Quit treating her like one.” He hesitated. “She's not Liza.” All the air rushed out of Jonas's lungs. He had to take several deep breaths before he could speak. “Believe me, I know that. And I'm not comparing her to Liza.
She doesn't have anything to do with this.”
He'd thought he loved Liza once, but once he accepted she'd never be his, that feeling had faded. Eventually he'd realized it wasn't Liza he wanted in particular, but a woman like her. Strong and fierce and independent. Yeah, he felt protective and possessive of Harper. Hell, he felt that way about most of the pack. It was just part of his nature. But he never counted on having a mate who couldn't match him in strength of will, if not physically.
Harper, lovely and appealing as she was, didn't have the fortitude to stand up to him. She didn't have the will to rein him in when he went way overprotective, and he knew he would. She would never be an equal partner the way Mick was.
He'd been in a nonstop struggle with his wolf side since she'd shown up. It wanted to claim her and protect her. It wanted to possess her, and not doing so just pissed it off. Jonas was struggling for control, and the wildness in him was winning.
Harper couldn't handle it, as clearly evidenced by her fleeing the room.
But even knowing that, knowing she couldn't take the wolf and she wasn't what he'd expected, he no longer had the willpower to walk away. She was his.
Eventually, she'd come to grips with what he was. Maybe. Hopefully.
Perhaps with the right kind of encouragement she'd grow into the kind of woman he needed at his side. Perhaps with time the damage done in the past to her self-esteem, her spirit would fade. He sincerely hoped so. He didn't want a doormat for a mate.
“Jonas?”
He shook his head. He knew Mick wanted to know what was on his mind, what kept holding him back, but he wasn't ready to discuss his fears. Sometimes he wanted Harper so badly he shook with the force of it, and admitting he was afraid she might never accept him, accept his wild side and be able to tame it was more than he was capable of yet. Just knowing how deeply his passion ran would probably scare her off.
“I'll be back in a few minutes,” he told Mick and then stepped out the back door.
They hadn't left. She stood frozen in the hall and listened in. So that was it.
Jonas might have wanted her, he couldn't hide the desire she sometimes saw lurking in his eyes, but he was in love with someone else. When he left by the kitchen door, she moved into the light. Mick turned around with a sigh.
“How much did you hear?”
“Enough.” The bottle of rum and her untouched glass were right where she'd left them. She walked over, turned to lean against the counter, and lifted it to her lips. “How long has he been in love with Liza?” For the first time she felt a bit of sympathy for Jonas. Liza was incredible.
Harper felt familial love for her and a hell of a lot of gratitude for Liza's having taken her in. She was strong and confident and outspoken. In short, everything Harper was not. But unfortunately for Jonas, anyone could see she was totally in love with Caleb and Zach. Harper swallowed the liquid, enjoyed the slight burn as it slid down her throat.
“That's gotta suck for him,” she went on softly.
“He's not in love with Liza.” Mick shook his head. “And I shouldn't be discussing it with you. Jonas needs to tell you what that's about.” He didn't have to. “I'm nothing like her.”
“No. You aren't. Why should you be? She grew up here. She was always loved.
Never abused.”
It was only years of practice that kept her face calm, kept her from flinching.
She didn't fool him for a minute.
“How bad, Harper?” he asked the question so softly, so gently with a voice thick with compassion, not pity, that she almost gave in to the instinct to rush over and cling to him. She was so tempted to steal a moment of time, a few minutes of comfort, and she knew he wouldn't deny her. “I saw the scars on your legs.” Tempted, but in the end she wasn't able to let her guard down so much. She let her chin drop to her chest, stared at the floor, and shook with years of repressed fear and anger and self-disgust. She was smart enough to know it wasn't her fault.
Not one of the many times her father had raised a hand against her had it been her fault. But it was damned hard to not hate herself for not getting out, for not saving herself and her brother all the big and small humiliations accumulated over a lifetime.
She looked up to meet his gaze. “It doesn't matter anymore. I'm free. Dane is free.”
