Abandoned and Unseen (Branded Packs #2)(48)

“Why not?”

He glanced down, meeting her fierce glare. “Sinclair has already jeopardized his cover, his ability to not only spy on the SAU, but to also release those helpless shifters who are forced into the fighting pits and help your Pack members escape. There’s no way he’ll allow you to further endanger his cover.” Tucker clenched his jaw. “In fact, if he finds out that I’m asking Rios to help you, he’ll probably have me skinned and made into a rug.”

“Then release me, and I’ll do it on my own.”

“Never.” It was a promise, not a threat.

Tears pooled in her eyes as they reached his cabin. “Please.”

“Tomorrow we’ll find the man who murdered your son.” He used his foot to nudge open the door, and once they were inside, he kicked it shut behind them. Then, lowering his head, he brushed a gentle kiss against her mouth. “Can you trust me?”

Her lips parted, almost as if she were going to pretend that her wolf wasn’t already fully committed. Then she heaved a rueful sigh.

“Yes, I trust you, but-”

He claimed another kiss. This one longer…more demanding.

“There is no ‘but,’” he growled. “We’ll deal with the guard tomorrow.”

Easily sensing he wasn’t going to budge, she visibly struggled to contain her burst of frustration.

“So what do you expect me to do tonight?” she snapped. “Sit around twiddling my thumbs?”

A slow, wicked smile curved his lips as he headed across the floor and into his bedroom.

“I think we can find something to do to pass the time.”

He left the lights off as he crossed directly to the bed. Then, holding her gaze, he lowered her onto the center of the mattress.

For a timeless moment, they gazed at one another, the newness of their bond so fragile that they barely dared to breathe. But when he caught the unmistakable scent of her arousal, his bear was done playing the gentleman.

He wanted to sensually maul his mate.

And he wanted to do it now.

Still holding her gaze, he leaned down to tug off his boots before unfastening his jeans and allowing them to drop to the floor. Her eyes briefly widened at the sight of his fully erect cock that was standing at proud attention. He was a large man, and everything was proportional. He could be…intimidating to some females.

Ah. But not his courageous, reckless Nicole. Her gaze lifted to reveal the glow of her wolf, along with a hunger that pulsed through the air.

Planting his knee on the edge of the mattress, he leaned forward, his hands placed on either side of her shoulders as he dipped his head.

His lips touched her forehead and he paused. Inside, his bear rumbled in approval, savoring the intoxicating, womanly scent that he’d been craving since this female had walked up the trail. At the same time, he needed to mark her with his musk. To make sure that the world knew she belonged to him.

Rubbing his cheek over her tawny hair, he allowed his hands to drift down her soft curves. He shivered at the feel of her silken curls brushing against his skin. Nicole made a sound of pleasure, the wolf in her clearly enjoying the sensation of being petted.

Careful to keep his touch light and teasing, he nuzzled a path of kisses down the side of her neck. He hesitated as his mouth reached the top of her collar, a strange tightness wrapping around his chest.

Christ. He hated the damned thing. But for now, there wasn’t a damned thing he could do about it.

Anxious not to spoil the mood, he forced himself to squash his impulse to rip off the tangible sign of her imprisonment, and concentrated on offering her a night of sheer bliss instead.

For the next three hours, there would be no thoughts of the past or the tenuous future.

They would live in the moment.

Focused on the soft stroke of his lips, Nicole made no protest when he grasped the bottom of the sweatshirt she wore and pulled it over her head. He tossed it aside with a flick of his hand.

“I like to see you wearing my clothes,” he murmured, his gaze searing over her slender body revealed by the silver shaft of moonlight that slid through the window. She was exquisite. Her slender curves. The soft mounds of her breasts that were tipped with rosy nipples. The small patch of tawny curls that marked the entrance to her body. “But I prefer you without any at all.”

He heard her breath catch, as his fingers skimmed the narrow curve of her waist, her hands lifting to press her nails into his chest. A beautiful blush stained her cheeks.

“I left my clothes in the woods.”

“Don’t worry.” He allowed his hands to cup the soft swell of her breasts, his mouth watering as the nipples tightened to hard tips of temptation. “You’re not going to need them.”

With a roll of her eyes, she smacked her hand against his chest. “I have to get them before the sun comes up. I’m not going to walk around in just your sweatshirt.”

He chuckled, using the tip of his tongue to trace the prominent line of her collarbone.

“One of the guards on duty will have already found them and disposed of them,” he murmured.

She stiffened. “Why would they destroy them?”

He kissed a path over the upper curve of her breast, barely capable of concentrating on her question. Not surprising. The taste of her on his tongue made his gut clench with savage lust.

He’d enjoyed lovers before. He might be a loner, but he was also a male who needed the enticing diversion of spending time with a female. None of them, however, had ever made him so desperate to have them in his arms that he was willing to kidnap them and hold them virtual hostages in his lair.