CHAPTER 5

Tabby sipped the sucky hospital coffee and waited for Alex to step out of his cousin’s room. Julian had insisted that she go check on her, but she didn’t feel comfortable in there with everyone else. Chloe’s parents were hovering over her and, despite how shitty Tabby felt about it, she found herself jealous. Tabby’s parents had never cared that much for her. If they had cared at all, they’d never have abandoned her to the streets when she was fifteen.

“Here, this might make it a little better.”

Tabby glanced at Alex’s mother, wondering again at the sight of the smaller woman. The beautiful woman next to her looked nothing like a mom. She looked like a model, her eyes a startling light hazel, her skin a creamy bronze. The only imperfections were the laugh lines around her eyes and mouth and the light smattering of freckles across her nose. It was those laugh lines that showed her the resemblance between Bunny and his mother. “Thanks, Mrs. Bunsun.”

“Barb, sweetie. And don’t thank me until you’ve tasted that.”

Tabby looked down at the cherry danish in her hand. “Hospital cafeteria?”

“Yup.” Barbra sighed and leaned against the wall. “So.

You’re mated to my son.” Tabby winced. “Almost.”

Thin dark brows rose, questioning her without saying a word.

“He bit me before we followed the ambulance. Just pushed the jacket aside and bared fang, right in public too.” She took a bite of the cherry danish. She then took a nice, long sip of the coffee so she wouldn’t choke on the dry pastry. She tried desperately not to make a face. It had been a nice gesture, but dear God. “Um. Is there a convenience store around here?”

Barb’s lips twitched. “Bared fang, huh?”

“Mm-hmm. That’s as far as we’ve gotten, though.” Tabby froze, her gaze sliding away. “You’re…all right with that?” Hadn’t Alex told her that Tabby was Outcast?

“Are you all right with it?”

Tabby thought of her hotter-than-hell mate and nodded. “Oh, yeah. I’m fine with it.”

Barb smiled, looking relieved. “I was worried. My parents freaked when they found out my mate was white. They didn’t speak to me for weeks.”

Tabby snorted. “My parents are the least of my worries.”

Barb’s expression turned sharp. “Is there a problem I need to know about?”

Tabby threw away the inedible danish. She’d eaten better food out of garbage bins. Someone needed to smack the hospital nutritionist upside the head. “I’m Outcast.”

Barb blinked. “Hmm. What for?”

She studied her mother-in-law, relieved to see no condemnation in the other woman’s face. “For being a

thief.”

Barb waved her hand. “And? Details, hon.”

“Long story short? I was dating the Alpha’s son. I snuck into his room to fool around, got caught sneaking out. The Alpha assumed I was there to rob him and wouldn’t listen to what I was saying. His son didn’t even try to explain things to his father.” Her lips twisted in a smile. “The Alpha never heard anything he didn’t want to anyway. No one bothered to speak up for me and the Alpha Outcast me. I roamed for about eight years as a wolf and finally landed in Halle. I’ve been here ever since.”

Barb studied her for a moment, her whole body relaxing. “Then we’ll have to fix it.”

Tabby blinked. How did you fix the unfixable? “How’s Chloe?”

Barb sighed, the tension returning to her shoulders. “Not good.”

She took hold of Barb’s hand and squeezed. “I’m so sorry. Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Yeah.” Barb’s smile was weary. “Take good care of my son.”

Tabby nodded, her eyes following Barb all the way back to the hospital room door.

“Tabby?”

Tabby grinned as her friend’s sweet voice flowed over her. Glory was standing there in one of her colorful peasant skirts and glittery tops, her pale blue hair done up in a

sweet-looking ponytail. She looked like a pixie gypsy. “Hey, girl. What are you doing here?”

Glory held up Tabby’s gym bag. The bangles on her wrist jangled and her grin was wide and sparkling. “Not quite the way we’d envisioned you spending last night.” She giggled. “Okay, bringing you work clothes after your night of debauchery, yes. Bringing you work clothes after a night in the hospital, no. And hey, no walk of shame, right?”

“Thanks a lot.” Tabby rolled her eyes, but just the presence of her bubbly friend soothed her. It was hard to be upset when Glory was around. “Is Cyn all alone?” The store had opened over an hour ago.

“She posted that we were closed for a family emergency and moved the appointments we had to later in the week.” She handed Tabby the bag. “I’m sorry to hear about your boyfriend’s cousin.”

“Thanks.” Tabby headed toward Julian’s room. She’d rather change in his bathroom than in the public restroom. And there was no way she was going into Chloe’s room, not with all those people in there. Julian would guard the door for her while she changed. He was one of the few people she truly trusted to keep her safe.

“Where is your new man, anyway?”

Tabby shrugged. “Alex is getting some sleep finally.” And hadn’t that been a battle and a half? He’d argued with everyone but his mother until the woman had pinched his ear and literally dragged him off for some rest. He was due back any minute now. “Oh, I almost forgot. Julian’s here.”

