Mate Set (26 page)

129

Laurann Dohner

“My mother was human and she didn’t want me, Mika. When she tracked my

father down she couldn’t get rid of me fast enough. Mated werewolves have chemistry

going that keeps them dependent on each other but that usually doesn’t happen when

we mate with humans. What if you change your mind about wanting to be with me

after we have children? What if you leave us the way my mother left me? Your

chemistry is different. A werewolf mate would get addicted to my scent and always

need me as much as I get addicted to her and need her. You probably won’t do that.

Mates are for life but you could leave me at any time.” He paused. “It would destroy

me to lose you or to one day see the kind of pain I’ve suffered on the faces of our

children if you left them as well.”

Mika stared at him in shock. She didn’t know what to say. Grady didn’t have that

problem.

“If you were a werewolf you would have known that I had no intention of touching

Megan, you wouldn’t have run off to leave me in heat, and I wouldn’t have had to call

my family to help me find you before you were gone. It pissed me off, made me so

damn angry that I had been right all along, and I thought you were my mate,

abandoning me, which was my worst fear. That’s why I was so out of control when I

reached my father’s house. I didn’t mean to scare you but I was going crazy inside. You

didn’t give me a chance to explain anything but instead just ran from me.”

“I thought you were going to kill me and that she was the one you wanted, Grady.

She’s the woman you had to cancel your plans with. She’s the one you originally

planned to go through your heat with.”

He frowned. “I explained that. I was afraid when I told Megan that I took a mate

that she’d try to challenge you. You’re human, you’d lose, and I was telling Yon if she

tried to do that, I’d kill her to make sure she didn’t try to claim me.”

“It would have solved all your problems if that were the case and the mating had

taken, Grady.”

He took a step closer to her, looking scary and angry. “You think I’d let that

happen? That I’d allow anyone to hurt you?”

She glanced around her bedroom and then arched an eyebrow at him. “You

obviously didn’t want to be mated to me and felt pretty damn strongly about it. Look

around you.”

He did and then his gaze locked on her again. “I never wanted to risk making a

human woman the center of my world again because the one human that I did left me

on a doorstep and never looked back once. I was seeing that in my future when I did

this, terrified that one day you’d abandon me and our children, the pain it would cause

us, and I know the grief firsthand.”

“I’m not her,” Mika said softly. “I could never do that.”

“You already tried to leave me but I realize it was my fault.” He leaned against an

exposed wood stud. “I’m sorry I hurt you and I’m sorry that I was too afraid to show

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you how much you mean to me. The closer we got and the more I wanted you, the

harder I fought it. I know I was somewhat of an ass at times.”

“I understand,” she said softly. “Thanks for explaining it to me.” She shook her

head, a small, sad smile playing at her lips. “And you were a first-rate asshole at times.

Don’t be modest.”

A quick grin flashed on his handsome features. “Don’t ever leave me, babe.”

The air in her lungs froze and then she pushed it out. She couldn’t look away from

him. “What?”

He hesitated. “When I calmed down after biting you I came to terms that you were

my mate. I didn’t hate it, babe. I actually was relieved that I didn’t have to fight my

feelings anymore. I’m still terrified that I’m going to lose you since we won’t bond the

way I need us to but I’d rather take the chance than just let you walk away from me.”

He hesitated. “I’m disappointed the mating didn’t take and if my damn brother hadn’t

stuck his snout in it today, I was going to spend the next few days convincing you that I

can make you happy.” He paused. “I was going to bite you in bed but it wouldn’t have

been an accident this time.”

Her mouth dropped open and then she slammed it closed. Grady pushed away

from the wall, staring down at her, and his hands reached for her. Mika took a step

back, tripped on something that hit the back of her heel, but she never fell. Grady had

her in his arms in a heartbeat, sweeping her up, holding her tightly to his chest so their

mouths were inches apart.

“I’ll never cheat on you, never shut you out again, and I’ll make it all up to you. Just

don’t leave me, Mika. I don’t want to live without you.” He paused. “You’re in my

blood and I want to be in yours.”

She couldn’t look away from his sincere gaze as her hands wound around his neck.

“I―”

“Give me a chance, babe. I miss you, I miss us, and I want it the way it was.”

She chewed on her lip, her gaze locked with his. She loved him.

“I’m not letting you go,” he whispered. “I already think of you as my mate.”

“But you want a mate with a tail and fur. One you can―”

His mouth came down on hers, cutting off her words. His tongue invaded, sliding

across hers, his passion igniting instantly. They had chemistry, she knew that, and so

did he. She moaned into his mouth and he pulled back, breathing hard, his gaze locking

with hers again.

“I’d rather risk losing you later than watch you walk away for me forever. I love

you, babe. I fought it, I was set to not mate you no matter how much my two sides

battled but both of them want you. I want you.”

“Grady…” She paused, studying his eyes. “I love you too but I don’t want to get

hurt either.”

He smiled. “I might have to hurt you once but after that, no more.”

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He turned his attention to the floor, stepping over broken furniture and bed stuffing

as he carried her down the hallway to the spare bedroom. He kicked the door closed

behind them and then eased her down on the bed.

“What do you mean you might have to hurt me once?” She frowned as he backed

away.

Grady tore his shirt up over his head, tossing it to the floor while he toed off his

boots, just kicking them away. “I’m going to bite you. You didn’t feel it last time so I’m

confident I can distract you enough this time as well but I’m not going to jerk my teeth

away quickly the way I did before. I’m going to make damn sure the mating takes this

time. Get undressed.”

He was really going to do it. She was stunned a bit but she reached for her shoes,

tearing them off one at a time, watching him strip out of his jeans. Her gaze ran down

his body, admiring every damn inch of him. He was so damn sexy, so…hers. That

thought had her smiling. Grady arched an eyebrow as he stood naked, watching her,

waiting for her to finish undressing.

