Chapter Four

For way too long, that oily fucker paraded my mate around the party while I watched from the corner like a chump. He had his arm around her waist, pulling her against his side, touching what was mine. Had we been back home, I’d have killed him already. But I had to rein in those instincts for a little longer. The future of my entire pack lay in our networking with other shifters. Already, the men and women of the Appalachia pack were scouring the building, sniffing out all guests of the Gathering to try to locate a mate. The fact that I’d found mine had given them all hope, and they took my deadline of this evening seriously. There was no way I was going to bed without my mate beside me.

“You’d better calm that growl, Killian. Someone’s going to think you’re a little pissed.”

I grunted a laugh as my sister moved to stand next to me. “A little pissed doesn’t even begin to describe it.”

From across the room, my mate tossed a glance over her shoulder as she moved away from me, her eyes meeting with mine. It was a gut-punch kind of moment, one where all this emotion—desire, lust, affection, need—coiled up inside of me and exploded through my body. She’d been doing that a lot, catching my eye. Perhaps it was because she felt my stare. Or maybe she ached for me the same way I did for her.

“Where’s she going?”

My sister glanced her way. “Looks like she’s headed to the restroom.”

I grunted an agreement as my mate gave me a smile and seemed to nod her head at something, though what, I couldn’t figure out.

“You know,” my sister said, keeping her voice light and quiet, “the ladies’ room here is very inconvenient. It took me a while just to find it, and then it was down this long, dark, lonesome hallway lined with all these empty conference rooms. People could get lost.”

I felt the furrow of my brow as I watched my mate disappear to the other side of the hall. “And I need to know this because?”

My sister huffed. “Because it appears the object of your obsession is headed that way. If you hurry and aren’t obvious about it, you might be able to sneak a few minutes alone with her. At least give her a proper introduction.”

I whipped my head in her direction. “Where?”

She smiled and nodded her head in the direction my mate had just gone. “There. Back wall, hall on the right, keep following it past all the turns.”

I was striding across the room before the last word rolled off her tongue. “Love you, sis,” I called over my shoulder. I could barely hear her laughing as I cut through the mass of people in my way. This was it, my chance. I just wanted to make sure she was okay, introduce myself properly, and maybe figure out a way to get her away from her Alpha. As long as she wanted me to, that is.

I turned the corner as my sister said and followed the seemingly endless hallway around half a dozen turns. It was like a fucking maze. The scent of my mate hung heavy in the air, making my wolf anxious. Soon. A few more doors. A final turn and—

There she was. Standing in front of a door on the left with her packmate by her side. My mate’s eyes went wide when she saw me, and those kissable lips of hers turned up at the corners.

“Well, hello,” she said. “Fancy meeting you here.”

“Hello.” I stopped in front of her, dying to reach for her hand but unsure if my touch would be welcomed. “I wanted to introduce myself properly.”

The other woman glanced from one of us to the other with a smile on her face. “I can probably get you about fifteen minutes, but then Alpha’s going to get suspicious.”

My mate looked her way. “Thank you. I won’t be long.”

As the woman walked into the ladies’ room, my mate nodded her head farther down the hall. “Should we find a quiet spot to talk?”

“That sounds perfect.” I led her down the hall a few doors, resting my hand on the curve of her lower back the entire way. The way her muscles flexed under her ridiculously tight black dress made my fingers itch for more contact, but I held back. Kept my composure. Played the gentleman.

But the second the door closed behind us, my mate spun and wrapped herself around me, her lips crashing into mine.

“Fuck me.” I ran both hands down to her ass, cupping and pulling her against my straining cock as I slid my tongue inside. Damn, she tasted good.

“No time,” she mumbled, clutching my shoulders and biting my lower lip. Hard.

I growled as I owned her mouth. This kiss wasn’t sweet or introductory. There was no single bit of affection in it. This was pure carnal need on display. And it was perfect.

“I swear, I was just going to introduce myself.” My hands slid lower, finding the straps of the silky thing holding up the sparkly stockings covering those long legs of hers. I groaned and yanked her closer as my fingers danced along uncovered flesh, my lips and tongue still working with hers.