“What for?”

She thought about trying to explain, but decided she wanted a nice tall pitcher of margaritas next to her when she did. She still hadn’t figured out how he’d saved Chloe, or what was up with the funky white hair. “I’ll tell you later, but he’s fine now. He’s waiting on his discharge paperwork in his room, so I’ll change there.”

“Well, Cyn says to take your—oomph!” Tabby spun around. Glory was sprawled on the floor. Ryan stood over her, the strangest look on his face.

Glory blew her pale blue bangs out of her face. “And hello to you too.”

Tabby had to stifle her own giggles at the disgruntled look on her face.

Ryan blinked. His expression was stunned. Tabby had seen Glory have that effect on more than one man. “Hello.” Tabby shivered. Ryan had practically purred the salutation. “Who are you?”

Glory smiled up at Ryan. “Glory.” She held up her hand, every inch a dainty princess. “Help me up, please?”

Ryan jumped. “Oh! Right.” He took Glory’s hand and easily pulled her to her feet. “I’m Ryan, Ryan Williams.”

Glory’s expression turned much more genuine. “Chloe’s brother?”

Ryan smiled. “Yeah. She was admitted last night. You know her?”

Glory’s mouth dropped open. “You mean…?” She turned to Tabby. “You didn’t tell me it was Chloe in the hospital.”

She tugged on her hand, frowning absently when Ryan didn’t let go. “Chloe’s a friend. I need to go get her some flowers or something.”

“She’d like that once she’s out of ICU.” Ryan took Glory’s hand and tucked it into the crook of his arm. “Maybe I can help you find some?”

Glory tapped her foot. “Your sister is in the hospital and you’re flirting with me?”

Ryan’s answer was a heated grin.

Tabby coughed. From the look on Ryan’s face, things were about to get interesting for her friend. “I need to borrow Glory for a little bit.” Ryan frowned at her. “Seriously. She’s my coworker, my roommate and one of my best friends.”

The frown left his face. “And?” Tabby sighed. “Glory?”

“Yeah?”

“Grr-grr.”

Glory tilted her head toward Ryan, her mouth hanging open. “Him?”

“Yup.”

“Oh!” Glory yanked her hand free. “Shouldn’t you be, I dunno, with your mate?” She hissed. Glory had a real hate- on for cheaters. Tabby still didn’t know why, though she could guess. Glory’s parents were divorced, and she knew Glory would have nothing to do with her mother.

“He doesn’t have one, Glory.”

Ryan threw his head back and laughed. “Not yet, anyway.” He loomed over Glory, his expression intense. He towered over her petite friend. The move screamed possession.

Uh-oh. “Um. Ryan? Why don’t you go check on Chloe?”

He looked over at her, and for a moment the predator he was peeked out of his suddenly deep brown eyes. She could tell he was debating whether or not to do what she’d asked. “Where are you two headed?”

Tabby held up her bag. “She brought me clothes. We’re headed to Julian’s room so I can get changed in peace.”

Ryan studied her, his fingers absently toying with a lock of Glory’s hair. “Keep her safe.”

She gulped, the quiet warning in the Bear’s voice clear. If Ryan had decided not to let Glory out of his sight, there wasn’t much Tabby could have done to stop him. A lone Bear could whip the ass of a lone Wolf. “Yup. Will do.”

Ryan took Glory’s hand to his lips. “I will see you later.” He tipped Glory’s chin up and smiled down at her, his expression filled with wonder and a touch of satisfaction. “Glory.”

Glory didn’t take a breath until Ryan’s form disappeared around the corner. “What the hell was that all about?”

Tabby took Glory’s arm and steered her back to Julian’s room. “I’ll explain it on the way.” She pushed the button for the elevator. “How do you feel about bears?”

Glory looked stunned. She stumbled along, pulled by Tabby, her expression one of horrified fascination. She’d

never dealt well with aggressive men, and a man on the hunt for his mate was about as aggressive as they came. “Please tell me we’re discussing the teddy kind.”

Tabby shook her head and escorted her friend into Julian’s room.

Bunny pushed on the door to Julian’s room. Ryan had told him that his mate could be found there. He’d also told Bunny that she was getting naked. He needed to find out if Julian was a dead man or not. Clenched in one hand was the stupid stuffed bear he’d had made for Julian at Tabby’s insistence.

If Julian had gotten one glimpse of his mate’s creamy flesh, Bunny was going to feed the toy to him one fuzzy piece at a time.

“I was wondering when you’d show up.”

Bunny blinked. Julian sat on the edge of his bed, a smirk on his face. His Native American heritage was obvious in his dusky skin color, deep black eyes and high cheekbones. His long, dark hair was loose, falling to pool in his lap. Now that he got a good look at him, Bunny nearly growled. Julian was one of the handsomest men he’d ever seen. And Tabby was naked in this man’s bathroom?

