Marked (17 page)

There was another—more alluring—scent she needed to pay
attention to.

Jackson.

Moving came naturally now, allowing her to turn and face the
man-turned-wolf behind her. He was enormous and stunning.

Broad shoulders. Dark fur. Golden eyes.

Mine.

In this form her wolf was louder and more demanding. They
didn’t speak to each other, rather they shared impressions of things. Right now
the proud entity wanted to get closer to her mate, to rub against him so her
scent mingled with his. She also wanted to mark him, burying her teeth in the
fleshy portion of skin that ran from his shoulder to his neck.

A rustle from the woods beyond distracted her. She whipped
her head around, homing on the sound and smell. The scent was different than
the squirrels, grassier somehow. She couldn’t identify what existed out of her
line of sight, but she was eager to find out.

Jackson came to her side. He was so much larger, his
shoulders inches above hers. After a quick look in her direction he took off,
running toward the animal in the distance. Instinct took over, guiding her feet
as she followed. Trees bled past, a continuous blur in her peripheral vision.
The earth was cold beneath her feet, clumps of it giving way to her claws.

Her muscles pulsed, her heart beating faster than usual.
Each breath she took immersed her deeper in the night. So many things
surrounded them, unique in their own special way. Even the trees seemed to come
to life. The wind made the branches sway, a dance of twigs and leaves.

In seconds they came upon an open field.

Deer.

Jackson picked a target, never slowing down. She was amazed
at how easy it was to keep up. Although he was larger, she seemed to be just as
fast.

The herd of deer broke apart, scattering in various directions.
The one her mate was intent on—a large, gorgeous doe—made a beeline for trees
at the end of the clearing. It didn’t make it, unable to outrun the wolves in
pursuit. The noise the doe made when Jackson pounced on her was pitiful, a
mixture of a cry and a bark.

Realization slammed into Chloe, slowing her down.

When Gramps hunted, she never tagged along. She didn’t mind
eating game but she didn’t think she could kill an animal. Empathy threatened
to stop her dead in her tracks until her wolf raged, snarling in her head. She
staggered, off balance as the beast demanded she continue. Jackson didn’t seem
to notice, taking the doe down in a graceful swoop.

She stopped running and approached slowly, fighting an inner
battle, unsure of what to do. The deer’s thrashing legs made her wolf giddy.
She could almost taste the warmth of the animal’s blood on her tongue, the way
its life would pulse into her mouth. Unfortunately the idea of the creature
suffering made Chloe sick. She didn’t want to eat raw meat or devour bloody
flesh. She had enough common sense to know that when she changed back she’d be
digesting anything she ate in wolf form.

Yuck.

She jumped back when Jackson moved and the doe leapt to her
feet. A flash of brown and the animal was gone, vanishing into the trees. He
waited until the deer disappeared before he faced her.

Was that disappointment in his eyes? Confusion?

With a snort, he started toward her. She lowered her head
again, embarrassed of what he must be thinking. To her surprise he pressed his
muzzle to hers, their fur blending together. His nose skimmed over her ear, his
heated exhale sending a tingle down her spine.

Embarrassment quickly became something else. The flutter in
her stomach sent heat through her limbs. Even like this she was able to feel
desire. Lust cascaded through her. Different, yes, but easily identifiable. He
growled as he moved away and lifted his head. His gaze traveled to the
direction they’d come from. The message was loud and clear.

Back to the cabin.

Oh boy.

A part of her didn’t want to go back. She’d only gotten a
taste of things to come. Those arguments didn’t matter, however. Not when
Jackson started herding her in the direction he wanted her to go. His teeth
were sharp as he bit at her flanks, forcing her to shift from a slow walk to a
steady lope. Her nose piloted her through the trees, the scent of the cabin
becoming stronger.

She passed the expanse of trees, basking in the stretch in
her muscles, finding that she wasn’t in the least bit tired. If she wanted she
could keep going like this for hours. It felt glorious running wild and free,
surrounded by the beauty of nature. Even the cold wasn’t a factor. She was
perfectly warm, her skin radiating the same kind of heat Jackson’s did.

