“I…”
“Accepted your place as my mate.” He ran his hand along her back. “Tonight, we’re going to have dinner together. Just the two of us. Knowing Luca’s mother, she’s going to whip us up something amazing. Afterwards, I’ll take you over to the new building and show you around. To answer your question, we’re going to give shifters who need to escape vindictive Alphas a new start. I’ve taken the concept of Manetka Resort which is run by the Texas Tigers and made it my own. This place will be a haven for those like Merrie who need to regain their confidence before they can move on with their lives.”
“Untamed Oasis? Untamed could show the wild side of your inner beast while oasis means a safe place. A mixture of beast and peace.”
“That’s better than anything I’ve come up with.” He pressed his lips to her forehead. “Care to join me for the call with the web designer? I think you could give him some tips on a professional but unique design. A woman’s touch is just what we’ve been missing.”
“Should I expect the new building, will be needing a woman’s touch, too?” She leaned against his chest. “I’ll be there for the call and whatever else I can do.”
“Good, and Rachel has helped with the designs but I’m sure she could use your help. Maybe you can get Mella involved in that, too.”
Her body froze at the mention of Mella. “What are we going to do with her? She seems in a better mood today but she’s going to want to go back to class. College has been her escape. She might give us the week but by Friday, she’s going to be a nightmare. She likes the party life she has at college.”
“I’ll handle her,” he assured her. “I think she likes being alive more than attending a party. At least, I hope so.”
“Thanks.” She rested her head on his chest. “I’ve known you less than a day but I feel like it’s been so much longer.”
“I know.” His fingers tangled in her hair. “We’ve got the rest of our lives.”
The rest of our lives. That sweet statement sent butterflies through her stomach. In his arms, she felt as though she belonged. This was where she was supposed to be, where she could feel so good. More than anything, she felt loved. If someone had asked her a few days ago if she believed in fairy tales or love at first sight, she would have told them ‘not a chance’. Now, she knew all of that existed. She was falling in love with him.
No, I’m already in love with him.
Chapter Fourteen
Two days passed without out a word from Donald, yet Layla couldn’t relax. Every ounce of her being told her it wasn’t over. Donald was patient, likely waiting for his opening and then he’d make his move. Every loud noise she heard, she expected it to be him. Every time darkness fell, she waited for him to creep into the compound and find her. It was nerve-wracking to live constantly on edge but it wasn’t worse than living with him.
“There you are.” Korbin came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. “I’ve been looking for you.”
“Rachel asked me to help her with the new living quarters and once we were done, I wanted to come back here.” She twisted around in his arms until she could look at him. “Your living quarters are complete. Why haven’t you moved in?”
“I was waiting until everything was complete. Tomorrow the clan members will begin the moving process. By next week, it will be ready for guests.”
“Why so quick? Before, you said it would be a few weeks. What changed?”
“Everyone came together to get it finished earlier. The clan wants to put the past behind them and destroy the old building. Sparks wants to blow it up, but we’re going to demolish it properly. For anything anyone wants to burn, we’ll have a bonfire. It’s time for it to be over once and for all. We’re beginning a new era.”
“A new era. Fresh starts.” It wasn’t just the clan that was getting a new beginning, but so was she. At least as long as Donald stayed away.
“One with an Alpha Female for the clan, I hope.”
“Then why haven’t you claimed me?” She hadn’t meant to ask the question but before she could stop herself, it was out in the open.
“You’ve been dealing with a lot. I wanted to make sure this was what you wanted.” His arms tightened around her, pressing her tight against him. “And I wanted to do it here. That place wasn’t where I wanted our lives to begin together. It’s too full of darkness.”
“We’re standing in our new place, alone, so…” She sucked her bottom lip between her teeth. “I mean we’ve got the place to ourselves, so why not?”
“Are you sure you know what you’re getting into?”