Hell to the no.

“Where’s Tabby?” Bunny smiled, his fangs peeking out.

Mine.

Julian rolled his eyes and snorted. “She’s getting dressed.” He pointed toward the bathroom. “She even

waited until she shut the door to start with the nakedness.” Bunny’s hands clenched. He owed the man, but still.

That was his mate getting naked in another man’s room. “Tabby?”

“Yeah?” Her muffled reply sounded amused. He ground his teeth. “Are you done yet?”

Julian covered his mouth, no doubt hiding his laughter from the way his shoulders were shaking. “Your mate thinks I’m going to sneak in there and ravish your lily-white ass.”

Bunny relaxed a bit. The other man had just acknowledged Bunny’s right to Tabby. He bowed his head in thanks, smiling back when Julian winked at him. The last thing he wanted to do was rip into the man who not only was one of his mate’s closest friends, but his cousin’s savior. Besides, Bunny hated fighting, but he’d do it for Tabby. It was nice to know there wasn’t a need where Julian was concerned.

The sounds behind the door had stopped. “He thinks what again?”

“Face it, hon.” Julian struck a dramatic pose. “You want me even more than you want Legolas.”

The door opened. Tabby stepped out and Bunny’s tongue nearly hit the floor. Those jeans looked painted on. “Of course. Legolas can’t do that thing you do with your tongue and a cherry stem.”

Bunny sighed. He’d explore those jeans later. He turned his attention back to Julian. “You need to die now.”

Julian laughed. “Nice to meet you, by the way.”

Bunny stepped forward and shook the hand Julian was holding out. He tried not to frown. The man looked like hammered shit despite the front he was putting on. “Alexander Bunsun. Call me Bunny.”

The Bear blinked, but didn’t say a word. “Julian Ducharme. Tabby and I are good friends.”

“I owe you for what you did for my cousin.”

Julian grimaced. “I couldn’t leave her like that.” He shrugged. “Her pain pulled me from three blocks away.”

Tabby’s hand rested on his shoulder, calming him even further. “Are you the one who called it in to 9-1-1?” Good question. One that hadn’t been answered yet, at least as far as Bunny knew.

Julian frowned and sat up straight. “No. They arrived just as I got there.”

Tabby and Julian exchanged a worried look. These two obviously had some history, and his mate trusted the other Bear. He decided that was good enough for him. He relaxed, settling into a chair next to Julian’s bed. “So who did call them?”

“That’s a good question.”

Tabby frowned. “I know just the man to answer that.” She pulled out her cell phone and touched a number, then put the phone to her ear. “Hi, it’s Tabby. Can you put me through to Gabe?”

“Good girl. I should have thought of that.”

Bunny frowned when Julian settled back against the head of the bed. “Thought of what?”

Tabby moved to the door and opened it, stepping out into the hallway. “Hey, Gabe. Any news on Chloe’s case?”

Julian folded his hands behind his head and crossed his ankles. “She’s friends with the sheriff. She’ll get an answer out of him faster than anyone but his mate, especially where Chloe’s concerned.” Julian gave him a speculative look. “She may have lost her family in Georgia, but she found a new one here. You understand?”

Bunny studied Julian and slowly nodded. Yeah, he understood. “Thank you again.”

Julian shrugged. “I’m not the only one. There are a number of people who would go to bat for that girl without thinking twice about it. In fact, I think she’d be surprised at how many would.”

“Including the Alpha?”

“Not sure, but I think so. From what I’ve seen, Max is pretty confident and he trusts his hierarchy.”

“And if Gabe says she’s family, he’ll what? Accept that?”

Julian looked mysterious. A streak of palest white flashed through his hair, gone almost as quickly as it appeared. “I think when all is said and done, Tabby’s going to find that she’s got a lot more family than she ever dreamed of.”

Julian and I need to sit down and have a nice, long talk. Soon. “She doesn’t know about the Kermode.” He grinned. “Can I be there for that discussion?”

Julian snorted. “Sure. Can you have it for me?”

Bunny rolled his eyes. “Remind me to introduce you to Ryan. You two should get along really well.” He held out the bear. “Here. From Tabby and me.”

Julian took the white bear and snorted. “Cute. But why the Superman costume?”

Tabby stepped back into the room before he could answer. She looked shaken, wild. Bunny stood, ready to comfort his shaken mate. “I just talked to Gabe.”

Julian sat up slowly, all of his attention suddenly focused on Tabby. Bunny tensed all over. The look on her face was horrible. “What, baby?”

“Chloe.” She gulped. “She wasn’t hit by a car. They’ve confirmed that the marks on her body are consistent with a beating.” She stepped forward and clasped her arms around Bunny, laying her head against his chest with a sigh. “Someone tried to kill your cousin.”

Bunny blinked in the late afternoon light filtering in through the hospital window. He’d made sure Julian got home safely, following the cab to the small house on the outskirts of town Julian called home. He’d dropped Tabby off at work immediately afterwards and headed right back to the hospital. He’d been sitting there ever since.

