Her father, as usual, looked worse for the wear. He had several days of stubble, his clothes were rumpled. He’d been drinking; she could smell the fumes rolling off of him.
“That’s no way to greet your dad.” He swayed slightly where he stood.
“What do you want?” she repeated. “Tell me now, or I’m leaving.” She started to turn away to walk back to her car.
“I tried to go by our house, and the landlady wouldn’t let me in.” His voice had that high pitched whine to it that set her teeth on edge.
“What do you mean our house? You’ve never lived there. You haven’t done more than crash on our couch for a few nights in years,” she said, frustration boiling up inside her. “Besides, I told you, I very specifically instructed the landlady that you were not allowed in.”
“I need a place to lay low,” he pouted. “I have nowhere to stay and people are looking for me. You have to tell her to let me in.”
“What people?” she asked, worried. This could have implications for her brother and sister.
“Bad people. I owe them money.”
“Have you been gambling at the Jackals’ casino again?”
He shrugged, looking sullen. “It’s not like I could get a real job anywhere. People won’t cut me a break.”
“You know who else can’t catch a break? Your son and daughter. I found out today that nobody at their summer camp will talk to them, because they’re Padfoots. That’s all on you, dad.”
“So you see how it is?” her father wailed. “None of us can catch a break, ever! I had no choice!”
“You’ve always had choices. Don’t call me again. I have to get back to work now, and I hope to God I’m not fired.”
Damn it, she’d done exactly what Ty told her not to – and he’d been right. She was letting her father drag her down with him. It would serve her right if Ty fired her; she’d run out and left everyone on a busy Saturday night.
“You can’t leave me! I’m really in trouble with these people,” her father’s tone had turned wheedling. “How are things going with Ty Battle? He likes you, right? I bet he’ll ask you to marry him. Those Battles, they’re pretty traditional. If you, say, got in trouble, then he’d have to marry you, right? Then we’d all be set for life. We’d never have to worry again.”
“I’m not going to dignify that with an answer.”
She dug into her pocket, and held out a handful of bills. He grabbed at them greedily; she held on as he tugged at the bills, trying to wrench them from her grasp.
“That is all my tip money for tonight, and next week is Riley’s fifteenth birthday, which I’m sure that you forgot,” she said coolly. “If you take that money, I probably will not be able to buy him the new Playstation that he wants.”
He pulled the money from her hands, eagerly stuffing it into his pocket. “Is that all?” he asked. “Do you have any more?”
She looked him in the eye. “That was a test, dad.” She lashed the word with contempt. “That was the last money that you’ll ever get from me.”
He stared at her in shock. “What do you mean? I owe ten grand. I am deep, deep in the hole, Karen, and these people will break my kneecaps.”
Ten grand, she thought. My God.
He saw the look on her face and nodded eagerly. “So now you know what I’m up against. Good. Okay. So, this is some pretty good money you’re making. If you work every night for the next month, put in overtime-”
“You are done taking money out of your children’s pockets!” she yelled. “Done! I said that is the last money that you’re ever getting from me, and I meant it! I hope they break more than your kneecaps!”
“I was trying to win money for you and the kids! So I could buy you a house!” he shouted after her as she spun around and stomped off.
“I got in trouble on your account!” His words floated after her. “I was doing it for you! It’s your fault this happened!”
She kept walking.
“Ingrate! I took care of you after your mother dumped you! All of you brats, draining every penny from me, taking and taking and never giving back!” he screamed after her. “It’s your fault I have no money! Fine, walk away, I wish I’d never had you!”
She climbed in her car. “Wait! I didn’t mean it!” he wailed, as she slammed the door and quickly pulled out of the parking lot.
This time, she knew deep in her soul it was over. No more second chances, or fifth, sixth, seventh, one millionth chances. Even if Ty fired her, she was still taking his advice to heart. She’d never answer a call from her father again.
When she pulled up in front of The Zoo, Ty was standing outside waiting for her.
Chapter Ten
“Am I fired?” she said nervously. Was that why he was there? Maybe he didn’t even want her to set foot in the nightclub again.
“You wish,” he scoffed. “As if I’d make it that easy on you. How did it go with your father?”
“Not well,” she admitted.
“You gave him all your tip money.”
“How did you know that?” she asked, startled.
“It’s a small town. People were watching through the window of Flapjack Fannies. Gossip travels at the speed of light here.”
“I see,” Karen said.
“You shouldn’t give him money, Karen. You worked hard for that.”
“It will never happen again,” Karen said with absolute conviction. “I told him the money tap is turned off forever, and to stay away from us. He knew I meant it.”
He nodded approvingly. “Good.”
“So…I’m not in trouble?” she said.
A slow, tantalizing smile curled his lips. The look in his eye set off a swarm of butterflies fluttering inside her belly.
“I didn’t say that. Let’s go inside.”
Her stomach did a flip flop. He had a smirk pasted on his face which told her that she was about to be in a lot of trouble.
“What happens now?” her voice trembled as she followed him inside.
“I am an Alpha. You disrespected my authority and left here without my permission. Everybody knows it, which means that I have to punish you.”
