Mating Brand: 3 (Mating Heat) (8 page)

“He did this to you?” His voice came out sounding gravelly,
deep and harsh.

“Yes. It happened last night. We live in separate parts of
the house and rarely see each other. He sought me out in my room. I didn’t want
him touching me so I fought. I got away but he was pretty angry.” She tugged
out of his hold and reached up to grip her hair, pulling the long curtain of it
away. She slowly turned, grateful that she couldn’t see his face when she
presented him with her back. “This is the last of it.”

The howl made her jump, the sound deafening inside the small
bathroom, and every instinct urged her to flee. The smell of his rage nearly
suffocated her as it filled the room. Charma held still, waited for him to
calm. She lowered her head in sadness.

“I’m going to kill him,” Brand swore.

He breathed hard, nearly panted, and Charma turned her head
enough to catch a glimpse of her reflection in the mirror. Four bruises marred her
back from where she’d been punched as she’d struggled to get away from Garrett.
They actually appeared to be a lot better than they had when she’d dressed
earlier that morning before she’d left the house. Her shifter genes allowed her
to heal quicker than a normal human.

“Did he force you? Did that son of a bitch rape you? Did he
allow other men to touch you? I want their names if that happened. I’ll track
down every one of them. I’ll kill each one. I’ll―”

“Calm down,” she ordered.

She faced him. Any other werewolf looking that feral would
have sent her bolting for her life. He’d totally lost his face—his nose pressed
forward, lengthened, along with his jawbone and his fangs elongated. His eyes
had shifted too, narrowed. Wolf eyes watched her.

Black hair covered his lower face and hid most of his sexy
chest and arms. She took a step closer to him and brushed his soft pelt of fur
with trembling hands. She pressed her face against him.

“No one else touched me, not even him. He hasn’t for years.
I was smart enough to avoid him. He found other females to occupy his time when
he believed I wasn’t able to conceive. I’m okay, Brand. I promise you that and
he’s not worth it. Just hold me, okay?”

His arms wrapped around her and she stood there inside his
embrace for a long time until warm skin returned and his breathing slowed. He
kissed the top of her head before easing away. She wondered if he’d still want
her, knowing she was emotionally damaged. Tenderness was reflected in his gaze
when she braved looking up at him.

“You never need to fear anyone again and I would never abuse
you.”

“I know.”

“I’d rather die,” he whispered.

“I know that too.”

“Okay. I’m still going to kill that son of a bitch but that’s
another day.”

She didn’t protest. A part of her had always known if Brand
ever found out about what Garrett had done to her, even if he’d moved on and
mated another woman, he’d have paid her mate a visit to make the abuse stop. It
was just the kind of wonderful person he was. When they’d watched the news he’d
always grumbled that someone should take out violent jerks who picked on the
weak.

“I need to calm down a bit.” He took a deep breath. “Shower
here and I’ll use the bathroom down the hall. We’ll meet in my room in about
fifteen minutes.” He fled before she could protest and closed the door behind
him.

Charma watched him disappear and worry struck. Would he
change his mind about wanting her? She wasn’t the same woman he’d once loved.
She’d been mistreated by a mate and maybe he feared she’d take that out on him.
Or worse, maybe he’d lost all respect for her because she’d allowed her life to
become such a nightmare despite doing it for her family’s safety.

She turned with a heavy heart, staring at Brand’s shower.
She knew he wanted her to wash off as much of the scents from her old life as
possible. Using his shampoo, conditioner and soap wouldn’t completely rid her
of Garrett’s mark but it would make her smell more familiar to Brand, more his.

Brand stormed down the hallway and managed not to punch his
fists through the walls. He saw red from the rage that pulsed through his
entire body as if it were a living thing. He paused by the guest bath, took a
deep breath and stepped inside to flip on the light. He managed not to slam the
door behind him. He met his reflection in the mirror and winced at some of the
hair he hadn’t been able to control when he’d returned to skin.

Charma had been abused, hit. She was sickly thin. Her
clothes had hidden the sight of her rib bones. She appeared half starved. He
closed his eyes, careful not to pierce his bottom lip with his fangs when he
bit down to muffle another howl of rage. The urge to shred the male who’d
forced her mating nearly drove him into hunt mode.

It had been difficult, picturing his Charma out in the world
living without him. He’d imagined her many times—mated, with kids. It had
tortured his soul. It had bothered him, thinking she might be happier with
someone else but he’d never considered that she’d been forced into a hellish
nightmare of shifter politics. She’d been traded by her parents to the pride
leader’s son. He understood their motives but it enraged him. He’d rather die
than hand any child, even a grown one, over to someone to abuse.

Do her parents know how she was treated?
He shoved
that thought back. He’d kill them himself if they had stood back and allowed it
to happen. His rage continued to build.
They had to realize something was
wrong. She’s lost so much damn weight.
He forced his breathing to slow when
he became agitated enough to pant.

I can’t mate her right now.
That thought made his
wolf recoil in protest. She was too thin, too weakened and probably too scared
to have a male go at her the way he would if she were naked on his bed. He
might accidentally hurt or frighten her. Either wasn’t an option he was willing
to risk.

