She heard the door click shut and lock. Then he was behind her, his heat sinking into her. He grunted.
“You’re gonna want to redecorate, aren’t you?”
Oh god, she hadn’t even thought about that. She was coming to accept this mate thing, but moving in with him, that he’d want her to, hadn’t even occurred to her.
“Probably,” she answered. “But, you know, I have a perfectly good house.”
He stepped around her, shaking his head. “Until I find a replacement, I have to live in the house.”
She couldn’t have heard that right. “I didn’t know you were looking for a replacement.”
He shrugged. “Not yet. But one day we’ll have kids, and I owe them better than this life.”
Her stomach became a knot of nerves. Kids? She didn’t know a damned thing about raising children. Had never considered having any. Of course, she’d also never believed she’d find herself tied to one man, one werewolf, for the rest of her life.
He grinned at her. “Don’t panic yet, baby. We have time before we have to worry about that.”
How did he read her so damned well? And weren’t they supposed to be horizontal about now? His eyes glowed in the dark room as if he knew exactly what she was thinking about. He took her hand and tugged her with him.
“Let me show you around.” He approached a door she hadn’t noticed and pushed it open.
“There’s the main room we entered and two bedrooms, each with a private bath. I use this one as an office.” He shut the door, turned on his heel, and crossed the room to another door. “This is our room.”
Our room? Shit. He did mean for her to move in. He entered the room and she followed cautiously a little afraid of what she might find in there. In her experience, men weren’t the neatest of creatures, and she was a neat freak. She had to have order in her living space. She needn’t have worried.
The room was dominated by a four-poster king sized bed. There was a chair in one corner next to a window and a long dresser stretched across one wall. Two doors on the far wall led to the bath and a closet, she presumed. There was no clutter anywhere, no clothes left lying on the floor, nothing on the walls. It was almost Spartan. Just like she liked it.
It was also masculine. The bed was made with a heavy black comforter. The posts thick columns. “I want to tie you to that bed, Gia.”
She gasped, her pussy growing wetter at the suggestion. She’d always wondered what that would be like. Would not having to have even an ounce of control be as freeing as she imagined? She shook her head in denial. It couldn’t be.
“Why not? I have my own fantasies about you,” he said with a voice full of sin and a wicked grin. He pulled his shirt off, exposing his mouth-watering chest and shoulders, then sat on the bed and pulled off his shoes and socks. When he stood, he reached for the snap on his jeans. There were off in seconds. He’d gone commando, and his cock was hard and thick, jutting out, a creamy drop of pre-cum on the head.
Unable to resist, she stepped forward and stroked a finger along the shaft, catching that tantalizing drop on the head and sucking it into her mouth. His cock jumped, but the rest of his body froze with rigid control. She didn’t want him to have any control.
“Get rid of those clothes,” he growled.
She smiled. Oh yeah. She shook his self-control all right. She walked across the room, knowing he was staring at her ass, he always did, and stopped by the dresser. Removing her thigh holster, she carefully set her gun on top of it, followed with her other holster and knife. Then she bent over, still facing away from him, and unlaced her boots. Stuffed her socks inside and tossed them into a corner.
Her trousers were next. She unsnapped and unzipped them, then shimmied them down over her hips, down her thighs to her ankles. Sensing him move behind her, hearing his heavy breathing, she smiled. He gripped her hips and bent his head to nuzzle her neck, on the spot where he’d left his mark. Sensation surged through her. She groaned and rocked back against him, against the hard cock pressed against her.
“You’re playing with fire, baby,” he whispered harshly, grabbing the bottom of her t-shirt and yanking it over her head.
“Maybe I like playing with fire.” Her whispered dare ended in a gasp as his fingers closed around her nipples and pinched.
“Hmm.” Lips pressed against her skin, sucked it between his teeth. “Let’s see how adventurous you are.”
Without giving her any warning, he picked her up and carried her to the bed. He dropped her in the center and retraced his steps to the dresser. She heard a drawer open, but he blocked her view with his back. She had no idea what he was rifling around for until he returned to her holding up two long black ties.
