Patrick's Heart

by Stacey Espino

  A wave of disappointment crossed his features and his grip loosened.

  “Our home,” she clarified.

  He smiled and she basked in it. “Sorry, but this is it for tonight. Garret’s orders.”

  “Why? I don’t understand. How does he even know about Peter or this place?”

  “Hush, little one. Tonight it’s just you and me.”

  As much as she wanted to continue to argue and question Patrick, she couldn’t when he looked at her with such passion in his eyes. She could feel his cock nudge her crotch, and she dared not look down to see what she knew awaited her. She was putty in his palms, especially when she knew how good he was capable of making her feel.

  He sat up straight, bringing them chest to chest, hard muscle to soft curves.

  She whispered now, not even caring about the words when her body was heating internally, making her feel flush. “It’s cold and scary here.”

  He kissed her lips, and she savored the brief contact. “I’ll keep you warm, and nothing will harm you when I’m here.” Another kiss. “I’ll protect you, Cassidy.”

  “Yes…” She let her head fall back as he trailed kisses down her neck.

  “My wolf likes you.”

  Her pussy clenched. Being in the arms of such a unique and powerful male was the ultimate turn-on. He actually wanted her, chose her. Then why was he so standoffish before? Did he worry she’d reject him?

  “That’s good because it’s been like pulling teeth to get you to care.”

  He growled, the sound traveling all the way down to her clit. Patrick flipped around to her back so fast the world was just a whirl of movement. “You shouldn’t try to goad a wolf. He may bite.”

  Her breathing picked up as he slid her pants off, leaving her with just her T-shirt and panties. “I’m not afraid of you,” she murmured and dropped her knees open to the sides. She felt wanton and dirty. The soft pine needles beneath her were prickly in places, the scent rustic and untamed—just like the man hovering over her.

  “You should be.”

  “I’m only afraid of you running off again and not coming back.”

  “I won’t leave you,” he said, running his hands along the tender insides of her thighs. Every cell he touched sparked to life with erotic intensity. She began to wriggle, needing him to drop down over her so she could feel the heat of his skin against hers.

  He nodded to her shirt, signaling her to strip out of it. She didn’t delay, struggling in her thick bed of pine needles. The promise of his mouth on her achy tits was enough incentive to strip naked.

  “There are a few things that separate me from regular men, even now,” he said as he lowered his head between her legs. She tensed.

  “Oh?”

  “When I get aroused or angry, sometimes my fangs come out. Like now.” He licked his teeth in a slow, sensual drag. The meager light in the cave reflected off the sharp, white tips of real fangs. She should be terrified, but it only served to arouse her more.

  “You’re–you’re like a vampire.”

  “No such thing.”

  “Are you going to bite me?”

  He shook his head, his breath hot against her legs. “Garret would kill me. But know that it’s all I can think about right now. Well, almost the only thing.” He smirked before disappearing from her sight. Within seconds he’d managed to rip her panties off with just his teeth. The flat of his tongue swiped up her folds, making her arch off the ground. Would he bite her sensitive parts?

  * * * *

  Patrick had Cassidy exactly where he wanted her, her sweet pussy in his face, and her trembling body safely in his hands. It was just the two of them, a rarity being a member of a pack. More than that. She’d accepted him, the real him, and was ready to commit. The first time had been about lust. Tonight there was so much more at play. Patrick could feel a strong connection solidifying between them, the one his pack mates had spoken about. For once he wanted to show Cassidy he was capable of love and emotion. He’d been holding back due to events in his past, but he had to look to the future now. Living with fear and hatred was slowly tearing him apart, eating at his soul a bit each day like a cancer. How would he tell her about his past without appearing pathetic and weak? She was his female, and it was his duty to be strong, fearless, unbreakable.

  “That feels amazing,” she said. He had to hold her still with both arms as he feasted on her pussy. She was writhing, so close to reaching a peak. But it was far too soon to allow her to come. He wanted to savor her, enjoy every moment alone with his woman. Tonight would be the building block for every day to come.

