He knew she was struggling with the fact she was mated to another wolf. It didn’t matter if the mating was forced, biology should make it impossible for her to want him, yet she did. That just reinforced what Hank had believed from the moment he’d first inhaled Chrissten’s unique scent and felt his body explode with sensation and emotion—she belonged to him.
She lowered her body and his cock forged inward. Her inner muscles quivered, stretching to accommodate his girth. Perspiration dotted his forehead and he strained to find control. The situation was ironic and if he’d been capable of laughing in that moment he would have. He was a man who prided himself on his control, thrived on being in control, but this woman made a mockery of it, stripping him naked in more ways than one.
She bit her bottom lip. He could see the intense concentration on her face as she pushed downward. Her vagina was slick and wet and stretched to accommodate him.
“What are you feeling?” Hank wanted to reassure himself she was truly here with him and not locked in some distant memory. He wouldn’t be cheated and wouldn’t allow her to cheat herself. “Talk to me.”
Her breathing was becoming labored. “Tight. You’re so big.”
He gripped her hips and held on. Maybe talking wasn’t such a great idea. He was so on edge the slightest thing could send him pitching over. And he wanted her to come again, wanted her to experience pleasure with him inside her. He struggled to maintain control.
Chrissten planted her hands on his chest. “You’ve got such wide shoulders and great abs.” She ran her hands over his torso, leaving molten fire in her wake. His balls were tight against his body and his dick throbbed inside her.
But she wasn’t done.
She moved her hips in a circle, pushing his cock into her slick channel. He groaned and arched his hips up, driving himself deeper. Hank pulled down on her hips, not stopping until he was all the way inside her. He could smell her arousal mixed with his own.
A low growl worked its way up his throat and out. Her gaze flew to his and he did his best to wordlessly reassure her. Speech was beyond him. His entire body was barely under his control.
They stared at one another, sharing the intimacy of the moment, the connection between them that went way beyond physical. Although, he wasn’t complaining about the physical connection between them. It was off the charts.
“Ride me,” he commanded.
Chrissten lifted her hips slightly and came down again. Such exquisite torture. Hank only hoped he could hold out against it.
His entire life he’d felt alone until he’d found Meredith and her pack. They’d accepted him, given him a real home. What he felt for them was huge and real. But it paled next to the emotions bubbling within him at this moment.
His.
Chrissten was his.
It was an abomination that another male had claimed her.
He shook his head, feeling the cool cotton beneath him. Now was not the time to go all alpha male on her. She needed understanding, support. He’d manage to give her what she needed even if it killed him.
And it just might.
“Hank.” The uncertainty in her voice brought him back to reality like nothing else could.
“Yeah, baby.” He stroked his hands over her hips, up her supple spine and around to her breasts. He cupped the full mounds and rubbed his palms over her distended nipples.
Her breath caught in her throat and her pussy clamped down hard on his cock. He swore under his breath but she heard him and her eyes widened. Her body tensed beneath his hands.
“It’s okay. Whatever you want.” He held his breath. Waiting in anticipation. Heaven or hell was only a heartbeat away. But it was her choice. Always hers.
“You. I want you.”
Hank’s restraint snapped. He rolled, keeping his hold on her until she was flat on her back with him looming above her.
She gripped his shoulders, digging her nails into his skin. He paused and looked down at her. She wiggled and his cock slid deeper. Her breath caught in her throat.
“Okay?” He had to be sure.
Chrissten nodded and he began to move. He kept his strokes slow and even at first, but that didn’t last long. Her channel was slick and warm, welcoming him on each advance and clinging to him on each retreat.
She wrapped her legs around his flanks and held on. Accepting him. Encouraging him. He leaned down and captured her mouth, needing to taste her.
Her nails scored his shoulders, the erotic bite pushing him closer to his limits. His balls tightened. His cock flexed. Her core fluttered around him and he knew she was close.