He arched an eyebrow. “Well?”
She sucked her bottom lip between her teeth, fascinated by the way his gaze zeroed in on the action. His eyes were so hungry. She was tempted to take his offer. Too tempted. He sat on the edge of the bed, trailed the ends of the ties up her side. She shivered at the light touch.
“You’re thinking too much.” His eyes searched hers. “You know I’ll take care of you.”
He would. She had no doubt of that. Slowly, she nodded her acceptance. He didn’t wait for her to change her mind. He had one wrist secured before she even had a moment to reconsider. By then, he’d tied the other, and it was too late.
“Beautiful.”
He spread her legs apart and knelt between them, gaze focused on her pussy. She felt a hot flush spread up her chest to her face. She’d never felt so exposed. His palms rested on the insides of her legs, just above her knees, and she wondered when he would move them. When he’d stroke her into orgasm. Her hips lifted in unspoken demand and he looked up to meet her gaze, a wicked grin on his face.
“Did you want something, baby?”
Now he was going to tease her? She rolled her eyes. “Yes. You have me at your mercy. The least you could do is put me out of my misery.”
“Misery, is it?” His smile broadened a moment before his expression turned serious, almost solemn. “I’ve dreamed so often of having you at my mercy, Gia. The things I plan to do to you…”
He let the thought trail off and her eyes narrowed. That didn’t sound so good. “What things?”
He bent over and sucked one of her nipples into his mouth. Hard. She’d almost forgotten the question when he released it.
“Good things,” he whispered against her, his tongue lapping over her nipple. “I’m going to make you feel so good, give you so much pleasure, you’ll never consider leaving me. You’ll never want to.”
God, was that insecurity in his voice? She couldn’t believe it, but he met her eyes again, and it was clear to see. The bond wouldn’t allow them to separate without a whole lot of pain, a choice she doubted either would make. But even though he tied her to him in the most permanent way, he wanted her to choose him. Knowing that did something funny to her heart. She tried to reach down to cup his face before she remembered she couldn’t. Once she would have panicked. Not now.
“I’m not going anywhere, Anthony,” she whispered, letting him see the truth of it in her eyes. She was afraid he might see her heart there too, but no, she wasn’t that far gone yet. It was like he read her mind.
“I’m going to make you love me, baby, if it takes the rest of my life,” he promised.
She forgot to breathe. And then she forgot all the reasons against caring about him too much, all the reasons for holding a bit of herself back. He concentrated on her nipples. One he rolled between his thumb and finger while he sucked the other between his teeth. She screamed, the pleasure was so intense. So perfect. She sobbed when he moved, wanting to feel that exquisite mouth on her again.
But he didn’t pay attention to her protest, kissing his way down her body. He paused a moment to explore her navel with his tongue then licked his way to the curls that hid her pussy. He spread her lips and blew a hot breath over her.
She tried to lift her pelvis, hoping, desperate
ly needing his mouth on her there. He held her still easily, one strong forearm across her hips holding her where he wanted her. He looked up the length of her body to meet her gaze.
“I want everything, Gia. All of you.”
She shook her head. It must be the mating bond that let her know what he meant by that statement. Complete trust. He wanted her to drop every barrier, to give over all control to him. It was too much, too soon. But tempting. He watched her struggle with the idea, and she wanted to scream at him. Just fuck her already. Wasn’t this enough of a first step? Maybe later she’d be able to give him what he wanted. But not yet.
“Yes, baby. All of you. Right now.”
Had she spoken aloud? She didn’t get to ask because he chose that moment to put his mouth on her. He started with an open-mouthed kiss, a brief, soft brush. Then he pushed his tongue into her sex. She tried to meet his thrusts, the orgasm building so quickly she knew she’d come in seconds, but he stopped. Moved on to lap at her clit. Just as good. Better in fact.