  He paid extra attention to her clit, stopping long enough to stave off her release, and starting again to keep her in a frenzy. He loved the sound of desperation in her mewling, her nails raking along his skin.

  “No more,” she cried, her head thrashing back and forth. “You’re doing that on purpose.”

  She was wet and ripe now. He climbed up from between her legs, allowing his erection to graze her sensitive folds. She gasped, trying to reach between them to grab his cock. “Ah, ah, ah. That’s not for you. Not yet, anyway.”

  “Don’t you want me?”

  He hooked his forearms under her shoulders, securing her close. “Yes. But first I have to give you my heart.” The last time they were together, they’d had great sex, but she still claimed to want nothing to do with him afterward, her one word of rejection sending him running. He had to be one hundred percent sure she wanted him and his wolf for the right reasons.

  His hand movements were limited, but he stroked her hair as he looked into her pretty blue eyes. The moonlight made them shimmer like sapphires.

  “You know what I am but not who I am.”

  “Then tell me.”

  What did he have to lose? He took a breath, ready to share a vital part of his past, the events that molded him into the man he was today. “What you see now is only a shadow. I may be a man—strong, capable, and independent—but it wasn’t always so. When I was a boy, my parents were killed by hunters. The men found me soon afterward hiding in some briars. I had shifted into my fur when the chaos broke out, and rather than kill me, they decided to keep the wolf pup as a pet. Not any kind of pet you’ve heard of. They battered and beat me, barely fed me, anything to make them feel superior. Little did they know there was a nine-year-old boy locked up behind the wolfen façade.”

  Her mouth was slightly agape before she spoke. “Oh God, that’s horrible.”

  “I was held captive for over a year, traveling with their hunting party like a sideshow freak—the hunters and their wolf. I just kept replaying the words my father had drilled into me—never shift in front of a human. It’s the reason I didn’t try to escape for so long. Getting away took months of planning, learning their routines and habits. I swear, by the end, I knew them better than they did themselves. One night they were all pissed drunk so I dared to shift into my skin. It had been so long, so I was unsteady on my feet. I set off a flare, creating confusion.” He spoke so evenly, as if speaking of the weather. His strength astounded her. “Once I was free, there was no chance I’d allow myself to be caught again. I knew I would kill first. Ever since I escaped I’ve had a deep-seated hatred of all humans. It took many, many years for me to even tolerate another male near me, which is hard in a world dominated by humans. It was Garret and my new pack that helped me overcome my weaknesses.”

  “What weaknesses? Anyone else would have felt the same way.”

  “But your mate should be fearless.”

  She smiled. “There’s no such thing in man or wolf, Patrick. But you’re brave, courageous, and loyal. Those things mean more than anything. They mean more to me.” Her smile faded. “After what you’ve been through, I’m ashamed to be a human. I’m surprised you want anything to do with me.”

  He kissed her again, her lips so soft and full. “Garret may have helped me tolerate humans, but you’re the reason I’m capable of loving one.”

  “Lo
ve?”

  “I’ve known ever since you met my red wolf by the river. Well, he knew. I was too hardheaded to see a good thing when it was right in front of me.”

  “Will you be able to share me?”

  Had he appeared that selfish? Although he enjoyed their private time now, his pack mates were like his vital organs, and he could only survive so long without them. “They love you, too. And we’re all closer than blood.”

  Chapter Eight

  Cassidy didn’t think she could love Patrick any more than she did in the present. She had wondered if he was genuinely uninterested in her or if he had walls built up to protect himself. Considering it was the latter, a great wave of relief washed through her. He was opening up to her, bridging the distance between them.

