Secret Worlds (355 page)

“And when I’m Alpha, I’ll put that bitch down,” Micah added with a devilish grin.

That was crossing the line. Call me a bitch, hate me, whatever. Threaten my life and it’s on. “I’ll be the first in line to spit on your dead body after Aiden kills you.”

“You won’t be alive to do it.” Diana lunged at me.

Brady grabbed hold of her and jerked back. “You touch her and I’ll kill you myself.”

Diana snarled but did not fight Brady’s hold.

“Let’s do this right now,” Aiden responded, towering over Micah on the floor. “Why stand on ceremony? He wants action, I’ll give it to him. You and Diana are witnesses.”

“Enough!” Brady shouted. “Let him go, brother. Micah’s made a formal challenge. It will be dealt with in the proper manner. Do you accept?”

Maybe it was all the anger and testosterone in the air, I don’t know, but even I was feeling the need to fight something.

“Not now, brother. The pack must witness. You know this. Let Micah go.” Brady, still holding Diana at bay, stepped in between Aiden and Micah.

Aiden’s muscles tensed, but he gave in to his brother and backed off. “Assemble the pack tomorrow. You have twenty-four hours.” He turned and stalked away.

Grumbling under his breath, Aiden stormed into the bedroom, muscles tensed, teeth grinding, a low rumbling growl slowly working its way up his throat. If he wasn’t in such a foul mood, I’d be pretty turned on. He was a drop-dead gorgeous man in a happy mood, but when riled up, he put off a sexy masculine mojo that I couldn’t resist. It had to be his animal magnetism at work. I had to put those thoughts in my mental to-do list for later. Now it was time to concentrate on getting ready to rumble with the would-be usurpers.

“I should have seen this.” Aiden slammed his fist into the dresser. “I’ve been so distracted.”

“You’ve been hard at work building the pack back to full force.”

“Only to have Micah attempt to take it out from under me. And to use my own brother.”

“Why would Brady listen to him?” That was the part that must have bothered him the most. Brady was his fraternal twin. They were inseparable. That this Micah could sway him must have really struck a nerve. Only a night before, Brady had pushed me so hard to make the change to ensure his brother the title. “Brady wants you as the Alpha, I just know it. There has to be some underlying issue we’re not seeing.”

“Brady just wants to make sure that he is not the one to have to shoulder that responsibility.” His low tone did not mask the seething anger beneath. “I’ll deal with him later.”

Brother against brother. That was a fight I did not want to see. Aiden would probably win, but at what cost? Werewolves, it seemed, were a very physical and violent bunch. I wasn’t sure how I would cope with this need to physically deal with every issue. It was a very unappealing side effect to becoming one of them. I hadn’t even turned, and I was already set to take on Diana.

“And don’t you get any ideas about fighting with Diana,” Aiden said matter-of-factly, as if he had the ability to read my thoughts.

“Thanks, baby, but I’m not hiding behind you. If she wants a fight with me, she’ll get one. I can hold my own...” I wasn’t going for cocky, but that’s the way the words came out.

“She’ll rip you apart.”

That brought me crashing back to reality. Yes, I was probably a little outmatched. She’d been a wolf longer than I had, but once I transitioned we’d be on even ground. At least, I hoped so. “I think you’re underestimating me just a little here.” I tried to keep the worry from my voice, but I doubted I was really doing a good job of it. I was sure Aiden could smell any fear I might have.

“I don’t mean to say you’re weak.” Some of the anger had diminished from his voice. “It’s just … you’re human. Even if you transitioned tonight, you’d still be weak for a little while. That means no matter how good, you’d be in no condition to fight.”

“I’ll just have to wait until I am in condition, and then teach her some manners.”

For a moment, he stared at me as if confused, and then pride warmed his gaze. He closed the gap between us and cupped my face in his strong hands. “How can anyone say you were not born to be an Alpha?”

“You act like I’m doing something special.” Now it was my turn to look confused. “I’m not going to back down to a bully.”

His right eyebrow arched sharply. “Even when that bully grows a set of fangs, some claws, and a tail?”

As long as the reward was Aiden holding me in his arms forever, I felt like I could take on the world, and win. “I’ll just have to grow a sharper set of fangs and claws myself, then, won’t I?”

