by Renee Rose
Melissa blinked. “So does any male have the right to punish a female? Or only his mate? What’s the deal, exactly?” There was an edge to her voice, but he ignored it, for once keeping his defensiveness at bay.
“No. An alpha can punish any wolf in his pack, male or female. A male wolf would only punish his mate or female partner.”
She nibbled on her lip, then ran her tongue over it, making his balls tighten. More color suffused her cheeks. “And you would always use spanking?” She put her hands on her hips. “I mean, would you spank Colleen right now if she tried to leave without your permission while she’s under your protection?”
He narrowed his eyes, trying to figure out what she was asking. “I’m not under obligation to protect her the way I am you.”
Her jaw hardened.
“But no, I would probably make her shift and punish her in wolf form.”
“How?”
He rubbed his stubbled chin. “I don’t know—nip her hindquarters, that kind of thing. Nothing terrible.”
“And you spanked me because I’m human—you can’t make me shift?”
“Yes.”
She scowled.
He still wasn’t sure where she was going with this but he went with the truth. “And also because there’s an attraction between us. I respond to you like a mate, not like a pack leader.”
There. He’d said it.
Some of the tension in her shoulders seemed to ease. Had she wanted to hear that?
He stepped closer to her. “Baby, I don’t know what this thing is between us, but—”
“It’s just sex,” she said too quickly.
He winced. “I don’t think so,” he said in a low voice. “My inner wolf has been screaming for me to mark you since the first time we touched.”
Her lip curled. “Mate me? A lowly human? Wouldn’t that screw up your ability to lead the pack?” He heard the scorn in her voice, and was surprised she knew enough about pack dynamics to understand.
“Yeah. I know. I’ve been fighting it, but—”
Her brows knit. “Forget it.” She folded her arms across her chest. “It’s just sex. We don’t even like each other. We have nothing in common. If you think I’m going to let you endanger my life by letting you bite me, you’re nuts. I’m not going to get stuck taking orders from an oversized construction worker for the rest of my life, just because he’s a good lay.”
Her words hit him like a cement block to the chest. He may have been thinking the same thing about it just being sex and hardly liking each other when they first met, but now… he felt so much more for her. To hear that she still thought he was so far beneath her was a huge blow to his ego. No, it was more than that, but he couldn’t even consider the implications of a true mate who didn’t return his affections at the moment.
“Right, princess. Well, don’t worry. Tomorrow you can stop slumming it with me and go back to your picture-perfect life.” He stalked past her and into the house.
* * *
Melissa’s eyes burned. She hadn’t meant to wound Cody—not at all. She’d been protecting herself, defending against her growing desire to be… loved by Cody. Claimed by Cody. She wanted him to mark her, more and more every time they were together, every interaction they had, every moment she witnessed his gentle leadership and power.
If she was totally honest with herself, she’d recognize that she’d already fallen in love with him, somewhere between the way he held her after the first spanking and watching movies together the night before.
But he looked down on humans. He didn’t want to be mated to her, despite their mutual attraction. She wasn’t going to cut his legs off him when he was so new at leading a pack and letting go of his father’s worst opinion of him.
So she’d given him an out.
She never expected to see him so affected by her words. He’d paled, fists balled at his sides, muscle ticking in his jaw.
Blinking back tears, she entered the house softly. It had gone quiet—the living room was empty, save for the giant silver wolf curled up by the door, looking pointedly away from her.
Cody must have given his bedroom to Colleen and her children, which left the couch for her.
“Cody?”
The wolf ignored her.
“I didn’t mean—”
Cody’s lips curled back and he bared his fangs, issuing a low growl. She froze, every human instinct screaming run for your life, even though she knew he wouldn’t harm her. She did lose what remained of her courage to try to talk to him, though.
She sat on the couch and hugged a pillow, knowing she probably wouldn’t get a wink of sleep.
Chapter Thirteen
She woke with a stiff neck and a pain in her heart. The Kentucky family were whispering in the bedroom, obviously staying in until they were sure she was up. No sign of Cody.
She made a lot of noise as she headed to the shower, to let Cody’s other guests know it was safe to come out. When she emerged, Colleen stood in the kitchen, her hand on the refrigerator door, looking unsure.
“I don’t know where Cody went, but he would want you to help yourself to anything,” she said.
“Oh, okay.” She appeared relieved. “I’m going to make some eggs, would you like some?”
“That sounds great, thanks.” She let Colleen do her thing in the kitchen.
Hoping to cheer herself with good news, she checked her email, but CJ Steele’s agent hadn’t replied to her offer. Which meant it had expired.
That was bullshit—it was a full-priced offer and the house was still listed on the market. She grabbed her phone and dialed Brad Johnson, the agent.
“Yes, this is Melissa Bell, I put in the offer on the CJ Steele Old North End house two days ago?”
The agent grunted.
“Why wasn’t it accepted? Do you have another offer?”
“No, I don’t have another offer. I’m sorry yours expired before the owner had a chance to make up his mind. You should have given the offer more time for consideration.”
