Spark

by Jessica Coulter Smith

  “Wait!” Spark yelled out, jogging across the road and coming to a stop beside

  Mina. “That’s my dog.”

  “Yours, huh? Well, the law is the law, and since I caught her, I have to take her in. But you’re welcome to stop by in an hour and complete the paperwork to get her back. And, of course, pay the fifty dollar fee for retrieving a pet without tags. Has she had her rabies shot? You know you’re supposed to display that tag if nothing else. It’s the law.”

  “I’m really sorry. She never leaves home without her collar, but she jumped a

  second story balcony for this little jaunt.” Spark glared down at her and she gave him a wolfy grin in return. He looked ready to tan her ass, but she gave him a playful yip and jumped up, placing her paws on his chest.

  “Not very well-behaved, is she?” the animal control officer asked.

  “No, she isn’t.” Spark narrowed his eyes. “You said an hour?”

  “It will take me about that long to return to headquarters and get her processed, but don’t worry. We don’t allow anyone to adopt a new dog for at least forty-eight hours so the owners have time to come claim them.”

  Uh-oh. Mina hadn’t thought of that. She licked Spark’s jaw as an apology and

  then followed the officer to the waiting truck. He loaded her into one of the on-board kennels and locked the gate. She gave Spark a forlorn look and wished she could take it all back. If she’d known how much trouble she’d get into, and that she’d end up costing Spark money, she never would have run. Her brief moment of freedom hadn’t been

  worth the embarrassment of being hauled off to doggy jail.

  An eerie feeling settled over her; she looked out through the bars and saw the

  one face she wanted to avoid. Striker had somehow managed to find her, and Mina knew that could only spell trouble—for Spark and her. Striker hadn’t made it a secret that he wanted her. If he claimed her as his mate, his place in the pack would be assured and Mina’s daddy would have no choice but to relinquish Mina’s inheritance to the smarmy wolf.

  Mina hoped like hell Striker didn’t follow them to the pound. The last thing she wanted was a face-off while she was so vulnerable. If she bit his ass like she really wanted to do, they’d probably put her to sleep for aggression. She just had to hope that Spark beat him there.

  It didn’t take long to reach the pound and the sounds of barking and howls filled the air. Mina wanted to cover her ears and wish herself anywhere but here, but instead she found herself led through the outdoor kennels and placed into an open cage. She didn’t know how long she’d paced the cell, but eventually the officer came to retrieve her. She was happy to leave the cage and her heart soared at the thought of seeing Spark again. Except it wasn’t Spark’s glowering countenance she saw.

  Oh fudge.

  “Mr. Striker, I have to tell you, another fella came up to me while I was catching her and claimed she belonged to him. But since you have a picture of you with her and a bunch of other wolf-hybrids, I have no reason to doubt your story. Can you imagine?

  He tried to tell me she jumped from a second-story balcony.”

  “Well, I appreciate you getting Mina back for me,” Striker told the man, reaching for the leash around Mina’s neck.

  Oh, hell no! She growled low and menacingly, and backed away from Striker.

  “Seems she doesn’t like you much,” the officer commented.

  “Ah, she just needs a reminder of who she belongs to.” Striker narrowed his eyes at Mina. “Because I know she wouldn’t want to hurt anyone. Right, Mina?”

  Is he threatening Spark? Or me?

  “Don’t you think it’s time you went home, where you belong?” Striker asked and

  then jerked on her leash. “Come on.”

  Mina knew she had two options. Put up a fight and maybe get her ass sent to the gas chamber, or follow Striker outside and pray for an opportunity to escape. Neither was an option she was overly fond of. Striker began to drag her through the center to the front door. Before he could shove her outside, a welcome sight greeted her. Mina yipped and strained at the end of the leash, trying to get to Spark.

  “Mina?” Spark asked and then glared at Striker. “What the hell are you doing

  with her?”

  Striker pointed to the Silver Skulls patch on his cut. “She belongs with her own kind. I’ve waited a long time to make Mina my mate, and now seems like the perfect time.”

