by Zoe Chant
Gage moaned into her skin, hot mouth working her tighter and tighter, a suction that made Alison’s legs squeeze around his wide shoulders and press into the thick cords of muscle along his back, dragging him closer and deeper. She needed him inside her. Needed him with a desperation and abandon she’d never felt before.
His tongue curled into her, tasting.
Alison gasped and threw her head back. Her fists clenched on the seat as Gage’s shoulders nearly lifted her out of it. And then a rolling wave of static burst inside her, tugging her body up and out, pulse after pulse, Gage’s mouth on her, pulsing with her.
Chapter Four
Mine, Gage’s bear growled in pleasure.
Gage was so hard that he wanted to give way to his bear and claim Alison right there and then. He ached to push himself inside her slick tightness, take her scented neck against his teeth, and rut and bite and fill her until she knew she belonged to him. It was a feral desire, one Gage had never felt before. One he had never grasped the depth of until that moment.
Alison was spread out before him, head thrown back, hair curling down the back of the dining chair, legs loosely wrapped around his shoulders. She was a revelation. She looked stunning and smelled better than he could have imagined. Rosy with exertion, breasts rising and falling, sweet and tart with come. Gage’s head swam with stimulation.
Alison moaned.
Gage tried to clear his head, to sweep aside his baser urges and concentrate on what his sweet mate needed from him. “Hey,” he managed, voice deep and worn. “How you feeling?” He ran his hands soothingly up and down her silky soft thighs. God, he wanted to start all over again and kiss all over her sexy legs.
“Oh wow,” Alison murmured.
Gage felt his face split into a grin. He had made his mate feel like that. He felt shockingly elated, his bear so proud that he’d pleased Alison. He wanted to roll around in the feeling, bask in Alison’s pleasure like it was his own, just because he’d given it to her. This must be what it feels like to have a mate. This is why I’d do anything to keep her safe and happy.
The thought sobered him. It was his job to keep her safe. He’d let himself be distracted from his duty. He needed to get it together. This was his most important job yet.
Alison’s hand wandered down to thread into Gage’s hair. “Mm, thank you,” she said, eyes still closed. “That was incredible.”
“You’re incredible,” Gage found himself telling her. Oh man, he thought. He sounded like a lovesick teenager when he was supposed to be a professional. He had to pull himself together.
Alison’s eyes opened then, shining down on him shyly.
Gage’s breath caught in his throat. He ached for her.
“Do you want...? I mean, if you want, you can...” Alison’s face flushed a deeper pink.
Gage wanted. God, he wanted. As soon as she offered, all his greedy eyes could manage to focus on was the soft, pretty, swollen place where he could just slide—
He clenched his jaw hard before he could say yes. He couldn’t do this. He couldn’t keep her safe if he kept letting himself get this distracted. “I, uh,” he tried to explain. “I really shouldn’t.”
Alison stilled. The light went out in her eyes and she straightened, pulled away. “Sure, yeah. No problem.” Her voice was toneless.
Gage cursed himself. Idiot.
“I’ll just, I’m going to jump in the shower.” Alison bit her lip, turning away from him.
He’d hurt her. He had to fix this, now. Gage scrambled for words. “You don’t need to go anywhere, I promise. I’ll go if you want me to. I just meant to say, I’m worried that I overstepped.”
Alison was already straightening her clothes tensely. “You didn’t. I wanted this. It’s fine.”
“I wanted this, too,” Gage agreed quickly. “I want this, still. But I promised your boss I’d take care of your case, and I definitely crossed a professional boundary here. And I’m sorry for that.”
Alison looked at him sideways, as if considering his words.
Gage barreled on hopefully. “But I’m not sorry we did this. This was amazing. I want to do this again. But I don’t want to take advantage of you or of the situation. That’s what I wanted to say.”
Alison’s shoulders relaxed slightly.
Gage let out a breath, heart pounding.
