Claimed (4 page)

Chapter Six

The next day it was almost noon by the time Kristen rushed from Taden's house.  She'd called Jamie to pick up Penelope and her friend had taken the little dog to her house. That meant she could take her time getting home and perhaps even take a nap.

The mind-blowing sex still had her body on high alert.  The tingle between her legs made her mad.  Still she wanted more of Taden.

No way would she ever sleep with him again.  It was the best lovemaking ever and admittedly probably addicting, but it was a one-night stand.

He'd not even asked for her number or tried to stop her when she'd scrambled from the bed to find her clothing.  Instead lying in bed, with the sheets pulled over his midsection leaving his muscular chest exposed, he'd watched her with lazy eyes.  Kristen had to force herself not to look at him too long, or else she'd still be in the bed.  As insatiable as he'd been, she'd matched him, maybe even demanded more.

It was a first, like most women her age, she loved sex and had some very enthusiastic encounters, but never anything like him.  Now she finally understood why women wanted to bed a shifter.  Yet something bothered her.  She felt different, a connection of sorts with Taden.  "No. No. Stop it," she chided herself.  "Don't try to make it more than it is. Just a one-night stand."

Kristen went straight home not able to get her thoughts straight on what had just happened.  She didn't believe for an instant that Taden's presence was a mistake or coincidence.  No, he'd been at her house for a reason. She had to find a way to dissuade anything else happening between them.

When he looked at her it was obvious he desired her, or maybe the wolf did, who knew.  But it was all about a conquest to men like him and she could tell he was the type to like a conquest.

Probably enjoyed the hunt. He was a six-foot-four, blond, muscular predator.  Taden Wolfe was a man who enjoyed the chase, was the impression she got.  So maybe now that they'd been together, that was it.  One fantastic bang and she could relish the memories for a long time.

Once home she double checked the area in front of her house to ensure there were no naked men on the sidewalk, then went inside and promptly to bed.

Her cell rang not five minutes later.  It was Vane.  "Hey, sugar, what you doing?"

Kristen decided to be honest.  "Actually just got home.  I was at Taden's."

"No, shit.  Oh-oh."

"What do you mean by oh-oh?"

"Did he tell you what it meant? That he passed out?"

Kristen blinked in the dimness of her room as dread sent chills over her body.  "No.  You better tell me. What does it mean?"

"The wolf wants to claim you as a mate."

Her stomach tumbled.  "How can I avoid that happening?  I thought you said with him being an alpha, he can only mate with another wolf?" Although she'd been wishing nothing came of her encounter with Taden, the thought of him with another woman made her hands curl into fists.

"I'll have to talk to him.  He can mate with anyone he wants, but any children that come from mating with a human won't be alpha. He's one of the few purebreds, so he's very desirable to other alphas who are trying to get him for their daughters."

Kristen let out a sigh.  "Okay, so I don't have anything to worry about."

She heard his deep chuckle.  "As long as he doesn't bite you and break skin, then the wolf hasn't mated with you."

"Oh, shit."

Chapter Seven

"Oh. My. God." Jamie paced the small kitchen in the coffee shop the next day.  "That is some strange crap."  Her friend was the most open-minded person she knew, if Jamie thought it was strange, Kristen knew it had to be.

"I'm going to avoid him.  I can't be a mate to a wolf.  What if he shifts and kills me."

Jamie let out a huff.  "That doesn't happen. Wow."  She got a dreamy look.  "He is so hot. I heard wolves mate for life.  It was on the Discovery Channel. You're lucky."

"Wolves or shifters?" Kristen asked panicked.

"It was wolves, but I think it works the same for shifters.  You can't give him back now.  He's yours."

It was a nightmare.  If what Vane said was true.  Taden would be coming to see her and soon.  He'd explained once mated, the male had to be near his partner constantly.  It'd been a day and no sign of him yet.

"I can't deal with this right now," Kristen said slumping her shoulders.  "Can you cover for me the next couple days?  I'll call Maxie to fill in the evenings. Just please tell him I've gone to visit my sick grandmother or something.  I'll help set up and then I'm out of here."

"I'm not sure what I'll do next time he comes in." Jamie's dreamy look made Kristen want to slap her.  "He's so hot, how can you not want him?"

"I want him.  Of course I do, but I don't want to be mated, married, or tied down without even knowing him.  And I'm not a wolf, so he's going to undo this."

"Maybe I can ask him about it for you?" Jamie asked with an eager expression.  "We can go to his place and talk."