Without warning the large dark wolf beside her took off. He
charged up the stairs and paused in front of the door. She stopped at the foot
of the porch, aware of the annoying itchy sensation returning to her skin. Out
of habit she lifted a hand to ease the itch, only to remember she
couldn’t
rub
her arms. Not with paws.

Jackson glanced at her then bent his head. His fur glided
back to reveal smooth, tanned skin. She wasn’t sure if the earlier change was
responsible but her wolf retreated as Jackson’s did. There wasn’t time to be
frightened. She didn’t have the opportunity to remember how horrible her first
transformation had been. In the blink of an eye she went from wolf to woman.

Just like that. Easy as pie.

Wow. Just…wow.

She held out her hands and wriggled her fingers. Everything
worked. Apart from being aware of her body in an odd way, she didn’t feel any
different. She rose to her feet, welcoming the stretch in her muscles. She’d
never felt so good. As she looked down at her body she realized why. The
outline of muscles replaced areas that had once been soft. When she lifted her
arm she was able to see the flex of her biceps.

No wonder werewolves were in excellent shape.

Holy shit!

Jackson opened the door and pivoted around. He started when
he got a full-on view of her naked body, gawking as his eyes traveled from her
toes to her face. His obvious shock made her want to laugh.

“What’s the matter?” Her voice was still deep and husky, the
wolf no longer at the forefront but ever present. “Cat got your tongue?”

She closed the distance between them, slowly climbing the
stairs. It occurred to her that she was outdoors and anyone could see her but
she didn’t care. Perhaps it was the wolf that had become part of her. Even now
she could sense the beast’s thoughts.

It wanted Jackson just as much as she did.

As soon as she was close enough he reached out and grasped
her hips. Her gaze rested on his nipples, the discs a dark tan. Would he
experience pleasure if she licked and sucked at each of them? Unable to resist
the temptation—wanting to discover what pleased him—she leaned forward and
covered one with her mouth. His skin was warm and salty, perfect to tease with
her teeth and tongue.

Jackson snarled and cupped her ass, pushing his full length
against her belly. “See what you do to me, baby? See what that hot little mouth
of yours does to my cock?”

When he lifted her she raised her head and wrapped her legs
around his waist. He slung the door open and carried her inside. Butterflies
tickled her stomach. Her breath caught when he closed the door and flipped the
lock into place. Deep down she’d known Jackson wanted every single thing she
had to offer. Tonight he was going to take what he wanted.

His eyes glowed, the yellow-gold hue mesmerizing. He brought
his head down and bit her lip, gentle so he didn’t pierce her skin.

“Fuck you smell good. I haven’t even touched your pussy but
I know you’re wet as hell. If I wanted I could toss you on the counter and fuck
you right now. You’d take all of me without so much as a whimper.”

“Yes please,” she whispered, her vaginal walls clenching. On
the counter, against the wall, on the floor—she’d take him anywhere. So long as
he eased the ache building inside her.

He squeezed her ass, grinding the hard outline of his cock
against her. “We’ll save the counter for later. I have other plans.”

Before she could ask what he had in mind, he kissed her. She
moaned, rubbing her hard and sensitive nipples into his chest. The friction
felt incredible but it wasn’t enough.

Not nearly enough.

A part of her wanted to scream when he pulled away. If he
didn’t do something soon she was going to force him to the ground and take what
she
wanted. To hell with his plans. He wasn’t the only one who could
take control.

“I wish you’d hurry. I’m running out of patience.”

He didn’t let her go, turning in the direction of the
stairs. “Be careful what you wish for, baby. I just might give it to you.”

Who was he kidding? “I hope so.”

She didn’t anticipate the growl that came from him, or the
way he shifted her weight so he could hold her with one arm. His free hand
tangled in the hair at her nape. With a flex of his fingers he forced her to
look him in the eye. Her womb clenched, sending a rush of wetness from her
pussy.

There was
no
mistaking the wicked gleam in his gaze.

“It’s time to play, Chloe girl.”

