Finding Chrissten: Legacy, Book 5 (9 page)

“No. Maybe. I’m not sure.” He rubbed a hand over his face. “Mostly because you were a female who was abducted from her family. Isaiah’s former alpha is a good guy. His daughter is a half-breed. Maybe that’s why they were all so keen to help.”

It was a lot for her to take in on top of everything else.

“He’s coming here, to Chicago.”

“When?” Chrissten wasn’t sure she was ready to meet her long-lost father.

“A day, maybe two. I’m not exactly sure. When Isaiah called them to let them know we’d found you, he said he was coming as soon as he could.”

“How do you feel about this?”

“Fuck, Chrissten, I don’t need a daddy at this point in my life.” Bitterness coated his words. Their childhood had been rough in many ways. They’d always known they were different. It had isolated them from others, made them feel alone. They’d had to keep on the move to stay safe. Their mother had worked hard to help them. She’d been mother and father to all her children.

Chrissten didn’t know how she felt about meeting him.

He took her hands in his again. “Don’t worry. You’re not alone. You’re not expected to feel anything for him. He’s a sperm donor, nothing more at this point.”

Quinn was right. “Is he coming alone?”

“I’m not sure. One of Isaiah’s brothers might come with him.”

It boggled Chrissten’s brain to even imagine such a thing. “How many brothers does he have?” Isaiah was intimidating enough on his own. She’d been too busy recovering from her ordeal to wonder about more than the pack here at Haven.

Quinn laughed. “There are four of them. Joshua, Micah and Levi, who are twins, and Simon. All pureblood and all pretty impressive.”

Chrissten tilted her head to one side. “You like them.” She could hear it in his voice.

He nodded. “Yeah, I do. They’re blunt as hell, but you know where you stand with them.” Quinn pushed up off the floor. “You sort through your clothes and get dressed. I’ll send Bethany up to help you and stay with you. When you’re ready, come on downstairs to the club. I think you’ll like it.”

“I will.” Right now all she wanted was a few minutes alone to assimilate everything she’d just learned. She had a father, a pureblooded werewolf, a man she’d never expected to meet, and he was coming to see her. And that was on top of her crazed mate who was still searching for her.

Quinn dropped a kiss on the top of her head and left her sitting alone on the bed.

She sat there for a minute, her thoughts spinning. “Shake it off,” she ordered herself. “There’s nothing you can do about any of it right this minute.”

She had her own clothing and belongings. She was going to get dressed and go downstairs for the first time since she’d arrived. Chrissten was suddenly excited about the prospect.

She heard someone enter the apartment and glanced toward the bedroom door expecting Bethany. The footsteps were too heavy, too male. She dropped the handful of clothing she’d gathered back in the box.

Chrissten knew who it was before he made it to the door. Her heart pounding, she waited for Hank to enter.

Chapter Six

Hank had stayed away from Chrissten as long as he could. He wanted to give her some space, some time to recover. She needed rest and a peaceful environment above all else after her ordeal. And he couldn’t be in the same room with her without wanting to kiss her.

Hell, he wanted to do a lot more than simply kiss her. He wanted her long, lithe body under his, over his, alongside his, naked and writhing in pleasure. Not going to happen anytime soon. Chrissten was obviously wary of males, and then there was the pesky little detail that she was mated.

So he’d stayed away, coming to her only when she was asleep. He’d guarded her during the long dark hours of the night. No one would hurt her again. He’d make sure of it.

But he was going to go out of his mind if he didn’t at least talk to her. Sure, he watched over her each night as she slept in his bed. His dick stirred and started to stand at attention. Oh yeah, just seeing her in his bed was enough to keep him perpetually hard. But he wanted to talk to her, to hear her voice.

The only reason he’d stayed away as long as he had was he hadn’t wanted to pressure her. He’d come on strong the first day, promising he’d kill Brian for her and following that up by kissing her. She’d just been freed from one prison. He didn’t want her to feel like he was trying to lock her into another one.

Part of him was afraid she wouldn’t want to see him. Another part didn’t care. He had to see her no matter what the consequences.

She was sitting on the end of the bed with two open boxes at her feet. He knew they contained her clothing and her belongings. Craig had mentioned they were bringing them up for her today.

Damn, but she was gorgeous. She was still too thin and much too pale, but she was recovering. He knew she’d been eating well. Teague had mentioned she’d eaten almost everything he’d sent up for her.

Hank had been starved for every crumb of information he could get about Chrissten from the others who spent time around her when she wasn’t sleeping.

He stood in the doorway and leaned against the jamb, not wanting to appear threatening in any way. She tucked a lock of hair behind one ear. Her hand trembled slightly and his eyes narrowed as he studied her.

A light blush covered her cheeks, whether it was from the exertion of being up and around or if it was due to his presence, he didn’t know. She glanced at him and then away. Her lips parted and her breathing increased.

“Hey.” Not exactly the wittiest thing to say, but it was all he could manage.

“Hey,” she responded. She picked up a sweater from on top of one of the boxes and held it to her chest. It was the same color as her eyes.

“That’s pretty.” He wanted to go to her side, to drop onto his knees, take her in his arms and kiss her. Every muscle in his body quivered, wanting action. He forced himself to stay where he was.

“Thanks. It’s my favorite.” She stroked her hand over the soft fabric. Hank’s eyes almost crossed. It was all too easy to imagine her hand stroking his dick in much the same fashion.

“How are you feeling?” His voice sounded hoarse and rough. He cleared his throat. “Better, I hope.”

She set the sweater on the bed beside her. “I am. Feeling much better, that is.” She ducked her head again, hunching her shoulders.

This wasn’t going to work. Hank pushed away from the doorframe and stalked across the room. Her head jerked up, prey sensing the hunter. Her eyes flashed with fear before it turned to determination. This woman amazed him with her inner strength.