His gaze lowered down his own body and then he softly growled. “Are you happy

to see how much I want you?”

Mika lifted her hips as she lay back on the bed, shoving her pants down. Grady

gripped the bottom of them and tugged before she could free herself of them. He

grabbed her ankles, making her gasp as he dragged her ass to the edge of the bed, and

then sank to his knees on the floor.

“I am happy,” she admitted.

“If you ever try to leave me I’ll chain you to a bed,” he warned. “You’re mine,

Mika.”

“Not yet. You haven’t bitten me.”

“I heard once that if a male bites his mate often enough, that it can create a strong

bond like a werewolf mate set has.”

Mika sat up, gripping his shoulders, and pulled him down on top of her as her legs

lifted to wrap around his hips, holding him there. “I love it when you bite me. Just don’t

leave me this time or tear up this room. It’s the last damn bed I own and I’m not going

to sleep on the floor.” She smiled to soften her words.

A twinkle sparkled in Grady’s eyes, which were turning black in color. He shifted

his hips and Mika moaned as his hard shaft rubbed against her clit where she was

spread open to him. Grady softly growled, rocking his hips slowly against her.

“I will never leave you again, babe. You’re so wet for me already.”

She stared into his eyes. “I always want you, Grady.”

“You got me.” He shifted his hips a little more and then slowly pushed forward.

A loud moan tore from Mika as he penetrated her pussy, stretching her and filling

her. Nerve endings burst to life sending ecstasy straight to her brain. Her hands

clutched his shoulders, her nails biting into his skin, and Grady groaned.

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“I want to take you fast and hard. We’ll do slow and leisurely later.”

“Bite me.” She was sure she wanted to be his mate.

Grady stared into her eyes as he started to move with deep, strong thrusts of his

hips. Mika threw back her head, breaking eye contact with him, and moaned his name.

Grady lowered his chest against hers, pinning her tightly, and his mouth brushed her

shoulder. Hot breath fanned her skin and then sharp teeth bit down hard, pain and

pleasure merging as Grady drove her over the edge, a climax making her scream out his

name. Grady tensed on her and then he exploded inside her, coming hard enough that

she could feel every twitch and all his warmth filling her.

His hips stilled as he kept her pinned, his teeth locked into her, and his tongue

licking her skin, held between his canines. It didn’t hurt as much as Mika feared but

then he’d waited right until she was on the edge to do it. Even now, in the aftermath of

mind-blowing sex, she was feeling too good to let the slight, uncomfortable pinch on

the top of her shoulder bother her.

Grady gently eased his teeth from her and slid his tongue across the marks he’d left

there. Mika grinned.

“You distracted me pretty damn good.”

He chuckled. “Good because I’m going to do it again in about five damn minutes

when you catch your breath. I’m making sure we’re a mate set this time.”

Her hands slid to his back, hugging him to her chest. “You get to tell Uncle Omar

but make sure he doesn’t get near your nuts. I enjoy playing with those and want you to

keep them since you mentioned kids.”

Grady chuckled, his tongue swiping her skin again where he’d bitten her. “I think

we should stay here, hiding out from him, and let my dad tell him. He has to take

orders from his pack leader and Dad will just order him to be fine with me taking you

for my mate.”

She laughed. “Good plan.”

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Laurann Dohner

Four months later

Mika grinned and shut off the water in the sink. She glanced down and turned

around to run across the kitchen to the open archway into the living room. Grady

strode into the house and turned to face her just as she launched herself at him. He

caught her in his arms and lifted her as she wrapped her arms and legs around his

body.

“I missed you.”

His hands slid down to her ass. “I love thongs.” His hands caressed her bare skin

under her T-shirt. “I missed you too.”

He walked a few feet to the couch and set her down on the edge, keeping one arm

around her and reached to the front of his jeans to unzip them. She leaned closer to him,

lifting her chin to reach his throat, and bit him where his T-shirt ended and the curve of

his neck began. Her teeth didn’t break skin but she nipped him hard. Her tongue darted

out to soothe the bite.

Grady growled. “It’s like that, huh?”

“It’s the hormones you share when you bite me. I can’t stand spending hours away

from you. I ache to have you touching me and I need you. You’ve turned me into a

damn sex fiend.”

“It’s the addiction. You need me as much as I need you.” He shoved his jeans down.

Mika gripped the bottom of his T-shirt, tearing it up his abdomen as she leaned

back a little to make room between their bodies. She hooked her legs around the back of

his thighs so when he released her back she didn’t fall over on the unsteady perch. She

shoved his shirt all the way over his head and just tossed it away.

Her gaze ran over his broad chest and she moved in, lowering her face, thinking he

was the sexiest man alive. She licked one of his nipples and moaned when his hands

gripped the inside of her thighs, shoving them farther apart. His fingers slid down the

front of her thong, gripped it, and with a jerk, it tore away.

“Have I destroyed all of them yet? How many do you own still? When we moved

your stuff here were most of those damn boxes filled with hundreds of the damn

things?”

She laughed. “You destroy them and I buy new ones. I can’t go around without

panties all the time.”

“Yes you can.” He softly growled at her. “They just get in my damn way.”

She rubbed against him, frantic with need. “Fuck me now. Please? We’ll negotiate

what I wear and don’t wear later. Right now just take me. Damn shifter-mate hormones.

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If this is how horny you are all the time I don’t know how you survive this without

going nuts. If it were up to me, I’d chain you to our bed. Maybe we should back off on

the biting so I don’t attack you every time you walk in the door. I can’t get enough of