Under His Skin

by Stacey O'Neale

  She tilted her head to the side. “You don’t like it?”

  He wanted to rip it off her and take her right on top of the bakery counter. “No, I don’t.”

  “Really? What don’t you like about it?” She ran her finger down the neckline of the dress, landing right in the center of her cleavage.

  All the blood in his brain drained down into his throbbing dick. “It’s too short, for one. I mean, where is he taking you? A strip club?”

  She scowled at him. “Kaden, are you suggesting I look like a stripper?”

  Shit, this was going bad real quick. He took a step toward her, and she took a step back. He kept going until she backed herself into the wall. He pressed his palms onto the wall by her upper arms, boxing her in. “I’m saying the dress isn’t you.”

  Defiance filled her eyes as she tried to wiggle free. “How would you know? Maybe this is me.”

  The more she tried to escape, the more his body ground into hers. When her stomach pressed into his, her eyes widened. There was no point in hiding his desire now. “I know because I make it my business to know.”

  “Let go of me,” she said.

  He let his hands fall to his sides, but she didn’t move away. They stared at each other, neither willing to budge. Annabelle rarely displayed any anger. She was always so sweet and shy. Her breath tickled against his mouth. Seeing her like this turned him on even more. The silence finally broke when he exhaled a long breath.

  The rules he had set for himself were suddenly unclear. All he could think of was Annabelle—the sexy little temptress he had to have. Would it really be so bad if they had sex? He should test Hayden’s theory. Wouldn’t it be better for everyone to find out if she was his mate? Perhaps if he told her the truth, she would agree to keep his true identity a secret. Maybe then the FBI wouldn’t stand in their way.

  She bit her bottom lip, and it was all over.

  He cupped her face in his hands, crushing his lips into hers. Angry and raw after all these months, he couldn’t hold himself back any longer. It wasn’t gentle or sweet. It was powerful and full of need. A quiet moan escaped from her throat, inciting another rushing wave of desire through him. Her lips parted, inviting his tongue inside her mouth.

  His hands snaked down to her shoulders. Kissing her neck, he stopped when he reached the sensitive area between her ear and shoulder. “I want to touch every inch of you,” he whispered.

  “Yes, please,” she said between heavy breaths.

  Gripping the skinny straps of her dress, he slid them down her arms, exposing her perky breasts. “You’re so goddamn beautiful.” She made a soft sound as his thumbs circled her pink hardened peaks.

  “Don’t stop. Please don’t stop,” she begged.

  He knelt down in front of her, preparing to take one of her nipples into his mouth, when his heart pounded in his chest. Except this time, his heart didn’t stop. It was beating in unison with hers. He startled. There was no longer a question in his mind—Annabelle was his mate. The bond between them grew each time he was in her physical presence. He leaned his head against her stomach. There would be no way to hide this. At the rate he was going, his need to be around her would soon make it impossible for him to stay away.

  Reality set in—he had endangered everyone he loved.

  He stood up, backing away. There had to be a way to reverse this. Hayden said the bond might work differently in his human body. He held out hope that he hadn’t ruined everything. “I’m sorry. This was wrong.”

  “What do you mean?” she asked, eyes wide with surprise.

  “This,” he said, pointing at her and then himself, “can’t happen between us.”

  “Kaden, it’s all right.” She scurried to put her dress back into place. “I’m glad it happened. Please, let’s just talk about it.”

  Although he ached to touch her, he continued to put as much space as he could between them. “I know better and I—” He cut himself off. Rubbing his hands over his face, he continued, “It never should’ve happened.”

  “Well, it did.” Hurt tinged her tone.

  His chest ached from causing her pain. He owed her an explanation, and she deserved better than this. But there was nothing left he could say. No way of really explaining himself without revealing the real truth to her. Guilt overwhelmed him. He had to get out of here.

  And with that, he hurried toward the door, refusing to make eye contact with her as he left. He winced when the door slammed shut behind him.

