Mate Set (Mating Heat Book 1) Read online

  “If you really wanted me to share your bed, this was a hell of a way to insist,” he ground out harshly. His hand gripped her leg, yanked her flat on her back and shoved her thighs apart before he came down on her. “Don’t ever torment me again. I could hear every breath, every moan, and every other sound you made while you touched yourself.”

  Mika cried out in sudden pleasure as Grady entered her. He gripped her arms, jerking them above her head, and used his elbows to support his upper body weight to keep from crushing her. His hold was tight but not painful on her wrists. He started to move inside her in deep, long strokes. Mika wrapped her thighs around his hips and curled her legs over his ass.

  Intense pleasure hit her while Grady fucked her hard and fast. He drove in and out of her. When he released her wrists, she wound her arms around his neck and clung to him as their bodies moved together. He tensed and she felt him jerk. He groaned and came. She noticed that he kept his face turned to the side, his teeth far from her skin.

  Disappointment hit Mika. Grady cursed softly and then was rolling them over. His large, strong hands moved her so she was straddling his lap, sitting up on top of him. He was still hard inside her. He lifted her with his hips, driving into her. One of his hands gripped her hip to steady her while the other reached between them to rub against her clit while he bucked.

  In less than a minute, Mika came—hard.

  Chapter Six

  Mika woke up alone. The bedroom door was open, allowing the smell of coffee to lure her into crawling out of bed. She winced a little as sore muscles protested. She was a little tender between her thighs in that day-after-too-much-sex way.

  Grady had growled the night before as she sprawled on his chest, panting after he’d made her come. Mika had just lain there, letting the aftermath turn her into jelly. She had breathed in that wonderful scent Grady’s skin put off and listened to his heartbeat pounding in her ear. He was warm, large, and comfortable to lie on. Mika had drifted to sleep on top of him.

  She studied her bed as she climbed out of it. Had Grady spent the entire night with her? He’s accused her of tormenting him. What the hell was that about? She sighed and stumbled to the bathroom. Her mind gave her simple instructions—use the bathroom, brush your teeth, take a fast shower. Zombielike, she went through her morning habits.

  Ten minutes later when Mika walked out of her room, still damp and wearing a robe, Grady was in the kitchen. His hair was wet and she knew he’d showered too. He was leaning against the counter holding a coffee mug in one hand and a cell phone held to his ear with his other. His dark gaze fixed on her but no emotion showed on his face.

  “I’m going to have to put that off.” His voice was soft as he spoke, looking away from her. “I’m sorry. I know we had plans.” He pushed away from the counter and walked around Mika. He was careful to not touch her as he moved into the living room. “I got assigned pack duty and I can’t take off for a weekend.”

  Mika walked to the coffee and poured some into a mug. She cocked her head, straining to hear anything, but it was silent, as though Grady were listening to someone. She couldn’t see him since he’d moved out of the room. She hesitated and then tiptoed over to the wall and pressed her ear against it.

  “I know it’s mating season and I know we had planned on spending the weekend together, Megan. I just can’t get out of this because it’s pack related. You know how that goes. Your job with your pack is important to you, and so is mine as an enforcer. I was looking forward to a few days of no-holds-barred animal sex myself. We’ll do this in a few weeks when our schedules clear up again.”

  Mika hated the raw pain that sliced through her as she realized he was on the phone with a woman. That “no-holds-barred animal sex” comment hit her like the verbal slap that it was. She reeled away and walked back to the sink to stare out the kitchen window. Tears filled her eyes, blinding her, and she hated them.

  It hurt that Grady was talking to another woman, obviously a werewolf bitch, and possibly the one he’d mate with when he wanted to settle down. He said they’d meet up in a few weeks so he was definitely planning on fucking that bitch.

  She closed her eyes, frantically fighting more tears, and just stood there trying to get hold of her emotions. The real problem was that she was having them. She was falling for Grady as fast as if a ton of concrete hung around her neck, and he was never going to fall too. He’d slept in her bed but he was talking on the phone to another woman, making plans to meet up with her in the near future. She admitted it hurt and she was jealous.

  “Morning,” Grady said from behind her.

  She kept her eyes closed, refusing to acknowledge him as she took deep breaths until she knew she had the urge to cry under control. She opened her eyes, sipped her coffee and stared out the window to avoid looking at him. She needed to get a leash on her temper that was rising fast because anger was how she handled the raw pain of knowing he wanted to be with another woman instead of her.

  Mika wanted to be honest with herself. He was only with her because he’d been ordered to protect her. He’d been forced to live with her and if he hadn’t marked her, he’d probably still be refusing to touch her. Life sucks, she determined.

  “Mika? I said ‘morning’.”

  She didn’t turn to face him. “I heard you.”

  He was silent but she could sense him watching her. “Are you all right? Did I hurt you?”

  He had no damn idea how much. She remained silent. She didn’t turn but she just knew he was slowly drawing closer. She felt him directly behind her though he didn’t touch her.

  “Mika? I know I hurt you. Do you need a doctor? Was I too rough with you?”

  “It must be hell for you.” She kept her voice soft.

  Long seconds passed in a room too quiet. “What must be hell?”

  She slowly turned then and set her coffee cup on the counter next to her so she wasn’t tempted to chuck it at his head. She forced herself to look up at Grady. Only a foot separated them. “Having to be with me instead of who you want to be with. I’m sorry that I ruined your plans for the weekend, and I’m really damn sorry that you have to put up with me for the next two weeks. Duty must a hellish thing for you right now. Excuse me. I’m in need of some space so I’ll be in my room. Alone.”

  Grady’s face paled slightly. She inched sideways, and walked quickly away from him. She didn’t want to be in the same room with him. She heard him softly curse as she left the kitchen but she didn’t look back. She walked to her bedroom and closed the door.

  It was insane to fall for someone so fast. She must have lost her mind. He’d saved her twice, given her mind-blowing sex repeatedly, and he certainly was too damn attractive to ignore. She walked to her dresser. She needed to be away from him to clear her head, even if it was just hiding away in her bedroom.

  She put on jeans, a T-shirt, and running shoes. She studied her reflection as she brushed out her damp hair and pulled it into a ponytail. She was going to get hurt even worse by the time this was over. Spending one night with the guy was already affecting her to the point that she’d had to fight bawling like a baby in the kitchen. What would happen when it was time for her to go? After getting used to touching Grady, having him around, it would be hell when it ended.

  She shook her head sadly. It would be really stupid to set herself up for that kind of pain. She wasn’t psychic but she knew she’d fall harder for the guy.

  He wanted a werewolf mate. Hell, what could she offer him anyway? Her life was in Orange County. She’d have to give up her shitty apartment and have to quit the job she couldn’t even stand. She’d never see her friends, who were in relationships and who barely found time for her anyway.

  She winced. The truth hurt. Giving up her life in Orange County wouldn’t be difficult at all.

  Mika sighed. If Grady wanted to mate her, she’d go for it, even if it was totally nuts since she barely knew him. She’d have a sexy, hot man in her bed every night. He had a job, so he wasn�€