Wounded Kiss (To Be Claimed Saga Book 1)

by Willow Winters

  He brought me in here to his office as soon as the car stopped, practically dragging me away before Lizzie was allowed out of the car. I was only permitted to see her from a distance, her red-rimmed eyes staring back at me with her palm pressed against the window. My heart is a shattered mess.

  I didn’t want to be separated from her; she’s a complete wreck. She shouldn’t be on her own. Or left alone with them. Devin promised that if I behave and listen, we’ll be reunited and left alone to process everything. It killed me to turn my back to her, to obey this werewolf.

  But I pray I’m doing the right thing. Minding what he has to say, following his commands.

  And that’s how I ended up here.

  The size of this “office” is ridiculous. It’s larger than our entire apartment. I’m in awe of the sheer size and luxury of the werewolves’ estate. I assumed werewolves lived in the woods, hunting down animals in their wolf form and basically behaving like savages. If it wasn’t for their large frames and silver eyes, I’d have had no idea that these men were anything other than human. Not that I’d ever met a werewolf before. But I’d always imagined them to be … primitive. And nothing about them or this place is primitive.

  If what Jude and Lev said is true, we’re going to be fine. I keep reminding myself of that. But their version of fine and my version may be very different and I still don’t know why they took us. The thought makes my eyes narrow. I don’t like being kept in the dark.

  “Why are we here?” My grip tightens on the armrests of the freshly oiled leather wingback chair. Every inch of my body is tight with worry and something else … something I cannot control. It’s him. He’s doing it to me and I hate him for it.

  “I asked you a question first. Please answer it.” I lift my head and square my shoulders, speaking calmly and politely, but with authority. His expressionless face gives nothing away. He sits back in his seat, letting his hand fall to the desk and taps rhythmically with his deft fingers as if he’s waiting for something.

  What do I know of werewolves? “Very little.”

  “Your tone leaves much to be desired.” He slowly rises from his seat and stalks over to me. Standing directly in front of my chair, he leans against the desk as if it’s a casual gesture but this close, his presence is suffocating. “That’s something we need to work on, Grace.” Just being this close to him is overwhelming and I shift in my seat as he crosses his arms. I love the way my name rolls off his tongue, although the fact that I love it makes me feel anxious.

  I’m uncomfortable because I feel … I feel … I don’t want to say it. Shame heats every inch of me. I shouldn’t be feeling this at ease with him. I sure as hell shouldn’t be fantasizing about him. Everything about this is just … off. Once again, I question if I’ve been drugged. I can’t look him in the eyes. I try to, but I can’t bring myself to carry through with the movement.

  “There’s plenty we need to work on,” I respond, more menacingly than I’d like.

  “I have to admit that I love your smart mouth,” he states as he uncrosses his powerful arms and takes my chin in his hand, forcing me to look at him. Instantly, another pulse of desire races through me. His silver eyes mesmerize me. He rubs his thumb across my bottom lip and my body betrays me by sending a hot surge of need to my core. “Although I enjoy your boldness, you aren’t permitted to speak to me like that in front of the pack. Is that understood?”

  I nod my head as best I can with his hand still holding my chin. Although my head is clouded and it takes me much longer than it should for me to comprehend what I’ve just agreed to.

  “Speak, Grace.” Anger courses through me at the command and I rip my head away from his grasp. I don’t care if I piss him off; I refuse to let him talk to me like that.

  Blinking away the haze, I reprimand him by saying, “I’m not a dog!” I raise my voice in anger and stare straight into his heated gaze. He raises his brows in surprise.

  “I didn’t think you were.” The light in his eyes dims and he crosses his arms again, stretching the gray Henley he’s wearing until it’s taut, making his delectable, chiseled chest all the more visible. “When I ask you a question, I’d like you to answer me verbally.” I nod my head while I stare at the desk, avoiding his scrutiny once again. I can’t stand looking him in the eyes. It’s as if I lose myself when I do.

