Tormenting Her Mate (My Wicked Mates Book 3)

by Erzabet Bishop

“Oh. Thank you.”

  “Sit.”

  She lowered herself into a chair and rotated her shoulders. Mrs. Patterson hummed as she zipped around the kitchen. She sat a glass of water, a napkin, and a spoon down on the mat in front of her. She scurried back toward the stove and ladled some soup into a bowl. Setting the bowl on a plate, she reached into a towel covered basket and pulled out a fresh baked roll.

  Astrid's mouth started to water.

  “I think I might love you.”

  Mrs. Patterson chuckled and toddled over, setting the meal in front of her. “You hush now. Eat, and then get yourself upstairs.”

  Mrs. Patterson tidied up the kitchen as she ate, the hot savory soup and crusty bread just the fortification she needed. Even the water felt refreshing going down and before she knew it, she was done.

  The cheerful woman came to gather her dishes, but paused for a moment as if she had something on her mind.

  “I want to tell you something, dear.”

  Astrid held her breath and twisted the napkin between her fingers. Her control was tenuous and if this kind woman judged her, she didn’t know what she would do.

  Raising her face, she found a look of concern instead of censure.

  “Marcus has had a hard life. His father is gone and good riddance. When I told him to go find you that night after you’d left the living room, I thought he was going to lose his mind.”

  “You…” She put the spoon down with a clunk. She had seen her before. “You were passing out drinks. I remember now.”

  Mrs. Patterson nodded. “Marcus is like a son to me. He spoke of you so often, I couldn’t bear to let that man get his poisonous claws in you.”

  “Then why didn’t he ever…”

  The older woman shook her head, her lips pursed like she’d tasted something bad. “And risk his father finding you? No. He would never do that.”

  “I don’t know what to say.” Her hands trembled in her lap and she gazed up into the woman's kind eyes. “You know the reason I’m here.”

  “I do,” she began and then stopped. “But I also know why.”

  “I’m not sure I understand.”

  “You will. In time. Now, come.”

  Mrs. Patterson led her upstairs and they stopped in front of a closed door.

  “Here you go.”

  The room that waited was nothing short of a fairy tale. Cherry wood furniture surrounded the bed and even more bookshelves lined the walls. A window ledge laden with pillows tempted her from across the room.

  A knock sounded on the door. “Your suitcase.”

  “Oh. Thank you.”

  Rigo sat it down in the doorway and held up a small cat carrier. “This is yours, too, I believe?”

  Just then, she noticed the fresh scratches on his face and the bloody bite marks on his hands.

  “Oh. Oh no. I’m so sorry,” she said, horrified. First her injuring him and now this. She glared inside the carrier at a glum looking Mr. Spookley and couldn’t help but feel happy he was here. “Thank you for bringing him.”

  Rigo nodded, a grudging respect in his eyes as he glanced at the carrier. No doubt Spook had given him a run for his money.

  “Thank you, Rigo. Did you bring his cat food?”

  “Yes, Ma’am. It’s downstairs in the kitchen.”

  “Very good.”

  The enforcer went on his way, leaving them.

  Mrs. Patterson brought in her suitcase and sat it on the floor next to the bed. “I do hope you enjoy this room. Marcus went to a good deal of trouble to make sure it was to your liking.”

  How would he know that? She hadn't seen him in years. Flashing a forced smile on her way across cavernous room, she paused in the doorway to the bathroom. It was enormous. Marble floors and elaborate tile work depicting fairy tales lined the walls. The glass door shower and the deep claw foot bathtub made her groan with want. This was a bathroom a girl could get lost in.

  “Isn't it beautiful?” Mrs. Patterson asked with a smile.

  “It's incredible. I love it.”

  “I thought you might. Okay, well let me get back downstairs. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  Lost in her thoughts, Astrid didn’t hear when the woman left and it occurred to her that she didn’t know which room was his.

