Chapter Three

 

Sedona

 

As if I wasn’t dizzy enough from my orgasm, the fuckers turned the lights out on us. It would be pitch black to a human. Shifters can see in the dark, so I’m not completely blind.

They must have decided it’s our official bedtime. I cling to Carlos’ head because I need something real and solid to steady myself.

Carlos mutters a curse and eases my leg down from his shoulder. He traces up my thighs with his palms until he reaches my waist. “Okay, ángel?”

“Yeah.” I sound winded. Well, an orgasm will do that to you.

His palm coasts over the curve of my buttocks ever so lightly, then he gives them a squeeze. “All right,” he clears his throat. “I should let you sleep. I’ll take the floor.”

He stands and my stomach flips at the loss of his warmth. “I don’t mind sharing.”

“Oh muñeca. I would kill to share a bed with you, but it would end with me pounding that sweet pussy of yours until the lights come back on. So no, I’ll take the floor.”

Lordy, he knows how to talk dirty. His words skitter over my skin, leaving trails of heat everywhere they touch. The room is still spinning from the best cunnilingus of my life.

No wonder he was offended when I suggested we fool around. A man like Carlos gives everything he has in bed and takes everything in return. He’s a total alpha. Dominant. Demanding. I had no idea that kind of thing turned me on, but it does.

Even though he said he’d take the floor, he’s still standing beside the bed, staring down at me with the look of a starving man. His erection is huge and long, curving up toward his washboard abs.

I lick my lips, the taste of mango still sweet on them. “M-maybe you should take the pressure off. You know, with your hand.”

Carlos exhales audibly. As if he’d been waiting for permission, he immediately fists his cock. “Lie back, doll. Show me what I’m not going to have.”

He must have a streak of masochism along with that dominant swagger.

But who am I to deny him? He just gave me the best orgasm of my life. I lie back on the bed and cup my own breasts.

He growls and starts pumping his thick cock. “Are you going to let me paint you with my cum, muñeca?”

“Yes,” I whisper, before I even know how to answer.

“Sweet wolf,” he murmurs.

I reach my fingers between my legs and stroke my pussy.

Carlos’ growls fill the room. Emboldened, I crawl up, sit on my heels and open my mouth. Carlos slaps the head of his cock against my tongue as he beats off. “Carajo, Sedona. That tongue has been my torture.”

I wrap my hands around his fist and pull his cock into my mouth, closing my lips around his girth and stroking the underside with my tongue.

“Oh fates,” he groans. I suck harder and bob my head forward and back over his length. “Baby, yes. So sweet.” He tunnels his fingers into my hair and then closes them, stopping my head with a gentle tug.

“Such a good girl,” he croons as he slowly pushes his cock in my mouth. I tense, knowing I can’t take his full length. He stops halfway and eases out, then repeats the action. “Mmm, so good.” His voice is deep and raspy. “I can’t believe you offered up that sexy mouth of yours. I’ve been wanting to kiss it since the moment I saw you, Sedona. Now I’m fucking it.”

My pussy clenches. I want him to fuck me, but I know that’s a bad idea. I swirl my tongue around his cock, taking a long pull.

“Enough,” he barks. He sounds angry, and his brows are drawn up tight. He pulls my mouth off using my hair and pushes me onto my back. “Touch yourself.”

No argument here. My pussy is dying for round two. I cup my mons, pushing the heel of my hand against my clit and undulating my fingers over the rest.

Carlos roars and cum shoots out his cock in ribbons, covering my breasts, my belly, my thighs. He paints me with it, as if it gives him pleasure to see my skin decorated with his seed. I arch on the bed, my breasts thrusting toward the ceiling, knees falling wide. He shoves my hand out of the way and slaps my pussy, short, sharp slaps right over my clit. I can’t comprehend how he knows such a thing will satisfy me, but it does. It’s exactly the right intensity, the right speed, the right sensation. Lights flash before my eyes as I explode into a second orgasm, writhing in ecstasy and agony on the bed.

“Sedona.”

Fates, I love the way he says my name.

He falls down on top of me, pinning my wrists, exactly the way I’d imagined, and buries his face in my neck. “Beautiful she-wolf. What will I do with you?” He bites my shoulder, suckles my ear lobe.

Keep me forever.

But that’s ridiculous. Just because a wolf gives a good orgasm doesn’t mean he’s my mate.

No, he can’t help himself because we’re locked naked in a cell together over the full moon. And lord knows, by the time we get out, I won’t ever want to see him again, anyway.

Yeah, that’s a lie, but I don’t want to examine my feelings on the subject. Not now, anyway.

I close my eyes and breathe in Carlos’ scent. It’s like the outdoors—woodsy and clean. And delicious.

