The Alpha's Virgin Possession (9 page)

Clara refused to cry at his harsh words.

He joined her, stopping beside her chair. She stayed
tense wondering if he would send her away. Holding her breath, she waited for
him to move before eating again.

She sped up eating in the hope of getting away from
him quickly.

“How was your day?” he asked.

“Fine.”

Nick asked her, and when she started talking and
talking, he demanded she shut up as he was only hoping for a one word answer.
He started eating, and Clara finished, leaving half of her plate. His anger
unnerved her more than anything else.

Taking her drink with her, she entered the kitchen and
started cleaning up. It was stupid of her trying to look nice for him. Whatever
they’d shared in the first twenty-four hours of them knowing each other was
long gone.

She washed up by hand each item. Twenty minutes had passed
by the time she finished with the kitchen. Nick should be finished and long
gone to his own part of the house giving her the freedom to disappear to her
room.

Entering the dining room she found Nick sat, staring
at the door. His gaze was on her, and she froze.

“Are you finished?” she asked.

“No, come and sit with me.”

“I’ve got to finish the dishes.” She took a step back
ready to escape.

“I’ve just listened to you do all the dishes and take
your time about it. I’m sure my plate can wait for you to wash. I’m not covered
in diseases.”

She blushed and stepped closer to take her seat.

“No, don’t sit there. Sit here.” He shoved the chair
beside him out for her to sit on.

Once she was seated, she locked her fingers together
in her lap.

“I’ve been a complete bastard to you, and I
apologize.”

Staying silent, she chanced a look at him. His eyes
were on her and made no move to look away.

“Erm, what do you want?” she asked after several
seconds when he didn’t speak.

“Will you accept my apology?”

“There’s nothing to accept. I overreacted, and I
wanted to say sorry to you.”

“No, you didn’t overreact at all, but I accept your
apology.” He took her hand, locking their fingers together. Staring at where he
touched her to his face, Clara felt her heart racing. This was the first real
contact they had in over a week. “I shouldn’t have treated you the way I did. I
hope you can forgive me.”

She nodded. “I forgive you.”

“You’re not going to make me grovel?”

“No.”

“Well, I’ve got a present for you. I had intended to give
you this a week ago.” He leaned down and grabbed something off the floor.

Clara couldn’t deny the excitement. He was the first
person to think to give her a gift. “I don’t own any romance novels, but I hope
this can make up for it.” He handed her a rectangular box.

Staring down at it she saw it was an e-reader.

“We can fill it up now if you want.”

“Yes, I’d love that.”

She opened the box easing out her present. The
instructions were easy, and Nick got up, taking her hand as they headed toward
his office. He took a seat then told her to sit on his lap. She was still tense
but watched as he logged into his account.

Bringing up the books she started to pick out
everything she wanted. After ten books she stopped, feeling embarrassed for
asking for so much.

“You’ve not bought a lot. You’re going to need enough
to last you for the next week, Clara. Buy as much as you want.”

He bought her over fifty books to get started. His
hand rested on her back while she leaned forward reading blurbs and looking at
the books she wanted to buy.

When she downloaded them all, she reached back and
kissed his lips.

“Thank you,” she said.

Nick caught the back of her neck, holding her in
place. “Don’t mention it.” His fingers caressed the back of her neck. She still
felt tense at his touch.

“I fancy going for a swim. Will you join me?” he
asked.

She had a swimsuit with all of her clothes. “Sure.”

“Good, I’ll meet you in the pool.” He slapped her ass
lightly as she stood up.

Clara didn’t look back and continued upstairs to change.
She put her present beside her bed looking forward to reading the many books on
the machine.

Removing her clothes, she quickly put her swimsuit on
and went downstairs. She found the pool empty and dove into the water. Breaking
the surface, she kept working her body in the hope of relieving some of the
stress from her tight muscles.

Chapter Nine

Clara’s tense body didn’t go unnoticed to him. Nick
finished paying for her purchases and stood to look outside of the window. He
needed to put her at ease around him once more. His attitude over the past week
would upset anyone even a fully grown man, and he’d directed it at Clara. She’d
been the receiver of much unhappiness from her family, and all he’d done was
add to it.

He hated the feeling of causing her pain. After enough
time had passed he went to the pool. She was walking up and down the pool. He
saw the tightness of her body from where he stood.

Hating every second she was nervous knowing he was the
cause he removed his clothing. He left his boxer briefs on just in case. Clara
no longer trusted him, and it was up to him to start to mend their fences. She’d
tried and got her head bitten off for her attempt.

“I like your swimsuit,” he said, drawing her attention
toward him.

“It was with all the clothes you bought.” She sank
beneath the water hiding her body. Climbing inside he moved toward her, keeping
each step steady.

“It looks good on you. I prefer you naked.”

She turned and started to swim away from him. Cursing,
Nick watched her go. They needed to cut through this stalemate somehow.

“Will you give me a fucking chance?” he asked,
shouting when he didn’t intend to. She stood up, turning to look at him.

The hurt in her eyes cut him deep.

“I told you the truth about how and why I became
outlawed. Since then I’ve been a fucking idiot, and I regret my actions.” He
splashed the water feeling helpless. At least she stopped swimming to listen to
him. “Please, talk to me.”

“I tried to talk to you after you told me everything.
You wouldn’t listen to me.”

