by Olivia Arran
Her tears had dried blotchy on her skin, her eyes red-rimmed as she chewed on her bottom lip. Finally, she spoke, and I had to catch myself from leaning closer, so desperate to hear her deny everything. “No.” It was a mumble paired with eyes that wouldn’t meet mine.
I couldn’t have stopped myself if I’d tried. Stepping closer, I tilted her chin up with my hand. “No?”
Her teeth released her bottom lip, the flesh springing free and flooding with color. “No,” she repeated, this time a fraction louder.
“No, you don’t think I’m the man I used to be? Or, no, it’s not a deal breaker?” I rushed on before she got the chance to answer. “Because I can tell you this: I would be good to you. I would see to your every need and fulfill your every desire—day and night.”
She visibly gulped, her eyes widening.
Encouraged by her continued silence, I pressed on, “Believe me when I say I’d like to take care of you…” My voice dropped to a low growl as the scent of her arousal perfumed the air. I took a deep breath, drawing her into my lungs. My cock hardened, thickening and straining against my jeans.
She let out a small little squeak I was beginning to associate as Grace, and her tongue darting out to wet her lips.
I smoothed stray strands of hair out of her eyes and cupped her cheek. “I would devote my entire life to pleasing you, pleasuring you, licking and kissing you and making sure a day didn’t pass without you coming, screaming out my name.” I lowered my head until our lips were inches apart. “I can’t think of anything better than spending a day between your legs—”
“No.” Her voice was weak but it felt like a punch to the gut.
I jerked back, but her hands flew to my chest, her fingers wrapping into my T-shirt and holding me in place.
“No to both.”
Relief staggered me, then exhilaration nearly floored me, both emotions destroyed by the lust that flooded through my veins. Seizing her lips with mine, I groaned into her mouth, my hips already rocking against hers, need clawing at me. My wolf howled inside me, insisting that I claim our mate now.
She nipped at my lips, her tongue tentatively dipping into my mouth.
Catching her tongue with mine, time ceased to exist as I gave myself up to the feel of her moving and writhing against me, her taste filling me, glimpses of her lashes fluttering against her cheeks, her soft moans and ragged breaths mingling with mine.
I brushed a hand across her breast, testing her reaction. Her nipple beaded under the thin cotton of her dress, straining toward me. Breaking away from her mouth, I kissed along her jaw, nipping at the sensitive skin. “Grace, if we’re going to stop, it’s going to have to be now,” I murmured in a strained voice.
“Don’t stop,” she gasped, tugging my lips back to hers and swallowing my groan of sweet relief.
Palming her soft breast, I traced the outline of her nipple with my thumb, swirling around and around the sensitive peak. My other hand dipped low, threading between us, down over her hip to the hem of her skirt.
Nice and slow, just a taste…
Her hands flew to my jeans, popping the buttons and spreading them wide.
Okay. Not so slow. I bit back a groan as her hand wrapped around my cock. Not to be outdone, I skimmed my hands up her thighs, bunching her skirt up until I reached the lace of her panties. I slipped a finger inside, sliding through her moist heat until I found her core.
What I wouldn’t give for a taste…
“Vin…I ache.” Her plea nearly unmanned me.
Fuck waiting.
I dropped to my knees and buried my head between her legs. Hooking her panties to one side, I licked straight through her folds, diving deep and hard. Her taste flooded my mouth, tangy and bitter and the sweetest thing I’d ever tasted.
This time her moan echoed through the park, her thighs clenching around me as she grabbed onto the hedge for support.
More…my wolf snarled inside my head.
No need to tell me twice…I snarled back, my thumb working over her clit while my tongue licked and thrust deep inside my mate. Circling around, I tongued her clit, my finger sliding into her pussy and stroking in relentless thrusts.
Her legs buckled and I grasped her ass, holding her in place.
Her moans grew louder with each swipe of my tongue, her hand holding my head, her fingers threading and twisting through my hair.
Her pussy rippled around my finger, clamping tight.
I bit down gently on her clit.
Her moan turned into a cry as she came in relentless waves, her whole body shuddering and spasming with the force of her orgasm.
Hands tugged at my hair, pulling me up. Following the pull, I captured her mouth with mine in a sweet kiss, trying to ignore that my cock was harder than steel and my balls were turning slowly blue.
Blunt teeth bit down on my lip. Her eyes flashed open, the soft brown darkened with a desire still burning strong.
I tried to resist the pull, tried to ease away. I should wait…we should wait…
She bit down again, this time harder. Demanding.
I fell on her, my hands tearing her panties off and throwing them to the ground. Freeing my cock, in one thrust I was inside her, buried to the hilt. My fingers dug into her ass, kneading the generous softness as I braced her against the hedge, coaxing her legs around my hips.
I couldn’t tear my eyes from hers. She had me caught—mesmerized—as she took every thrust, accepted every inch of me, her gaze silently begging for more.
Skin dragged against skin, the whisper of our moans catching on the night’s air as we came together, my hips crashing against hers, dragging us higher. Joining us together.
Claim her…my wolf growled, pushing me on.
I gritted my teeth, shoving him back. She hasn’t consented. Do you want to claim someone who won’t claim us in return?
