Claimed and Mated

by James, Delta

  Catherine grinned at him. “Planning to keep me naked and feed me again?” she inquired sweetly.

  The waiter tripped as Marco growled at her and then seeing the merriment in her eyes, chuckled.

  “Careful, mate, before I show the boy here how a man deals with a naughty minx of a mate.”

  He tipped the waiter generously, who couldn’t seem to get out of their room fast enough.

  Catherine threw back the covers, revealing to Marco the aroused state of her body. He grinned broadly and came to sit next to her. He bent over and sucked one of her taut nipples deep into his mouth, making her inhale sharply.

  “Would that I had time, my Catherine. But if you wish, when I return I will take care of that need. You, however, are not allowed to pleasure yourself unless directed by me to do so.”

  “Greedy bastard, aren’t you?”

  Marco reached down and pinched her nipple, and she gasped in both surprise and discomfort.

  “Language, mate, and yes, I am. I do not share what is mine and mine alone.”

  “That hurt, you know,” she said petulantly.

  When all he did was quirk an eyebrow at her, she softened her tone.

  “You could offer to kiss and make it better.”

  He laughed. “What an excellent idea,” he said as he suckled the offended nub. “Now, let’s share breakfast and then I need to be off. Where would you like to go to dinner tonight? Shall I show you off or would you prefer I simply feed you between ravishings?”

  “Planning to ravish me again, are you?” she teased.

  “Repeatedly. And when I get you home to the villa I will take you into seclusion in our rooms and rut with you until your legs will not support you without my assistance.”

  She giggled. “Promises, promises.” Realizing that she did not plan to be here when he returned, she sobered. “The past few days have been very special to me. I will remember it always.”

  “Pfft,” he dismissed. “That was nothing compared to the memories we shall make together.”

  Catherine sat up in bed, grimacing as she did. “Don’t you dare laugh at me. This is your fault.”

  “I’m not laughing. It was my responsibility to correct your behavior. That is a duty I take seriously to ensure your safety and happiness.”

  “Hot news flash... women don’t find happiness face down over a man’s knee getting their ass spanked.”

  He leaned over and kissed her. “No, but they find great happiness afterwards when their mate is thrusting himself in and out of their sweet pussy hearing her call his name.”

  Catherine closed her eyes and leaned back. “I can’t even dispute that. Well, I can, but you’d get after me for lying to you.”

  Marco grinned. “That might be one of those times I filled your mouth with something other than soap.”

  She giggled. “I promise you’d find it far more satisfying... as would I.”

  They finished eating and Catherine watched him leave. She went over to the window and watched him depart from the hotel. He turned to look directly at her, and she raised her hand in a wave.

  Catherine went in, took a shower, gathered her things, and then discreetly exited the hotel from the back entrance. She hailed a cab and had the driver take her straight to the airport. At the airport she found there were no outbound flights until that evening. Knowing Marco would be on her trail long before then, she bought a train ticket out of Florence on the first departing train. It was headed toward Milan.

  * * *

  Marco met Griffin as they both arrived at the lawyer’s office to finalize the purchase of the property.

  Griffin grinned at him. “Now that is the look of a man who has spent the last few days in the arms of his beloved.”

  Marco laughed heartily and clapped his friend on the shoulder. He leaned in so that only Griffin could hear him. “No, my friend. This is the look of a wolf who spent most of his time between his little red riding hood’s thighs doing just that... riding her. My God, Griffin. My Catherine was magnificent. Such passion and fire. She will keep me warm for the rest of my life.”

  “Have you talked to her about that minor inconvenience? You know where you’re a wolf and she isn’t? You know where you’re going to overwrite her entire DNA and then, oh, there’s the whole knotting and tying her, not to mention marking her as yours.”

  “No, I want to get her home first. But I must say she handled being disciplined extremely well. I think once it has been done, she will welcome my knot and the resulting tie, but the alpha’s mark may be a different discussion. She will come around and will bear my mark with pride. After all, she will be mate to the alpha of the DeMedici pack.”

  “My best wishes for a long, happy, and peaceful joining. Your Catherine is a bit of a spitfire and may not be brought to heel as easily as you imagine. Truly I’m happy for you... and just a wee bit envious.”

  “You will find your Catherine. Of that I have no doubt.”

  They proceeded up the stairs to finalize the purchase.

  Once it was complete, Marco was convinced that the sellers were idiots. According to Griffin the land was incredibly rich and could be producing far more than it did. The workers seemed relieved that someone with an outstanding reputation was taking over and that their jobs would be secure.

  Once their business was concluded, Marco called one of the better restaurants in Florence and secured a table. Knowing that Catherine had nothing with her at the hotel that was appropriate and doubting she had brought anything to Florence with her, Marco went to one of the high-end boutiques Catherine had visited and found a dress and shoes he thought would be an excellent choice and suit her taste. He then headed to one of the jewelry artisans to find the perfect accessories.