Carlos releases my wrists and settles beside me on the bed. I roll into him, accept his arm as my pillow. My nose rubs against the smooth skin of his chest. My wolf relaxes. In her opinion, I’m totally safe with him.

I don’t know how we got from fucked-up kidnapping situation to this, but I’m going to enjoy it while I can.

 

~.~

 

Carlos

 

Sedona falls asleep in my arms and it’s impossible for me to rest. Her scent is up in my nostrils, her bare skin touching mine. I’m hard again in minutes. I close my eyes and distract myself by brooding over the elders. I’ve been blind to the problems I’ve seen since I returned to Monte Lobo this month. Things seemed bad, but I didn’t want to think the worst of the council. These men stepped in as role models for me when my father died. They supported my education, encouraged me to spread my wings. Or so I thought.

At the time, I’d been grateful to leave. My mother was going mad from my father’s death and I was too young to take the role of alpha. The elders stepped up to look after her, and I was relieved not to have to see her suffer day in and day out.

Now I see they were getting me out of their way. I didn’t realize just how power crazy and fucked up they were until they pulled this stunt.

When I came home three weeks ago to take my place as alpha, I’d presented the ideas I worked on while I was getting my MBA. In this pack, the alpha doesn’t act alone, he must gain support of el consejo first. It’s always been that way.

The elders tabled most of my suggestions. They had a million reasons why each of my changes wouldn’t work. They urged me to go back out in the world and bring back a mate. Let them take care of business here as usual. As they had for years.

I’ve been frustrated, but I thought I just needed a little more time to prove myself as alpha. I told myself they were reasonable and intelligent men who wanted the best for the pack. But I ignored my gut, which told me el consejo had let power cloud their vision.

This stunt proves it. Purchasing a kidnapped American female and holding her prisoner? Are they insane? She has family who will surely seek revenge, and this pack is ill-prepared for war.

And now I know what they think of me as their leader. I’m nothing more than a virile young stud to repopulate the Montelobo bloodline. A puppet or figurehead for the peasants to follow while they make decisions that profit only them.

I’ve been a goddamn fool. I stayed blind to this situation because I preferred not to see it. Just like I preferred not to return. Since my father’s death and my mother’s mental illness, the atmosphere at the hacienda has become oppressive, but I chose not to figure out why and fix it. I’ve failed my pack, and now Sedona is caught in the middle of a horrific power play.

Sedona sighs and rubs her nose in my chest hairs. My cock stretches even longer.

Maybe I should jack off again. Oh fates, now the image of spilling my essence over her gorgeous breasts careens into my mind and it’s all over. Before I know it, Sedona’s pinned beneath me, my cock straining in the notch between her legs. Her pussy moistens against my thick member, her ass presses against my loins, soft and inviting.

“What the—?”

The urge to penetrate her tight pussy and satisfy my wolf is so great, I can barely reason. Off. Get off her. Now.

I throw myself to the side, panting as if I’ve run a mile. “Lock me up,” I rasp. “Put the cuffs on me, doll, or your innocence won’t survive the night.” I stretch my arm out and lock one wrist in the cuff, then reach the second toward the other cuff. “Do it,” I bite out.

Her hands tremble as it snaps in place, which fucking slays me.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Sedona. I didn’t mean to.” Madre de Dios, I almost claimed the girl.

“It’s okay.” Her voice is shaky. She’s on her knees, her glorious hair falling down across her breasts. She stares down at me. “What makes you think I’m innocent?”

“You said you hadn’t been with a wolf.”

“I’m not prude. And I hate the word innocent.”

I stretch out my palms where they are cuffed. “Sorry.” I can’t decide if this is just the alpha female thing of not wanting to admit any weakness, or if she really is a virgin.

She flicks my ear with her finger. “I don’t have a lot of experience. That doesn’t mean I don’t like sex.”

Oh fates. Did she have to say that? I suddenly want to find out every single thing she likes about it. But anything I do to her in this cell would be akin to rape. She’s here against her will. Thank the fates I’m cuffed and she’s safe from me.

Sedona moistens her lips with her tongue and my hips snap in response. She catches the movement, but rather than frightening her, it makes her smile. “Hmm, I thought we took care of this.” She grips the base of my cock and gives it a shake.

I groan. “Sit on my face,” I plead. I need to satisfy her again, need to taste her nectar.

“I don’t know,” she says in a teasing voice. “I’m not sure you deserve this pussy after the way you just tried to attack me.”

Oh fates. If she goes domme on me, I’m going to smack her ass red when I get out of these cuffs.

And that thought does nothing to ease my throbbing member. How I’d love to have this she-wolf face down over my lap, squirming while I deliver a little pain-pleasure. A correction for taking the lead when it belongs to me.