But again, he didn’t let her come. He kept her right on the edge, his knowledge of her body absolute. Every time she was close, he moved to another spot or slowed his strokes or completely changed his rhythm. Each time she wanted to weep in desperate need. She thrashed in his hold, but still he didn’t give her what she wanted.
And then she knew. He wasn’t going to until she gave him what he wanted. She stopped struggling to keep any control and gave into the temptation, gave into the urge to just let everything go. Let him take over. Under any other circumstances she would have laughed at the sense of male triumph she felt through the bond.
He robbed her of the power of speech or anything else, however. She couldn’t even moan. He sucked her clit between his teeth and didn’t let go until she was shaking, until she was screaming his name and begging him to fuck her.
He didn’t make her ask twice. He moved up her body with werewolf speed, claiming her lips in an almost brutal kiss as his cock thrust into her. He took her hard and fast, and she wrapped her legs around his hips to hold on. Her body on fire, another orgasm building fast, and she knew he was close too. A damned shame. She didn’t want this feeling to ever stop.
But of course, it had to. She came, the most intense orgasm she’d ever experienced. It felt as if her mind splintered, her body shattered. She wasn’t sure if she knew how to put the pieces back together and when Anthony came too, whispering I love you in her ear, she doubted she ever would.
Chapter Seven
Soft tapping on the door roused Gia from a deep sleep. She snuggled into the male body wrapped around her and tried to tune it out. Tapping became knocking, and Anthony rolled out of bed before she could protest. He pulled his discarded pants on and opened the door just enough to stick his head out. She didn’t need his superior hearing to know something was wrong. His back stiffened, and he turned his head to look at her.
“We’ll be right down,” he said as he shut the door. Sighing, she got up and caught the clothes he tossed her. Looked like the honeymoon was over. Back to work. She watched him from the corner of her eye as she dressed. He looked disapproving when she strapped her weapons back on. Tough shit. Did he expect her to change just because he’d claimed her? She gave him a challenging look.
“You can’t expect me to like it, baby.”
“I’m a hunter. You knew that when you met me. You knew that when you bit me.”
“I know,” he answered softly. “I’m not trying to change who you are, Gia. That doesn’t for one minute mean I’m happy about you putting yourself in danger though.”
So the man could bend a little after all. She smiled. Teased. “I think I’m pretty safe with the big bad wolf watching out for me.”
He chuckled, ushering her out the door. He stayed behind her. Once she’d thought that was because he enjoyed ogling her ass, but maybe it was just as much a protective instinct. She frowned. There was too much she didn’t know about him, but he seemed to know everything about her. He’d been wheedling information out of her bit by bit for months. He’d got her last secret with the story about her parents. Speaking of which, where was her father? She was waiting when the others entered the office, but no sign of Arthur.
“Where is he?”
Asa rubbed the back of his neck, a disgusted look on his face. “Gone.”
“How? When?” Anthony sat quietly while she asked questions. He must have been told during that whispered conversation at the door.
“We didn’t search him well enough. He had a cell phone. I went in to take it when it rang, but instead he got me with a chair.”
“You’re kidding.” She couldn’t quite keep the disbelief or censure out of her voice.
“I wish I was.”
Just when she was beginning to believe maybe his story was true. But did an innocent man run? She had an unwelcome, disturbing thought. He would if he was obsessed with one prey in particular. If killing that man meant more to him than proving his innocence. “Fuck,” she muttered.
“What?” Anthony asked.
“He went after Burns.” She couldn’t prove it, but it’s what she would do in his position. If he was telling the truth, and some time in the night, she’d started to hope he was.
Anthony’s cursing was more colorful and lasted longer than hers. When he fell silent, she asked, “Now what?”
“We track him.” His voice was rough, almost as much wolf as man. Acting on instinct, the visceral fear any human would feel confronted with a werewolf, she backed away a step. His eyes narrowed, nostrils flared, as the focus of his anger shifted. She lifted her chin in the air. She trusted him, damn it. It was a move born purely of instinct. He couldn’t fault her for that.
