Sleep was the last thing on her mind. Part of her recognized that the bite had heightened her emotions and her desire for Merrick, but those emotions had already been there long before his claim.
She wanted to protect him, but they were long past protection. In the next few days, they would be heading into vampire territory. He was willing to offer aid without any thought but to keep her safe. She’d already given him what she could to cure CreedMark.
He came here just for her.
No ulterior motives but the need to be with her.
Unable to speak past the lump in her throat, she walked toward him and laid a hand on his back. She almost lost courage when he stiffened. “I know nothing about love. I’ve never loved anyone before, but I know that I want you. That I can’t think beyond you. My life feels empty and barren without you at my side.
“I had feelings for you long before you ever marked me. I’m not sure what this claiming means for the pack. I don’t want to cause you more trouble than I already have or cause you to do something you might later regret.”
She slipped her hands along his ribs until she was hugging him from behind. “But I do know that I can’t stand to lose you just when I found you.”
She lifted her arm to his lips, silently offering her blood and more if he wanted it.
Merrick’s large hand engulfed hers, lifting her wrist to his mouth. She tensed, bracing herself for the pleasure/pain of his bite.
Only to feel his lips brush against her skin. She shivered, her body melting closer to his.
He turned around in her embrace, his eyes both green and gold. “Be sure.”
Rising to her toes, she slanted her lips across his. Her heart pounded against her ribs in a crazy tattoo as she waited for him to decide.
She nipped at his bottom lip, wanting another taste, and found herself lifted off the floor and devoured. She enjoyed every minute of it.
His large hands cupped her ass, and she eagerly wrapped her legs around his waist, gasping to feel him flush against her.
When he deepened the kiss, she forgot about their surroundings, their pasts and how improbable it was for them to even try to make something out of this undeniable attraction.
But she didn’t care, not with the taste of him on her lips, the heat of him pressed up so intimately against her. Needing more contact, she reached between them…and found a weapon.
She broke away and pulled out the wicked blade.
Merrick took it from her and tossed it absently on the bed, kissing her again. When she wrapped her arms around him, she came up with two more blades. Without a word, she sent them sailing in the general direction of the cot.
“You’re booby-trapped.”
Her hands swept over him, determined to get him naked despite the arsenal. When she didn’t stumble across any more weapons, she yanked up his shirt, eager to touch just him. He juggled her weight as she eased the material over one arm than another.
By the time she had the blasted shirt off him, she was panting.
Then lost her breath at the sight of him.
Sure, she’d seen him without a shirt, even touched him. But everything changed now that she was up close and personal and allowing herself the freedom to feel the emotions that she’d denied for so long.
With a desire that frightened her, she splayed her hands across his chest, ducking his kisses. He stiffened, but she ignored him, wanting to see what had been revealed. He was so strong he made her feel safe and desired. She felt home.
She wanted to return that feeling to him. She bet he was so busy being the boss that he didn’t allow others this close.
Closing the distance between them, she brought her lips to his shoulder. His skin burned under her kiss. She couldn’t resist stealing a taste, her tongue darting out and licked him.
The simple gesture caused him to shudder. Glancing up at him from under her lashes, she didn’t think he even breathed. His grip tightened on her ass as if he thought she would try to leave.
Silly man.
“Don’t you think I’m wearing too many clothes?”
Her words broke whatever control that held him in check. Between one breath and the next, she was stripped down to just pants.
“Unbutton your jeans.”
It was a demand, as if he couldn’t bear to release her to do it himself.
With shaking fingers, she did as told, fumbling with the stubborn buttons. A growl rumbled up from his chest, and she sighed, exasperated. “I’m working as fast as I can.”
“Work faster. Or I will take them off of you.” As if to emphasis his point, the tips of one claw snagged the waistband of her pants.
Threatening.
Only she didn’t feel all that threatened. “They are my only pair.”
“Then you better hurry. If they aren’t off of you in three seconds…” One claw trailed gently up her spine, and the delicious sensation had her arching her back into him.
He leaned over, capturing her breast in his mouth.
She sucked in a sharp breath as he pulled her to the edge of her sanity. “That’s cheating.”
Then she didn’t care if she had anything to wear, she just wanted him to touch her everywhere. Her feet brushed the ground as he slowly lowered her. When he straightened, she whimpered with the need to get his mouth back on her.
She expected the last of her clothes to be ripped away. She even grabbed the waistband to help matters along when he knelt at her feet. The unexpected image stopped her short.
He reached behind him and two more knives went skidding across the floor and out of the way. There was a slight shake to his fingers when he brushed away her hands away from her pants and eased down the zipper. Her mouth dried at knowing she affected this proud alpha to that extent.
As he removed her pants, he caressed every inch of exposed skin along the way. Breathing became difficult at the slow torment. The draw of slightly calloused hands against the sensitive inside of her thighs caused her stomach to clench with desire. By the time he’d dragged the pants to her ankles, her legs shook.