  “You mean now that Shadow isn’t around to stop you,” Spark countered. “He

  left her in my care and she’s damn well going home with me.”

  Striker let out a belly laugh. “As if the alpha would leave his precious daughter in your hands. Oh, I have no doubt he assigned her care over to your club, but I seriously doubt he chose you specifically.” Striker sniffed the air around Sparks.

  “Especially since you’re not mated.”

  “I won’t let you walk out of here with her.”

  Mina pulled on the leash again, trying to get to Spark. She didn’t care if she

  damn near strangled herself; she wanted to be with him and not the asshole holding the leash. The officer inside seemed to notice the commotion out front and came to

  investigate. Mina doubled her efforts to get to Spark, and did everything to convey a dog anxious to see her master.

  “What’s the problem?” the officer asked.

  “Why did you give my dog away?” Spark asked. “You assured me I had 48

  hours to pick her up and it hasn’t even been an hour.”

  “Well,” the officer blustered. “He had pictures of himself with the dog. Much

  more concrete evidence than your word that she belongs to you.”

  Spark gestured toward Mina. “And who does it look like she belongs to? Does

  that look like a dog anxious to go with the man you signed her over to?”

  The officer scratched his head. “Now that you mention it, she did growl and

  snap at him inside, but I didn’t think much of it. But seeing her with you, I can tell the difference in a dog that wants to go somewhere and one who doesn’t.”

  “I want my dog,” Spark said, almost growling the words.

  Oohhh… So sexy! Mina yipped and tried to reach Spark again.

  “I’m afraid there’s not much I can do. The papers were all signed and everything is legally taken care of. I can’t take her back now, not unless he wants to surrender her,”

  the officer said.

  Striker laughed. “Fat chance. Mina is mine and I’m taking her home now.”

  Striker began dragging her through the parking lot to one of the trucks owned by the Silver Skulls. She fought as hard as she could, even biting him on the ankle when he came close enough. When he reached for Mina and tried to lift her into the truck, she bit his arm and growled, leaving no doubt that she meant business.

  “Bitch!” Striker backhanded her hard enough that she let out a yelp and went

  rolling.

  “Now, see here!” The officer hurried over. “If you don’t hand that dog over

  immediately, I’m going to have you arrested for animal cruelty.”

  Mina played up the part of an injured dog, whining and wagging her tail, as she belly crawled toward the officer. Striker dropped her leash, sneered at her and called her another nasty name, then jumped in the truck and peeled out of the lot. Spark rushed to her side, running his hands over her fur as he checked her over. She licked his cheek in appreciation and didn’t put up a fuss as he picked her up.

  “I don’t give a rat’s ass about your paperwork,” Spark said. “Mina is coming

  with me.”

  “I suppose that’s the least I can do. I didn’t mean for her to get hurt. We take that kind of thing very seriously around here.”

  Spark put her in the passenger’s seat of her car, then buckled himself into the driver’s seat. He gave her a rather intense stare.

  “We’re going to discuss your runni
ng away when we get back to the hotel,

  understood? This could have ended very badly, and all because you decided to rebel and run off in a snit.”

  She whined at him and curled up on the seat, curling her tail over her nose.

  Spark reached over and rubbed her behind her ears, as if to reassure her, then

  pulled out of the parking lot. He drove straight to the hotel, pulling around back and putting up the top on the car. Reaching into the backseat, he pulled out a sundress and tossed it toward her.

  “You’re going to have to shift and dress in the car. There’s a no pet policy at this hotel. Someone already complained about a dog leaping off my balcony and I had to let them check the place out and see that I didn’t have any doggy paraphernalia. Your little stunt has gotten us into quite a bit of trouble.”

  Mina called to her human self and shifted back, not missing the heated look in

  Spark’s eyes as he visually caressed her curves. She tugged the dress over her head and smoothed it down over her hips. The fact he’d never looked away wasn’t lost on her, but she doubted it meant he was going to claim her as his mate, even though it would certainly solve the issue with Striker. Mina had no doubt the man would be back, making a pest of himself.