“Let’s get going then,” she said, ignoring his ire and its cause.
He didn’t move, didn’t blink, but she swore she could see him thinking. Could hear the words before they were even spoken. He was going to try to order her to stay behind. He was going to do the thing he’d promised not to and try to change her. He smiled, but there was nothing nice about it. She must have looked as mutinous as she felt. What could she say? It was a personal failing.
“Still don’t trust me, Gia?”
She shrugged, unable to resist the taunt. “Guess we’ll see. Do you trust me?”
“And on that note, gentlemen,” Clint said wryly, “it’s time for us to vacate the premises.”
They were all too happy to do that. The traitors. They could have stayed around to stick up for her. But, no, Clint shut the door behind them with a final sounding thud. And Anthony prowled closer. The look in his eyes, a cross between anger and desire and possession had her backing up. Careful measured steps until her back hit the wall.
“Going somewhere, baby?” he asked, pressing his body against hers. His erection pushed against her belly, and at the contact, her womb fluttered. She took a shaky breath.
“Wasn’t planning on it.”
“But you’re backing away from me.”
“Not anymore,” she said sarcastically, but she couldn’t miss the flash of hurt in his eyes and she softened. “You had that look on your face. The wolf in your voice.”
“What look?”
“The one that says you want to kill someone. Or something.”
He sighed, leaned his forehead against hers. “I would never hurt you. One day maybe you’ll believe that.”
She lifted her hands to cup his face, rubbed her thumbs over his cheekbones. “I do know that. It was just an instinctive move.” She rolled her eyes. Joked. “You’re as alpha as they come. You don’t ever back down. I don’t always have that luxury.” Realizing she’d handed him ammunition to lock her up to keep her safe, she rushed to add, “Which doesn’t make me weak. Or incapable of doing the job.”
He heaved a sigh. “Yeah, I was wondering if there was a way to keep you from the hunt. It isn’t because I can’t trust you to watch your back and mine.”
She believed him. Before. But now he was acting un
der the protective impulses of a mated wolf. “What then?” she asked softly, challenging his assertion.
“I can’t lose you.” Baldly said. Raw fear in his voice. “You saw your father. Whether he killed her or not, your mother’s death destroyed him. Badly enough he never even tried to contact his only child.”
“Which is a damned good reason never to have kids.” The possibility scared the hell out of her. God, more than possible. They hadn’t used protection once. She hadn’t even thought of it, and she was always extra careful. He gave her his best wanna bet grin and she slapped his arm. “Not funny.”
He sobered. “No. And I was trying to think of a way to protect you that, yes, you wouldn’t have liked. But I knew I’d never follow through. See? I’m dealing with the fear.”
She glared at him, trying to hide the tenderness welling in her throat. “The baby thing is not negotiable.”
He stepped back and looked her up and down, gaze lingering over her stomach. “It could be too late for that kind of negotiation.” Something in his expression made her think he knew more than he was saying, and she refused to ask. It just didn’t seem right that he could smell changes in her body before she felt them.
A commotion in the hall interrupted the conversation. The office door flew open, banged against the wall, and Julian stalked in. He was just as angry, dangerous, and alpha as Anthony had been moments ago. Carlos and Sunny followed him in.
“What’s going on?” Anthony asked, cocking his head to one side. She understood why. It was rare to see Julian on the edge of control. Gia doubted Anthony ever had.
“You let him escape?” His voice shook with fury.
“Not on purpose,” Anthony answered dryly. He took her hand in his, thumb soothing over her knuckles. “We were just going after him.”
“Gia is not. I’ll go.”
“Gia is my mate and a grown woman. She’s made her choice. Neither one of us has to like it, but we do have to live with it.”
Sunny smiled and gave her a thumbs up. The other predator in the room, Carlos, scowled fiercely, but kept his protest to himself. Good. She’d hate to get blood all over her carpet. She wasn’t fighting it anymore. Anthony was hers, and this was her home. She stepped in front of him and glared at Julian.
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