Claiming His Mate (2 page)

He snarled low in his throat. “Damn it, woman. There are shifters outside posted all around the house. I’m letting you up. If you run, I’ll tackle you again. And if you manage to get away, another one of my packmates will catch you. They won’t be as gentle as me.” His voice was low, but it sounded as if he was speaking through clenched teeth.

She knew when to pick her battles and right now she needed to see how much trouble she was in. “Fine. I won’t run.” At least not yet.

He paused for a moment, then sighed before letting go and moving off her. A very primal part of her actually missed the warmth and weight of his hold. Clearly she had issues. Before she could make a move to push up, he held her under her arms and hauled her up until she was on her feet as if she weighed nothing.

Swallowing hard, she turned to face him. And had to look up.

She’d forgotten how much taller he was than her. Though to be fair, most people were. At five feet, one inch, she hadn’t been blessed in the height department.

Captivated by those pale blue eyes, she almost forgot to breathe. Was it possible the giant wolf shifter had actually gotten sexier in six months? She’d convinced herself she’d remembered him wrong. That she’d built up all that raw, masculine sex appeal in her head.

Nope. Her memory wasn’t faulty.

A little over a foot taller than her, Max loomed over her, his eyes narrowed, his hard-looking lips pulled into a thin line. She wondered how soft they’d be when he was kissing. Would he be harsh and wild or sweet and gentle? Maybe a mix of both.

“Where’s the rest of your pride?” he finally asked, his voice strained.

Blinking, she forced her eyes to meet his, but took a step back. She didn’t care if it showed weakness; she needed some distance between them. He started to advance but she held out a hand as she leaned against the edge of the oversized rectangular desk and wrapped her arms around herself. “I’m not going anywhere. And they’re not here. It’s just me. My sister is getting married in a couple weeks and those jewels should be passed on to her. It’s tradition in my pride. Neither my sister nor my mom are part of that
stupid
, ancient feud between Grant’s
dead
father and mine. That feud is old and buried and we want back what’s rightfully ours.”

“Why didn’t you set up a meeting with Grant?”

She snorted. “We tried that months ago. Or don’t you remember?” Lauren, her parents and two males from her pride had come to talk to Grant about getting the jewels back. They’d been shot down almost immediately. Max had been there to back Grant up. It was stupid, but it stung that their meeting hadn’t left an impression on Max. Especially since he’d made quite an impression on her. Even if he had been rude.

“Of course I remember,” Max murmured, taking on that low, sensual tone again as his gaze roved over her body with barely concealed appreciation.

She should be annoyed that he was checking her out, but part of her really liked it. Skintight black pants, black boots and a long-sleeved formfitting black T-shirt didn’t exactly scream sexy, but she was unintentionally showing off all her curves with the tight fit of her clothes.

He stared at her for a long moment and she could practically see the wheels turning in his head. Though what he was thinking about, she had no clue. “The last time I saw you, you were wearing a strapless green summer dress and gold sandals. And your last words were to tell me to ‘fuck off’. I masturbated that night while fantasizing about bending you over the nearest flat surface and fucking you until you were mindless with pleasure.”

Lauren blinked, beyond shocked by his crude words. Without thinking she blindly reached for the nearest object on the desk—a paperweight—and chucked it at his head.

With lightning quick reflexes Max caught the moon shaped globe with one hand, then set it on a bookshelf before stalking toward her with the slow, precise movements of a predator.

Out of the corner of her eye she measured the distance to the nearest window. She could jump through the glass and shift mid jump. It would hurt being sliced up by the fragments but she’d heal quickly.

As if he read her mind, he crossed the rest of the distance in the blink of an eye, caging her in with both arms. He placed his hands on the desk on either side of her, but didn’t actually touch her.

She swallowed and tried not to let him know how intimidated she was. “How did you know I was here?” she asked quietly, needing to break the silence. She wasn’t sure if she should be terrified or turned on and her emotions were all out of whack. His scent made her crazy and the hungry look in his eyes was doing strange things to her insides.

“I scented you on that rock you used to break the French doors. Had a good idea why you did it—good plan by the way. And I knew you’d be back.”

“Bullshit. You didn’t scent me.” But…she didn’t scent a lie. It seemed as if he was telling the truth.

His pale eyes narrowed. “Yes. I did. Just like I can scent you now. Like amber and vanilla.”

Lauren swallowed hard. There was no way he could be able to scent her. Not with her gift. Unless…she frowned at the thought. No, no, no. That just wasn’t possible. She refused to even acknowledge the possibility. Though her gift was rare she knew a few other jaguar shifters with the same ability. The only other shifters able to scent them were their mates.

But there was no way in hell this obnoxious, sexy wolf was her mate.

Chapter 2

Max stared into the big brown eyes of the petite jaguar shifter in front of him. He wanted to kick his own ass for the way he’d just spoken to Lauren. In his pack he was known for being laid back, the one who everyone could come to with their problems if Grant wasn’t around. Right now he felt edgy and raw in a way he’d only experienced once before.

The first time he’d met her.

This little minx just brought out something primal in him and he didn’t understand it. He did know that he hated the thread of fear in her dark gaze. “I’m not going to hurt you, but you will have to be punished.”

Lauren’s body tensed, as if she was preparing to fight him. “Punished?”

He leaned closer, still not quite touching her, but he couldn’t get enough of her scent. He hadn’t been lying when he’d told her he could smell her. It was odd that she was surprised by it. That amber and vanilla scent twined around him like a silk embrace. She smelled like sex and…his. She smelled like his. It was the only way to describe it. Six months ago when she’d showed up with her parents and pride members he’d been stunned by his raw reaction to her. He’d made a crude comment to her then too—which was why she’d told him to fuck off. She’d seemed so sweet and almost innocent. He’d been angry at himself for noticing her. For wanting her so badly he couldn’t see or think straight. Sure twenty-five wasn’t young by human standards but he was a hundred and fifty.

