Lena sighed, the empathy she always felt for him rising but like usual, she resisted the urge to comfort him. It didn’t do any good. They’d beaten the subject to death. She understood why he was protective, hadn’t even minded it at first. It was when it got to the point where she couldn’t even open the front door without him by her side that she’d ended things.
He fingered the edge of the frame before placing it facedown on the wood, a first. She’d watched him stare longingly at the picture for hours. She wasn’t sure what to make of his actions now.
“You stink, Lena,” he said without looking at her.
She rolled her eyes and snorted. “I’m hearing that a lot lately.”
He glanced at her over his shoulder with a raised brow. She sighed. “Devin told me that too after I put on makeup.”
Recognition dawned in his amber eyes.
“Devin Moore.” He nodded. An odd look passed over his face. Jealousy? He blanked his expression before she could be sure. “I haven’t seen him in ages. No wonder I didn’t recognize his scent.”
Vader’s gaze traveled over her body. She squirmed under his heated regard.
“I guess I’ve missed another chance at happiness.”
“Please, don’t give me any lines, Vader. I’m in no mood.” She leaned forward and propped her elbows on her knees. “I need your help. Gwen and Molly are at Maggie’s lodge. I’m worried. The lion who cornered us said his pride leader paid two million dollars for Molly. He’s not going to let her go without a fight.”
She turned pleading eyes on him. “I can’t protect her from them, not on my own and I don’t trust Shifter Affairs. Molly,” she paused considering her words, “Molly wasn’t acting quite…normal when Gwen left with her.”
He sighed. “So, I’m good to use in a fight but not to take back to your bed? Dogs are much better in the sack than cats, lover. We give new meaning to the term ‘doggie-style’. I can do things to you I guarantee your cat can’t.” He grinned, tiny fangs peeking below the line of straight teeth. “If you give me another chance, I’ll prove that I’m better than Devin.”
Open-mouthed, she stared at him. “There will be no comparisons. I am not taking another shifter to bed.”
Vader grinned. “So I am better than your cat, huh?”
Not even close. “I am not discussing bedroom gymnastics with you.”
He held out a hand, curled his fingers. “Would you rather act them out?”
She slapped at his hand. “No, Jesus, get your mind out of the gutter for once. You would think after just having sex you’d be sated enough not to want to jump back into bed.”
“Aww, but those women don’t mean anything to me. Nothing compares to having my one beneath me.” He took her hand, despite her attempt to avoid his grasp, and rubbed her knuckles. “I don’t care if you smell like a cat, lover. Once I bite you, you’ll wear my scent.”
“Bite me?” She yanked her hand away, scrubbed it on her shorts. “No thank you. One bite is plenty.”
Vader held a hand up. “Wait a minute. He bit you?”
At the mention of Devin’s mark, it tingled as if eager for his touch. She rolled her shoulder. “Yeah. It really hurt too.”
Vader tugged the neck of her shirt down. He studied the mark for a moment then turned angry wolf eyes on her, a hard glint she’d never expected to be directed her way.
“Are you trying to get me killed?”
Not waiting for an answer, he ran across the room, threw the locks on the door and slid a gun case in front of it. That done, he pivoted on his heel and stalked toward her. Her heart raced but she didn’t run. She’d learned her lesson. Never run from a predator unless you want them to catch you. She didn’t want Vader to catch her. Ever.
“Answer me, woman. Are you trying to get me killed?”
“Of course not,” she squeaked.
His legs brushed her knees. He leaned over her, hands planted on the back of the couch on either side of her head. The derisive look he wore frightened her more than scathing words ever could. She pressed her back into the cushions and held her breath.
“Could’ve fooled me. It won’t take long for your mate to track you down. He’ll be possessive and will try to rip my throat out when he finds you here.” He bent so close their noses touched. “I’ll be forced to fight your male. Is that what you want?”
“There’s no way he can track me. He didn’t see me leave. I took three taxis and a bus on my way here. I’m not stupid.”
