by Suzie Ivy
“What isn’t?”
“Are you ready for me to show you?”
She met his eyes again. “I’ve been ready forever.”
Chapter Eleven
So had he. Honey moved with blinding speed and once more Mandy was beneath him. The liquid blue of her eyes sparkled with desire. He took her breasts in his palms and passed his thumbs over her nipples. He smiled at the small gasp that escaped her lips.
He’d known since first meeting her in the hotel room that she was his mate. Korep had noticed it, too, and teased Honey non-stop after they left. The only chance he had for sanity was to stay away from her until she came of age. He’d known the next two years, while waiting for her to mature, would be nearly impossible. He’d never known a bear to mate-claim a wolf; it would need to be done with finesse and diplomacy. If that didn’t work, he would steal her away when she was old enough.
Although his resolve was barely kept in check—he somehow managed to hold himself together. At least until Korep died. Through his grief, he focused on Mandy and his overwhelming urge to have her near. He traveled to the Northwest pack’s land and hung around for two weeks just so her smell could calm his raging anger. When his bear settled enough, he left, but he discovered he couldn’t stay away. Ignoring her and remaining out of her reach was harder than he thought it would be.
He tried to tell Brandt what was happening, but the words wouldn’t come and he was afraid both Brandt and Emily would make him leave. He couldn’t. Then he woke up in the truck, trapped in a cage, and desperately wanted nothing more than to give into his feisty she-wolf. Her audacity amazed him, but her disregard of her age and the repercussions of her actions angered him, too. He refused to give into her, but she stubbornly kept playing with fire and he… was finished simmering. The rest of beastkind be damned, it was time to claim his mate.
His gaze traveled down her body; soft brown curls showed from between her thighs and he smelled her sweet, tangy arousal. He placed his hand on the curls. Her slight jump made him smile. “This is mine.” He pressed just hard enough to pull a small groan from her throat. He lowered his face between her legs, his mouth was so close, to her waiting flesh. He knew what she ultimately wanted, but her being in control was at an end. He blew warm breath across her curls. Then, using one finger, he delved through her folds and found the small nub that needed attention the most. Inhaling deeply, her scent absorbed into his bloodstream. He lathed his tongue where his finger had traveled and absorbed her taste.
“Honey, god…ahhh.”
He laughed huskily then growled against her quivering flesh. “I am the honey god, and you, my sweet goddess, taste like ambrosia.” He didn’t care that the words sounded corny and with another flick of his tongue, neither did she.
With fingers, lips, and tongue, he brought her to a screaming climax, but didn’t stop there. Quickly moving up her body, he rose above her and positioned himself at the quivering entrance of her core. With a slow, steady push, he entered while her virginal walls continued to pulse with her orgasm.
Then she stiffened and a soft whine left her throat. “It hurts.”
He looked into her eyes and moved another lock of hair from her face. “I’m sorry, love, but nothing will stop me from claiming you now. Take a breath.” His control was breaking, but he waited until she breathed inward. “Now let it out slowly.” She did, and at the same time, his hips surged forward and his teeth sank into the soft flesh between her shoulder and neck. Her scream echoed around the room. He drew blood and then licked the red, tangy liquid away before kissing her, sharing the taste, allowing the mate bond to consume them both.
Her slender legs wrapped around his waist and with sure strokes he began the dance of mates, blending their scents, joining their bodies and making them one. Her inner muscles tightened around his erection and his balls clenched. With one final thrust forward, his cry matched hers and they both went over the edge into mated paradise.
***
He turned slightly and Mandy cuddled in closer. Her heart felt at peace, her body replete. The bite on her neck throbbed, but not unbearably so. She grinned into the fuzz on his chest. Her stupid stubborn bear almost let her get away. She would make him pay for years to come.
Her small, pert nose scented the air. Mates, the mate scent rolled off them in waves, but one scent was lacking and she felt a moment’s loss.
