by Crissy Smith
“Of course not.” Gage nodded as if he understood.
Marissa panicked. “Gage.”
“Hush,” he ordered. “Well, then I suppose you have the paperwork stating that she does belong to your Pack.”
The smile faded on Brandon’s face. “I do. Not with me though.”
Gage shook his head. “I cannot in good conscience turn over a female who I don’t know truly belongs with you.”
Brandon took one step forward. “You would start a war over this slut?”
Marissa gripped the back of Gage’s shirt. She didn’t think Gage would turn her over to the other man, but doubt still made her stomach tighten with nerves.
Gage didn’t move but met the other Alpha’s stare. “Would you? You are in my territory now.”
Brandon relaxed his stance. “We’ll see about this.” He turned and walked away, his Pack members following him.
“Make sure they all leave, Logan. Then I want you in my office.”
Logan nodded first to his Alpha and then to the other Enforcers who had surrounded them. They all left silently.
Turning, Gage grabbed Marissa’s arm and pulled her towards the house.
“Party’s over,” he threw back over his shoulder at the other members of his Pack, having them disperse quickly.
Marissa remained quiet as Gage led her away. In the shoes she wore, she kept tripping. Gage didn’t slow his steps, however, he just tightened his hold. Marissa didn’t fight, scared and unsure of her future and what Gage would do.
Sam jumped up when Gage walked into his office with Marissa. Gage pointed to the couch and waited for Marissa to sit before turning to his Enforcer.
“I apologise for my action, Alpha. I have no excuse for starting a fight with another wolf without your permission.”
Gage nodded. “Yes. Especially another Alpha.”
Sam’s eyes widened. “I can only say that I was protecting the woman that my Alpha had taken as his own.”
“And for that I thank you. Stand down, Sam, you are not in trouble.”
Sam relaxed. “Is everything okay?”
Gage shook his head and walked behind his desk. “I don’t know. But I have a favour to ask.”
“Anything, Alpha,” Sam agreed without second thought.
“We have a problem with the other Pack. Marissa will be staying here at the main house. I would like for you to go to Elizabeth’s house and bring Marissa’s belongings here.”
Gage saw Marissa open her mouth and then close it quickly.
“Then we are on high alert. I want a full watch. Especially around the house.”
Sam nodded. Logan knocked and entered the office. Gage acknowledged him with a tilt of his head.
“Then I would like you stay here at the house with Logan and I, in case there is any trouble.”
“Of course, Alpha.”
Gage dismissed Sam and turned to Logan.
“They’re gone. The gate is closed and locked. I have four men on guard there,” Logan informed him.
“Good. Make sure Sam has the others doing rounds.” Gage told him even though he knew Logan would take all the precautions that were needed. Still he felt better knowing everything would be in order to protect Marissa.
“Yes, Alpha. No one will get in without permission.”
Gage wanted more security than that. “I want no one else leaving.”
“I’ll make sure of it,” Logan promised and Gage knew he would be taking care of things personally.
Gage looked over at Marissa. She had been silent the entire time. “Get me what you can, Logan.”
He didn’t need to tell Logan more for his friend to understand that he wanted everything on Brandon and the other Pack. Logan glanced at Marissa before he nodded and silently left the office.
Gage walked to Marissa and wasn’t surprised when she leaned away from him. Now was the time for comfort.
“Come here,” he said.
Slowly Marissa stood and took his hand, keeping her eyes down at her feet. Gage gently led her from his office and up the stairs. Once they reached his bedroom, he let her enter first. Marissa walked into the large room and sat on the edge of the bed.
Dropping to his knees in front of her, Gage gripped her hands. “Marissa.”
Marissa didn’t hold back her tears any longer. “I’m sorry, Gage! I’m so sorry.”
Getting up and sitting next to her, he wrapped his arms around her. It broke his heart to see her so upset. “Shh.”
“I…I…don’t know what to do!”
Gage held her close to him and tried to make her feel protected. “I’ll take care of it. Take care of you,” he promised her and meant every word.
“He’ll start a war. I don’t know why. But I know he will,” she managed to get out between sobs.
“Shh. Baby, let him try,” Gage told her as he stroked her back.
“I don’t want anyone hurt because of me. I don’t understand why he’s doing this.”
Picking her up, Gage took her to the head of the bed and pulled the covers down. He placed her gently down. “Please don’t worry, Marissa. I will take care of this.”
Tears still streaked down her face. “I won’t go with him.”
“I know, baby. I wouldn’t let you even if you wanted to.” Gage wiped the tears from her face before bending down and kissing her cheeks, nose, eyes, forehead before placing a light one of her lips.
“Sleep now. I’ll be here when you wake.” Gage waited until her eyes closed before he stood and thought about what to do next.
****
Gage stood from where he sat at the table in his room. True to his word, he worked up here instead of his office. He studied the papers he’d gotten when he’d first looked into Marissa. Logan and Sam were in his office trying to find something else—anything else.
A phone call to another Alpha—Lamont from three territories away—had helped. He had even offered to send his best Enforcer and son Cain down if Gage needed any help.