He grabbed her by the wrist and began pulling her through the crowd, towards the stage.
“Or, you know, you could just give me a free pass this one time!” She had to yell to be heard over the music and the din of the crowd.
“I could, couldn’t I?” he yelled back.
Bastard, she thought. He had her right where he wanted her; he was probably delighted that she’d misbehaved. How like him to rub her nose in it.
They reached the Play Stage, and he led her up the steps. Then he raised both hands and made a gesture to the DJ, and the blaring music died, and everybody turned to stare at them.
Heat flooded her cheeks.
Damned Timber Valley Alphas! They always had to make such a big show of dominance. It was known all over the state of Colorado that their Alphas especially loved to make public displays of their dominance over their females. Hell, their Betas did too, for that matter. It was also well known all over that their females loved it.
That was what they did to women that they’d claimed, though – was he publicly claiming her? Was he announcing to everyone that she belonged to him? Once a wolf shifter got to that stage, a wedding almost inevitably followed. Her mind whirled at the thought.
Ty’s fingers closed around her upper arm, holding her in place, making his possession of her very clear to everybody watching. My God, word would have spread all across the state by tomorrow.
“Attention!” he roared. “I, Ty Battle, an Alpha of Timber Valley, have been disrespected tonight! As you know, a Battle will not tolerate disrespect! And now – the punishment will take place!”
Karen stared at the crowd, panicked. “Right here?” she gasped. “You’re going to punish me in front of everyone?”
“That’s kind of the point, isn’t it?” he led her over to a pommel horse. “We need to make sure
that nobody questions my position.”
She stood frozen, not sure what to do.
“Now, because I’m such a nice guy, only part of the punishment will take place here. Then we’ll go back to my office to finish.”
“That’s you being a nice guy?” she hissed. “I’d hate to see you being a real bastard.”
“Yes, you would. You know what a safe word is?”
“Jeez. I’m not an idiot.”
“Pick one.”
Oh, dear God. This was really happening and she would need a safe word. “Drop dead, asshole” came to mind, but she didn’t want to get herself in any worse trouble.
“Uh, Cappuccino.”
He leaned in close to her. “I can see how aroused you are,” he murmured in her ear. “Your nipples are hard. Your pussy is wet; I can smell your juices. Later on I’ll be tasting them. Your breathing is deep and shallow. Do you deny it?”
“No,” she choked out. There was no point in lying. Her panties were drenched. Her nipples were swollen. His sensitive wolf nose could pick up the scents of her arousal.
He nodded. “Good. Now we begin,” he said, and bent her over the pommel.
He flipped up her skirt, and kicked her legs apart. The crowd shouted their approval. She heard howls and roars and growls.
“Do it!” Someone from the crowd shouted.
He ignored them, trailing his fingertips lightly down her back, then circling each butt cheek.
Then he raised his hand and bought it down with a resounding smack on her right cheek. She yelped and squirmed, as a hot rush of arousal shot through her.
“Oh. God,” she gasped.
He spanked her again, on her other cheek, and heat roared through her body. She could feel the outline of his fingers on her ass cheek. There was a rush of juices soaking her panties, and she pulsed with need for him.
The roar from the crowd was deafening.
More. She wanted more.
He pulled her up, and firmly guided her off the back of the stage. She stumbled along, panting, her eyes glazed with desire. She would have let him take her right there, in front of everyone. As the fog cleared from her head a little bit, she realized that he was guiding her down the hallway to his office. She was glad he hadn’t gone all the way out there; she’d have regretted it afterwards.
He pushed her into his office, and then moved her over to his desk.
“Bend over my desk. Now.” His voice was rough. He flipped up the hem of her skirt and tucked it in to her waistband.
Bent over, she buried her face in the crook of her arm, and clutched the other side of his desk with her free hand. Frantic, urgent need burned through her, and she wanted to beg him to fuck her, but he was such a sadistic bastard that if she did, he’d probably make her wait even longer.
She heard the rustle of fabric.
“Five more strokes,” he growled, “And you will count them out loud. If I don’t hear you say the number, it doesn’t count.”
Then his belt snapped through the air and landed on her right butt cheek. “One,” she whimpered.
“I didn’t hear you, so it doesn’t count,” he taunted, and another flaming stripe landed on her cheek. “One! You bastard!” she screamed.
“Don’t ever endanger yourself like that again! If you do, I will punish you, every time!”
Snap. “Two!” she cried out. She could feel heat pulsing through her.
“Say you’re sorry for leaving without permission!”
“I’m sorry!” she wailed. She was really only sorry that he was drawing this out, taunting her, making her want him so badly she was ready to weep with frustration.
Snap! The belt cracked against her flesh, and her skin quivered under the blow. She could feel the burning imprint of the belt. “Three!” she shrieked.
“Tell me how much you want it, baby.”
“I want you! You know I want you, you sonofabitch!”
The belt snapped down again, and her toes curled. She writhed where she stood. “Four! Please, Ty, no more, I’m sorry! I’ll never do it again!”
“You’d better not, or I’ll punish you in ways that you really don’t like. Who’s the boss here, Karen?”
