Soul Bonded

by Meghan Malone

  White-hot anger surged through Katie as the stranger fondled her bond-mate. Rather than pull away, Rafe stood his ground and stared down both women blocking his path. “Remove your hand or lose it.”

  “You can’t tell me this doesn’t feel good.” The brunette leered, moving her arm in a slow rhythm that suggested just how intimate she was getting with Rafe. “That human of yours obviously can’t take care of you the way you require. But I can. Seems like the least I could do before we kill you tonight.”

  Rafe lunged forward, shoving past the women with an aggressive growl. “No, thanks.”

  Lisa grabbed a hammer from atop Rafe’s stack of supplies as he walked past, then drew back to swing at his head. Katie burst out of the cabin without thinking of the consequences. She raised the revolver, took quick aim, and pulled the trigger. Sparks flew as the bullet struck metal and the hammer flew from Lisa’s hand. Ten heads swiveled to stare at her in shock. Katie’s hand shook as she realized what she’d just done, and how easily she could have missed her target. Even though she hadn’t hit Lisa or the other woman, her impulsivity might have just started a war.

  Rafe pointed at the door. “Go inside. Now.”

  Katie turned and fled without looking back.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  Rafe stormed into the cabin moments later. He dumped a load of wooden boards and tools just inside the door, then stepped outside for another armload of stuff. Katie stood by silently, afraid of the rebuke she knew was coming. He closed and secured the door, then walked to where she leaned against the kitchen table. Folding his arms over his chest, he raised an eyebrow as though waiting for her to speak.

  She wasn’t exactly sorry about what she’d done. Perhaps Rafe would have anticipated the attack if she hadn’t intervened, or perhaps he would be lying in the snow with a crushed skull. “She was going to hit you.”

  “I know.” Rafe handed over the hammer. There was a shallow dent roughly halfway between the claw and the head, an inch above the handle. “That was an amazing shot.”

  Surprised by the lack of censure in his voice, Katie met his gaze. “Thank you.”

  “I’m not going to scold you. You acted to protect me and, as a bonus, you just showed those idiots that you aren’t some silly, defenseless human. I know they’re reconsidering their chances now.” He gave her a tight smile. “At least a little.”

  “I got lucky,” she admitted in a whisper. Turning the hammer over, she marveled at the placement of her bullet. She’d been confident in her aim, but not that confident. She wasn’t a bad shot, but luck no doubt also played a role. “I could have killed her. Or you.”

  Rafe shook his head. “Nah. You have a prodigious talent and you made exactly the shot that you intended. I’m willing to bet you could do it again right now.”

  She wished she could be so certain. “No, thanks.”

  “Yeah, that’s probably best.” He ducked his head and smiled crookedly. “You scared the hell out of her, you know.”

  “Good.” Relaxing now that the threat of a lecture seemed to have passed, Katie straightened. “I didn’t like that other one touching you.”

  “I know. I could feel it from thirty feet away.” Rafe dropped a quick kiss on her forehead, then took back the hammer and walked to the pile of wooden boards in the foyer. “I didn’t like it, either. Believe me.”

  Katie followed him to the curtained window next to the kitchen table. He secured the first board across the center of the frame, driving the nail into the wood with one aggressive motion. Riveted by the flexing of his muscular arm, she debated whether to ask what she knew was an extremely loaded question. She didn’t want to start a fight, but Lisa’s mocking tone kept ringing in her ears.

  “What is it?” Rafe barely looked at her as he pounded another nail into a second board, slowly blocking off the light from outside. He no longer seemed angry, but instead crackled with a new kind of energy. A decidedly sexual energy.

  She took a deep breath, then asked what she burned to know. “Do you think they’re right?”

  He positioned another board. “About?”

  “That I can’t satisfy you the way you need.”

  Rafe stopped mid-swing. Lip twitching, he gave her a sidelong glance. “Last night was the single best sexual experience of my life.” He scanned her up and down, then turned back to the window and began to hammer with renewed vigor. “You satisfy me, Katie. Believe that.”