“Baby, you’d better not be keeping that pussy from me. I need to taste it. Now, muñeca.”

Sedona’s lips curve and her eyelids droop. She crawls up and straddles my face. “This pussy?”

I flick her clit with my tongue. “This pussy.” It’s torture not being able to use my hands, because I want to grip that lush ass of hers and pull her hips down at the perfect angle, but I have to settle with angling my head. I have her at my mercy for a moment, but she pulls her hips up, dancing away when it becomes too intense. She gets to set the pace, which drives me fucking insane.

“Get that pussy back down on me,” I growl, infusing dark authority into my voice.

Her arousal floods her folds as she obeys, and I lap it up, teasing her entrance with my tongue, swirling over her clit.

She grips my cock again and I shudder, nearly coming from the sensation. “I guess I’m supposed to reciprocate.”

“No, beautiful. This is for you.”

She ignores me and leans down, putting her mouth over my cock.

I shout and flick my tongue over her clit like my life depends on it. She slides her hot wet mouth down, lower and lower, slowing when she reaches the back of her throat, then going on.

“Carajo... carajo. Muñeca, tell me you never deep throated those human boys of yours.”

“You like that?” she purrs, but lifts her hips from my mouth and crawls away from me.

“What are you doing? Get back here,” I demand.

She settles between my legs and smiles. “I’m not sure you’re in any position to give orders around here, señor.”

I yank at the chains holding my wrists and she laughs. “Sedona, there are consequences for she-wolves who tease.”

Her smile grows broader. “Oh yeah?” She drops her head to take my cock between her lips again and I close my eyes, the sensation too pleasurable to withstand. She continues her tease, practicing her deep throat skills at her own pace, sometimes pulling off and gagging, but then going right back to it.

My canines lengthen, wolf ready to mark her. I close my mouth and turn my face away, not wanting her to see and be frightened. Not that my Sedona shows fear of much. Considering she’s been kidnapped and held prisoner for days now, her resilience is stunning. Growls reverberate in my throat and I can’t stop myself from jacking my hips up, thrusting into her mouth.

“Uh-uh.” She pulls off entirely and blows on my wet cock. “Who’s running this show?”

I thrash my head from side to side. If I try to speak, it’ll come out a snarl.

“Do you need some time to cool off?”

“No,” I grit through clenched teeth.

She laughs, thoroughly enjoying my misery, and puts her mouth back over my cock. The contrast of the cool air and now her moist heat sends me into a paroxysm of pleasure. I snarl, thrusting up into her mouth without control as cum shoots up my shaft.

“I’m coming,” I warn and she pops off, angling my cock so my essence paints her beautiful breasts for the second time tonight.

She uses my cock to smear it over them, then squeezes it between her breasts, letting me fuck them a few times before she releases my dick with a self-satisfied smirk.

“Ángel, I will punish you for that,” I growl.

She grins. “You’re assuming I’m going to let you out of those cuffs.”

I close my eyes with exasperation, but a smile plays on my lips. The lightness in my chest—in my being—is one I’ve never experienced. My whole life has been darkness. Even my time away from this place, was a time for serious study, dedication, hard work, and achievement. And I always carried the burden of Montelobo. But now, in this moment, with Sedona’s teasing smile, I swear I could float off the bed.

But she’s not mine to keep, and if I wish to be a mate worthy of her, I need to figure out how to get her free before she’s dragged down alongside me.

 

~.~

 

Council Elder

 

It’s late but I stand with the four other members of our council outside the prison cell door. None of us will sleep this night. If Carlos doesn’t claim the American she-wolf under the influence of the full moon, their communion will be far harder to ensure.

They’re close—so playful, but we hadn’t counted on his using the shackles on himself.

“Maybe we should turn the lights back on, to make sure they don’t sleep,” Jose suggests. He’d ordered them to be shut off an hour ago thinking it would free them from any repression. While receptive, the she-wolf appeared to be inexperienced. She does not seem so now, though.

“Food,” I suggest. “Let’s send in food. And wine.” Perhaps Carlos will ask for his shackles to be removed to eat. A plate has already been prepared in expectation that Carlos would demand more to eat, so I pick it up. “Juanito, push this through the serving door.”

The boy complies. I pour wine in a plastic tumbler. We would use something more romantic, but we can’t risk either of them using anything as a weapon against each other or us, so light plastic is the best we can do.

The she-wolf approaches to investigate. She’s spectacular. Judging by the way our small group of elderly males tightens around the door, I’m not the only one who finds his libido has returned when faced with such a symbol of shifter fertility. She’s truly a prize. If I weren’t so old, I’d claim her as my own. Fight every member of the council to do it, too. That’s what concerns me. If she inspires Carlos too much, when we release him, he will be out for blood.

