by Celia Kyle
“Rachel.”
He stood in the door, all six plus feet of hardened muscle and pure seduction in a tailored suit package.
And all she could say was, “You look tired.”
Because he did. Fatigue etched every line of his face, bags lingered beneath his eyes and his skin no longer held the flushed hue of health.
The left corner of his mouth kicked up in a semblance of a grin, a poor approximation of his cocky smile. “You look gorgeous.”
She knew he lied. She hadn’t showered, hadn’t brushed her hair and was dressed in the rattiest, most comfortable pajamas she owned. “Liar.”
Grant pushed away from the wall and moved toward her, stalked her, with slow, measured steps. “To me, you’re always gorgeous.”
He stood above her, amber eyes intent on her, and she refused to look away. She wanted this last bit of time to drink her fill, notice his every nuance while she had the opportunity. As much as she wanted to leap into his arms and drown in him, she’d have to send him away. She wouldn’t tear his pack apart with her presence, and he was meant to lead those wolves.
“Then you’re blind.” He had to be to think she was anything beyond marginally pretty.
“Hmm…” He eased down beside her and his woodsy scent wrapped around her shoulders like a blanket. “You know, I almost killed Hagan that first day. I couldn’t let his challenge go unanswered, and then you disappeared.” His tone was conversational, with no hint of remorse. It was as if he were talking about the weather.
“Yeah?”
He leaned toward her, his shoulder lightly brushing hers. “Yup. Then, I allowed Carr to recover enough before I took him on too.”
Rachel let him take some of her weight, snuggling against his side. Those tears that had been threatening materialized and a single drop slid down her cheek. He’d fought two members of his sentinels. Over her. The pain of his actions tore at her soul. Wolves fought for dominance all the time, but battling those men because of her presence… That was too much.
“Really?” She swallowed past the lump in her throat.
“Yes, I let them live, though.”
She nodded and lowered her head to his shoulder. Another tear escaped. “That was nice of you.”
“I let the rest of the sentinels walk away once the fights were over, as well.”
Her throat burned. “Yeah, you can’t kill everyone.”
His rough, callused finger tapped her chin and then forced her to raise her face. “I could. For you, to have you at my side, I could kill them all and I wouldn’t feel an ounce of remorse, Rachel. Not a single bit.”
“Grant.” She shook her head. “You can’t. They…they’re your pack. You need them just as much as they need you.”
“But I need you more.” He traced her lower lip with his thumb. “You belong to me.” She’d been rolling those thoughts through her mind all week, wondering if she interpreted them correctly. “You’re my mate.”
And she had.
Which made her cry even harder. Those two single tears were joined by more, droplet after droplet snaking down her cheeks. The salty fluid scorched her eyes, but she didn’t try to hold them back. She didn’t love Grant, not yet, but that emotion seemed to be no more than a kiss away. Her heart ached for him, longed to be at his side for all time. Yet, his wolves would rather battle him than allow her into the pack.
“No.”
“Yes.” He lowered his head and, instead of kissing her, lapped at her tears. “I’m going to claim you, sweetheart. I’m going to sink my teeth into you here.” He brushed her shoulder with his free hand, skimming her exposed skin, and she couldn’t suppress the shiver that overtook her body. “Right here. And then you’ll be mine. My witch, my watcher, my wolf, my mate.”
“No.” She fought against her rising arousal. “They won’t allow it, Grant.”
His gentle licks changed to equally tender kisses. His lips soothed her ragged nerves, traveling over her forehead, nose, cheeks and then further down. He scraped the column of her neck with his teeth, boosting her burgeoning arousal. She wanted him, she couldn’t deny that fact, but she wouldn’t give in. Couldn’t give in. Not when there was so much unsettled. Not when their mating could mean the end of his pack.
“They’ll allow whatever I demand they allow. I’m their Alpha, sweetheart. I’m your Alpha.” He laved the juncture of her neck and shoulder. His inherent heavy flavors of woodlands and grass invaded her. “And if they don’t care for a decision made by the Hemming Alpha, they can challenge or leave.”