  After a moment of silence, I glance up at him, but not directly into his gaze. His eyes are narrowed and his lips are pressed firmly against one another, forming a hard line.

  “I understand.” I do my best to keep the agitation out of my voice.

  “Good. Don’t speak to me like that in front of the pack.” His hard, absolute tone makes me feel insignificant. For some reason it also makes my heart clench in agony.

  Still staring at the desk, I respond dully, “I won’t.”

  There’s movement in my periphery, but I don’t bother to look at him. I need all of my energy to calm down. Now that we’re in here alone, my emotions are off the damn charts. I’m exhausted and inexplicably … sexually frustrated. I’m angry that he’s talking down to me. I’m upset that I’ve been taken from the life I worked so hard to finally have. I feel like a shit friend for leaving Lizzie and every time I think about her, all I can see is her wounded gaze from the back seat of that car. It’s all hitting me at once and it’s on the verge of being unbearable.

  “As far as answering your question, I’ll tell you why you’re here when the time is right. For now, you and Lizzie should focus on getting settled and making yourselves at home.” My eyes fly to his and I part my lips to object. I want to plead with him to let us go, but he stops my appeal before it begins.

  “You’re a part of our pack now. There’s no changing that, so you better get used to the idea of staying. The sooner, the better.” I swallow my plea, but my mouth is suddenly dry. A hard lump forms in my throat, choking me. We’re stuck here. They’re keeping us. The tears prick again and this time I don’t have the strength or energy to stop them.

  I’m given a moment of reprieve when his cell phone vibrates on the desk. He doesn’t speak as he answers, just holds the phone to his ear. I can’t make out what the person on the other end is saying, but judging by the scowl on Devin’s face, he’s not exactly thrilled about the news.

  “I’m sure it was a real fucking emergency.” His anger lights a new sensation that flows down my arms, traveling lower until my nails dig into the leather of the chair. “I want to know as soon as his ass gets back. What about the paperwork?” He listens for a moment longer and then ends the call without another word.

  Questions race through my mind.

  He sets the phone on the desk and his silver eyes roam down my body before settling on my gaze again. His expression implies that he’s contemplating what he should do with me. Which brings me back to my question. Why did he take us?

  “What do you want from us?” I search his hard eyes for compassion or sympathy, but he’s emotionless.

  His jaw clenches. “I told you I’ll tell you when the time is right.” My eyes fall at his response. “Just know that you will be taken care of. You’ll be safe and the pack wants nothing more than for you and Lizzie to be happy here with us.” His voice softens some at the end. “It’s Lizzie, right?”

  I ignore his question and opt for a desperate plea over a response. “If you want us to be happy, let us go home,” I beg softly to the wooden floor, unable to look him in the eye as my strength fails me.

  “Enough.” His hardened tone paralyzes me. “You aren’t going anywhere. Get used to the idea of staying.”

  “I want you to come to me.” I’m forced to peer into his gaze as he makes the declaration. It’s hypnotizing, being caught in his heated stare. My entire body blazes.

  It’s too hot in here to even think.

  “Come here,” he commands and again his strong fingers grip my chin, traveling lower down, to my throat. I can’t move. Not an inch.

  My body trembles and I close my e
yes, failing to gather my composure. I meet him halfway, ever so slowly, obeying.

  I stiffen as his strong, muscular arms wrap around me, picking me up and pulling me into his hard chest. With only a gasp of protest, he lifts me as though I weigh nothing and settles me in his lap as he leans back in his chair. My breathing picks up and my entire body goes on high alert.

  Grace

  My head is roughly level with his chest, so Devin speaks while peering down at me. My heart thumps loudly at feeling my chest pressed tight against his. My eyes stare straight ahead at the pictures on the wall in his office. The black and white images of wooded lands are actually quite beautiful and they center me slightly. Anything to keep my mind off of him. There’s something about him that’s like a drug. Like heroin sinking into my veins and luring all of my senses into some depth of perversion I’ve never felt before.

