by Olivia Arran
Heat shot through me, the tug at my breast mirrored by an insistent tug between my thighs. My legs scissored helplessly, trying to assuage the growing ache. My back arched, thrusting my chest against his mouth, my body’s uninhibited plea for more of his attention.
“Easy, Chloe,” he murmured, swirling his tongue and then nipping with his teeth. Molten steel danced in his eyes, his wolf peeking out.
My wolf surged to the surface, dancing and preening beneath my skin. Mate. It was almost a purr inside my head.
If I was really going to fall down this rabbit hole, then dammit, I wasn’t settling for half measures. “Screw easy,” I hissed out, “maybe I want it hard.”
A low growl filled the room, sending goosebumps skittering down my spine. In seconds the buttons on my jeans were tugged open. Strong hands flipped me onto my stomach and peeled my jeans from me, hiking my ass up into the air, then deft fingers were kneading my buttocks through the thin lace of my panties.
My hands scrabbled in the soft cushions, heat flooding my cheeks as he deliberately took a deep breath, his exhale of satisfaction whispering across my exposed rear.
“Fuck, Chloe,” he groaned, and then with a single tug my panties were gone.
I was just glad that he couldn’t see my face, couldn’t see the mortification twisted with need. I tried to collapse back onto the couch, but he held me there, presented and waiting for him.
I was about to crack, to beg him for something—anything—when a hot, wet path lit a fire through my core, his tongue swiping deep within me in an unapologetic lick.
I bit my tongue against the scream, burrowing my nose into the cushions.
There was a low chuckle from him, then he really set to work, his fingers following the path of his mouth, dipping inside me and thrusting in a relentless rhythm.
I found myself rocking back against his hand, riding his fingers and tongue with an abandon that shocked me. It was empowering to let go, to take what I needed.
I tilted my head, sucking in a breath. “Angel. I—” My hips bucked as he stroked a thumb over my clit, the pressure in my stomach building and swirling, so hot it almost hurt. “I…fuck…Angel—” I met his eyes for the first time, blinking away the passion-induced haze that glazed my view.
He had leaned back, intensity written in the clench of his jaw. His blunt, white teeth were clamped down on his bottom lip as he stared at me with a look of almost feral concentration. His muscles were rigid, his forearm corded from where he held me.
His eyes held mine, as if daring me.
“Were you always this…” My voice broke as a ripple of sensation washed over me, curling my toes. I tried again. “…This good?”
He tried for a shrug, but it came across wooden, a wounded look flitting through his eyes.
I had offended him. I opened my mouth to say sorry.
“Stay exactly where you are. Don’t move,” he barked out the order, then his hands left me.
I gasped against the sudden loss, the heat rolling through me having nowhere to go.
Then he lurched to his feet and shoved down his jeans.
My mouth was still open, but it rounded in shock. Or was it awe?
“Not this time,” he quipped, eyeing my open mouth with a smirk. Then he moved away, out of sight.
The glimpse had my mouth watering and my legs threatening to cross, then uncross in anticipation. It wasn’t like we’d never been together, I mean, for heaven’s sake, we had a child together! I lectured myself inside my head but it didn’t make a bit of difference. My body was high on anticipation and scared shitless at the same time.
A finger trailed down my spine, and then his hand smoothed around my hip, his fingers sinking into the soft flesh. The couch dipped slightly as he moved behind me. Then the blunt head of his cock caressed my opening, sliding through the damp curls and deep inside me in one smooth thrust.
The air burst from my lungs, my body lurching forward as his hips smacked against my ass, his shaft stretching me wide and filling me completely.
He paused, buried to the hilt, his breath coming in ragged pants as he struggled for control.
No control, not now.
I wanted to be overwhelmed—just like the last time with Angel.
Chapter Fourteen
Angel
I had never seen anything more beautiful than Chloe bent over before me, her ass bouncing with every stroke of my cock, her moans filling my ears. I traced the length of her spine, swirling a finger in the deep dimples at the base, then filling my hands with her ample flesh.
I swiveled my hips, dragging my aching shaft back before thrusting back into her welcoming heat.
She pulsed around me, her core gripping and squeezing me tight.
A low curse left my lips with a groan, my head falling back onto my shoulders as I sped up, my strokes harder and deeper and faster and—
A cry exploded from her.
I yanked her up and sealed my mouth to hers, swallowing the high-pitched wail. My hands snaked around her soft stomach, my rhythm stuttering.
She clawed at my arm, her ass thrusting against my groin as her hips bucked in surrender. Pleas of mercy filled my ears.
Sweat dripped down my spine, the muffled slap of skin meeting skin echoing in the near silence.
A low growl started in my chest and rippled up through my throat. I locked my knees, digging them deeper into the soft couch for purchase.
She pushed from my arms, plastering herself into the soft cushions and screamed her release.
The claiming words formed in my mind. I could taste them on my tongue, hear them in the air between us, begging to be said.
I thrust one last time and my release shot through me, its tight hold gripping me with urgency. I bit down on my tongue until I tasted blood.
I would not claim her until she was ready. No.