“You can’t.”
“I did.” A nip, the sting forcing the breath in her lungs to still. “I’ve fought seven challenges, one per day since you ran from the parking garage. There were no takers this morning, so I came to you.”
She squeezed her eyes shut and gripped his biceps. “How many wolves did you lose?”
The wolves were stronger in numbers. Especially since they’d made vampires their enemies.
“None. I told you I let them walk away,” he whispered against her moist skin.
“None?” She panted, unable to catch her breath. She refused to relinquish her hold on him, actually pulling him nearer. She was desperate to feel his body against hers, revel in his closeness.
“None. We’re a cutthroat pack, but trusting once dominance has been established.” Another lick and then warm air wafted over the damp skin. “I’ve proven my strength and they’ve accepted my decision. You just have to make yours.”
“Mine?” She couldn’t think when he did that thing with his tongue.
With one last nip, he pulled away from her. And she, slut that she was, tried to follow him, leaning toward his muscled body and silently begging for more. Cupping her skull, he forced her to focus on him, and she gazed into his now familiar amber eyes.
“I want you as mine, Rachel. My heart, my mate.” He brushed a chaste kiss across her lips, not pulling away as he whispered into her mouth, “I’m going to claim you, change you, and then you’ll lead the pack at my side.”
“Change?” She wished he’d come closer.
“I’ll mount you, slide my cock into your sweet pussy and when you come, I’ll sink my teeth deep into your shoulder. Then you’ll be a wolf. A beautiful, sexy wolf that’ll run through the forests with me.” His voice had dropped to a deep growl.
“I’m not who you want, Grant. You’re wrong. I’m—”
“Perfect.” The word was more growl than anything, and his eyes flashed a bright yellow. Uh oh, she’d made the wolf come out and play. “Mine.”
He slanted his mouth over hers, not waiting for acquiescence, but forcing his tongue into her mouth. He conquered and claimed while the heated flavors invaded her. This was Grant. This was Wolf. The wolf that wanted her and was going to take what he desired.
The depth of his need overwhelmed her, washed her away in a torrent of sensation until she simply wallowed in the desire he stoked within her. Arousal burned inside her body, catching fire and tormenting her from within.
She met him stroke for stroke, nip for nip, alternating between fighting and acceptance until the heavy puffs of their breathing filled her childhood bedroom.
Her childhood bedroom.
The room in which she spent her childhood and was located in Great Aunt Petunia’s home.
Whimpering in sorrow, she pulled from Grant’s kiss. “My aunt.”
“Is gone. She asked me why I’d taken so much time to come ‘fetch’ you and then she congratulated us on our mating.” He dove toward her, lips, tongue and teeth engaging her once again.
“Wait.” She was dizzy with arousal, body burning. Her pussy throbbed and pulsed, more than ready to take Grant’s cock deep within. “Wait,” she gasped.
Grant shifted his grip until he held her biceps, claw-tipped fingers slicing through the sleeves of her pajamas with ease. “Why? Do you doubt that you’re mine?”
“No.” She didn’t. Not really. There was something deep down that nudged
her to accept him. Whether it was simply women’s intuition or a piece of magic that signaled they fit together, there was no doubt in her mind that they belonged side by side.
“Do you doubt that I’ll take care of you?”
“Of course not.” There was no question as to whether he’d protect and care for her forever.
“So, why are we waiting?”
“Because,” she whined, “this doesn’t happen to someone like me. I’m a witchy, college dropout, crappy secretary, and you’re… You’re you. You’re Mister Billionaire Pack Alpha who could have any woman, wolf or human, at his beck and call.” She huffed. “If you were just the President of Hemming Industries, I wouldn’t deserve you because I’m one of the low, low middle class and nowhere in your league. If it were simply the Alpha thing, it’d be because I’m a witch and you’re a wolf. But it’s all of the above, and I feel like Miss Sucktastica while you’re Super Awesome Man.” She gave him a bland look. “In case you didn’t know, Miss Sucktastica does not end up with Super Awesome Man. It’s proven. In writing. I’ll take you to the comic book store.”