  “So then why have you been suffering with this all day?” She waited until he drove the final nail into the board, then stepped behind him and slid her hand around the front of his linen pants. He was hot and thick and throbbing, hips jerking involuntarily into her caress. “Let me take care of you. You’ll function better with a clear head.”

  He pushed her hand away and reached for another board. “For fuck’s sake, I can go a few hours without—“

  “During the full moon?” Katie challenged. “Really? Can you?”

  “I’ll take care of it myself.” Rafe positioned the piece of wood over the last open space. “After I finish this.” He stepped to the side, putting distance between them, and swung the hammer with a frustrated snarl. His emotion got the best of him and his aim was off. Yelping, he grabbed his thumb in his fist and squeezed hard enough to turn his knuckles white. “Fuck.”

  “No, I think we need to take care of this now.” She hooked her finger in Rafe’s belt loop, pulling him closer. Adrenaline continued to surge through her veins after her showing outside, and she needed an outlet. So did Rafe. Now was the time to prove that she could keep him under control. Pushing lightly against his shoulder, she placed him on the wall next to the partially-boarded window. “How’s your hand?”

  “Healing.” He wiggled his fingers, looking none the worse for his crushing injury. “Listen, maybe you’re right. Maybe I should take a few minutes to clear my head. You and Shilah can wait for me in the guest room. It won’t take long.”

  Katie shook her head. “No. Here.”

  Rafe gaped at her as though she’d just suggested they go outside and roast marshmallows with their new friends. “With you?”

  “With me.” She’d misstepped by allowing Rafe to see how badly his glowing, wolf-like eyes had startled her. Now more than ever, she needed to demonstrate acceptance and trust—and by doing so, earn his trust in return. “I won’t touch you unless you ask me to. I’ll just watch.”

  He tilted his head back with a resigned sigh. “What if I lose control and do something you don’t want?”

  “I’ll tell you to stop.” She drew her fingernail in a line down the center of his chest. “And you will.”

  Doubt shone in his kind eyes. “You have no idea what you’re playing with, Katie.”

  “Then show me.” She nodded at his tented pants. “Take out your cock.”

  Shuddering, Rafe exuded a curious mixture of embarrassment, fear, and unchecked need. “Katie…”

  “Be a good boy and obey your bond-mate,” Katie murmured. “Please.”

  His nostrils flared as he tugged down his pants. “Even if my bond-mate is being a very bad girl?”

  A little shiver of excitement curled in her belly as he revealed his swollen cock. She’d never seen a man so aroused before. It looked almost painful. Licking her lips, she forced her attention back to his face. She had to control this situation. He would never trust her otherwise. “Especially because I’m being a bad girl.”

  Rafe wrapped his hand around his length and exhaled shakily. “I can smell how wet your pussy is. It’s driving me fucking crazy.”

  “Sorry.” She batted her eyelashes and shot him her most playful smile. “You’re not the only one who’s feeling the full moon.”

  He chuckled and stroked himself with purpose. His gaze dropped to her chest. “Take off your shirt. Let me see your breasts.”

  She didn’t plan to let him actually fuck her—only because she intended to prove a point—but she was happy to provide him inspiration for release.
Reaching for the hem of her shirt, she put on a little show that led to a clumsy approximation of a striptease. It wasn’t a move from her usual bedroom repertoire and she doubted she pulled it off the way she’d envisioned it in her head, but Rafe was clearly riveted. Enjoying the rush of power she got from his obvious hunger, she unhooked her bra while Rafe pumped himself into his fist. She tossed it onto the floor without looking away from his face, not wanting to take her focus from Rafe’s body language for even a second. An explosion was coming. The air around them hummed in anticipation of it. And she had to be ready.

  His willpower dissolved within the span of a few fevered strokes. He lunged and caught her around the waist, pulling her to him roughly. Then he grabbed two handfuls of her ass and rubbed his cock against her through her pants. A throaty groan died in his throat when Katie planted her hand against his chest and pushed him away. He stared at her with unblinking eyes that were once again a glowing, unearthly amber, then reached for her a second time.