And she would continue to rebuild herself bit by bit. She'd stood up to Jonas, hadn't she? She was getting braver about risking smart-ass retorts when he slung his subtle insults her way. She was under Liza's protection, and she was pretty sure even if she hadn't been, Jonas wouldn't have hurt her. For the first time in a very long time, she experienced a sense of empowerment.
The door opened before Mick could push her for any answers, and Jonas walked in with three reusable shopping bags filled to bulging. He must have run to his house and then packed like a maniac. She arched her eyebrows when without a word he started to unpack and fill her small freezer, fridge, and pantry.
“Are you planning to feed an army?”
He grinned at her over his shoulder, and her stomach did a slow flip-flop.
Wow. He didn't have a right to look so hot when he spent 99 percent of his time trying to annoy her.
“Werewolves eat a lot. Especially fully grown male wolves.”
“Maybe it escaped your notice, but I'm not a werewolf. Or male. There's no need to fill my kitchen.”
He swept a critical eye over her. “You're not eating right.” The comment surprised her speechless. For the first time in her life she was losing weight. And she'd stumbled across the only male in creation who didn't appreciate that? She wasn't sure if she should be insulted or kiss him in thanks.
She shrugged, going for nonchalance.
“I've lost a few pounds. It won't kill me to lose a few more either.” Jonas growled and with two long strides was right in front of her, so close his chest brushed against hers. It was damned hard to hold back a moan of longing. He put his hands on her hips and pulled her flush against him. There was no way to miss his erection, hard and hot even through his jeans.
“It might kill me,” he said before leaning down and nipping her neck. His hands slid around to mold her ass, and this time there was no way to hold in her moan. “I like your body like it is. I love your curves.” He nibbled her throat, searing a path up over her jaw to her lips. The kiss was slow and teasing. Coaxing. He broke away gradually with little bites and licks. Her heart raced, and her body went into a slow meltdown. He was being nice. He was being…seductive. He was sending major mixed signals, but how the hell could she resist him like this?
With a wink he stepped away and rummaged in the lower cabinets for cooking pans. Her fingers hovered over her lips. She might prefer him grumpy and snarly.
In a good mood, with a teasing smile, he was too damned enticing. He'd lull her into a sense of security and then morph back to the big bad wolf, wouldn't he?
Mick, who hadn't said a word, came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close. His chin rested on her shoulder.
“He's nice when he's like this,” he teased.
“When does he turn back into a pumpkin?”
Mick laughed at her joke. His tone was light, but she wondered if his next remark was serious. “When he does, it's just because he's trying to keep up his macho image.”
This time she laughed. “Is that why? You mean he's not just mean tempered?” Jonas turned from the counter, where he was cracking eggs into a bowl. “You really think it's wise to harass the chef?”
She grinned. “Maybe not. But it's kinda fun.”
And she hadn't had nearly enough fun in her life. Not enough of this teasing banter. A look crossed his face that made her suspect he knew that.
He nodded. “You
get a pass. This time.”
“Don't listen to him,” Mick whispered close to her ear. “He likes it when you give him attitude.”
It was hard to concentrate on his words with his lips so close to her skin.
Especially when he left a trail of kisses down her throat and over the exposed part of her shoulder. His fingers tugged the collar of her V-neck sweater out of the way, and he continued the soft kisses across her shoulder. When he dipped his hand down her torso and under her sweater to cup her breast, she gasped, arching against him when he shoved her bra down.
She stared down at herself, knowing she should protest. Her breast rested on top of the bunched-up cup of the garment. He held the weight in his hand, stroking the skin above her nipple with his thumb. His fingers were lightly callous, rough and sensual on her smooth flesh. Her eyes slid closed, only to snap open seconds later when Jonas spoke.
“Beautiful,” he murmured, his voice rough with lust.
Then he leaned forward and sucked her nipple into his mouth. He was gentle.
She wasn't sure if she wanted gentle. She tunneled her hands through his hair, holding him to her. He increased the pressure, the suction until he was taking long pulls. She shook when she felt teeth. Her hands slid to his shoulders, fingernails digging as she struggled to stay upright.
