by C. M. Steele
“I don’t know. I’m not good at being bad, but tonight I’m going to give it a try.” She could try all she wanted, but she wasn’t getting laid tonight. And no matter how much pain I would be in, she could grind up on me all night if that made her happy. No one else was touching her, that was for sure.
From the moment I saw her, I started the agony of the mating cycle. Why the fuck did I have to wait until the damn full moon to get hard? I’d been suffering for a month now and it was to the point of pain. Guys who complained of blue balls had no fucking idea. This was a month of longing, an ache that couldn’t be stroked away. I desired her beyond compare and every thought of touching her soft skin only increased the agony.
Their call ended, and I had all I needed, after all, her phone was tagged and tapped. I made sure I had access to her at all times. It wasn’t like I cared if anyone was bothered by it. They had no freaking comprehension what it was to be fated to a stranger and nothing but a lifetime together would sate the need to be with them.
Why did she have to go out now? Her sisters told me that she never went out or drank. This would test my strength and patience. At nearly thirty, I’d been dreaming of the day my mate would show. It was a long celibate wait and nothing could stop the runaway train.
My brothers and I were wolves in human clothing, or as many called us, shifters. We would transform when needed or desired. We didn’t get mad or even truly upset because until we find our mates, nothing was that important. Seeing her beauty every day only heightened the growing need to claim my mate. Her longing built from that moment on as well. I felt her body heat rise when we met. She would be in heat in a week. Then I’d have my happily ever after.
I looked at my watch. It was a quarter to seven. The phone pinged with a text. She was getting a ride from one of her co-workers so she could drink. I growled, thinking of her falling into the arms of another man if I wasn’t there. Alcohol could lead to other things. My fidelity and world was based on my mate. I was not sure of hers.
I watched her step out onto the sidewalk. My heart nearly stopped when I saw what she was wearing. A knee length cream dress that only covered one shoulder. She wore a few bangles on her wrist and a thin necklace that fell to the center of her cleavage with a heart charm. I bit my lip at the way her legs were accentuated by the black heels. Her long brown hair was in a perfectly braided bun at the base of her head with several strands framing her face. Her lips were a burgundy color and pouty, and there was a dark glitter covering her eyelids. She was stunning and I hated it.
I followed them to the club, grabbing a drink and standing at the bar. She joined three other women at a large table. They cheered her on for showing up. My hearing was excellent and so was my vision. The darkness and the crowd didn’t stop my ability to listen in. My eyes were trained to her and within a few minutes they all had drinks. The moment she spotted me from across the club, I gave her a wink. She whipped her head back down, but not before giving me the telltale blush of embarrassment. Men were checking out the table and then someone approached her. My body tensed, getting itself ready to strike. I’d had enough of the distance.
Chapter Two
Diana
The club was crowded, and not my thing. I was sitting at the edge of a round table with booth seating and the hem of my dress felt like it was riding up my thigh. I tugged to pull it down, when a wave of heat rushed over me. I hadn’t started drinking, so the flush must be from the amount of bodies dancing around the room. With a place full of people, I was able to sense his eyes on me. I thought I was going crazy, but I wasn’t.
Slowly, I turned towards the bar, and the man from the police station was staring at me. The bar had to be at least thirty feet away, and even with the dim lights I could still see the bright honey color of his eyes commanding my attention and sending my pulse into overdrive. I turned my eyes back to my drink and took a large swallow because I couldn’t calm my racing heart. It didn’t take long for me to cave and turn my head back to him. Just as we made eye contact a guy approached me to dance. Something in me told me to say no because the mystery man would be angry.
“Sorry, but I can’t. Thank you,” I said to the man sporting the latest trend. Seriously, there was nothing attractive about a man in skinny jeans. I don’t need to know the size of your cock through your clothes and how thin your legs are. Guys like this really needed a leg day or two a week. I think mine were bigger than that at ten. Not that I was heavy at all, but I had womanly curves.