“I understand as much as any human in this situation.” She looped her arms around his neck. “I’ve spent the last two days with Rachel. She’s shown me the ropes and explained more to me than I thought was possible. The clan is like a family, your family, and you’re the head of the household. I know the clan suffered under their last Alpha and you’re still trying to put the pieces back together, but you’re doing an amazing job. I’m still not sure where I fit into all of this but I want to help. I’ll do what I can to help you and everyone here.”
“Compassion. That’s one of the things I love about you.” He leaned forward, his warm breath caressing across her face a second before he pressed his lips to hers.
Her arms around his neck, she drew him down closer to her, a soft moan escaping her throat. Eager, she tangled her fingers in his hair and allowed her tongue to slip between his lips. Before she could deepen the kiss, he pulled back, breaking the physical connection.
“Layla…”
“Don’t stop. Make me your mate.”
“Are you sure about this?”
“Yes.” She slid her fingers along his chest, slowly undoing the shirt buttons as she worked her way down. “I want this. Don’t you?”
“I’ve wanted you since the moment I stepped into the gatehouse and saw you.” Grabbing hold of the hem of her sundress, he slid the thin material upwards, his fingers teasing along her flesh as he did. “I want you naked.”
“Keep lifting and you’ll get your wish.” With his shirt unbuttoned, she pulled it from his jeans before sliding it off his shoulders. Before she could explore his chest like she wanted, she finished removing her dress.
“Fucking beautiful.” Exploring hands went over her curves, working toward her breasts. “You’ve been naked under your dress all day.”
Biting the corner of her lip, she nodded. “After Mella and I took a swim earlier, I was hoping to find you and well…seduce you.”
“Lie down on the bed.” He unhooked his jeans, tugging them down his powerful legs.
“I could feel the irritability. Rachel said it was from your tiger growing impatient.” She leaned back against the pillows, her gaze focused on him. “There was no reason to torture yourself. I’ve been waiting for this.”
Now naked, he climbed onto the bed and pressed his body along her side, slightly hovering over her. “I can taste the truth of your words. My tiger has known you were ready, but the human side of me insisted you needed more time.”
“Just kiss me.” She dragged her fingers along his chest, working her way down.
He watched her for a moment, as if taking her in, and then claimed her lips. Timidly at first, but the first taste was enough to urge him forward. Exploring the contours of her mouth with his tongue, he trailed his hands up her thighs.
“I need you.” She rose up to him so the front of their bodies nearly touched, her hand wrapped around his shaft. Gently working her way down his length, she let her nails tease along the underside. “Lie on your back.”
“Layla…”
“Shh.” With her other hand, she pressed against his chest, forcing him onto his back. When he had him where she wanted him, she scooted down the bed, stroking him, her gaze on his.
“Baby.” Wrapping a hand around her bicep, he tugged her upwards lightly.
“Let me.” She leaned forward, kissing the tip of him before taking him
into her mouth. With her hand, she worked at the base, slowly at first, gradually speeding her pace with every move she made.
His hips jerked upwards, which sent him deeper into her mouth until she could feel him in the back of her throat, cutting off her air. His fingers tangled in the strands of her hair, holding her close. As his hips dropped back onto the bed, she worked her mouth up and down the length of him, milking the life out of him.
He moaned her name as his fingers dug into her flesh. “Not like this. I want to claim you as my mate and that won’t happen like this.”
She let him slip from her mouth and he pulled her up to lie beside him. He kissed her neck, nibbling down her jawline to her shoulder. She let him have a few more minutes of exploration, since he’d finally made it to her breasts. Wrapping his mouth around her nipple, he flicked his tongue over the bud, drawing it to full hardness. He teased over the other one, tweaking it until it stood at attention. Her nipples had always been extra sensitive, the slightest touch bringing her pleasure. She moaned in ecstasy when his tongue flicked over one hardened tip.
“Korbin,” she rasped, her voice hoarse with desire rushing through her.