She blew out her breath. “What was there to consider if it was full price and there wasn’t another offer?”
Brad made a sound of impatience. “To be perfectly frank, I got the feeling it had something to do with you, personally.”
A wash of cold went over her. Had he blackballed her permanently because of that first stupid deal? It wouldn’t be fair. All she ever wanted was a positive relationship with the man. And to live in one of his houses.
“Excuse me?”
“I don’t know. He said he had to think about it—he wasn’t sure if this house was right for you, or something.”
The cold turned into a prickly heat. “Is there any way I can contact him? Speak to him directly?”
“You know I’m not going to give out his personal information.” The condescension in his voice made her want to kick him in the shins.
She hung up without saying goodbye and hit the mousepad on her Chromebook. There had to be some listing of the guy’s phone number somewhere. On county tax records, or business license or something. She Googled CJ Steele Construction, and that easily produced a number.
Her thumb flew over the keypad dialing it and she stood up and paced past the picture windows, knowing the children were probably listening to every word.
The screen flashed the name ‘Cody’ as the ringtone sounded both from the phone and, muffled, from the garage.
Cody’s voice came on. “I’m in the garage.”
Her heart surged to her throat.
She punched the end button and stared at the blank screen in the biggest WTF moment of her life.
Cody was CJ Steele?
No… maybe that was just the number Steele had used to list his company. But even before she finished the thought, she discarded it. Cody had to be Steele. It was so obvious now, it killed her. C stood for Cody.
Why in the hell hadn’t he told her? Anger boiled, hot and thick.
She marched to the garage and t
hrew open the door.
Cody had his Ducati up on stands, doing some kind of maintenance or repair.
She slammed the door behind her, not wanting to give Colleen and her kids a show. “So, I bet you thought it was hilarious to string me along. Make a lowball offer on the house, you advised.”
Cody stood up and wiped the grease from his hands with a rag. His expression turned shuttered.
“You couldn’t wait to put me in my place, could you?”
“Now hold on—” he started.
“You’ve been dying to since the moment we first met.” She spread her arms wide. “You think I’m a spoiled little princess who can’t break a fingernail. I guess you’ve had a load of laughs while I’ve waxed on about the great and famous CJ Steele.”
His eyes narrowed. “I don’t really see why you’re mad here. Shouldn’t it be me?”
Her mouth opened and closed. “Why would you be mad? You could buy and sell half this city. All I wanted was one damn house, and I was willing to pay full price for it.”
Cody’s brow furrowed.
“But you couldn’t wait to drop this on my head. Does it feel good? Now you can lord the thing I want most over me? Make me grovel for it. Is that what you want?” She put her hands on her hips. “Because I will. I know that’s what you like, isn’t it?”
His face flushed and eyes flashed to light blue, anger lighting his face. “I don’t see where you get off. You’re the one who thinks she’s too good for me, the lowly construction worker. You’re so stuck up, you wouldn’t even consider me as a mate. Am I worthy now? Is it different when you know I have money?”
Her face flushed hot with shame and humiliation. He was right. She had misjudged him. Maybe that was part of why she was so mad—her own prejudice embarrassed her.
“No,” she snapped. “Money can’t fix an asshole.” Spinning on her heel, she flew back into the house and slammed the door behind her.
In the garage, the sound of a metal tool clattering against a wall and then the concrete floor echoed.
Her phone dinged at the same time a knock sounded on the front door. She looked down at the screen.
Ashley had texted, “We’re here!”
Not one minute too soon. She jogged to the door and threw it open. Ignoring the two huge men—shifters—beside her sister, she snatched her up in a hard hug.
* * *
Cody cursed and picked up another wrench to throw, but the scent of two male wolves made him stiffen and he charged inside, instead.
Melissa stood clasped in an embrace with a woman who looked identical to her, except with hair a few inches shorter. Beside them stood Mark Ruhl, whose scent he would have recognized had his brain been clearer, and the wolf who must be Ben Stone.
“We came back early,” Ben said, by way of greeting. “I wanted to get Melissa out of Colorado Springs before the payoff.” He and Mark remained outside on the step, showing deference to Cody’s territory as alpha of his town.
“Come in.”
Ben entered and held out his palm, which Cody shook first, before Mark’s. “Thank you for your help. I’m in your debt.”
He tried to stay focused on Ben, but his gaze kept sliding to Melissa, his gut twisting. She’d be leaving now.
He never had to see her again.
Every cell in his body rebelled at the idea. His wolf itched to snatch her up and hold her tight against him, to refuse to let her leave his premises. Ever.
But it couldn’t be. They’d just proven over and over again they were utterly incompatible. She didn’t care about him—thought he was beneath her. And he shouldn’t care about her. Shouldn’t want a human.
He caught Stone’s sharp gaze and gave himself a mental shake. Melissa had moved inside, and seemed to be making quick work of packing her things.
“How does that sound to you?”
“I’m sorry—what?”
Don’t let her leave, his wolf growled.
