by Liza Street
Breathing hard, Jessica looked back to where Marcus was fighting the mountain lion. At some point he had transferred his jaws to the mountain lion’s throat. The mountain lion scrambled, kicking its legs but failing to get purchase. Marcus growled, and the mountain lion finally lay still beneath him.
As Jessica watched, a white light surrounded the mountain lion. Then, it was a man. He fit Marcus’s description of Derrick Alleman—reddish blond hair, charcoal eyes.
The same strange white light surrounded Marcus as well. When it faded, Marcus stood. He kept his foot on Alleman’s throat.
Both of them were bleeding, but not heavily. Marcus had a wound on his left shoulder that looked half-healed already.
"You can't have her," Marcus said. His voice sounded feral, low and wild.
"Looks like you won her, anyway," the other man said. “And we were going to sneak her in for us, not have to fight for her like Englender has us doing with the other one.”
"Alleman, I mean it. You can’t have her."
"Can I at least sit up?"
Marcus took his foot off of the man's neck, but he remained tense, his fist clenched.
The man shook his head and spit off to the side, then wiped some blood off his neck and chest. "That bitch told us it would be easy."
"Who?" Marcus asked.
Jessica's heart lurched. Surely Blythe hadn't given her away, had she? No. Unless they forced the information out of her, Blythe would never talk.
"A wolf bitch. She said she met you yesterday, and this one, too."
Allison. Jessica wished she could get out of the Junkyard for at least long enough to go kick that woman's ass. Marcus's scowl deepened, and she guessed he was feeling about the same.
He stepped back from Alleman. "Take Barnum and get the fuck out of my sight."
Jessica didn't expect Alleman to obey him, but he did. He walked over, naked as the day he was born, and picked up the unconscious leopard.
Jessica gripped her PVC pipe, ready to do whatever damage she was capable of. She would not be caught defenseless again. Not here, not anywhere.
Sneering at Jessica, he turned around and walked away.
Jessica looked at Marcus. He wasn't wearing any clothes, but that wasn't what she noticed the most. It was the look on his face, the mixture of fear and despair.
"They know you're here now." He closed his eyes.
"But you fought them off," she said, reliving the fear she’d experienced as he fought. "They left."
"They'll be back. The dominance I just fought for only lasts so long."
"How long does it last?" She took a step toward him.
"About twenty-four hours."
All of a sudden, Marcus was standing next to her. He wasn't looking at her, though. He was looking behind her. Turning around, she saw two more men approaching. It wasn't the same two as before, though. She squinted into the darkness.
"Jase?" she said quietly.
"Yeah, it’s me. Stetson and I heard fighting. What are you doing so close to the dump, Jessica?" He frowned. "It's way too dangerous for you here."
Jessica sighed. "Two other guys herded me over this way."
"Barnum and Alleman," Marcus said.
Jessica touched his arm. Tension wound through his muscles.
But he was alive. She’d been so worried. Now that he was all right, she wanted nothing more than to find a quiet place to hold him and let him hold her, so they could reassure each other they were all right.
For just a little while, she’d love to believe the lie that everything was okay and they’d be together forever.
20
Marcus tried to project calm, but inside of him, his wolf was going crazy. He would fight for dominance to protect Jessica every night of his damn life, but what would happen to her if he lost?
He had to get her out. No question. No waiting. There was nowhere to hide her, now that they knew she was here. Assholes like Barnum and Alleman would tear the place apart looking for her. They'd come back with help—they had said it themselves, they had been sneaking her into the dump so they wouldn’t have to share her. Now that they knew she wasn’t easy prey, they might bring others with them next time.
Either way, they sure as hell wouldn’t rest until they had a shot at Jessica.
Marcus would die first.
"Easy there," Stetson said.
"What?" Marcus asked.
Stetson shrugged. "I can see all those thoughts going through your head. Try to relax. The answer’s not so hard.”
Jessica gaped at Stetson.