Chapter Thirteen

The minx in his arms was stronger than he’d given her credit
for. She’d not only managed to shift like a full-blooded were, but she’d
instinctively reached out to him as she’d done so. Jackson had been stunned,
gawking at her like she had grown a third head. He couldn’t prevent his
reaction. Halflings simply didn’t acclimate to the change as easily as Chloe
did, as though she’d been shifting a majority of her life.

Her hot little body brushed against his as he climbed the
stairs, her hard nipples rubbing against his chest. He hadn’t been sure how the
night would play out when it came to this moment. She’d been through so much.
It wasn’t fair to ask for more. Even if his wolf demanded it.

Worry and doubt reared their ugly heads.

Would she deny him what wolves considered a true mating?

Only one way to find out.

He lowered her to the ground, placing his hands on her
waist. “I’m taking all of you tonight,” he growled, thrusting his aching cock
against her abdomen. Reaching down, he slid a finger between the cleft in her
ass, searching for the tiny rosette nestled between her cheeks.

She gasped, muscles going tense, when the tip of his finger
caressed the puckered skin. “I’ve never…I mean…” A red flush spread over her
cheeks. “I haven’t done
that
before.”

“There’s a first time for everything,” he countered with a
grin, circling the delicate, clenching skin. “I’ll be the only man to take you
here. Your first and last.”

Damn if the thought didn’t make his balls throb and his cock
pulse.

The darkest of pleasures was the ultimate act of submission.

When he scented her panic he hurried to reassure her. “I
won’t hurt you, baby. I’ll make sure you’re good and ready for me. It’ll feel
so good, Chloe. Better than you can imagine.”

“If you say so.”

He continued stroking the ring of muscle. “Do you trust me?”

“Of course I do.”

“Good.”

He leaned in for a kiss and she clutched his arms. The
moment was sweet and tender, even though the scent of her arousal made it
difficult to think straight. He wanted to throw her on the bed, part her thighs
and go down on her until she screamed. Instead he forced himself to go slow and
coax a response as their tongues touched, parted and eased into a sensual
dance.

Her hair fanned over the comforter when he lowered her to the
mattress, curling strands of blonde resting around her shoulders. He went down
with her, keeping their bodies close together. She groaned when he moved his
hands from her stomach to her breasts. Breaking the kiss, he started a journey
down her body. She grasped his head, her fingernails digging into his scalp.

He paused when he reached his first destination.

Her nipples were pointed and pebbled, their rosy color
beautiful against her pale skin. He licked them one at a time, groaning as
Chloe’s hot cunt rubbed against his thigh. Fuck she was absolute perfection—the
only woman who could make his life complete. Nothing had prepared him for how
he’d feel when it came to his mate.

Chloe Bryant was everything he wanted and hadn’t known he
needed.

How the hell did I get so lucky?

Abandoning her breasts, he continued making a path down her
body, skimming his lips over her stomach. The musk of her pussy was too strong
to resist. He wanted to lap her up like honey, drowning in her taste and scent.

Placing his tongue at the bottom of her slit, he licked her
in a hard, steady stroke. She released his head, abandoning his hair to grasp
the comforter. He glanced at one of her hands, seeing her knuckles turn white
as her fingers curled into fists Driven to hear her cries of pleasure, he
repeated the motion, running his tongue along her crease, collecting her
sweetness on his tongue. The pressure in his balls ventured upward. A spasm
shook him, traveling down his spine. A splash of semen exited the slit in his
cock, coating Chloe’s thigh as she rubbed her leg against him.

“More,” she pleaded, spreading her legs wider and thrusting
her hips.

Grasping her ankles, he placed her feet over his shoulders
so he had perfect access. He went to work on her pussy, lapping at her folds,
making sure to avoid contact with her clit. Her high-pitched mewls were a
mixture of ecstasy and frustration, which was precisely what he wanted. With
each swipe of his tongue he coated the tips of his fingers, until there was
enough cream to bring to her anus.

He teased the ring of muscle with a tender swirl of his
thumb, making sure not to use any pressure. “How does that feel, baby?”

“It’s…okay,” she gasped, writhing beneath him.

“I think we can do better than okay. I’m going to make this
good for you.”