“Go home.”

Bunny blinked up at his father. He couldn’t leave Chloe. What if something happened to her? He needed to be there

to protect her. It was bad enough he hadn’t been there before.

His father’s hand landed on his shoulder. “I know what you’re thinking. We’re more alike than you know.” Will pulled Bunny out of the chair. “I promise nothing is going to happen to Chloe while I’m here.”

Bunny looked into his father’s shifted eyes and nodded. He and his father were a great deal alike. Will would protect Chloe against anything and everything that came at her. The only difference was William didn’t have the anger issues Bunny faced on a daily basis. The rage in him was much more focused and directed. He’d taken that anger and turned it on the land itself, creating his business with his own two hands. Just as Bunny used yoga, his father used physical labor, and it worked. “Okay. I’ll go rest. Call me if she wakes up.” He winced. He’d meant to say when.

“Sleep, son. You’re exhausted. You helped heal Chloe.

Now it’s time to heal yourself.”

Bunny nodded again and shuffled to the door. “And leave the bike here. Take a cab.”

He froze. He never left the bike. That Harley was his baby.

“Maybe you could call your mate and get a ride?”

Now there was a thought. Maybe he’d convince her to come back to the hotel room with him. “Good idea.” Maybe he’d do more than nap, too. He pulled out his cell phone and called Living Art.

“Living Art, Glory speaking.”

“Hey, Glory. Can you put Tabby on?”

“Sure thing.” She sounded so sweet and demure, right up until she screeched at the top of her lungs, “TA-BBY! PHO-ONE!” He pulled the phone away from his ear with a wince. Damn, that girl had a healthy set of lungs.

His father chuckled. “Isn’t that the girl Ryan showed some interest in?”

Bunny gaped. Ryan had shown interest in one of the girls?

“Tabby speaking. How can I help y’all?”

He shivered. That deep drawl washed over him again, his cock perking up with insistent interest. Damn, he’d left her only six hours ago and already he was jonesing for the sight of her. “Can you do me a favor, baby?”

“Sure, sugar. What do you need?”

“Can you come pick me up? I’m exhausted and I’ve been ordered to leave the bike here.”

There was a pause. “I can’t. I’m expecting a customer in about ten minutes.”

He hated to ask, but damn it he was starting to see double he was so exhausted. He hadn’t slept a wink in that damn hotel room, pacing and worrying about Tabby and Chloe. His mother had taken one look at him and shaken her head, exasperated. “Can one of the other girls give me a lift?”

“I’ll do one better. Wait there, someone will pick you up shortly. And don’t even think about sneaking off on the

bike. If you’re tired enough to call me, you’re too tired to ride.”

He could feel himself blushing. “I wasn’t.”

“Good.” She paused. A bell jingled in the background. It sounded a lot like the one attached to Living Art’s front door. “I have to go.”

Bunny frowned. Her voice had sounded tight. “Are you all right?”

“Yeah, I—” Something crashed. “Shit. I will be. Gotta go.” She hung up, leaving him standing there, a red haze of anger rising inside him.

“Something’s happening at Living Art.” Bunny headed to the door. “Where’s Ryan?”

“Trouble?” Will followed him.

“Yeah. Dad, you need to stay here or get Ryan to stay here. I need to head to the tattoo parlor and check up on Tabby.”

“Not in your condition.”

Bunny turned and growled at his father. He’d never challenged the older man, but he’d never had a mate before, either.

Will threw his hands up in the air. “I’ll call Ryan, have him meet you there.”

Bunny nodded and stalked toward the elevator, the possible threat to his mate thrumming through his veins. Suddenly he wasn’t so tired anymore.

God help anyone who laid their hands on what was his.

Tabby called 9-1-1, but the damage was done. Someone had thrown something through the window and she had let Bunny know something was wrong. Fuck. Ten to one he was already on his way over here.

“What the fuck?”

She turned to look at the patron who’d entered the store just before the thing came through the window. What the hell was that anyway? It looked like some kind of metal tube. A pipe, maybe? “Ryan?”

He looked over at her, his pale blue eyes turning brown as she watched. “Where’s Glory?”

“Here.” Glory stepped out from behind the curtain, followed closely by Cyn.

He went right to Glory’s side, his gaze roaming over her, his hands twitching at his sides. “What happened?”

“That came through the window.” Tabby pointed toward the metal object. It lay less than a foot from her.

“Oh no! Are you all right?” Cyn was suddenly right there, checking Tabby over for damage.

“I’m fine. I called 9-1-1.”

Ryan’s gaze was glued to Glory. He sniffed and his nose wrinkled in disgust. “What’s that smell?”

Tabby looked down at the tube, only then noticing the stench beginning to drift up from it. “Oh, hell. Grab your stuff. Everyone out.”

