Marked (13 page)

“You’re so fucking hot,” he rasped, twining his fingers in
her hair. “You have no idea what you do to me.”

Actually, she did. If his expression hadn’t given him away,
his harsh inhalations and the tremor that shot through his body were all the
evidence she needed. Bold and eager, she nipped at his abdomen, holding back a
grin when she felt his muscles flex through his shirt. A surge of power flowed
over her.

She
did this to him. In this position he was at her
mercy.

His grip on her hair intensified, pulling the strands taut.
The sharp sting along her scalp sent a spasm through her pussy, drenching her
panties.

“That’s right. Show me what you like. Get me ready. I love
the way you smell when you’re turned-on. It gets me so hard I want to flip you
over and fuck you senseless.”

She worked his jeans open and his hard, swollen cock sprang
free. He growled when she wound her fingers around the base, squeezed, and a
bead of pre-cum escaped. Leaning forward, she flicked her tongue over the tip,
collecting the crystalline drop. His taste burst on her tongue, salty and
bitter. His groan drove her onward. She rotated her tongue along the crown,
lapping at the heated flesh that pulsed against her palm.

“Take it,” he snarled, thrusting his hips, trying to breach
her lips. “Take it all.”

He was too thick and long to take completely, the tip
lodging in the back of her throat despite the hand at the root. She relaxed the
muscles in her throat, breathing through her nose. Recalling his earlier
instruction, she swallowed when her gag reflex kicked in.

“Shit,” Jackson grated through clenched teeth. He brought a
hand down and pulled her fingers from the base of his erection. Then he wrapped
both of his hands in her hair. “Stay just like that. I want to take those
pretty lips for a ride.”

Then he moved, making shallow passes. She hollowed her
cheeks and sucked, keeping her tongue flush against the base, enhancing his
pleasure. Their eyes met, gazes locking. The eroticism of the act made her
tremble, the walls of her pussy clasping with each pass.

“More,” he demanded, thrusting harder. “I want you to
swallow me down, baby. Then it’s your turn. I’m going to lick you up like
candy, Chloe.”

Talk about the ultimate incentive.

She doubled her efforts, sucking until her jaws ached. More
of his semen coated her tongue, giving her another taste of the man she
couldn’t get enough of. She wanted to give him this because she wanted it too.
The desire to feel him come, to watch the ecstasy on his face she was
responsible for. She moaned when he shifted his legs and his thigh caressed her
breast, making the nipple pucker.

Her scalp burned as his hands formed into fists in her hair.
“Oh fuck,” he groaned, pistoning his hips. “That’s it, baby. Don’t stop.
Fuck.
Don’t stop.”

Moaning harder, she took the hard thrusts to her face, aware
he was nearing climax. She watched as his jaw tensed and his brows came
together. He looked harsh and wild, his hair loose at his shoulders, a few
random pieces caught in the stubble along his chin. His irises were fully gold
now, his dark, dilated pupils prominent.

God he was beautiful. And more importantly, he was
hers
.
His words returned to her as a hot flow of semen flowed into her mouth.

I’m all yours.

He threw his head back with a muffled “fuck” and thrust the
head of his cock into her throat. She swallowed each jet of the hot, salty
fluid, drinking him down, entranced by the way his body shook and his muscles
rippled.

Once the last spasm had passed his fingers loosened in her
hair and he lowered his head. “I’m the luckiest fucking bastard in the world,”
he breathed, chest heaving. “It’s my turn.”

She yelped when he yanked her up and tossed her over his
shoulder. His hand drifted up her thigh, hovered between her legs for a moment
and stopped on the curve of her ass. Her hair swept over her face, making it
difficult to see. She made out random patches of the floor as he carried her up
the stairs to the loft.

When he tossed her on the bed the first thing she noticed
were the rays of the moon. The curtains were pulled back, allowing the beams to
shine through. They seemed to warm her skin, blanketing her in a glow of
radiant white. Jackson started removing his clothing, studying her, his eyes
luminous in the darkness of the room. When he finally made it to his pants and
stripped them away she saw his cock was hard and stiff, reaching toward his
bellybutton.