 

~.~

 

Sedona

 

I never really got the whole horny during the full moon thing before, but I’m crazy turned on right now. I thought only male shifters were affected. And yes, Carlos is definitely having a hard time keeping his wolf in check. I can see it shining in his eyes. The deep chocolate brown flickers with amber lights.

“Is your wolf all black?” I couldn’t tell before, he was tearing around the room too fast.

“Yes. Come here,” Carlos rumbles and wraps his legs around my waist, dragging me down to his body.

I dance away from him, slipping out from his leg hold with a giggle. Lordy, I want to tussle. My wolf is coming out, too, and I need to run and be chased, to be taken to the ground and held down for my claiming.

Carlos growls his disapproval. “Get over here.” I love his bossy tone. It’s pure alpha command. On my father or brother, it’s annoying. On him, it’s ultra-sexy.

I slither close, and lick a line up his six-pack abs.

A rumble of frustration sounds in his throat. “What color is your wolf, Sedona?”

“White.”

“Claro que si.”

I roll my eyes. “Why of course?”

“You really are an angel. White and pure. Nothing like me. Such lightness doesn’t belong with dark.”

“Carlos…” I sense the weight of all that rides on his shoulders and once more I’m angry on his behalf. I run my nails over his sculpted chest. “You don’t have to be dark.”

“No?” There’s doubt tinging the word. “I’m not sure I’ve ever known anything different.”

I pinch one of his nipples and he growls. “Well, you’re a smart wolf. I’m sure you could learn.”

His smile is sad, but his gaze is warm, as if I’m a kid who just said something sweet but impossibly naive, like I want to give my bubble gum to the starving kids in Africa.

“What? Why not?” I press.

“I wish you could show me,” he says it wistfully, like he knows he can’t keep me.

For a moment I can’t breathe—his words strangle me. He’s right—I’m not sticking around. His problems aren’t mine. Except there’s a sharp sliver of panic running from my belly button to my solar plexus that says I don’t want to leave this wolf.

“You don’t need me.” I force the words out past the band around my throat. “You have an MBA from Harvard. I’ll bet you have all kinds of ideas of how to modernize this place.” My words fall flat because I know lightness and dark is so much more than modernization. It’s the soul of the place, the mental state of the occupants. Something’s made Carlos believe he can’t change things. “Tell you what. You get me out of here and... I’ll write you.” Another crazy twinge in my belly at the thought of being separated.

“You’ll send me your fairies, Sedona?”

“Yes. Just promise you won’t show them to anyone.”

“It will be my secret, though I’m sure I’ll want to show your talent to everyone I meet.”

My cheeks warm. He knows just how to charm me.

“If I honor your request, there is something you must promise me—”

A scraping sound by the door brings my head up with a snap. A plastic plate of food appears through the little service window at the base of the door, along with a new plastic tumbler. Prison rations. Carlos uses the chains on his wrists to leverage himself to sitting, his brows puckered.

I get up and pad over to retrieve the goods. The cup holds red wine. The plate has an array of cut fruits, crackers, cheese, and chocolate. There’s even a mashed avocado with pistachio nuts and a white crumbly cheese. Suddenly famished, I dip a cracker into it and take a bite.

“Dinner is served.” I walk back, food and wine in hand. “See? The hospitality here isn’t so bad.”

He mutters something in Spanish.

“Looks like I get to feed you this time.” Proffering the wine, I scoot closer to him on the bed.

“Uh-uh. No. Unlock me now.”

It’s hilarious how firm Carlos is. He’ll stand me giving him a blowjob, but apparently feeding him crosses a line.

“Sorry, Charlie.” My nipples harden as I hold a cracker with avocado dip up to his lips. There’s something hot about serving an alpha wolf in my birthday suit.

He takes a bite, his dark-lashed brown eyes locked on my face. “I should be feeding you,” he complains, although his jutting erection proves this is hot to him, too.

I roll my eyes. “You’re so old-fashioned.”

He arches a brow. “Look where I grew up.”

I pop another bite of cracker with dip in his mouth, watch his full lips as he chews.

I kneel beside him, loving the way his eyes rake over my breasts, the hunger there. “Tell me about this place. What’s it like? How did you become alpha?”

Clouds storm over his expression. “It’s... terrible,” he admits. “Completely isolated from the modern world. Not poor, but backwards. We have gold and silver mines, which is part of why the ancestors isolated—to keep them a secret—but the methods of mining are ancient and unsafe. Most of the pack survives on subsistence farming and low wages from the mine. We also have plots of sugarcane, a little coffee, and cacao. All the profits go to my family and the council, who live in this gran hacienda.”