Did I actually say that and sound excited about the transition? It must have been the pheromones or something he was putting off, but I felt almost ready and even a little excited to do it.

“You’re so sexy when you’re being aggressive,” he growled in my ear.

“That’s my line,” I chuckled. “Speaking of aggressive, how do you think you’ll stack up against Micah?”

He pulled back sharply and his eyes narrowed, creating a little crease between them. “Is that doubt I hear in your voice?”

“No. Not doubt. I would never doubt your ability. It’s just that I’ve never seen Micah fight. He could fight dirty, you know?” I said, hoping to backtrack a little. I didn’t want him thinking I was questioning his manhood or Alpha-hood. “I worry, okay? That’s my job as mate.” I stood on tiptoe and gave him a quick kiss on the nose.

Aiden tossed his head back and scoffed. “Micah’s strong, sure, but I am the true Alpha. He puffed out his chest. “I can take care of him.”

“Will you kill him?” I was still a little shaky on wolf politics, but it seemed fighting to the death was the way of things. Definitely not a selling point for anyone about to become one, but I guessed I would just have to get used to it.

“Don’t concern yourself with it.” He waved the thought away as if it were a fly, and then enveloped me in his strong arms. “We have more important things to consider. Because of the dissension in the pack and Micah’s challenge, I think we will have to have you turn sooner rather than later. Will you be okay with that?”

My stomach did a somersault. I leaned into his chest and listened to the drumbeat of his heart. After the almost-fight in the lobby, I knew I would have to do it sooner than we’d discussed, but I hadn’t expected him to say tonight. In the back of my mind there was the worry: would I die? But that seemed a moot point. I’d given my word, and whether now or in a few days, the outcome would still be the same. I gulped back the knot that had suddenly formed in my throat. “I guess now is as good a time as any. How do we go about doing this?”

He heaved a sigh. “There is really no easy way to do it, but I’ll try to make it as pleasant as I can.”

That wasn’t very reassuring.

He must have sensed my fear. He nudged me away from him and flashed a devilish grin. “First … I’ll need to tire your body out.”

“Is this something you do for all your new recruits?” I gave him a coquettish wink and softly bit my bottom lip.

He growled appreciatively. “Alphas get special treatment.”

That sent a thrill racing straight down to my core. He grabbed me with his muscly hands and pulled me up to him, crushing his lips into mine. I loved it when he got rough. He nudged me backwards as he feasted on my lips. I butted up against the bed and our momentum sent me toppling backward onto my back. Aiden remained upright and gazed down on me with hungry eyes.

I’d never feel self-conscious again if he promised to look at me like that forever. He nudged himself between my legs. “You have too many clothes on.”

Hearing him say that had a Pavlovian effect on my body, instantly making me wet.

“Well, you’re in charge here. Why don’t you remedy the situation?”
Make it memorable, it could be our last.
Even in the throes of passion, I still had that worry in the back of my mind.

“Always ordering me around. You were born to be an Alpha.” He pushed my legs aside and made quick work of removing my pants. I hadn’t worn underwear, and the eyebrow waggle he gave told me he approved. “You’ll have to help with the sweatshirt.”

I sat up and quickly yanked it over my head. Before the sweatshirt hit the floor, he buried his head in my chest. I giggled at the way his stubble tickled my nipples. He took the right one in his exquisitely warm mouth.

“That’s right, suck my tits, baby.” He knew what drove me wild. My nipples practically buzzed with sensitivity. He nipped and sucked, rolling my nipple into a tiny nub before moving to the left and repeating. “Don’t stop,” I panted. He could get me there with just that, but I didn’t want it to be a quickie kind of night. I reached out blindly, found the belt at his waist, and unlatched it. His button and zipper were no challenge for me. I was determined to find the prize.

And find it I did: hard and ready. I grasped him tightly and listened to the satisfied groan he let out.

I pumped him slowly, massaging every inch of his thick shaft to his mushroom head. He nipped harder, making me yelp. At that moment, pain and pleasure were the same: intense and primal sensations.

I moaned and gripped him harder, milking him.

He lifted his head, met my eyes for a brief moment, and found the tender spot at the crook of my neck.