He followed her gaze, bringing his hand to his straining
erection. He stroked from the base to the tip, stopping when his fingers
surrounded the head.

“You want this, don’t you?”

She shouldn’t have been turned on by his smug grin but she
was. “Yes.”

“Don’t worry. I’m going to give it to you.” He let go of his
shaft, a devious gleam in his eyes. “Right now I want you to lie back, close
your eyes and spread those pretty legs for me.”

Warmth erupted in her cheeks but she plopped back on the
freshly changed linens, aware of the clothing covering her body. Her bra felt
abrasive, her panties uncomfortable. She squirmed when he tugged off her shoes
and socks, biting her lip when he finally got to work on her jeans. He yanked
them down her legs, taking her panties along for the ride. Restless, she
brought her hands to her sweater and heaved it and her camisole over her head.

“Impatient, are we?” Jackson chuckled. “Ditch the bra, baby.
I want to watch you play with your nipples while I go down on you.”

Oh God.

Her fingers trembled as she accomplished the task, pulling
the garment away from her torso. Brisk winter air cascaded over her skin,
cooling the flush that swept over her.

Jackson climbed onto the mattress, coming closer, and slid
his hands under her ass. She made room for him, parting her thighs, shaking in
anticipation. He rubbed his cheek along one thigh, then the other. A tremor
shot down her spine when his heated breath made contact with the wet folds of
her sex. She clawed at the comforter and arched her back, bringing his mouth
and her pussy together.

A low growl penetrated her ears but she couldn’t focus on
that. All she could think about was the delicious, wet tongue that penetrated
her vaginal lips, parting her slit in a firm, decisive lap. The wolf made her
presence known then, clamoring for a place in line. Instead of denying the
beast she let a portion of it slither beneath her skin. Sensations amplified,
the moon becoming far more. The thing was like an entity, its call a hum that
buzzed in her head.

“Touch yourself, Chloe.”

Bringing her hands up, she flicked her nipples with her
fingers, mewling at how good it felt. The pleasure intensified when he slid two
fingers inside her, moving them in and out, finding the sweet spot within her.
She jerked when he stroked the sensitive inner tissue, waiting for him to do it
again.

“That’s right,” Jackson whispered. “Accept who you are.
Embrace it. The two of us were made for each other. See how good it can be?”

Before she could respond his lips surrounded her clit. One
well-placed flick of his tongue combined with the hard press of his fingers and
she shattered.

Her cry was a combination of a snarl and scream, ripping
from her throat, so loud it drowned out the sound of Jackson lapping at her
pussy. The tips of her fingers burned, her gums tingling, the wolf howling in
her head. Still the glorious grip of climax continued, wave after wave of fire
rushing from her clit, cascading through her abdomen and limbs. Jackson’s
tongue gentled when the last shudders passed, sliding over her labia in a light
caress as he pulled his fingers from her moist depths.

She reached for him as he moved up her body, raking her
fingers over his muscular shoulders. He took his time, peppering kisses along
her navel, nipples and collarbone. Placing his hands on either side of her
body, he lifted his weight from her. She almost argued about birth control, fearful
of what would happen if Jackson had lied about his uncanny senses, but decided
against it. He’d asked for her trust and she was going to give it to him.

His cock pressed against the mouth of her sex and he entered
her, advancing slowly. He peered down, watching as he joined their bodies.

“Perfect,” he murmured and sank to the hilt, lodging his
cock within her. Then he raised his head, gazing at her. “This time we’re
taking things nice and slow.”

He rewarded her whimper of agreement with a soft kiss, his
lips hovering over hers. He retreated and returned, doing as he promised,
taking her with care. She gasped into his mouth as he thrust in and out,
leaving her only to return once again, lifting her hips. The light from the
moon covered his broad shoulders, creating a halo around his body.

She closed her eyes, wanting to create a snapshot in her
mind she would always remember. His lips brushed over her closed lids and
feathered over her lashes. The sweetness of the act—something so simple yet so
profound—took the moment beyond sex.

Drawing him close, she placed her nose to his chest and
breathed him in.

He might have said he was all hers but in that moment he
owned
her
.