“What is your devious mind dreaming up now, love?” His warm, husky voice breathed across the top of her hair.
She wanted absolute honesty from here on out. “I’m not pregnant.”
Laughter rumbled beneath her chest and she playfully slapped his arm. “It’s not funny. My sister and brother-in-law will kill you if we don’t make a baby.”
“You’re not at that time in your cycle. I could smell if you were.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really. I promise we’ll practice making a baby so when the time is right we’ll have everything down perfectly.”
“You’re teasing me.”
His body continued to shake. “Yes and no. We’ll be practicing until we get it perfect, but that could take hundreds of years.”
She smiled and placed feathery kisses on his chest. “Promise?”
“Yes,” he said with a groan, “but you’re too sore to continue at the moment.”
“Hmm…I don’t think I am.” She ran her tongue over his nipple and then bit down gently.
Fingers tangled in her hair and pulled her away, only to have his lips take hers. When he finally released her, he moved to his back so she straddled his thighs. Holding her hips above him, he slowly pulled her down. “Tell me if this hurts.”
She gazed into his eyes. “It hurts so good, don’t stop.”
His deep growl was her answer.
Chapter Twelve
He sat at the table watching her dance around the kitchen. She’d promised another meal fit for a king because he didn’t eat any of the last one she cooked. Her twirling body came his way several times and she kissed him, completely uninhibited as she moved to an unheard melody inside her head. Her hips wiggled and swayed, making the room much hotter than it actually was.
They needed to talk, but he hated to interrupt her performance, and his stomach growled with growing hunger.
“I heard that.” She laughed from across the room.
“I need to build my strength.” He couldn’t stop the goofy grin he knew was plastered on his face.
“Yes, you do. We have a baby to make.” She winked and he had to control the urge to pick her up and take her back to bed.
“So your devious plan rests on us producing a child?”
She replied with a touch of seriousness, “It’s all I can think of to keep you alive.”
“You have little faith in my ability to protect myself,” he scoffed.
She walked over and kneeled between his legs, looking up with worry. “I don’t believe you would seriously hurt my sister or Brant, but they’ll be out for blood.” She gave him a tentative smile. “I can’t lose you.”
He lifted her from the floor and cuddled her on his lap. “I’m afraid to tell you that it’s not your family that worries me, it’s The Kodiak, my alpha. He won’t care that your relatives deserve a little of my blood for what I’ve done. He’ll want it all.”
She moved so her petite nose rested against his and her soft hands went to his cheeks. “Then let’s not go back.” Her eyes begged him to agree.
“I won’t run from this.” Taking her hands, he placed light kisses to the backs of her fingers.
“Why should you be punished for something I did?” Tears formed in her eyes.
He chuckled. “Mandy, from the moment I opened my eyes and found myself in that cage, you were mine. Claiming you was only a matter of getting out of that animal trap and getting the job done. You didn’t have a chance.” His arms tightened and he hugged her close.
“But what if I wouldn’t have kidnapped you?”
“I alread
y had plans to steal you away after you turned twenty-one if your family didn’t cooperate.”
His stomach growled again and she smiled serenely. “I need to feed my hungry bear and I don’t want dinner to burn.”
He released her and watched as she continued her preparations.
“I wish we had wine to go with dinner,” she said after they began eating.
“You won’t be drinking wine for another year, so don’t get your hopes up.”
Her eyes snapped to his. “You’re not my father.”
His fork was halfway to his mouth, but he stopped and gave her a piercing stare. “Dmitri runs a nightclub and has very strict rules about underage drinking. Getting past your family and The Kodiak are one thing, but messing with Dmitri is entirely another.”
“Oh, pooh. I hate rules.”
That made him laugh. God, she was young, and he knew someone should knock out his teeth for robbing the cradle; there were several people in line to do it. “We’re leaving in the morning.”
“And going where?”
“To my clan’s home in the mountains of Colorado.”
“Why?” She looked stunned.