“I know. I fucked up, okay. I was hurt, and I don’t
talk about my past with everyone. It still hurts to think about what happened.
I don’t care about not being an alpha, but knowing I failed my pack, still
fucking hurts.”

Nick decided to be honest with her rather than lie.
She would understand or at least try to.

“I’m sorry you were outlawed. You sounded like a good
alpha. You shouldn’t have been cast out for what you did.”

“I tried to be good to my pack. I’d do anything for
them,
even die for them if they asked.” He opened his arms
wide, looking around the pool. “When I bought you, I did it because I wanted to
fuck a female wolf. I’ve been with hundreds of women, and none of them can take
what I can give. I love hard sex, rough sex.” He ran fingers through his hair
as he put himself on the line. “I know I’m asking for a lot, but all I want is
your forgiveness, Clara. I fucked up, but I don’t just want sex from you. I
want it all even though I don’t deserve shit from you.”

“Why don’t you deserve anything from me?” she asked.

“I killed someone.” He no longer cared he was a
murderer. Over the years since it happened he had revisited that night over and
over again and realized he wouldn’t change a damn thing.

Any man who forced themselves and then killed a woman
deserved to die in his book. His pack was his life, and protecting every member
ran within his veins.

“You did it because he hurt one of your
family
. A pack is supposed to be your family. I don’t think
badly of you, Nick. I admire your strength and your courage.”

She stepped closer. He forced himself to stay still,
giving her more than enough room to pad the water toward him.

“Not only did you exact your own justice, you gave her
mate some peace of mind. He killed himself, but before they gave you such an
awful sentence, he wouldn’t have. You’re not responsible for his death. The
collective of alphas are.”

Nick took her hand as she got close enough to touch.
“You’re too damn nice for your own good.”

Clara smiled. “No, I’m not. I just know what it’s like
to not belong. My whole family hated me, Nick. Your pack loved you. Would you
ever go back to them if given the chance?”

“No, I wouldn’t.” He couldn’t bring himself to join
back to a pack
who’d
been ruled by a different alpha
for so long. That kind of takeover could cause more problems than he cared to
think about.

Cupping the back of her neck, he drew her close.

“Why not?” she
asked, whispering the words against his cheek.

“Taking over any pack can be tricky. Men, women, even
the children know you’re there because you overthrew their old alpha. I can’t
do that. I can’t go back and see my pack hate me.” Nick closed his eyes, more
interested in inhaling her sweet scent. Fuck, the last week had been torture.
Now that he had her in his arms, he never wanted to let go again. She meant
everything to him.

“It was your pack to start off with. How can you not
see them welcoming you with open arms?” She cupped his face, tilting him back
to look at him.

Nick, given the choice, would have claimed her mouth
to silence her. He knew she deserved the truth.

“They put up a fight over the verdict, but they could
do nothing. The alpha who took over is a good one. I made sure for the first
couple of years that he was good for them all. I would never have forgiven
myself if something happened to them.” Nick hated it when he agreed with the
new alpha’s methods. When he realized he was never going to become an alpha
again he had focused all of his attention into making money. Once he settled on
money he made sure to employ other outlawed males who didn’t agree with the
collective alphas’ decisions. His business thrived, and he’d found a best
friend in Dean.

Life was more than perfect for him.

“Are you happy?” she asked.

Nick ran his fingers down her back to cup her ass. “With
you in my life, Clara, I’ve never been happier.” He turned her, pressing her
against the side of the pool. His desire rose with every second passing. There
was a challenge he needed to win. By the next full moon Clara would be in his
bed.

Will you be in her heart?

Leaning down, he licked a line across her plump,
inviting lips. The thought made him pause for a split second, wondering if it
was possible to get her to fall for him. He’d bought her like a possession, and
it was how he thought of her at times, his prized, virgin possession.

“Nick,” she said, moaning.

“Do you forgive me?”

“Do you promise never to be a grouch again?”

“Yes.” He claimed her lips, slamming his tongue inside
her mouth. Nick trapped her against the wall, kissing her deeply, wanting her
to moan and writhe against his touch.

She held onto his shoulders with her nails digging
into his flesh. He moaned, loving the small bite of pain her nails gave him.

Opening her thighs, he got her to wrap her legs around
his waist. Her pussy pressed to his stomach, and he wished she’d not worn a one
piece swimsuit. No matter, he’d have her naked in no time.

Cupping her ass, he gripped the back of her head
holding her in place to take his kiss.

He broke the kiss first, going down her neck. Tearing
the costume from her body, he exposed one full, rounded red nipple. Biting down
into the harsh bud he heard her scream. The scent of her need wasn’t dulled by
the water.

Nick needed more. Walking toward the stairs at the far
side of the pool he laid her on the cool ground.

In two easy tugs he removed the swimsuit from her
body. He admired every curve, loving the feel of her against his palm.

“I will never regret owning you, Clara. I want you
more than my next breath.”

“Please, don’t stop, Nick.” She arched up as he sucked
her nipple into his mouth. He tweaked the other nipple, watching her scream.
Clara always responded to him when he caused just a slight edge of pain.

He worked his boxer briefs down and fisted his rock
hard cock. The need built to a fever pitch inside him. Kissing down her body,
he felt her stomach quiver beneath his touch.

When he got to her pussy he discovered she was blisteringly
hot with copious amounts of cum getting her nice and slick for his cock.

Nick inhaled the musky scent of her cum before moving
down to tongue her juicy slit. “Fuck, baby, you’re so fucking ready for my
cock.”