Grateful to have the older Alpha behind him, Gage relaxed. As Lamont had stated, there had always been something wrong with Marissa’s original Pack. And while they would probably find papers to claim Marissa as theirs, Gage could turn around and file a claim that Marissa had been thrown out and had not been protected by her Pack. Gage knew he had a good case for that. Marissa had been on her own for the past ten years.
It also meant that Gage would have to take her into his Pack to file those papers and keep her from Brandon. He didn’t mind having her there. She’d be a good member, but he wanted more. He wanted a commitment from her. He’d found his life-mate.
The light knock on the door took his attention from his thoughts. Walking quietly to the door, he opened it to Hannah, one of the older females who helped with his house. She had worked for his father before him and had always been a surrogate mother to him.
“I brought you both some bread and soup. And made her some tea,” she told him.
Gage opened the door wider to let her come in with the tray. She placed the tray on the clean side of the table before looking up at him. Hannah had been with the Pack for fifteen years. She had come to his father after a member in her old Pack had assaulted her. Her Alpha hadn’t done anything and Hannah had run away. Gage’s father had gladly taken her into his Pack and his home. She had cooked for the wolves and kept his house ever since.
“You’re doing a good thing,” she said, and Gage could see tears in her eyes.
Gage shrugged at the admiration in her eyes. “I’m not only doing it for her.”
“I know.” She placed one hand on his cheek. “She wouldn’t make it there. It would take everything out of her until she slowly died.”
Gage placed his hand over hers, sharing comfort with her. “I will protect her. Even if it costs me my life.”
“I know.” She smiled sadly. “And that is why I choose to follow you like I did your father.” She left him with that.
Gage walked over to Mariss
a. She was curled up and had dried tears on her face. Running his fingers over her cheek, he watched her blink awake.
“Hi,” he greeted once her eyes opened.
She blushed and looked away. “Hi.”
Leaning over her, he took her lips. Marissa opened for him before wrapping her arms around his neck. Gage moaned into the kiss and pressed her back into the bed. The power and control she held shimmered beneath the surface. She pulled at his shirt, finally getting it over his head. Reaching up, she ran her tongue over his chest. The muscles under her mouth quivered and his breath brushed against her cheek.
Gage used his lips on her shoulders, then pulled the straps of her dress down her arms. She still wore the dress from the ceremony and he wanted it off her. Reaching behind her, he unzipped it, baring her to him.
The rest of the clothes were quickly removed as they touched and kissed each other’s skin. When he positioned himself over her, he held her legs open with his own. As he entered her slowly, they watched each other.
Marissa lifted her hips up to allow Gage to slip in smoothly all the way. He filled her, and she started to move under him. Gage kept his strokes slow and deep, watching the emotions in her eyes as he brought her pleasure. Her mouth opened and small sounds came from her. Gage grunted as the natural pace picked up, his body demanding he take her, the wolf demanding he claim her.
Crying out, Marissa wrapped her legs around his waist, taking him deeper. “Yes. Gage Oh yes.”
“Mine,” he growled. “Mine.”
“Yes.” Marissa eyes glowed, showing the rare glimpse of her wolf. “Yes, Gage, take me.”
Gage slammed into her over and over. “More. I want more.”
“Yes,” she cried out.
“Tell me you’re mine. Mine.”
“Yes. I’m yours. Take me Gage. Claim me.” The words came out, flowed from her without hesitation.
That was all Gage needed to hear. He pulled out and turned her over. He placed her on all fours and entered her quickly, going all the way to her womb.
Gage thrust into her fast and hard. He slammed into her, holding her hips, his mouth running over her back. When he felt her body start to tremble and she cried out her release, he opened his mouth. His canines lengthened, and he bit down, sinking his teeth into her shoulder. Her blood filled his mouth and he claimed her as his own.
Licking at the wound, he cleaned it as he found his own release, pulling her along with him one more time.
Empty and satisfied, he turned her back over and took her mouth. He shared her blood with her, licking the inside of her mouth before biting down on his tongue, filling his mouth with his own blood. He held the back of her head firmly as he forced his blood into her mouth.
With the claiming and blood exchange finished, they collapsed as mates.
Chapter Seven
Gage held Marissa in his arms and caressed her body. She hadn’t said anything since they’d finished the claiming, but she hadn’t pulled away either. Her body remained relaxed and soft against him.
When she rubbed against him, he felt the wetness between her thighs—evidence of the claiming and mating still running through her body. Cupping her round curvy bottom, he lifted her up and onto his thighs.
“Ride me, baby. Fuck me.”
She did. Moving up on her knees, she took him inside. She rode him fast, lifting herself up and down, her clit rubbing against him while he played with her nipples.
“Mine.” He lifted his mouth to take one pert nub inside.
Marissa cried out, riding him faster, taking them both to a fast but powerful climax. Sweating and panting, she fell on his chest.
Gage held her tight. “I love you.”
Marissa jerked and brought her head up. “What?”
Gage laughed at the expression on her face. With a hand in her hair, he brought her mouth inches from his. “You heard me.”
“But—”
Gage nipped her lip. “I’ve claimed you. Why would I do that if I didn’t love you?”