  But his story was heart-wrenching. Her gut tightened and throat clogged with emotion upon hearing his story. She could imagine a little boy of nine being alone and scared, tortured by grown men. Cassidy had been on her own for much of her life as an orphan, but that wasn’t even comparable to Patrick’s experience. She had a newfound respect for her red wolf. He was damaged and perfect. Hers.

  She’d spend the rest of her life proving that choosing a human woman was the right decision, despite his horrendous experiences in the past. How could anyone even treat a wild animal so cruelly? She just wanted to forget the world, exist in a small bubble of time and space away from all the madness. Cassidy supposed Climax was far enough removed from civilization to live that dream. Unfortunately chaos kept showing up on her doorstep. Now she had to contend with Peter, forever wondering if he was lurking about if he didn’t show up again. He’d played the role of her brother, something she didn’t even want to contemplate now. It meant her real brother likely never reached out to her at all, shattering her fantasy of finding a blood relative.

  “So maybe this can work after all,” she said.

  “You’ve already been chosen. As soon as I get the word to return home, Garret will make things official.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “You’ll officially be ours. Forever.”

  He was talking about the love bite, their unusual ritual. She supposed it came from Patrick’s animalistic roots and they’d taken on the idea to include him. “About that love bite. Personally I think sharp would be better than blunt, don’t you?” She shifted in his embrace so she could run the pad of her thumb along his upper lip.

  “Garret will be first, then the four of us will follow to complete the bond.”

  “Five bites?” This was just getting better and better. She knew she’d go through with it, regardless of how unorthodox, but it still sent a chill racing up her spine. “Couldn’t just one of you do it? Couldn’t you?”

  She tenderly pushed his lip back, looking for those sharp tips, but found only regular human teeth.

  “Looking for something?” A hint of playfulness colored his words, one eyebrow rising in question.

  “I’m–I’m curious.”

  He exhaled, as if holding on to control by thread. “Be curious tomorrow, Cassidy. Right now I want to enjoy your body.” Patrick had already brought her to a peak, only to leave her hanging. She knew it would take little effort to bring her back to that pinnacle.

  “Touch me,” she begged. He’d been holding, talking, studying, but not touching. She wanted to feel his big, rough hands explore her curves, his fingers invade her cunt. Tonight would be more than sex. She wanted him inside her, his cock throbbing within her walls. This was a man she loved. After the emotional declarations she needed to be as close to him as possible. She yearned for the great passion that could only be achieved once all virtual guards had been lowered.

  “Were you never taught how dangerous it is to taunt a predator?” He brought his lips close to her neck, lightly grazing her skin. She could hear him breathing before he nipped her earlobe.

  “I don’t taunt,” she said. “I can handle it hard and fast.”

  “Can you now?”

  He traveled down her body, seeking her breasts. When his warm mouth closed around her hypersensitive areola, she cried out. She needed this more than she knew. The sexual play acted as a release for all the stress she’d built up inside her the past couple days. In Patrick’s capable arms, she could let everything go, just focus on his hands, his tongue, and his cock.

  The more he explored, the more urgent his movements. He became rougher, his breathing more like ragged growls. She ran her hands over his wide expanse of shoulders, her fingers exploring the powerful, bunched-up muscles as he held his weight over her body.

  “I need you,” she said.

  “Like yesterday?”

  She tried to catch her breath, but it was difficult with her body already overheating. “That was sex.”

  Cassidy wasn’t about to admit the pull her five miners had over her. It was like they had some soul-deep connection that she was unable to sever. One look, one touch, and she was addicted all over again.

  Patrick positioned his body firmly between her thighs. He thrust against her folds, building up delicious friction. Her clit was already engorged, throbbing for release. “What is this?”

  “Everything.” She grabbed him behind the neck and tugged him close enough for a kiss. This kiss was like no other—deep, lasting, and sensual. She became lost to his affection, drowning in the passion she’d only dreamt of experiencing with Patrick.