Oh, baby! He knew every spot I needed to be touched, kissed, rubbed. I was soaking wet and ready for him. My pussy ached to be filled. And he was more than ready for me as well. As I pumped him I felt the small beads of moisture at the head of his cock. I wasn’t a wolf yet, but even with my human nose I could detect a heady, masculine scent permeating the room.

“Give it to me, baby,” I panted with excitement and released him.

“Not just yet.” He slid down between my legs, kneeling on the ground in front of me.

I rose up on my elbows.

He grabbed my legs and pushed them up, putting me on display, and growled appreciatively.

My eyes clouded with lust as I gazed down on him, waiting for that moment when he would dive between my legs. He tortured me with anticipation, licking his own lips and smiling, making the seconds tick by agonizingly slow.

“Do it.” I was practically begging. I would burst if he didn’t touch me soon. All the blood in my body had been sent south to the throbbing nub, and all I needed was for him to touch me and I would explode.

When that velvety soft tongue of his finally did, my whole body shuddered. It felt like an electric shock, and my legs became jell-o. Thank goodness he’d been holding them. I melted. His mouth was heat and silk and velvet.

I threw my head back into the mattress, hissing and moaning like a harlot while he painted my sex with his tongue.

He ate like a starved man and I writhed and rocked my hips in a slow, obscene rhythm. That familiar coiling pressure began to build.

“I’m going to come, baby. Harder.”

He mumbled something—maybe he moaned too, who knows—but that little bit of vibration sent me over the edge. My body exploded and I lost control, panting and wheezing and writhing.

Aiden devoured every ounce of my pleasure and when the throbbing stopped he lifted his head and licked his glistening lips. “Ready for round two?”

It took me a moment to catch my breath. “You weren’t kidding when you said you were going to tire me out, were you?

Though he’d just finished eating, there was no less hunger in his eyes. He was the predator and I was his prey, ready and willing. In a fluid motion he stood and braced his hands on the bed and rocked his hips forward. In one smooth stroke he found home, sliding into me like a hot knife into butter.

I almost hyperventilated, he felt so good.

I hooked my arms around his torso and looked up to meet his dark eyes. “If this is the last time we are together … it is so worth it.”

His chest rumbled and he responded by rocking back and driving home again and again. He buffeted my body with his, driving so hard he nudged me backwards on the bed. I dug my nails into his back, holding on for dear life, and buried my head into his hard chest.

“Bite me.” Aiden wasn’t requesting it. This was an order.

I nipped at his pec, tasting his salty skin.

“No,” he growled and his hips stopped. “Bite me. Hard. Draw blood.”

That kind of killed the mood for me, but Aiden quickly remedied that by slowly nudging into me again. “C’mon, babe. You can do this. Don’t worry about hurting me.”

His voice was husky with need, as if he really wanted this to help him get off.

Pain wasn’t really the thing stopping me, I was put off by the meaning behind what he was asking. There would be no turning back. But I had to do it. I opened my mouth against his skin. His hips picked up pace again.

“Do it,” he urged.

I closed my eyes and let his primal rhythm take me away. A moment later, I bit down as hard as I could. My teeth slowly sank into his hot flesh. He let out a loud moan and slammed harder into me.

My mouth filled with his blood and instinctively I swallowed the hot sticky liquid.

Immediately, my head began to buzz with an electric current. I felt as if I was one with Aiden, sharing his pleasure as my own. He buried himself one last time before filling me with his heat. The spasms rocked through both of us—my release was his and his was my own. It was a beautiful moment that left us both spent and collapsing on the bed.

The taste of blood filled my mouth. Sour, metallic, disgusting. For a moment I thought of Alyssa and how she lived by drinking this stuff. Just the thought of it, knowing I had just swallowed blood, made my stomach turn.

“Try to keep it down,” Aiden hummed in my ear. “I know it’s hard, but you can’t throw up, babe. It’ll affect the transition.”

Normally his baritone voice so close to my ear would get my motor running, but this time it had no effect. I was turning green. My stomach ached and burned, and bile threatened to bubble up to the surface. I clamped my lips shut as a wave of nausea rode up the back of my throat.

“Looks like it’s time for you to leave,” Aiden said, his tone suddenly changing from sexy to businesslike.