Stolen and Forgiven (Branded Packs #1)(79)

A flush touched her cheeks. She was still enchantingly vulnerable at the newness of their mating.

“Because you’re a slob,” she muttered, waving a hand toward the clothes he’d tossed on a nearby rug. “You can’t just drop your clothes on the floor.”

He arched a brow, wise enough not to remind her that she’d helped him strip off a few of those clothes in their eagerness to get naked last night.

“Why not?”

“It’s disgusting.”

He chuckled. “Ah, my finicky cat.”

“Not finicky,” she protested. “Just opposed to growing mold in my bedroom.”

“I see.” He allowed his fingers to thread through her glorious hair, his thoughts becoming distracted by the sight of the sunlight warming her ivory skin. He was fairly certain that he’d tasted every inch of her, but it wouldn’t hurt to make sure. “Anything else?” he asked in distracted tones.

She made a choked sound as his hand moved over the hateful collar to find the sensitive skin at the base of her throat.

“You can’t hog all the covers,” she managed to say.

His lips brushed her forehead, his fingers continuing to explore her satiny skin.

“And?”

She shivered as he followed the tempting curve of her upper breast.

“And you have to promise to make me pancakes with warm maple syrup every Sunday.”

“I think that can be arranged,” he murmured, his lips moving to trace the curve of her cheek. At this moment, he’d promise this female anything she wanted. “Now can we discuss my rules?”

She lifted her arms to circle them around his neck, studying him with emerald eyes that were darkening with a ready hunger.

“What are your rules?”

His hand boldly cupped her breast, his lips skimming to whisper directly in her ear.

“Hold me and never let go.”

Her fingers threaded in his hair, her slender body arching beneath him in a silent invitation.

“You’re easy,” she teased.

“Hey.” He gave a faux frown as if he’d been insulted. Then, he flashed a wicked smile. “Okay, I’m easy.” He rubbed his foot up and down her leg. “Have your way with me.”

Her hands moved down his back, sending tiny jolts of electric pleasure through his bare skin. His wolf gave a low growl, enjoying the sensation of being petted.

“I just had my way with you.”

“Only once,” he protested, refusing to count the half-dozen times he’d turned to her during the night.

“Soren,” she breathed as his fingers circled the hardened tip of her nipple. Then, without warning, she was pushing away his hand. “Did you hear that?”

“What?”

“I think someone is at the door.”

Lifting his head, Soren sniffed the air. Wolf.

“Ignore it,” he growled, kissing a path over her cheek before finding her lips.

Her hands pressed against his chest. “I can’t,” she protested.

At the same time, there was the sound of a fist slamming against the front door.

“Soren, open up,” Holden shouted.

With a furious growl, Soren forced himself to climb out of the bed and pull on a pair of sweats.

“I’m going to kill him,” he muttered, watching as Cora hurriedly slipped on a robe to join him as he left the bedroom and crossed the narrow living room.

He was beginning to understand why humans chose to hop on a plane or a cruise ship after their wedding. Clearly the only way to have time alone with his new mate was to go far, far away.

“You can’t kill him,” Cora took away his only comfort. “He’s your Alpha.”

“Watch me,” he said. Reaching the door, he grabbed the knob and yanked it open, glaring at the large male who was pacing the porch with a tangible impatience. “What the hell?”

Whirling on his heel, Holden stomped his way back to the door, his expression clenched so tightly he looked like he had a lemon shoved up his ass.

“We have troubles,” the older male snapped.

Soren slammed his fists on his hips, glaring at his Alpha. “I’m on my honeymoon.”

“I truly am sorry, Soren,” Holden said, his expression softening with genuine regret. “But this is important.”

Cora moved forward, standing at Soren’s side. “What’s going on?”

Holden grimaced. “You know we’ve been waiting for the other shoe to drop after our little powwow with Markham from the SAU?”

Soren’s muscles clenched. Holden had shared the details of his and Jonah’s meeting with the Director of the SAU, including Jonah’s bluff with the files he’d received from the CDC.

They’d all been waiting for the bastards to retaliate.

Now, Soren could only hope that it wouldn’t come to bloodshed.

“Are they here?” he demanded, instinctively moving to shield Cora from the narrow pathway that ran in front of their cabin.

“No. But they sent their retribution,” Holden warned, moving to jog down the steps of the porch. “Come with me.”

Spinning toward his mate, Soren reached up to place his hands on her shoulders.

“Cora-”

“Don’t even think about it,” she interrupted, her voice filled with a warning not even a male lost in his fierce need to protect his mate could miss. “You start treating me like a helpless little woman and I’ll slice off your nuts.”