Taming Heather [Cariboo Lunewulf 1] (24 page)

“When a pack offers its protection, they take it very seriously.” Marc looked down at her as she looked from one person to the next, standing behind him in the living room.

She straightened, running her hands down the adorable mini-dress she had on. Through the snug fit of the material, her nipples stood out, like hard little pebbles. Her emerald-colored eyes shone dark with long lashes fluttering over them. She ran her tongue over her lips, moist and swollen from their kiss. Her soft, strawberry-blonde hair fanned freely to her neck, bordering her creamy skin and offering nice accent to the deep blush in her cheeks.

“I got my job back.” She grinned up at him, and then smiled, looking quickly beyond him when Samantha shrieked and clapped her hands.

He wouldn’t bother to mention that he’d found out that she’d lost it through secondhand news, and not from her as it should have been. Marc wouldn’t sound like the heel when Heather glowed with happiness, and suddenly had the room buzzing with comments of congratulations.

She left his arms, and he watched her, his heart suddenly filling with a pride he wasn’t sure he’d ever experienced before. Not too long ago she’d been this human filled with all kinds of false notions about werewolves. And now, here she was, strutting into his home as if she owned the place, so petite, surrounded by incredibly powerful werewolves, the strongest of his pack. And all of them grinned at her, hanging on to every word she said.

His heart swelled with pride. Human or not, she had truly become a part of them. And whether she knew it or not, Heather captured the room, quickly explaining everything and answering all questions as she went along.

“You would have been so proud of me.” She turned around, extending her small hand with her perfectly manicured fingernails, and with eyes just for him. “I pranced right into my editor’s office. I told him he was a damn bigot, and unless he wanted a lawsuit on his hands, he would promise me right there that I still had my job.”

“And that worked?” Samantha asked.

Rock Toubec’s bitch, Simone, stood next to Samantha, the two women looking rather amused at Heather.

“Well, no.” Heather grinned from ear to ear, turning to face the two bitches.

The group of werewolves stood around the women, all of their attention on his little bitch. She wasn’t nervous around them. Adrenaline pumped through her, filling the air with excitement that the others fed off of. Marc wanted to pull her right back into his arms. Whatever her triumph, he would hear her out. Her happiness lightened the weight that had brought him down ever since she’d been kept from him.

“I don’t ever want any of you to think I’m ashamed of my kind. But I won’t make excuses for us, either. We take a while to come around. And my boss is probably slower than most.”

That comment got a bit of laughter, but Samantha shushed them. “Tell us what happened.”

“Well, I have to admit to all of you, I sought Marc out because I wanted to write an article. I saw the market was perfect for a human-interest story on werewolves. And I just knew I could make my career skyrocket if I landed an ‘up close and personal’ story. You know, one of those stories that gets all the inside scoop that everyone is dying to know.”

She had everyone’s attention. Whether she realized how serious the group had grown, Marc wasn’t sure. She continued on, excitement making her talk quickly.

“You all know…well, Marc and I got to know each other.” She blushed so beautifully he couldn’t keep his hands off of her any longer.

Wrapping his arms around her waist, he enjoyed how she leaned against him, her backside pressed up against him while she continued to speak.

“I showed him my article and he told me it was crap.”

“Sounds like something Marc would say,” Stone interjected.

“But he was right.” She twisted in his arms, sliding her purse off of her shoulder.

The way she moved her ass against him, all he wanted to do was tell everyone to get the fuck out. They could have this conversation after he’d spent a day or two fucking her. Heather didn’t seem to notice how she made his cock shift in his pants. She reached into her purse, pulling out a couple CDs, one of which she handed to him, and the other she offered to Johann.

“I rewrote the article. And today, I went into my boss’s office, and told him that was fine, if he wouldn’t give me my job back, I would take this article I’d just written, an inside story on my experiences with a pack, and contact some of the major newspapers in Canada and the United States.” She looked up at him grinning, and then turned her attention to the others. “Our chief editor overheard me, stuck his head in the door, asked about the article. So I showed it to them. They want to run it in this Sunday’s paper.”

“And they gave you back your job?” Samantha asked, grinning from ear to ear.

“Well, there are some stipulations, but yes. I’m not fired.”

She then turned, giving him all of her attention. Her fingertips brushed over his chest, the touch so gentle, yet like fire through his shirt. He grabbed her hands before she could continue with her soft torture.

“I’m sorry that I stayed away for so long. I told my editor the story couldn’t go out this Sunday until your pack approved of it.”

“What I have to say to you will wait until we are alone.” He managed to keep his tone low, wanting only her to hear him.

The others were already talking, heading over to his computer in the corner of his living room and putting the disc in, anxious to see what might be printed about them. None of that mattered to Marc. He took advantage of the small moment when his pack members were distracted elsewhere. Pulling her close, he got lost in those emerald orbs of hers.

“Don’t ever leave me out again.”

“I won’t. I promise.” She licked her lips, never once taking her gaze from his.

She stretched up against him, bringing their faces closer together. “There are some things we do need to talk about…when we’re alone.”

And he was fucking ready for them to be alone right now.

“Heather.” Johann grabbed everyone’s attention.

He straightened from where he’d been leaning over the computer in the corner of Marc’s living room. The others turned, glancing at her briefly before focusing on Johann.

Heather turned in his arms, but Marc had no intention of letting her go. He looked over her head, the gentle smell of her shampoo mixing with the many other aromas about her that combined to make her everything he needed. Her fingers slid into his hand, and he squeezed gently, silently assuring her that nothing the pack leader could say would harm her—not in his den.