“To protect me. To keep me in your Pack.”
Gage’s stomach dropped. Was that what she really thought? Was that why she did it, allowed him to claim her? Gage started to move her off of him.
Marissa tightened her legs, holding Gage under her. Inside her.
“Marissa.”
Marissa just shook her head. “I’m sorry.”
Gage sighed. He’d been stupid. Thinking she would fall in love as fast as he had. But he’d known the first time he saw her looking defiant and angry that she was the one who would take his heart.
Using his strength, he lifted her off of him. She growled but he ignored her and stood.
“Where are you going?” she asked.
Gage didn’t even turn around. “To shower. We still have a lot to do to take care of your old Pack.”
Marissa watched his back as he walked into the bathroom and slammed the door. Well, that hadn’t gone well. The wolf inside her complained and demanded she go after her mate.
She knew she should have told him that she loved him too. And she did. The first time he kissed her, he had taken her heart along with her soul. He was everything to her, but giving him knowledge of that was hard for an independent woman.
Huffing out an irritated breath, Marissa stood and walked to the bathroom. She smiled when the knob turned in her hand and she opened the door. She could see Gage, through the glass, with both hands braced against the wall and his head bent under the spray. Pulling in all her courage, she opened the glass door and stepped silently behind him.
He jumped as she touched his back. “What are you doing?”
Marissa leaned into him, pressing her naked body against his. “Helping you shower.” She reached over and picked up the soap from the dish.
Using shaking hands, afraid of rejection, she began washing his body. Running her soapy hands over his shoulders, down his strong back, to the sculpted ass she wanted to sink her teeth into, she took in his scent. Mixed with sweat, soap, and her own.
Kneeling behind him, she began to run her hands up and down his legs. She slipped her hands over his body and massaged the flesh as she washed.
When she massaged his cheeks then ran a finger between them, his body shivered. Marissa liked the reaction. Gage had introduced her to so much in the past week. Maybe, just maybe, she could do the same for him. To show him how she felt.
She wasn’t a hundred percent sure what she was doing. Her hand worked on its own as she washed and touched him. Her fingers found themselves between his legs, running over his anus before slipping forward to massage his sac.
He shuddered at her touch and she moved with more confidence. While massaging his sac and then his thick cock, she used her other hand to run over his tight hole. Slowly and carefully, she slipped just the tip of her finger carefully in and out.
His breath rushed out and he groaned. His hands on the shower wall started to shake. Marissa continued to stroke him with one hand while she pushed her finger into the back entrance that had never been penetrated.
His hips moved as she grew in confidence and fingered the prostate. If what she’d read in books was right, he would enjoy this. She knew he’d never had it done before—they’d talked about all their sexual experiences and likes. He’d told her this was something he was willing to try with the right partner. And she was the right partner, the only one he would have from now on, and she was a mate who wouldn’t share.
She matched her rhythm on his shaft, the strokes in and out of his ass, finally pushing her finger all the way inside. His hips moved forward, rubbing against her hands before slamming back against her finger. Gage picked up the speed with his movements and Marissa added a second finger. He groaned and she knew he was close to climax. The hoarse cry that tore out of his throat echoed around the bathroom as his body bucked and he started to spill his seed over Marissa’s hand and the shower tile.
Once he’d released, Marissa took her hands from him and started to kiss h
er way up. When she reached his shoulder, she bit into it. Gage’s body jerked under her. When she slipped between him and the shower wall, she met his eyes.
“I love you Gage. I have from the beginning. And you are mine too.”
Emotions broke out over his face, and he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her all over her face.
He ignored the light knock on the door. When the knock came again, he lifted his head and yelled. “Go away!”
The knock sounded again and they heard Logan’s voice. “I apologise for interrupting Alpha.”
“Then don’t,” Gage complained, keeping contact with her.
“Yes, sir. I wouldn’t, except we have a visitor that has arrived.”
Gage’s face shut down before he reached over and turned off the water. Grabbing a towel, he wrapped it around his waist before looking back at her with hot, promising eyes. He handed her a large towel before yanking the door open.
“And just who did you let in without my permission?”
“Your father, Alpha.”
Marissa’s heart sank.
Gage laughed, surprising her. “I should have guessed. We’ll be right down.”
“Yes, Alpha.” Logan stepped away from the door and Gage beckoned for Marissa to leave the bathroom with him.
Gage pulled his clothes on quickly while watching her do the same.
“I hate to see you cover that beautiful body,” Gage teased.
Pulling on her jeans, Marissa sent him a dirty look. “Well, I’m not meeting your father without clothes on.”
Gage stalked towards her. “Okay, how about just without the panties?”
Marissa moved out of his reach. He could have caught her, but he was trying to relax her. It was obvious she was nervous about his father being there. “Come on! It’s your house now too.”
“Absolutely not! It’s bad enough we both have wet hair so he’ll probably guess what we were doing!”
“Oh he’ll more than guess since we smell like each other and sex.” Gage wrapped an arm around her waist as she tried to pull her shirt on.
“Stop that!” Marissa ordered, but he didn’t miss the smile playing at the corner of her lips.
