“I was more angry than hurt. She said some terrible things about you that weren’t true.”

“That’s Peggy. She’s kind of immature and tends to blow everything out of proportion when she doesn’t get her way. Are you okay?” He paused. “Are we okay? I never touched her.”

She stared into his eyes, knowing he spoke the truth. She stepped into him until she pressed against his body. “Why would she say such horrible things about you?”

He frowned. “What did she say?”

“You hate kids, you’re coldhearted. She pretty much made you sound like a jerk.”

“I told you that you’re the only one I’ve ever loved, hon. Some women see me as heartless. I don’t hate kids. I just didn’t want to take on her nine pups.”

“You offered to love any children I had.”

“That’s because they would have been a part of you. Peggy wanted a pup wrangler and she sure as hell doesn’t love me. She likes my bank account.”

“Your bank account?”

“I do well in real estate.”

That surprised her. “You were going to become the accountant for your pack.”

“Things changed after you left. I doubled my classes to finish the courses but I just couldn’t stand to be there without you.” His big hands gently wrapped around her hips. “I discovered I love tearing shit apart so I started flipping houses. You know? Buying run-down properties and fixing them up to sell at a much higher price. I started my own company and have done well. I’m not rich by some standards but we’re financially stable. I also help the pack as an enforcer. We get a salary for that because it can take up a lot of hours, depending on the time of year.”

“Like when you guys go into mating heat?”

“Exactly.” His voice deepened. “Speaking of which, I need you.”

She forgot about the candy bars. She gripped Brand’s shoulders and jumped, wrapping her legs around his waist. “Take me to the bedroom. I don’t want your cousin catching us again. Is he here?”

“Yeah.” Brand cupped her ass, carrying her out of the kitchen. “He’s downstairs packing.”

“He’s leaving?”

He hesitated. “We’ll talk about this at the alpha house later. I must have you right now.”

He dropped her on the bed, turned and tried to close the busted door. A frustrated growl tore from him when the broken doorjamb prevented it from closing. One punch and the jamb snapped off. The door closed completely and he moved to the dresser, reached down and dragged it over as reinforcement, to effectively make sure they weren’t disturbed. He turned and hastily removed his shirt.

Charma sat, removed his robe and tossed it to the floor. Desire darkened Brand’s gaze, which was locked on her breasts. She leaned back and centered her body on the mattress. It warmed her to feel so desired by Brand. He kicked off his boots and shoved down his jeans. She smiled at the sight of his stiff erection and licked her lips.

Brand advanced. “Don’t even tease. I can’t let you do that.”

Her gaze lifted. “I miss tasting you.”

He climbed on the bed, his hungry stare taking in every inch of her from head to toe. “I miss your mouth wrapped around my cock too. You have no damn idea how many times I tormented myself with that memory but I’m too out of control. I need to be inside you and I won’t be all that gentle once I am.”

She reached for him, sliding her palms over his firm chest. “Is that supposed to scare me?”

“Nope. It’s just a warning. Roll over and get on your knees.”

“I’m not ready,” she admitted. “No foreplay?”

“We have to be at the alpha house in less than an hour. I’ll get you wet but I want you on all fours right now.”

Questions surfaced but he wasn’t in the mood to talk. She stopped exploring his rib cage with her fingers and rolled onto her stomach. He moved back as she lifted to her hands and knees.

“Spread wide for me.”

She parted her legs further and Brand made an animalistic sound. She lowered her head and waited, hoping he wouldn’t just take her. Her body wasn’t prepared. He fixed that when she realized he’d stretched out on his back. He gripped her hips, lifted her and settled her spread thighs directly over his face. His hot, wet mouth located her clit.

Her nails dug into the bed. She’d forgotten how he sometimes didn’t bother with formalities like kissing her lips or even bothering to tell her what he was about to do. Her mate growled, sending vibrations to that sensitive bundle of nerves as he used his tongue. Teeth raked gently over it, too, and she threw her head back.

“Fuck, baby,” she panted. “Slow down. It’s too intense.”

He ignored her, focusing on one spot that drove her out of her mind. It was as if he was determined to make her come fast and hard. She tried to jerk away because the pleasure was too raw and intense but his hands clenched, holding her in place with no way to escape. Her muscles tensed and she gave in, not fighting. The climax tore through her with a brutal force that left her crying out and without the ability to even form words.

His hands released her, she was aware of that much, and the mattress shifted under her as he moved. She would have fallen over from the motion but his arm hooked around her waist before she lost her balance and his cock nudged the entrance to her pussy. He drove in deep with one fluid thrust, his thick shaft forcing her muscles to part and accept him. He dropped down to curve around her and used his free hand to brace on the bed beside one of her hands.

“You’re wet now,” he snarled.

There was no denying that. Brand pounded her, fucking her hard and deep. His cock was rock solid, thick, and he moved so fast that she had no chance of matching his pace. A new kind of pleasure began building until she knew she was about to come again. Time lost meaning until she cried out, her mind blown a second time.

Brand clenched his teeth to avoid sinking them into Charma’s exposed shoulder. Her throaty moans and the sound of her coming sent him over the edge. He drove in deep, his body seizing as his semen blasted out, filling his mate. Heaven. That’s where she takes me every time we make love.

He almost snorted at the term when he stopped coming and could think straight again. He had her pinned under him and he eased his hold on her waist to make sure she wasn’t being crushed. That wasn’t making love. Guilt struck next. She deserved tenderness from him, not what he’d just done.