  Chapter Six

  Annabelle had never seen a man look more miserable than Michael did sitting across from her at Corks Bar & Grill. He’d had the misfortune of showing up early for their date, leaving her no time to pull herself together. The poor guy had done everything he could to try to start a conversation as they made their way to the restaurant. But the date was over before it began.

  Annabelle couldn’t get Kaden out of her mind.

  The moment she opened the bakery door, his blue eyes had filled with desire. No man had ever looked at her so intensely, like at any moment he would rip her clothes off and ravage her on top of one of the tables. Tension built between her legs as his eyes slowly took in every inch of her. But when he’d kissed her—her body exploded. Everything she’d wanted over the last year had come to fruition. Then, just as fast, he’d disappeared.

  How could she have been so wrong? She was sure he reciprocated her feelings. He’d never say it, but somewhere down deep, he had felt their connection. All those nights they had spent watching movies in her apartment. The early morning visits to her bakery before it opened. The simple things, like how easily the conversation flowed between them. So why had he run away? Why had he said it shouldn’t have happened? The questions swirled in her head throughout her date. No matter what Michael talked about, her thoughts reverted back to Kaden.

  She needed a distraction. Glancing down, she realized she hadn’t touched the wine she had ordered. She picked up the glass and took a sip. The sweet fruit lingered on her tongue well after she swallowed. Before she had realized it, the contents of the glass were gone. Her shoulders relaxed for the first time in hours.

  “My brain never shuts off,” she said, breaking the awkward silence. “That’s my problem, Michael.”

  “What is?” he asked, eyebrows furrowed.

  “Thinking,” she said, leaning her elbows onto the table. After the way Kaden left her, she doubted he was sitting around thinking of her. Even her subtle buzz couldn’t keep him out of her head. “I think way too much. Like, all the time.”

  “Well, maybe you should unwind every once in a while.” A smile appeared on his face. “Would you like another glass?”

  Michael was right. Why not have another glass? She was an adult, plus, she hadn’t driven her car. And, earlier in the week, she had promised herself she’d give Michael a shot. So far, she’d done the exact opposite. “What a great idea.” She searched the room for their waitress, and when they made eye contact, she held up her empty glass. The waitress nodded her head at someone in the kitchen.

  A minute later, a white-haired gentleman in a black suit came to their table, refilling her glass with more purple goodness. Before he had a chance to leave, she grabbed the bottle from him. “You can go ahead and leave this with me. I’ll take good care of it.” She winked, and the corner of his mouth perked up as he excused himself.

  The next half hour was a bit of a blur. Michael went on about how much money he made while she drank another three glasses of wine. She was entertained watching the liquid swoosh from side to side, but she liked the numbness in her muscles even more. At some point, she realized Michael had stopped talking.

  “What’s the matter, Mikey?” she asked, voice loud and slurring. “You look distressed. Would you like a glass of wine?”

  The room began to spin. As she tried to focus, she noticed patrons at other tables staring at her. Damn her low alcohol tolerance.

  “You drank it all. And my name is Michael, not Mikey.”
He glanced away, rolling his eyes. Yeah, he’d reached his breaking point. He continued to watch the restaurant door as if he was planning an escape route.

  Her stomach twisted.

  This was all Kaden’s fault. He didn’t want her, but he didn’t want to see her happy with anyone else. This wasn’t what friendship was about. No, he wasn’t going to get away with this. That jerk didn’t get to leave her wanting and needing him. He had to pay.

  “Michael,” she said, jolting him out of his sorrows. “I need you to call me a cab.”

  He looked happier than he’d been all night.

  When the waitress returned to the table, Annabelle held out her credit card. She insisted on paying for both of their meals. It wouldn’t make up for the terrible date, but maybe it would make amends for her bad behavior. It also made her feel a tiny bit less guilty.

  As soon as they stepped outside the restaurant, the cool night air brushed against her exposed skin. She crossed her arms, rubbing her palms up and down her biceps. The cold wind cleared her alcohol-induced haze.