They hurried out of the store, careful of the broken glass. Ryan scooped Glory up and carried her out, his eyes

hard. He barely seemed to notice her weight, but as a Bear, he was much stronger than most men. She probably did feel like a feather in his arms.

Glory, on the other hand, was freaked. She was stiff as a board in his arms. Ryan set her down on her feet, his expression a mix of confusion and concern. “Did you get hurt?”

She backed away rapidly. “I’m fine.”

He looked puzzled, the brown fading away, leaving behind the blue. “Glory?”

Tabby shook her head and moved away. It seemed Glory wasn’t going to take to mating as easily as she’d thought she would. She saw Cyn snarl and pull out her cell phone, gesturing for people to get back, move away from the store.

Then the back of Tabby’s head exploded and the world went black.

Bunny roared to a stop outside Living Art. He turned off the bike and ran toward the huddle of people. “What happened?”

The deputy speaking to Cyn and Glory pointed to the store. “Someone threw a pipe through the window with some kind of stink bomb attached to it. Oh, and that lady over there got attacked. Sheriff’s dealing with her.”

Bunny caught sight of Tabby’s green hair on the concrete and lunged toward the sheriff. His heart pounded with fear. Visions of Chloe lying in a pool of blood haunted him.

Ryan grabbed hold of his arm, trying to stop him. “Tabby’s hurt, but she’s okay.”

He ripped free of his cousin’s grasp and lunged to the center of the crowd. He didn’t care who he shoved out of his way. He had to get to his injured mate. “Tabby?”

She pulled her hand away from the back of her head with a wince. “Ow. I got hit.” That Georgia drawl was slurred by pain.

The sheriff and a deputy stood aside and let Bunny get close to his mate. He knelt down, probing the back of her head with his fingers. Sure enough, there was a small, bloody wound forming into a lump. He reached for his Bear, grateful for the strength he gave him. He healed the wound, the exhausting drain worth it when she sighed in relief and sagged against him. He stroked her hair, grateful beyond belief when she smiled up at him. He muttered a silent thanks to Bear for healing his mate and looked up at the sheriff. “She’ll be all right.”

“Did you see who hit you?”

Bunny turned and glared up at the deputy standing next to the sheriff. The man had spoken in a bored tone, rasping across Bunny’s protective instincts. How dare this man take the attack on his mate so lightly? Hell, even Gabe looked briefly disgusted before he once more controlled his expression. Bunny wondered if the deputy was the type of cop who figured anything that happened to a tattoo artist had to be linked to something illegal and was therefore deserved.

Chap 5

Tabby shook her head, wincing a little. “Nope. It was pretty much bam, then lights out.” Bunny stroked her forehead, brushing away the last vestiges of the headache her attacker had caused.

“And no one else was injured.” Anderson was staring down at her, his expression completely closed off. But there was a glint of gold in the man’s eyes that Bunny recognized.

Bunny knew what Anderson was thinking. He closed his eyes, lest someone see the possessive rage boiling in their depths. Someone had deliberately targeted his mate. “Tabby’s coming home with me.”

He knew she was going to protest, but before she could, Cyn’s voice cut through the crowd. “Of course she isn’t. She needs x-rays and stuff, and no argument, you got it?” Tabby bit her lip. Cyn stood there with her hands on her hips, her eyes blazing. “Some son of a bitch thinks he’s going to shut my shop down, take you out without a fight? I don’t think so.” Cyn pointed at Tabby. “You. Go to the hospital.” She pointed to Gabe. “You. Find out who did this and stick their asses in jail, where I sincerely hope they will get reamed multiple times.” The people around Cyn chuckled, but Bunny noticed Cyn wasn’t joking. “Glory and I will clean up.”

“I’ll help.”

Cyn eyed Ryan up and down. “Good. We could use some muscle around here.”

Glory looked terrified. Bunny briefly wondered why, but got distracted when Tabby’s hand landed on his shoulder.

She used his shoulder for leverage and stood up. “Yes, master.” She bowed dramatically to Cyn, wobbling a little bit. Bunny reached up and steadied her with one hand on her thigh.

She still looked a little pale. He stood and pulled her gently into his arms, running his hands over her, healing her scrapes, doing his best to soothe her. She settled in against him but continued to pout. “Are you up to riding?”

She snorted. “I’m up to driving.”

That might not be a bad idea. Bunny was beginning to shake, a reaction to his exhaustion and the adrenaline rush. “Good idea. Hospital?”

She glared at him. He’d healed almost all of her injuries. He knew she didn’t need any x-rays, and apparently so did she.

“Right.” He pulled his key out of his pocket and handed it to her. “The Marriott near the college.”

“Got it.” She twirled the keys around her finger and swung onto the bike. “Ready?”

He narrowed his eyes. She looked incredible straddling his bike. Her black tank top made her skin glow, emphasizing her green hair. Those damn painted-on jeans strained against her thighs. Her high-heeled black boots rested comfortably against the blacktop, bringing forth every dirty image Bunny had ever had about women and motorcycles.

