Uncertain Claim Read online

Reaction was slowly setting in as Diana’s thoughts raced. She could have gotten him killed tonight. Her hesitation to take a life might have cost him everything. She felt surrounded by ice and shivers rippled over her body. His arms tightened, holding her even closer, but it didn’t seem to help.

  “What’s wrong, Diana?” Gavin’s chin rested against the top of her head.

  “Just thinking.” She held onto his arms and wished she could pull that heat and security around her like a big, fluffy blanket. Gavin didn’t seem to be too affected by it. In fact, his cock was pressing against her buttock, hard and ready.

  His hand smoothed up and down her stomach slowly. “What are you thinking about? You’re tense.”

  “I hesitated.” She looked at the woman and the blood on the floor. Right now all she could think about was what could have happened to Gavin. She didn’t know how she was going to react later once it sank in that she’d killed somebody. Her mind was too busy at the moment, picturing Gavin sprawled on the floor with the blood pooling around him.

  “You shot her before she fired. That’s all that matters to me.” Gavin’s arms tightened around her as if trying to soothe her.

  “There had to be a better way to let you and the others know there was danger. The alarm was the only thing I could think of. If I’d realized you didn’t have a gun with you, I would never have done it that way.” She tried to turn in his arms, but he held her as she was.

  “Stay like that for a while. I need to calm down a little myself. If you were facing me, holding you isn’t all I would be doing.” His voice sounded a little rougher than normal.

  Now that she thought about it, she wouldn’t last long simply hugging him. She wanted to kiss him. Kissing would lead to touching and taking off clothes. Since he was already naked, they wouldn’t have many barriers.

  She was honest enough to admit that she needed some very primitive, physical proof that he was alive right now. The feel of him holding her was good, but not enough. Mentally, she knew he hadn’t been hurt. That didn’t seem to matter. The anxiety hadn’t lessened much. She suspected it would only when she was able to taste and touch him freely.

  “We’re going to be alone for a while.” Gavin’s arms tightened around her briefly.

  Max glanced over at him and merely nodded. “Probably a good idea. It will be a few hours before we can take you out of here anyway. Even then, your homes will need to be cleared and there’s debriefing. Stay away from the windows.”

  Diana didn’t have time to wonder where Gavin thought they were going to be alone before he spun her around and lifted her off her feet. She gasped and clung to his shoulders. The tension didn’t last long. Her legs rose and curled around his hips. He carried her to the stairs and bounded up them. She caught her breath as he took the steps in what felt like leaps. They made it to the landing.

  Gavin opened the first door along the hallway. A bare mattress topped the bed, but it sat near a bank of windows. She thought they would have to find another room to use. Even though the windows had curtains, if a foot accidentally hooked one of the panels, the glass offered a clear view of anyone who got near the bed. She was surprised when Gavin didn’t leave the room. He got close enough to the bed to grab the mattress and pull it onto the floor.

  His mouth slanted over hers in a hungry kiss. She drove her tongue into his mouth, returning the fervor. She couldn’t do nice, gentle or soft right now. The thought of losing him still chilled her. Her fingers bit into his shoulders as she strained to get closer to him.

  She wanted something to sear the torturous thoughts of him dying out of her mind, if only for a while. He seemed to sense she needed more. His hands cupped her buttocks, rocking her against his cock. She tightened her legs, grinding against him. Her clit pulsed and she hadn’t even managed to get undressed yet.

  The woman was driving him insane. He hadn’t been able to get her out of her shirt, much less the rest of her clothes. Her aggressive response only ramped up his own needs. Those little nips and clutching fingers had him nearly at the end of his control already. He didn’t have the patience to take off those clothes. He mentally shrugged. She’d need more clothes before they went down to talk to the others.

  Lifting his hands to the back of her bright blue shirt, he tore it from the collar down to the hem. Without losing contact with her lips, he pulled the shirt forward until it caught on her arms. He tugged at her arm, urging one from around his shoulders. He freed her from the sleeve. She wrapped her arm around him again and lifted the other free on her own. She couldn’t get the cloth out from between them, though.