  “I’ll ask you again. Please be reasonable and answer my question, Grace. What do you know about werewolves?” With a rumble in his chest, my bottom lip quivers ever so slightly. Short breaths are all I can manage.

  His thumb moves in slow circles over my thigh and I find myself relaxing in his embrace. Something about him soothes me even if every bit of me is on high alert. He is the ultimate drug.

  Exhaustion overwhelms me as my body eases from his touch. His hand at my hip releases me and he gently strokes up and down along the curve of my waist. I sigh at his soft touches, feeling myself slip deeper into comfort. Although he could easily run his hand up my shirt so we’d be skin to skin, he doesn’t. I’m grateful for the restraint, but at the same time I crave his body against mine. For some unknown reason my anxiety seems to vanish and suddenly I can’t remember what I was so concerned about. Everything just feels right and all I can think about is how good this feels. As if reading my mind, he gently pulls me into his hard chest and I allow it.

  “Grace?” His voice is caressing yet still dominating.

  “Yes?” I answer easily, rubbing my cheek against his chest.

  “What do you know about werewolves?” he asks again, keeping his voice low and soothing. His chest rises higher with a deeper, longer inhale. I’m so relaxed that I hardly hear his words. Nuzzling into his neck, I have an intense urge to lick his throat and leave open-mouth kisses all over his chest.

  As quickly as the urges come on, they leave me. What the hell? The realization of what I’d intended to do strikes me with a force that jolts me awake. I jerk out of his embrace and stand up so quickly I almost fall flat on my face. Devin doesn’t move. He merely raises one eyebrow in question.

  “Are you doing this to me?” I stare at him, meeting his gaze head-on. Of course he’s doing this to me. I’m not a damn toy he can play with!

  “Doing what?” he asks as though he has no idea.

  “You know exactly what I’m talking about.” I make an attempt to yell, but my cadence wavers and my voice cracks.

  He stares back at me without any indication that he’s even heard me. “Calm down.”

  Calm down? I want to cry at his response. What’s happening to me? I need to get away from him. I search for the door, still disoriented and light-headed. I grip the edge of the desk to maintain my balance.

  “Grace?” This time he sounds concerned and he gets up to try to steady me, but I push him away and nearly stumble into the wall, the push moving only myself and not him.

  “You drugged me?” I say it as more of a statement than a question and I can’t keep the sadness out of my tone. How the hell did I let that happen? I think back, searching for a moment when they could’ve slipped me something, but I haven’t eaten anything. I haven’t had so much as a single sip of water since they took us. It had to have been when I was asleep.

  He approaches me cautiously, like the way one would approach a wild, wounded creature that’s startled and backed into a corner. I don’t blame him. I’m so unpredictable that I don’t even know how I’m going to react. It’s like I’ve lost my mind around him. He holds up his hands. “No one drugged you.” He reaches for me, but I take a step back and round the desk.

  “Grace, you’re safe. It’s okay.” I shake my head at his words. The action makes me feel dizzy again. My skin feels heated and a tingling sensation takes over my limbs. He hasn’t tried to grab me, but I take another step away from him to get closer to the door. My breathing is erratic and I don’t know if it’s from the drug or my anxiety. I try to swallow again, but I can’t.

  “Grace, I think you’re going into shock.” He stays planted where he is with his arms still raised. “Just try to calm down, okay?” I stare at him like a deer in headlights.

  Shock? Is that what this is? No, that doesn’t explain the urges. I bite my lip at the sordid thoughts. I’ve never felt this way before. My gaze travels over his body. He’s absolutely gorgeous. He’s got a vibe to him that lets you know he’d pin your legs back and fuck you until you begged for more and then some. My lips part and I let out a small moan as I picture it. My pussy clenches and heats.

  A look of relief flashes across Devin’s face almost too quickly for me to notice. I notice, though. I give him a questioning look.

  “Calm down, Grace.” His voice is firm now.

  “No, not until you tell me what the hell is going on.” I just barely get out the words while maintaining an air of authority. My body is begging me to bow to him. A hot sensation pulses through me, starting at my core and making me squirm. Something’s wrong. I can’t stop my facial expression from showing my desperation. My eyes plead with him to help as the tears fall.