“Okay.” Alison nodded slowly. “You’re not taking advantage. Don’t worry about that.” She eyed him. “But you don’t need to feel like you have to do this again. I mean, I’m not some—” She swallowed. “I’m not a pity fuck, okay?”
Gage’s heart sank. He’d messed this up so badly. He’d made his gorgeous mate think he didn’t want her. This was why he hadn’t been with a woman in years. Could he really make this relationship work?
Alison stared at him challengingly. There was a glint of hope in her face, Gage thought, and he latched onto it. “Did that feel like pity to you? Because to me it felt like the hottest sex I’ve had in a long time.” The hottest sex ever, to be honest. He hadn’t even come, but that barely mattered. He’d been focused on making her come, because that was what he’d really wanted.
Alison bit her lip, but Gage could see a satisfied smile peeking through. “All right. Yeah, it was.”
Gage grinned at her. She was so beautiful. His bear agreed, itched to give her everything when she smiled like that. He surged forward and wrapped an arm around her neck, pulling her in, pressing pleased little kisses onto her cheek until she turned her mouth to his, opening warmly. He kissed her slowly, edging deeper and deeper, teasing.
She moaned and curled into him, soft hand rubbing his stubble, roaming down to his shoulder, massaging his muscle. It felt heavenly. He couldn’t help imagining her in his bed, touching him all over. He wanted to let her into his den, let her explore his big shifter body. He lifted a hand to her breast, weighing the warm roundness in his palm. She was perfect, made for him to hold and love.
But not yet. He drew back carefully, dropping gentle kisses on her nose, smiling down at her.
She sighed, eyes flickering open, flirtatious. “Are you sure you don’t want to come shower with me?”
Gage groaned. The image of her wet and touching herself nearly did him in. But he had a job to do. And until he’d done it, he didn’t deserve to take Alison the way his bear wanted to. “I can’t,” he told her regretfully.
Alison huffed playfully and said, “Well, I’m going to take my shower, then. You made me a mess.”
Gage closed his eyes as she disappeared into the hall. He couldn’t wait to make a mess of her again. Her scent lingered in the air and all he could think of was how they would smell together, combined. Like mates.
While Alison showered, Gage cooled himself off by taking a security tour of the apartment. That was why he’d come over in the first place, and it was time to get to work. He had to keep Alison safe. He knew he wouldn’t feel settled until he’d made sure she was protected.
The deadbolt was his first stop. He pulled out his Swiss Army knife, selected the flat head screwdriver, and tightened it up quickly. Testing it, he flicked the bolt a few times and pulled hard at the door. It held. The lock wasn’t high quality, but it would do for now. He’d have to get a better one ordered from his security supplier.
Gage felt something brush against his leg, and looked down at Alison’s cat. “Out of hiding, huh?” He smiled. “You can help me patrol.” The cat slinked toward the door and batted at the corner of a flyer stuck under it.
Gage reached down to pull it out. It was a coupon for a new pizza place. But as he turned it over, his blood ran cold at the words written there.
I saw that man come home with you, Alison. He can’t have you.
You are my mate.
I’m coming for you.
Gage’s heart pounded, a rushing sound like a jet engine in his ears.
The writing was scrawled in a scratchy black pen, quickly, like it had been written right outside the door. But he hadn’t sensed anything. Ho
w was that possible? He mentally beat himself up. He had let himself get distracted by his desire for Alison and it had put her in danger.
Gage’s shifter senses kicked into high gear, straining against the confines of the apartment. Not sensing any immediate threats, he pulled open the door and scanned the hallway. Nothing. Only a lingering smell of old grease and peppermint. Like chewing gum covering over something rank.
Alison’s cat didn’t like something out there, either. He hissed and bolted right back under the couch.
Gage frowned, going into tactical mode. He couldn’t leave Alison right now, vulnerable in the shower, to track the scent. He dead bolted the front door and turned to assess the security of Alison’s apartment.