“Come for me, Chrissten.” He pushed one hand between them, found her swollen clit and stimulated the small bud with the tip of his thumb. Her legs gripped him harder. Her breath was coming faster and faster.
This was better than anything he ever could have imagined. Life as he knew it would never be the same again. His orgasm gathered at the base of his cock and blasted upward, out through the tip.
He called her name and continued to pump his hips, his movements frantic. She had to come too. Hank caught the skin at the base of her throat between his teeth and gently nipped.
Chrissten cried out and he felt the telltale squeeze of her pussy around his cock as she came. He lost all ability to think, to reason. It was all about sensation and emotion as his orgasm ripped through him. His semen pumped into Chrissten. Luckily their species didn’t have to worry about sexually transmitted diseases. And he couldn’t get her pregnant. Only her mate could do that.
A feral growl threatened to escape him but he swallowed it back. He wouldn’t ruin this moment with Chrissten. She was here with him and she was his.
He collapsed, managing to shift most of his weight off her upper body while keeping his lower body joined with hers. Her head was resting on his pillow. Her eyes were closed but a tiny smile played around the edges of her lips. It was the expression of a well-sated woman.
His chest swelled and his dick pulsed. Instead of getting softer, his erection began to harden again. Her eyes shot open and she blinked at him in amazement. “You can’t be serious.”
He gave a short, hard thrust. “I’m very serious, but unfortunately we’ve run out of time.” As much as it pained him to do it, he pulled out of the heaven that was Chrissten’s body and sat up in bed. She sprawled next to him, a naked temptation he wasn’t certain he could resist, so he tossed the sheet over her.
Chrissten was watching him intently and he wished he could read her mind to know what she was thinking. “Thank you.” A lock of hair had escaped her braid. He pushed it off her forehead. “I wish I didn’t have to get up. I wish we could stay in bed all night long.”
Her expression lightened and a faint rosy tint covered her cheekbones. “Me too.”
Inside him, his wolf howled, echoing the pleasure washing through him. “I’ve got to get back downstairs. Kevin is watching the bar for me and I expect Quinn to be pounding on the bedroom door any minute.”
She glanced at the door and back at him. “You’re right.” She sighed and sat up, keeping the sheet over her.
He caught her chin between his thumb and forefinger. “There’ll be other times. This is only the beginning.” He wanted her to know this was serious for him. Special. This wasn’t a one-night stand. For him, this was the beginning of their life together.
She nodded but didn’t say anything. That bothered him, but he didn’t push her. He got up and grabbed his underwear and tugged them on. He was very conscious of her watching him as he dressed. He was pulling on his shirt when he heard footsteps on the stairs. “Someone is coming.”
Chrissten shot out of bed, grabbed her clothing and bolted for the bathroom. The door gave a loud thud as she slammed it. Hank stared at the door knowing she’d put more than a panel of wood between them. He could practically hear her repairing her emotional walls so she could shut him out. But it wasn’t going to happen. Not this time. He’d gotten by them once and he would again.
He quickly made the bed even though it wouldn’t really matter. There was no way to disguise the sweet, musky aroma of sex that permeated the room. He thought about opening a window, but decided against it. He wasn’t ashamed of what they’d done and an open window was a security breach.
Hank stood beside the bed, arms crossed over his chest. Water was running in the bathroom and it was all too easy to imagine Chrissten running a damp facecloth over her heated skin.
His cock flexed and stretched. Hank willed it back into submission just as a knock came on the door. He instantly relaxed. It was Bethany. Not Quinn.
He strode to the door and pulled it open. Bethany smiled at him, but it quickly faded and her eyes widened. “Chrissten is in the bathroom. She shouldn’t be long. Call me if you need me.”