With a shudder the tension left my body and my knees buckled. I collapsed beside her and gently maneuvered her until she lay in my arms, a contented smile tugging at my lips.
For the first time in forever, everything felt right. Like nothing could touch me.
Then reality sunk in. She was too still, her body that should still be soft with languid heat had stiffened in my arms. “Chloe, what’s wrong?”
Her eyes darted away, then resolutely she tilted her head back to look at me. “I have something I need to tell you—”
Her words were lost in a loud crash as the door sprung open. Shrieking, Chloe grabbed the discarded blanket off the floor and hurriedly tried to tuck it around herself.
I didn’t bother. I was a shifter after all, and I had nothing to hide. I stood, placing myself between Chloe and the men who crowded in through the doorway. Mark was one of them—no surprise there.
“Didn’t feel like knocking, guys?” I drawled, meeting each of their eyes in turn.
Mark’s permanent smirk faltered, his eyes narrowing as he took in the scene. “Giving it up for the new guy, Chloe?” He clucked his tongue, shaking his head to emphasize his point. “You’ve chosen badly there; he’s never going to amount to much. Didn’t you see the way I wiped the floor with this loser in a fight? Or were you too busy thinking about sucking his cock?”
Up until then his rant hadn’t bothered me. I was still flying on the high of being with my mate, and nothing could touch me.
But he didn’t get to insult my mate.
Before I knew it I was across the room, my fist smashing into his face.
Mark hit the wall with a thud before sliding down into a crumpled mess on the floor. He sprung back to his feet, claws already lengthening and a low snarl dripping from his lips. “You couldn’t take me last time, cur, so what makes you think you can now?”
We met in the middle of the room, arms flying and claws flashing. This wasn’t a challenge fight. There was no honor or rules here. This was an all-out brawl.
Just the way I liked it.
“Stop it! Just grow up! Why are you here?” Chloe’s voice ra
ng through the room, cutting through the muffled thumps and the crunch of breaking bones.
Arms dragged me back, valiantly trying to secure my fists to my sides. I almost threw my captor off, then remembered at the last minute that I was meant to be undercover.
Mark was panting, thick red furrows decorating his face in vicious streaks. “This isn’t finished,” he growled, his glower promising retribution.
I strained against the arms holding me, letting him see the eagerness in my eyes. “I should hope not,” I murmured.
“Are you two lugheads listening to me? What the hell are you all doing here?” Chloe’s voice rose to a shriek as she shoved her way between us. She placed her hands on her hips, and I noticed for the first time that at some point during the scuffle she’d managed to get dressed. Her hair was still wild from our lovemaking, her neck grazed from my teeth and her lips swollen and pink.
The wolf inside of me strutted and preened at the sight of our mate so obviously well-loved.
I shrugged off the man holding me, noticing for the first time that it was Smith. I met his eyes, giving him a sharp nod to let him know that I would wait. Scooping my jeans off the floor, I slipped them on. “Answer the lady,” I snapped. My patience was starting to wear thin. The whole undercover charade was wearing on me.
Mark looked like he wasn’t going to answer, his hackles immediately raising at my tone of voice, but Smith interjected. “Chloe,” he started, taking a step toward my mate. The low growl that erupted from my chest made him pull up, his eyes widening a fraction.
Well, what did he think was going to happen? It was blatantly obvious what had gone on, which made me wonder: what kind of guy did he think I was? Or a better question, what kind of woman did he think Chloe was? I tempered the urge to throw him against a wall. I wasn’t losing it—it was because I hadn’t claimed my mate yet. My wolf saw the men in the room as a threat. Smith seemed a good enough guy. I’d let him live, for now.
Rocking in place, he spread his hands in the universal sign of helplessness. “If the alpha is seriously injured then he needs to appoint a beta to run the pack in his absence. You know that, Chloe. We can’t afford to not have someone in charge, just in case he—”
“He’s not going to die.” Chloe’s statement left no room for argument and was backed up by a determined look in her eyes.
“Well, whatever.” Mark didn’t seem bothered, waving her away as though insignificant. He made to move past me, toward the alpha’s bedroom.
Big mistake.
I slapped a hand on his chest.
“Get your hands off me…”
“You’re not going in there.”
“You think you can stop me? Who…do…you…think…you…are?” He punctured each word with a finger jab to my chest.
I looked him up and down. “The person who’s stopping you from going in that room.”
“You—”
“Just stop it!” Chloe strode past me, stopping with her hand on the bedroom door. “They’re right. I’ll ask him myself.” She took a deep breath, then pushed the door open, slipping into the dark room.
Mark made to move past me, but I refused to budge. “She’ll tell us.”
“And why should we believe her? I want to hear it from the alpha with my own ears.”
“Leave it, Mark.” Smith sounded tired.
I glanced over at the guy.
He was running a hand over his buzz cut, fatigue and sorrow lining his face.
It was the kind of reaction I expected to see when your alpha was injured and near death. Or supposed to be.
The bedroom door opened and Chloe reemerged.
I braced myself. Which of these numb-wits had the alpha—
“Angel.”
I swear if he picked Mark, I’d— “Yes, sweetheart?”
