit! She heaved an exasperated sigh. “I’ll have the sirloin, medium rare, with a baked potato and steamed carrots.”

  The waitress jotted then turned to Dell, “For you?”

  “Same.”

  The waitress turned back to Chloe, “Anything to drink?”

  Chloe wrapped a small hand around the dark bottle near her silverware. “Another beer.”

  “For you?” the waitress turned to Dell.

  “Just water.”

  The waitress continued to write as she walked away.

  “Look,” Chloe’s eyes darted up to Dell’s then back down, “I really don’t want to talk about this. I’ve been trying to forget about it all week, so if you wouldn’t mind.”

  Dell eyed her for long moments before he reclined back in his seat, his hands falling to his lap. “I’m probably not going to get another chance to explain myself where you’re forced to listen. So I apologize, but I’m taking advantage of this opportunity.”

  The waitress returned and set their drinks on the table then disappeared.

  “Chloe, I’m dying here.”

  The pain in his voice was so raw that Chloe couldn’t help but peek up at him. Her heart contracted painfully at the expression on his face.

  “Everything was going so well. But when I entered the room and saw you…” He balled his hands into white-knuckled fists and dropped his voice to a whisper, “I don’t regret killing him. I only regret doing it so quickly.” He took a deep calming breath, his broad chest expanding then relaxing. “I scented you as soon as I stepped back into the house.” He looked at her then with sorrowful eyes. “It wasn’t sadness or fear, it was overwhelming terror. I knew you were in danger, being hurt, and I was so fucking disgusted with myself for having left you unattended. I should have known.” He swiped a hand over his tired features, “When I saw how close he was to claiming you, to taking you from me.”

  Chloe swallowed hard, emotion thickening her throat at the memory as she blinked back tears.

  “I didn’t know if he had. Everything happened so fast. When I smelled your blood, I just assumed…” He drew in a ragged breath and frowned at the room before looking back to her. “I thought he’d taken you from me. I thought he’d claimed what was mine and I was so repulsed with myself for having let him beat me to it.” He reached out and grabbed her hand, pulling it to his lap and looking down to play with her small fingers. “I couldn’t take my rage out on him, he was already dead.” He looked up, “That left only you, and I’m sorry. I’m sorry I couldn’t control myself. After Donnie’s death, I didn’t blame Mace, but I blamed what we are. The man should have been able to deny his wolf’s claim on an already married woman and I…”

  “What?” Chloe’s body went rigid, shock coursing through her. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Is that what happened? Mace claimed Beverly?” Angry tears flooded her eyes and she gritted in a hushed tone as she sneered at Dell, “Are you fucking kidding me? They all died over this mating shit?” She jerked her hand free and stood, “Let me out!”

  Dell didn’t move. His shoulders fell when he realized his mistake.

  “Let me out, now!” Her tone rose slightly, drawing attention from a few of the nearby tables.

  He turned his body slightly. He allowed her to pass then stood and followed her as she stormed out of the restaurant. He was relieved when he glanced over and saw that Cindy had distracted Bea to keep her from noticing her daughter’s abrupt departure.

  Outside Dell saw Chloe storming across the parking lot. He lifted his nose and scented her anger and her tears. Fuck! He jogged to catch up with her and caught her by the elbow. He expected her to turn and slap him but she didn’t. It was worse. Instead she turned sad eyes up at him, her lower jaw quivering.

  “Is there anything else I need to know that you haven’t told me?” Her voice cracked as she fought to retain her composure.

  Dell shook his head, his heart breaking at her clear distress. He lifted a hand to her cheek. “I have never intentionally lied to you Chloe. I’ve only kept things from you that I knew would hurt you.”

  “And when I find them out anyway?” she challenged. “When I am hurt by them anyway and even more so when I discover that you’ve intentionally kept me in the dark?”

  He didn’t respond, just held her gaze.

  She jerked her chin from his grasp and turned her back to him, “This is killing me Dell. All of this. The deceit, the absurdity of it all, the fact that I want you when I shouldn’t.”

  He grabbed her arm and spun her to face him. “You want me?”

  Her eyes thinned to slits, “Don’t act as though you didn’t know.”

  “I’d hoped.”

  “Dell stop, this isn’t funny to me.”

  He grabbed her by both arms and pulled her hard into him, startling her. “This isn’t funny to me either.” His teeth were clenched so hard that they creaked, “I want you so fucking bad Chloe that I can barely see straight. When I’m near you, when I smell you…” A deep rumble emitted from his chest as he slid his hands under her arms and lifted her, turning them both until she was pinned on the truck behind her. Dell had maneuvered until her legs were wrapped around his hips. He pressed into her, a hand fisted in the hair at the back of her neck forcing her head back as his mouth descended on hers.

  She struggled at first, moaning in his mouth and tried to push him away, but as his mouth worked over hers, she lost her fight. She didn’t want to fight it anymore, was tired of being the martyr for her family. She felt something with Dell, something she could no longer deny. In his presence was the sole place in the universe where she felt safe and at peace, and right now it was all she wanted, to let that feeling last for as long as he was willing to allow it. She kissed him back and prayed that after tonight she’d finally work him out of her system and be able to fuck and forget Dell Blackbird once and for all.