  Chapter Six

  She wasn't in his room as instructed. He opened the door, expecting to find her naked and shivering in his bed, and instead he found an empty room. His wolf paced beneath his skin, grumpy and irritable.

  Fine. If she wanted to play things the hard way, he could definitely do that.

  Marcus laid his jacket on the chair and removed the cufflinks from his shirt, tension coiling in his stomach. She didn’t know him. He spent years watching her, knowing he couldn’t afford to show any interest.

  Stalking down the hall, he stopped in front of the door to her room. He turned the knob and stepped inside only to find the room dark, the soft sound of feminine snores coming from within. Astrid was curled up, fast asleep, still wrapped in a towel from her bath, her wet hair strewn over the top of the sheets.

  Her scent met his nose and he breathed her in, his cock already hard.

  She looked the part of the innocent, her rose petal lips relaxed into what could have almost been a smile. As if she could feel the weight of his gaze, her lashes fluttered and she opened her eyes to find him standing over her.

  He didn’t miss the disoriented expression and the weight of reality slam back into her.

  “I'm sorry. I fell asleep. Mrs. Patterson didn't tell me where your room was. I meant to go looking but I just was so tired. I'm sorry. Please don't be angry.”

  The look in her eyes destroyed him.

  “I'm the son of a monster. Don’t assume we’re the same.”

  Resentment sparked in her eyes. What else could she construe?

  Astrid sat up, an angry flush covering her cheeks. “No. But you did buy me for a month. What does that make you?” She wrapped the towel tighter, her breasts swelling against the confines of the makeshift covering.

  “Why don't you tell me?”

  Marcus sat on the bed and wound a hand in her hair, jerking her forward, her mouth meeting his lips in a brutal claiming.

  His animal paced beneath his skin, patience stretched thin.

  How long had he waited for this moment? To feel her against him. He wanted to throw her down beneath him, part her creamy thighs, and let the animalistic urge to fuck her until they both dropped take over.

  She hissed and pushed back, the towel loosening, her breasts crushed against his chest.

  “I…” Her eyes closed. Face devoid of makeup, she looked every bit the girl he knew from before, but as she moved against him and her nipples hardened, he was reminded about why they were here.

  His wolf howled, urging him forward to claim the bounty that was right in front of him. To mark her as mate and tell the rest of the world to fuck off and die.

  He hardened his jaw.

  First, he had to earn her trust. He couldn’t give in to the force inside of him that wanted nothing more than to push her down on the mattress, part her velvety thighs, and surge inside of her until they were both spent.

  No.

  Not yet.

  She had to want it.

  He released her and she pulled away with a gasp.

  “Get some sleep. We’ll talk more tomorrow.”

  If he looked in her eyes, he was done for. He got up and left the room. If he had any sense at all, he would send her packing. She wasn’t meant to be here. Grinding his teeth, he stalked down the empty hallway wanting nothing more than to turn right back around and map out every one of her curves.

  He’d thought if he built this place, he could start fresh. No ghosts. But he’d forgotten demons never really left. Persistent fucks, the lot of them. And he had more than his share. Letting Charlie live was foolish. Even worse was taking him up on his offer. Marcus owed her more than this. Fuck. He’d saved her from being bought and
sold once and here he was taking advantage of her at what had to be the second lowest point in her life.

  He passed by a mirror, his image blurred as he walked by. Who the fuck was he to buy another human being? It went against everything he was. He was not his father but in one foolish act, he’d become just like him.

  He had to let her go.

  The look in her eyes when she said yes confused him. Almost relief? No. It didn’t make sense. He couldn’t leave her like this. Taking three steps at a time, he rounded the hallway and found himself at her door. It wasn’t locked. He should have secured it on the way out but he hadn’t, and now he found himself staring down at her sleeping face, content in the knowledge that she would be his; at least, in part.

  But was that good enough?

  And did he have the courage to send her away?

  She shifted on top of the covers, the towel half wrapped around her nude form, milky white breasts pressed against the comforter. The towel had moved enough so her parted legs revealed the slick pink lips.