“Come on, sexy thing. I’ve never seen someone so hot in my life.” The man came off as pathetic and a total dipshit. Freaking lame ass hipster.
“And you’ll never see anything again if you don’t walk away right now,” a familiar voice warned the man. All of the ladies turned to him and gasped at his deadly promise. He had that about him. A kind of sensual, masculine presence that demanded attention without even trying. Now, he looked like he could tear the guy’s head off. My core clenched with a feminine approval of his dominance. Wow, that wasn’t me. I brushed men off all the time. At my age, I wasn’t fooled by a man’s attempt to impress me. My eyes were trained to the beast in a suit, wondering why he captivated me and why I had missed him the past month.
“So you have a boyfriend. My bad.” The guy looked skittish and took off. Wow, I was glad I didn’t waste time on him. He was a total pussy. Then again, something about my mystery man spoke danger. A warning to dare him and lose. The lighting in the club didn’t help the appearance either. He seemed larger, his features darker and his honey eyes brighter. I didn’t fear the menacing threat in his gaze. I welcomed it. Damn, did I truly welcome it. The ache taking over me was back with a vengeance.
He didn’t say a word. Instead, he only stuck out his hand, waiting for me to take it. “Girl, go get it,” Kim said with a giant grin. I looked over to my designated driver and shook my head in slight embarrassment. My drink suddenly called my name. I drank it then turned back to the stranger and gave him my hand, needing the liquid courage to do it. The heat radiated through my body as he wrapped his strong fingers over mine.
He brushed a stray hair away and bent down. A part of me thought he was going to kiss me, but instead his hot breath whispered against my ear, “Mi amor.” He stood straight again, drawing my eyes to his neck; it was thick and his Adam’s apple bobbed when he gave a hard swallow. He was just as affected as I was.
“My name is…” I started to say but he cut me off.
“Diana.” The way his tongue licked across my name turned my body to mush. His eyes scanned my body up and down, assessing with admiring eyes. How did he know who I was?
“Have you been following me?” I asked without thinking. The odds that we’d be in the same place at the same time, seemed a bit too coincidental. I don’t know why I asked. Isn’t this just what I’d been hoping for?
“Yes,” he said, bringing my hand to his lips and kissing my palm. “Que delicioso,” he uttered, looking at me with hooded eyes.
“I…I don’t know you,” I stuttered, confused and well aware of the way my body was burning up again. It was insane how much reaction this man brought out in me.
“You will, mi amor,” he answered, pulling me toward the dance floor. His hand slipped around my waist, sending dangerous signals to my body. I was close to giving him whatever he wanted.
“You have a faint accent. Where are you from?” I questioned. It had been on my mind since the first time he spoke.
“I was born here, but my family’s roots are in Spain. We travel back and forth.” I discovered he could dance as he swayed us to the rhythm of the music.
“Your voice is so soothing,” I whispered, pressing my head to his chest as we moved slowly. His heart was thumping out of control and then I heard him sing the words to Marvin Gaye’s Let’s Get It On. It was a dirty song especially with him singing it to me.
As the song ended and the tempo picked up, we parted just a bit. Our glances met and his golden, honey colored eyes dark
ened. I thought he was going to kiss me, but he just leaned in to say, “One day very soon, you’ll be singing my name as we get it on.” I didn’t disagree. In fact, I wanted it to be this very moment.
“Are you with someone?” I asked, trying to find out why he was putting off the inevitable as he saw it.
“Only you,” he answered, looking into my eyes. I read the truthfulness of his words. I was feeling overly warm.
“I need air. I’m too hot,” I said, waving my hand in front of my face, aiming to cool down. Somehow, I believe it would be impossible with him around. He grabbed my waist and walked me out the front door. The cool air hit me, but then so did his warmth.
“Thank you,” I paused with embarrassment. I didn’t know his name and I was leaving the club with him. “Um…I don’t even know your name.”