  He growled, frustrated. He wanted to touch her, but he didn’t want to lose contact. Reluctantly, he tore his lips from hers and urged her legs down. At first, she resisted, tightening her thighs, but then she groaned as if suddenly realizing there were a few more barriers between them. The skirt he could work around, but the panties definitely had to go. The moment her feet touched the floor and she stepped back from him, he wanted to grab her and plaster her back against him.

  “Out of your skirt and panties.” The words came out much rougher than he intended, but he knew that if he got his hands on them, she’d need more than another shirt.

  It was torture watching her and not touching her, but he knew once he got his hands on her again, he wouldn’t be letting go until they were both satisfied. His hands flexed at his sides. He felt his control slipping as she bent to take off her stockings.

  His eyes dropped automatically to the delicious curve of her ass. Licking his lips, his hands fisted at his sides. It felt like electric sparks ran over his palms. Damn, he wanted to cup his hands over that delicious curve. That thought automatically led to thoughts of fucking and claiming her. Images of her on her hands and knees flooded his mind.

  His fangs descended. He’d thought he could handle his instincts. He’d thought that as long as he could feel her body wrapped around him as he held her, he could hold back. Now all he could think about was his teeth sinking into her shoulder as he drove into her tight pussy. He closed his eyes, trying to regain command of the primitive urges thrumming through him.

  It was a mistake. The next thing he knew, her hands were spread over his chest. Her nails raked over his nipples. Those two buds tightened even more. He felt her breath puff across his sternum. His hands shot out, grasping her shoulders to hold her where she was. He couldn’t stop her mouth, though, as she licked a path over his pec and painted a swirl around his nipple. The truth was, he didn’t want to halt the path of her tongue.

  He held her far enough away from his body that she couldn’t touch him. “You have to stop and let me get control.”

  He saw her frown and then a look of determination settle on her face. She rose on her tiptoes and her hands framed his face. “This is why I have doubts, Gavin. If you want me, don’t hold back. I want everything and that includes what your instincts push you to do. If not, let go of me and I’ll leave now.”

  A growl rolled through him before he even had time to process most of her words. He only heard the word “leave”. The threat to walk away from him had his jaw clenching. She wasn’t going anywhere. He lifted her off her feet and bore her down onto the mattress. Leaning over her, he stared into her eyes as he fought himself.

  “You’re mine,” he grated the words against her lips. He nipped and then licked the sting from that pouting curve.

  She opened her mouth, but he didn’t let her provoke him any further. His mouth slanted across hers in a fierce kiss that he quickly tried to gentle. She didn’t understand. He didn’t want simply to fuck her. That wouldn’t be a problem and he’d happily take her over and over if it would wipe that hurt look from her eyes.

  He needed to claim her. Tonight he’d come close to losing everything. Now the wolf was clamoring to make her his and begin the change in her. Gavin didn’t know if she was ready for that. Somehow, he had to make her understand. If they took this step, there wouldn’t be going back.

  Liftin
g his lips, he took a deep breath. He tried to ignore the slide of her leg against his. The soft brush sent streaks of fire straight to his cock. Her hips rose and fell in a slow, enticing roll. In further enticement, her hand slid over his chest and moved down his belly.

  He wanted to feel her fingers wrap around his cock, but knew if they did, all hope of control would be lost. He barely grabbed it in time. Pressing it to the bedding, he tried to keep his thoughts away from memories of her hands squeezing and stroking, but didn’t have much success. He rested his arms on either side of her head and clenched his fists. God, why couldn’t he get a more cooperative woman?

  “I’ll bite you, Diana.” He forced the words out past lips that wanted to be glued to hers or wrapped around a nipple. He hoped he didn’t need to explain more than that.

  She laughed. “About freaking time. You’ve had me confused all through this relationship. I think we’re overdue to do something normally.”

