Marco spent the rest of the night and the next few days weaving a web of seduction around Catherine. He made love to her repeatedly, each time bringing her to multiple orgasms before seeking and finding his own release. She fussed once or twice about not being protected, but he was able to soothe her protestations.

Catherine woke to find herself once more spooned in Marco’s strong embrace. She smiled as she recognized that he always had his arm wrapped around her, ensuring she could not leave their bed without his waking.

She felt him nuzzle her neck as he realized she was awake. She wiggled around so that she could roll over and face him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and molded herself to his body and smiled as she felt his cock becoming rigid and trying to poke between her legs.

“Good morning,” she purred at him.

“My Catherine,” he sighed. “I always fear when I wake in the morning I will find you were not real and that these last several days were merely an intense dream.”

She giggled. “Ask my ass or my pussy. They would be quick to tell you otherwise.”

“You did not complain so much about the latter.”

“No, you made sure that each and every time you mounted me I was screaming your name. You really don’t fight fair.”

“I have been a warrior too long. I always fight to keep what I hold dear.”

Catherine saw him smile as she hooked one of her legs over his and lined her sheath up with his hard, heated staff.

“Please?” she said softly. “What was it you said to me the last time? Ah, yes, I have need of you, mate.”

Marco smiled broadly. “Mate, is it?”

She nodded quietly. He kissed her.

“Then there is little I could deny you,” he said as he reached down to cup and lift her buttocks before sliding into her and groaning as her pussy contracted around him.

Marco rolled her onto her back and held her close as he gently thrust in and out of her. Catherine could feel his length and breadth. She clung to him with desperation and committed each movement and its resulting feeling to memory. As much as she desperately wanted to believe he was her mate, she didn’t believe they could make a life together. She knew she had to leave him as soon as she could.

If nothing else, she had to find Shannon. Even though the private investigator would no longer take her money and had tried to tell her that her sister was dead, Catherine believed Shannon was still alive, that she could find her and that she could bring her home.

Catherine knew that Marco planned to leave her today to finish up some business and she had decided to take what she had with her, which included her passport, and flee the city, maybe even the country, while he was gone. At some point, she’d contact Seraphina and have her things shipped home. As much as she wanted to stay with Marco, she knew there was too large a gulf between them and her sister was depending on her.

Marco’s repetitive thrusting consisted of long, slow, powerful strokes that began at the entrance to her core and were stopped as the tip of his cock reached her cervix. As was his norm, he held her close while he fucked her, never allowing her to move her hips in rhythm to his. She had come to recognize and respond profoundly to this act of dominance on his part.

She came apart in his hands more than once before she began to rake his back with her nails. She didn’t want him to stop and seemed unable to keep herself from making him. He groaned each time she did so and then answered her moaning with a growl that would make her whole body come alive and respond even more fully to his possession.

When at last he whispered in her ear, “Come for me, my Catherine,” she was helpless to do anything but what he commanded.

Catherine could feel him continue to spurt his cum within her depths even after her pussy stopped contracting. As had become his habit, he settled deep inside her and kissed her with a soft and abiding passion.

She had tears in her eyes as he lifted his head. “What distresses you, mate?” he said with great concern.

“Nothing,” she lied. “I’m just going to miss you when you leave to sign that paperwork.”

Marco made a rumbling noise that was half sated growl and half self-satisfied chuckle. Catherine knew she would miss that when she was gone.

“We will have breakfast and then you should rest. I fear my need for you grows with every time you surrender to me.”

He nuzzled her one last time and allowed himself to slip from her body. Marco sat up and dialed room service, ordering them a hearty breakfast. He leaned over and kissed her and then went to take a shower. He was just coming out of the bath when room service knocked discreetly. Marco ensured that Catherine was covered up and allowed the boy in directing him to set up next to the bed.

Catherine grinned at him. “Planning to keep me naked and feed me again?” she inquired sweetly.

The waiter tripped as Marco growled at her and then seeing the merriment in her eyes, chuckled.

“Careful, mate, before I show the boy here how a man deals with a naughty minx of a mate.”

He tipped the waiter generously, who couldn’t seem to get out of their room fast enough.

Catherine threw back the covers, revealing to Marco the aroused state of her body. He grinned broadly and came to sit next to her. He bent over and sucked one of her taut nipples deep into his mouth, making her inhale sharply.

“Would that I had time, my Catherine. But if you wish, when I return I will take care of that need. You, however, are not allowed to pleasure yourself unless directed by me to do so.”

“Greedy bastard, aren’t you?”

Marco reached down and pinched her nipple, and she gasped in both surprise and discomfort.