Both his new guests had also lost focus on the conversation as they caught Colleen’s scent. Mark gaped at her where she had shrunk back in the kitchen as if to hide.
With effort, Cody tore his attention away from Melissa and beckoned Colleen forward. “Colleen, come here, please.”
Her green eyes appeared wary, but she obeyed, walking slowly into the room as she wiped her hands on her jeans. Her children, who had been playing on his computer in the bedroom, also emerged, standing in the doorway of the bedroom.
Mark’s expression had turned predatory, and Colleen responded to his interest, tugging her blond hair out of its ponytail and letting it fall across her shoulders.
“This is Colleen. She and her children may need more protection than my pack can provide.”
“She can stay with me.” Mark spoke before he’d even finished his last word, before even hearing what she needed protection from.
It was fine with him. He couldn’t focus, couldn’t think as his wolf clawed and scrabbled just beneath the surface.
Don’t. Let. Her. Leave.
He was sweating, the pain of transition as sharp as if the moon were still full.
Melissa hadn’t looked at him as she moved about the place, gathering up her things. She’d packed a duffel bag. Where it came from, he wasn’t sure.
“If you want out of it, my pack can handle the meet,” Stone was saying. His words sounded dim over the blaring in his ears.
He shook his head. “I’ll handle the meet.”
“You sure?”
“I’m sure.”
“Ruhl will go with you, with backup from my pack. Yours, too, if you like. I’ll take the females and pups back to Denver until it’s over.”
Not my female.
But she wasn’t his female. He hadn’t marked her. Dammit! Why hadn’t he marked her? At that moment, he didn’t care that she was human, or whether she thought he was good enough for her. He’d give her everything she ever wanted. The house of her dreams. Clothes, makeup. Flowers. He’d treat her like the fucking princess she was. Why had he mocked her with the name that suited her so well?
The room spun around him, too warm.
No, Melissa had to go. She needed to get out of harm’s way, Stone was right. He would protect her like his own mate. She was his family.
He drew several deep breaths to clear his vision. Stone watched him with an assessing look. Ruhl was deep in conversation with Colleen, who looked five years younger now as she smiled shyly up at him.
Melissa walked past him and put her hand on the doorknob. “I’ll pay you back for the stuff you bought me as soon as I get paid.”
“I don’t want your money. Melissa—”
She stopped, her blue-eyed stare slamming into him with the force of a wrecking ball.
His mind went blank. The animal tore too close to the surface for coherent thoughts to be expressed.
Her lips turned down. “See you around.” The soft murmur oozed sadness, defeat.
He’d done that to her. Ripped her down, acted like a defensive teenager. Was he still that proud, stupid kid his father had thrown out on his ass twelve years ago? Did he need to prove something to the world? To Melissa? Or was it to his father? Was he still trying to earn his approval by mating an alpha female instead of the woman he loved? Yes—loved.
Fuck that.
He was alpha. He didn’t need to prove anything to anyone. If he wanted a beautiful redhead quarter-breed, he should claim her.
But she was walking down the sidewalk, away from him. And she hadn’t looked back. Not once.
His chest seared like it had been ripped open, but he froze, letting her walk away. Out of his house and out of his life.
This was wrong. So wrong.
* * *
Melissa only held it together because Colleen and her kids were with them. She pasted a tight smile on her face and climbed in the back seat of Ben’s shiny black SUV. Even so, both Ashley and Colleen sent her sympathetic glances.
She hadn’t fooled anyone.
“Don’t give up on him,” Colleen murmured.
Her eyebrows shot to her hairline.
The woman blushed. “I know—I don’t know either of you, but I couldn’t help overhear your fight. And I know he cares about you.”
She swallowed. Cared about? Or liked to fuck? “What makes you think so?”
“The way his eyes follow you, wherever you go. How he both relaxes and grows more agitated when he’s near you. The look on his face when you left.”
Her breath hitched, pressure growing behind her face.
Ashley had turned around in the front passenger seat to look at her, and even Ben glanced in the rearview mirror.
“Anything I need to know?”
She rolled her eyes. Her brother-in-law sort of sucked at interpersonal relations. “Nope,” she said with finality.
Subject closed.
She and Cody weren’t right for each other. She’d known that from the moment she met him. They may be powerfully attracted to each other, but all they knew how to do was fight.
She closed her eyes and passed a hand over her face.
She just had to see him one more time and then she could walk away. Start her new life. Without him. And without her CJ Steele house.
Pain twisted in her heart, dragged down and gutted her. All her excitement for her new life without Jeremy had fled. Only emptiness remained.
Still, she had a short-term plan. Cody didn’t know it, but she’d taken the cash Ben had transferred to him for the drop to Rabago. She had it in the duffel at her feet. She wasn’t going to keep him involved any longer. She planned to find Jeremy and bring him to the meet-up. If they both showed up with the money, Rabago would have to let them walk away, clear of any obligation. If she didn’t bring Jeremy, there was a good chance he’d end up dead. She owed him this much after he’d saved her life.