He pushed away from her. “Honey, those cats rubbing along the insides of your limbs aren’t there as an accessory. They’re your link to your feline mate. I know Devin’s cats are a bit wild, maybe a little loony, but aren’t they upset at all that you ran from him?” She stared in confusion at him for so long, his brows scrunched. “Umm, Lena, haven’t you realized those spirits inside your head are Devin’s cats.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Vader howled then slammed his fist into the brick wall next to the couch over and over until blood coated it. Finally, he groaned and braced his arms against the wall. “What did he say to you? Does he want to keep you?”
She crossed her arms. “It doesn’t matter what he wants. He doesn’t own me.”
Vader laughed. His body shook so hard he doubled over. After a moment, he twisted around, amusement glinting in his eyes. “Umm, that’s exactly what that mark means. He owns you, Lena. Now the only question remaining is does he want to keep you?”
“Keep me?” She narrowed her eyes. “You know how I feel about shifters who want to keep me.”
He took a threatening step forward. “This has nothing to do with us, Lena. Answer me.”
The harsh tone compelled her to answer. “He said we’re getting married as soon as we find Molly.”
“Good, now I don’t have to kill him.” He sighed. “If I have to lose you, I’m glad it’ll be to a man who loves you.”
“I am not marrying him!”
His gaze dropped to her shoulder. “Sorry to be the one to tell you, lover, but you already did, at least by shifter standards. Okay, technically, you’re at the engagement step since he hasn’t shared his cats with you yet, but you’re not getting away from a focused kitty in love. You’re his.” He nodded as if it were a done deal. “You might as well marry him. Humans like that nonsense.”
“No.” She stood and planted her fists on her hips. “Not only no. Hell no!”
Vader ignored her. He walked back to the bar and grabbed his cell. Realizing his intent, she ran after him. She jumped up to reach the phone. He smirked and held it higher. Hopping up on the counter, he dialed. She tried climbing up his body, but he wrapped his legs around her waist, locking her in place.
With his other hand, he snagged her wrists. She struggled until she heard a muffled greeting. She held her breath and stilled, as if not moving would save her. Too late for that.
“Kade, how’s my favorite cat?”
She couldn’t hear what Kade said, but Vader winked at her before he continued. “So, did you guys lose anything?”
After a moment, he said, “What do I mean? Well, I’ve got this feisty little brown-eyed beauty between my legs that I was just about to enjoy…”
He pulled the phone away from his ear. She cringed when she heard Devin bellow her name. The wolf holding her in place gave her a shit-eating grin.
“Don’t worry, little pussycat. I ain’t letting her get away. She’s all yours.”
When he hung up, she dropped her head on his chest and muttered, “I hate you, Vader. I really, really hate you.”
Chuckling, he patted her back. “Yeah, I get that a lot.”
* * * * *
Like a junkie needing a fix, Devin pressed the stuffed jaguar to his nose and inhaled Lena’s scent as Kade’s ’Cuda rumbled down the highway. He dropped the stupid child’s toy on the seat next to him and cursed, hating his damn fragmented mind.
“You doing okay, cat?” Xander asked
.
He nodded, not wanting to talk, but the nagging questions kept creeping back into his mind, agitating him once more.
“Why is Horace here? And how does he know my female?” And why would Lena run to him? Devin kept the last question to himself, no need to draw attention to the truth—his chosen mate didn’t want him.
Xander shrugged and turned in the passenger’s seat to face him. “Horace joined Shifter Affairs as a liaison to the Council about twenty years ago, after Tabitha went missing. He obviously knows Lena’s family well through his connection to her stepfather.”
Steven Burnett. While Devin had been with Lena, Kade had found out that the human had retired from Shifter Affairs about six months ago. Personal reasons. Nobody had known what those were. Until now. He’d left his lifelong career to care for Molly. They still didn’t know how the human ended up with the cub, or where the child had been for the four years before he’d gotten her.
“If he’s a friend of the family, it makes sense Lena would go to him,” Kade said.
He appreciated his alpha’s attempt to soothe his injured pride. It didn’t change anything. Lena had intentionally put herself in danger rather than stay with him.
