MinetoChase Read online

  He stretched out on the mattress with Jasmine on top of him. She didn’t protest, just shifted her legs to the sides of his. Her rapid breathing slowed as she recovered and he yanked up the nightshirt to stroke his fingers down her back and ass. She had a nice one and he’d marked it up a little when he’d gripped her too firmly. His blood inside her would assure there’d be no bruising but the red imprints of his hold were there when he lifted his head to peer down.

  Bastard. He should have taken her on the bed, made love to her instead of nailing her against the wall. She deserved better but he’d denied himself far too long. He’d tried being noble by resisting his attraction to her. No more. He’d never forget seeing her in that basement with torn flesh where she’d been bitten, her wrists raw and bleeding, and how she’d trembled in his arms when he’d held her. One more day and she wouldn’t have survived. He hadn’t even known she’d been in trouble.

  I should have kept tabs on her. I should have watched out for her. I should have— Fuck! He’d left her exposed to danger is what it boiled down to. She was his mate and he’d been too stubborn to admit the reality of it. He’d shrugged it off as strong attraction and nothing more. Seeing her so near death had been an instant wake-up call.

  “How are you?” He nuzzled her cheek.

  “Good.”

  He loved her voice, so feminine and pleasant to his ears. Her skin was soft and she had the sexiest curves. One hand slid to her hip, giving it a gentle squeeze. His mate wasn’t bony the way most werewolves and vampires tended to be. She’d been right about the women who frequented the club. They were too perfect, thanks to their bloodlines. Or because of plastic surgery, if they were groupies there for the thrill of living dangerously. The humans thought it was just a place to meet rich, handsome men in the Goth scene and were interested in having sex with them in hopes of a fun time or a benefactor. They weren’t aware they were volunteering to be late night snacks for any vamp whose eye they caught.

  Jasmine was all his, perfect just the way she was, and he’d make sure that didn’t change. He could protect her by keeping her hidden inside his den. No way did he plan to expose her to the people he knew. His vamp bosses were trustworthy but other vampires were pricks. They viewed humans as the weaker species, only good for drinking and fucking. There were rules in place to stop them from killing for either purpose but she’d view vamps as monsters. He could relate. Sometimes he hated their cold indifference to anyone they believed was inferior.

  He cringed when thinking about his pack. He’d never intended to become their leader but they’d smelled the wolf inside him. Their alpha had challenged him the moment he’d taken the job as head of security at the club, refusing to take orders or back down. He’d had to kill the idiot when he’d refused to submit.

  Some of the females in the pack aggressively pursued Chase. He wasn’t interested, but Jasmine wouldn’t easily be accepted as his mate. He could think of two bitches who would challenge her for the right of being at his side. Not going to happen. He’d walk away from the pack, his job, everything just to keep Jasmine safe.

  He and his sister would protect her if Arry ever gave away the location of his secret den. It was doubtful it would happen. They had too much in common, came from the same clan in Alaska, and while she was a pain in the ass, he didn’t count her as a threat. She just annoyed him by believing they should settle for each other as mates. He’d set her straight.

  Jasmine stirred on his chest and raised her chin. Uncertainty shone in her direct stare. He easily read all her concerns. It was good that she was taking all this better than he had guessed she would. Screaming and crying had been options he’d considered.

  “You’re safe here with me. I’d never allow anyone or anything to hurt you.”

  “What do you really want from me?”

  It was a tough question. The answer would scare her. Everything. “Your life as you knew it is gone. The rogue might have friends and he was recently turned. That means he has a master. I didn’t find any indications of anyone else living with him but it’s a real possibility that someone is keeping tabs on him. A master would seek revenge. You could become a target.”

  Dismayed thoughts hit him in waves. She’d worked hard to buy a house she loved. Her family wasn’t close but she worried about never speaking to them again. Real estate was all she knew. Financial concerns came next.

  “Enough,” he ordered. “I have more money than we could spend. You don’t need to work. I know you enjoyed it but it’s too dangerous. I am the alpha of a werewolf pack and we’re always accepting new members who need homes. You could help find homes for them to avoid becoming bored. You’ll be able to call your family and friends sometimes. It would be best if you tell them you fell in love and married someone from another country. I can handle the cell phones to block our location. I’m good at that. Your house, well, I’m sorry. You’ll have to sell it but I think you’ll love this one once you take a tour.”

  “Married?”

  She was stunned and it amused him more. “Mated is married. We could have an official ceremony if you want. I’m not opposed. What’s a piece of paper and some guy saying words compared to the kind of bond we’ll have?”

  “I don’t know what that means.”

  “It’s deeper than anything you could imagine. You’ll learn soon enough though.” Just as soon as she agrees. He didn’t want to rush her but he wanted to seal the bond. He closed down his ability to read her, swamped by how rapidly she could come up with new things to worry about. “It will be fine.”

  “Says you.” She tried to wiggle away but his arms hooked around her waist to hold her secure.

  “Kiss me.”

  “I know how that ends. Are you going to keep seducing me until I agree to stay here?”

  It was a great plan. “Maybe.” He chuckled. “I could do worse things.” He hated the fear that ghosted in her eyes. “It was a joke. You have to believe I’d never hurt you.”

  “I kind of do but we’ve spent so little time together and I haven’t seen you for all these months. You didn’t even call but you want to get married? That’s kind of nuts.”

  “Welcome to my world.” He rolled, pinning her under him. She gasped but didn’t fight when he lowered his mouth to her throat. “Wrap your thighs around me. You won’t regret it.”

  The swelling had gone down but they were still joined at the hips. He loved being inside her welcoming body. She fit him perfectly, blew his mind, and he wanted her again. Jasmine lifted her thighs to press against his waist and her calves settled across his ass. He began to move slowly, kissing her lips and neck. Her moans of pleasure spurred him on.

  No, seducing her isn’t a bad plan at all. He’d do anything to assure she’d stay and be his. He lifted up slightly, adjusted the angle of his cock sliding in and out of her to make sure the shaft rubbed against the still-swollen bundle of nerves at the top of her pussy. Louder moans came from her and her vaginal walls clamped tightly around him. He had to fight the pleasure to avoid embarrassment. He was ready to come as if he were an untried teenager again.

  Jasmine was so hot, so wet and so his. She was heaven and hell, temptation and salvation. He’d spent a solitary life knowing he’d never fit in with his clan when his vampire bloodlines had become more pronounced. He couldn’t shift at all and didn’t stand a chance of taking a dominantly blooded mate. They’d fear he wasn’t warm enough to love or feel deep emotions, and instead would be fixed on his need for blood. They were wrong. The woman under him was the most important thing in his life and would remain that way until death claimed him.

  Her muscles tightened more until he clenched his teeth, fighting to move inside her without losing his control. He leaned in, so his mouth could reach her breast. Suckling on her taut nipple, he used his teeth to nip at her. It was enough to send her over the edge as she cried out, clawing at him with her fingernails. Her pussy milked his shaft until he threw back his head, let go and filled her with his seed.