Johann’s expression was serious. “Tell your editor that I approve of the article. You did an excellent job.”

She noticeably relaxed in his arms, looking up quickly with a delighted grin on her face before turning her attention back to Johann.

“Thank you. That means a lot to me.”

Johann reached for his leather jacket, which he’d tossed over the back of Marc’s couch when he’d arrived. Samantha moved to stand next to him.

“Your den has our blessing, McAllister.” Johann gave him a slight nod, while leading his mate to the door.

Toubec wrapped his hand around the back of his bitch’s neck, guiding her out as well. Gabe and Stone looked a bit more hesitant. But Marc had news for them. They were getting out of here too. He wanted time alone with Heather—a lot of time alone with her. The twins might have their own unique bond, one that made sharing their women seem to tighten the union between them. But for Marc that was a thing of the past. There would be no other bitches for him, and no other men for Heather. He didn’t need anything to tighten what he felt when he had her by his side.

“Wait a minute.” Heather stiffened in his arms, putting her hand on his chest, but looking at Johann. “What exactly is it that you are blessing?”

Marc’s breath caught somewhere in the middle of his chest. He wouldn’t be able to handle her publicly denying him. A bitch had that right, to refuse a mating. But everything he’d sensed about her, felt when he was with her, knew from the way she looked at him and touched him, told him that she wanted him.

Her hand was soft, warm against his pounding heart. She looked up at him again, while every werewolf in the room suddenly seemed to tense. The gaze she gave him about melted his soul though.

“What I mean is, if this is your way of saying we’re mated,” she said, her cheeks once again turning a lovely shade of pink. She took a deep breath. “This is just so different from anything I’ve ever dreamed of. I need some time…please.”

“Our traditions and laws are very old.” It was Samantha who spoke, her voice calm and reassuring. “They haven’t changed for centuries, and although some of them have needed a bit of work, our laws on mating are honored by all. We understand that they are different for you. And we grant you that time. What my mate wishes for you to know is that when you come to us announcing that mating, it will be approved.”

Heather nodded, and thank the moon in the sky, she cuddled into him.

Everyone left after that with little ceremony.

* * * * *

“There is something you will know,” he said the moment they were alone.

Heather turned, adoring how the silver sparkled in those deep blue eyes of his. “What’s that?”

A charge of energy seemed to rush through him, his body tightening, something about him bordering on dangerous. “When I changed the other day while we were fucking…”

“Yes?” she prompted, running her hands over his large chest while she lowered her gaze. Corded muscles twitched against her touch. Such strength about made her weak in the knees.

“That was intentional—to make you mine.”

She hadn’t expected him to say that. Her heart seemed to suddenly beat a lot faster, while a tingly warm sensation swam through her.

“But…and you will understand this. Each of us has a soul mate, and we mated because we are meant to be together. However, making it public is what bonds us for life. I would have discussed this with you before announcing it, making it official. Going to my brother, discussing with him what should have been discussed with me, is what brought about this whole ordeal.”

Her mouth went dry and she swallowed the lump in her throat. “Sometimes asking a stranger is easier than asking someone you care about.”

“True. And because you did that, you brought around the blessing of your being part of this pack possibly a lot faster than if things had been done differently. And you have mated us.”

“What you call mating, I consider marriage.” She leaned into him, wrapping her arms around his powerful neck, and pulling his face closer to hers. “And, my sexy werewolf, I will let you know if and when I’m ready for that.”

Marc straightened, the dangerous look in his eyes growing as silver hues streaked through the blue. He grew before her, muscles stretching against his shirt.

“You are mine, Heather. Call it what you want.” His mouth barely moved when he spoke, and although he sounded calm, she knew he meant that they were mated.

“You don’t tell me that I’m yours.” She had to lean her head back now just to look up at him, but damn it, he wouldn’t ever bully her. “You will ask.”

“I already know that you want me. And I want you. There is nothing to ask.”

“Ask.”

Her knees wobbled but she wouldn’t take a step backwards. No matter that he was almost twice her size, it would be a cold day in hell when he thought he could manipulate her like this.

Marc stared down at her for a moment. Emotions warred through him. She could tell by the way his body hardened, by the slight twitch at the edge of his mouth. As hard-assed as he was, when they were alone, Heather would never submit to him. Not in any way. And she damn well deserved the courtesy of being asked if she wanted to be his woman.

“Heather.” He growled her name, sending chills clear down to her toes. “I need you to be mine.”

She knew she was pushing him, that his nature didn’t allow any submissiveness on his part. But damn it, she had to know.

“Do you love me?”

The way his eyes widened, the slight twitch that appeared at the side of his mouth, delighted her more than anything he could have said.

“Little bitch,” he whispered, his expression brooding. “I’ve never felt for another bitch the way I feel for you. And yes, I think it might be love.”

She couldn’t stop from grinning, her bad-ass werewolf had shared his feelings with her, feelings and emotions so easily displayed when he changed into a beast, yet somehow stuffed down further than most humans when he was a man.

“I think I love you too,” she whispered. “And yes, if you agree to be mine, then I will be yours. But that’s as far as it goes today. No public announcements for a while…please.”

“No public announcements,” he agreed.

Marc scooped her into his arms, lifting her off the ground as if she weighed next to nothing. She wished she had the strength to rip his clothes off. More than anything she wanted his flesh pressed against hers, the bristle of his chest hairs tickling her skin, the hardness of his body stretched out underneath her.

It had been a hell of a few days, and she ached to fuck him, to initiate the beginning of something more serious between them. When he managed to unzip her dress before placing her on his bed, she hurried to wiggle out of it.