In this position he was close enough to reach the
nightstand. After he opened the drawer he sorted through the contents. It
wasn’t hard to find what he was searching for. When he had the small bottle of
lubricant in hand, he shifted his body again so he was directly over his
female. He kissed her, growling as her nails dug into his shoulders. She thrust
her pelvis up and rolled her hips.

“Not yet,” he murmured and placed a kiss at the corner of
her mouth.

As he moved down her body she spread her legs. Once he’d
gotten her in position—feet resting on his back, knees splayed outward—he
placed the lube on the mattress and nuzzled the tender skin between her sex and
thigh. She was so soft, her scent so damn tempting.

“You’re driving me crazy,” she groaned.

He knew how she felt. His dick was so hard it could be
classified as a weapon. But he intended to make this night something to
remember. He turned his head and ran his tongue along the lips of her cunt. She
was hotter than hell, burning his lips. He used his fingers to part her folds,
drawing a deep breath. Glistening pink flesh greeted him, her clit swollen and
pushing free of its hood.

“Damn it.” She slammed her hands against the mattress,
wriggling her ass. “Stop being a tease. Give me what I want.”

He flicked her clit with his tongue, making sure the contact
was hard and fast. She whimpered, her luscious thighs shaking.

Perfect.
She was right where he needed her to be.

“Yes,” she cried, burying her fingers in his hair. “God
yes.”

He kept going, sucking softly, plunging his tongue into her
heat. In the meantime he opened the tiny bottle and slicked up his fingers.
When they were good and wet he brought his hand to her bottom, searching for
and finding her anus. He took care as he pressed one finger against her,
feeling resistance. Since Chloe had never experienced the joys of anal sex he
wanted to make sure the first time was pleasurable, not frightening. He heard
her harsh intake of breath when he pierced her that first tiny bit.

Fuck. Tight as hell.

He withdrew his fingers, placing his hands on her thighs.
“Flip over.”

“Wait. What?” She bolted upright, resting her weight on her
elbows. Her eyes were clouded with lust. “You’ve got to be kidding. You can’t
leave me like this.”

“Flip,” he growled, forcing her over.

Hiking an arm around her waist, he brought her to her knees.
Her ass rose into the air, giving him plenty of room to work. He lined up his
cock and slid the stalk through her wet lips, gliding back and forth. Lowering
her head into the pillows, she wrapped her fingers around the bottom of the
bedpost.

“Damn it. Put up or shut up. You’re starting to—”

The head of his dick lodged in the mouth of her pussy and he
slammed inside, cutting off whatever she intended to say, barreling forward
until he was buried to the hilt. Her cunt squeezed him like a warm and wet
fist.

“Hang on, sweetness.” His fingers glided over her silky
skin, sliding through the lubricant. Circling the dark rim of muscle, he
warned, “I’m about to take you on one helluva ride.”

Chloe felt the pulsing of Jackson’s cock deep within her, so
ready to come she could feel the tingle of orgasm deep in her belly. She’d been
close when he’d taken his mouth away, leaving her empty and quivering. Somehow
the anticipation of what was to come made her more excited and kept her
hovering on the precipice of climax.

He started to move, using slow but deep strokes. His finger
circled her sphincter again, feathering over the sensitive tissue. She tried to
relax when he pushed a finger inside, focusing on how good his cock felt
instead of the intrusive burn. With each thrust of his cock he sank his finger
deeper.

“Touch your clit,” he rasped, continuing to move. “Reach
between those pretty little legs and tease it. Pretend it’s me touching you,
baby. Close your eyes and imagine it’s my fingers that are making you feel
good.”

Releasing the headboard, she placed her weight on her
shoulders. She had to turn her head to get comfortable, moaning when her
fingers found the hard little nub. She ground her teeth, awash in pain and
pleasure. Her clitoris was so sensitive it almost hurt to touch, her sex wet
and aching.

She hissed when two fingers parted her, spreading her wide.
It did hurt but it was an odd sort of pain. Not entirely without pleasure.

“You’re so tight, Chloe girl. You’re going to feel so good
around my cock. Bear down, baby. Take my fingers.”