He’d fought his feelings for a month then had planned to go after her. But shit had happened that prevented him from chasing after her. He’d had to leave his pack’s territory to take care of it and when he’d gotten back he’d been in no condition to court Lauren.

Now she was back in his pack’s territory and he wasn’t letting her go. His wolf wouldn’t let him. In all his years he’d never fought his animal’s instinct and he wasn’t about to start now. “Yes, punished. You will remain in Kincaid territory for a week. You will stay with me, under my roof. At the end of the week—seven full days starting
tomorrow
—you can go home. With your brooch.”
Liar
, his inner wolf howled. Max didn’t want to her go home.

But he knew Grant would give her pride the jewels back. They’d talked about it last month. After some issues with rogue vampires a few months ago Grant had decided it wouldn’t hurt to be cordial to any packs or prides in the nearby area. Shifters had long lives and long memories and having a pride pissed at his pack for something that happened a century ago wasn’t smart. His alpha just hadn’t gotten around to contacting the Hayes pride because he’d been too wrapped up in his new mate.

Lauren shoved at his chest with surprising strength, the flash of anger and…hurt in her gaze cutting into him. “I’m not a whore.”

His eyebrows raised and he didn’t move from his spot, though he could feel the imprint of where she’d struck him. “I didn’t say you’d have to sleep with me. Just that you’re
staying
with me.” Though he did want her in his bed. In his shower, on the floor, anywhere she’d let him take her.

Confusion rolled off her in palpable waves, the tension in her compact, delicious body loosening. “You just want me to stay with you?”

He nodded and she seemed even more confused.

“Why?” Her gaze darkened as she seemed to have another thought. “I’m not going to be your freaking maid either.”

Max shrugged and struggled to verbalize his thoughts in a way that wouldn’t sound insane. “My punishment, my reason. And no, you won’t be required to do anything other than shadow me. With Grant gone I’m in charge. Take the deal or I’ll let my pack deal with you.” He wouldn’t—no way in hell would he let anyone touch her. Not that the Kincaid pack would actually do anything to her. Yeah, they were wolves, but they preferred to live and let live. Senseless violence was not tolerated and anyone with that mentality was kicked out or killed if deemed too much of a threat. Their pack had carved out a nice territory and for at least the next decade they planned to live here in peace.

“You’re not going to try to hurt me?” There was an underlying edge of steel in her voice and he didn’t miss the word ‘try’. Because a woman like her wouldn’t let anyone get the best of her. Not without shredding them to ribbons.

Angered that she would think that, Max shoved away from the desk, putting a few feet between them. Not that it did anything to lessen his electric pull to her. “Is your pride in the habit of hurting females?”

Now she looked shocked. “No!”

“Then why would you assume I would hurt you? We respect females regardless of species. Your punishment is simple. Stay under my roof for seven days, you get the jewels. And if you don’t…I won’t give you to my pack. They’d never hurt you either. I shouldn’t have insinuated that. But you’ll be sent home and won’t get your family heirloom.” The truth was in his voice and his scent.

She gritted her teeth. “You swear I’ll get the brooch? Your alpha will have no problem with this?”

Max nodded. “I swear it.”

She looked conflicted about whether she believed him, but nodded. “Fine. One week. I need to call my pride members and let them know.”

Max pulled his phone out of his pocket and handed it to her. “Go ahead. Do it now.” The sooner he could get her back to his place, the better. He wanted her scent invading his home, his sheets, his bed. Of course that was going to take some persuasion. He looked forward to it.

Lauren looked surprised, but shook her head. Bending down, she retrieved a slim cell from her boot. “I’ve got one.”

With her skintight outfit it had been hard to tell where she could have possibly hidden one. Turning her back to him, she made a call and hurriedly explained the situation. Max could hear a male on the other end and fought an irrational jealousy swelling inside him. The male argued with her, but Lauren was firm that the pride let her do this and not to interfere. As she spoke, he couldn’t stop his gaze from wandering over the length of her body.

Though she was petite, her body was taut and lean in the way most jaguars were. But he couldn’t see her hair thanks to that ridiculous knitted cap. When Max had scented her on that rock it was like his wolf had come alive again. Ever since that meeting with her pride he’d been edgy and moody, lashing out at random pack members.

To have her under the same roof as him was too much. While she talked, he reached out and snagged the cap off her head.

Startled, she glanced over her shoulder, but he just shrugged and tucked her cap into his back pocket. Her thick, honey brown hair fell past her shoulders in soft waves. She raked her fingers through the long tresses and turned away from him, continuing her conversation. Whoever was on the other end was annoyed, but she wasn’t taking no for an answer.

As she finger combed her hair, all he could fantasize about was what it would be like to run his own fingers through it while she was naked and on top of him, or bent over his bed or—

Lauren turned to face him, her phone call over. “It’s a done deal. I don’t have any of my clothes though.”

“What hotel were you at?”

Her lips pursed into a thin line and he realized that if she told him, he’d know where the rest of her pridemates were staying too. It would only take a few phone calls to find out anyway. He decided not to point that out.

Max scrubbed a hand over his face. He wouldn’t hurt them, but he didn’t want to get into an argument with her. “One of your pridemates can drop your bags off at my place. I give you my word they won’t be hurt or harassed. But they have to leave our territory afterward.” He rattled off the address then let her make the decision about what she wanted to do. Either she believed him or she didn’t.

Using the phone still in her hand, she texted someone with a ridiculous speed. After a few back and forth texts, she tucked the phone into her boot again.

“I’ve never seen anyone type that fast.” Her fingers had flown across the keyboard like lightning.