“Why did she leave me?”
Xander rubbed the back of his neck. “That’s something you’ll have to ask her, but she probably doesn’t trust you.”
“She’ll learn. I told her we were getting married after we got Molly back. She knows I’m keeping her.” He shrugged. “Once she accepts me as her husband, I’ll finish mating her.”
Xander’s lip quivered before he gave in to the fit of laughter.
Perplexed, Devin stared at him. This wasn’t funny. He’d given his plan a lot of thought. Marriage was the human version of mating. He’d get Lena used to the idea of belonging to him, get her hooked on his sex so she’d never want to leave him. Becoming his mate would be the natural progression and until he tied her to him permanently, he’d be able to keep her close. He’d get to live a fucking normal, sane life.
The wolf rubbed at his watering eyes. “Told her? Why would you do a thing like that?”
Because it made sense. Marrying her was the only way to guarantee she’d be his. Why didn’t anybody else see that? Especially Lena?
Xander raised a brow. “You do realize she’s human, right?”
Devin stared at the wolf, not appreciating his condescending tone. He leaned forward. “You got a problem with that…dog?”
Xander bared his fangs. “No. I don’t. Figured you would. You don’t exactly hold the species in high regards.”
“She’s my one.”
Xander rolled his eyes. “What the fuck does that have to do with it? Just because your animals are drawn to her doesn’t mean you have to mate the woman.” He leveled a hard glare at him. “Hell, I’ve met two potential mates over my lifetime. Both human. You know what I did?”
“Obviously not mated them.”
“You got that right. I ran as far and as fast as I could in the opposite direction. No way am I binding a human to my soul.” Xander sneered. “I’m not spending eternity tied to one female. Variety is the spice of life, my friend.”
“Don’t scoff at monogamy, Xander. My twin will be the first to tell you how sweet it is. And I don’t think Devin has a choice in the matter. He marked her womb,” Kade said.
“Keep her as a lover then.” Xander ignored his snarls and chuckled. “Come on, Devin, Lena’s got that ‘girl next door thing’ going on, but she’s not exactly your type.”
He lunged for the wolf’s throat. Kade’s knuckles met his face as he backhanded him, the rough crack splitting his lip.
“Enough.” Kade parked the car in the packed lot of Sandra’s Gentlemen Club. He gave the retro joint a once over before he peered over his shoulder, his golden eyes piercing him. “Xander’s right. You look at her as if she’s the most beautiful woman in the world, but she isn’t the type you normally take to your bed.”
No, she wasn’t, and he felt shallow admitting that, even if only in his head. He’d always favored tall, buxom blondes, not short, feisty brunettes who’d just as easily bite him as kiss him.
Devin got out of the car after sliding his sunglasses back on, the brown contacts long gone. He was done with this conversation. There was nothing more to discuss. Lena was his. No need analyze it.
Xander slammed his door. “So that’s it. You’re mating her?”
Devin stopped mid-step. He turned his head and stared at Xander. Minutes passed before Xander cursed and stormed off.
Kade stepped up next to him. Bumped his shoulder. “Let’s go get your woman.”
He nodded and strode toward the shady strip club. The scent of sex drifted to him. He ignored it and focused on the breath of life he’d become addicted to.
Chapter Thirteen
Lena paced in front of the bar in Vader’s apartment. The annoying man had left the gun case in front of the elevator door so she couldn’t escape and had padlocked the door to the stairs. Hands fisted on her hips, she pivoted around and glared at him.
“If he kills me, it’s your fault!”
Vader flashed a wicked grin. He reached out and grabbed a lock of her hair. She slapped his hands away and he chuckled. “Darling, unless you die from multiple orgasms, killing you won’t be on his to-do list. That cat wants you back. I doubt you’ll ever get away from him after this.”
“So you’re selling me into slavery. Thanks a lot, Vader. I thought you were my friend.”
The naughty smile faded, replaced by fierce look she rarely saw him wear. The tightness in his jaw kicked her pulse up. She locked her knees to avoid backing away from him. He hated when she called him ‘friend’.