  Her hands gripped his shoulders and she pulled him tighter as her tongue danced with his. She just wanted to feel, to have. To have him. She ground her hips against his, growing wet at the pleasure it brought. She’d been so careful around Dell so cautious to keep from making him aware of her desire. Now, she threw caution to the wind. Let him know!

  Another growl rumbled from Dell’s chest and then they were moving. She didn’t open her eyes, only hoped that he was taking her some place where they could be alone.

  She felt him drop to a knee and opened her eyes, noting he’d carried her into the woods just past the parking lot. She lay back in the soft grass and pulled him with her as he squeezed his hands between them and worked furiously to release the buttons of her blouse. She gripped the hem of his shirt and when she tugged he growled when he had to pull back to jerk the fabric over his head.

  He had every intention of falling back on top of her when the sight of her fingering open the button on her jeans had him freezing. His eyes found hers and he was startled by the warm haze of desire that clouded her eyes. When she pushed her jeans down over he
r the curve of her hips he made the mistake of inhaling. The sharp musk of her desire hit him and he lost all control.

  Rough hands grabbed the denim to pull the jeans down her silken legs before he plucked off her shoes, jerked off her jeans, and tossed them aside. His hands gripped her hips, pulling her up onto his lap. She ground against him, and he hardened to forged steel knowing that her scent was marking him. He wanted her, wanted to taste her, to bury himself so deep inside her that part of him would imprint there forever. His engorged cock strained against the fabric of his own jeans dying for release and he reached down and ripped the front of the denim open.

  Chloe didn’t bother trying to remove her bra, instead she jerked the cups down to expose her breasts. The peaks were stiff with desire and instantly drew Dell’s attention. He wrapped an arm around her and eased her back before he fell forward, catching himself with his arms as he dipped his head to suck one nipple into his mouth, forcing an appreciative moan from her soft lips.

  He pulled back to stare at her, then his lips found hers with an urgency that she too felt. She didn’t want to lose the moment, didn’t want someone or something to interfere.

  “Take me,” she whispered against his mouth.

  Dell pulled back and shoved the jeans down his hips. He didn’t get the chance to reclaim the position he’d had over her. Instead, she scrambled up and before he could react, Chloe spread her thighs around his hips and impaled herself on his rigid flesh. He stilled himself, not believing the incredible pleasure that swamped him as her tight body fisted around him. When she lifted and eased herself down onto him again, forcing him deeper inside her Dell threw back his head and couldn’t contain the growl that rumbled lose from the depths of his soul. Mine!

  He held Chloe close, her breath fanning his face as she worked herself on him. His hands slid from her lower back, down to cup her rounded ass to assist in her thrusts. He gritted his teeth at the pleasure of her steady pace and the soft moans that left her parted lips. When he could no longer stand it, he eased her back until he was over her.

  His hands grasped her creamy thighs and spread them wider to allow him to drive deeper, harder, faster. He pounded into her and when she arched her back, her body tightened with its release as pleasure tore through her. Her nails dug into his thighs and her pussy clenched around his cock. Her vaginal muscles convulsed, sucking at him in hungry demand of his seed. Dell’s muscles bunched and he growled as he shot his warm release deep inside his mate.

  He fell over her, and then rolled pulling her on top of him. He remained buried inside her and her legs were wrapped around his body as they both fought to stabilize their breathing lying naked and prone on the forest floor.

  She moaned quietly and he felt her lips brush against his chest in a feather-light kiss. Then Dell stilled. FUCK! He rolled again to pin Chloe to the ground.

  Staring up at him, Chloe noticed that he’d grown deathly pale. “Dell! What’s wrong?”

  He eased from her and quickly jerked his pants up. “Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!”

  “What?” Chloe followed his lead and pulled her bra over her breasts then quickly began working the buttons of her blouse with trembling fingers. She eyed the area, but she could see no one. “Is someone coming? Did someone see us?” She let her eyes drift over the area again.

  Now fully dressed, Dell retrieved her jeans from where he’d tossed them and handed them to her without looking at her, “Here, put these on.”

  Chloe grabbed her jeans and quickly shoved in one leg then the other, hoping on one foot as she nearly tipped over. “Dell! What’s going on?”

  He was searching for her shoes, ignoring her words. When he handed the shoes to her she didn’t bend to put them on, simply stood and frowned at him. “What. Is. Going. On?”

  “Put your shoes on,” he commanded, “we have to go.”

  “No,” she crossed her arms over her chest, a shoe dangling from each hand. “I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what’s wrong.”

  Dell turned his back to her and hissed. When he turned back to her he shoved an angry hand into his short black hair. “We just had unprotected sex!”

  Chloe’s pursed lips slowly dropped into a horrified frown. She let her arms fall and had to blink back humiliated tears. “I don’t have anything!”