“The pack is led by the council, not you?”

“Yes, exactly so. I don’t know how it came about, but there has always been a council that makes final decisions for the pack. The alpha is more of a figurehead.”

“Well I think your council sucks.”

“Indeed.” His voice is dark. I feed him a slice of an orange star-shaped fruit.

“Why did you come back?” I think I know. He’s a natural alpha, which means he wouldn’t shirk responsibility, especially for the weak who might depend on him. But I want to hear what he says.

“You know,”—he gives a humorless chuckle—“if it weren’t for my mother I might not have. And sometimes I’m not even sure she knows I’m here.”

I wait for the story.

“She suffers from dementia. She has since my father’s death. The poor woman doesn’t belong here. She was given as a gift to my father from a pack on the coast and although she loved my father, she never took to Monte Lobo.”

“Given as a gift?”

Carlos nods.

“As in, forced to marry, like some medieval princess? What is this, the Dark Ages?” And I thought my dad’s dating policy was old fashioned.

“It may as well be. Monte Lobo is a fortress against time, as well as humans. Most of the pack live as serfs.”

“Let me guess. The council keeps it that way.” I run my hand through my hair. “This place is messed up. No wonder these assholes think they can just grab me from a beach and present me to their alpha.”

Carlos winces. “I know it sounds barbaric to you.” His expression turns brooding. “I would never bury a woman in a life she hated.”

I can’t tell if he’s talking about what his father did, or making a promise to me, but a chill runs across my skin.

I take a deep drink from the cup of wine. I’m not a huge drinker, but my brother does run a nightclub. The wine is expensive. Delicious. It warms my entire body. I swallow more and bring it to Carlos’ lips.

“What did you want me to promise you?”

He takes a sip and a drip falls down his chin.

I lick it off, laughing when his cock bobs in response. “In exchange for my fairies,” I remind him, my voice pure seduction.

“I don’t wish this event to traumatize you. You’re an extraordinary wolf. You have much to enjoy of life, and much to give.”

“Thanks.”

“Promise me, when you are free, you will not fear. You will still make your choices. Travel, like you wanted to. Forget this time. Forget me.”

“I promise I will live without fear,” I whisper. “But, I can never forget.” Not this time. Not him. Deep down, I know it’s true. I’ve known him only a few hours, but, somehow, he’s a part of me.

“Come here.” He lifts his chin, gaze on my lips.

I know he wants a kiss, but I can’t resist the temptation to straddle his lap first, then slant my lips over his.

He growls, drawing my lower lip into his mouth, taking control back, even with his wrists bound. He tastes of wine and fruit. His facial hair rubs against my face as he tilts his head and masters me with his kiss, tongue sweeping between my lips.

My breath comes faster, liquid heat pooling between my legs. I moan and rub my clit over his erect cock. His tongue twines with mine. I wonder if these are the kinds of kisses he gives on dates and I’m immediately furious with every girl he’s had sex with. As if one of them were here now, waiting to take him away from me, I loop an arm around his neck and claim his mouth right back, pressing my breasts against his muscled chest.

Nothing’s ever felt so right in my life. Would it be the worst thing in the world to have sex with him? He’s an alpha wolf, a magnificent lover. For a first, it probably doesn’t get any better than that. And he doesn’t harbor any illusion of keeping me. He just said goodbye, for fates’ sake.

The wine is working its magic, along with Carlos’ tongue, slipping in and out of my mouth on the same rhythm I’m grinding over his cock.

A wanton sound leaves my mouth. I want him. My wolf wants him.

I look down at his cock erect between us. I shift back and grip it and Carlos breaks off the kiss. I watch him struggle with his wolf, eyes changing from chocolate brown to amber and back to brown.

“Don’t do it,” he growls.

I freeze. I expected encouragement. Well, he just told me to make my own choices. I line his cock up with my entrance and rub the head in my juices.

His eyes widen, almost with panic. “Sedona.”

“What?”

“What are you doing, ángel?”

I thrust my hips forward and take a half inch of his head into my channel. He’s huge and I’m tight, so there’s a momentary stretch.

Carlos yanks on the restraints like he wants to stop me.

“Please,” I whine. “I need this.”

“Sedona, you’re killing me.”

I wrench back, sitting on my heels. His huge cock waves in front of me, inviting my touch. I wrap my hand around it and he groans.

“I want you.” I look him in the eye as I tell him. “I want this.”

“You don’t know what you’re doing.” Sweat beads on his forehead, his breath is harsh and labored.

“I do. You told me yourself. It’s time I start living my own life. Making my own choices. I choose you.” I lean into him. “This is happening.”

He shuts his eyes.

