Stolen and Forgiven (Branded Packs #1)(47)

“Do you intend to return him to your bed?”

Cora blinked at the blunt question. “I didn’t realize I had to discuss my lovers with you.”

He continued to study her with his tiger peering from his eyes. “I prefer not to share.”

Cora frowned. Max always flirted. Hell, she was fairly certain his balls would explode if he weren’t trying to charm the pants off of whatever woman was nearby. But until this morning, it’d never been anything more than a game.

“Have you been into the catnip?” she demanded.

Max shrugged. “It’s been expected that we would eventually mate.”

“Hoped for by my father, but never expected,” she corrected.

“Why not?” he unexpectedly pressed. “Our mating would strengthen the Pack and give our people a reason to celebrate.” His charming expression briefly faltered, revealing the stark concern beneath. “Something they desperately need.”

She reached out to lightly touch his arm. Sometimes she let herself forget that he was as fiercely devoted as her father was to protecting their Pack.

“So you’re willing to martyr your future so our people can have a big party?” she lightly teased.

His fingers brushed down the side of her throat, tracing the collar that he intended to see removed from her neck before he died.

“Trust me, babe, I don’t feel like a martyr when I think about taking you as my mate.”

“No doubt because you have an entire harem to keep you happy.”

“Not quite a harem.”

Her lips twisted. She understood. She truly did. He was willing to do his best for the Pack. Even if it meant bonding his life with a female who wasn’t the love of his life.

She even admired him for it.

But she wasn’t going to enter into a relationship that would make them both miserable in the end.

“I’m like you, Max,” she said in soft tones. “I don’t share.”

“Say the word and they’re gone.”

She shook her head. “We both know…”

Her words trailed away, her head jerking to the side as she caught the distinct scent of wolf.

Shit.

Clenching her hands, she watched Soren walk around the edge of the house wearing nothing more than a pair of faded jeans.

Instant heat exploded through her. Christ, he was gorgeous with his dark curls tangled and a hint of whiskers darkening his strong jaw. He was raw, and primitive, and so uncompromisingly male her cat wanted to lick him from head to toe. And all the yummy places in between.

His eyes narrowed as he studied Max. “Am I interrupting?”

“Yes,” Max answered before Cora could speak. “Go away, dog.”

“Never.” Soren halted close enough to Cora that she could feel the heat of his body stroke her like an intimate caress. “Like it or not, I’m here to stay.”

“Ah.” Max offered a dimpled smile, his eyes glowing with the power of his cat. “Do you want to play?”

Aggression filled the air until it was so thick Cora could barely breathe. With a muttered curse, she moved to stand between the two males.

“Enough,” she snapped, sending Max a warning glare. “We’ll speak later.”

Max’s gaze never strayed from Soren. “I’ll be waiting.”

Soren tensed, but thankfully, Max turned to stroll away from the cabin, bringing an end to potential disaster. Once he was out of sight, Cora spun around to glare at the male who was the direct cause of her sleepless night.

“What’s wrong with you?”

Without warning, he was crowding into her personal space, herding her until her back was pressed against a shed, well out of sight of the kitchen window.

Then, lowering his head, he whispered directly in her ear.

“Don’t let him touch you again.”

She pressed her hands against his chest, wanting to be pissed off, but instead, shuddering with excitement at the feel of his thick erection pressing against her stomach.

She needed her head examined.

“Excuse me?” she forced herself to mutter.

“I won’t repeat myself.” He gave the lobe of her ear a sharp nip. “If you don’t want your kitty to get hurt then you’ll warn him to stay the hell away.”

A melting pleasure poured through her, pooling in the pit of her stomach with a delicious quiver of need.

Angered by her eager arousal, she released her claws, allowing the sharp tips to press against his skin. Just a warning that she wasn’t ruled by her treacherous desires.

“Careful, Soren,” she said in a husky voice.

He dragged his tongue down the length of her jaw, the musk of his wolf saturating the air with his scent.

“Too late for careful.”





Chapter 3


Soren had fully intended to return to Cora’s cabin and play the role of the perfect gentleman.

He would approach her like any other male interested in a female, and begin a slow, utterly irresistible seduction that would win her wary heart.

Instead, he’d approached the house only to discover the scent of a male cat. A red mist had clouded his mind as he stalked into the backyard, discovering the bastard standing only inches from Cora.

Any hope of playing the civilized lover was smashed by the explosive reaction of his wolf.