He fell silent, but I could feel him pacing at the edge of my mind, testing me.
Waves of heat surged through me. I shuddered, speeding up, every plunge of my cock in her sweet pussy tipping me closer the edge. I need her to come with me…the bond…it has to be there…
Searching inside, I found the tenuous link bonding our souls together as true mates, incomplete but started at first touch.
I let myself fall over the edge, coming in great, pulsating waves. I shoved my orgasm down the bond.
She erupted in my arms, her screams entwining with my thundering roar, her pussy clamping tight around me and milking every last drop of my come. Back arching, she ground her hips against me, her blunt nails digging into my back hard enough that I knew, without a doubt, I’d made good on my promise.
A moment passed, and her shudders stilled. Unhooking her legs, she slid down my body.
I wanted to drag her back up into my arms and never let her go. But I didn’t.
She wasn’t looking at me.
“No.” It was more of a growl than a word.
That caught her attention. “No what?”
“You’re not running away from me, not now, not after what we just shared.” I crowded her back against the hedge, a primal part of me basking in the knowledge that she now wore my scent. Had my seed deep inside her. It didn’t matter that she wouldn’t conceive until we were mated. My wolf didn’t care. I had claimed her in the basest sense.
“I thought you said you’d never tell me what I can and can’t do?”
“The proviso was that you come home to me. To our bed. Is that what you’re agreeing to?” I nuzzled her neck, my wolf’s instincts riding me.
I felt her hesitation, could taste it on her skin, a tiny vibration as she struggled with indecision. “Not yet.”
Not a no… “When?” Letting my wolf surface had been a bad idea. He was making a play for control, unwilling to let our mate out of our sight.
“I don’t know. Maybe a couple of days? A week? It might be longer.” Not exactly the eager response I’d been looking for.
“Why the wait?” Her breath
hitched as I nipped at the smooth skin of her throat.
“I—there’s something that I need to give my full attention to…something very important.”
Circling the red mark with my tongue, I continued my lazy path, working my way up to her ear. “Life or death important?”
She stiffened. “Yes. Life or death.” Her voice was hollow, so hollow I could hear the pain screaming behind the wall she had built.
I bit back the snarl at the thought of someone threatening her. “Your life?”
“Not mine. Please, just give me the time I need…”
She wasn’t asking for much, and as much as I wanted to know what the hell was going on, now wasn’t the time to push her. Not if I didn’t want her running away from me again. “But I can still see you? Call you?”
She nodded.
Catching her chin, I pressed my lips to hers, sealing the promise. “We have our whole lives ahead of us, my mate. If you need me—?”
She nodded, looking relieved.
I tried hard not to feel insulted. I’d get to the bottom of whatever it was that troubled her. It was what I did, what I was good at—rooting out secrets.
And killing people. For her? She wouldn’t even have to ask.
And she hadn’t denied that we were mates.
Yeah, I was calling it a win.
Chapter Fifteen
Grace
The walk back home had been in silence, but it hadn’t been an uncomfortable one. It was filled with shy smiles and eyes locking together, then sliding away. Vin’s hand over mine felt both strange and comforting, like for the first time in my life I had someone on my side. Someone willing to fight for me.
Just the thought had butterflies dancing in my stomach.
He’d dropped me off at my front door with a kiss that had my toes curling and head spinning.
The only thing that was ruining my buzz was the guilt that ate at me, tightening my chest and sending skitters of panic rushing straight to my heart. While I’d been getting down and dirty with Vin and receiving the best orgasms of my life, Elle had spent that same hour at the hands of her abductors.
I’d forgotten about her.
For a fleeting moment, I hadn’t felt the weight of my guilt pressing down on me and it had been freeing. It was so damn wonderful that I’d almost burst into tears when it’d all come crashing back.
I’m a despicable person, I mentally flogged myself while pulling off my clothes. Leaving them in a pile, I threw myself into the shower. I didn’t deserve to be happy, not now, not when it was all my fault. I scrubbed at my skin until it glowed pink. Elle had only come to London to see me. I’d been the one to suggest that she visit. Hell, I’d begged her to come, told her she’d have a great time.
She’d trusted me to keep her safe. The tiles blurred. Dammit! I scrubbed at my eyes, yelping at the sting of soap. Tilting my head back, I let water sluice over my face and down my body. It was like there were two sides of me at war: the selfish side that wanted nothing more than to spend every waking minute getting to know Vin, and the side that wouldn’t allow me to let go.
The contact had reported that he’d made progress…
But everything was moving too slow.
What else can I do? I got them to send someone.
But had I really tried everything?
Had I? I’d played detective and reported my findings, which were diddlysquat really. The abductions were connected to the British Shifter Council in some way, so everyone connected to the Council were suspects. Which meant everyone I knew. Then I’d passed everything along and waited for a miracle.
I slammed out of the shower cubicle and faced myself in the mirror. Water pooled on the floor, running off me in streams, the steam fogging my view. Swiping a hand across the glass, I took a long, hard look.
I hadn’t done enough. Hadn’t tried hard enough.
I gritted my teeth against the realization.