I pick up the key to the cuffs. I may have decided to get my V-card punched, but it will probably be a way better experience if he’s free, since he’s the one who knows what he’s doing.

I start to unlock him, and his eyes snap open.

“No,” he roars. There’s an urgency to his voice that makes my wolf sit up and listen. I have a biological response to his alpha command. My pussy turns molten, my body goes weak with submission. But that only makes me want this more. “Don’t uncuff me. You’re not safe.”

“I don’t want to be safe,” I remind him. I’m not teasing, not brave. Not when he pulls alpha on me. But I’ve made my decision. I’m not going to let some male authority take away my choices, like I have my whole life.

I get one of his wrists unlocked. The minute his hand comes free, he snatches my nape and yanks my mouth to his. His tongue plunges before I can catch my breath. He dominates my mouth, punishing me with a hard, demanding kiss.

But when he breaks away, he shakes his head, his dark eyes glowing amber at the edges. “I can’t,” he pants, “—not safe.”

But my wolf needs this as much as his. She’s decided she’s having him. My fingers tremble as I release the second wrist cuff.

Carlos is free.

He lunges for me. In a flash, I’m flat on my back knees spread up to my shoulders. Carlos attacks my pussy with his mouth, hungry, devouring. He sucks and nips my labia, suctions his mouth right over my clit and pulls hard.

I scream, back bowing up on the mattress.

Fates, yes.

“Fuck, Sedona,” he growls, palming my ass, squeezing my cheeks firmly enough to leave marks. It satisfies me on a deep level, his intensity meets the burning need within me.

He drags his open mouth up my belly and latches his lips over my nipple, biting before sucking it hard.

I arch up, pussy contracting as I feel the ghost of his tongue still there. "Please," I whimper. I don't need foreplay. In fact, I’ll die if he gets me any more aroused. I need satisfaction. No tongue. No fingers. Even though I've never had a cock, my instincts scream for consummation in that way. I somehow know nothing else will do but to feel the hard length of him moving between my legs.

Carlos pops off my nipple and shocks me to my toes by slapping the same breast he'd just pleasured.

"Oh." I didn't even know that was a thing, but I freaking love it. "Carlos, please. I'm ready."

He slaps my breast again. His brows are drawn low; passion, hunger, pure animal nature burns in his eyes. Anger, too, because he’s still working hard to keep his wolf in check. "You'll take whatever I give you, muñeca. I told you not to unlock me. In fact, I think a little punishment is in order.”

Wait... what? I jerk up onto my elbows.

He scoops me into his arms, spins around and sits on the side of the bed, draping me over his lap. His hand crashes down three times before I can wiggle my ass. “That’s for teasing me, mi amor.”

Oh, it’s on. My wolf wants to struggle, only to feel his mastery. If we were in animal form, he’d be chasing me through the woods now, nipping my flank.

He keeps spanking. “And this is for not listening. The cuffs were for your safety.”

Oh lordy. My ass burns, but it feels so right. Again, it’s exactly the intensity I crave. I need this pain, need something to ease the pressure building inside me.

Because my wolf craves the game, I kick and try to throw myself off him, but he’s quick, clamping his leg over mine and pinning my wrists behind my back. I love feeling his physical power, how easily he holds me in place for his punishment. He keeps slapping my ass. The heat his spanks produces is wonderful. Intoxicating.

“You over-estimate my control, muñeca. You think I can give you what you desire without tearing you up?”

Tearing me up sounds a little scary, but I do still have faith in him. He won’t lose control. Not when he cares this much about keeping me safe.

“Fates. This ass.” I’m guessing that’s a compliment. The rich baritone of his voice reverberates in my lady parts. He slaps one of my cheeks and then the other. “It was made for spanking.”

I shiver, the idea of real discipline at his hands making something strange slither in my belly. Wolves are, by nature, ruled by physical dominance. Swift corporal correction comes within the pack, and also between partners. Wolves heal quickly, so there’s no harm, no foul to any of it. It’s dominance played out, re-establishing who’s on top. I’ve never been afraid of it, but I never knew it would be this exciting. Sexual. Pleasurable. Or maybe it’s just this way with Carlos. Or during the full moon.

But no, I know the thrumming need between my thighs has nothing to do with the full moon and everything to do with being mastered by this sexy wolf, having my ass painted red by his large, powerful hand.

I squeeze my thighs together, trying to ease the throb in my swollen sex. Carlos spanks me with a steady beat. As the pain begins to set in, I squeeze my bottom and writhe over his lap, trying to dodge the slaps. “Carlos,” I gasp. My ass tingles and burns.

“Sedona.” His deep voice is still rough. He catches the back of my thigh, where the flesh is more tender.

“Oh!”

His erection juts into my hip, torturing me with its closeness, as I tortured him earlier.