“Language, mate, and yes, I am. I do not share what is mine and mine alone.”

“That hurt, you know,” she said petulantly.

When all he did was quirk an eyebrow at her, she softened her tone.

“You could offer to kiss and make it better.”

He laughed. “What an excellent idea,” he said as he suckled the offended nub. “Now, let’s share breakfast and then I need to be off. Where would you like to go to dinner tonight? Shall I show you off or would you prefer I simply feed you between ravishings?”

“Planning to ravish me again, are you?” she teased.

“Repeatedly. And when I get you home to the villa I will take you into seclusion in our rooms and rut with you until your legs will not support you without my assistance.”

She giggled. “Promises, promises.” Realizing that she did not plan to be here when he returned, she sobered. “The past few days have been very special to me. I will remember it always.”

“Pfft,” he dismissed. “That was nothing compared to the memories we shall make together.”

Catherine sat up in bed, grimacing as she did. “Don’t you dare laugh at me. This is your fault.”

“I’m not laughing. It was my responsibility to correct your behavior. That is a duty I take seriously to ensure your safety and happiness.”

“Hot news flash... women don’t find happiness face down over a man’s knee getting their ass spanked.”

He leaned over and kissed her. “No, but they find great happiness afterwards when their mate is thrusting himself in and out of their sweet pussy hearing her call his name.”

Catherine closed her eyes and leaned back. “I can’t even dispute that. Well, I can, but you’d get after me for lying to you.”

Marco grinned. “That might be one of those times I filled your mouth with something other than soap.”

She giggled. “I promise you’d find it far more satisfying... as would I.”

They finished eating and Catherine watched him leave. She went over to the window and watched him depart from the hotel. He turned to look directly at her, and she raised her hand in a wave.

Catherine went in, took a shower, gathered her things, and then discreetly exited the hotel from the back entrance. She hailed a cab and had the driver take her straight to the airport. At the airport she found there were no outbound flights until that evening. Knowing Marco would be on her trail long before then, she bought a train ticket out of Florence on the first departing train. It was headed toward Milan.

* * *

Marco met Griffin as they both arrived at the lawyer’s office to finalize the purchase of the property.

Griffin grinned at him. “Now that is the look of a man who has spent the last few days in the arms of his beloved.”

Marco laughed heartily and clapped his friend on the shoulder. He leaned in so that only Griffin could hear him. “No, my friend. This is the look of a wolf who spent most of his time between his little red riding hood’s thighs doing just that... riding her. My God, Griffin. My Catherine was magnificent. Such passion and fire. She will keep me warm for the rest of my life.”

“Have you talked to her about that minor inconvenience? You know where you’re a wolf and she isn’t? You know where you’re going to overwrite her entire DNA and then, oh, there’s the whole knotting and tying her, not to mention marking her as yours.”

“No, I want to get her home first. But I must say she handled being disciplined extremely well. I think once it has been done, she will welcome my knot and the resulting tie, but the alpha’s mark may be a different discussion. She will come around and will bear my mark with pride. After all, she will be mate to the alpha of the DeMedici pack.”

“My best wishes for a long, happy, and peaceful joining. Your Catherine is a bit of a spitfire and may not be brought to heel as easily as you imagine. Truly I’m happy for you... and just a wee bit envious.”

“You will find your Catherine. Of that I have no doubt.”

They proceeded up the stairs to finalize the purchase.

Once it was complete, Marco was convinced that the sellers were idiots. According to Griffin the land was incredibly rich and could be producing far more than it did. The workers seemed relieved that someone with an outstanding reputation was taking over and that their jobs would be secure.

Once their business was concluded, Marco called one of the better restaurants in Florence and secured a table. Knowing that Catherine had nothing with her at the hotel that was appropriate and doubting she had brought anything to Florence with her, Marco went to one of the high-end boutiques Catherine had visited and found a dress and shoes he thought would be an excellent choice and suit her taste. He then headed to one of the jewelry artisans to find the perfect accessories.

Pleased with himself and the conclusion of his business dealings, Marco returned to the hotel and had to harness his energy to keep from having a knot form and from taking the steps up to their room two at a time. He felt as giddy as a schoolboy.

He could feel the lack of her presence before he even entered the room.

“Catherine,” he growled as he spied a piece of the hotel stationery resting against the pillows. He read the note:

Marco,

I have nothing to say other than to ask you to forgive my cowardly

exit from your life. You will find another who is far better suited

to the life you can give her than I.

I’m sorry,

Catherine

Well, at least she had dropped the coldly stiff language of her first two notes. As for being sorry... she would be more so once he caught up with her. He would teach her once and for all not to run from him.