  Chapter Three

  Spark closed and locked the hotel room door before turning to face Mina. He

  was…furious? Terrified? Perhaps a bit of both. There was a slight bruise forming on her cheek under her right eye where Striker had backhanded her. He’d love to get his hands on the male wolf and beat the shit out of him. Spark had seen his mother abused enough over the years to know never to lay a hand on a woman in anger, and Striker had known damn well that Mina was more than just a wolf when he’d lashed out at her. Spark didn’t care if she had bitten the asshole; she hadn’t deserved to get hit in return.

  He tenderly cupped her jaw and stroked his thumb across her cheek. “We should

  put some ice on that. I imagine your daddy is going to take a chunk out of my hide when he realizes what happened, and more importantly, what could have happened.

  You do know he was going to force mate you when he got you home?”

  “I know,” she said softly. “I’m sorry I ran away. I just… I wanted you to chase me, to see that we could have fun together, and maybe I wanted you to worry a little, so you’d realize that you want me too much to let me go.”

  “Mina.” He sighed. “I already know I want you too much to let you go, but I

  don’t have a choice. Your father is never going to approve of me. If you haven’t been mated yet, I’m sure it means there’s someone special he has in mind for you.”

  She snorted. “Like I want to be a bargaining chip in some deal of his. I want love, Spark. Is that too much to ask?”

  “And you think I love you?”

  “Maybe not yet, but I think you could. Tell me you don’t feel the mating pull!

  Tell me that you don’t believe we’re mates, the destined kind and not two people who were forced to tie their lives together.”

  He couldn’t argue with her because what she said was true. He felt the mating

  pull, knew she was destined to be his, but his hands were tied. If he claimed her, things would turn ugly between his brothers and her club. Not to mention her father would single-handedly destroy him.

  “Just tell me you don’t have the balls to be my mate,” she said with her hand on her hip. “Admit that you don’t have what it takes to make me yours.”

  A snarl escaped him as her words found their mark.

  “Let me make this easy for you,” she said, then pulled her dress over her head

  and let it fall to the floor. “I’m going to take a shower and you’re more than welcome to join me. If you don’t, then I’ll know where I stand.”

  He watched her sashay her way across the room and into the bathroom, leaving

  the door cracked an inch. Spark couldn’t deny that he wanted to go after her, but he reined in his beast and stepped out on the balcony, hoping it would be enough to dilute her scent. Sometime between the animal shelter and the hotel, she’d started going into heat. It wasn’t overpowering yet, but the subtle scent was growing stronger with each passing minute.

  His cock pressed against his zipper as his beast clawed at him from the inside, wanting out, needing their mate. Hell. He had no doubt in his mind that she was his mate, but what the fuck could he do about it? No one betrayed the Shadow, and he damn sure couldn’t betray his own brotherhood. But that’s exactly what he wanted to do. Spark wanted to throw caution to the wind, wrap his arms around Mina, and never let go.

  Minutes dragged by and then a delightful scent teased his nose once more. He

  looked over his shoulder and found Mina, wrapped in a towel, stepping out onto the balcony. He looked around to make sure they were alone, not wanting anyone else to see her like this. When her arms went around his waist, and he felt her press her breasts against his back, he nearly lost control.

  “Mina, stop playing games.”

  “My daddy always told me to go after what I want. And what I want is you,

  Spark. I’ve never wanted a man as much as I want you. Just thinking about you makes me wet.”

  He growled softly. “That’s the heat.”

  She pressed her lips to his back and snuggled even closer. “I won’t deny that

  being in heat makes me a bit horny, but I know the difference in that and what I’m feeling now. I’ve wanted you since the moment I stepped foot in that restaurant, and you can’t claim that I was in heat then.”

  “What do you want from me, Mina? Do you want to spit in your father’s face

  after he’s entrusted you to my care? Betray my brothers so you can scratch an itch?”