She needn't have worried. Mick held her with one palm on her belly. Under her sweater. His palm felt hot and fevered. She didn't notice he'd unsnapped and unzipped her jeans until his finger slid through her slick folds.
“Oh gods,” she moaned.
He nipped her shoulder hard enough that it should have hurt. “Should I stop?”
“Don't you dare.”
He chuckled, spread the lips that hid her pussy, and pushed one finger inside her. Then a second. He thrust them in and out, building up to a fast, even rhythm, each withdrawal scraping over sensitive, inflamed tissue.
Jonas switched to her other breast, pushing her bra down to expose her and stare a moment. She swore she could feel the heat of his gaze on her skin. He took her nipple into his mouth, sucking hard, and she started to quake. Mick's fingers fucked her harder. Faster. When his thumb grazed her clitoris, she bit her lip and fought the orgasm rising in her body. She wanted to come, but this felt too good to ever stop.
“Let go, sugar,” Mick said gruffly. “Come for me now. I want to feel you on my fingers.”
She would have been able to hold it off if not for that order. She'd always longed for a take-charge lover. Someone who would dominate her with loving protectiveness, not cruelty. She quit fighting the sensations in her body. It was like a dam breaking, flooding her with pleasure, pouring through her body until it almost hurt, and she cried out.
They didn't give her time to enjoy the warm glow that suffused her. Mick's fingers were suddenly gone. He pushed her jeans and panties down so they pooled at her ankles.
“Look at me, darlin',” Jonas ordered.
She pried her eyes open. He moved closer, skin to skin. The front of his jeans was open, and his cock pressed against her pelvis, hot and insistent. When he lifted her, she kicked off the jeans and underwear caught around her ankles and followed her instinct to wrap her legs around his hips, gasping when he slowly pushed the broad head of his cock inside her. She wriggled, trying to adjust or get away—she wasn't sure which. He was too much, and it had been so long since she'd let a man get her naked.
“Stop that,” he panted, leaning over to rest his forehead against hers. “You're so tight.”
“You're too big.” She gasped when he worked another inch in.
He chuckled. “No, I'm not, darlin'. You're just out of practice.” She could tell that pleased him. This was a wolf who didn't like to share, not even with the past.
“Relax,” he whispered. “Take all of me.”
Then Mick's hands were on her again, popping the hook on the back of her bra.
His fingers rubbed her nipples. Jonas gave her another couple of inches. He withdrew until just the tip of his cock was still inside her, and she moaned a complaint, feeling the loss. But then he slid back, deeper and easier this time, aided by Mick's attention to the other sensitive spots of her body.
The rough pinches on her nipples, the sharp bites on her neck muscle and nape sent desire spiraling through her again. Her pussy grew wetter, slicker. She wanted Jonas deeper. With a low moan he complied, in one thrust filling her so completely she didn't think she'd be whole if he ever stopped, and still he was not in her all the way. She wriggled, no longer uncomfortable, only needy, but unsure what she needed.
“Take all of me, darlin'.”
He withdrew and thrust back in hard. Her head fell back with a gasp. He couldn't get any deeper. She felt his balls against her ass, the head of his cock deep inside. He didn't give her a chance to adjust to the new penetration. He slammed in and out of her in fast, furious thrusts. She'd never felt so used. She loved it, lust winding tight in her body, a hard ball of building need coursing through her.
The quivering started deep within her body, her magic combining with the pleasure and demanding release. She fought to contain it, but it was no use, and for the second time in minutes she cried out as it consumed her.
Mick watched as they came together, though he doubted Harper was aware of it. Breathing hard, Jonas grabbed a chair and flipped it to sit down with her straddling him. She shimmied closer, resting against his chest, her long blonde hair covering them like a blanket. Jonas pushed it aside, leaving the smooth column of her neck exposed.
He met Mick's gaze, his eyes asking a question that didn't need to be voiced.