“I am. Otherwise, I would’ve run for the hills as soon as I scented a cat on you. You reek of him, baby. He didn’t need to apply his scent so deeply but he did. That cat is literally imprinted on your body. You ain’t ever getting rid of him.”
She fisted her hair so hard she was surprised chunks didn’t come out. “I don’t want him.” The lie slipped from her lips with ease but her heart squeezed tight. Truth was she wanted him packed inside her body as far as he’d go.
“Really? Then why do you smell aroused now?”
She scrunched her nose and took a few steps back. “Gross. I don’t want to hear that.”
“Well, it’s the truth. A canine’s sense of smell is better than a cat’s. Not only do you stink of him, talking about Devin has got your juices flowing. You want him, lover.”
She vibrated, her confusion mixed with fear and yes, arousal. She stomped her foot—a very childish act, but she didn’t care. “Wanting his cock is one thing. It’s the whole ownership ‘I’m keeping you forever’ thing that has me mad.”
He reached a hand out toward her, let it fall with his exhaled sigh. “Don’t throw away a promise of forever. Love doesn’t come around often.”
“He doesn’t—”
The groan of the elevator stopped her words. She retreated to a spot behind the bar. Vader slid off the counter and shoved the heavy gun case out of the way as if it weighed next to nothing. The ding of the elevator’s arrival rang out. She clutched the countertop, heart pounding hard against her rib cage.
The wood-paneled doors opened and there he was. Devin stood ramrod straight, a pair of sunglasses shielding his kitty eyes and Joe, her stuffed jaguar, clutched in his hand. She’d picked up the little toy after Rick had moved out five years ago. Sleeping alone had been impossible. She’d felt silly at the time but her jaguar had made the nights alone bearable. Of course, if Devin wasn’t such a jerk, she could’ve had the real thing to clutch when nightmares disrupted her sleep.
“Lena.”
He dropped the toy and strode toward her. She backed into the living room. Her legs smacked into a chair. She glanced from his hardened expression to the open elevator. Her only escape. She shoved the stool at him and ran for the exit.
Devin’s curse rang out followed by a crash. She
made it past the kitchen where Vader leaned nonchalantly against the counter with a smirk on his face, then stumbled to a halt. Devin was suddenly in front of her, lips raised in a snarl. She glanced from his swirling eyes to the slowly closing elevator doors and bolted under his outstretched arm. With one hand, he snagged her around the waist and yanked her against him.
“Mine,” he growled as he wrapped his body around hers, curling his frame so his nose pressed into the base of her neck. He inhaled loudly, tightened his grip and purred, the sound so comforting she relaxed into his embrace. A breathy sigh slipped from her lips as he nuzzled against her jaw.
The hushed words of the other men drifted to her, Vader likely telling them about Molly, but all she could focus on was the deep rumble of contentment coming from Devin. Hearing him purr did something funny to her heart. It swelled. She realized holding her made Devin feel good, not only sexually, but as if she really mattered to him. What was she supposed to do with that knowledge?
After a long moment, he gripped her hips and lifted her so she was staring into his eyes. He gave her a gentle shake. “Don’t ever leave me again.”
Every time she started to soften toward him, he said something to piss her off. She glared at him until uncertainty scrunched his brows. “Don’t order me around, Devin. I won’t allow any man to control me. You do not own me.”
“Angel, I know you don’t want to hear it again, but I do. You wear my bite. You belong to me.”
She fought his hold, punching and kicking at him until her knee connected with his groin. He cursed and hunched over. Releasing her, he cupped his jewels and pierced her with a deathly stare. She covered his mark with a shaky hand.
“I don’t care what you say. This scar does not give you the right to tell me what to do.” She trembled, hated the sign of weakness and straightened her spine. “Maybe your shifter females like their males to grind their teeth into their shoulders but I’m not one of them. Pick one of your fuck buddies to take as your mate. I don’t want the role and I sure as hell don’t want to be your wife.”
Beautiful Mistake: 2 (Royal Pride) Page 18