“Because if we don’t, they’ll come here. It will work out better if we go to The Kodiak.” He took her hand and squeezed.
“I won’t let him kill you.”
He tried not to laugh, but couldn’t help himself. When she gave him a hurt look, he leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her lips. “There is nothing I doubt you could do, my brave she-wolf.”
They cleaned the kitchen together and then went to bed, though sleep wasn’t their primary concern. Morning came and, though tired, they packed what they needed and left the cabin. With each mile, Mandy’s nervous scent filled the cab of the truck. She tried to make him change directions several times. It took them fifteen hours to get to his clan’s property. He drove to his small home, knowing every bear was aware he was back. His two-bedroom cabin was slightly larger than the one they’d just left. It smelled musty from his absence, but Mandy’s scent had begun to waft through the air and he knew this cabin would be completely hers in no time.
They’d eaten fast food two hours earlier and both of them were too tired to do more than crawl between the covers. He kissed her forehead and held her until she fell into a deep sleep. His worry over the coming day kept him awake for hours, but eventually he managed to drift off.
A loud pounding at the front door woke them both. Faint rays of sunlight came through the curtains.
“Who’s here?” Mandy’s voice shook.
A loud crash came from the living room. Before Honey could jump from the bed, Mandy threw her body on top of his, circling his neck in a death grip, and over her shoulder he saw his father filling the doorway as only The Kodiak could.
Honey tried to peel Mandy off his body, but her arms wouldn’t budge and he didn’t want to hurt her.
Deep black eyes took in everything. “You have five minutes to meet me out front. Don’t bring the she-wolf.” The Kodiak’s voice blasted through the room.
Mandy turned her head and met the dark stare. “If you touch him, I’ll kill you.”
Bushy eyebrows lifted, but The Kodiak left the room without another word.
She buried her face in Honey’s chest and continued to hold on tight.
Honey couldn’t help his sigh. “Mandy, let me go. Nothing will stop what’s about to happen. I don’t think he’ll kill me… yet. Where’s the woman who kidnapped a bear and gave him a bottle to piss in?”
“Don’t make me laugh. I’m not staying in here while you go outside. He’s not my alpha.”
His hands closed on hers and, though she fought for a few seconds, she finally quieted. Her frightened eyes stared into his, but he refused to soften his tone. “You are my mate and he is now your alpha. Dmitri is your liege. There will be no argument about this. If you don’t act with honor, it shames me. I think you’ve done that enough.”
Tears rolled down her cheeks. Leaning in, she rested her head against his chest. He could do nothing but bring her in closer and smooth her hair.
Her voice quivered, “I’m so sorry.”
“I don’t doubt that, but all of our actions, good or bad, have consequences. This morning is one of them. I need you to be strong so you can nurse my wounds when this is over.” He let her go and rose from the bed. “You will wait inside. Do you understand?”
The stubborn set to her jaw gave her away.
Exasperated, he glared. “Mandy, I’ll tie you to the bed if I need to.”
The corners of her mouth tilted up slightly. “Could we save that for another time?”
Hot blood rushed to his groin and he growled. “You will be the death of me, woman.”
“I’ll watch from the front window.”
Running his fingers through his hair, he took a slow steadying breath. If he didn’t give in on this he really would be tying her to the bed. “You win.” He turned away and pulled sweats from his drawer, but didn’t bother with a shirt. Mandy followed and gave him a quick kiss in front of their destroyed door. Alphas were never known for patience, but Honey deepened the kiss anyway.
Chapter Thirteen
Honey walked outside, looking his father in the eyes the entire time. Other bears gathered in the clearing surrounding his home, and he heard their faint murmurs. From the corner of his eye, he saw his mother.
He stopped five feet from The Kodiak. “My alpha.” It was difficult to keep his gaze up, but he managed. He didn’t see his father move, just felt the blow to the side of his head as his feet left the ground. He landed several feet away. This would be bad.