Mind, body and soul.

Chapter Ten

A soft knock roused Jackson from a deep slumber. He opened
his eyes, focusing on the ceiling. Chloe stirred, moaning softly into his
chest. She shifted closer to his side. Contentedness swept over him. His female
not only met his expectations, she exceeded them. Tonight they’d officially
announce their mating. Everyone would know she belonged to him. He’d protect,
watch over and love her for the rest of his life.

The soft rapping came again—from the front door.

With a muffled curse he moved away from his mate, taking
care to rest her head on the pillows. As he hoped, she didn’t wake. Her chest
rose and fell, a quiet sigh passing her lips. He climbed off the bed, retrieved
his jeans and jerked them on. He didn’t bother with his shirt, shoes or socks.
Only one person knew where he was and had the balls to interrupt him this early
in the morning.

Whatever Declan had to say had better be fucking important.

He descended the stairs, moving as quietly as possible, and
strode to the door. As he expected, Declan was waiting for him on the other
side. What he didn’t anticipate was how haggard the Beta appeared. He hadn’t
showered or shaved, wearing the same clothing from the evening before. His hair
was mussed and his T-shirt was wrinkled. There was a glimmer in his eyes that
Jackson couldn’t put his finger on.

“We need to talk,” Declan said and started to walk inside.

Jackson stopped the man with a hand on his chest. “Outside.
Chloe’s resting.”

Instead of bestowing a smart remark or rebuff, Declan
pivoted and returned to the porch. Jackson frowned, wondering what had the Beta
riled up. Certainly his mating had shaken things up but thus far Declan had
taken everything in stride. Something must have happened to make him like this.
In fact, Jackson wouldn’t recall a time that his Beta had seemed so stressed.

Shaking off the chilly morning air as he closed the door,
Jackson asked, “What crawled up your ass and died?”

“Fucking fate, that’s what,” Declan responded, though he
sounded tired not angry. Looking Jackson in the eye, he explained, “Apparently
I’m mated to a human—your
mate’s
fucking best friend.”

His ears had to be deceiving him. Declan did
not
just
say he was mated to Chloe’s childhood friend. The idea alone screamed
clusterfuck of epic proportions.

“Say again?”

The Beta’s eyes turned gold. “You heard me.”

“You met a couple of days ago and you didn’t mention
anything about it.” As soon as Jackson spoke, he realized Declan hadn’t said
anything either way. Perhaps he had known but hadn’t felt inclined to share.
“Why’s that?”

“Because I didn’t think it was possible,” Declan grumbled.
“I was wrong.”

The vague response created more questions than answers.
“Care to explain?”

“I was attracted to the female but I assumed there was
nothing more to it. Since I haven’t exactly had time to get laid, I blew it off
as pent-up steam. We know how rare it is for a wolf to mate with a human.”

More than rare. The occurrence was almost unheard of. It was
the primary reason Jackson hadn’t considered Chloe might be part human before
they met in the flesh. Mating with humans came with all sorts of problems.

“Are you certain?”

“I’m positive. We paid each other a visit in our dreams last
night.”

Well hell.
No wonder Declan looked like shit.
Dreamsharing could be intense, especially the first time. Jackson summoned up
the memory of the female who’d looked like she wanted to bust his balls when
Chloe had introduced them.

“You’re sure it’s Rachel?”

“I’m sure.” Declan ran his fingers through his hair. “Since
we’ve met and a connection was established, I was able to see her face.”

“Did she know the dream was being shared?” Chloe hadn’t had
time to discuss important details about their mating—at least he didn’t think
she had—with her friend. “Do you think she understands what it means?”

“I’m not sure.”

“You didn’t think about discussing the topic with her?
Jesus, Declan. Tell me you didn’t let your dick cloud your judgment. The first
experience with your female can make or break a mating. If you started things
off on the wrong foot, you’re fucked.”

“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” the Beta snarled, flashing
his pointed canines. “She wouldn’t let me get anywhere near her, since you’re
so goddamn curious. Each time I got close she’d skip to another place in her
mind. It was like she could change her dreams at will. I spent the majority of
the night trying to keep up.” Declan lowered his hand, shaking his head. “I
need your permission to initiate her into the pack.”