"Apologies, Miss,” Stetson said. "I'm Stetson.”
"I'm Jessica.”
"Do you have a keen interest in plants?” Stetson asked her, his lip twitching.
Marcus glowered at him.
"I do,” she said in surprise.
Marcus took her hand in his. "I got those books for you from Stetson. I think he has a whole library tucked away in his den.”
Jessica nodded in understanding.
"A couple of us were talking," Jase said. "Something about mates being able to get across the boundary. Like Carter and Lena. Caitlyn and Grant, too. Seems a mighty strange thing that any of them got out, and especially interesting that they’re all couples."
Marcus could guess where this was going, but he kept quiet.
Jase continued, “Have you two tried getting across the line together?”
Jessica shook her head, but Marcus said, “Yes.”
Jessica looked up at him in surprise.
“I doubt you noticed,” Marcus said to her, “but I tried getting you over the line that very first morning. I held your hand when you touched the wall. I hoped you wouldn't feel anything, and that you’d walk right through the boundary. But it didn't work.”
"Maybe you should try it now," Jase suggested.
Jessica shook her head. “I'm not leaving Blythe."
"And how much good will you do her if assholes like Barnum and Alleman capture you?" Marcus asked, anger building within him. "Will it help her be any safer? Will it help her escape? Will it make her feel better to know that you're stuck, too? Will she appreciate your valor that you remain caught in a trap?"
Marcus knew his anger was mostly about Jessica being stuck, but it was also partly about himself. He had saved Marianne, sure, but now he was stuck in here and unable to help her. He could only hope that nobody else came after her like Vince had done.
Jessica took a step back from him and folded her arms over her chest. "And how good would she feel knowing that I just took off as soon as I could? My basic understanding is that she’s been abandoned by every person in her life. What kind of friend would I be if I abandoned her, too?"
"A smart one," Stetson said before Marcus could answer her.
"If you can make yourself safe," Jase said, "then the rest of us can worry about saving your friend. We can put all of our efforts into that, rather than dividing our efforts between keeping you safe, and rescuing her."
Marcus’s frustration eased. Jase's argument seemed to make sense to Jessica, because she dropped her arms to her sides.
"How do I know that you three won't abandon her like I would be doing?" she asked. "I'm the only person in here who actually knows her and cares about her."
Marcus took one of her hands in his. "I care about you. And if you care about her, then I do, too. Even when she hits me with pipes."
Jase chuckled. "Some of us are calling her Pipe Dreams."
"Like as a nickname?" Jessica asked, wrinkling her nose.
"Exactly that," Jase answered.
Squeezing Jessica's fingers, Marcus said, "Please. Let’s try to get you out of here. When you're safe, we can focus on Blythe."
She sent a nervous look at Jase and Stetson, then quietly she said to Marcus, "Do you really think I'm your mate? I mean, I don't know how this works."
"In my pride, all it takes is saying so," Jase said. "I mean, from what I hear, it's a feeling. Both people feel it, and they
know. And that's all there is to it."
"Couples exchange mate marks in my pride," Stetson said.
"Mate marks?" Jessica asked.
Before Marcus could close down that conversation, Stetson said, "One or both partners bites the other."
Jase waggled his eyebrows. "During sex."
Jessica's eyes got big and her lips parted. "Like, hard?"
Stetson shrugged.
Jase said, "Hard enough."
Marcus needed to shut this down. Tugging Jessica’s hand to get her attention, he said, "Not every mated pair in my pack exchanges mate marks. They aren't considered a necessity. It depends on the couple."
How many times, during sex, had he wanted to mark Jessica? Answer: many. But he had held himself back, because claiming her was wrong. If he couldn't give her a forever, then he had no right claiming it.
"Before anybody bites anybody," Jase said, "maybe you two should just try to walk across one more time?"
Yes, that. That made so much more sense. He led Jessica in the direction of the boundary. "Come on, let's try this."
