“Yeah, yeah, you’ve been giving me the punishment is coming face for two weeks, and yet, not a single bit of ass smacking or shackling or anything remotely punishment, well fun punishment, related has been delivered.”

“You nearly died!”

“But I didn’t and I’m alive and I need you to be yourself. All of you. I need you to talk to me about this situation and I need you to own me, to top me. I…” she shook her head, “…I feel so safe when you’re totally yourself with me.”

He nuzzled her neck. “I’ve held your wrists and bitten your neck.” His c**k came to life, pressing against his zipper.

“Mmm, God that’s good.” She undulated, grinding her pu**y against his cock. Her heat found him through her dress and his jeans. “Not enough. Not for you either. You’re holding back. Don’t.”

“I wasn’t a werewolf before. What if I hurt you?”

The rich scent of her pu**y tickled his senses as she stroked him through his jeans.

“You won’t. You didn’t before. And you won’t hurt me by telling me you want to be here either.”

“Tegan, my gorgeous red wolf, war is here and I can’t expect you to be away from your family.” He bit down on her nipple, her stuttered breath skittered through his senses.

“Shit. Oh, more. Ben, that’s so good. Take me like you want to. No more training wheels. I’m a big girl, I can say, whoa boy too hard if that’s the case.”

Fisting the front of her dress, he yanked, pulling it apart and baring her br**sts to his mouth. Her heartbeat sped, he tasted it on his tongue along with her desire, her need and his own, mixed.

“You’re my family. You can’t be what you need to be within Cascadia. You know that.” Her head dropped back and she moaned deep in her throat as he sucked hard on one nipple and then the other. “And, well, Cade is going to have enough to deal with without having to constantly deal with how the other wolves will react to you. We’re predators…yes, oh yes, that…” Her sentence trailed off into an inarticulate squeal and then a sigh.

He’d sort of gotten that feeling from Cade when they’d spoken. Cade clearly felt conflicted. He loved his sister and liked Ben but there would be problems with Ben remaining a lower ranked wolf.

“There will be infighting. You’re too strong to be outside the Inner Circle and yet unfit for any role but Enforcer.” She managed to breathe this last bit out as she held on to his shoulders, back arched to press into his mouth.

And there was the unspoken. His mother had refused to speak to any of them once they’d given her the news about his change. She’d gone crazy, accusing Cascadia of kidnapping Ben and changing him against his will. Going so far as to make a police report. He’d had to admit to being a wolf, which technically shouldn’t put his job in jeopardy but his boss didn’t hesitate when Ben asked for leave time.

His father had been in regular contact as had Jillian but his mother wouldn’t take his calls at all. It hurt deeply but he had the best thing in the universe right there on his lap and truth be told, he knew he’d be an excellent Enforcer for Great Lakes. The rest of the Pack had already accepted his dominance and he worked great with Maxwell. Chicago would be a good city to live in, to raise a family in. They could be happy but he didn’t want Tegan to have regrets. She’d lost so much, he couldn’t bear to take anything else from her.

He stood, keeping her wrapped around him as he headed into their bedroom.

“Go get the toy bag. It’s in the closet.”

When he put her down, she moved quickly to the closet, her dress falling away from her body as she stepped over it, leaving a pale blue puddle of fabric in her wake. He knew she’d let it fall that way to entice him. Loved that she seduced him even as he seduced her right back.

“Pretty panties,” he said as she returned, dropping the bag at his feet. He drew a fingertip over the front of the silky material, her wetness scorching him. Flicking idly over her swollen clit he smiled when her hips jerked forward.

He pulled the panties off her body and breathed her in, watching her pupils widen, hearing her intake of breath, knowing it turned her on to see him that way. The panties were cool against his lips for a moment before he tossed them to the head of their bed.

“I didn’t bring everything of course. But let’s see what we’ve got in there.” Kneeling in front of her body, he admired the long, pretty line of her, her strong legs, the naked pu**y, the slight flare of her belly and hips, coral colored ni**les, hard just for him. Her eyes were glassy, her face calm. She’d already begun to slip into subspace and he’d barely touched her.

So responsive, so beautiful and strong. And all his. That she gave herself to him so completely went through him. He knew she was a gift, every moment he was with her, he knew that. Resisting truly topping her had been so difficult and as he knelt there, looking in the bag, he wondered what had taken him so long. Perhaps a fear she’d react to him differently since she’d been so harmed, or maybe a fear he’d harm her himself. But he wouldn’t and she knew it. Suddenly everything was all right again.

“Spread your pu**y open for me,” he ordered, leaning in to lick her clit fast and hard, stealing her breath as he filled himself with her taste. She made a sound, low, needy, deep in her throat.

He’d start her off with orgasm and then give her a few more because he loved to make her come, loved the sounds she made, loved the way she writhed, loved the way she became languid and sensual as endorphins flooded her body. He made her that way.