“Stand up.” The Kodiak’s anger rolled off him in powerful waves.
Honey slowly gained his feet, but then went airborne again. Through his now foggy brain, he heard a scream and then a wolf flew through the air and attacked his father. He should have tied her to the damn bed.
Frenzied growls came from her throat as her teeth tried to latch onto The Kodiak’s neck. Mandy was seriously trying to kill her alpha. Honey tried not to laugh as his father struggled to get her off and not hurt her. When the alpha began growling with his efforts, Honey’s laughter broke through, and once it started he couldn’t stop; he began rolling on the ground like a lunatic. Who the hell would blame him?
His mother’s stern face came even with his. “Has my son lost his sanity?”
Between chuckles, he managed to reply, “Yes, mother. Your son has gone completely off the deep end. Someone needs to help The Kodiak. I’m afraid my mate will hurt him.”
His mother inhaled deeply. “She smells good on you. Can you control her?”
“Not at all.”
“Then I’ll take care of it.” Her voice remained calm. She was all that kept his father sane at times.
A few moments later, water from a hose drenched his mate’s snapping snout, barely held back by his father. Honey tried to rein in his laughter, but seeing his father hit by the water, too, was just too much. His mother moved in closer until Mandy couldn’t see or breathe because of the heavy stream. The Kodiak’s huge muscled arms released her and she fell to the ground.
“Change your form, girl.” His mother’s voice held no room for argument, and she kept the hose on Mandy’s face.
Mandy shifted and the hose’s nozzle immediately moved away. “What the hell did you do that for? I almost had his throat between my teeth.”
“You were trying to kill my husband, and if I killed you, my son would never forgive me.”
This didn’t cool Mandy’s temper. “Who the hell is your son?”
A slight grin appeared on his mother’s face. “Your mate.”
Mandy, dripping with water, turned toward Honey. “Then I guess I’m killing the wrong bear.” She wiped the hair from her eyes and glared daggers. “He’s your father?”
Honey gave a shrug, fighting more laughter. “Yes, Mandy, meet my dad, The Kodiak. He’s your alpha. This is my mother, Sonora, The Kodiak’s mat
e.”
Mandy looked away from Honey, but he could see a slow blush travel from her naked breasts to her face, turning it bright red. “I apologize, Sonora.” She turned and glared at Honey and then turned back to his mother. “Your son made me believe The Kodiak would kill him.”
“It’s a possibility.” The Kodiak’s powerful voice rang through the clearing.
Mandy rose from the ground, walked up to The Kodiak, and calmly put her hand out. “I’m pleased to meet you. I kidnapped your son and held him hostage. He had no choice but to mate-claim me. If he didn’t, I would have forced the issue. That tendency runs in my family.”
Honey knew his father had no clue what hit him. The Kodiak just stood and stared until he glanced away from his crazy daughter-in-law and looked at Honey. “What do you plan on doing with her?”
Honey smiled even knowing his father might knock out his teeth. “I have no idea, but she’s determined to find out if bears and wolves can produce offspring.”
She harrumphed loudly and then reprimanded The Kodiak. “Your son needs lots of practice, and we would be working on it right now if you hadn’t rudely interrupted us. We are newly mated, you know, and the urge to have sex is undeniably strong.”
His father never looked at her. “Does insanity run in her family?”
Honey’s grin widened. “Yes, on both sides.”
The Kodiak turned, gave the naked woman a quick once over and then looked past Mandy’s shoulder. “You have one month to get her pregnant or you and I will finish this… discussion.”
“Yes, sir. May I get up?”
The Kodiak didn’t say another word, just turned and walked away, followed by Sonora. Honey stood and approached his pissed off mate.
Without blinking, Mandy’s fist landed against Honey’s nose. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me he was your father.” She stormed back into the house.
Stunned silence surrounded them. Honey wiped blood from his nose and looked at the surrounding bears. Slowly, their eyes lowered then they backed away and left.