She dug in her heels. "I should at least tell Blythe what's going on."
"Too dangerous," Jase said.
Marcus was glad it wasn't him always telling her no.
"But I'll pass on the message," Jase added.
Frowning, Jessica went along with Marcus to the gravel line. Marcus would step over it with her and then come back. And it would work this time, because they'd had sex. The mate magic, or whatever the hell it was, should've worked by now. That first morning, they had barely known each other. He had liked her, and he had wanted her, but he hadn't known her. Now he did.
He was going to miss her. This would hurt like hell.
What was the old line? If you love something, set it free? Well, that's what he was doing now. Even if it broke his fucking heart.
He was vaguely aware of Jase and Stetson watching from a few yards away, but his focus was on Jessica. Her heart beat faster, and her flowery scent was tinged with a faint sourness of anxiety.
He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "We can do this. I promise I'll take care of Blythe."
She nodded and gave him a weak smile.
Marcus held out his free arm. If this wasn't going to work, he didn't want to bang his face into a wall. Mirroring him, Jessica held out her free hand. Together, they took a step.
And walked into something solid.
Jessica's shoulders fell. Marcus felt the same disappointment, only his disappointment was tinged with panic. How could he possibly protect her? Even if he had an entire pack working with him, the onslaught of shifters would never end. Even if Barnum and Alleman and anyone else who posed a problem were killed, new shifters arrived in the Junkyard all the time.
He turned back to face Jase and Stetson. Jase shrugged, and Stetson just stared.
"From the outsider’s perspective, it seems to me you two are mates," Jase said. "I don't know why this didn't work."
Jessica spoke up. "Maybe he needs to bite me."
"Out of the question," Marcus said at the same time Stetson said, "It's worth a try."
Marcus glared at Stetson.
"Why don't you want to bite me?" Jessica asked. "It seems like it’s our last chance for you to get rid of me."
From the tone of her voice, he could tell that her feelings were hurt. He didn't want to get rid of her. He never wanted to let her go. But keeping her here was only putting her in danger.
"I'm not sure what to do," Marcus said. "I don't want to get rid of you, Jessica. But it isn't safe for you here."
"Tell me more about mate marks," she said, her voice firm. She would not take no for an answer, it seemed.
"I already told you when it happens," Jase said.
"Right." Jessica sighed. "But what do they mean? Other than people being mates?"
"In my old pride, that's what they meant." Stetson touched the fourth finger of his left hand, like he was looking for a wedding ring. "They’re like a marriage to shifters."
Jessica raised her eyebrows. "Okay."
Jase spoke next. "It seems you two have something to discuss. We'll leave you to it."
He and Stetson walked away.
Marcus and Jessica returned to the trailer, neither of them speaking as they walked. His chest ached. He was fucked either way. Either she left and he lost her, or she stayed and he lost her. He would die trying to protect her, but eventually that was what would happen—he would die. And then who would keep her safe? Nobody else loved her like he did.
Because that’s what this was for him—love.
Jessica stopped in front of the trailer door. With her gaze on the ground, she said, "If you don't want to be my mate, you can just say so, right?"
"I'm not sure what you're asking, but it isn't as easy as saying so, one way or the other. For shifters, it’s more up to fate than anything else."
"Fuck fate," she said. "I know who I want, and that's you, Marcus."
The conviction in her voice took his breath away. She was stunning—this beautiful, smart woman. He gathered her in his arms and kissed her lips, her chin, her cheeks, her ear, down to her neck. There, on the slope of skin where her neck met her shoulder, he lingered. She tasted like sweet flowers and nature. She tasted like home, love, joy. He was addicted—he would never get enough. His inner wolf gave a low growl of need.
Unlatching the trailer door, he walked inside with her. They stripped off their clothes, and he watched Jessica, her fierce gaze, her feminine curves, the stubborn tilt of her jaw.
“So where do you bite me?” she asked.
