Claws and Fangs

by Laurann Dohner

  “Do you have to keep reading my mind?” She glared at him, irritated. She didn’t want to think about that.

  “Sorry. I want you too.” He adjusted her in his arms, pinning her tightly to the wall again. “I’ve wanted you since we met, and I really need you to agree to spend your life with me.” A smile tugged at his lips. “Yes. You’ll live a lot longer. We could have hundreds, if not thousands of years together. No, we won’t grow bored of each other. The bond won’t allow it. The sex will be incredible, and we’ll be emotionally intertwined. Two becoming one, is how it’s been explained to me. We’ll have our own identities but we will complement each other.”

  “I’m a little afraid,” she admitted. “This is going way too fast.”

  “I know, but I can’t give you the time you want. There’s no way you’re leaving here without becoming my mate. I almost lost you once—I won’t risk it again. You’re too vulnerable as a human to return to the outside world. There won’t be dinner dates and courtship first to assure you I’m the right choice.”

  “What if I regret it after it’s done? We don’t know each other that well. Can’t you give me a few days? I haven’t seen you in almost a year and there was a lot you wouldn’t tell me.”

  A pained expression crossed his handsome features. “You can’t leave here, but I understand your need for time to make the decision with confidence.”

  “What do you mean I can’t leave?” That alarmed her. Was she a prisoner?

  “No, you’re not a prisoner,” he answered, still seemingly aware of what she was thinking. “It’s not safe for you to be anywhere else.”

  “I have a life, a house I’m paying off, and a job.” A dozen other objections filled her head. “You can’t expect me to give up my entire world to live in yours.” It was too much for any sane person to ask of another. “We need to discuss this.”

  He glanced down between their bodies and growled. “There is plenty of time for that later. Do I have to keep my hands off you?” He looked up, reading her again. “We make love while sharing blood to mate. I’ll bite you to take yours while you drink mine to seal the mating bond.”

  “You already gave me your blood.”

  “To heal you. We have to exchange blood and sex at the same time to lock the mate bond.” He ground his hips against her again, this time nothing separating them. “I can’t get you pregnant. We’d have to be mates already for it to take. I don’t need a condom. I don’t have any diseases.”

  All her questions and insecurities fled at the feel of Chase’s thick cock sliding against her bare clit when his pelvis pressed against her. Pleasure had her shaking in his hold, clutching him frantically just to keep grounded. He rubbed their bodies together in a slow, erotic dance, their hips rocking together.

  She’d worry about the future later. The man she wanted most was making thought impossible as he seduced her. Chase was doing a fantastic job too. Need and desire conquered logic.

  “Say yes.” His husky demand against her ear was too sexy. “Let me in.”

  She couldn’t speak, too overcome with passion, but she managed a sharp nod. She wanted him, and no way would she deny the sexual chemistry and mind-blowing orgasm he silently promised.

  He kept moving, torturing her with each stroke of his rigid flesh sliding against her clit. He felt big, extremely hard, and knew how to take a woman to the edge of losing her mind enough to beg. It was on the tip of her tongue to do just that when he shifted her a little higher.

  “Wrap your legs around my waist.”

  She adjusted her thighs higher, wishing to feel skin instead of his shirt. Part of her regretted they weren’t naked. It would mean halting what he was doing though, separating to strip, and she was too close to coming to do that. She ached from need and wasn’t strong-willed enough to find patience. She had none when it came to Chase Woods.

  He growled low, an animalistic sound that just turned her on more. It reminded her that he wasn’t all human. It wasn’t a deterrent. Instead it just heightened the desire for him to take her. His pelvis shifted away but then he was back. The broad crown of his cock nudged against her wet vaginal opening and paused.

  She wiggled, rolling her hips with him poised there, wanting him. “Chase,” she urged. “Please?”

  “There’s no going back,” he swore in that same rough tone. “You’re mine.”

  Then he shifted and grabbed her ass with his big hands while his hips slowly thrust upward.

  Jasmine moaned at the feel of him entering her. He was as wide as she’d estimated and the feel of being stretched and taken was all-consuming. She was wet, ready, and the nerve endings inside her pussy sent ecstasy straight to her brain as his cock completely filled her. It barely registered that she cried out his name.

  “Fuck,” he snarled. “I knew it.”

  She wondered what that meant somewhere in the back of her mind, but then he was moving inside her, withdrawing, slamming home deep, over and over. There was nothing but their heavy breathing, sounds of their bodies slapping together, and the eager need to reach that wonderful place they both sought.

  It hit Jasmine first, the climax tearing through her with such force, she wondered if she’d survive. Her body trembled and Chase followed when her vaginal muscles clamped around him, fluttering from her release.

  “Son of a bitch,” he panted, his body shaking too.

  She felt him coming. Strong jets of semen filled her. She could feel every blast as he groaned and buried his face against her throat. It just drew out her own climax, and she was sure he felt a little bigger, as if that were possible. His thrusts tightened into sharp jerks.

  Chase barely remained on his feet. It was a miracle his knees hadn’t buckled but he’d been too afraid of Jasmine getting hurt if they crashed to the floor. She was his weakness in every sense, both physically and emotionally, the way he felt with her in his arms.