“It’s Diego Lopez.” The name rang a bell, but I wasn’t sure why, and right now I wasn’t feeling so good. I think the first drink I’d had since I hit twenty-one struck me hard. I was ready for sleep or to cuddle with the porcelain throne.
“Diego, I think it’s time I went home. I’m just going to call an Uber.”
“I’ll take you home. Come, let’s go.” He handed the guy outside his ticket and two minutes later a sleek Mercedes pulled up. Diego tipped him, then guided me to the car.
“You know they say you shouldn’t take rides from strangers,” I told him, staring with mock consternation as he opened the door.
“Says the girl about to call a stranger for a ride,” he chuckled. “Get in.”
“Touché, handsome. Diego, I don’t feel so good. I forgot to eat and I know it’s only one drink, but I haven’t consumed alcohol in years,” I confessed, hoping he didn’t think I’d vomit in his car. Shit, I hope I wouldn’t.
“Don’t worry, you’re safe with me.” We got to my house, but I don’t remember telling him my address. I touched the handle, but he stopped me. “Wait for me.” He hopped out of the car and opened the door for me with his hand out. I melted in the seat before letting him assist me.
I quirked my brow, then turned my head to the apartment then him and back again two more times. “How did you know where I lived?” I asked him.
“I was stalking you, remember?” he laughed. I giggled too. I was a little bubblier than I thought as I bounced up the six steps to my front door. I turned back to him and he was smiling and I damn near fell off the landing looking at him.
“You have a beautiful smile, Diego. I want to kiss you,” I said, tilting my head up. Hesitantly, he slid his hand down my arms before cupping my cheeks. Achingly slow, he closed the distance, his lips landing on mine. My heart beat double and triple time, loving his mouth on me. The kiss which seemed so gentle and chaste ended way too quickly.
I looked into his eyes and saw a bit of pain. Was my kiss that bad? “Um…I’m sorry, it wasn’t good, Diego. I’m going to go to bed.” I turned to my door.
He wasn’t going to let me get away like that, he spun me around, holding me close and swallowing hard. “Your kiss was like a promise of more to come. I am only upset because I want that now. Tomorrow, I will make you mine in every way.”
“I’m going out of town for the weekend.”
“When I see you again,” he grabbed my hand and kissed it, then walked to his car. I stole another glance.
“Goodnight, Diego,” I said, waving.
“Goodnight, mi corazón,” he said, nodding his head for me to enter. He was gone when I slammed my hand to my head. I didn’t have his number. Shit. I went to sleep and hoped it wasn’t another month before he appeared again.
~~~~
The next day I was on my way to the place I’d been thinking about since I first saw the pictures, but my sisters wanted to stop by to introduce me to their boyfriends. They called them their fiancées, but not if I had anything to say about it. They were eighteen and these guys knew that they owned the properties. I knew nothing about them. In fact it seemed as though they refused to say anything other than they were truly happy and thoroughly fucked, like somehow I really needed to know that. I hoped they were using protection.
When I pulled up to the mini-castle, I gasped. It was better than the pictures. I was out of my car and in the front door within seconds. Magnificent and perfect, the only words I had for my new getaway home. I rushed straight to where the library was listed and opened the large double doors. I inhaled deeply and it hit me like a ton of bricks…Diego. His scent was all around the room. I stepped out just as someone knocked.
I opened it to find my sisters standing in front of two large men who were about Diego’s height, but much larger. “Um…Diana could you not stare at my man,” Tara bit out, tugging her guy into the house.
“They are twins and massively giant,” I said absently. As I continued to stare, I saw a very familiar smile on their faces.
“Yep, in every way,” Lara exclaimed, making me blush because I thought of Diego again. “This is my man Hector.”
“And this is my Alejandro,” Tara added.
“Hola, Diana. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Hector said. He looked over to Alejandro and they both smirked at each other.
“What’s going on?” I asked because clearly I was missing something.