He let her nipple slip from between his lips and hooked her gaze. “What? It’s fair for you to tease me but not the other way around?” His eyes gleamed and his lips curved up into the cocky smile she had fast come to adore.
“I feel like I’ve waited so long for this night. I want this.”
“You need to understand the mating connection established during sex is not one that can be broken. We will be joined together for the rest of our lives.”
“There’s no one else I’d rather spend the rest of my days with.” A crazy thought, but then, there was nothing normal about what had happened in the last few weeks of her life. She ran her hand along his arm, teasing her fingers along the hard muscles.
A smile pulled his lips upward but instead of the cocky grin he’d shot her moments earlier, this was a true smile. The rarity of it made her reach out and cup the side of his face. The rough stubble teased her flesh, reminding her of him. When she’d first met him, he seemed hard and closed off; now she could see the soft, nurturing side that lay underneath.
A soft, rumbling purr vibrated through his body as she caressed his cheek. “My tiger.”
“I love it when you say things like that.”
“My tiger,” she whispered again. “Kiss me.”
“Are you trying to rush me?” He didn’t give her a chance to answer as his lips came down on hers. This kiss was deeper, more passionate, as if he was trying to claim her with only his mouth.
Exploring his nakedness, she found his hips. She wanted to wrap her hand around his shaft, to feel the hardness in her palm and know she caused it. “Mmmm,” she moaned softly, unable to form any words as he kissed a path down her neck. Sensations collided and threatened to overwhelm her.
“Mine.” He nuzzled her neck. “Always.”
Before she could agree, he nipped her neck, applying just enough pressure that her breath escaped her lungs in a deep exhale. She grabbed hold of his hips, pulling him tighter to her.
“You like that, baby?” Not waiting for an answer, he kissed a path down her chest until he reached her breast. He dragged his tongue in lazy circles around her nipples and watched her intently. Teasing her nipples gently, pulling them between his teeth until they stood to attention, he rested his weight on an elbow and used the other hand to explore the length of her body. He traced every curve as if he was trying to memorize her.
He blazed a trail of kisses across her stomach, stroking her thighs with his fingertips. With every touch, she arched her hips into him, demanding more. Desire coursed through her and her thoughts got lost within the sexual haze. With each move he made, she urged him further, speeding the pace.
Unable to wait any longer, she spread her legs farther, giving him the access he needed, and hooked her ankles along the back on his thighs, pressing him toward her. “Now, Korbin.” She wasn’t sure what made the need rise within her, but her control had reached its limits and she needed him inside of her.
Understanding what she needed, he slid his shaft into her core, his girth stretching her as he worked deeper into her. He slowly pushed and pulled back out before thrusting in again, until he filled her completely with his manhood. As he pushed into her completely for the first time, a warmth filled her and she could feel his tiger. She stared up at him in disbelief. She swore she could feel the soft fur brushing against her skin, but how was that possible?
“We’re joined as one. My tiger is making his presence known.”
“What? You said—”
“I’m not shifting.” He let out a light chuckle, sending his shaft twitching inside her. “Metaphorically speaking…he wants you to feel him. The power within me, the tickling of the soft fur along your skin, and the growls as I make you mine. There’s nothing to be afraid of,” he reassured her.
“I’m not afraid of you.” She smiled. “Make me yours.”
The first few strokes were slow, giving her a chance to adjust to him, but with every thrust, his pace increased, intensifying with every jerk of his hips until she was arching into him and they slammed their hips off each other. The thrusts became deeper and faster, falling into a perfect rhythm. Their bodies rocked back and forth, tension straining his muscles as she fought for the release she longed for. The desire hit her stronger than anything she’d felt before, urging her forward, demanding she find her release.
“Korbin!” Screaming his name, she arched her body into his as her climax coursed through her, her nails digging into his hips and leaving deep welts and angry red scratches.