Fuck. He could see her sitting like that in nothing but those boots and a smile. He pictured it, her body hunched over the handlebars, her breasts swaying free, that saucy grin on her face and her ass in the air, ready for him to take her.

He growled. “You have no idea.”

She pulled her helmet on and patted the seat behind her, enticingly close to her ass. “Come on, sugar. Climb aboard.”

Bunny, his control almost shredded, did, fastening his helmet. She was in for more than one type of ride today.

“Hospital.” He looked over at Cyn. “I mean it. She’s got a lump on her head. Are you sure she should be driving?”

Bunny fought the urge to roll his eyes. There was no way Cyn could know he’d already healed Tabby’s injury, and no way he could explain it in such a mixed crowd. “She’s fine.”

Cyn glared at him. “Lump. Head. Hell, even Tabby’s thick skull isn’t crack-proof.”

“Hey!” Tabby yanked off the helmet. “I feel fine now, thank you.”

“I don’t.” Cyn grabbed Tabby’s helmet and held out her hand. “Hospital. Pinky-swear.”

Tabby rolled her eyes and held out her little pinky. “I swear I’ll get my head checked out.” Of course, they both knew Bunny had already taken care of it, so her oath wasn’t necessary. And she’d phrased it in such a way that she could honestly say she hadn’t lied.

Cyn grabbed it with her own pinky. “Good.” She stepped back, obviously satisfied. “Take care of her for me.”

“I will.” He wrapped his arms around Tabby. This might even be better than when he drove. He thrust his hips forward, cradling his cock against Tabby’s luscious ass. “Believe me, I will,” he muttered for her ears only.

She shuddered and started the bike. She pulled out into the street, careful until they were out of sight of the store. “You know I don’t need a hospital.”

He did. He’d never have let her drive if he thought for one minute she was impaired in any way. The healing was complete. “I know.” He rubbed his hand briefly across her breast. “But I know what you do need.” And, dear God, what he needed more than anything.

They pulled up to his hotel and found a parking spot close to the front door. “Really? You think so?”

He reached around her for the keys and turned off the bike. “I know so.” He helped her up, tucking their helmets away. “Shall we?”

She looked…disappointed. He knew he had to hold it together until they were in his room. Once he had her in his temporary den, all bets were off.

They rode the elevator in silence, Bunny’s hand wrapped around hers. It felt so small in his big paw. His chest rumbled with a low growl. The thought that anyone would try to harm his mate was inconceivable. She deserved so much more than she’d gotten out of life so far. And he was

just the man to see that she got it. But first, she was going to mark him.

The elevator dinged and she sighed, her shoulders slumping wearily. So far it had been a hell of a week and they were both exhausted. That sigh quickly turned into a gasp when he dragged her out of the elevator and almost threw her into his hotel room. God, he needed her. If he didn’t feel her around him soon, he was going to fucking explode. He had to erase the scent of her attacker from her skin, the feel of him from her mind. He closed the door, pushing her up against it. “Mine.”

“Yours.” She was breathless, trying desperately to soothe him.

He wasn’t in any mood to be soothed. He bit her right through her shirt, marking her again, forcing her into orgasm. The scent of her pleasure teased him, drove him insane. She had to be naked. He wanted the feel of her soft flesh in his palms. He pulled at her shirt, ripping it half off her body, exposing her lacy bra. He pulled one cup of the bra down, exposing one full breast to his hungry gaze.

Oh, fuck, she’s pierced. A little gold ring dangled from her brown nipple, a green bead glowing against her golden skin.

He bent down and sucked her nipple into his mouth. He pulled on it relentlessly, tongued the gold ring, and reveled in her soft cries. Her body began to undulate against him, her hips pushing up against his erection.

He grabbed her around the waist and picked her up, holding her against the door so that he stood upright, her breast right where he wanted it. She wrapped her legs around his waist and grabbed hold of his head, pushing his mouth right where they both wanted it.

He ripped his mouth away only to suck her other breast into his mouth. Her head slammed back into the door. “Fuck, Alex.”

He snarled. She’d called him Alex. No one called him Alex except his immediate family.

Possessiveness roared through him. She was family. She was his.

He looked up to find her staring down at him through Wolf eyes. Her fangs were bared. “Put me down.”

He let his fangs scrape her breast. The moan she let loose was music to his ears. “Why?”

She grinned. “I want to mark you.” He shuddered. “My way.”

“What?”

He turned and threw her onto the bed, ignoring her startled screech. “My way.” The boots had to come off before he could peel those jeans off her legs. He yanked them off and quickly pulled off her jeans. He eyed the boots lying on the floor. He wasn’t sure he’d allow her to wear those to work again. They screamed fuck me to him.

He was the only one who got that pleasure.