"No." Kristen took her by the shoulders.  "I promised Vane not to tell a soul, so don't let on that you know.  I'm not supposed to know.  It proved fortunate Vane was drunk, so he blurted it out when he called."

"I think you should go for it.  Sex with a wolf is supposed to be the ultimate.  If I wasn't with Jack, I'd do one for sure.  Imagine an entire lifetime of sex candy." Jamie had been with her biker boyfriend Jake for years.  They were madly and crazy in love. The petite brunette had the bulky man wrapped around her pinky.  "You should tell me all about it. Don't leave anything out." Jamie's eyes sparkled with glee.

"I can't eat." Kristen held up a Danish and stared at it.  "It’s so strange to know this.  I don't think Taden's happy about it.  I was just a conquest to him, by the way. Since he's a purebred, and an alpha, he's not allowed to marry or mate with a human, so that means he could be in some kind of trouble with his kind."

"You should talk to him.  Poor wolfie in trouble." Jamie wiggled her eyebrows at her.

Kristen had to laugh, she lifted the tray of pastries and went to the front still chuckling. 

Through the windows, she saw Taden standing in the front of the shop with his hand shoved in his pockets.  Immediately butterflies tumbled in her stomach.

"Shit." She put the tray down and rushed back into the kitchen.  "Hide me."

"It said on the Discovery Channel, wolves have like a bazillion stronger sense of smell than us.  So he will probably smell you as soon as he walks in."

"Thanks, Jamie."

The soft jazz music intermingled with the clicking of ice in glasses and the low hum of conversation.  Their waiter brought the main course, setting the beautifully plated food atop a milky white plate.  The aroma of the spices made Kristen's mouth water.  But instead of eating, she lifted her wine glass and took a sip.  She waited for Taden's reply and so far he was not very forthcoming.

It was their third date...no technically fourth, as he'd once picked her up and taken her for a bike ride on his motorcycle.  Kristen's body was taut as a wire from being around him, her only contact at the end of each time together a quick peck on the lips.

Taden Wolfe had pulled every romantic trick in the book.  Dinners, walks in the park, watching the sunset on the beach and tonight a wonderful romantic dinner for two atop a building with a view of Devlin Beach.  The soft breeze blew his shoulder length hair sideways and across his face.  Through the strands, the piercing blue eyes met hers.

"I have been doing all this because you are the kind of woman who has to know a man before allowing him fully into your life.  You are the wine and dine type, the girl a guy brings home.  Although my parents are not thrilled that I've mated with you, they are looking forward to meeting you and I don't want us to go to Alaska as strangers.  I hope that you will come to at least care for me enough to accept me as your mate."

Care for him?  He'd not just wined and dined her.  He'd shared with her, exposed everything about himself to her and been so patient, never rushing her to do anything.  She wanted him, and more than ever, she needed him.  But that was not enough.  She was not a teenager who rushed in headfirst.  Maybe he did not have a choice in who the wolf had chosen, but she did. If after getting to know him, they were not compatible, or her feelings didn't develop past the mad attraction, Kristen would have to walk away.

A part of her feared it was all an act.  That he was not this nice guy she was getting to know, but the fierce intimidating man who owned Sanctum. Taden was the Alpha wolf in a pack of equally ferocious looking males, which meant he had to be a force to be reckoned with, someone others feared.

"I do care for you.  It has been nice getting to know you and admittedly, it's hard not to want you.  But there is a part of you I don't know at all."

"The wolf?" he asked directly and her skin prickled.

"Yes...Thank you for all of this.  It's been wonderful."

His gaze went from her to the horizon and he gave her a faint nod.  "The wolf is me.  We are one.  I'm glad you feel something for me, it's a good beginning.  I should take you home." The change was abrupt, as if he needed space to think suddenly.

Walking to the elevator and out the building, he was attentive once again, his hand protectively on the small of her back.

They drove to her house in comfortable silence. Today he drove a silver Porsche, the sexy hum of the engine and sleek lines much like its owner.

She studied his profile, the man was mouthwateringly hot.  Yes, she desired him, but the pang in her chest signaled a deeper feeling.  It was fear that held her back.  What if he walked away after she agreed to be with him?  What if he changed?

At her cottage, he got out and rounded the car, then opened the door for her.  When he took her hand and helped her out, she knew it wasn't time to end the evening.  "Come inside, Taden."

They fell onto her bed, all clothing disposed between the front door and her bedroom entrance.  He shook with want, his erection jutting proudly toward her as she slid down his body, her tongue trailing from his pecs, past his washboard abs to the light trail of blond hair from his belly button to his hardness.