  He’d known she was special the moment they’d met, and those indications had grown with every minute they’d spent together while searching prospective properties. It had been tough walking away from her when their business concluded, but she’d been too sweet to horrify by introducing her into his world.

  He’d chosen to let her go rather than damage her innocence about all things Other. It would have been impossible to hide his true nature from her if they’d dated. He wouldn’t have been able to keep his hands off her, and she would have noticed when his eyes changed color and his fangs grew during the heat of passion. Making her forget by controlling her mind had been an option, but long-term exposure to memory wipes could damage her sanity.

  The rogue had changed all that. She could have died, and Chase wouldn’t allow it to happen again. Her job put her at risk of meeting unpleasant strangers and giving them opportunity to harm her when they were alone. He should have seen it coming, but he’d been too focused on protecting her from the harsh reality that humans were lower on the food chain than they assumed.

  Any residual doubts of her being his mate were gone. His werewolf traits weren’t usually dominant but they had flared to life with a vengeance. The animal inside him recognized her for who she was—his.

  His dick was aching—swollen still, even after coming so hard—and wouldn’t be leaving Jasmine’s snug pussy anytime soon. I get it, he told that part of himself. She’s mine. I’m paying attention.

  It was tough to turn around and walk to the bed. He really did feel shaky and weak. It was another symptom of her being his mate. Nature’s way of bitch-slapping the toughest of his kind came with physical symptoms to emphasize it, making them realize they weren’t complete without someone to share their lives with.

  He stretched out on the mattress with Jasmine on top of him. She didn’t protest, just shifted her legs to straddle his. Her rapid breathing slowed as she recovered, and he yanked up the nightshirt to stroke his fingers down her back and ass. She had a nice one, and he’d marked it up a little when he’d gripped her too firmly. His blood inside her wo
uld assure there’d be no bruising, but the red imprints of his hold were there when he lifted his head to peer down.

  Bastard. He should have taken her on the bed, made love to her instead of nailing her against the wall. She deserved better, but he’d denied himself far too long. He’d tried being noble by resisting his attraction to her. No more.

  He’d never forget seeing her in that basement with torn flesh where she’d been bitten, her wrists raw and bleeding, and how she’d trembled in his arms when he’d held her. One more day and she wouldn’t have survived. He hadn’t even known she’d been in trouble.

  I should have kept tabs on her. I should have watched out for her. I should have— Fuck! He’d left her exposed to danger, is what it boiled down to. She was his mate and he’d been too stubborn to admit the reality of it. He’d shrugged it off as strong attraction and nothing more. Seeing her so near death had been an instant wake-up call.

  “How are you?” He nuzzled her cheek.

  “Good.”

  He loved her voice, so feminine and pleasant to his ears. Her skin was soft and she had the sexiest curves. He trailed one hand to her hip, giving it a gentle squeeze. His mate wasn’t bony the way most werewolves and vampires tended to be. She’d been right about the women who frequented the club. They were too perfect, thanks to their bloodlines. Or because of plastic surgery, if they were groupies there for the thrill of living dangerously. The humans thought it was just a place to meet rich, handsome men in the Goth scene, and were interested in having sex with them in hopes of a fun time or a benefactor. They weren’t aware they were volunteering to be late-night snacks for any vamp whose eye they caught.

  Jasmine was all his, perfect just the way she was, and he’d make sure that didn’t change. He could protect her by keeping her hidden inside his den. No way did he plan to expose her to the people he knew. His vamp bosses were trustworthy but other vampires were pricks. They viewed humans as the weaker species, only good for drinking and fucking. There were rules in place to stop them from killing for either purpose, but she’d view vamps as monsters. He could relate. Sometimes he hated their cold indifference to anyone they believed inferior.

  He cringed when thinking about his pack. He’d never intended to become their leader, but they’d smelled the wolf inside him. Their alpha had challenged him the moment he’d taken the job as head of security at the club, refusing to take orders or back down. He’d had to kill the idiot when he’d refused to submit.

  Some of the females in the pack aggressively pursued Chase. He wasn’t interested, but Jasmine wouldn’t easily be accepted as his mate. He could think of two bitches who would challenge her for the right to be at his side. Not going to happen.

  He’d walk away from the pack, his job, everything just to keep Jasmine safe.

  He and his sister would protect her if Arry ever gave away the location of his secret den. It was doubtful it would happen. They had too much in common, came from the same vampire nest where they’d been raised, and while she was a pain in the ass, he didn’t count her as a threat. She just annoyed him by believing they should settle for each other as mates. He’d set her straight.

  Jasmine stirred on his chest and raised her chin. Uncertainty shone in her direct stare. He easily read all her concerns. It was good that she was taking all this better than he had guessed she would. Screaming and crying had been options he’d considered.

  “You’re safe here with me. I’d never allow anyone or anything to hurt you.”

  “What do you really want from me?”

  It was a tough question. The answer would scare her. Everything. “Your life as you knew it is gone. The rogue might have friends. I didn’t find any indications of anyone else living with him, but it’s a real possibility that someone is keeping tabs on him. They would seek revenge. You could become a target.”