He scanned the windows and checked their locks. Acceptable. He ran his hands swiftly over Alison’s electronics, checking for any monitoring devices. Nothing. He closed his eyes and listened— really listened with all his shifter senses— but he couldn’t track down any hint of a disturbance. Nothing odd. Nothing but the quiet early morning rustles of a large apartment complex. The stalker was long gone.
Had he been lying in wait for Alison to come home? No, Gage was sure he would have caught the scent of anyone hiding nearby when they arrived. The stalker must have followed their cars from the radio station and come up after them. The idea infuriated Gage. Why hadn’t he sensed that? Had he been so blinded by desire that he’d forgotten all his years of training, exactly when he most needed them? And who did this creep think he was, invading Alison’s space like that? Threatening her? Lying to her?
You are my mate.
The words burned into Gage’s mind. His bear snarled, wanting to rip apart any rival, any interloper who tried to come between him and his mate. Alison was his mate!
Gage breathed deeply, struggling to rein in his feral impulses, and tried to process the evidence logically once more. He didn’t want to think it was possible, but could this sick, twisted stalker be a shifter? The thought honestly scared Gage.
Shifters occasionally lost track of reality. It was part of their genetic heritage, an ancient hindbrain that came further forward in animal form. Shifters were used to their dual nature, and for most it wasn’t difficult to maintain humanity during a shift. But there were some shifters who lived on the fringes, who clung to the old ways, becoming closer to animal than man. Shifters who were caught in between forms, forever lost.
The idea that a shifter like that could be after Alison, could be delusional enough to believe that she belonged with him, enraged Gage’s protective bear nature. This threat was real. Alison was being tracked like prey.
He paced the apartment on high alert until Alison emerged from her bedroom. Without waiting for her to settle in, he questioned, “Have you ever received a note like this before?”
Alison frowned down at the flyer on the table, twisting her hair up in a fluffy cotton towel. She wore loose yoga pants and a soft-looking t-shirt with the neck cut out.
Despite his anxiety, Gage wanted to kiss her. She looked comfortable and sweet, like she was tucked into her den for a cozy night. Or day, given her crazy work schedule. He’d give anything to keep her that way.
“No, I haven’t,” Alison said. “This is weird. There’s something wrong with this guy, right?”
Gage laughed shortly. “I’d say so, yeah. He’s a stalker.”
Alison shook her head. “No, I mean,” she paused in thought, finger tapping her lower lip. “At first I really thought it was just creepy calls, you know? It’s not fun, but it happens when you work in radio. All the women DJs I know get them once in a while.”
Gage’s brow furrowed. That shouldn’t be normal.
“But this is different. And he did say something like this before.” She raised her head, eyes clouded with worry. “When he called last week. He said something like, ‘you’re mine, you’re my mate.’ It was creepy. I mean, mate?” She wrinkled up her nose in distaste.
Gage’s heart felt like it had been punched.
“I don’t know,” she continued, unaware, “but that’s not normal, right? What kind of guy thinks a stranger is meant to be his mate? I thought it was pretty strange. But I guess I didn’t think he was serious about it.”
Gage tried to find room in his chest to breathe. His bear howled. Alison thought mates weren’t normal. His own mate thought the very idea of his love for her was weird, strange. But this guy is creepy, he attempted to reason with his bear.
“Well,” he tried to speak, tried to gather his thoughts from the pain in his heart. His bear fought to defend itself, to reach out for its mate, and he had to work to force it back. He couldn’t afford to scare Alison with his shifter nature. I can’t ever tell her she’s my mate, he thought hopelessly. She would believe he was just like her stalker, when all he wanted was to keep her safe. “It’s... complicated,” Gage began, voice rough.
Alison cocked her head, listening.
He took a deep breath and tried to gather his composure. “I believe your stalker is a shifter. He seems to have latched onto you as a potential, uh, partner. Shifters call their partners mates.”
Alison’s eyes widened and she took a half step backward.