Most, if not all, of his resentment toward Charma for
leaving him faded. She’d loved him but she’d also loved her family. He
understood how far someone would go to protect blood. He hadn’t been blessed
with siblings but his cousins might as well be his brothers. There wasn’t much
he wouldn’t do for them. Charma had been put in a hellish situation and made a
deal with the devil to keep her family safe.
They gave my Charma to that
prick.

He wished she’d told him everything in the past. He would
have moved heaven and hell to bring her entire family into Harris territory. He’d
probably upset her by tearing into her parents a bit over their eagerness to
sacrifice her future for their own but younger siblings were involved. He hated
to admit it but he could see why they’d do it. It wasn’t something he agreed
with but if she’d just been honest, he could have prevented them from making
the choice they had.

His uncle would have agreed to accept Charma’s family into
the pack but his aunt would have gone on a rampage. He winced, remembering what
she’d done to Anton’s mate. Aunt Eve was the reason a bunch of feline shifters
were about to attack the pack. She’d put her own son’s mate in danger because
she’d been desperate to be rid of a she-cat.

He and his cousins had rescued Shannon from the fate Eve had
tried to deal her. There was no telling what underhanded thing his aunt would
have attempted to do to Charma and her family if he’d moved them into the
territory. It no longer mattered though. Eve wasn’t a problem since she’d been
banished from the pack but in the past she could have posed a deadly threat.

Either way, they couldn’t change history. Charma was in his
bathroom showering. He wanted to claim her but it wasn’t going to be easy or
fast. The son of a bitch she’d been forced to submit to had done damage. She
needed time to heal and get to know him again in order to feel totally safe in
taking a new mate. His wolf didn’t agree, too eager to claim her. It was hard
to control the urge since the animal was too close to the surface to be pushed
back.

“Goddamn heat,” he ground out.

He’d never be able to keep totally in control of his body if
she were naked in his arms. He was man enough to know his limitations and loved
her enough to admit he posed a real danger to her in his condition. Males in
heat weren’t known for their gentleness or their ability to contain the lust
that overcame them during sex. She could take him in the past but he wasn’t so
certain about now.

He smiled at the memories of Charma from their time
together. She’d been a tough little thing, aggressive as hell in heat and she
could give as good as she got. He’d never worried about crushing her or
accidently snapping something. She’d had generous curves, meat on those bones,
and the plushest ass he’d ever had the pleasure of pounding against when he’d
taken her.

His dick chose that moment to painfully throb as if it had a
heartbeat. If it weren’t for the thick jeans, it would be pointing straight
out. His balls began to ache and he groaned.

“Goddamn it,” he hissed between still-clenched teeth. “I’m
going to die.” He nodded at his reflection. “I’m never going to survive having
her under my roof, smelling her and wanting her.”

He kicked off his shoes, denting a cabinet in his haste to
get the things off, and jerked open the front of his pants. He hadn’t bothered
with underwear and his cock sprang free. It barely eased the pain as he shoved
the material down his legs. He nearly tore off the glass shower door to get inside
the stall. He turned on the cold water and it blasted his body, shocking chill
taking his breath. He stood there, endured it, but it didn’t do a thing to his
lower half.

“Fuck.”

He reached for the body wash, dumped a handful into his palm
and leaned back against the wall. He fisted his shaft, turned his hips enough
to avoid the water and squeezed his fingers around his swollen cock. His eyes
closed as Charma’s image filled his head. He frantically moved his hand from
the base of his dick to the head, applying enough pressure and pace to feel
really good. He imagined he was inside her again.

He braced his legs, threw back his head and sealed his lips.
He’d never forget how damn tight Charma had been, how wet and hot. Her muscles
squeezed him better than his fist ever could. Then there were the sounds she
always made when he fucked her hard and fast.

His Charma had always purred for him, urged him on, her legs
wrapped tightly around his hips. She had a habit of raking her nails down his
spine until she could grab his ass and pull his hips even tighter against her
soft thighs. He’d feel her climax. She always screamed out his name, her pussy
tightening around him as she trembled from her release. He groaned as he came.
Streams of semen shot from the tip of his cock as pleasure gripped him. His
hips bucked from the intensity and the pain disappeared.

He panted, opened his eyes and stared at the tile wall
opposite him that he’d just decorated. His hand eased off his cock—it had
barely softened—and he turned into the water to wash off the soap. He dunked
his head, shook it, and reached for the body wash again.

Great. That will last me for a little while before it
starts again.
He scrubbed his body to wash away the dried sweat from
fighting and reached up to grasp the removable showerhead. He rinsed away all
traces that he’d jacked off inside the stall as he washed down the tile. He
replaced the showerhead, turned off the water and pushed open the glass door.

“I’m going to be in here every half-hour, repeating this.”
Disgust welled at his lack of control. He dried off, avoiding his cock, which
still strained from the constant state of arousal he knew wouldn’t leave him
until mating heat ended. All he could do was pray he’d find the strength to
grab for soap instead of Charma.

He realized he hadn’t remembered to bring a change of
clothes. He wrapped the towel around his waist and quickly exited the bathroom.
If he hurried it would only take him a minute to slip down the hall, enter his
room and get dressed before she finished her shower. The woman used to spend an
eternity showering. He hoped that hadn’t changed.