Yes. Mick nodded. Make this real. Make her theirs. He would do so later tonight.
Jonas's incisors lengthened, and he held Mick's gaze as he lowered them to her nape and bit. She whimpered but settled when he rubbed her back. When Jonas lifted his head, he saw a tiny bead of blood on her neck. He lapped his tongue over it, and she stirred, lifting her hand to cover the spot.
He lifted her to her feet, and Mick caught her when she swayed. She leaned back against him, and he hissed when her ass rubbed over his cock. Jonas grinned.
He knew exactly what Mick wanted.
“I'm going to start dinner. I'm sure our mate would like to…clean up.” Mick didn't need to hear the suggestion twice. He swung her up in his arms and carried her through the master bedroom straight to the bath. He smiled when he saw it. Gods bless Liza. It was one of those huge, jetted affairs. More than big enough for one large werewolf and his woman.
She looked at him curiously when he guided her to sit on the side. Then he reached forward to turn the water on. Hot but not scalding. He pulled her sweater and bra off and helped her in. Her eyes widened when he started on his own clothes.
“About this mate thing?”
“What about it, sugar?”
“Don't I get a choice?” she asked tartly. He'd give her damn near anything, but this one was not negotiable.
“Not really. Mating is an instinct that can't be fought.” Her eyes narrowed. “I came here so I wouldn't be sold off.” Chuckling, he climbed in behind her, pulling her back to rest against his chest.
“No one is selling you off, sugar. No one is taking you away from us either.” He reached for the bar of soap and built up a lather. He started cleaning her at her wrists, slowly working up her arms.
“Why would I want to be with someone because of that? It's just based on lust, not love. Or hell, even like. It's so…so…”
“Animalistic?”
“Yes!”
He cupped water and rinsed her left arm, then lifted it behind his head and turned to nibble at the tender skin on the inside of her arm. She sucked in a breath, tried to pull away, and he bit her. She yelped.
“We are part animal. We're possessive.” He cupped her breasts, molded them before moving to tease her nipples.
“And protective,” he murmured, nuzzling her neck. She wiggled against him, and his cock, already hard, started to throb.
“And we tend to bite,” he added just before his teeth sank in.
Not hard enough to break skin. Not hard enough to mark her. He'd get to that soon enough. First he wanted to taste her, wanted to know if her pussy tasted as sweet as it felt convulsing around his fingers. Then he'd see if she fit his cock as well as his fingers. He groaned, got himself under control, and finished cleaning her.
He got them both dried off before herding her into the bedroom. She met his gaze and backed up warily.
“What is it?”
“Your eyes are glowing.”
He smiled, felt fur rippling under his skin. “The wolf is close.” Her knees hit the back of the bed, but she stood her ground as he approached.
“Is it always like that?”
He shook his head. “It recognizes its mate.”
She took a deep breath, and oh, the phenomenal way the inhale made her breasts rise. For a moment he was transfixed. Then his nostrils flared as he took in the change in her scent. She had been aroused, but his open appreciation had ratcheted it up ten times. His wolf clawed at the corners of his mind, demanding he take her. Now. She was ready, willing, and able.
His hands fisted, though. He didn't want to rush. He wanted to taste her, to savor, then gorge. “Sit down, baby. Spread your thighs for me.”
Her knees seemed to go out on her, and she sat with a bounce that jiggled her breasts enticingly, but she kept her knees pressed tight together. He didn't smell any fear on her. Embarrassment, then? He knelt in front of her, resting his hands on her knees.
“Disobeying already, sugar?” This time there was a spike of fear filling his nostrils. He sighed. “I would never hurt you. This is about pleasure.” He gently pushed the insides of her knees. She spread enough to let him lean in and kiss her, leave a quick bite. Then he nudged her again, and with a sigh she let him spread her legs wide enough to accommodate his shoulders. He slid forward, pushed her to her back with one hand on her belly, and pulled her legs over his shoulders.
“Oh!” she cried when he put his hands under her ass and lifted her to his mouth.
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