The fucker is trying to intimidate me. He’s trying to make me cross the street or turn back.
If he knew what I’m capable of… Knew that I killed bigger, stronger shifters than him without breaking a sweat, he’d be the one backing away right now. He’d be the one hightailing it out of here.
I stare him down as I approach, keeping my chin in the air, keeping my walk nice and relaxed.
His friend with the beard spots me and he shakes his head. “Let him go, Grey. You know the boss is going to whip your ass if you’re caught fighting on the street on a busy Saturday night.”
Grey huffs out a breath as he steps back.
“Yeah, go back inside and polish that pole with your tongue,” I say with a grin as I walk past him. “Like the little bitch that you are.”
He charges at me, but the two other shirtless firecunts grab him and pull him back.
“Fuck you, Cameron!” he shouts. “You and your cocksucking brothers!”
I just grin at him over my shoulder. So far, this night has been great and I’m not even at the bar yet.
The country music and laughter from the bar hit my ears long before I see it. I can smell the stale beer, cheap perfume, and sweaty men as I walk across the street when it comes into view.
There’s something in the air around here and it’s not the fresh mountain breeze. I cough as my throat starts to burn. It’s like breathing in flames. I can feel it searing its way down my throat and into my lungs with every step I take toward the bar.
“What the fuck?” I mutter between coughing fits.
It’s not just my lungs that are acting up either. My bear is on a rampage, charging around inside like a damn maniac. He’s snarling and thrashing around like someone just stole his dinner.
“What the hell, you big bastard?” I whisper to him. “Calm the hell down. We’ll go kick that firecunt’s ass another time, okay?”
He doesn’t settle. He just gets more whipped up with every step.
At least the acid flowing through my lungs starts to soothe. The pain in my throat dulls to a tingling as I open the door and walk in.
It’s getting busy in here with most of the tables taken and one lone girl at the bar who I recognize from the grocery store.
I scan the place for my brothers and suck in a sharp breath when I see them. Jacob is soaking wet for some reason and glaring at a girl who’s getting up from their table.
My bear finally settles as if saying, “See?! See now?!”
I definitely see…
It’s her. The one I’ve been waiting for. My one and only mate.
My senses heighten as my body ceases all movement.
I’m standing in the entrance to the bar staring at her back in awe. I don’t even need to see her face to know that she’s the one. Her essence sends my heart pounding into overdrive as goosebumps prick up along my skin.
It’s her. I can’t believe it’s her.
I’m afraid to move. Afraid that if I take a step or a breath, the spell will be broken and she’ll disappear forever.
“Okay, okay,” I hear her say over the rumble of voices in the bar. Her sweet voice cuts through all the other noise, my senses focused entirely on her. “Let me at least buy you another drink.”
“No!” Jacob roars.
My Kodiak snarls in fury at his tone but he’s not the only one who’s pissed. I charge forward with my muscles flexed and ready to break my brother’s nose for talking to my girl like that.
He’s a dead man.
I’m ready to give him a beating as I charge forward, but that all fades away when she turns around to leave.
Her face stuns me. It takes the furious bear in me and turns it into a lovestruck puppy.
I’m back to staring in desperate wonder as I take in every inch of her. She’s gorgeous. More beautiful than I ever could imagine my mate would be.
She has dark hair that runs just past her shoulders and bangs that sweep to one side. I swallow hard when I look at her green eyes through her black-rimmed glasses, staring back at me in confusion.
She’s feeling this too. I can tell. Maybe it’s not as intense and gripping as it is for me, but she feels it. She must. She’s looking at her mate for the first time.
Her lips part as her jaw goes slack. Holy hell the things I want to do to that mouth…
My bear is pacing uneasily inside me. I can tell he wants me to go over there and take her in my arms where she can’t escape. He wants me to claim our girl and sink my teeth into her neck, laying our mark on her sweet flesh where it will remain for every man and shifter who crosses her path to see for the rest of her life.
Once our mark is on her, every man will know that she belongs to Cameron Dixon and his Kodiak bear.
I get tingles all over just from thinking about it.
“Why is she still standing there?” Easton asks with a laugh. My two brothers and my cousin are staring at her in confusion.
“Oh, shit,” Roman whispers when he sees where she’s looking. “Are they…?”
The feeling of awe surging through me is replaced by a feeling of impatience. Impatience to have her, to touch her, to taste her, to know her, to be mates in every way that nature intended.
My feet start moving on their own, heading toward her as I admire her beautiful face. She has adorable round cheeks and a nice thick body. I let out a low groan when I look at her big hips and picture grabbing onto them as I sink into her from behind. Fuck…
“Cameron,” Roman says when I arrive in front of her, staring down at her in disbelief. She’s close enough to touch, she’s close enough that her delicious scent is drifting up to my nose, making me all lightheaded and weak in the knees.
“What’s your name?” I ask her, ignoring my cousin. I reach up to touch her face, but then suddenly drop my hand, afraid to break her, afraid that I’m not worthy to touch such a divine beauty as her.
“Mary McCray,” she says as she thrusts out her hand. “Nice to meet you.”