The pressure came with a slow burn. Fortunately the sting
started to fade as he worked lubricant into her ass, leaving her with an
incredible feeling of fullness. He didn’t stop, timing the thrusts of his
fingers with those of his cock.

“That’s right.” He praised her and she felt more pressure.
She knew without looking he was using three fingers to stretch her now. “You’re
amazing, baby. So fucking incredible.”

She stroked her clit, going past the discomfort, desperate
for the climax that hovered just out of reach. It wouldn’t take much, only a
few more strokes.

So close. Almost there.

She wailed when Jackson’s cock and fingers withdrew.

Not again!

“What are you doing?”

He didn’t answer, shifting on his knees and moving to the
head of the bed. She didn’t know what he was doing but she’d had enough.

If he didn’t fuck her soon she would kill him.

He reclined so his back rested against the headboard. “Come
here.”

She didn’t wait for instruction, straddling his lap. If he
wanted her he was going to get her. It wasn’t until she tried to line his cock
up with her sex that he wrapped his hands around her hips and held her still.

“Not there.” He slid his hand between them and gripped the
base of his shaft. His cock was slippery with lubricant he’d obviously applied,
the crown ruddy and swollen. He placed the tip against her anus. “Here.”

He’d lost his mind. “It won’t work.”

“It’ll work. Just go slow. Take as much or as little of me
as you can. You set the pace. If you want to stop, we will. Just try, baby.
Give this to me.”

From the way he sounded he was fighting for control. She
looked into his face, stunned at what she found. Sweat beaded his temples. He
wanted this something fierce.

Strike that, she was certain he
needed
this something
fierce.

Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, she bore down and
lowered herself onto him. She bit her lip and braced herself, exhaling through
her nose. The pressure was so intense she shook with it. When the tip of his
cock pushed through and claimed her that first little bit she rested her head
on Jackson’s shoulder.

“As much or as little as you want,” he whispered and
released his cock, bringing his fingers to her clit. “It’s up to you.”

He wasn’t gentle as he manipulated the tender pearl,
swirling his thumb over it in hard circles. She was so slippery it was almost
embarrassing. Her juices combined with the lube made it easy for him rub his
thumb over the bundle of nerves.

She rocked her ass, careful as she moved up and down. Each
time she returned she took more of him. The burn returned but it was bearable.
Heat flared in her belly, winding down to her pussy. Her legs shook, muscles
flexing as she rode his cock. She wasn’t sure when pain became pleasure but it
did. Her body slowly accepted him, parting and making way for his invasion.
Settling into a rhythm, she shifted forward so each time she moved her nipples
skimmed his chest.

Jackson rested a hand on her hip. “There you go. That’s it.”

Her orgasm built, stronger and more powerful than any other
she’d ever experienced. She’d taken over half of her lover’s shaft, the stretch
ebbing to a minor burn. She didn’t stop, driven by impulse. Her wolf appeared,
taking control of her senses. Rotating her head, she licked Jackson’s salty
skin, focusing on the juncture between his throat and shoulder.

Her fangs dropped and she pulled her lips back. The instant
fire rushed through her body, she sank her teeth into his flesh. He snarled and
she could have sworn she felt his cock swell in response. Her entire body shook
with the force of her climax, her thighs struggling to function as she slid up
and down her mate’s hard, thick length.

Then the presence of Jackson’s wolf washed over her.

Jackson abandoned her clit and gripped her hips, lifting up
as she came down. He sank all the way in, sending her orgasm into a second wave
of pleasure. It was too much but she couldn’t resist, hovering above the world,
shattering into a million pieces. He growled something she didn’t understand,
his hold on her unbreakable.

She cried out when he fisted her hair, revealed her shoulder
and buried his teeth in her skin. Heat exploded from his bite, as though he’d
used a brand instead of fangs. A hot wash exploded inside her, spurt after
spurt of his seed filling her ass.

The adoration and need she felt for Jackson intensified to a
level that should have frightened her. She knew what love was. Her grandparents
had surrounded her with it. But this was completely different. Both parts of
her—the wolf and the woman—knew that life without him would be impossible. The
world was spinning on its axis but he made time stand still so confusion became
clarity.