  “What did you do to me?” Any semblance of authority I had has vanished. I’m practically begging him to give me answers.

  “I didn’t do anything. I promise you.” His eyes look so sincere, but I know something is wrong. “It’s only because you’re around me that you feel this way.” His tone conveys his sympathy.

  “Then I need to leave now!” His eyes harden and his fists clench.

  “No.” His stern reply offers no alternative.

  My body crumples and heats, making me feel weak and light-headed once again. “I’m not okay. Please help me.”

  He nods his head and says, “I’ll help you, sweetheart. Come here. Let me hold you.” What other choice do I have? I can run, but how far would I get? I feel so weak right now. If he can help me, I’ll let him. I’ve been told I’m independent to a fault, but I’m not stupid. My body is begging me to listen to him and obey. I cave and make my way back to him, sulking the entire time. As I near him, he sits down and opens his arms. He wants me to sit back down on his lap. I’m about to surrender to him but then I remember Lizzie, and it makes me hesitate.

  “She won’t be feeling what you’re feeling. Not yet.” His voice brings my focus back to him. I stare at his face as I try to comprehend his words.

  “Why?” is all I manage to get out. He takes a deep breath, looking at the wall then back at me before he replies.

  “She’s not in heat yet.”

  “Heat?” I tilt my head in confusion. He just nods his head, maintaining eye contact. My eyes widen in shock and outrage. “Like a dog!” He grimaces and then a low growl barrels from his chest.

  Grace

  My knees go weak as I feel an invisible force overwhelm my body, wanting me to bow to him. To lower my head to the ground and expose my neck. I drop my stare and fall to my knees, but I don’t bow. I won’t. The pull is so strong that it makes me feel sick to my stomach, but I refuse it, fighting it with everything in me.

  “What is it with you and dogs?” He practically sneers the words. “Do you not like them?”

  I shake my head, my eyes focused on his shoes.

  “Speak!” I jolt at his command and a fresh stream of hot tears runs down my cheeks.

  “No,” I say and a shaky breath leaves me as I add, “I love dogs.” I gasp for air and finally give in, bowing to him. My cheek rests against the floor with my forearms braced on either side of my head.

  He immediately li
fts me up and pulls me into his chest.

  “You don’t need to bow to me, Grace. Not ever. Please don’t.” I sob against him, clinging to his powerful body as his hand cradles my head. Desperate for skin-to-skin contact, I move my hand under his shirt and up his back. I don’t know why I need it, but I do.

  Whatever’s happening to me, I hate it. Make it stop.

  “I don’t mean to get angry,” he says and his tone is gentle, but that doesn’t take away a damn thing I currently feel. The belittling and weakness especially. I hate it all. “I don’t like that you compare yourself to a dog.” His free hand caresses up and down my back soothingly. He kisses my hair and I melt at his touch. I concentrate on taking deep breaths as he speaks, but at least my sobs have stopped.

  “It’s your cycle. You’re ovulating. That’s why you feel like this.” I feel the rumble of his chest as he speaks and I push my body against it, loving the way the vibration feels on my skin. This is nothing like anything I’ve ever experienced. The need to brush my body against his is nearly intolerable. My entire being is pulsing with a desire to touch him and be touched by him.

  I lick my lips and stare at his neck. There’s dark stubble all the way down to his Adam’s apple. I have the sudden urge to nip at his throat. I stir, trying to alleviate some of the hot ache between my legs and that’s when I realize I can feel his stiffness against my thigh. He’s huge. The image of him fucking me on his desk, riding me hard, comes to mind. I moan. Yes, I want him to ride me hard. I give in to the temptation and leave a hot, open-mouth kiss on his throat. My teeth pinch his skin and I pull back before letting go, knowing I’ll leave a mark. Devin groans as I lean back to admire my handiwork. My chest rises and falls as I breathe heavily.