I swallow hard as I slide my hand against hers and feel her soft skin. It sends a jolt right to my cock that makes it harder than it’s ever been. It’s trying to tear through my jeans to get to this girl. It’s trying to sink home into her soft little pussy where it belongs.
“I’m Cameron,” I say in a rough husky voice that I barely recognize. “Cameron Dixon.”
I don’t want to let go of her hand, but I do when she pulls it away.
“Cameron,” Easton says with a warning in his tone. “She’s a reporter.”
“Asking about Dylan Burton,” Roman adds.
“How did you know?” she asks, turning around in shock.
She must not know that my older brothers and cousin are shifters who can hear a mouse fart in a field, let alone hear a woman talking across the bar.
“And she was just leaving,” Jacob adds with a firm tone.
“Well, she’s staying now,” I say, shooting him a warning glare.
“She’s asking questions,” he says in a low voice as his dark eyes narrow on me.
I turn back to her. “Good. What do you want to know? I’ll tell you anything.”
“What the fuck?” Jacob mutters under his breath.
Roman slaps his shoulder. “She’s his… you know.”
The realization hits them all and the three of them sink down into their chairs with groans. They know it’s over. They know I’ll tell her anything she wants to know. She’s my mate and I trust her completely even if I know nothing about her. Yet.
“Come with me,” I say as I grab her hand and lead her to an empty table in the back corner.
Adrenaline is surging through my veins at being so close to her. Finally, after all these years I’ve found her. I’m thirty years old and my life is just starting now.
How many nights have I laid awake thinking, dreaming, fantasizing about this moment? How many times have I stroked myself to completion as I pictured my mate’s sweet body? It’s surreal that I can just turn around and look
at it whenever I want.
This is the best moment of my life.
I pull out a chair and my eyes are locked on her as she sits down. Her thighs look so damn tempting in those blue jeans. Her tits are looking delectable in that flannel top. If this bar was empty, I’d be ripping it all off her and having my way with her on the table.
But instead, I sit down with my hands trembling, watching her pink lips as her tongue darts out and wets them.
“I don’t think your brothers like me,” she says with a nervous laugh. “I spilled beer all over the mean-looking one.”
“They’ll learn to love you,” I tell her as my bear watches her in awe. “Just like I do.”
“Ookaay,” she says, looking at me funny. “Can I ask you some questions?”
“You can ask me anything.”
My gaze is laser-focused on her as she shifts in her chair. I’m coming on too strong. Too intense.
I lean back, trying to be cool, but it’s almost impossible. My obsession with her is taking over, making me feel almost possessed with need.
I need her so badly. Why can’t she see that she feels the same way?
I take a deep breath and close my eyes for a second. I just have to go slow. Take it easy. Ignore the intense impulses to grab the back of her neck and crush my lips against hers.
“I can ask you anything?” she says as she stares at me in shock. “And you’ll answer truthfully?”
I glance over at Roman, Easton, and Jacob. All three of them are staring at me in horror. I shift my chair so that I don’t have to see their twisted up faces. I only want to focus on my girl.
“I’ll make you a deal,” I tell her. “You ask me anything for five minutes and then I get to ask you anything for five minutes. Deal?”
Her cheeks start to blush as she smiles shyly. “What could you possibly want to know about me?”
I grin, not wanting to tell her just yet. She’ll find out all the dirty things I want to know…
“Do we have a deal or not?”
“Okay,” she says with a nod. “Deal.”
She pulls out her phone and sets the timer for five minutes. This is going to be fun. She has no idea what’s coming her way.
But I guess, neither did I, because her questions come fast and furious and she’s asking things she shouldn’t be asking.
Dangerous things.
Things that should be kept in the past, buried where they belong.
She sits up straight in her chair and stares me down with her piercing green eyes. “Who is Dylan Burton and what is Operation Storming?”
Chapter Three
Mary
“Are you sure that’s the question you want to start with?” Cameron asks in a deep sexy voice that sends shivers racing down the back of my neck.
He’s so unbelievably hot.
I kind of feel like I recognize him, although I know I’ve never seen him before in my life. I’m sure of that. I’d definitely remember.
This man is a giant with big broad shoulders and a thick neck. He’s wearing a black t-shirt with a tractor logo on it that looks all warped as his huge pecs stretch it out. The sleeves are tight around his big biceps and his forearms are thicker than my calves. Tattoos run from his wrist all the way up under his sleeves and I find myself wondering where exactly they stop.
Cameron has got a long beard and long hair, which is a style I didn’t realize I was into until now.
What’s really got my heart pumping and my breath quickening is the passionate way he’s staring at me. He won’t take those dark brown eyes off me.
I think he’s kind of… no, it can’t be… got a crush on me?
But what else can explain the need in his eyes? The desire? The way he’s looking at me like I’m the air he needs to breathe?
It’s weird this feeling I have. It’s like I’m being pulled to him in some strange way.
Of course, you are. He’s gorgeous. You and every other woman he’s ever crossed has felt that way.
I glance over at Lorraine and she’s watching me enviously. We smile at each other.