Grant shook his head. “I’ll buy the publisher and have the thing rewritten.” A grin played around his mouth. “Super Awesome Man always gets what he wants, and he wants Miss Sucktastica.”
Rachel melted. Just a little. And she promised herself that just as soon as her brain returned, she’d quit being such a whiny, self-conscious wimp. “Is he sure? I mean, are you sure?”
Chapter Six
“Without question.” She sensed the sincerity in his words.
Pushing away from him, she eased further onto the bed. “Then come claim me.”
Grant’s eyes flashed amber, and she could hear the crack and groan of bone as his face reshaped the tiniest bit. “Don’t say things like that, Rachel.”
She blinked her eyes and feigned ignorance. “What things?” She licked her lips, watched him follow the movement. She reached up and cupped her breast, rubbing her thumb over the hardened nipple. She resisted the urge to moan. Barely. “You don’t want me to tell you to make me yours?”
Snarling, he vaulted from the bed and tore at his tie. The damn piece of material probably cost more than her annual salary at Hemming. The silken scrap of red disappeared beneath his claws and his jacket soon followed. Instead of fumbling with buttons, he yanked on the two sides of his shirt and pulled, sending buttons flying through the room. Next, his belt was slashed with a well-placed nail. The only part of his wardrobe that survived were his slacks.
He let them fall gently from his hips. “Got to have something to wear home.”
Any words that might have escaped died on her tongue. A tongue that she’d like to run over his body as she lapped up the flavors of his skin. The man was pure, unadulterated beauty. She’d given in to staring when they’d been in the safe house, but those jeans had covered so, so much.
Like, a lot.
As in his long, thick cock that grew beneath her gaze.
Tearing her attention from his hardness, she looked her fill of the rest of his body, admired his carved muscles and the chiseled lines at his hips. Those depressions seemed to force her awareness back to his groin.
It was then she realized she was breathing heavy, panting as she stared. Her body was responding to his nearness, coming alive and aroused while in his presence. Her pussy heated, growing heavy and moist with arousal. Her skin seemed to burn with fire, her desire stoked by his closeness. Her nipples pebbled, and she was desperate to ease the growing ache.
Rachel was a ball of unfulfilled need. She wanted him to touch her. Everywhere. Then slide his thick length into her. Slowly.
It was an extremely big cock.
Beneath her gaze, his hand wrapped around his length and he pumped his dick, palm sliding over his shaft. “See something you like, sweetheart?”
Rachel whimpered and squeezed her legs together, sating a hint of her need.
He took a step toward her, and she leaned forward, hand outstretched. Brushing his arm aside, she wrapped her fingers around his cock, stroked him from root to tip and squeezed just below the head.
“So soft and hard.” A droplet of pre-come formed at the tip, and she used that bit of fluid to ease her movements. Keeping her rhythm steady, she caressed his dick, up and down. She listened to the panting moans that came from her…mate? Yes, from her mate. Soul deep groans joined his sounds, and she continued her ministrations.
“Rachel…” Her name was a mixture between a growl and a plea.
Easing closer to the edge of the bed, she leaned toward him, mouth open and lapped at the weeping slit. The flavors of man and sunlight burst over her taste buds and she moaned, enjoying his essence.
“Oh God.”
She was tempted to reply with, “No, Rachel,” but was too caught up in what she was giving her wolf. She licked him again and then suckled the tip, savoring him.
“Yes, suck it, Rachel.” His voice was no more than a garbled, gasping growl. “Suck my cock.”
Moaning, she swallowed more of him, let his length slip past her lips and deeper into her mouth. She held his velvety hardness rest against her tongue, and she reveled in his flavors. He was so hot and delicious, all man, wolf and summer sunrises.
She licked and sucked his cock, taking more with each slide along his hardness. His claw-tipped fingers slid through her locks and his hand gently cupped the back of her head. He didn’t shove or force, but held her as if she were the most delicate piece of china.
She slurped and moaned around his length, her arousal burning brighter with every slide of his cock between her lips. She held him, Grant Hemming, the big bad wolf, within her mouth and at her mercy.