He pumped twice more before he growled her name and his release followed. “Mine.” He stayed perched over her with his shaft buried deep inside of her, watching her.
“My tiger,” she said breathlessly, rising to press her lips against his. The kiss was soft and barely more than a peck before the mating connection overwhelmed her. “I can feel them—your clan. How do you handle all the emotion, all the chatter within your mind?”
“In a few moments, it will get better. I promise.” He slipped out of her to lie beside her, cuddling her against the side of his body.
It didn’t feel like it was getting any better. Rather, the sensations became more overwhelming. The clan was small, with fewer than two dozen members, but with all of them rushing through her thoughts, the end result was crushing. Just when she thought their fears were the worst, she was hit with the devastation their former Alpha had delivered to them. Visions of pain, torture, and death stole her breath and tightened her chest. Merrie wasn’t the only one suffering; her pain might have been the worst but she realized now why Korbin had decided to send her to Alaska to get her the help she needed. She was slowly draining the whole clan of their life, reminding them of the horrors they’d witnessed. She needed more help than he could give her, while still trying to focus on everyone.
“I understand now.” She pressed herself closer to him. “They’ve been through so much, and now I’ve brought more problems upon all of you.”
“Bullshit.” He hooked a finger under her chin, forcing her to look up at him. “You brought life and hope back into this clan. They worked twice as hard to get this building ready for you so we could move forward. You’re the Alpha Female, my mate, and we’ll lead this clan into a brighter future.”
One that will include Merrie.
Chapter Fifteen
Daybreak brought insanity as the clan moved into the new building. What Layla hadn’t expected was the change in the members, especially the bright smile they gave her as they moved past with their boxes. Do they know? She wondered how much they could sense as she scanned the lobby, looking for Korbin. Where was he? Had something changed about her scent, allowing them to smell Korbin had officially claimed her?
“Layla.” Mella jogged across the room, her phone clutched in her hand.
Placing the box she was
carrying on the end table, she weaved her way across the lobby toward her sister. “What’s wrong?”
“Where’s Korbin? Ted? Someone?”
“Mel—”
“It’s Donald.” Mella held out the phone toward Layla so she could read the text message still displayed on the screen.
Get this message to your sister and Ted: a trade. Layla for them. Deadline, midnight.
Below the message was an image: Ted’s parents tied up to a chair. Instead of rope, they were bound in thick metal chains. Layla snatched the phone out of Mella’s hands and studied the picture, searching for any clue that it might be fake. Fear overcame her as she stared into Mrs. Hillbrand’s eyes. The pain and anger in her eyes had brought her cougar close to the surface, allowing the pupils to shrink to pinpoints and the greenish-yellow hues to come forward.
“How can he…” Her throat tightened, stealing her words from her.
“Layla,” Korbin called out to her as he ran toward her. “What’s wrong, baby?”
Before she could say anything, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against his body. The fear subsided a little under his touch but as she spotted Ted helping another member carry a large sofa, the wells holding back her tears broke. “It’s all my fault. They’re going to die because of me. I’ve got to go.”
“What are you talking about? Who, baby?”
“The Hillbrands.” Mella grabbed the phone from Layla’s hand and gave it to Korbin.
“What’s happening? I heard my name.” Ted suddenly appeared next to them, the sofa sitting in the middle of the room, forgotten. His gaze landed on the phone Korbin was still holding. “I’ll fucking kill him!”
“Oh Ted…” Layla reached out to take his hand but at the last minute, she pulled back. He’ll blame me. He has every right. This is my fault.
“Ted.” Korbin handed the phone to Zaz, who joined them. “Let’s put a plan together and we’ll deal with this. Together.”
She surveyed the room; most of the people in view were openly watching her. Even as Sparks and some of the other guards gathered around them, blocking their view, some craned their necks trying to see what was happening. “I can’t. I have to get out of here.”
Alpha Claimed (Alaskan Tigers Book 13) Page 12