  God help him.

  His cock throbbed. He had what he wanted within reach, but not close enough. How easy it would have been to simply unzip his pants and bury himself in her exposed sex. To take what was rightfully his. But he was not his father. She had to choose.

  Marcus approached the bed and eased the damp towel from her body. If he left her this way, she could become ill. After removing the towel and gently placing her head against the pillows, he reveled in her perfect form. Long legs stretched and curled under the blankets he held over her. The neat thatch of hair between her legs and the rounded globes of her breasts topped with rosy pink nipples called to him. She had curves that invited him in, not like some of the women he’d been with who had been all skin and bones. Astrid was…beautiful.

  His wolf agreed.

  His cock throbbed painfully and he forced himself to walk away, closing the door behind him. The path to his room had never felt so long. Unbuttoning his shirt as he went, he stepped out of his clothes as soon as the door shut behind him. Retreating into the sanctity of his bathroom, he turned on the shower and stepped under its hot, healing spray, his hands already busy rubbing out his erection.

  The image of her pert breasts and sweet mound reduced him to the boy he was when he met her. A few long strokes brought him shuddering against the shower wall, his release a lonely and bitter one. He wanted to be buried inside of her. To fuck her and fill her and make her heavy with his child.

  He wanted her to be his. All of her.

  As he watched the evidence of his lust flow down the shower drain, he knew that one month would never be enough.

  Stepping from the shower, he dried off and shifted, the dark woods behind the house a beacon to his wild blood.

  Chapter Seven

  The sun wafted through the gauzy curtains and Astrid gradually became aware of her surroundings. The door opened and Mrs. Patterson buzzed inside.

  “Good morning.” She opened the curtains, letting the brightness of the day take over the room.

  She stretched, climbing to a sitting position, almost revealing her nakedness. The towel she had fallen asleep in was nowhere to be found as she pulled the sheet around her.

  “Thanks for tucking me in last night.”

  “I didn't.”

  Mr. Spookley yowled from the floor and Astrid leaned over to pet him.

  She wasn't sure what to do. He hadn't claimed her last night. She thought that was the way this was going to play out. That she was supposed to be a tool in his revenge against Charlie and whatever else was going on in his mind. All he’d done was pop in, kiss her, and leave her to her own troubled dreams. She didn’t exactly know how to process that.

  She started to lower her feet over the side of the bed and remembered she was au-natural. Sucking her lip between her teeth, she wondered what the day would bring.

  “Why don’t you get dressed and join me downstairs in the kitchen?” Mrs. Patterson hurried from the room as Astrid eased herself out from beneath the covers. But she was confused. If the housekeeper didn’t take the towel, then who did?

  Had it been her elusive host? Had he come back after she’d fallen asleep? It was possible.

  But he hadn’t touched her.

  She got up and padded into the bathroom, letting the warm spray of the shower wake her up. The lavender sage soap invigorated her senses and the cherry blossom shampoo left her hair clean and scented.

  While she toweled off, she thought about what to wear.

  Some comfy jeans and a big t-shirt would have to do. Part of her wondered if she should have put on something sexy. That's the thing about being a virgin. She didn’t really have any sexy anything so Marcus was going to have to be content with whatever it is she put on unless he bought it himself.

  She made her way out of the bedroom, wondering where Mr. Spookley had gotten off to. He may have followed Mrs. Patterson downstairs. She didn't care, she just didn't want him to be any trouble.

  There was no sign of anyone in the house. It was almost too quiet until she got down to the kitchen once again. Three cats jostled for food at a bowl near the wall and she couldn’t help but grin.

  Three cats?

  Hmmm. Now that was promising.

  “Oh, there you are, dear, how about some breakfast?”

  Her stomach growled and she was surprised to find she was actually hungry. “Um…okay.”

  Mrs. Patterson sent her a knowing look. “You will eat. While you're here, you're to have all three meals and snacks every couple of hours, period. Marcus’ orders.”

  She made a face. “Okay, then.”