He went down on his knees in front of her and shoved the boxes out of his way to make more room. He took her hands in his, holding them loosely. “Don’t be afraid of me.” He couldn’t bear it if she was.

She shook her head. “I’m not.”

“Then look at me.” Great, now he was ordering her around. Way to go, Brewer. That will reassure her and win her over.

She met his gaze and he stared into her eyes. Damn, they were gorgeous, the blue of a summer’s sky, so soft, so pretty. He could stare at her all day.

The corners of her lips twitched.

He was acting like an idiot. He didn’t give a shit. He’d make an idiot of himself all day long if it would lighten her mood and possibly make her smile.

“What are you doing here?”

“I had to see you,” he answered honestly.

“From what I’ve heard you’ve seen me every night.”

Busted. “Yeah. I was watching over you.” He didn’t trust anyone else to do it. Night was when Chrissten was most vulnerable, the time Brian was most likely to attack and try to take her back.

He tightened his grip on her hands and released them when she flinched. Shit, he had to be more careful with her. He pulled his hands away and sat back on his haunches. He hoped his sitting on the floor would make him appear less threatening.

She reached out and curled her fingers around one of his hands. He stilled, not wanting to make any kind of move that might cause her to pull away from him. The softness and heat of her hand soaked into his skin. She’d obviously bathed. Not only was she wearing a bathrobe, but her skin smelled like a field of summer flowers with a hint of vanilla. He wanted to eat her up.

Instead, he slowly raised her hand to his mouth and kissed each finger in turn.

She swallowed hard, watching his lips. It was a total turn on. His cock throbbed and his balls ached, urging him to take her. He continued to lightly brush his lips over her knuckles. Touching her even this little was better than sex with any other female had ever been.

“Why did you stay away?”

The hint of hurt in her question made his chest tighten. He hadn’t meant to make her feel bad. “I didn’t want you to feel pressured. You know, because of our kiss.”

She lifted her free hand to her mouth and rubbed her fingers over her bottom lip. He sucked in a breath. Every muscle in his body ached to hold her. Shit, he had it bad.

“I liked it.” She sounded breathless, like she was confessing some deep dark sin.

The corners of his mouth drew upward. He knew he had a big shit-eating grin on his face and didn’t care. “Me too.” He rubbed his fingers over hers. “Want to try it again?” Please, please, he almost begged aloud. He managed to keep his mouth shut and give her time to consider his proposal.

“We really shouldn’t.” She took a deep breath and released it. The motion caused the front of her robe to gape slightly. His eyes were drawn to the wide V of the robe, the soft flesh, the hint of a curve from her breasts.

“We really should.” It would be so good. He licked his lips in anticipation.

A light blush covered her cheeks again and it struck Hank that Chrissten was still very innocent in spite of her experience. She’d never been courted by a male, never been made to feel special. No, she’d been brutally beaten and raped.

Fury melded with his very soul and he knew he’d never rest until Brian had paid for what he’d done to Chrissten.

As though sensing his anger, she drew back slightly. He forced his rage back, concentrating on only Chrissten and the present. Plenty of time to deal with Brian later.

“This is wrong. Nothing can come from this. I’m mated.” Her words were blunt, her voice toneless. He didn’t like it. Not one bit.

“There’s nothing wrong with us sharing a kiss. You didn’t give anything to Brian. Not freely. This is your choice. No one else’s.”

He wanted her to choose him, to want him as much as he wanted her. Unrealistic? Probably. No, definitely. But he didn’t care.

“One kiss,” he coaxed. “What can it hurt?”

She licked her lips again and he barely suppressed a groan. If his body got any hotter he was going to burst into flames. He wanted it to be his tongue stroking her lips, delving inside to taste her heat.

He waited, his heart pounding, his chest hurting as he sucked in much needed air. Beads of sweat broke out on his brow. He resisted the urge to swipe them away.

“Chrissten?”

Maybe he should leave. She didn’t need him here pressuring her. And that’s what he was doing. Disgust filled him. What the hell was he doing? She deserved better than this.

“I should go.” He started to push himself off the floor.

“No.” Chrissten threw her arms around his neck and held on. Hank froze, crouched in front of her.

“Tell me what you want.” He placed his hands palms down on the mattress on either side of her, partly to help keep his balance and partly because he wanted to be as close to her as possible without touching her. This was her show. It was up to her to do the touching.

Chrissten stared into Hank’s pale blue eyes. They were filled with an enticing combination of determination and lust. He’d been ready to leave her in spite of the fact he was aroused.

She could smell the combination of heat and musk rolling off his skin. See the flare of his nostrils as he breathed. His pupils were dilated and a muscle beneath his left eye began to pulse. It was late afternoon and already a shadow covered his jaw making him appear even more male, more intimidating.

He fascinated her.

She’d forgotten just how wide his shoulders were. But she did remember the roughness of the pads of his fingers when he touched her so gently. The combination gave her shivers. The good kind. Not the scary kind.

The muscles in his arms bulged beneath his shirt. She suddenly wished she could see them. See every inch of his beautiful masculine body.

What did she want? He’d asked her that but she wasn’t sure of the answer. Or rather, she was sure but she wanted something she knew she couldn’t have. She wanted him.

But she was mated to another male. Yes, it had been against her will, but that didn’t change the fact Hank had to be able to smell Brian’s scent on her.

“How can you want to kiss me?” She blurted the words out.

He cupped her face in his hands, rubbing his thumbs over her lips. “How can I not?”

In that moment, she was lost to the sense of wonder, of possibility. She leaned forward and parted her lips. Hank met her and their mouths joined. Oh yes. It was even better than she remembered.