He eased one of her feet up, kissing the inside of her knee and then repeated the gesture with the other leg. Being completely naked with him at her feet should’ve made her feel uncomfortable. She was no sexual diva. She was used to bodies and the mechanics of them, but his touch made her see them as so much more.
He trailed his hands up from her ankles, lingering at the back of her knees in a way that did funny things to her stomach, and she reached out to steady herself against his shoulders. “Merrick.”
He glanced up at her with such a wicked expression that she knew what his prey felt like right before he pounced.
With his gaze connected to hers, he leaned over and kissed her wrist. At the first touch of his lips, she would’ve fallen if he hadn’t caught her.
She quickly jerked her arm away from his mouth for fear she’d orgasm right there.
“What was that?” Her voice shook, but she considered it a miracle that she was able to form any words at all.
Merrick leaned backward, taking her with him until she was sprawled across his chest, his body protecting her from the rags pretending to be rugs on the floor.
“That’s to ensure your willingness to mate with me. Shifter woman have been known to be a little difficult to settle down. The bite of a male ensures their willingness.”
Trina cradled her arm against her chest. “So any man—”
He sat up abruptly, a snarl on his lips. “Never. You offered yourself freely to me. With so few females, it’s considered a great honor to be selected. Only my touch will trigger that reaction. Once the bite heals, the connection fades. It usually lasts a breeding cycle.” His arms wrapped around her, pulling her snug against his jeans, her legs on either side of his. “Only me.”
Denim rubbed her bare thighs. Feeling wicked at being naked when he remained at least partially dressed, she shivered. “You accepted the blood I offered so you could bite me, didn’t you?�
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He nodded slowly. “You were mine when you first stepped on my property. You offered me a rare privilege few are ever granted. I couldn’t tell you and risk that you’d change your mind.”
The romance of the idea charmed her. Oh, she knew he was leaving some things out, but she just didn’t give a damn anymore. “Less talking and more doing.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him with all the pent-up passion and anger that had been building in her for so long. His hands swept up her back and the gentleness of it made her gasp. The size of him compared to her made her feel delicate and treasured. He leaned her back, and she reluctantly broke the kiss.
Her spine was cradled against his bent legs. His lips trailed down her jaw then her throat. One hand skimmed over her arm, his fingers trailing down the sensitive curve of her elbow and lower, lightly tracing his mark.
She arched into him, unable to prevent her body from seeking more.
“No fair.” She panted the words.
She felt more than saw his smile. “Did you want me to stop?”
“Don’t you dare.” She moaned when he repeated the gesture. “Merrick.”
A growl rumbled up his throat at the sound of his name on her lips, and he longed to hear her say it again when she came apart in his arms. He took her nipple in his mouth the same time he caressed the mark.
She bucked, rubbing against him in a way that made him curse his jeans. He loved that she reacted so readily to his touch, that he could make her want at least a little of what she made him feel.
“Lie back.”
He didn’t want to. He almost refused. He wanted to see her come apart in his arms by his touch alone, then start all over again. She was right on the edge. One little push and she would go over.
Her expression dared him to refuse, and he reluctantly released her and obeyed. She straightened over him with a look of such wonderment, his heart hiccupped and his chest swelled with pride that he could make her react so wantonly to him.
He twitched, wanting to feel those oh so capable fingers work his body in a more delicious way than the last time she’d touched him. Her hands hovered over his body, and his skin pebbled, eager to feel them on him. He’d swear she’d put a spell on him, but damned if he cared.
During their sessions, she’d worked the muscles like an instrument. He’d stayed on his stomach the whole time, harder than he had ever been in his life, unable to move for fear he’d frighten her away.
Now those wicked hands skimmed over his chest, and there was no way in hell she could miss his body’s reaction nestled between her sweet thighs. A light blush on her face said she knew and loved what she did to him, the little hellcat.
Her nails scraped down his chest, coming to stop at the waistband of his jeans.
“My turn.”
She scooted down his body, taking the opportunity to brush every inch of her against him. The feel of her soft breasts dragging lightly over his stomach had his hips arching upward. His claws tore through the rug and then scraped concrete as he battled his desires and allowed her to do what she would.
She kissed the sensitive flesh above his pants then her teeth undid the first button. The warm breath of her mouth poured over the tip of him. When she went down to the next button, her tongue swept over him, and his body leapt at her touch.
Christ, he had three more buttons to go. Damned if he was going to make it. “Trina.”
“Say the word, and I’ll stop.”
Merrick’s teeth clicked together.
She took pity on him, and the last three buttons opened without the extra torture of her mouth. Instead, she sat up and gave him a perfect view of her body as she struggled with his pants. Three more blades winged across the room before his patience evaporated.
He reached for her, dragging her up his body. “Merrick, I wasn’t done.”
“Neither am I.” He slid into her with one easy move then held still at the snug fit of her body. She gasped and fell silent.
He filled his hands with her wonderful mahogany hair. The firelight made the browns darker, the reds brighter. She was so soft that he couldn’t stop touching her. He kissed her the way he’d wanted since he’d first seen her moving across his lawn.
