VampireMine (14 page)

“Do you want me?” he asked hoarsely, muscles shaking.

“I…” She broke eye contact and tried to lower her head. “I
shouldn’t.”

He didn’t let her avoid him or the question, capturing her
chin in his hand, making her look at him. “Don’t think about the bullshit.
Forget about everyone else but us. Tell me the truth.” Bringing his head to her
ear, he looked her in the eye and repeated, “Do. You. Want. Me?”

“It’s not that simple, mutt.” Her eyes flashed, fury radiating
from the icy depths.

“Why?” He grinned, thrilled that her fire had returned.

“I can want you, but that doesn’t mean I love you.”

“You don’t have to tell me you love me. I already know. I’ve
known for a long time.”

Those three little words coming from her would mean the
world to him. But they weren’t necessary. Because he already knew how she felt.
She claimed she hated him and he believed her, because the malice came from
resentment. It was entirely possible to loathe a person you loved. The complexities
of her feelings were a mixture of adoration and hate, neither complete without
the other.

“You arrogant prick,” she snarled, her eyes filled with
outrage. “Egotistical asshole.”

He nipped at her throat, ready to up the ante. His sense of
smell told him she was angry but she was also turned-on. Her arousal drifted to
his nose, the fragrance succulent and sweet. Bringing his hands around her
waist, he plucked the button to her pants. He quickly lowered the zipper and
moved back to tug the material down her thighs. As soon as her ass was bared to
his gaze he made quick work of his jeans, working the button and zipper loose
and bringing the material to his knees.

When she tried to slide free he caught her, cupping her
breasts in his hands.

“We’re going to face the pack together. I’m not hiding
anymore and neither are you.” He gave the soft mounds a squeeze and pressed his
swollen cock to her ass. “But if you want me, you’re going to have to fight for
me. Even if the pack accepts our mating, females have the right to challenge
you for the position. It’s not going to be easy. You’ll have to take them down
to earn your place.” He rubbed his fingers over her nipples and she groaned.
“Will you fight for me, baby?”

“I’m not sure.” She trembled beneath him, her wounded gaze
relaying her need for reassurance. “Are you worth fighting for?”

Was he? Not really.

He’d let the ball drop over and over again. He’d hurt her.
Left her wounded and bleeding out. Then he’d been an asshole, asserting his
claim on her, rejecting Diskant’s notion that Sadie should be able to voice her
opinion on matters. Thus far she hadn’t had much of a say in things.

No more.

He let her go and brought a hand to the base of his pulsing
cock. His sac tightened and a drop of semen leaked from the tip. Bending his
knees, he got in place. Her wet heat beckoned, her pussy slick and ready. He
guided the head into her channel, grinding his teeth as her cunt accepted his
entry and wrapped around him inch by maddening inch.

Fully lodged within her, he stopped.

“I have an idea. This time around you’ll make the choice.
I’ll prove I’m worth the risk.” Resting his head on her shoulder, he murmured
thickly, “How about I show you what I can give you? You decide if I’m worth
fighting for.”

Sadie knew she shouldn’t give in. She didn’t need to make
things easy for Trey. She was supposed to maintain some semblance of pride,
show him she was more than capable of existing in a world that didn’t include
him.

Unfortunately the heart wanted what the heart wanted.

All the resistance in the world wouldn’t do her a bit of
good. She could try to suffocate her feelings, locking them away so no one
could see them. An illusion would be created but she’d know the truth. Like a
magician using trickery to deceive an audience, her efforts would be a façade.

You can’t lie to yourself.

She wanted to give him the chance he kept asking for. When
she’d lashed out at him earlier she’d been devastated by Ava’s harsh treatment
of Leigh. Her friend’s suffering had her acting without logical thought. She’d
unleashed her anger in the only way she could, taking her frustration out on
Trey. Afterward—when she listened to Diskant and Trey’s argument—she understood
and accepted what Ava had done. Nothing would be easy from here on out. With
danger from the Shepherds, the threat of Aldon and the possibility the pack
might rebel or turn their backs on Trey and Diskant, everyone had no choice but
to keep a lid on things at home.

Trey’s cock jerked, his hard, hot thickness spreading her wide.
As they were, leaning against the counter, she could feel his weight bearing
her down. She loved the way he felt, his large form like a shield around her.
She lifted her head, gazing into the mirror. He kept his chin on her shoulder
but his eyes were raised, his irises a beautiful shade of gold.

Would she fight for him? Could she?

She thought about the woman who’d tried to get his attention
months ago. She’d been so angry and possessive. Using a veil to remain
invisible, she’d slapped the woman’s drink, dousing the werewolf bitch in
alcohol. Trey’d found it humorous. The woman who’d borne the brunt of Sadie’s
wrath hadn’t been as amiable. She’d felt powerful then, proclaiming her hold on
Trey even if he hadn’t been aware of it.

Just thinking about another woman touching him, whispering
to him, holding him…

A tremor shook her from the inside out.

Of course she’d fight for him.

At this point she’d do anything he asked of her.