Grant’s hips jerked and twitched, his cock seeming to grow within her mouth and she sucked all the harder. More of his pre-come spilled over her tongue, and she swallowed every drop.
“Rachel. Stop. Gonna.”
She increased her suction, tracing the underside of his cock with her tongue and pumping his dick in time with her mouth. She wanted him to come, wanted him to spill inside her mouth and make him feel good.
Groaning, he slipped from her mouth, pulling a whimper from her chest.
“No, sweetheart. The first time I come, it’ll be deep within this luscious pussy.”
“Hmm…” He’d pulled out of her mouth, but was still within reach. Leaning forward, she suckled the tip, enjoying his weight against her tongue.
With a groan, he pulled away and then nudged her shoulder. “Quit it or I’ll spank your pretty ass before I fuck you.”
She raised the corner of her mouth up in a grin. “That doesn’t sound like much of a threat.”
Grant growled but ruined the sound with his smile. Pushing harder this time around, she found herself on her back, the wolf leaning over her, his body aligned with hers.
“My turn.”
Grant felt her shudder, and he smiled down at his beautiful mate. Her hair was fanned out around her head, framing her within the dark locks. Those shining eyes seemed to glow, and he couldn’t wait to see them shift to amber when her wolf came alive.
Sitting back on his knees, he stared down at her, at his mate. “Do you know how gorgeous you are?”
Rachel crossed her arms over her chest and her face burned a fierce red. She turned her head away from him. “Grant.”
“None of that.” He placed a fingertip below her chin and turned her toward him. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. And you’re mine.”
Not waiting for her to deny him, he released her and turned his attention to her body. Specifically, her ugly-as-sin pajamas. Single finger extended, he sliced through her clothing with delicate precision. The cloth split beneath his sharp nail and opened to reveal the pale skin he’d glimpsed over a week ago. Her smooth skin was free of blemishes and beckoned him like a siren.
He couldn’t indulge. Not yet.
“Grant?”
“Just looking at your luscious body, sweethear
t. Look at all of those curves. All pretty and plump and waiting for me.” He patted himself on the back for keeping his tone even. What he’d wanted to do was growl and snarl and then bury his face between her abundant breasts.
Unwilling to risk touching her skin, he continued disrobing her. Well, he kept on ruining her clothes. A few tears on her sleeves and the top was a distant memory. A few slices on her shorts and they, too, were gone.
Which left his pleasantly plump mate bare to his gaze. Completely. She hadn’t bothered with panties, and now he was gifted with the sight of her naked form.
His memory hadn’t done her justice.
Spread before him, he couldn’t hold his need in check any longer. He reached out, careful of his sharpened nails, and stroked her luminous skin. His fingers trailed over her body, dancing over her thighs, rising higher with his every panted breath. He kneaded her flesh, relishing in the ability to stroke and pet his mate.
His mate.
The wolf wanted to claim her then and there. Demanded even. It rushed forward, attempting to force him to cede control, but Grant held fast. He’d sink his cock, and then his teeth, into luscious Rachel. With time. Her trimmed pussy was flushed pink, the evidence of her arousal glistening on her lower lips and he licked his lips in anticipation. He wanted to lap at her feminine juices.
“Do you know how beautiful you are? All spread before me?” He tore his gaze from the juncture of her thighs to focus on her desire-filled eyes. “I need to taste you.”
Grant’s voice had taken on his wolf’s baritone growl, and he struggled to maintain control. He couldn’t let the beast out to play. Yet.
“Yes.” Rachel spread her thighs wider, opening to him, and his attention returned to her cunt. That deliciously, heavenly place.
Without hesitating, he lay between her legs and eased toward her wetness. The heat of her pussy and the scent of her musk assaulted him, taunted him with what he wanted most.
Groaning, he leaned forward and lapped at the glistening slit, gathering her cream on his tongue and swallowed her salty sweetness.
“Grant!” She opened to him further, and a glance up her body revealed that his luscious mate was cupping her breasts, pinching and plucking her hard nipples.