“Please,” I plead.

His spanking hand fists my hair and he pulls my head up. “You think I have any control when you’re wiggling this juicy ass all over my lap?”

“More,” I gasp hoarsely.

He growls, a rich sound that rumbles in his chest and sends my toes curling. When he starts to spank again, the slaps fall even harder, but my flesh, already warm and tingling, seems to welcome the blows. I still squirm under the onslaught, my better instincts trying to avoid the pain, even as my baser ones welcome it.

“Carlos.” Need threads my voice.

“That’s right, beautiful. Say my name.” He catches the back of my other thigh, making me cry out. “Say it again.”

“Carlos!”

He picks up both the speed and intensity of his slaps, so the blows fall one after the next, stinging and smarting every inch of my bottom.

“Ouch, Carlos! Ow, please! Oh... oh!” It’s too much and not enough all at once. I lift my bottom to greet his hand, part my thighs, moisture dripping from my wanton pussy.

“Please what?” He’s panting as hard as I am.

I kick my feet and hump his lap, wild for something more, something less, for everything.

He pauses, then gives me one more hard slap and pulls me up to sit on his lap, facing away from him. He parts his knees, dragging my legs, which were tangled over the tops of his, wide. “You still want more, Sedona?” His breath is scorching hot on my ear. “You’re going to get this pussy spanked.” He wraps a firm arm around my waist and brings his hand down between my legs.

“Ooh, ooh!” I squeal, but leave my knees open.

He slaps again. With his other hand, he crushes my breast, massaging too hard. After the third spank against my dripping folds, I practically sob with need. Thankfully, his fingers stay and cup my mons. I squirm against them. He screws one finger in and I grab his hand and urge it deeper. “So wet for me.” He groans, like a broken man. “Impossible to resist.”

I struggle, need making me impatient. The struggle satisfies everything, though. I manage to squirm out of his grip and he tackles me onto the bed, catching my wrists and pinioning them in one hand over my head.

He rises up over me. Dark determination wrestles with wild wolf in his expression.

I spread my legs, curl my pelvis up for him as his hips settle over mine. He brings one hand down to grip his cock, pain rippling over his face like he's fighting for control.

"Yes, yes, Carlos." I'm moaning like a porn star and he hasn't even penetrated me.

He rubs his cock over my slit and I moan louder.

This velvet soft flesh over rock-hard muscle is precisely what I've missed my whole life. Fingers are a poor substitute. “Give it to me.”

In a single thrust, he fills me and I scream in shock. His cock is so much bigger than his finger. I feel the head hit deep inside while he stretches my entrance wide.

“Sedona!” His eyes fly wide, only frenzied breaths issue from his frozen form. “Ángel, no.”

I guess it’s obvious I was a virgin. I don’t know why I didn’t want to admit it earlier.

His gaze glows pure amber now, sweat drips down his temples, but somehow he keeps from moving his hips. He’s a goddamn saint for holding back. I may have begged for it, but I struggle to catch my breath from the burst of pain when he plowed me open.

“You should have told me,” he growls over clenched teeth. “You deserve so much better than this.”

He may regret popping my cherry, but I’m not sorry. Already, the sharp pain is gone and the sensation of being filled by him is pure heaven. My hips move of their own accord. “Shut up.” I thrust them upward. “Give it to me, Carlos.”

Carlos shudders, eyes back to brown—no, black. With his face screwed up in pained concentration, he rocks his hips.

It’s a mixture of pain and pleasure for me, then the pain recedes and pleasure floods every cell in my body. “More.” I wrap my legs around his waist and urge him deeper, faster.

Carlos roars and slams into me, animal unleashed. His eyes flash amber as he fists the chains on the bedposts and fills me over and over again.

I throw my hands up to the wall to keep my head from hitting. He pulls out and gives his head a shake. I think he’s trying to speak but all that comes out are growls. He rises up on his knees, cupping my ass, which he lifts in the air with him. He holds me at an angle, pulls my hips to meet his thrusts, getting so deep inside I swear he’ll split me open.

My eyes roll back in my head, mouth open for my steady cries.

Carlos fills the room with growls, amber eyes fire-like against the dark of his hair and skin. I wonder if mine have changed to ice-blue. Just as I’m about to come, he pulls out, flips me over and pulls my hips up so I’m on my knees. When I climb to my hands, he shoves between my shoulder blades, forcing my upper body down.

Oh. Apparently he likes the angle thing.

As soon as he enters me, I understand why. Fates, he’s even deeper from this position, but it feels so right. He grips my hips with bruising force and plows into me, his loins slapping hard against my still smarting ass, cock gliding in and out at the perfect trajectory. His balls slap my clit.