“What’s going on is we’re all really, really happy and we want you to be happy too. And your happiness should be arriving in about an hour, so let us get you all dolled up.” They wrapped their arms around my biceps and tried to tug me along. Lara and Tara were carrying their makeup bags and a large dress
I pulled their arms from mine. I wanted answers, but I didn’t have a clue where to start. “Does this have to do with Diego?” Their eyes all darted to mine. “I suppose so. Tell me what’s going on.”
“Sis,” Tara paused, “Let’s just say that. We got these homes for a reason and that Diego is a great and kind man who wants you more than you could imagine.”
“Not more than I want him. It’s just not possible.”
“Mi hermana, si, he will,” Alejandro said, wrapping his arm around my shoulder, giving me a squeeze before spinning me around.
“Come on, Di,” Tara complained dragging me into the master bedroom.
“Are you all going to tell me what’s going on?” I bitched, but these rotten little brats just shook their heads and opened a bag they brought with them.
“I think you’ll just have to wait and see. This must come from him. You know what you feel, but he can answer your questions. That’s all we’re going to say. Now let’s get you all sexied out.”
“Is that even a word?” Tara snapped on Lara. I was thinking the same thing, but they came up with new words all the time and many of them don’t make sense, so whatever.
“It is, when I say it is,” Lara snarked, then led me over to the huge master bath. In less than an hour, I was alone and nervous. Then I heard the door and a voice I couldn’t forget.
Chapter Three
Diego
I stopped at my brother’s home which was half a mile from mine. The guys opened the door with knowing smiles of anticipation. They had already gone through this, although they were lucky enough to not suffer like I had. Alejandro mated with Tara and Hector with Lara. I couldn’t tell them apart, but hey, my brothers could. They looked nothing like Diana and they smiled the entire time like they were hiding something. It was a little awkward, but they seemed nice. My brothers had the same smirk that told me they were in on whatever secret the girls had. With the smell in the air it was clear that Alejandro was ready to chase his woman again. They wished me luck and sent me on my way in a hurry. It was good because I wanted to see her so bad I couldn’t breathe
I arrived at my home, the one that my lovely Diana received from a will, in the woods to find she was already here. My grandparents were wise people. How they knew who our mates were was a mystery to us. My parents didn’t have a clue how this happened either, but we were grateful they had found them for us. It couldn’t have come at a better time. I was sta
rting to feel beaten down by loneliness.
I could hear her moving about inside, wondering whose belongings were in there. I stayed here when I had two days off. It was freeing to be high up away from the city. Reading books in my library was my favorite thing to do, but since it was far away from the office, I couldn’t spend as much time here as I wanted.
The sun was close to setting. Timing was everything because if I came in after that, she would be fucked on the spot, but too early and both of us would suffer with the incredible desire. I only had on a black t-shirt with a pair of jeans because I wanted to get naked as fast as possible.
With about five minutes left, I knocked on the door. She looked through the window on the side and gasped. “Open up, Diana,” I ordered.
“Not by the hair on my little, little kitty,” she replied with a squeaking giggle. I narrowed my eyes at her through the window. She was smiling and I was going to tear up her kitty more than she knew.
“Come on, Diana, open it up or I’m going to…huff and puff and I’ll eat you out.” I licked my lips, aching to taste the pussy that had been on my mind since I smelled her in the station.
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep, Mr. Lopez.” Looking toward the sky, I knew she was playing with fire. I grabbed my keys with stealth and unlocked the door. I was inside, closing it with my back to it.
She gasped, and I was the one who was shocked. She was ready for me. In a tiny black dress with the sides held together by thin chains that revealed the edge of her breasts.
“What’s going on?” She wasn’t surprised at all. Granted, I don’t believe she knew that this was it. Once she let me in there was no going back. Diana was mine. My gaze traveled up and down her body, taking in the last few minutes of sanity I had left.
“I met your brothers and my sisters told me that you’d love to see me in something like this.” She brushed her hands down the sides of the dress, showing me as if she was trying to please me. Good. I would have taken her just as she was. It didn’t matter, but they wanted her to be prepared to be owned.