  Speaking in the calmest voice she could manage, Katie said, “No.” Chest heaving, Rafe appeared to struggle to obey her command. Determined not to allow him the opportunity to ignore her, she pushed against his shoulder until his back hit the wall. “Stay right there. You don’t get to touch me right now.”

  Rafe whined, a sad, wholly wolf-like sound from the back of his throat. Then he closed his eyes and took three deep, measured breaths. When he looked at her again, it was with very human guilt. “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be.” She dropped her gaze to his still-throbbing erection and nodded. “Keep going.”

  He didn’t argue with her, which told her that he was very horny indeed. “It’s just…not easy.” His breathing grew labored as the speed of his hand increased. “Seeing you, like this. And not touching.”

  Taking pity on him, Katie decided that a little physical contact would be acceptable. After all, they would need to negotiate sex during the full moon at some point. For her sake, if not for his. “How about I touch you?”

  Rafe’s throat bobbed. “Yes.”

  Clearly he was no longer concerned with protecting her virtue. Relieved that she was so far in control of their encounter, she stepped closer and put her hand on his cock and her mouth next to his ear. “Remember, keep your hands to yourself.”

  He pushed away from the wall and tucked his hands behind his back. “I will.”

  “I know you will.” Katie kissed his stubbled cheek, then drew away so she could watch his face as she slid her hand to the base of his cock. His jaw tightened and he hissed as she cupped his heavy balls. Pleased by his responsiveness, she ran her fingers along his length to caress the tip. “Or else I’ll stop.”

  Rafe shivered and bucked his hips, encouraging her to grasp him and give him a few slow strokes. “You usually this bossy?”

  “Only when the situation calls for it.”

  His eyes grew heavy-lidded and a grin played on his lips. “You really are an amazing woman.”

  “You’re just saying that because I’ve got your cock in my hand.”

  He barked out a strained laugh. “That’s only a small part of it.”

  Humming, she stepped directly in front of Rafe and worked his cock with both hands. “There’s nothing small about you.”

  Rafe leaned forward and pressed his forehead against hers. He inhaled, shivered, then murmured, “I wish I was inside you.”

  “Close your eyes,” Katie whispered. When he obeyed, she tightened her grip on his now-slick erection and massaged him firmly. “That’s my pussy wrapped around you. Do you feel it?”

  Rafe’s breathing hitched and he rumbled out a groan. “Yeah.”

  “You’re filling me up, Rafe, and it feels so good.” Sensing his impending climax, she quickened her movement. He’d enjoyed talking last night, so she planned to finish him off with her words. “I’m so tight and you’re so fucking big. Don’t stop. Don’t stop fucking me. Make me come all over your big, hard cock.”

  Another growl spilled from Rafe’s throat as he reached for her again. His fingers found purchase on her hips, digging in as his entire body stiffened. Vibrating with animalistic energy, he managed not to take control and instead kept perfectly still.

  “Good boy,” she said, then stroked him to shuddering, grunting climax. His body quaked for what felt like forever, before all the tension seemed to drain away, leaving him limp against the wall. She drew away, unsurprised to find amber eyes staring back at her. Without allowing herself to hesitate, she pressed her lips to his in a passionate kiss.

  He kissed her back, breaking away only when the hand he used to caress her face began to tremble. His eyes had returned to normal and he was as relaxed as she’d seen him all day. “Thank you,” he mumbled, tangling his fingers in her hair. “You’re right, that really helped.”

  “Told you so.”

  He snorted. “I love you, Katie. I really do.”

  That made her grin like an idiot, no matter how crazy she found the idea of being in love after only a day. Because she loved him, too.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  Satisfied that she’d managed to defuse Rafe’s sexually-fueled hair trigger, Katie picked up the hammer and hefted it with purpose. “Let’s finish the windows now.”

  He took the hammer from her grasp and returned it to the table, then hastily tucked himself back into his pants. “What about you?”

  What about her? She ached. But no matter how badly she wanted him, she couldn’t let Rafe reciprocate. It was too risky. After the victory they’d just had, she feared pushing him too far for the sake of her own libido. Calling up her most breezy air, she said, “I’m fine.”