“In that case, I’m your best ally,” he tried to reassure her quickly. “I should be able to predict how he’ll behave, since he believes that you’re his mate.” He swallowed the lump in his throat and pressed on. “Shifters with mental problems can become... territorial. I’ll make sure to take that into account from now on. This gives us some very important knowledge about him. It will help me catch him. I promise.”
Alison nodded slowly, still wary of the situation, but her body language had relaxed.
He gave her a smile he hoped was convincing. As long as she wanted his help, he could handle this disaster. He could protect her, even if he was afraid he could never have her.
Chapter Five
The new day breaking used to feel welcome after Alison’s long night shift. But now, as she packed up her bag at her desk, she couldn’t stop the tremble in her hands. The sky was clouded over and dim with drizzling rain, but even if it had been clearing into blue, she wouldn’t have wanted to venture outside the studio.
“Gage is out there,” she murmured in reassurance. “Gage is watching.”
But the fear of the stalker who’d threatened to come for her— to take her— as a mate? She shuddered. Gage had explained the stalker’s note to her, what it meant. That her stalker wasn’t the normal kind of shifter. That he was damaged somehow.
“He’s not like me.” Gage had been clear on that point. “I, and most shifters, are fully in control of our natures. Depending on the situation, it can be harder or easier to control, but we aren’t dangerous. We would never hurt anyone.” His eyes urged her to understand, to believe him.
She did. Gage had been so kind to her. He even seemed to intuit her feelings when she had a hard time expressing them. “I know,” she told him.
He smiled warmly, with a hint of relief. His eyes remained worried, though. Upset about something. “Good,” he said. “I don’t want you to hesitate to trust me. Tell me if anything bothers you. And I promise you I will find this guy. I will keep you safe.”
But even as he spoke, Alison had a sense that there was more to the situation. Something important he wasn’t telling her. And she could only assume it was because he didn’t want to scare her. She was scared, though.
She was worried for Gage, too. As strong as he was, as dedicated as he promised to be, could he really catch a shifter who was so unhinged? Who was operating on an entirely different level?
If Gage got hurt protecting her, Alison would never forgive herself. He’d been so gentle with her, even in his hunger. She trembled in a totally different way, remembering. She could almost feel his strong hands caressing her thighs, his addictive scent on her skin. Pleasure curled through her. Her breath went shallow when she remembered the way he’d looked at her, the way he’d spoken to her. It was intoxicating to feel
so desired.
She wanted him again. She wanted him right here in her office. Maybe he would press her down over her desk and fill her. She hadn’t even seen his cock yet, but she knew it must be thick. He’d been so hard. She wanted to feel him tease that thickness against her, mouth at her neck, growl in her ear. Make her soft and slick for him, and then press slowly inside, such a snug fit that she could barely stand it.
Alison flushed deep red, coming back to the present. Work was not the place to be fantasizing about Gage. Get your mind out of the gutter, she chastised.
But even still, she imagined him standing behind her, muscled arms around her, holding her safe and secure. His big body had been so warm and his scent so comforting. She’d lain in bed for hours after he’d gone, daydreaming about him heating her sheets, covering her in kisses, his naked skin sliding against her own.
She didn’t think he had wanted to leave. The way he’d looked at her and touched her shoulder carefully at the door made her want to believe he would’ve stayed if he could. But he had to investigate her stalker, not just guard her. She knew that.
Before he left, he had secured her apartment and left her with a panic button that would alert him if she needed help. And he’d promised to follow her when she left work, to watch for any cars tailing her. So she had to get on with it.
Alison took a deep breath and headed out into the hall.
Jess’s cheery voice called out from her office. “Meeting up with that huge hunk of man I saw in Tom’s office yesterday? He had such a cute ass.”
Alison gave a weak laugh. “Something like that.” She hadn’t even told Jess about the amazing sex and yet she was already matchmaking.
“Well, come over tomorrow and give me all the dirty details, all right? Shaun’s grilling, as long as the weather clears up.”
Alison nodded. She definitely needed something normal and fun after this strange week. “Sounds great. See you then.”
“Take care, babe. Happy Friday!”