Chapter Six

Fuck me, her hand—her hot, smooth, little hand—was wrapped around my cock. Working me. Making me feel so good. I wanted to come, wanted to blow my load right then and there, but I hated the thought of her stopping. I wanted more, needed it in a way I’d never experienced. Every second of her skin on mine was a damned gift, and I was going to take my time with it.

Her fingers spread over my head before sliding down again, and I fought every instinct not to roll my eyes at the pleasure shooting up my spine. She was going to make me come. And soon. Right here in a room full of people, with a man who smelled like stale cigarettes a mere six feet away. But fuck, I didn’t care. I’d stand up and flash the entire room if it meant she’d keep touching me. Keep pumping me. Keep teasing my slit with the edge of her thumb.

“Holy shit.” I bit my lip as she sped up, her grip strengthening around me. “Now.”

I swear she smiled smugly as I came all over her hand, doing everything in my power not to make a fucking sound. I wanted to groan and thrust into her tight little fist, but I held still, barely shifting my hips as she eased her grip. Still, the orgasm rocked me. Tingles shot from my balls all the way up my spine, ricocheting in my head before heading back down to quiver in the tip of my dick. Never had a simple hand job felt so good.

“Better?” She gave me a wicked smile, one filled with pure feminine pride. Yeah, okay…she made me come like a high schooler in a matter of minutes. I’d give her that one.

“Fuck yes.” I coughed and tried to act as if nothing was going on as Moira and the oily fucker glanced across the table. Once their attention was back on—well, each other—I leaned in to whisper in Lyra’s ear.

“I need to go clean up. Will you be okay by yourself for a few minutes?”

She shrugged, her eyes flitting to her Alpha. “Yes, of course.”

I didn’t want to leave her. I wanted to drag her with me and give her my claiming bite right then in front of all the shifters in the room, but I knew I needed to behave. For how much longer I’d be able to, though, I had no idea. My wolf was positively starving for our new mate.

“If he gives you any trouble,” I whispered as I stood up, “just get my sister’s attention. She’ll make sure he doesn’t step out of line.”

Lyra rolled her eyes, dismissing me as she subtly used her napkin to wipe off her hand. “Really, I’ll be fine.”

She may have been able to play off her emotions with others, but not me. I was her mate. I could practically smell the anxiety pouring off her.

I squeezed her shoulder, forcing her to meet my gaze once more. “Two minutes.”

“Go.” She smiled, small and not reaching her eyes, but a smile nonetheless. Unfortunately, her Alpha called her name right then, and even that sad excuse for a smile fell. “Hurry back.”

After the fastest piss known to man and a quick hand-wash, I rushed back to the ballroom. A few hours left to deal with this bullshit, and then I could be alone with my mate. Fuck her Alpha; she was coming back to my room tonight. If I had to throw her on the table and bite her in front of all these people, I would.

Making the final turn toward my table, I quickened my step to get back to Lyra, but her chair was empty. I glanced across the table only to see my mate sitting on the lap of her Alpha. And not looking too thrilled about it. My growl rumbled deep in my chest, warning all those around that my wolf was on a short leash. Most of the people I passed moved away, looking nervous. As they should have been. My wolf was ready to explode.

But then the oily fucker grabbed Lyra’s chin and turned her face roughly. Moira stood from her chair, tugging on his arm, but the idiot apparently had a death wish. He shoved my sister back as he pressed his lips to Lyra’s.

The room turned red as I roared. That fucker was dead. Lyra was my mate. Mine. And she wanted to be with me. How dare he disrespect me by touching what he knew I would be claiming? Hell no. The man was done. Fuck this whole group of backward shifters; I was taking my woman and bringing her home to the mountains where I could love her, spoil her, and treat her the way a woman deserved to be treated.

I stalked the rest of the way across the room, not even paying attention as my sister stood and called my name. This situation was past the point of niceties and politics. Lyra was mine. Done.

“Ah, young one. Come sit. See what a real Alpha gets from—”

He never had a chance to finish his sentence. As soon as I reached them, I grabbed Lyra by the waist and hoisted her up and over my shoulder. When her Alpha stood as if to take her from me, I swung. His face made a satisfying crunch as it connected with my fist.

“Killian!” Lyra’s yell made me pause, mere feet from where her Alpha lay sprawled on the ballroom floor.

“Do you want to stay with him?” My question came out on a growl, my chest heaving with the effort to hold back my rage.

Lyra barely paused before answering. “No.”

“Do you want to come with me?”

This time, her answer was immediate and strong. “Yes.”

“Good.” With nothing left to say, I spun and strode toward the ballroom doors. The crowd parted as I passed, no one seeming to want to get in my way. They were smart. Two men in what looked like security uniforms stepped in front of me before I could leave, though.

“Is there a problem here?” the one on the left asked, glancing at Lyra as she lay across my shoulder.

“She’s my mate, and she’s accepted me as such.” I glared at the two men as a snarl curled my lip. I could feel the fur growing through my skin, knew I was partial-shifting right there in the ballroom, but I didn’t care. “We have no problem. Do you?”

The one on the left looked shocked and a little scared, but the one on the right was focused on Lyra. “Are you okay, ma’am?”

“Yes, for God’s sake, yes.” Her hands slapped down on my back as she huffed and kicked. “Just let him leave with me so I can stop flashing the whole damn room.”

I grinned and smacked her on the ass. “See? We’re all good.”

And with that, we walked out the doors and to the stairs. Fuck the elevator; I couldn’t wait to get my woman alone.