“Shit.”

If he gave his blessing as Alpha, Declan would have full
rights to Rachel. No one could interfere—including Chloe. His female would kill
him if he allowed a werewolf male to stake a claim to and change her
friend—especially if Rachel wasn’t given a choice. It wasn’t unheard of for a
male to bite a woman when she denied a mating bond. Once his saliva entered her
bloodstream, the change would start. The connection a human made with their
wolven half was absolute.

Even if Rachel hated Declan, the wolf inside her wouldn’t
turn him away.

“Are you sure that’s what you want to do?” It wasn’t the
best way to establish a mating. If his Beta wasn’t careful he could end up with
a mate who hated him. “Have you considered doing this the human way?”

Declan’s eyes narrowed. “Would I be here if I wasn’t?”

Answering questions with questions always annoyed him but he
was willing to let his pack mate slide. “Chloe won’t be happy.”

Declan snorted. “Neither will Just Rachel. I shouldn’t have
given you shit about having your hands full with your mate.”

“Just Rachel?”

“Long story. Don’t worry about it.” Declan lifted his
shoulders, standing straight. “Do I have your permission? I can proceed without
it, but I’d rather not.”

There was the bitch of it. Declan could proceed without
asking. If necessary he could leave the pack, claim and change his female and
spread the word that he was searching for a place to call home. The Beta had a
solid reputation as both a man and a wolf. He wouldn’t have a problem finding
another pack. Human police wouldn’t get involved, not in matters like these. It
was too dangerous—too personal. Although they liked to believe they were in control,
when it came to pack matters they stayed the fuck out of Dodge.

“I’ll agree, but there are conditions.” After Declan nodded
Jackson said, “You’ll need to take a leave of absence during Rachel’s first
moon. I don’t want to fight with my mate about what you’ve done or what it
means for her friend. I expect our involvement to be minimal.”

Declan considered the words and slowly nodded. “What else?”

“You need to prepare a pack member to take your place while
you’re gone.”

“I can do that.”

Releasing a deep breath, Jackson finished, “And I’d like to
ask that you try to do this properly, without changing her. Give Rachel a
chance to accept you as she is. I owe Chloe that much.”

“How long?”

“A month.”

If Rachel didn’t accept his advances within a month,
Declan’s bite to get the process started would ensure she had thirty days to
deal with the changes in her body before her first full moon. He hoped to hell
that it didn’t come down to that. Chloe would be pissed, Rachel would be out
for blood and Jackson would be smack dab in the fucking middle.

“Starting today?” Declan clarified.

Time to put a nail in the coffin. “Starting today.”

“Done.”

Declan extended his hand and Jackson accepted it.

A firm shake sealed the deal.

There was no going back.

Normally Jackson wouldn’t have felt bad about a human who
found him or herself mated to a werewolf. Circumstances had changed his
reasoning. Rachel—from what he gathered—had a few issues to sort through. The
woman hadn’t been friendly, bordering on hostile. Chloe had done her best to
alleviate the tension but he’d known Rachel had complied only to appease her
friend, not because she’d wanted to.

Jackson let go and took a step back. “Don’t breathe a word
of this to the pack. When you arrange a replacement, you can say you’re doing
some work out of state. No one needs details. If Chloe finds out what you’re up
to she’ll tell Rachel. I won’t come between them.”

“I’ll talk to Shane after the hunt.”

Shane?
Now that was news.

Declan was friendly with the newest member of the pack but he
had never seemed overly fond of Jackson’s choice to take Shane into their fold.
Jackson had known Shane was powerful enough to be a Beta or Alpha. Why he
hadn’t chosen that path was anyone’s guess. The male didn’t like to discuss his
past. Despite that, Jackson wanted to give the rogue a chance. Anyone who went
from being alone to searching for a pack couldn’t be all bad.

“Shane’s a solid choice. He’s not likely to talk about
what’s going on. The last thing we need in the pack is gossip.”

“My sentiments exactly.”