  Minutes later, Michael hailed a cab for her. He held the door open with a disgusted look across his face. “I’m really sorry about tonight,” she said, trying one last time to apologize for her behavior. “If it’s any consolation, I think you’re a great guy and I’m sure you’ll find the right girl soon.”

  He refused to make eye contact. “Good night, Annabelle.”

  There was nothing left to be said. She sat down in the cab, wincing when he slammed the door.

  The cab driver turned around. He was a Middle Eastern man, somewhere in his late forties. “What’s the address?”

  A ping of excitement came over her. She’d never been to Kaden’s house, and she couldn’t believe she was really doing this. Alcohol is awesome. “Seven-oh-seven Cedar Hill Drive. It’s a private community just outside the city. Are you familiar?”

  He typed the address into his GPS. “No problem. We’ll be there in less than fifteen minutes.”

  “When you get to the front gate, tell them you’re here to see Kaden Chance. He’s expecting me.” Of course he wasn’t expecting her, but she was getting some answers tonight, even if she had to climb over the privacy gate in stilettos.

  Chapter Seven

  Hayden held the stethoscope against Kaden’s bare chest. “It’s confirmed,” he said, taking the pods out of his ears. “Your heart is beating as a human.”

  Disappointment settled in his stomach. It was exactly as he’d feared. Annabelle was his mate. And now everyone was in danger. “Is there any chance I can reverse it? Maybe if I stay away from her, I could stop all of this from happening.”

  Hayden crossed his arms in front of him. “There’s no way to know if mating with this human will have the same effect as it did on our planet. Our only option is to watch and see how this plays out.”

  Kaden was silenced by his answer. There was no way to predict the outcome. No way for him to protect the people he loved. He was totally helpless.

  “I gotta say, dude,” Camden said, putting his hand on Kaden’s shoulder, “I saw this coming months ago. Annabelle is one hot female. I’m surprised you’ve held out this long.”

  A strange need to protect Annabelle surged through him. His fists clenched at his sides. “If you like the way your face looks, I suggest you not talk about her like that again.”

  “He meant nothing by it, Kaden,” Hayden said, tapping one finger on the top of Kaden’s shoulder. A second later, calmness rushed through him, easing all the tension in his muscles. Hayden had used his ability to control emotions on him.

  Kaden growled. “I’ve asked you to never use your power on me.”

  “You’re acting irrational,” he replied, casually pushing up the sleeves of his white lab coat. Kaden had never given him a chance to take the coat off. He had all but bum-rushed him the second he had stepped into the house. Kaden was so worried he had sat near the front door for hours like a damn Labrador retriever waiting for Hayden to come home.

  Camden put his hands up. “Yeah, bro, take it down a few notches.” He made his way over to where Hayden stood. “This is why I never get attached to any one human. Fuck them into submission? Yes. Have feelings for one and turn into an ass? Hell, no!”

  “I’m sorry, Cam. I don’t know what came over me.” He did know. Kaden was protecting what was his. But she wasn’t his. Damn these human emotions. The bond was affecting them, intensifying his urges. Frustrated, he sat down on one of the wooden kitchen table chairs with his elbows perched on his knees and his head in his hands. He was the oldest brother. It was his job to protect them. To keep them safe. How could he have been so foolish? “I don’t know what I should do.”

  Camden shrugged his shoulders. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. If she is your mate, it’s nothing you did on your own. It would’ve happened regardless.” The phone rang. Kaden stood, but Camden motioned for him to sit back down. “I’ll take care of it.” He headed toward their family room in the front of the house.

  “There’s really no need to panic at this point,” Hayden said, opening the refrigerator, pausing to check out the contents, finally settling on lunch meat and cheese. “I suggest you act as if nothing has changed.”

  Kaden thought about how he’d left things with Annabelle. There was no way they could go back to the way they were. The next time he saw her, she’d expect answers. She deserved answers. “I don’t see how that can happen.”

  Hayden glanced up from the sandwich he was making. “Why is that?”

  I had her halfway to an orgasm, then ran out of there without an explanation. “I left things a bit…awkward with her.”