  He lifted his hips enough to impale her with his impressive cock. Satisfaction was instantaneous, a rush of heat and electricity surging through like a scattering of lightning. She cried out, the sudden fullness taking her off guard even though her body was well prepared to accept him. He was so thick, and he worked her tirelessly from the very first stroke.

  “You’re tight, fucking tight.” He licked the shell of her ear, awakening her erogenous zone, the soft echo making her eyes loll back in her head. Patrick slid one arm under her, protecting her back from the rocky ground as he fucked her. They were tilted slightly on an angle, giving him maximum leverage to take her deep and hard. His roaming hands had settled over the globe of her ass.

  She kissed his neck, his shoulders, his chest, leaving a few marks of her own. He began to caress the seam of her ass with a featherlight touch, the undisturbed cells coming to life. The pressure in her cunt continued to mount. Patrick showed signs of nearing his own peak, his hips thrusting faster, his body sweat-glistened.

  He impaled her ass with a finger, holding it in place as he rammed into her from the front. When he began to wiggle his digit, it was enough for her to boil over, her pussy clamping down over his erection, a rush of fluid escaping to coat his cock.

  “Patrick. It’s so good…” Her womb twisted and cramped as she rode out her orgasm. The pleasure was almost too much to bear, stealing every last shred of her energy.

  “You’re mine. My woman.” He roared when he came, hot jets of cum filling her, branding her as his. And she loved every minute of it.

  Patrick spooned her from behind, his tattooed arm wrapped securely around her body. They had no blankets, only the heat they’d created together. Patrick was always unnaturally warm, likely due to his wolfen heritage. But all the men were warm, even when they ran around naked. Maybe she was the odd one.

  The gentle rays of early moonlight soothed her weariness, like a gentle kiss good-night.

  “Tell me again. Why did Garret insist we stay here tonight?”

  “The imposter is more than he appears. He may be more dangerous than you think. Until Garret finds him, he wants you out of range.”

  “But Peter would remember I was here. How is that better?”

  He chuckled softly. “Because Garret knows me well. And only a fool would try to corner a wolf.”

  * * * *

  Garret and Matthew split up, creating a V flank. Garret pushed his black wolf to the limit, bounding through the forest after their target. The little weasel had impersonated Cassie’s brother just to get to her. In addition to the physical threat, t
he emotional toll would be significant when all was said and done. Just as he’d been obsessed with finding his pack mate, Matthew, she had the same drive to find her half brother. Now all her signs and clues led back to one crazed stalker.

  “No human can run this fast,” said Matthew.

  “Where the fuck is he?” They’d been tracking a human when they should have been looking for a wolf. It all became clear to Garret and he slowed his run until finally coming to a stop.

  “What’re you doing?”

  “It’s what we thought. He’s wolf. There’s no other explanation.”

  “Then why didn’t Patrick scent him? He smells human.”

  “That’s because he’s from the city. He probably hasn’t shifted in years so he reeks of humanity.” Garret shifted back into his skin and began the walk back to the main road. Matthew followed suit.

  “A lone wolf?”

  “That’s what I’d like to know. It’s too much of a coincidence that the creep stalking Cassie is a wolf. He must be affiliated with the Rockford Pack.”

  Matthew wasn’t convinced, shaking his head before speaking. “But she said she knew him from work long before she even thought of coming to Climax.”

  Garret didn’t want to think anymore. He was weary of fighting endless battles. Although he may enjoy a good fight once in a while, he was tiring of his adrenaline-rich lifestyle. He wanted to find peace in the love of a good woman, expand his mine, and build a legacy. Nothing was simple anymore. He craved the days of old when his kind spent more time in their fur than skin, not a care in the world besides remaining unseen.

  The cave he’d commanded Patrick to barricade Cassidy in until they found Peter was just ahead. He took the opposite path that would lead them to their truck.

  “What about Cassidy and Patrick?”

  “Leave them. Tonight Patrick’s going to make peace with himself…and Cassie.”