“You’re Killian, we’re mated, and that asshole Alpha of mine is trying to keep us apart. Anything else I need to know?” She yanked me backward, not stopping until we reached a conference table. Still not breaking the kiss, she slid onto the table and spread her legs around my hips.

“Nope. Not a goddamned thing.” I happily pressed against her. Fucking her mouth, pushing her dress up around her hips. “You’re the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen.”

She grinned and licked her way up my neck, over my jawline to my ear, whispering to me, “I’ve been wet since the moment you walked in the ballroom.”

I growled and dragged my fingers up the inside of her thighs. “Can you be quiet?” My fingers quickly found where she was hot and swollen. Fuck me, the woman didn’t have anything on under her dress but those hot-as-fuck little strappy things and the sheer fabric on her legs. So sexy.

She met my eyes and nodded as I traced a knuckle along the edge of her pussy. Just a light touch…a tease. But then she groaned, and there was no more time for teasing. The woman had been driving me mad since I first saw her, and I wanted to make her just as crazy for me.

“Lean back a little.”

She did as I asked, licking her lips and spreading her legs even wider. Dress hiked up, lips swollen from our kisses, gorgeous pink pussy on display… She was a debauched angel, ready for me to catch her as she fell.

“Are you real?” The words escaped me without intention or forethought. My mate tilted her head, a small smile coming to her face as she watched me.

“Very much so, and I’ve been waiting to find you for a long time.”

I growled while I slid one finger inside her, finding her hot and wet. Working her clit with my thumb, I pumped in and out a few times. Learning her tells, beginning the long journey to find all the secret spots that would make her tremble from my touch. Twisting and sliding my fingers inside her, I watched as her breathing increased, her skin flushed, and her body began to shake.

“What’s your name, beautiful?” I increased my pace, already feeling the flutters of an impending orgasm from within her. “Tell me who I’m blessed to call mate.”

Her head fell back as I added a third finger and pressed a little harder with my thumb.

“Oh, yes,” she breathed, her body arching. “I’m Lyra of the Bloodstone pack. Please…fuck, please.”

“I’ve got you, sweet girl.” I bent over her, my fingers buried deep inside as I searched out her mouth. Lapped at her lips. Matched the way my tongue met hers with the rhythm of my hand below.

She practically jumped off the table when I curled my fingers, stroking her from within, increasing my tempo and pressure. “You’re going to make me come.”

I growled as her eyes—gray like a stormy sky—met mine. “That’s the whole idea.”

She clutched and writhed, riding my hand for all it was worth. Fuck, I wanted it to be my cock inside of her. Wanted to feel her wrapped all around me as I thrust into her. But this would have to do. A moment, a brief interlude, but at least I could make sure she knew who owned her pussy from this point forward. I could make sure my mate found satisfaction at my hand.

Three more thrusts and her body clamped down, her thighs shaking and her head thrown back.

“Yes…yes…yes.” Breathy chants left her lips as I continued to work her, making it last, keeping her in the moment for as long as I could. My hand still inside her, milking her orgasm from her body, I licked a line from her chin to her ear. “I’m your fucking mate. This?” I cupped her pussy as my fingers pressed deep inside her, making her moan and shiver from the pressure of my palm against her swollen and sensitive clit. “This is mine now.”

She nodded against my chest, her breath still coming in pants. “I know. Hopefully, my Alpha will come to his senses and let me join you tonight instead of making us wait.”

I grinned as her eyes met mine, pulling my fingers from her pussy and bringing them to my lips. I licked and lapped the digits, loving the way her eyes widened. The renewed lust I saw growing there. “Doesn’t fucking matter what the oily fucker says. The only person whose opinion matters is you. As long as you accept me as your mate, you’ll be in my bed tonight and every night from this moment on.”

A warm, slow smile spread across her face. “I accept you, Killian O’Shea. In my bed, in my heart, and in my life.”

I leaned over her, kissing her hard and deep as I gripped her hips. “Then you’re mine, and nothing that little pissant says can stop me from having you tonight.”