  Hayden turned his attention back to the triple-decker submarine he was building. “Do what you feel is best—I’m not concerned. You’ve never given me a reason to doubt your decisions before. Just remember to pay attention to any variances in your behavior. If you sense any change, let us know immediately.”

  Camden came back into the room, still clutching the portable phone. “I think we have a problem.”

  Kaden’s entire body tensed. “What now?”

  Camden pointed over his shoulder. “Annabelle is on her way here. She’s in a cab at the front gate.”

  “Don’t let her in.” He paused for a second. Not allowing her in would only escalate the situation. There had to be a better answer. “Tell her I’m not here.”

  Camden rubbed the back of his neck. “Too late, bro. Barney buzzed her in.”

  What was the point of living in this secluded neighborhood if the security team let in anyone who showed up at the gate? He made a mental note to have a long talk with Barney’s supervisor in the morning. “Why would he do that?”

  Hayden chuckled. “A pretty human showing up in the middle of the night isn’t exactly newsworthy around here. Barney probably assumed she was here for Camden.”

  Camden winked at Hayden.

  Was this a regular occurrence when he wasn’t home? “How many humans have you brought back to this house?” Kaden asked, irritation filling his tone. “Do you have no respect for any of the rules we’ve set?”

  Camden raised an eyebrow. “Hey, glass house, now really isn’t the time for you to preach to me about the rules.” He made his way toward the staircase with his chest puffed out like a proud canary. “Sounds like you have plenty of explaining to do, so I’ll leave you to handle that.”

  Hayden placed his sandwich on a paper plate. “I’m going to eat my snack in my office.” As he was leaving the room, he glanced over his shoulder. “Be sure to give the human my regards.”

  “What should I say to her?” Kaden questioned, an unusual sense of panic creeping in. Annabelle had never shown up at his house before. Ever. He could only guess that she was angry at the way he left things. Or maybe she’d had a great date with Michael and wanted to tell him all about it. If that were the case, she would’ve called. He cringed. Yeah, he was sure this was going to be a long night.

  “I’m sure y
ou’ll think of something,” Hayden answered from his office.

  Kaden could think of lots of things. He had spent hours laying in his bed, trying to come up with some way they could be together. But nothing ever came of those sleepless nights. With each passing day, his desire for her continued to grow. And now that she was his mate, it would only get worse.

  The engine of the cab rattled as it drove away. Annabelle watched the taillights fade, shivering in the cold midnight air. Her heels clicked against the cement as she headed up the driveway. Individual motion-activated lights came to life to illuminate her way, startling her for a moment. The brightness allowed her to see perfectly cut grass and geometrically trimmed shrubbery. This was the home of three single men? No way. They had to have their own landscapers.

  She reached the front door, held up her fist, but didn’t knock as the reality of the moment sank in. Had she made a mistake in coming here? She’d felt so sure of herself at the restaurant. Fueled by determination, she had planned to get answers from Kaden whether he wanted to provide them or not.

  Maybe he didn’t want to start a relationship because he feared losing their friendship. Or perhaps it was all too soon after his wife’s death. And then there was the matter of his house. It was incredible, so why would he choose to hang out at her cramped apartment when they could’ve chilled at his palace? There had to be a reason Kaden had never invited her over. He never spoke of his parents or his childhood. Most of what they had talked about was current events. She couldn’t explain it, but she always had a feeling he was hiding things from her.

  Her sour stomach returned. Coming here was a mistake. To save herself from further embarrassment, she reached inside her purse and fished out her phone. She dialed 411 with the intention to call another cab when the front door opened.

  Kaden leaned against the doorframe, running his fingers through his dark hair. He was barefoot and shirtless, wearing only a pair of gray sweatpants. His upper body was tanned and cut to perfection. A sparse patch of dark hair covered the center of his chest while a thin line ran down the middle of his stomach muscles. Oh, sweet baby Jesus, his stomach. She’d seen professional athletes on television with an eight-pack but hadn’t thought normal people could actually achieve them. Her fingertips tingled with the urge to run her fingers over each of his pecs.