“No. I mean, he picked you.” She raised her voice, addressing the whole room and the people that crowded outside in the hallway. “Angel is the new beta.” She raised a piece of paper in her hand, showing it to the room. One word was scrawled there. My name.
What the—?
My hand fell away from Mark as I turned my full attention to Chloe, her words ringing in my ears.
Her eyes were shadowed and avoiding me, all color leached from her already-pale skin. Her shoulders sagged before my eyes. “Chloe, I didn’t ask for this.”
She met my eyes for the first time and they were blazing with indignant fury.
But through the bond I could feel pain, like I had damaged her pride, or something? I took a step toward her.
She threw up a hand, forming a barrier between us. “Don’t speak to me,” she snapped, then strode out of the room, elbowing her way through the crowd with an air of desperation.
I made to go after her but the pack crowded around me, their accusations and snarls of retribution tainting the air.
They weren’t fucking happy.
What would a good little beta do? I didn’t have a fucking clue, I’d never stayed in one pack long enough to find out, but I was pretty damn sure I knew what an alpha would do. Glaring at them, I released a small pulse of power, giving them an unconscious shove back. “You heard the alpha. Everyone get out of here.”
I held Mark’s eyes; he didn’t look away.
“Now,” I snarled, advancing toward him.
It was one thing to have an unsanctioned fight with another pack member, but it was something entirely different to attack the pack beta. And he knew it. With one last look, he turned his back and walked away.
Then the room was empty.
What the fuck had just happened?
I slammed into the bedroom. “What the hell are you playing at?”
David shoved himself up to sitting, his vitality breaking through the sheen of sweat he had been cultivating. “You can thank me later—”
“Thank you? I don’t think you know what the hell you’ve just done.”
“Watch your tone, pup. I am the alpha—”
“Not my alpha, old man, and just you remember that.”
“Really?” A pained expression clouded his eyes as his lips twisted in a grimace. “Seems like you’ve been doing a lot more than sniffing around my daughter.”
Damn shifter nose. “It’s none of your damn business.”
“I think you’ll find it is. I’m her father.”
Fuck, he was right. I knew without a doubt that if any shifter dared to sniff around Maisie once she was grown, I’d be stringing him up by the balls.
I sunk into a chair, unable to back down, but acknowledging his point. I was rattled and struggling to keep it under control. And I had a pretty good idea why I was so pissed off. Chloe had been about to open up and confess—we could have fixed things. But those assholes had barged in.
“I thought you’d be pleased. As beta you’re in charge, something which can only help with your investigation.”
“Don’t you think it would’ve been a good idea to ask me?” It came out a pointed snarl.
“Why? You’re now ideally positioned to question everybody and keep an eye on the pack. Also, Chloe needs a man in a position of strength. She—”
I cut him off. “Let me worry about Chloe. I’m pretty sure she’s not over the moon about all this,” I added the last bit under my breath. In fact, I was absolutely sure she was one pissed off she-wolf. And who could blame her? Her father had passed her over for someone new. She didn’t know the reason why or that it wasn’t real, she was just feeling rejected. But it was done now, and the old man did have a point. “Okay, I’ll do it. You’d better take it back as soon as the assignment is finished. Appoint somebody else.”
“I thought you were thinking about sticking around?” It was a growled warning, from the father not the alpha.
“Like I’ve already said, that’s none of your damn business. Anyway, this complicates things.” I scratched the rough stubble on my chin, thinking things through. “I can’t stick around here to babysit you, not with Chloe running around frothing
at the mouth and a pack that you’ve just volunteered me to run. Not to mention I’ve got to figure out who tried to kill you before they try again.” I rose from the chair, and pulled out my cell. Scrolling through the contacts, I hesitated, then hit dial. “Vin, it’s Angel.”
Vin’s reply was barely above a whisper in my ear. “Christ, you’ve got the timing of a—” His British accent sounded more pronounced than ever.
I cut him off. “I need some help down here.”
“No can do, sorry. I’m up to my ears in—” His low curse echoed over the line along with a loud crackle, then, “I’ll be there in a minute, I promise. No, really, I’m fine. I’m just stretching my legs, darling.”
“Darling?”
Silence, then another loud crackle and Vin came back on the line. “I’ve got to go, but I’m texting the team. I’ll get somebody over there.”
“Where the hell are you?”
There was a loud sigh before he replied. “Home.” Then he ended the call.
I glanced over at David. “Someone will be here soon.” I could count on my team; they wouldn’t let me down.
“I can look after myself, pup. I think you’re forgetting that I’m not really injured. You just get out there and do your job.” He sounded pissed off and put out.
Hey, I could understand where he was coming from. An alpha as powerful as him wouldn’t like being forced to take a backseat. But it was his bright idea, even though it must be killing him.
I paused by his bed, clasping him on the shoulder. “I’ll find the traitor and I’ll protect Chloe.” I repeated my promise, this time vowing it to him.
This wasn’t just a job anymore. This was personal.
Somebody was threatening my family.
And I hated to say it, but they were also threatening my pack.
Chapter Fifteen