Next went the underwear. She lay there, watching him pull her clothing off, the delicate lace ripping under his

hands. He was using too much strength, leaving bruises behind, but he couldn’t seem to stop himself. He needed to feel her coming around him.

Once she was naked , he stood up. “Play with yourself.” Her eyes widened for a moment before her lids dropped,

her hands reaching up to pluck at her nipples. Her thighs spread, allowing him to see the juicy lips of her pussy.

He nearly dropped to his knees, eager to worship the woman writhing on his bed. He dragged his clothes from his body, not caring where they fell. He only knew he had to climb up there and bury his face between the thighs of the woman he’d claimed.

Tabby watched Alex crawl up the bed. There was no way in hell he looked like a Bunny to her, not with that look in his eye. The expression on his face was one of wicked intent, his gaze glued to her pussy. He licked his lips and everything in Tabby quivered in anticipation.

Oh, hell. He was going to eat her out.

At the first swipe of his tongue, she gasped. Rough and wet and warm, it was almost too much to bear. He licked and sucked and nibbled at her clit like a starving man at a five-course meal.

It almost made her forget about what she could do with

her tongue. “Turn around.” He paused. “Hmm?”

She shuddered. She’d felt that hum through her entire body. She looked down at him. “I want your cock in my

mouth.”

If possible, his eyes turned even darker. He knelt and tapped her hip. “Switch places with me.”

She grinned. If he knew what she had planned, he might not be so accommodating. “Sure thing.” She let him settle down on his back before swinging her body over his. She lowered her face to his cock, licking the drop of pre-come off. The salty sweetness flowed over her tongue. “Mmm. You taste delicious.”

He grabbed hold of her hips and tugged her down to him, sucking her clit right into his mouth. She gasped, thrusting her hips back at him. Oh, yeah. The man knew what he was doing.

Then again, so did she. She wrapped her hand around the base of his cock and took him in, sucking on the flared head. She felt him pause before he attacked her pussy with a vengeance. Her thighs trembled.

Hell if he was going to get her off first. She had every intention of milking an orgasm out of him before she marked him. She laved his slit with her tongue, wringing more drops from him. He groaned, the sound vibrating through her pussy.

Oh, fuck. He’d moved his tongue to her hole, fucking her ruthlessly with it. His thumb danced across her clit while he drank her juices. She bucked back into him, fucking his mouth. Shit. She didn’t know how much longer she’d be able to hold off that orgasm.

She reached over and bent his knees for him, tugging on his hips to get him to start fucking her mouth. It took him a few moments to get the idea, but once he did, he fucked her in earnest, his tongue matching the movement of his cock in her mouth.

She suckled him in earnest now, dying for a full taste of her mate. The heavy weight of him on her tongue was incredible, his scent driving her to the brink of ecstasy.

Then he did something, twisted his tongue or his thumb somehow and she was coming, screaming around him, desperately licking at his cock to drag him along with her.

His mouth pulled away from her on a gasp. “So good.” His hands landed on her hair, pushing her head down onto him. “Fuck, take it baby.” He damn near choked her, but she didn’t care. She wanted him to come. She knew what would happen when she marked him and wanted him primed and ready.

“Fuck!” He poured down her throat, his body bowed. He came so hard, she did choke, unable to catch all of it. She swallowed what she could, damn near purring at the taste.

Then she pushed his spent cock aside and marked him right where his balls met his thigh.

“Oh fuck!” She was sucking on the mark she’d given him, her pretty little ass swaying in front of his face like she was wagging her damn tail.

His cock was rock-hard in an instant. He waited until her fangs pulled free of his flesh before grabbing her by the

hips and lifting her up off the bed. She squeaked in surprise. “Fuck me. Now.”

He dropped her onto his cock. He didn’t even bother turning her around. She’d marked him and now he was going to fuck her until the animals in both of them were satisfied. He grabbed hold of her waist and pulled until he was sitting upright, her thighs draped across his, her pussy dripping on him. He reached around and began to strum her clit. “Ride me, baby.”

The want he’d felt before was nothing compared to now. If she didn’t come on his cock, he’d go insane. At least he thought so until she began to move, gliding up and down his length with languid strokes designed to drive him crazy.

When she rolled her hips, he felt his eyes cross from the exquisite torture. Fuck, she was incredible. “Play with your breasts.”

She moaned, throwing her head back against his shoulder. Her hands reached up and began tugging on her nipples. He could feel the ripples moving through her pussy with each stroke of her eager fingers. “You want more, baby?”

“Uh-huh.”

He pinched her clit then soothed the minor hurt. “You want to come?”

She cast him a sultry look over her shoulder. “Do you?”

He grinned and thrust, letting her know without words how much he wanted. “Play with your clit.”

He moved his hands to her hips. He was going to give his woman a little help.

One of her hands moved down to her pussy. He looked over her shoulder to watch, wanting to see the rhythm her fingers moved in. He’d memorize it if he had to.

She rolled her hips again, riding his cock while she stroked herself.