  He didn’t understand her, but he didn’t have the control to ask her any more questions. Need poured through him. The primitive urge to claim ripped at him with fiery claws. He could feel his canines lengthening and a prickle in his skin. Her easy acceptance shredded the last of his restraint. He drew back, clasped her around the waist and then flipped her onto her stomach. His wolf howled, eager to claim and change his mate.

  His hands smoothed down her back and sides and under to the soft skin of her belly. He had to be sure she was ready. His cock ached to sink into her tight cunt. He’d find a way to pull back if she wasn’t slick and aching for him. The last thing he wanted was to hurt her. His hand cupped over her pussy. Moisture coated his fingers as he pushed between the plump lips.

  Finding that sweet honey sent a surge of relief through him. Even though he wanted to drive deep into her, he held back. Drawing his finger over her clit, he rubbed back and forth until he felt her hips rock into his touch. He pulled his hand farther back to her slick opening. He heard her breath hitch and felt the quiver of her belly against his arm. Her pelvis rocked against him.

  “Gavin, you’re killing me here.” Her voice came out on a low groan as she trembled.

  The sensuous undulation of her body lured him closer, but now that he could feel her juices flowing for him, he found a measure of calm. The drive to claim her and mark her eased a little. It wouldn’t last. He savored the sight of her and enjoyed the need he could hear in her voice. It wasn’t as potent as the sweet scent of her arousal, but the knowledge that she ached for him, as he did her, seared him.

  “I’ve wanted to do this for so long.” He meant claiming her, although he always wanted to fuck her. The woman excited him as no other ever had. His free hand smoothed up her back to her shoulder and brushed at the base of her neck.

  He leaned over and pressed kisses along her shoulder and neck. Her head turned and their lips met in a fierce, swift kiss. Her hips rocked and pushed back against his in silent demand. As much as he ached, he didn’t join them yet. Rubbing his fingers in circles over her clit, he drove her desire higher. He wanted her screaming for him. So ready that she wouldn’t even feel the bite until later.

  “Please, Gavin, stop holding back.”

  “Baby, even if I’d done this the night I met you, I would have made sure that you were more than ready for me. Let me be sure that you find your pleasure in spite of the bite.” He nipped her lips before moving back to her neck to teasingly graze his teeth over the sensitive skin. She shivered and he smiled.

  “I’m about to come. How much more ready can I be? Now.” She reached back and stroked her fingers, trying to grip his thigh, tugging at him.

  He pushed his fingers into her pussy and stroked them in and out a few times. Her muscles clenched around them and she pushed back into his hands. The feel of those tissues clutching at his fingers had him groaning. He wanted to thrust his cock into that tight grip.

  “You’re not going to come quite yet, baby. Just before you do, I always feel this sweet flutter of your muscles and then your cunt clenches down on me hard. Believe me. I’m going to be inside of you when that happens.” Just the thought of it had him closing his eyes as a spike of sensation slammed straight to his cock.

  He stroked his thumb over her clit until he was sure she was close. His hand wrapped around his cock as he guided it straight to her core. He ached. Nothing except the feel of her sweet muscles clenching around him as she screamed her pleasure would satisfy him. Fine tremors rippled over his body. When the tip of his shaft nudged her slick entrance, he groaned. The slick, hot juices coated the tip. Resisting the urge to thrust forward, he slowly pushed into her pussy.

  “Yes,” Diana hissed the word. Her hips rocked back, driving his shaft deeper.

  His hands tightened and he closed his eyes as the move nudged him a little closer to the edge of his control. Sensation took over. The brush of her skin, the pulling contractions of her pussy became his sole focus. One of his hands smoothed up her side as the other held her, pulling her back into each stroke. He played with the peak of one nipple.

  The tip tightened and hardened against his fingers. His eyes continually followed the line of her back up to her neck. That curve between neck and shoulders lured him closer. He couldn’t resist the urge to lean down.

  His chest pressed against her back and his mouth moved over her shoulder. She shivered as he drew his tongue over the taut muscle where her shoulder and neck joined. The urge to bite slammed into him. The image ran over and over in his head. Resisting was one of the hardest things he’d done. He’d do this right.