She hated entering his mind and absorbing his thoughts.
Doing so was the ultimate invasion of privacy. But she couldn’t help herself.
She slid easily into his head, gathering information. She’d gained a glimpse of
his resolve, his determination to win her over. He wanted her to trust him even
though he knew he’d hurt her. Each time she’d eased into his head she’d gotten
to hear the things she wanted most. But she’d been terrified to accept what she
found as truth. The last time she’d let her guard down he’d betrayed her in the
worst way possible.

If it happened again—if she endured heartbreak for another
time—she’d be done for.

He kept his eyes on hers and eased his cock from her pussy.
She wrapped her fingers around the edge of the small counter, clenching the
marbled surface. Goddess help her, she couldn’t look away. The intensity in his
gaze—the way he stared at her as though she was the most precious thing in the
world—made her eyes burn with tears she refused to shed. He paused, just barely
lodged inside her.

“Show me.” Her request came across like a plea but she
didn’t care. “Make me believe.”

He returned as gently as he’d left her, tender as his cock
eased its way back inside. With a tilt of his chin he swept her hair from her
neck. He didn’t stop watching her, kissing her nape. This time he didn’t take
her with force. He moved cautiously, drawing out the moment until he was
totally sheathed within her. His breath was warm against her throat, his lips
soft as he breezed them over her skin.

If he was trying to seduce her, he was doing a hell of a
job. She trembled with excitement and anticipation. A familiar tingle settled
in her gums. She didn’t try to fight her body’s reaction, parting her lips as
her fangs lengthened. Strangely enough, she didn’t have the overriding urge to
bite him. Rather she wanted to let him tease her, was eager to see how long he
could keep up with this new and unexpected game.

“I’ll give you everything I am. I’ll be whatever you need,”
he vowed, moving his hips back, leaving her feeling empty as his cock slid from
her depths. “I won’t let you have regrets.” His mouth swept from her neck to
her cheek. “I’ll move heaven and earth for you if that’s what it takes.”

“Heaven and earth, huh?” It was difficult to speak and even
harder to think, especially like this, with their bodies joined and skin
touching. “That’s not going to be easy.”

“If that’s what it takes,” he repeated. “I never said it’d
be easy.”

“Even if you have to leave everything you’ve ever known
behind?”

Having him so close and saying such sweet things made her
head spin. This was what she’d dreamed about as a young woman who’d never been
in love. The magic of a stolen moment with a lover she wanted to wake up with
each day. The wonder of finding the one person who would make her life
complete.

“I didn’t think I could but I was wrong.” He grasped her hip
and pulled her back as he moved, filling her again, keeping things slow. “When
I thought I’d lost you…” His voice cracked and he cleared his throat. “I tried
to convince myself I couldn’t have you because of what would happen if I did. I
put the importance of the pack above everything, like I always have. I’d lived
that way for so long that when I found you I didn’t do what I should have.
There’s no excuse for my behavior.”

“You were drunk.” Yes she was giving him a get out of jail
free card, but she was tired of fighting him, or thinking about the events that
had divided them for so long. “I thought you might fall flat on your face.”

“That’s true but it doesn’t matter. I’m not that man
anymore. I’m not going back to an empty bed, thinking about you, wishing you
were right there in my arms.”

“This isn’t just about us.” Goddess, she hated admitting
that. She wanted him so much she was almost tempted to say to hell with the
rest of the world. He glided back into her, the thickness of his cock nudging
her G-spot. “We have to think about everyone else.” She couldn’t believe she
could formulate words, not with the fire building in her belly. “Maybe
Diskant’s right.”

“No, he’s not.” Rubbing his cheek against hers, he asked,
“Do you know why?”

She shook her head, biting down softly on her lip.

“We’re at war, Sadie.” He increased the pace, pumping his
length in and out of her pussy. She rocked back, meeting his thrusts. “Our
enemies will return. We’ll have to face them head-on. I’ve seen what you can
do. I know what you’re capable of. You can protect the pack in a way I can’t.
You can give them a gift beyond measure. If you show them that—if you pledge
your loyalty to them and to me—they’ll have no choice but to accept our mating.
Diskant will back my decision. They’ll trust his judgment. They might not like
it at first but they’re not stupid. They know the danger we’re in. They know
what’ll happen if we’re not stronger than the people who want to kill us. And
they know just how much Diskant stands to lose if he’s wrong.”

“I won’t let you hurt me again.” She made sure he saw the
warning in her gaze, making her intentions clear. He had to know she wouldn’t
stand for any more bullshit. “If you want this, you need to know I’m not
running. If I fight for you, you’ll have to fight for me too. And your
protection has to be extended to Leigh. You’ll have to give me your word you
won’t let anything happen to her.”

He stopped, his cock buried inside her. Letting go of the
counter, she rested her fingers over the hand he’d placed on her hip. His
fingers tightened over her flesh, his grip firm.

“I give you my word. Accept my mark. Stand beside me when I
face the pack.”

