by Delta James
Cameron continued to place well-aimed and timed strikes against her now very painful bottom. She tried kicking her legs and squirming to avoid him, but he had her well under his control and seemed to show no interest in stopping anytime soon.
“He switched her all the way up the stairs to their room... our room... where he took her into seclusion.” Cameron laughed. “They say when they came out, my great-grandmother was a much more malleable mate. She and my great-grandfather built our ranch and our territory together. They say she never really settled down completely, but that he made good use of switches cut from those trees to keep her in line. As I said when we were last at home. I’m going to have a big vase filled with water put in our room and will instruct the house staff to make sure I have nice fresh switches to use on your behind whenever I need them.”
“God, Cameron, please stop,” she cried.
Thankfully he rested his hand lightly on her bottom.
“Why would I do that?”
“Because I can’t take it. You’re hurting me.”
Cameron’s bark of laughter wasn’t reassuring. “Not as much as I mean to, little wolf. You have led me on one helluva chase. You have caused a lot of pain, suffering, and grief amongst those who care for you. You refuse to honor your word and accept my claim...”
“I never agreed to that,” she cried.
“You did. At Marco’s you agreed to abide by our laws and accept my claim if I allowed you to run and managed to run you to ground. In case you missed it, Irish, you’ve been run to ground. You want me to stop?”
“Yes, please.”
“Then you give me your word in no uncertain terms that you will behave yourself up in your brother’s home and accept my claim by taking your vows.”
“And if I won’t?” she said quietly.
“Then, mate, I’ll go back to tanning your hide until you do. I’m done with your bullshit, Riley. You are my fated mate and if I have to force your vows from you in front of Aidan and Liam, I will. And we both know I can.”
“No.”
“Yes,” he growled seductively. “And given I’ve already spanked your pretty red bottom raw, I’d be forced to have your brother wait until I plowed your pussy hard enough that when we faced Liam and Aidan you’d be tired, sore, and more inclined to take your vows.”
He waited, letting his words sink in. He released her so she could get up off of his knee but pulled her onto his lap. She could feel his cock throbbing beneath her in the exact rhythm as her pussy pulsed.
“What say you, Irish? You ready to yield?”
“Cameron...”
“I’m done playing, Riley. I will have my way on this. You will take your vows and I will mark and claim you completely once and for all. You promise to behave and follow through, and tonight I’ll only mark you and will wait until we get home, have gone into seclusion, and your butt has had some time to recover before I knot and tie you to me. Last time, Riley, will you yield?”
Riley knew Cameron would have no problem following through on his threat. She nodded her head.
“Yes, Cameron,” she said softly.
Cameron wrapped his arms around her and held her close, growling low and sensuously.
Riley cried. She cried softly but with deep emotion. She cried because her ass hurt. She cried because she doubted she’d be able to escape Cameron again. She cried because her mission wasn’t finished... there were still so many being held. And she cried because she had denied her feelings for her fated mate and he had been strong enough to hold steady and not give up on her.
Cameron let her cry as he rocked her in his embrace and made soothing noises that she really didn’t comprehend. She didn’t need to, she could feel them and their comfort resonating throughout her body.
“Are you going to accept my claim and take your vows?”
She nodded. “Yes, Cameron.”
“Good girl.”
He helped her to stand and then helped her pull her leggings back up before getting into the Range Rover. He almost managed to hide the smile when she grimaced as she sat down. Cameron started the engine, backed out of the barn, and headed toward the main house.
Chapter Eighteen
They drove up to the front of the manor house. Riley knew they could have slipped into the house through the back door. She also knew Cameron was making a point. Not just to her, but to her brother, his mate, and the rest of her birth pack.
He reached down to take her hand as they headed into the house. She could think of no real reason or advantage to objecting so quietly allowed it. As they entered the house, Cameron looked down at her and pulled her into his embrace, brushing his lips against her forehead.
“It will be all right, Riley. I promise.”
“But the others...”
“We’ll get them all. We won’t stop until we do. I just need you to be safe at home.”
She bristled.
“Shh, Riley. Don’t start up again. You promised... remember?”
She drew a deep breath. “Yes. I will honor my word to take my vows. But I never promised not to try and continue my mission.”
Cameron surprised her by chuckling. “I am well aware of that, Irish. Just remember, I pretty much have an endless supply of switches and if it looks like I’ll need more, I’ll have them plant more trees.”
Riley couldn’t help herself, she giggled. “That’s not funny, Cameron.”
He hugged her and kissed the top of her head. “It’s not meant to be, Riley.”
Aidan entered the room. “Cameron. You look far better than I thought you might. How fares my little sister?”
“If you want to know how I am, Aidan, you can ask me,” snarled Riley.
She might have to put up with Cameron until he relaxed his guard, but not her older brother. As Cameron’s hand landed hard on her already punished backside, Riley yelped. She reached back with one hand to try to rub away some of the sting and got another swat for her trouble.
“You know better, Riley,” growled Cameron. “And other than a very sore bottom, your sister is well, Aidan, as she will always be in my care.”