There was so much more he wanted to say to Chrissten. But now wasn’t the time. He had a fight to prepare for. He was under no illusions Brian would be easy to kill. The male was a pureblooded alpha and Chrissten was his mate, but not by her choice. She’d given herself to Hank, freely and eagerly. They might not have all the details worked out yet, but he was determined to have a life with her. That would give him an edge in tonight’s fight. He was fighting for his woman, his very life.
He could feel Bethany’s eyes on him as he left the apartment. It wasn’t fair. He should be in bed with Chrissten, making love to her at least once more before passing the rest of the night simply holding her in his arms.
The short interlude they’d shared wasn’t enough. There hadn’t been time to talk about anything. There’d barely been time to make love and it had been quick. He’d had no time to savor every inch of her lovely body, no time to discover what made her sigh or laugh or groan.
He’d have that time. It was a promise to himself and to Chrissten.
His life used to be so simple and he’d liked it that way. Those days were gone and he gladly waved them goodbye. Chrissten was worth all the turmoil and upheaval.
Knowing what he had to do, Hank shoved all thoughts of Chrissten aside. There was no room for softer emotions. Not until the fight was over. That needed all his attention and concentration.
There was a werewolf in need of killing and he was just the male for the job.
Brian looked up from the papers he was perusing. “Yes.”
William was standing just inside the door with a gleam in his eyes. “We found them.”
Pleasure and anticipation shot through him in equal measure. He’d get to kill those wolves that had messed with him and his pack and he’d get his mate back. “Where?”
William turned the laptop he was holding in his hands so Brian could see the screen. “I found some old newspaper clips. Seems several men were killed in that area last year.” He glanced up at his alpha and smiled. “Looked as though they were mauled to death by wild dogs.”
“You don’t say.” Brian’s entire body was humming. The hunt was on and he had the prey in his sights.
“Aaron and Beck have already gone to check out the area. I figure it’s only a matter of hours until they come up with something. In the meantime, someone’s been searching through our property holdings.”
“Oh really?” Brian rubbed his hands together. Tonight he’d have Chrissten back where she belonged.
“I think I can backtrack and find out who it is.”
William was a computer hacker of the first order. Brian might hate technology himself, but he wasn’t stupid enough not to use the resources at hand. And William was the best. “You keep on it. I’m heading over to join the others. If you find out anything, call me immediately.”
William inclined his head. “As you wish.” He hurried off back to his makeshift office to work magic on his computer.
Brian headed down the stairs and out into the night. Cloud cover obscured the moon but it was there. He threw back his head and howled. Down the street, two men dashed inside an abandoned warehouse. Brian grinned. “That’s right, run you puny humans.”
He howled again and the two other members of his pack picked up his song and quickly hurried to his side. When they reached him, he grinned at them. “We’re going hunting, boys.”
Chapter Fourteen
Chrissten gave herself one final look in the mirror. Her body tingled in various places, a reminder of what she and Hank had just done. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes glowed, but at least she didn’t look quite like she’d just rolled out of bed. She looked normal. Almost.
She gave a sigh of relief and turned toward the bathroom door. It was cowardly of her, but she didn’t care. She was so glad it was Bethany who’d come to check on her and not her brother.
She didn’t think Quinn would have let Hank leave as quietly.
The crumpled bed sheets and the smell of sex in the bedroom told their own story. One that was impossible for any werewolf to miss. Heck, anyone would be able to tell what went on in that room and they wouldn’t even need an enhanced sense of smell to do it. All they’d have to do was look at the bed or at her. In spite of her attempts to look normal, she felt as though she was wearing a big neon sign that said, Well-Pleasured Woman.
Her body still hummed and her skin was tender to the touch. She felt totally energized. Parts of her ached, but it was a good sensation, a reminder that she was a woman, a woman capable of having a physical relationship without fear.
She put her hand against her neck, covering the small love bite Hank had put there. Luckily, her sweater covered the mark, but she knew it was there. A visual reminder of what they’d done.