Uncertainty and a healthy dose of fear almost destroyed the
intimacy—almost. She pushed the emotions aside, reckless and tired of hiding
how she felt because she was terrified of the unknown. Once he gave her his
mark, he couldn’t turn her away. She knew enough about shifters to recognize
the mark carried weight. The pack would loathe her for having it but she didn’t
give a shit. She was a vampire without a coven, a woman without a place to call
home. In the last day she’d learned those she thought she could trust were far
more dangerous than a man who’d done something foolish in the heat of the
moment.

Give him what he wants.

Take what he’s offering.

She released his hand and reached for her hair, moving it
away from throat. He eased back, giving her room. Once she’d tucked the heavy
locks over her other shoulder she reached for him. Wrapping her fingers around
his nape, she guided his mouth to her neck. He lifted his hand from her hip and
pulled her shirt clear, giving him plenty of room to sink his teeth into her
skin.

Giving herself over, she whispered the spell that would slow
her rate of healing.

It wouldn’t last forever—no more than an hour—but he didn’t
need that long.

She didn’t turn away, focusing on the canines in his mouth
that elongated and broadened. A rush of magic swept through her, sending a
small wave of heat over her skin. In an instant she felt the difference. He
felt larger inside her, his presence more formidable. She remained an immortal
but she was weaker like this, nowhere near as strong.

“There’s no going back,” she whispered, voice quaking.
“You’ll never be rid of me.”

“Good,” he growled, irises brightening near his pupils.
“That’s exactly what I want.”

Angling his head, he got in position.

Then he dipped his head and sank his teeth into her flesh.

He was an asshole, biting harder than necessary. Her blood
coated his tongue. Metallic, warm and sweet. He chose the slope of her neck,
where the delicate arch of her throat met the sleekness of her shoulder. Unless
she wore a shirt that covered the area, everyone would see the mark on her
skin. That’s what he wanted. Everyone would know the mating had taken place,
he’d given her his brand and she’d accepted it.

Up until then he’d been excruciatingly gentle, taking his
time as he fucked her, trying to convey how much she meant to him. One day soon
he was going to take it further, making love to her as she deserved. The wolf,
however, had other ideas. The damn thing roared in victory the instant Sadie
moved her hair free of her neck. It rode him hard, wanting to own every single
inch of her inside and out. He plunged into her pussy, groaning as her cunt clasped
his cock.

He knew then he’d almost lost the only chance of happiness
and fulfillment he’d have ever known. The connection he’d felt the first time
they’d come together returned. His beast basked in the feeling, reaching out to
its mate. Trey kept up the pace, slamming into her slick heat. She bowed her
back to allow him to penetrate deeper, keeping her neck bared to him.

Peering up, he took in the beauty of her face.

Her eyes had drifted closed, her long lashes fanning her
cheeks. Her skin had taken a rosy hue, her tiny fangs peeking out from her
parted lips. She rocked with each plunge of his hips, taking every inch of his
cock, her breasts bobbing with the motion. She was wet and tight, her pussy
latching on to him like a fisting second skin. Releasing her shirt, he lowered
his hand, skimming his fingers down her stomach and stopping when the tips
rested just over her mound. Finding her swollen clit, he rubbed his middle
finger over the hard little bead.

He wanted them to come together, gaining the release they
both needed at the same time. Her vaginal walls gripped him and he heard her
sharp intake of breath. Using pressure, he worked the hard nub with his finger
and increased the intensity of his thrusts. Her hair swayed, sliding free of
her shoulder. Snaking his other arm around her waist, he slammed into her.

He was so close, teetering on the edge.

His sac drew taut, a heavy tingle building at the base of
his spine.

Come for me, darlin’. Come for me.

Moving his hand from her hip, he offered her his wrist. She
wound her fingers around his forearm, her lips whispering over his skin. He
knew the minute she slid her fangs into his skin he’d lose any control he had
over his body. He trapped her clit between his thumb and fingers, pinching
softly as he manipulated the bundle of nerves. Her pussy clenched so tight he
had to slam his eyes closed and concentrate, determined not to climax before
she did.

His best efforts weren’t worth shit, not when her tiny teeth
scored his skin.

He came so hard he saw spots, tiny speckles clouding his
vision. Sadie moaned, the sound muffled as she drank. His knees nearly buckled
when her cunt squeezed down on his cock, milking him as Sadie found her release
right along with him. She didn’t take as much she had before, gently drawing on
his skin. He kept up the pace, encouraged by the wolf inside him. The animal
had finally gained the ultimate satisfaction, claiming the woman destined for
it.

She pulled her fangs from his wrist and flicked her tongue
over the punctures, slowly nursing the wounds. He slowed his thrusts, cautious
as he unclenched his jaw and eased his teeth from her shoulder. Immediately his
eyes swept down, his attention focused on the evidence of his bite. Her skin
hadn’t mended—two ragged tears along with smaller breaks in her pale flesh—but
the bleeding was minimal.

He ran his lips over the indentions.

Finally. It’s done. She’s mine.

“Don’t sound so smug.” Sadie looked up from his wrist,
meeting his eyes in the mirror. “You might have bitten off more than you can chew.”
A smile tugged at the corners of her full lips. “You don’t really know me. Not
yet. We could be great in the sack and have the best chemistry in the world but
be totally incompatible when it comes to everything else.”