  Pleased with himself and the conclusion of his business dealings, Marco returned to the hotel and had to harness his energy to keep from having a knot form and from taking the steps up to their room two at a time. He felt as giddy as a schoolboy.

  He could feel the lack of her presence before he even entered the room.

  “Catherine,” he growled as he spied a piece of the hotel stationery resting against the pillows. He read the note:

  Marco,

  I have nothing to say other than to ask you to forgive my cowardly

  exit from your life. You will find another who is far better suited

  to the life you can give her than I.

  I’m sorry,

  Catherine

  Well, at least she had dropped the coldly stiff language of her first two notes. As for being sorry... she would be more so once he caught up with her. He would teach her once and for all not to run from him.

  Chapter Twelve

  Catherine was pleasantly surprised that Marco had not anticipated her needing a train ticket. She decided on a private compartment. She was in no mood for idle chitchat or the company of anyone... including her own. The porter was old school and had questioned her lack of baggage. She decided to be polite but vague, answering that her things were back in Florence as this was just a day trip. He arranged for refreshments to be brought to her.

  She leaned back against the seat and closed her eyes. She ached, not from the spanking he had given her and not from the dominant lovemaking they had shared over the past few days. No, she ached for Marco himself—his presence, his voice, his touch, his very essence.

  Catherine stifled the beginnings of a sob. How was it possible that she could miss him so much when she’d known him for such a short period of time and hadn’t even known he existed a week ago? A little voice at the back of her brain reminded her that the latter wasn’t true. The man had been haunting her dreams for a long time.

  The voice was persistent, if she missed him, why was she running? She told the voice to shut up.

  Catherine drifted between drowsiness and wakefulness. She looked out her window as the beautiful countryside rolled by. The train made frequent stops but they were brief and often in very picturesque towns. She was still d
rowsy when she suddenly felt as though a huge gust of wind had blown through her being.

  “No,” she whispered. “It couldn’t be.”

  The door to her compartment flew open and Marco entered, turning to close and lock the door and pull down the shades.

  She could feel the heat of his anger rolling off of him.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” she stammered as he turned to face her and the train lurched as it started on its way again.

  “Did you think if you ran that I wouldn’t chase you down?”

  Catherine went on the offensive. “You can’t just come in here. I was under no obligation to stay in Florence, much less your hotel room.”

  Marco shook his head. “I was under the distinct impression, my Catherine...”

  “I am not your Catherine,” she cried.

  “You are most definitely my Catherine. And therein lies the fundamental issue we must settle between us. I had thought that as of last night we settled this, but apparently not. I assure you it will be settled once and for all by the time I am through with you.”

  “If you think you’re going to spank me here on this train... think again. The walls don’t have the soundproofing that hotel did. Someone will hear.”

  “Interesting that you already accept you are going to be spanked. I suppose that’s a step in the right direction. Not much of one but a small start.”

  “No, Marco, you can’t.”

  “Yes, Catherine, I can and will. I don’t care that anyone hears you cry when you are getting a spanking. Let them come in and watch for all I care. What they will see is a man taking his woman to task for being naughty and trying to run away. Anyone who might challenge me is either enough of a chauvinist prick himself to understand that there are times a man must discipline his mate regardless of where he finds her, or would get a vicarious thrill to watch me spank your beautiful bottom, innately understanding that when I’m through, I will most likely plow that furrow between your legs.”

  She backed as far into the corner of the seat as she could get, shaking her head as she went.

  “No, Marco.”

  “Yes, Catherine. And while I prefer to have you naked when I punish you, I will have to settle for stripping your leggings off so they don’t interfere.”

  He removed his silk handkerchief from his pocket. He offered it to her.

  “What’s that for?”

  “I thought you might want to bite on it to keep from crying so loud there will be no doubt in anyone’s mind that you have been naughty and are being punished for it.”

  “You can’t.”

  “I think we’ve already established that I can and will.”

  “Marco, not here.”

  “Here, my Catherine.”

  Catherine watched as he took a seat across from her and reached out to bring her out of her seat. What was most shocking to her was that she didn’t resist him, not even the tiniest bit. She got to her feet and went to stand in front of him. She felt the cool, recirculated air in the compartment waft across her buttocks as Marco bared them. She shivered as his hand caressed them as he removed her leggings.

  “Can’t this wait until we get back to the hotel?”

  “No. Let this be a lesson to you that should you think to run or hide from me when you have been naughty that I will spank you wherever I find you. You will learn, sweetheart, that disobeying and angering your mate is never a good idea.”

  He pulled her across his knee and once again offered her the use of his handkerchief. Catherine calmly took it from him and stuffed it into her mouth with as much dignity as she could. Marco’s hand braced her upper body while the other stroked her quivering backside gently.

  “Good girl,” he crooned. “This could have been avoided had you chosen to mind me and stay where you were told.”

  She hated the fact that when he told her she was a good girl it seemed to matter to her so much. That thought was fleeting as his hand made a sudden sharp connection with her upturned seat. She took note that the handkerchief did seem to muffle the sharp cry she tried to bite back.