A tremble teases through my body as Cameron leans back in his chair, never taking his eyes off me. The poor wooden chair creaks under his tremendous weight as he crosses his arms.
He’s the best lead I’ve had on this story yet and my brain keeps blanking on me. I can’t focus under that intense possessive gaze.
He’s waiting for me to say something. Shit. What were we talking about again?
Luckily, the bartender comes over to ask us if we want any drinks.
“Another beer?” he asks me as I cringe. “Are you going to keep it in the glass this time?”
“In the glass or in my mouth,” I say with a nervous laugh.
Cameron gets all tense as the bartender talks to me. His body is all rigid and tight and his hand is squeezed into a fist like he wants to punch him for daring to talk to me. Or, maybe it’s for taking my attention away from him…
“Anything for you?”
“Beer,” Cameron grunts.
He only eases up again when the bartender walks away.
“Your time is running out,” he says as he glances at the timer on my phone.
3:46.
Damn it! I lost a minute gawking at him.
“Where are you guys from?” I ask, trying to ease my way up to the heavy questioning.
“California.”
“Have you ever been to Alaska?”
He tries to look neutral, but his eye twitches.
“Yes.”
“What were you doing there?”
“Working.”
“What kind of work?”
He takes a deep breath as he watches me. I wish I could know what’s going through his head.
“I was a mercenary,” he finally says.
“Working for whom?”
“The United States Military. Contract work.”
“Have you ever killed anyone?” I don’t need to know that question for my story. I need to know it for me.
“Yes,” he says without hesitation. “But they were all bad men who deserved it.”
I gulp as I look down at his huge hands. A warmth starts flooding through me when I picture them wrapping around some insurgent’s neck as he squeezes the life out of him.
“Who is Dylan Burton?”
He sighs as he rubs his beard, looking at me skeptically. “These are dangerous questions you’re asking. Where are you going to publish this?”
“In American Life Magazine. Hopefully.”
“Can’t you write about something else?”
I glance at the timer and start to panic when I see there are only two minutes left. A minute thirty-five after the bartender returns and slaps the beers onto our table.
Cameron lets out a weird sort of growl when the bartender goes to say some smart ass remark to me.
Without a word, the bartender quickly leaves.
“Did you just growl at him?” I ask, staring at him in shock.
“Yes.”
I’d like to get into that more, but the clock is ticking and my five minutes is almost up.
“Who is Dylan Burton?” I repeat.
He sighs. “A notorious mercenary and my former boss.”
“You worked for him?” God, the stories I heard about this evil man…
“He was the leader of our group, but we kicked him out after an… incident. He then led a team of wolf…”
“Wolves? What?”
“A team of men, bikers actually, who were causing all kinds of shit around the world. Bad stuff I’d rather not get into.”
I’m on the edge of my seat. “What happened then?”
“We went after him—”
“Operation Storming?”
“Yeah, that’s the one. We hunted him down and Easton over there threw him off a cliff.”
“Is he dead?”
“Yeah, he’s dead.”
“So, this mercenary group,” I say, talking as fast as
I can while the timer runs down, “does the UN know about this?”
The timer goes off and my shoulders drop. “I just have a few more questions!”
“Nope,” he says as his eyes brighten. “It’s my turn.”
“What could you possibly want to know about me?”
“You’ll see.”
He grabs my phone and resets the timer.
I take a sip of my beer as I see it starting to count down.
“Have you ever been with another man, Mary?”
I spit my beer all over him in a spray. “What?!”
He wipes his face down with his big palm and then leans forward until he’s only inches away from me. My heart is pounding as his rugged cologne hits my nose. At least, I think that’s cologne. It might just be his manly scent that’s getting me all worked up.
“I said,” he repeats in a low growly voice that has my pussy throbbing with heat. “Have you ever been with another man?”
I shake my head as I stare into his eyes, completely transfixed.
“No,” I whisper. I don’t know why I’m letting him in on the most personal part of me, but I do. It’s like he’s taken over my mind.
He breathes a sigh of relief as he watches me. Everything about him is looser now. His shoulders, his chest, the way he’s sitting. It’s like knowing that I’m a virgin gives him a tremendous sense of relief.
“Have you ever wondered why no other man was able to get you excited? Did you wonder why your girlfriends had crushes and you didn’t?”
What the hell? It’s like he’s seeing into my soul…
“Yes,” I whisper.
I can’t move. I’m completely still as I stare at this man who seems to know me better than I know myself.
“Tell me about your pussy,” he says in a low voice that deepens the throb between my legs. “Do you ever touch it?”
I gulp. “Sometimes.”
I can’t believe I just admitted that to a stranger. He’s got some kind of control over me…
“What do you think about when you’re touching yourself?”
I swallow hard. “Like, which guys?”
He doesn’t like that answer. The tightness in his body is back and his nostrils flare as he watches me with heated eyes.
“I don’t think of any men,” I quickly say, wanting to soothe him. “I think of a presence. A feeling in my chest. It’s weird, I guess. Hard to explain.”
Alpha Possessed Page 2