The door cracked open and Chloe peeked outside. She’d thrown
on his T-shirt. Her hair was tangled, her cheeks rosy from sleep. When she saw
Declan her face turned a tempting shade of red.

“I thought I heard voices,” she explained in a rush, keeping
the door from revealing too much of her body. “I’ll go back inside and let you
two talk.”

Declan gave her a sideways grin. “We’re done. He’s all
yours.”

Jackson wanted to laugh when her cheeks became redder. She
probably thought Declan knew what he’d said to her the night before. Standing
so Declan’s view of Chloe was obstructed, Jackson said, “I’ll see you tonight.”

“Yes, you will.”

Declan swept down the porch, retrieved a small satchel he’d
placed on the bottom step and started walking down the driveway. Jackson knew
the Beta would find a safe spot, shuck the clothes and return to from where
he’d come from. Most werewolves turned to their beast when they needed to
unwind. Declan was no different. Hopefully the shift and a hard run would clear
his head and put things in perspective. He had a feeling Rachel would have
Declan’s ass if he came at her looking like a shaggy, sleep-deprived hobbit.

Son of a bitch.

Declan had come right up to his porch and Jackson hadn’t
known his pack mate was anywhere nearby until he’d heard the knock at the door.
He’d let his guard slip, endangering his mate. After tonight he’d have to amp
up security. His home had a reliable alarm system. The cabin needed one too.

And he wouldn’t keep the location secret any longer.

He and the pack were Chloe’s first line of defense. They had
to know where to find her if he expected them to protect her with their lives.

Whipping around, he came chest to chest with his female. She
looked delectable in the morning, all soft and sweet. He’d woken her through
the night to take her again and again, needing the closeness, knowing the
following night they’d cement their union. She hadn’t been shy or tentative,
meeting his desire with a passion of her own.

“What did he want?” she asked, her lips slightly swollen
from his kisses.

He didn’t want to lie but he couldn’t be entirely honest
either. “Pack business. He’ll meet us later tonight.”

She moved aside and opened the door when he stepped forward.
He breezed past the threshold, aware of the lingering scent of sex wafting
through the cabin. Despite knowing he couldn’t share the truth with his mate,
he felt a wrenching sense of guilt. Their mating wasn’t what it should have
been. They’d been through enough without adding Declan and Rachel to mix. He’d
hoped that after tonight his problems would be solved.

You can give up that hope. No more problems? That would
be too fucking easy.

Resolute and unable to do anything else, he took his mate’s
hand and guided her to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. Like it or not, once
Chloe learned what was what, she’d grind his balls into guacamole.

Chloe plopped onto the seat Jackson guided her to, frowning
when he turned away without saying a word. Something was bothering him but he
wasn’t spilling the beans. She didn’t want to push but she didn’t like being on
the outside looking in either. They’d formed a bond the night before, her wolf
merging with his. She wasn’t going to let him pull away from her when she
needed him most.

“Do you want to tell me what’s wrong?”

“Not particularly,” he replied and reached for a pan hanging
from a rack bolted to the ceiling. “If at all possible I’d like to enjoy the
morning.” After he had the object in hand, he glanced at her. A smile tugged at
the corners of his mouth. “
You
have my undivided attention.”

“All right.” The redirection actually worked for her. There
were a lot of things she wanted to know. She could inquire about Declan’s visit
later. “How about you tell me how you’re going to convince Gramps to come to
the hunt? You’ll be lucky to get him off his property. He doesn’t like to
travel.”

“Is that so?” Jackson turned on the stove and walked to the
fridge.

“He’s handy with guns for a reason,” she murmured.

Jackson lifted his head over the door and stared at her, a
question in his gaze. She took her time responding, aware it would make her
family sound like hermits.

“Grams tends a garden and cans for the winter. Gramps hunts
so we have meat to freeze. They’ll go into town to get the things we need, but
it’s rare. After Mom died they swore they wouldn’t interact with anyone outside
of the family unless it was absolutely necessary. Aside from Rachel, we didn’t
have many visitors.”

“Are you serious?”

She nodded, laughing at his shock. “As a heart attack.”

“But they let you attend public school,” he clarified,
cautious as he broached the subject. “They sent you to college.”