Determined eyes looked back at me.
I was going out. And I was going to find my friend.
Chapter Sixteen
Grace
It didn’t take being a rocket scientist to track down Jeremy & Co. I found them at the first place I tried, the same club where I’d first laid eyes on Vin. Crossing my fingers that he didn’t decide to hit the town this evening, I made my way over, dodging out of the way of writhing bodies and flailing arms.
Jeremy noticed me first, his eyes widening and eyebrows shooting up. Uncurling from where he was draped on the low-slung couch, he nudged Tristin, who was seated next to him lip-locked with a girl I didn’t recognize. “Well, well, look who it is! What brings you out tonight, Gracie?”
I shrugged, dumping my purse on the table and glancing around. Jeremy’s booming voice had drawn everyone’s attention, and they were all looking at me with varying degrees of surprise and hatred on their faces. Well, hatred on the women’s faces. The men didn’t look that bothered either way. “I thought it might be a good idea to get to know you guys properly.”
“Why bother now?” Jonathan mused, taking a swig of his beer.
Jeremy snapped his fingers. “It’s because of the party, right? You’re here to track down Vin and make sure he’s not up to no good.”
“That’s not it—”
“He’s not here. Shame too,” a woman’s voice purred.
I turned to Tamara and gave her my best you-don’t-bother-me-bitch stare. “I didn’t come here to see Vin. The party got me thinking. You’re all friends with Vin and I’m about to be mated to him—”
“Might be mated.”
My hands curled into fists. If Tamara interrupted me one more time I wouldn’t be held responsible…
“Easy, Tammy, anyone might think you’re not happy with your pairing…” William ran a hand down Tamara’s back, but his tone was hard. Pissed off.
Tamara shrugged away his hand, her nose wrinkling with displeasure. “Some of us like to aim high.”
“Ouch. And here I was thinking you and me had a beautiful future to look forward to.” William clasped his chest in mockery, but his mouth was twisted in a sneer. “Don’t worry, I won’t give a shit who you fuck once you’ve given me an heir.”
“Bastard,” Tamara murmured, but a sultry smile played on her lips as she stared at him.
“Bitch,” William growled in a low voice.
“You know it.”
They fell on each other, the low moans and amount of tongue action making me gag.
“They’re always like that.”
I turned to Freddie, who had come up next to me with a shy smile on his face. “Wine?” He thrust a glass out and I caught it just in time.
“Thanks,” I murmured, taking a fortifying sip. “Do they hate each other?”
“Yes and no. Tamara doesn’t think William is alpha enough for her, which riles him up so he goes all macho, which in turn gets her hot for him. And then she pushes him away again. It’s a vicious circle.”
Freddie had adopted a dispassionate teacher-student tone, complete with waving hands and pointing fingers.
“She wants what she can’t have and thinks what she’s got isn’t good enough?” I clarified.
“Bingo!”
“What about you? I didn’t see you at the party.”
Freddie shrugged, but he seemed quite pleased. “I was there but I wasn’t a part of the main event.” He wiggled his eyebrows at me.
“I think I was the main event,” I said with a groan.
“Vin did cause a bit of a stir, storming off and sweeping you up in his arms.”
I punched his arm. “He did not sweep me up in his arms!”
“Might as well have. He staked him claim in front of everyone in that room, let them know you were his choice.”
“Like a caveman.” I said it lightly but a thrill ran through me as I remembered the intensity in his eyes that night.
“Like a wolf. Like a shifter should act when he sees his mate.”
At the determination in
his voice, I glanced at him. “You don’t agree with these arranged matings?”
“I don’t think we need them. What we need to do is to get up off our spoiled asses and go find our mates, not spend our time with the same people, doing the same old thing, day after day.” This time his voice was filled with barely concealed longing.
“You’re bored; you want some adventure in your life.”
“Hell, yes.”
I clinked my wine glass against his beer. Who knew that I’d find a decent guy hiding in Jeremy’s group? “You don’t belong with these guys. If you really want an adventure I could put you in contact with somebody in America. They’d be happy to have you join them.” I realized my slip up as soon as the words left my mouth.
“Really?”
He didn’t ask who, or how I knew them, thank God. “Really.”
Leaving him with a hopeful smile on his face, I made my way across the club to the restroom. I was just washing my hands and finishing up when the door slammed open, the noise of the club pouring in along with my worst nightmares—Tamara, Synthia, and Annabel.
They crowded around me, Tamara hopping up onto the counter while Synthia and Annabel blocked my escape. “You’re not good enough for him.”
I rinsed the soap from my hands, taking my time. “What, no small talk? Straight for the jugular, Tamara?”
My tormentor smiled, baring her perfectly whitened teeth. She traced a figure eight on the counter, her eyes never leaving mine. “There’s no point. I feel like I owe it to you to spell it out, plain and simple.”
I shook my hands, resisting the urge to wipe them dry on her dress. “Don’t worry, I can assure you... you don’t owe me anything.” I made to walk away and came toe to toe with Synthia.
Tamara continued, her voice low and spiteful. “You’re a nobody, not even a real Firbright. Vincent deserves a real mate, one with a wolf to match his own.”