  She tensed and then her hands began wandering his body, one sliding over his

  very erect cock. Mina squeezed gently and he couldn’t hold back his groan. Damn, but that felt good! And he’d bet his favorite Harley that it would feel incredible being inside her. He’d damn near give his left nut just to find out.

  “I don’t want to scratch an itch,” she whispered softly. “I want my mate to claim me and make me whole. I want the man I can’t stop thinking about, to want me in return.”

  “You’ve got my cock in your hand. I think you know I want you.”

  She gave him a squeeze. “This part of you wants sexual release. I want the man

  to want all of me, not just what can be had in the bedroom.”

  “Mina, you don’t play fair.”

  “I’m playing to win.” She circled Spark until she stood in front of him, pushing him back toward the balcony doors, and then she dropped to her knees.

  Spark thought his heart was going to stop when the angel at his feet looked at

  him from beneath her lashes. She was sultry and sexy, and he was trying damn hard to remember why he shouldn’t fuck her, but the reason was becoming fainter and fainter, just a memory.

  He should have stopped her when she unzipped his pants. Definitely should

  have stopped her when she took his cock in her soft little hands. And he sure as fuck should have stopped her when she wrapped those luscious lips around his shaft and sucked him like a pro.

  Instead, he curled his fingers into her hair and slowly fucked her mouth,

  delighting in the feel of that silky, wet heat encasing his cock. She curled her fingers around his hips and held on, giving of herself completely. When he was about to blow, he pulled free of her mouth, jerked her to her feet and spun her around. With her hands gripping the railing, he raised her towel and plunged into her welcoming pussy.

  Oh, God! She felt even better than he’d thought. She sucked him in, greedily asking for more, and he gave her everything he had. Every… single… inch. His beast was riding him hard, and he knew he wouldn’t be able to hold back, couldn’t give her the flowery words she deserved. He fucked her like a wild animal—intense, raw passion.

  Not
wanting to leave her behind, he lightly pinched her clit before rubbing it in small, fast circles.

  Oh, Christ! He didn’t think she could get any wetter, any hotter. He pounded into her, not holding back. She tightened on him like a vise and he gave a shout as she milked every drop of semen from him, sinking his teeth into her shoulder at the last moment. Mina whimpered and he felt her pussy spasm around him. Spark eased off her clit and pulled his fangs from her soft skin.

  What the fuck have I done?

  “Spark, I…you were so worth the wait. I’ve never felt anything like that before, and I know it’s because we were meant to be together.”

  “I marked you.”

  She turned to face him, a happy, silly smile on her face. “I know.”

  “You have to hide it! If your daddy sees that mark…”

  Fuck!

  Her brow furrowed. “Spark? What’s wrong?”

  Everything. “I have to go. Don’t leave this room. And put some clothes on!”

  Spark zipped up his pants, tried to ignore the hurt look in her beautiful eyes, and practically ran from the hotel room. When he reached the lobby, he burst through the doors, hopped on his Harley, and peeled out of the parking lot. Spark didn’t stop until he reached the Steel Riders’ clubhouse and ran inside like his tail was on fire.

  “I fucked up,” he admitted to Timber, the club V.P.

  “Is the girl still alive?”

  “What? Of course. I mean, there was a matter of wolf napping earlier in the day, but she’s back at the hotel.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “I can’t stay with her.”

  “Why can’t you stay with her? Blitz picked you personally for the job. He said if anyone could keep their hands to themselves around a woman in heat, it would be you.”

  “Yeah, well…that might have worked better if she wasn’t my mate.”

  Timber rose from the table. “What the fuck does that mean?”

  “I claimed her.” Spark winced. “I told her to cover the mark. I know her daddy is going to kill me, and I may have wrecked things for the club. But she just kept pushing and pushing and…hell, I can’t blame her. I wanted her, plain and simple. She went into heat about an hour ago and I couldn’t resist the temptation of my mate in that state.”