  Marco began to spank her, his hand slapping her ass in a sharp, hard rhythm. Catherine could feel the fire burn as it spread across both of her cheeks. The spanking seemed worse than the one he’d given her previously and she wondered if it was because she actually felt guilty this time or because it was covering the same area he’d left reddened and swollen from their first night together. Oh, God, and did she have to start getting so aroused?

  Dual sensations assaulted Catherine. On the one hand, Marco was peppering her backside with hard swats designed to leave a lasting sting. On the other, her pussy was soaked and beginning to spasm in rhythm to the spanking. What was it about this man that he so completely dominated every part of her being? And why did it feel so right that he did so?

  Marco scolded her as he spanked her. “Your beautiful bottom will thank you if you remember that you are my Catherine. You will learn to mind me and when you don’t you will find yourself in the position you are in right now. You are not to run away because you are frightened of your feelings or because you are throwing a tantrum. In either event, I expect you to come to me so that I can reassure you of your importance to me, my commitment to you, and our feelings for each other.”

  The hard, repetitive blows to her still tender backside interrupted any profound thoughts she might have had. She was now crying in earnest and grateful for the handkerchief that kept her from crying so loud the whole train would know she had displeased her mate and he was taking her to task for it.

  After what seemed an eternity, he stopped spanking. He rubbed her bottom soothingly. With his other hand he reached down and removed the makeshift gag from her mouth.

  “Whose Catherine are you?” he said quietly but with an underlying growl.

  “Yours,” she said.

  “Say it again.”

  “I am your Catherine, Marco.”

  “Good. Should you refute that again, you will earn yourself another well soaped mouth as well as a hard spanking. And if you are so foolish as to run away again, my Catherine, I will take my belt or a special strap to your bottom and leave a trail of welts across it. Do you understand me, mate?”

  “Yes, Marco. I’m sorry.”

  “Not as sorry as you will be when I get you back to the hotel. And there, my sweet Catherine, I will endeavor to make your pussy as sore as your backside. I had thought when I finished my business that by this time I would already have had you beneath me and brought us both great pleasure. You may get up.”

  Catherine seemed unsure and rose unsteadily to her feet. Marco brought her onto his lap. Catherine was quite sure he enjoyed seeing her wince as her punished backside made contact with his hard thighs.

  “But aren’t you going to... you know...”

  “Fuck you?” he laughed.

  She nodded.

  “Is there a corner where my naughty mate can be stripped and sent to stand naked while she contemplates the error of her ways?”

  “Well, no.”

  “Then,” he said, sliding his hand between her legs and slipping a single finger into her drenched pussy. “Your need to be completely forgiven for this latest bit of nonsense will have to wait.”

  Catherine groaned. Marco smiled. He knew exactly what he was doing to her. She supposed he was owed a little payback. He played with her gently, slowly bringing her to the edge of her orgasm and then stopped.

  “Let’s get you back into your leggings. You are entirely too enticing this way.”

  She reached for her leggings and Marco helped her back into them. He brought her back to his lap and made her comfortable there.

  At the next stop, Marco and Catherine got off the train. Catherine wasn’t overly surprised to find a driver waiting for them. Marco helped her into the limo before instructing the driver where to go. They spoke in Italian and Catherine could only understand bits and pieces.

  As Marco got into the back with her, she as
ked, “Will you teach me to speak Italian or can I get Sera to?”

  “And you think you will learn to speak my native tongue?”

  She leaned over to nuzzle him. “I suppose if I’m staying and will be sharing your life, it might be nice to understand conversations that are being had around me.”

  Marco smiled and Catherine was happy to see the last of his anger begin to fade. “So, my Catherine...” He hesitated to see if she registered any protest at his assertion that she was his. Catherine said nothing but nuzzled him again. Marco smiled. “If you want to learn to speak Italian, we will teach you. And your friend Seraphina is always welcome at the villa.”

  Catherine shook her head and Marco growled. “Oh, hush. I’m merely shaking my head because it seems so normal to be sitting on my sore ass on your lap planning a future. A few days ago, I thought you were arrogant and manipulative.”

  Marco chuckled. “I would plead guilty to both. But I was manipulating things only to make your time in Florence more enjoyable and to show you what life with an indulgent mate could be like. I was never trying to buy you, my Catherine.” He took her hand in his and kissed her palm. “I never thought you were for sale.”

  Catherine could feel tears welling up in her eyes. “Now why’d you have to go and say that? Now I feel like a total bitch...”

  “Catherine,” he growled. “I will not warn you again.”

  She smiled. “Regardless, I feel like one for ever doubting your intentions.”

  “Then why did you leave Florence?”

  “Can we not talk about that?”

  “Answer me.”

  She took a deep breath. “Because you scare the hell out of me. You make me feel things I’ve never felt before and even if I’d felt something similar, the feelings I have for you are far more intense. I worry that I’ll lose myself in you.”