  “Bullshit.”

  “I’m not the one dealing with the moon.” She patted his chest and stepped past him to reach for the hammer again. “And I think we should stop while we’re ahead.”

  “Tell me the truth. Do you want me to touch you?”

  How could she deny that when he could literally smell her? “Of course. But it’s not necessary and we have a lot to do before tonight.”

  Rafe raked his gaze over her bare chest, a growl rumbling from deep in his throat. “I bet I can make you come in ten seconds flat. Just give me that—ten seconds.”

  Ten seconds. Maybe he could keep the wolf under control for that long. Of course, that assumed he could make good on his bold claim. The possibility that he might did nothing to quell her fierce arousal. She could feel her resolve draining away. “I don’t know. It usually takes me longer than that.”

  “Ten seconds. All I’ll do is put my hand inside your panties. Don’t let me do any more than that. You don’t even need to get undressed.”

  She doubted that her blue jeans were enough to protect her from his animalistic urges, but the more he spoke, the less she cared. The fact that he seemed confident in his ability to pleasure her quickly without succumbing to his baser urges made it impossible to say no. She wanted it so badly that she couldn’t summon the will to refuse.

  “Ten seconds?” Katie unbuttoned her blue jeans but made no move to pull them down. “Show me.”

  Rafe hooked an arm around her waist and pulled her close. His free hand slipped between their stomachs, surprisingly gentle fingers tickling her bare belly. She squirmed within his embrace, her laughter turning into a moan when he moved down and eased his fingertips beneath the elastic waistband of her panties. He played with the material for a brief, teasing moment, then slipped inside and sought out her wet heat with his whole hand. He parted her with deft fingertips, coming to rest over her slippery, engorged clit. Katie held her breath—his touch was somehow already so familiar and it felt so good.

  “Eight seconds left,” Rafe whispered, then closed his eyes in apparent concentration.

  The orgasm exploded deep within her belly, taking her legs out from beneath her. Rafe tightened his grip and kept her on her feet, his chest heaving against hers. It was as though he was sending energy directly into her clit through touch alone,
triggering wave after wave of delicious pleasure that only seemed to intensify the longer it went on. Katie cried out in shock at the strength of her full-throttle climax, and at the way it rendered her unable to do anything except clutch at Rafe’s biceps, boneless within his powerful embrace.

  She didn’t know how long it lasted. More than ten seconds. Far more. She never wanted to come down, but eventually her frail human body couldn’t take anymore. Weakly, she pushed at Rafe’s shoulders and shook her head, overcome. “Please stop.”

  He pulled his hand from her panties and the pleasure ceased, leaving blissful contractions and aftershocks in its wake. Katie didn’t release Rafe—she held on tighter, stunned by what had just happened.

  “Was that okay?”

  The uncertainty in his voice snapped her out of her stupor and forced an incredulous laugh from her too-dry throat. “Uh, yes.” She loosened her death grip on his arms, shifting, whimpering as another aftershock rippled through her. “Rafe, what did you do to me?”

  “I thought that was obvious.” Confidence crept into his voice. His eyes sparkled.

  “I mean, was that some sort of werewolf trick?” Katie looped her arms around his neck, sighing as his chest hair brushed against her erect nipples. “Did you know that would happen?”

  Rafe shook his head. “I’d heard stories about bonded sex.” He pulled her closer, both hands on her bottom—safely on the outside of her blue jeans. “I was hoping that would feel good for you. Honestly, I pretty much winged it.”

  “It was incredible. And it didn’t even take you ten seconds.”

  He growled and nipped at her throat, hands tightening on her ass. “Fuck, I want you.”

  “Me too,” Katie said, but pushed him away and stepped out of his embrace. Her legs trembled as she forced herself to put distance between them. “But we’ve got a lot to do and I’m saying no.”

  Rafe inhaled deeply, hands curling into fists, eyes igniting with fiery need. A low rumble from deep in his chest made him sound more like a wolf than a man. Katie shivered, caught between desire and the mild, instinctive fear the now-familiar sound provoked. Rafe leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes. “I understand.”