The bedroom was empty when he stepped inside but he didn’t
hear water running in the other room. He darted to his dresser, opened the
lower drawer and chose a pair of sweatpants. The bathroom door opened behind
him and he jerked upright, turning.

Charma had washed her hair. Pink skin shone from the warm
water and she was wrapped in his favorite blue towel. The tops of her shoulders
and her thighs were revealed. He knew she didn’t have anything on under it and
his cock stiffened in response.

He wanted her so bad it was difficult to remain still. He
struggled with his choices—lunge at her or flee the room. She was just too
tempting, too sexy. Images of all the things he wanted to do to her filled his
mind and kept him from returning to the bathroom down the hall.

She smiled and her gaze lowered to his towel. He couldn’t
move, his legs seemingly rooted to the carpet. More blood flowed into the part
of him that she stared at.

Yeah, she’s looking at you. She can’t miss seeing you
when you’re pointing right at her and lifting the damn towel.
He reached
down, pushed his cock against his thigh and kept his palm over it.
Ouch. I
know you don’t want to bend but we don’t want to scare her either.

“You’re definitely bigger.”

“Oh hell. Pretend you don’t notice.”

Her gaze lifted as she stepped closer to him and his bed. “Why
would I do that? Drop the towel. Let me see how much you’ve grown.”

Panic seized Brand. “Don’t come near me.” She froze and he
wanted to kick his own ass when he saw uncertainty on her features. “I’m sorry,”
he got out. “You just need to stay back.”

“Why?” Pain flashed in her beautiful eyes. “Don’t you want
me, Brand? Did you change your mind about mating me?”

“No. I mean, I want you. You have no idea how bad I do…and
to claim you as my mate.” He growled. “You have no idea how much I want that.”

“Why can’t I approach you?”

Honesty is best. Yeah.
“I’m afraid I’ll hurt you. My
control is shaky and I think we should wait until I’m out of heat to do this.
That will give you some time to put on some weight and heal up. It will also
guarantee that I’ll be as gentle as possible when we seal the bond without
causing you any injuries.”

She stared at him, seemingly stunned.

“I’m dangerous,” he whispered. “To you. Right now. I wouldn’t
mean to be but I’d be too rough. I want you too much. My dick is in charge and
yeah, I want you. I would never forgive myself if I caused you pain but I know
I will.”

“I don’t believe that.” She glanced down his body. “You are
bigger and stronger but that doesn’t scare me.”

“Charma?” He waited until she met his gaze. “Trust me. You’ve
never seen me in heat.”

“It can’t be worse than my heat when I was with you.”

“It is.” He swallowed hard, his cock throbbing against his
palm through the wet towel. “I’m more aggressive than you ever were at your
worst. I need to go into the bathroom right now and you need to stay there. I’ll
handle my own needs. I thought I would have more time in between but that was
before I saw you in so little, looking so damn sexy. I have to handle this. Me.
Shit.” He bolted around her and into the bathroom she’d just vacated, slamming
the door between them.

He locked the door. The Charma he knew would follow him. She’d
always hated it when he walked away from a disagreement. The last time he’d
done it flashed through his head and he spun, his hand bracing on the solid
wood.
What if she takes off again? What if I go out there and she’s fled?

He nearly unlocked the door but fear kept him from doing
that. He spun, his actions jerky as he yanked open the shower door and turned
on the water. He’d be fast.
She wouldn’t leave. I’d rather her think I’m a
jerk than screw this up by hurting her.

Charma couldn’t help but feel hurt. She turned around and
heard the water come on.
He’s going to handle his own needs?
She stared
at the door as anger hit.

She tried to twist the door handle but found it locked,
preventing her from following him. “Damn it.” Her other palm slapped the wood
barrier. “Brand?” She called out his name. “Open the door.”

“Go eat something,” he called out. “Or rest. I’ll be out
soon.”

“Damn it, Brand. Let me in there. I’m not fragile.”

He didn’t answer. She turned her head and pressed her ear against
the wood, listening. Her keen hearing picked up faint noises over the water.
She bit her lip when she heard his breathing increase and a slight slapping
sound, guessing what he was doing in there to “handle his own needs”.
More
like fisting his own cock.
She didn’t move away until she heard him come.

Her body responded to his throaty groan, one she remembered
too well. Brand had no idea how wrong he was if he thought she’d make it easy
for him to keep her at arm’s length. It had been a while since she’d suffered
the effects of heat but it wasn’t something anyone forgot. He needed her and
she wanted him. It was incredibly sweet that he was so concerned with her
safety but it was also frustrating.

She knew she faced no danger from him, regardless of how horny
or aggressive he got during the worst of the heat. He refused to listen to her
though. A plan formed and it made her smile. She’d actually make it impossible
to for him to resist nature’s call.

One quick tug and the towel dropped at her feet. She turned
to face the bed.
I just need to get him on it with me.
She glanced at
the door, heard the water shut off and moved, climbing onto his mattress before
he came out.
Half the problem solved. I’m here. Now to just get him to join
me.