  “I dreamed about doing this.” He scraped his teeth over the muscle, needing the contact, but held back from the bite. Instinctively, he waited, knowing that the pain would blend with her pleasure as she came.

  “I have too,” she moaned and rocked into his thrusts. “Please, show me this isn’t wishful thinking and that I don’t have to wonder anymore.”

  He growled as he heard the desperation and need in her voice. It spurred his own urgency. He drove into her cunt. Sex had never felt so intense. She pushed back into him. His tongue trailed over her shoulder. The salty tang of her sweat burst over his tongue.

  He loved the way she tasted and couldn’t stop moving his mouth over the soft skin as the urge to mark her grew. The rising sound of her moans sent a spike of need down his spine. His palm smoothed over her belly and down between her legs. The urge to claim tore at him, but she would come first. His fingers flicked over her clit. Her hips bucked forward. He felt the quiver of her pussy around his cock.

  Driving deep, he gave himself up to the pounding need inside of him. His teeth scraped back and forth over her shoulder. Blood pounded through her veins. Her body trembled and she rocked back into him. He sucked and licked at the muscle, waiting. When he felt the rippling contractions of her pussy in orgasm, he struck. His teeth sank into her shoulder. Her breath caught, but she kept moving with him.

  Deep, primal satisfaction swept over him even though he still ached with the need to come. She was finally his. He released his bite and thrust hard and fast against her. Fire sizzled over his spine and straight down to his cock. The heat exploded up his spine and sizzled down to his fingertips. He came with a shout.

  Pulling her close, he held her as the tremors raced over his body. His muscles felt heavy as he slowly withdrew from her before sprawling on the mattress beside her. He drew her upper body across his chest. She wriggled a little and dropped a kiss just above his nipple before settling her head above his heart. Curving an arm around her, he stroked his hand up and down her arm. He couldn’t stop touching her and was going to enjoy the privacy for as long as he could. Even when they had to go down to talk to Evan and Steven, he wasn’t going to want to let her out of his arms. He’d waited so long to claim her, it was going to take days before he fully accepted she was his.

  Her fingers crawled up his chest and rested over his shoulder. Glancing down, he found her watching at him with immense satisfaction. A cat couldn’t hav
e looked smugger. He loved that expression. His arm tightened and he lifted up just enough to drop a kiss on her forehead.

  “You look happy.” He brushed the hair off her cheek.

  “It’s true. I couldn’t fully believe it until now, but it’s true.” She sounded a little breathy, but her eyes almost glowed with happiness.

  “I wouldn’t lie about something like that.” He frowned down at her. “I wanted you to have it all, the dates and the romance you’d expect from any other man.”

  “I know you said it, but it was just strange, Gavin. All of the were matings I’d ever heard of went nothing like ours. So it took some time and I needed proof. I wanted it so much that I was a little afraid I was imagining it all.” She gave a one-shoulder shrug and grimaced a little.

  “I can keep proving it to you over and over.” He drew his hand down to her hips and pulled her leg over his. With a smile, he rolled his hips suggestively.

  She laughed and a wicked gleam filled her eyes. He wasn’t so sure about that look. He became even more suspicious when her hand cupped his cheek.

  “You want to give me everything. Does that include a courtship after the mating? We could continue to date and take things slowly. In about six months, you can ask me to marry you.” She patted his chest.

  He growled. Teasing was one thing. Threat of torture was another. He rolled her onto her back and loomed over her, leaning closer until his nose almost touched hers. “I’ve learned one thing from this. I’ll do my romancing the same way I’ll do my making up after a fight, with you in my house where you belong.”

  She smiled widely, laughter flowing from her. “Now that’s my wolf.”

  About the Author

  Rebecca Airies has always loved to read. Futuristic, the classics, mystery or horror, the genre doesn’t matter as long as the stories capture her interest and take her on an adventure. She soon discovered a love for writing and characters just waiting to tell their stories. Since that time, writing has become an obsession.