  He grabbed her upper arms, “Of course you don’t Chloe. I know that. It’s not what I’m saying.”

  She jerked out of his grip and bent to angrily force her feet into her glittery silver flats before she stood, “Don’t worry!” she ground out through clenched teeth. “If I do swell with child I won’t chase you down for support.” She turned and stomped toward the parking lot.

  “Chloe!” the word was a practically snarled.

  Ignoring him, she was halfway across the parking lot when he stopped in front of her, bent, and threw her over his shoulder and strode toward his truck.

  She wiggled and pushed at his back, “Put me down!”

  Now it was his turn to ignore her.

  “Dell! Goddamn it put me down!”

  “We’re going to the compound.”

  She struggled in his hold, “I can’t leave my mother here! Put me down before I scream.”

  He jerked his passenger side door open and swung her down until she was cradled in his arms before he lifted her to the seat. “Mama will take her home.” Then he slammed the door in her face. She reached for the handle, but before she could even jerk on it, he was already climbing in the driver’s seat. One large hand snaked out and fisted in her shirt. “Stay,” he ordered.

  “I’m not a dog,” she slapped at his fist, “and take your hands off me!”

  He ignored her demand as he started the truck, shifted it into gear and pulled from the restaurant parking lot.

  Chapter 23

  They rode in silence to the compound. Chloe kept her face toward the window and when Dell scented her tears guilt threatened to eat a hole right through him. “Chloe, I’m sorry if I offended you, it wasn’t my intention.”

  She didn’t respond, but he saw her brush at her cheek.

  “Chloe?”

  “I don’t want to talk about it!” Her stuffy nose made her voice sound off.

  “Look that was the most amazing experience of my life and I…”

  She turned from the window and buried her head in her hands, “Oh God, please shut up! You’re just making it worse.”

  Fuck! He could scent her humiliation and he didn’t know how to fix it. Claiming her truly had been the most amazing experience of his life, but saying so now sounded cheesy even to him. Of course she doesn’t believe me!

  He was eyeing the road, nearly home when he saw her clamp a hand to her belly. Oh shit! “You alright?”

  “Fine!” she bit out sarcastically.

  Dell focused searching for Mama through the pack ties until he picked her out and centered on her and the message he wanted to convey. I need you home now. I’ve claimed Chloe and I didn’t use protection. She’s taken my seed. I don’t know how I’m going to explain to her what I’ve just done!

  Mama’s voice carried to him telepathically, affirming that she’d gotten his message. Be home soon. Then as an aside, Congratulations son!

  When he pulled the truck to a stop in front of Blackbird compound, Dell exited and strode to the passenger door pulling it wide. Emotions roiled within nearly overwhelming him. His wolf was soaring on a cloud of pure bliss. He’d claimed his mate. She was his now whether she realized it or not. The problem was that he hadn’t spoken to her first, hadn’t informed her of what would happen, hadn’t garnered her acceptance, her approval, her permission.

  Chloe didn’t move.

  “You can come in, or I can carry you in.”

  She frowned at him before climbing out of the truck and shoving off the hand that he placed passively on her hip. She followed him into the kitch
en once he unlocked the door and he turned to look at her. “Something to drink?”

  “Beer,” she bit out.

  He shook his head, “Not tonight, you’ll need a clear head.”

  Chloe rolled her eyes, “Well of course!” She brushed past him as she stomped her way down the hall and into his office. He heard her slam the door behind her and while he was upset that he’d offended her, he was relieved that she was willing to stay and let him have his say.

  Twenty minutes later, Cindy flew through the back door. Her eyes were wide and she couldn’t hide her grin as she raced forward and clutched the kitchen island dramatically before mouthing, “Oh my God!” Then she whispered, “I can’t believe you actually did it!”

  Dell groaned and shifted his eyes to the empty doorway. “Where’s Mama?”

  “Taking Bea home,” Cindy waved her hand dismissively at the door. “So tell me what happened,” she was practically bubbling with excitement. “When you told her did she just say ‘okay’ or did you have to coax her into it?”

  Dell titled his head back and pain lanced across his features as he breathed in slowly before dropping his head to eye his sister. “I haven’t told her.”

  Cindy’s contagious grin faltered, then slowly slipped from place altogether. “You?” She blanched, her tone accusatory, “You haven’t told her?”

  “It happened too fast. I couldn’t control myself,” Dell punched the fridge leaving a huge indentation, “Fuck! I didn’t want to control myself.”

  Cindy’s cheeks puffed when she expelled a pent up breath, “Maybe she’ll be okay with it. I mean if she’s here, that’s something right?” She knew it was bad when Dell dropped to his haunches.

  “I threw her over my shoulder and forced her to come.” He didn’t look up. “She’s upset. She thinks I freaked out afterward because I thought she’d given me and STD or because I’d gotten her pregnant.”

  His sister’s eyes saucered, “And you let her believe that?”

  “No,” he snapped rising to his full height to pace the kitchen, “I told her it was great.”