Riley grinned as she watched her brother take a step back from the wolf to whom she was about to be formally paired. Liam entered the room. She almost repressed sticking out her tongue at Aidan, but then failed.
“Riley,” growled Cameron.
She glanced up at him. “Sorry.” He seemed a bit mollified. She looked at her brother. “Not.”
“Riley,” barked Cameron.
“Now, brother,” said Aidan in a soothing tone. “You know what brats little sisters can be even when they know better. Riley’s just acting like herself to let me know you haven’t completely intimidated her. Isn’t that right, little sister?”
Riley rolled her eyes before looking at Cameron and saying sweetly, “And if you believe that load of blarney, I have some lovely ocean front property in Arizona I could let you have on the cheap.”
Cameron chuckled and leaned down to kiss her. Riley responded to his kiss by relaxing into his arms and giving herself over to the wealth of passion she knew was there. Cameron lifted his head and grinned at her.
“You ready to do this?” he asked.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” she replied. She took a deep breath. “I, Riley Gentry...”
Cameron’s quick and stern swat to her bottom made her cry out.
“Damn it, Cameron...”
“Full name.”
“Sorry. I wasn’t thinking. I, Colleen Riley Gentry Byrne, accept and acknowledge your claim, Cameron Nichols, as my one true and lawful fated mate and alpha.”
She quirked her eyebrow at him in question.
“That’s my good girl,” he crooned. “And I, Cameron Jethro Nichols, claim and take you, Colleen Riley Gentry Byrne, as my one true and fated mate.”
“Jesus, Aidan, did you ever think you’d see the day?” said Liam.
“I had my doubts until I met my new brother in the flesh. Then I k
new our little wolf’s goose was cooked.”
Aidan walked forward and hugged his sister.
“I’ve missed you, Coll... Riley. I love you. You know that. So does Cameron. You mind him,” said Aidan.
“I didn’t make any promises about that,” she said, grinning up at Cameron.
“I didn’t want you to have to lie when you took your vows,” he quipped.
Riley looked over at Liam. “So, you who hates to fly, flew to Italy so you could see the cowboy here bust my ass in front of you and Aidan? What a jerk,” she said, laughing.
Liam enfolded her into his embrace. “Aye, lass. To see you mated to the right man, I was willing to do just about anything.”
Aidan turned to Cameron. “With your permission, the pack would like to have a celebratory dinner tonight to wish you and Riley well and to welcome the newest members of our pack.”
Before Cameron could respond, Riley interjected, “Aidan, they’re pretty traumatized. They may not be up to a big feast...”
Aidan put his hand on his sister’s arm.
“I understand that. And they will not be forced to come down. I just want them to know they are now part of our pack and are welcome to join us or not. Sara told me there was a fifth.”
“Shit. I almost forgot. There was. A woman they were really intent upon keeping. Cam, did you see? When the men were coming at us, she split off and most of them went after her.”
Cameron nodded. “I was going to ask you about that later. I’m sorry to tell you that she didn’t get away clean. They caught her, but seemed very concerned about not harming her. Do you know who she is?”
“Haven’t a clue, but her accent sounded American... East Coast.”
Riley shuddered at the thought.
Cameron held her close. He turned back to Aidan.
“And yes, my brother, we would be most happy to join you and your pack for a celebration feast. But Riley has had a difficult and exhausting few months and a tough day so far. I’d like your permission to withdraw to our room to care for my mate.”
Aidan smiled. “With my permission and my blessings to you both.”
Cameron swept Riley up into his arms. She buried her face into his neck as he carried her up the stairs and to their room.
As the door closed, Riley felt a wave of exhaustion and anxiety wash over her. Cameron must have felt it too, because she was suddenly aware of a comforting warmth emanating from him in the form of an alpha wave.
“It really will be fine, sweetheart. Talk to me. Let me share your burdens.”
“No bullshit? No recriminations? I just tell you how I feel?”
He nodded.
“I’m exhausted. Just weary to the marrow of my bones. I feel defeated... not because of having to take my vows but because I failed to finish what I started out to do. They’re still out there, Cameron. And I’m preparing to be marked by a wolf that any woman would be proud to call her own and all I can think is that I don’t deserve it.”
“You listen to me, Riley Nichols,” he said softly with no rancor in his voice. “You have failed at nothing. You managed to operate under the radar of not just one but numerous factions for several years. As you pointed out, you saved far more of those women by yourself than the Coalition has managed to do collectively. You deserve everything I can give you including my respect, admiration, and love. I’m not stupid. You’re never going to be content to just stay at home and knit. But I want you out of the line of fire. I do think you can help on the intelligence end. You’ve seen far more than any of the rest of us. And some of these girls may feel far more comfortable talking to you.”
She looked up at him. “You aren’t going to try and shut me out?”
“Nope,” he said, grinning at her. “You’ll be far happier and my hand will have less of a workout on that sweet ass of yours if I let you stay involved. But that’s involved where I can keep you safe. You put yourself in danger again and I’ll welt that pretty backside of yours until you can’t sit or fuck for a month without hurting. Jesus, Riley, when that guy grabbed you, for the first time in my life, I was terrified.”