Remaining still was delicious torture when he wanted to pound into her and finish claiming her. When her hips arched, he clamped his hands on them. If she did that again, he would be a goner.
“None of that now.”
The little growl she released had his cock jumping, and she gasped. When her body tightened around him, he had no choice. “Fuck.”
He laid back, arching up into her, forcing his hands to release her and let her set the rhythm for fear he’d take what his body demanded without care.
But she didn’t move. She leaned over him, deepening the angle until he shook and his dick flexed in her. When he looked up at her, it was to see her arms on either side of his head, her breast so tantalizingly close he could almost taste her. She waited until he lifted his eyes to hers.
“Are you with me?”
“I don’t want to hurt—” He broke off with a groan when she shifted subtly, sending him deeper. He shook with the demand to move. He’d never slept with a human before, and her fragileness scared the shit out of him.
“Are you with me?”
“Forever.”
Whatever dam that’d held him back broke, and Trina breathed a sigh of relief. She’d been afraid to move for fear of coming apart even before the game had stared. He was wider than the other men she’d been with, but she’d never been so turned on before.
When he grabbed her hips, jerking her against him, she nearly screamed. Then she didn’t have air to do anything else as he silently and oh so wickedly drove her to the edge of reason.
She thought that being on top would give her some control, but all she could do was move against him and relish every demand as he forced her higher.
Magic whirled around her, soaking into her skin until every inch of her body grew over-sensitized. Everywhere he touched, even the slightest brush of his fingers against hers, set off shockwaves.
She rose on the crest, her body on the precipice when he jackknifed into sitting position. Merrick’s fangs flashed before they sank into the fleshy part where her shoulder met her neck.
There was no razor edge of pleasure/pain, it was pure, unadulterated pleasure as she fell into the abyss. With each draw of her blood, her body tightened around him, her pleasure so intense she couldn’t even scream if she wanted. When she didn’t think she could take anymore, he threw back his head and roared.
Magic exploded around them in a brilliant dance, sparkling and flashing as it landed on them. Each tiny mote burned like a lover’s kiss, extending her pleasure nearly past bearing. When he fell back, she collapsed against him, unable to support her own weight.
He shifted, and she could do nothing more than grumble. When he licked the wound on her neck, she gasped, her hips jerking against his.
He pushed up into her one last time before he gathered her in his arms in a hug that squeezed the air out of her lungs.
She tapped his arm. “Need. To. Breathe.”
“Sorry.” As his hold loosened, her lungs automatically sucked in air. His musk had a little hum catching in the back of her throat, and she settled in against him.
“S’no probl’m.”
She must have dozed when he nudged her awake. Worn out after the last few days, she barely opened her eyes when he pressed her pants into her hands. She wiggled into them when the silence got to her.
She cracked open a bleary eye to see him staring at her with a peculiar half-smile that tightened her chest. He picked up her shirt and gently pushed it over her head then gathered her close again.
“Your shirt.”
“Not cold. I’d rather feel you against me.”
She draped her arm over his chest and hooked her leg over his hip, unable to not touch him. It seemed that was all he needed for his bre
athing to even out and succumb to sleep.
With her eyes closed, his skin almost felt like soft fur. She swore she heard him purring under her ear as sleep beckoned.
But there was a slight noise, a scuffling sound that jerked her mind out of the sensual haze surrounding her and plunged her right into danger. She cracked open her eyes and saw the shimmer of one of Merrick’s blades within reach. Even as she lunged for it, she knew it was much too late.
Chapter Twenty-six
“Animal whore.”
A sharp lash of magic cut into her wrist, and the blade dropped uselessly to the ground with a clatter.
Merrick tensed against her, and she grabbed his arm to prevent him from launching himself at the crowd around them. As if he understood that he wouldn’t be able to take them in their numbers, he sat up and pushed her behind him.
Stupid man.
They might hurt her, but they needed her.
They would kill him, and she couldn’t survive the loss of him after she’d just found him.
Glancing around the room, she got the first good look at the people standing over them. They were all in their late thirties or older, all trained witches. There were about fifteen of them and each powerful in their own right, if the speck-like glitter dusting them was any indication.
She peered beyond them, but little more was visible in the gloom. When she didn’t see Weston’s body, the spurt of panic building in her gut eased. They hadn’t killed him. Weston wasn’t the type to go out without a bang. She just needed to be prepared to move when he gave the signal.
As unobtrusively as possible, she peeled away the coating she’d placed over her body to prevent magic from overwhelming her. The instant her skin became exposed, the tiny particles gravitated toward her.
“Old crone.” Merrick growled the words.
“You should’ve handed her over when we asked.” A sneer contorted the face of the woman in front.
A shiver of recognition trickled through Trina. Memories of childhood terror returned, and she narrowed her eyes. “Aunt Kaye. Although I suppose old crone would suit you better. Still dabbling in black magic I see.”
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