“It’s so good.” She moaned, pressing into her own hand. Just the sight of her riding him and touching herself damn near sent him over the edge.

He lifted her up slightly, ignoring her mewl of protest. He wanted a little room to maneuver and he could easily hold her weight while he fucked them both to orgasm.

She gasped at his first hard thrust, sighed over his second, and tried to take back control on the third. She turned wild on him, leaning forward and thrusting back into him. One hand sank into his thigh while the other remained busy at her pussy. He could feel her fingers stroking him every time he exited, the butterfly touches sending his need skyrocketing.

She had to come. He needed her to come now.

He got to his knees behind her and bent her over the rest of the way. He positioned her so that her head and shoulders were on the covers and her ass was up in the air. All the while, he never left her body and her fingers continued to work frantically.

He leaned down so that his chin rested on her shoulder. “Now we really fuck.”

Her eyes went wide. “What was that before, pretend fucking?”

He licked her neck and took her like the animal he was.

Oh my God. Tabby desperately tried to ride the storm called Alex. He pounded into her, his body locked to hers, his arms tight around her. She couldn’t move, couldn’t fuck him back. She was impaled, imprisoned on his cock, in his arms.

And she loved every minute of it.

She couldn’t even reach her clit. One of his big paws was holding her arms hostage. The other held her head down, keeping her teeth away from him. Smart man. If anyone else dared treat her like this, she’d bite his face off.

But this was her mate laying claim to her at last. She settled down, her body relaxing into his, her head tilting even further to the side. She submitted to her mate, the one man who could bring her to her knees with a look and a smile.

She could hear the slap of his thighs against her ass, felt the trembling start deep inside her. She’d only come once or twice without touching her clit, and boy did it feel like the third time was going to be the charm. Her entire body strained for release. “More.”

With a savage growl, he gave her what she asked for. She’d unleashed the beast in him with her demand, and she was going to pay the price for it with a very sore, very

happy pussy. Then again, he’s got those wonderful healing powers…

If she thought he’d been pounding into her before, she was sadly mistaken. He began in earnest, ignoring her howls of pleasure. The big paw holding her arms in place let go, only to take hold of her breasts. He squeezed her nipples to just this side of pain. She whimpered, her breath stolen, unable to beg for more. The hand holding down her head clenched in her hair, holding her steady while he took what he wanted and gave her what she needed.

Her orgasm began, rolling through her, the pleasure so intense she could barely draw the breath to scream. Every muscle in her body clenched, the pleasure damn near tearing her apart.

He quivered around her, in her. How he held back his own orgasm she’d never know. “Oh, fuck yes. Do that again.”

She tried to shake her head no, she wouldn’t survive another one like that, but he was moving again and she couldn’t stop it. The first orgasm rolled right into the second, her body pulsing, her breath lost to her. Her body obeyed his command, heedless of the impossibility of it. He owned her, body and soul, and let her know it in no uncertain terms.

She clenched around him, determined to take him with her this time. She snarled up at him, whimpering when his hand tightened, reminding her of who she belonged to. God, it was incredible, and nothing like what she thought

being with a Bear would be like. She’d expected something like this with a Wolf and had felt a small pang that she’d never know the kind of mating that she’d always dreamed of.

Alex was taking those dreams and shattering them with reality.

It was happening again, her entire body shoved into orgasm. This time she had enough breath to scream his name. “Alex!” His fangs pierced her shoulder, intensifying the orgasm until she damn near blacked out, spots dancing in front of her eyes as her body shook.

Alex roared, the sound more feral than any other she’d ever heard. His cock twitched inside her once, twice, and liquid heat poured into her. He’d come, finally, his fangs still buried in her neck, her body quivering at the intensity of her own pleasure.

If he kept fucking her like this, she might never leave his bed. She now understood the meaning of the phrase dying from pleasure. She was wrung out, limp, damp and sated to her toenails.

He pulled out of her and dropped to the mattress beside her. His big chest heaved, glistening with sweat. He rolled his head and looked at her, her head still on the comforter, her ass still in the air. “You okay?”

Her muscles were too weak to move even enough to lower her ass to the mattress. Maybe she could sleep just like this? She smiled, knowing exactly what it looked like. “Best. Fuck. Evah.”

Alex chuckled. She almost growled at the smug male satisfaction on his face, but really? He’d earned that look. He pulled and pushed until she was practically on top of him, their feet propped up on the pillows. Neither one appeared to have the strength to move right way around on the bed. They lay there for a few minutes, dropping sweet kisses wherever they could reach without actually moving.

Eventually Alex stirred. “Do me a favor? Next time bite my neck.” He grumbled, but his lips were twitching. “What am I supposed to tell my father when he asks to see my mate mark? Should I drop trou and proudly point?”

She hid her face in his chest and giggled. Her mate had just given her the best orgasm of her life and he was fun in bed? She’d died and gone to Tabby heaven.