  Dismayed thoughts hit him in waves. She’d worked hard to buy a house she loved. Her family wasn’t close but she worried about never speaking to them again. Real estate was all she knew. Financial concerns came next.

  “Enough,” he ordered. “I have more money than we could spend. You don’t need to return to your office. I know you enjoyed it but it’s too dangerous to go back to the life you had. I am the alpha of a werewolf pack, and we’re always accepting new members who need homes. You could help find housing for them to avoid becoming bored. You’ll be able to call your family and friends sometimes. It would be best if you tell them you fell in love and married someone from another country. I can handle the cell phones to block our location. I’m good at that. Your house, well...I’m sorry. You’ll have to sell it, but I think you’ll love this one after you take a tour.”

  “Married?”

  She was stunned and it amused him more. “Mated is married. We could have an official ceremony if you want. I’m not opposed. Though, what’s a piece of paper and some guy saying words compared to the kind of bond we’ll have?”

  “I don’t know what that means.”

  “It’s deeper than anything you could imagine. You’ll learn soon enough though.” Just as soon as you agree. He didn’t want to rush her but he wanted to seal the bond. He closed down his ability to read her, swamped by how rapidly she could come up with new things to worry about. “It will be fine.”

  “Says you.” She tried to wiggle away but his arms hooked around her waist to hold her secure.

  “Kiss me.”

  “I know how that ends. Are you going to keep seducing me until I agree to stay here?”

  It was a great plan. “Maybe.” He chuckled. “I could do worse things.” He hated the fear that ghosted in her eyes. “It was a joke. You have to believe I’d never hurt you.”

  “I kind of do, but we’ve spent so little time together and I haven’t seen you for all these months. You didn’t even call...but you want to get married? That’s kind of nuts.”

  “Welcome to my world.” He rolled, pinning her under him. She gasped but didn’t fight when he lowered his mouth to her throat. “Wrap your thighs around me. You won’t regret it.”

  The swelling had gone down but they were still joined at the hips. He loved being inside her welcoming body. She fit him perfectly, blew his mind, and he wanted her again. Jasmine lifted her thighs to press against his waist and her calves settled across his ass. He began to move slowly, kissing her lips and neck. Her moans of pleasure spurred him on.

  No, seducing her isn’t a bad plan at all. He’d do anything to assure she’d stay and be his. He lifted up slightly, adjusted the angle of his cock sliding in and out of her to make sure the shaft rubbed against the still-swollen bundle of nerves at the top of her pussy. Louder moans came, and her vaginal walls clamped tightly around him. He had to fight the pleasure to avoid embarrassment. He was ready to come as if he were an untried teenager again.

  Jasmine was so hot, so wet, and so his. She was heaven and hell, temptation and salvation. He’d spent a solitary life, knowing he’d never completely fit in with a pack or a nest after his mixed bloodlines became more pronounced. He couldn’t shift at all, and didn’t stand a chance of taking a dominantly werewolf mate. They feared he wasn’t warm enough to love or feel deep emotions, and instead was too fixed on his need for blood.

  They were wrong. The woman under him was the most important thing in his life, and would remain that way until death claimed him.

  Her muscles tightened more until he clenched his teeth, fighting to move inside her without losing his control. He leaned in, so his mouth could reach her breast. Suckling on her taut nipple, he used his teeth to nip her. It was enough to send her over the edge as she cried out, clawing at him with her fingernails. Her pussy milked his shaft until he threw back his head, let go, and filled her with his seed.

  Chapter Four

  Jasmine woke alone in the big bed. The fire had been tended recently, the flames high and bright in the room. Chase must have covered her with the sheet, since the last thing she remembered was him making love to her until she’d
passed out. She sat up and glanced around.

  The room was big, with brick walls and portions of old oak-wood paneling. It was tastefully furnished with dark antiques. The dresser was massive and there was a matching wardrobe. A door to a bathroom was open. The two closed doors next to it were probably closets.

  Her wrists were unmarred as she closely studied them. Not even a faded scar from her injures remained. The infected area on her shoulder where she’d been bitten by the rogue had healed as well. Pink, healthy skin denied any proof of the attack. The other wounds had disappeared too. Chase had healed her.

  The handsome man she’d obsessed over was part werewolf, part vampire. It screamed insanity but she believed.

  She shoved the covers back and put on the nightshirt Chase had relieved her of during one of their bouts of sex. The stone floor was cold under her bare feet as she padded to the bathroom. It was a nice room with a Jacuzzi tub. She longed for a bath but showered instead.

  A new toothbrush had been left on the counter for her use. It touched her that Chase had obviously thought about her needs. He’d also left folded clean clothes next to it. She eyed the oversized T-shirt and boxers, assuming they were for her. They hung on her a little due to his size, but were comfy, and after brushing her wet hair, she reentered the bedroom. He hadn’t returned.

  Hunger and curiosity drew her to the bedroom door. She gaped a little at the thick metal door and the locks on it. She gripped the knob, half expecting it to be locked, but it turned without difficulty. The door was heavy when she pushed, and revealed that instead of just a typical frame, there were deep-set ridges, as though it could be sealed air-tight when closed.