"Damn, babe, I don't know if I can take you sucking me for too long.  I might embarrass myself." Taden let out a low groan when she sucked the head into her mouth and traced the tip with her tongue.  "Fuck!"

She wanted him deeply in her mouth, so she relaxed her throat and pulled him in.  Taden's loud release of air made her so wet, she pressed her legs together.  With her hand stroking his sack, she worked her mouth up and down his length while he grabbed the bedding in a useless attempt to keep control.  Once he began to tremble, she released him from her mouth and straddled his hips.

His darkened eyes seemed to glimmer in the darkness as he took her by the hips and impaled her.  She cried out his name and pressed her palms flat on his chest to better ride him.  Lifting and lowering onto his thick staff, Kristen lost control fast.  It would be fast. As her climax began to form, she threw her head back, letting go.  His fingers found her core and he stroked her.  "Come with me, Kristen.  Now!"

They both screamed, her walls constricted around him taking all he gave, everything disappeared except their connection. Kristen floated and fell at the same time no matter how hard she tried to gain control, it continued on and on. She fell over him, not quite sated, but totally unable to move.

He rolled her over and entered her from behind while she cried into the pillows.  Smooth and fluid, each movement wonderful, filling her completely.  Taden held her hips, pounding harder and harder.  She helped by pushing back to him while enjoying the sound of his deep grunts.

When he pulled out, she moved to her side.  Taden settled between her legs and she wrapped them around his waist.  Then she slid her hand between his butt cheeks.  "Is it true wolfs enjoy stimulation here?"  She pressed a fingertip to his rear entrance. 

He let out a gasp and nodded.  "You don't have to."

"I want to please you, Taden. I want this to be as good for you." She watched as he seemed to mull her words.

"All right.  Do you have something?"

Kristen reached to her nightstand to retrieve her latest purchase.   She opened the box and took a small soft dildo out and lubed it.  She curved her lips. "I want you on your side."

Taden had no idea what Kristen planned to do, but with all her delicious curves on display and glistening between her legs, he was more than willing to comply. 

Kissing her soundly, pushing his tongue deep into her mouth until she moaned, he then broke the kiss and did as she asked laying with his back to her.  She began by pressing kisses to his neck and shoulders.  Then she reached around and took his cock in hand stroking him from base to tip.

Eyes closed, Taden gave her control, if she was to be his mate, it was only right that his entire body belong to her.  Yes, wolves came harder with anal stimulation, but as he'd usually dated human women, it had been a long time since he'd been taken that way.

A part of him wondered if he'd enjoy it, but he'd find out soon, as she was sliding down, her wicked tongue had reached his butt crack.  From the sounds she made, this was turning her on.  He reached around to caress her face, but she pushed his hand away.  "Relax, let me take you, just enjoy."

He closed his eyes and focused on her steady strokes.  The wetness of the dildo brought him to full attention and he concentrated on relaxing.  It slid in easily and he let out a loud moan.  Damn it felt so good, he was afraid he'd lose it there and then.

One hand wrapped tightly around his cock, she stroked him while fucking his ass at the same time.  Taden began to move his hips, not able to stop himself, losing control of any rhythm as his climax slammed into him so hard, he screamed out spewing all over her hand and the bedding.

Kristen climbed over him and snuggled against him. By the way she trembled and he knew she'd climaxed too. 

"I want you," he nuzzled her throat and guided her to her back.  Her breathing was hard when he took her legs and lifted them over his shoulders before guiding his cock to her entrance and driving in.

Several hours later, wrapped in each other's arms, they fell into an exhausted slumber.

Kristen woke to find Taden gone.  She sat up and wiped her eyes.  He stood by the window looking at the moon.  Fully nude, he was a feast for the eyes. Kristen observed him without moving, not wanting him to sense it.

Not looking at the bed, he went to the doorway and out of the room.  She waited a few minutes and then looked out the window to see him stalk outside.  Before her eyes, he shifted into a beautiful huge artic wolf.  The white creature looked up to the window and seemed to smile before dashing to run along the street until she could not see him any longer.

By the window, she rubbed her arms at the chill in the air.  She watched until about half an hour later he reappeared and shifted back.

When he returned to the bedroom, she went to him.  "Your wolf is beautiful."

He gave her a sheepish smile.  "I didn't mean to wake you.  Needed to let the wolf run for a bit to keep myself from taking you again."

She lay back on the bed and rolled to her side watching him.  "You didn't need to run."

His wide eyes met hers.  "Really?"

"Yes, really."