  She sat at the same table she had eaten at the night before.

  “Well, since it's late, I thought maybe we could do a brunch. And I'll get you something light in a couple of hours.” She hummed along the stove and before Astrid knew it, the woman had whipped her up some scrambled eggs and a couple of slices of fruit. A steaming cup of coffee accompanied the meal. One bite of the fluffy eggs and she was hooked, the coffee warming her as she proceeded to eat everything the gracious woman placed in front of her.

  Her fox hummed her appreciation, longing to get outside and explore the grounds.

  “What's on the agenda for today?”

  “Well, Marcus isn’t home. He had some business to attend to this morning. He said to keep you occupied, or at least show you around the house. We didn't get much of an opportunity to do that last night. There will be a doctor arriving momentarily to look you over.”

  A doctor?” she asked, eyebrows raised.

  “I’m sure Marcus wants to make sure you are in good health, dear. It’s my understanding that you worked some pretty long hours at the store.” Her gaze went straight to Astrid's feet.

  “My feet are fine.” She hastened a reply, embarrassed that he’d seen her naked and decided she warranted a doctor visit.

  Mr. Spookley wandered into the kitchen, meowing.

  “There you are. You naughty little crumpet.” Mrs. Patterson leaned down to scratch the cat between the ears. “I fed him and he was off gallivanting before I could close him in.”

  She laughed, surprisingly at ease with this woman.

  “He does that. Just take your eyes off him for a second and he's gone. He almost got out yesterday, actually, when…” and she stopped, unable to continue. She didn't need to hear about her abduction.

  A look of sympathy crossed her face. “I understand all too well, dear. Although it looked like he gave Rigo a run for his money.”

  Mr. Spookley mewled.

  A giggle snuck out as she imagined her fierce feline warrior attacking the wolf shifter bodyguard. “Yeah. He got it from both of us. Spook scratched him, and I stepped on his foot with the heel of my shoe.”

  Mrs. Patterson chuckled. “Good for you. That boy is much too serious. And all that manhandling. So unnecessary. I’m sure if he’d asked you to come with him, you’d have done so without all the shenanigans.”

 
“Probably.” Her mouth twitched and she giggled again. “On second thought, nope. He still would have gotten the heel.”

  “Terrible shoes. You really aught to think about something with better padding for your heels. It will help you later in life, dear.”

  Breakfast ended and Mrs. Patterson vanished into the laundry room, the doorbell ringing not long after. Dishes in hand, she had her hands submerged in soapy water when the woman reappeared, an older man dressed in khaki’s and a button-down shirt toting a small black bag following close behind.

  “Oh. Thank you, Astrid. You didn’t have to do that.”

  Her cheeks warmed. “It wasn’t any trouble.”

  “Well, now, why don’t you let me finish? For now, I’ll toddle back into the laundry room and you two have your little talk.”

  “I’m Dr. Frasier. You must be Astrid.” He held out his hand, the lines around his eyes crinkling. He smiled, putting her at ease immediately.

  “I am.” She dried her hands on a dishtowel and then smoothed her hands down her jeans, unsure what she was being seen for.

  “Why don’t we have a seat for a moment?” He gestured toward the table and she slid back into the seat she had vacated a few moments earlier.

  “What is this about?”

  “Marcus…Mr. Lupin wanted to be certain of your general health before your visit progresses.”

  Heat slid up the back of her neck as she thought about what the man in front of her must be thinking.

  God bless. She felt like a prize mare set for breeding.

  “What, um do you need to know?”

  “Your sexual history, I’m afraid. Please forgive the intrusion. I also need to do an examination that could either be done here on the table or in your room if you’d rather.”

  She swallowed, her stomach fluttering. None of this had seemed as real as it did right at that moment. In essence, she had agreed to have sex with a man she’d only had a few words with despite their family’s long history. It was surreal, but she knew one thing for sure. She was so not putting her feet up on the table she had to eat at for the next thirty days. Not a chance.

  “My room, maybe?”