She and Hank had made love. And it had been spectacular. Sure, she’d had several human lovers but those experiences had been less than stellar. And Brian didn’t count. Biology aside, what he did to her was rape, pure and simple. This was different. Special.
Chrissten hugged the feeling tight to her heart. It wasn’t something she could explore. Not yet. Not until Brian was out of her life for good. She’d have to go downstairs, find Craig and start working on him. He’d know the details of tonight’s hunt. And if he didn’t, he could find out from Damek.
Only when the fight was done could she even begin to consider what was happening between her and Hank. The thought of tying herself to another male scared her. She wasn’t sure she could do it or even wanted to. Assuming that’s what Hank wanted. Maybe he was just interested in sex. They hadn’t really talked about it.
“Stop it,” she muttered. “It doesn’t matter. Not yet, anyway.” It didn’t make sense to get worked up over something that might not even happen. She could die tonight. So could Hank. Brian wasn’t going to go down easily and neither were the other purebloods with him.
They were killers, plain and simple. And she was their prey. She wasn’t sure what Brian might do to her now that she’d taken another lover. And he would smell Hank on her. Of that she had no doubt.
Brian might kill her in a fit of fury, but she was more afraid that he wouldn’t. Chrissten shuddered and rubbed her hands up and down her chilled arms. There was no way she could survive being raped by him again, not after Hank had shown her the way it should be between lovers. She’d fight to the death if he caught her again.
That’s why it was doubly important for her to find Brian first. If she could get him alone she might have a chance at killing him. She didn’t want Hank or her brother involved in the fight. Wishful thinking maybe, but she was determined. She had to protect her family at all costs.
She ignored the niggling detail that she now included Hank with her family. She wanted to protect all of the Haven pack. Yes, she wanted to protect the others, but Hank was special to her.
She needed to talk to Craig, but first she had to deal with Bethany. Hopefully she could prevail on the other woman to keep quiet about her and Hank, at least until after tonight’s confrontation. If Damek was right about Brian’s location, and she suspected he was, if she was still alive after tonight she could deal with the fallout from her and Hank making love.
She grabbed the do
or handle, took a deep breath and pulled it open. “Hey, Bethany—” Whatever she’d meant to say was lost as she stared at her friend. Horror filled her chest, making it hard to breathe. It was a scene from her worst nightmare.
Brian stood just inside the door, his thickly muscled forearm around Bethany’s neck. It would take no effort at all for him to snap her spinal cord and kill her. He smiled at her, showing a lot of very sharp teeth. “Hello, mate.”
As quickly as the terror filled Chrissten, it drained away. She’d survived Brian before, and she would do it again. She just had to be smarter than him. There had to be a way to save Bethany and she would find it. She couldn’t allow Quinn’s mate to die. He’d already suffered enough.
“Hello, Brian.” Her calm greeting caught him off-guard. He tilted his head to one side, silently studying her. He looked the same as always—big and strong. Clinically speaking, he was actually good looking with his brown hair, rugged features and thickly muscled body. But it was his eyes that showed his true character. They were cunning and arrogant and mean. He took what he wanted because he could and cared nothing for others. He was cold and dangerous.
He jerked Bethany up until she was standing on her toes. Her fingers gouged into Brian’s arm, but he ignored it as though it were nothing. And, Chrissten knew, to him it was nothing.
“Why don’t you let her go so we can talk?” The rest of the pack was three floors down, surrounded by the smell of humans, food and booze. None of them would scent him until it was too late. She had to save Bethany and herself.
He laughed and it made her shiver. She knew the sound well. Brian always enjoyed making her suffer. He liked her pain. “Now why would I do that? We can talk and I can keep her to ensure your good behavior. You do anything I don’t like and I’ll kill her.”
Chrissten nodded. She couldn’t look at Bethany, couldn’t bear to see the fear and desperation in her eyes, couldn’t afford to reassure her. Brian would see any attempt to communicate as a threat and he might kill Bethany out of spite.
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