“You are! I hate you! I hate you so much!” she clutched at the desk, bracing herself for the final blow, and the belt came down so hard that she kicked up her feet and screamed aloud.
“Five! Fuck you, Ty, I hate you!” she yelled.
He reached past her and fiddled with something. An intercom.
“Oh God,” she cried out. “Was that on?”
“The whole time,” he said smugly. “Everyone in the club could hear us. I think we’ve pretty clearly established what happens when my kitty gets sassy with me. Dominance is reaffirmed.”
She reared up, but he pushed her back down. “And now the intercom is off, because this part is private.” His strong hand on the middle of her back pinned her to the desk.
His free hand slipped between her legs, between her soaked pussy lips, and inside her. He began stroking her, and she moaned aloud.
“God, yes,” she wailed. “Oh. My God. Oh.”
The heat built up inside her, and she heard more fabric rustling. Then a crinkle of cellophane. “’ll be wearing a condom for now. I do want my cubs with you, but not just yet, don’t you agree?”
“You want what?” Had he just said that? She thought, dazed. She tried to remember when a wolf could get a feline pregnant. Wolves were guaranteed to impregnate their females if they did it during a full moon, but it was different when they did it with cats.
She felt the thick head of his cock nudging her, pressing in to her.
His hand returned to her back, pressing her down again. “I’m the boss,” he said. “You belong to me. When it comes to sex, you obey me. No decisions, no worries, no second guessing. I take you when I want, and you submit.”
He thrust so hard that his thick cock jammed halfway up inside her tight, slick channel. One more thrust and he was all the way in. He rammed into her, his hips rocking.
His words of command, instead of imprisoning her, made her feel freer than she ever had before. She really could submit. For once in her life, she could let someone else take the driver’s seat.
She clutched at the table as he pounded into her. The stripes from the belt pulsed in a steady rhythm, but the pain was intermingled with pleasure, and with each thrust he brought her closer to the edge.
“You’re so tight,” he panted. “You feel so good. You’re mine, baby. I should have claimed you sooner. I’m never letting you go.”
He slammed into her again, and she exploded, crying out as her orgasm took over and sent shock waves through her body. She could feel her muscles spasming around Ty’s cock, and he began moving faster, until he let out a mighty howl and pulled her back against him. He stood there, his body shuddering. “Oh my God,” he groaned, his breath harsh and raspy.
When he finally slid out of her, she stood up slowly, and he pulled her up against him and kissed her neck.
“That…oh dear God…I can’t even…” Karen could barely talk, and her knees were like pudding.
“I know, I was amazing, wasn’t I?”
“You were all right. Smug bastard.” She squirmed in his arms, but he held her fast.
“You’re not going anywhere until I say so.” He nipped at her neck.
“All right, you were incredible. I’ve never come like that before for anyone.” She relaxed and leaned back into his arms.
“That’s more like it.” He released her and spun her around.
“I’ve never done this before, but I’m letting the assistant manager take over and we’re leaving early.”
After calling his assistant manage on his cell phone, rushed her out the back door and over to his pickup truck so fast that Karen barely had time to think straight. She thought he might kill them, taking the turns as fast as he did.
They’d barely made it inside his house when he growled at her. “Strip.�
�� The rough command in his voice, the stern glint in his eyes…she felt the embers of arousal flaring up inside her again.
She took off her clothes, and then started to fold them. “Drop them on the floor,” he commanded.
She dropped them in a pile at her feet.
“Follow me in to the shower,” he said.
She obeyed, walking through the house naked. Her, Karen Padfoot, leaving clothes on the floor without a second thought.
She followed him into his bedroom, glancing at the big oak four poster bed. The navy blue comforter looked soft and fluffy. There was an oak chest of drawers, framed pictures of Ty and various pack members, and a full length mirror. She didn’t see anything overtly kinky looking, but she suspected that there were various interesting implements tucked away in the nightstand next to the bed.
He led her past it into the marble tiled bathroom, and turned the shower on. She followed him in, looked up, and saw a pair of cuffs dangling from a ring on the wall.
“What – you actually - ”
He moved swiftly, cuffing her hands over her head.
“Those are a brand new pair of cuffs,” he said coolly. “My family makes those in their shop. They’re very popular. This is our rubber model.”
She yanked at it as he turned the water on, directing a spray of warm water at her.
“Nope,” he said. “I told you, I make the decisions here. You don’t have to worry about what to do next, or how to please me. You turn all of that over to me.”
She sagged with relief, feeling as if an enormous weight had been lifted from her. She wanted this. Rigid, control freak, OCD Karen wanted to let someone else give the orders for once.
He grabbed a washcloth and slid it between her legs, massaging her, and she moaned at the feel of the wet, rough cloth rubbing against her sensitive flesh.
“Please,” she whimpered. “More.”
He grinned at her, flashing perfect white teeth. “Since you asked nicely.”
He dropped the washcloth and sank down to his knees, sinking his face into the neatly trimmed triangle of golden curls, and then moved his mouth down.
She went rigid as his lips closed around her clit and he began sucking on the tiny, sensitive pink pearl.
Purr For The Alpha (A Paranormal Romance) (Timber Valley Pack) Page 7