It’s hard to imagine being fucked any harder than this, but there’s no pain, no discomfort, no fear. I’m drowning in pleasure and only Carlos knows how to give it to me. I quite possibly lose my mind, maybe I black out, maybe I shot to Jupiter for a moment. The next thing I know, Carlos’ snarls roar in my ear. I’m coming, my muscles gripping his cock and squeeze-releasing over and over again. He drags us both down flat, me on my belly, his body covering mine.

And then he bites me.

 

~.~

 

Carlos

 

Sedona’s yelp of pain brings me back from the brink and I realize my teeth are buried in her shoulder. Mierda.

I disengage my fangs and lap her wound, licking away the blood, providing the healing enzymes of my saliva for her quick recovery. It’s not the actual wound that’s the problem, though. It’s the ramifications of what I’ve done.

Marked her.

She’ll carry my scent for the rest of her life. More than that, I’m bonded forever to her. As much as I may have wanted to fight the elders to set her free, I will now kill anyone who tries to take her from me.

Fuck.

“I’m sorry,” I rasp. I ease my cock from her glorious channel and roll off her. I mean to scoop her into my arms, but she shifts, whether out of fury or pain, I don’t know. “Sedona.”

Her wolf is gorgeous—snow white with silver tipped ears and the palest of blue eyes. Big, healthy. Beautiful. She stalks around the room, moving stiffly like I’ve caused her pain in more places than her shoulder.

Double fuck. I’m the king asshole of the continent.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to mark you, ángel.” I can’t stand to see her pace this way—my need to comfort her is too great, and it’s harder in wolf form. I stand from the bed, and meet her in the center of the room. She swings her head to turn from me. “Sedona, shift.” I infuse every bit of alpha command into my voice. She will be unable to disobey, even though it will make her angry.

She shifts, unfolding from a crouched position, fury blaring from her eyes. She walks forward and slaps me across the face.

I take it. I deserve this. I deserve much worse. I have forever bound her to me after promising to help her get free. “Forgive me. Please.”

Tears swim in her eyes. “What you did can’t be undone, Carlos.”

I bow my head. “I know.”

“What do you know?” she demands.

I know this conversation isn’t going to be productive, but I also know she’s pissed off and needs a way to let it out. I know I want to hold her, to comfort her, but I’m loathe to force my comfort on her if she hates me now.

I turn away from her, frustrated. Fury at el consejo returns. I pick up the iron bed and throw it against the wall where it clatters and falls to its side.

Sedona’s eyes round.

Because there’s nothing else to do, I pick it up and throw it again, this time in the direction of the door. I know these room are made of steel, that I won’t beat my way out, even with an iron bed, but I’m not above trying.

When I pick it up a third time, Sedona shouts, “Stop!” I turn to find her holding her hands over her ears, tears swimming in those beautiful blue eyes.

I storm her, picking her up against my body with an arm around her waist and walking until her back hits the wall. I kiss her, sucking her lips, claiming her mouth with the ownership of a mate. It’s not fair. It’s not right. But she’s mine now. There’s nothing I can do to change that.

My thigh presses between her legs and I don’t stop tormenting her mouth, fucking it with my tongue, mopping it with my lips. I taste her tears and it only fuels this need to consume her, to devour her. To further establish my claim on her because my wolf knows she’s already slipped away.

“Sedona.” I pull back, let her see every ounce of misery in my being. “I won’t apologize again.” I pound the wall beside her head with my fist. “I’m not sorry. Not sorry for claiming you.”

She sucks in her breath, staring at me with wide eyes.

“You are the prize above all other prizes, and I got to you first,” I say through gritted teeth. It’s wrong, but what I’m saying feels so right. Passion blazes bright in my chest, flowing down my limbs. “You belong to me. I’ve taken you. I will never let you go. And I’m not sorry. You are perfect in every way. Smart, talented, beautiful.” I manage to pry my fist open to touch her cheek. “Funny. You are the light to my darkness. You brought me to life. All these years, I’ve been half-dead. It was the only way to survive the pain of my mother’s illness, my father’s death. The heaviness that belongs to my pack. But you—you sparked me back to life. And for that I cannot be sorry. I cannot. So I beg your forgiveness. I do. But I could never regret claiming you. Not in this lifetime, or any other.”

Sedona’s lips tremble. I have no idea what she’s thinking, what she’s feeling. Whether she’s scared of me or wants to cut my balls off. I didn’t lie. I told her the goddamn truth, and if that makes her hate me forever, so be it. At least she knows.

If I weren’t so out of my mind, I would have registered the sound behind me sooner. The door opens. Sedona jerks in fear and a sharp stab lands between my shoulder blades. The last thing I see is a dart land in my female’s chest before we both crumple to the floor.