He reached out with his hand to touch her collar bone, tracing the ridge to the roundness of her shoulder. “Somewhere along here.”
They were completely naked, standing before each other with no barrier, vulnerable. And despite that vulnerability, he felt this was the freest they could possibly get in the Junkyard.
“Is there any special way to do it?” she asked. There was no judgment in her tone, no trepidation, just curiosity.
“Not that I know of.” He’d thought about it once or twice, but only after meeting Jessica. “Is there some way you want to do it?”
She shook her head, her cheeks turning pink.
“You shy, Jocelyn?”
“Shut up, Malcolm.”
There was his woman, the fire of stubborn irritation shining through her eyes.
“Take me from behind,” she said.
He nodded, already looking forward to squeezing her hip and ass while he pounded into her from the back. But first he wanted to kiss her face to face, so he did.
She gasped into his mouth, her tongue coming forward immediately to meet his, her hands grabbing onto his shoulders.
He brought his hand down her neck to her chest, lightly, reverently running his thumb and fingers over her nipples. He licked and kissed her neck, that sweet, tempting place where he would leave his mark.
“Do you really want this?” he asked. “If I do it right, it’ll leave a scar.”
“Yes,” she said. “I want it. I want you.”
He could hear her honesty, and her trust in him was as sweet and tantalizing as her flowery scent.
When she began to writhe against him, her body requesting more than his teasing touches on her nipples, he spun her around so she faced the wall. Then he yanked her hips back slightly so her gorgeous ass stuck out. After putting on a condom, he smoothed his hand over her curves. Reaching between her legs, he ran a finger between her lips, testing her readiness for him.
She was soaked.
“Marcus, please,” she said, pressing her ass out toward him.
“If you change your mind at any time,” he said, rubbing his dick along her pussy, “you say so and we stop immediately. Or we can just fuck, I don’t have to bite you. Whatever you want.”
“I want this,” she said, reaching back to grip his forearm.
So he guided his cock into the sweet, wet heaven of her pussy.
Jessica’s back arched with desire. The sensation of being filled by Marcus was incomparable to anything else. As he moved within her, the pleasure only built. He smoothed his hand over her back, then brought it to her front, where he cupped one of her breasts and lightly pinched the nipple. She rocked her hips to increase the friction of where they joined, then reached down to touch her clit.
He leaned over her, his chest over her back. She was warm, cherished. For how long, she didn’t know, but she would wring every drop of pleasure from this that she could find.
“Bite me, Marcus,” she said. “Do it—I’m close.”
She felt his lips caress the slope of her shoulder, then his teeth grazed the spot, sharp and scraping. Her body felt ripe and heavy, ready for the ecstasy and the accompanying pain.
He bit down. The sharp sting traveled like a current down her torso, straight to her pussy. She came hard, her legs tensing, her center tightening around Marcus, who thrust a few more times inside of her before he, too, tensed up and squeezed her body to him.
The squeezing pressure of his embrace was exactly what she needed. It felt like he couldn’t let her go, and she would be held this way forever.
His mouth was still clamped on her shoulder. He loosened his grip suddenly, with his teeth and with his arms. Then he pulled out of her and spun her around.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
She touched the aching place on her shoulder, and blood smeared. “Um, I guess?”
“Just a second,” he said, grabbing a paper towel from the counter and bringing it to the wound. He held it to the bleeding, his eyes intent on Jessica’s face.
Looking away, she said, “Really, Marcus, it’s fine.”
“I shouldn’t have done it.”
“Fuck that,” she said, poking his naked shoulder. “I wanted this mark. Even if it doesn’t work. So there.”
He grinned and bent to kiss her lips. She sighed into his mouth, her irritation forgotten. But in its place was an unspeakable sorrow. This bite wasn’t a symbol of his love, but a symbol of how badly he wanted to get rid of her.
“Well,” she said, forcing a brightness into her voice, “I guess we should go test this out, huh?”