“You’re a hell of a shot when you’re terrified.”
He pulled her close. “I’m a whole lot better when I’m not. Why don’t you take a shower and get into bed. You must be dead on your feet.”
“I am. And a shower and bed sound divine. But if you think I’m sleeping before you ease this ache you and your bloody spanking caused, you, my mate, had best have another thought.”
Cameron laughed out loud. “Fine, but if you fall asleep while I’m fucking you, I’ll spank you until you’re awake again and then put you in the corner to fuck you.”
“As long as you fuck me, I don’t care.”
Riley wrapped her arms around his neck and rubbed her entire body along his.
“Show me again how it’s supposed to be between wolves... please?”
Cameron returned her embrace and leaned down to kiss her, savoring everything about it—her eager response to him, the softness of her skin, the taste of her mouth, and the growing scent of her sweet arousal all called to him as did the low growl and her own alpha wave that she was directing to him.
He eased her into a seated position on the bed. He knelt down and unlaced her boots, pulling them and her socks off before standing her up and removing her leggings. Riley was so exhausted and the draw of being able to lean on her mate made her use her hand on his shoulder to balance as he removed her clothing.
As Cameron slowly stood, he ran his hands up the outside of her thighs and up her hips to her waist. Standing erect once more, he kissed her again and rumbled at her, causing her to sigh and press herself more closely against his body. He caught the hem of her sweater and pulled it over her head. As he nuzzled her neck, his hands reached around behind her and unfastened her bra. He dropped both on the floor beside her. Cameron caught his breath and suppressed a lust-filled growl as he saw her standing naked before him.
“Riley,” he sighed.
Her response was to draw his sweater over his head, revealing his well-muscled core and powerful arms. She rubbed her hard and now naked nipples against his softly furred chest and made an equally appreciative noise. Riley pulled his head down to her mouth and pressed her lips against his, thrusting her tongue deeply in order to entice and tease. Cameron tightened his arms around her and took command of the kiss.
They remained standing in each other arms for several long moments just kissing, dueling for control with Riley finally yielding. Their tongues fought and danced. Each was looking to best the other but enjoying the contest with little care as to who actually won.
Cameron drew back the covers and sat down, bringing Riley into his lap and then using his legs to move so that he had his back up against the ornate headboard, his legs stretched out in front of him and maneuvering Riley so that she was straddling his lap.
He leaned forward as he supported her upper torso and his mouth took possession of her nipple, sucking it and the areola around it, completely laving his tongue all around it before nuzzling and gently nipping her.
“Cameron.” His name escaped her mouth with a moan of desire.
He nibbled her one peak a bit longer before whispering kisses from one breast to the other where he treated her other beaded center to the same treatment. Cameron chuckled as he felt Riley begin to undulate her hips in the same rhythm as he sucked her. He withdrew his mouth and felt her shove him backward against the headboard.
She crawled backward down his body, nipping, licking, and sucking as she went. She stopped when she got to the waistband of his jeans. She looked up at him, hoping that he would neither deny her nor make her beg. His grin and the slight nod of his head was all the encouragement she needed.
She unbuttoned the top of his jeans, took the tab on his zipper in her teeth, and slowly pulled the zipper down.
Cameron’s cock pulsed within its confinement. Riley scooched his jeans down, smiling lasciviously as his cock s
prang to attention right in front of her face. She kissed her way up the underside to take the swollen head into her mouth and licked all around it as he had done to her nipples. She wrapped her hand around his base and was surprised to find that a knot had not formed. She looked up at him with disappointment, causing him to chuckle lustily.
“Disappointed, mate? I told you we would wait until we were home and in seclusion before I knotted and tied you to me. Besides, your brother, his family and your pack are expecting us for dinner.”
Riley glanced at the clock. “But we have time. Dinner won’t be until this evening. Just how many times do you think you can knot me?”
Cameron growled but only to seduce, not to chastise.
“Trust me, Riley. It is not a thing to be rushed and I mean to have you repeatedly. Once I’ve held you in the most passionate way of our kind, I’m not having you anywhere other than naked and at my side... or beneath me. Now, come here, mate.”
“I am here, Cameron.”
“No, you’re much too far away. While I am sure I would greatly enjoy having you suck my cock, it’s been far too long since I had it shoved in your pussy before I begin to stroke you until you are calling my name and begging for me to spill myself in you.”
Cameron drew her up his body and carefully placed a pillow under her as he rolled her to her back. Much as she might have liked to deny what he made her feel, Riley couldn’t do it. She wanted him and wanted him to know it. As he placed his knee between her thighs, she opened them wider and sighed as he settled himself between them before mounting her, driving his cock into her pussy without hesitation.
“Yes,” she purred. “Take me. Make me forget everything but you.”
“Not me... us. It’s always us, Riley.”
She felt his hands, which held her hips, move around to gently cup her ass and hold her in place while he thrust in and out of her. His movements were bold and sure. He kept her focus off of her punished backside and centered on his plunging cock as he propelled her toward her orgasm.