Free Claiming His Need by Ellis Leigh Page A

him.  
    “Don’t.” The word was a growl as it crossed my lips. Gates froze. I lifted my chin and glared at him, heat and want and lust all swirling together inside me. The passion I felt for him was quickly turning to rage—for being dismissed, for being lied to, even if only for a moment, for losing the only dream I’d ever had.  
    “You don’t get to touch me if you’re denying me.”
    “I am not denying you.” Gates’ voice was barely above a whisper, but his eyes held mine in a strong stare.  
    “Then why did my father say you didn’t come for me?”
    “There are things going on that make it inadvisable for us to move forward in our courting.”
    I crossed my arms over my chest. “What things?”
    “I… I would rather not worry you.”
    “I am not a child.” I pulled away. “You don’t need to sugarcoat or hide information from me. If our mating is inadvisable, I expect to know why. I won’t stand for dishonesty from anyone in my life, least of all some drifter who rolled in to town and now seems to be bent on playing with my emotions.”
    Gates growled, the sound causing a shiver to roll up my spine. Warmth spread out from my lower belly, my nipples hard and my panties wet from nothing more than the rumble vibrating through the air.  
    “Will you not listen to me?” Gates asked. He stepped into my space, forcing me back against the wall and pinning me in place. “I’m not playing with your emotions, nor have I been dishonest. I wanted to come for you tonight. I would have gladly begun our courtship this very night or our Klunzad, if you so desired. But those men who took you aren’t all gone, and your abduction wasn’t random.”
    I shivered as his breath washed over my face. “What do you mean?”
    His fingers traced up my arms. “Whomever they work for wants you, my white Omega. And while we managed to…dispatch some of them, there are more who got away. You’re not safe. I won’t risk you further by beginning our courtship while they lurk in your woods.”
    I reached up and grabbed his arms, sighing at finally making the contact I so craved. My breasts pressed into his chest on every breath as he leaned into me, practically hunching over to account for our height difference.  
    I trembled as he breathed me in. “My pack can protect me.”
    “They failed you once.” He dropped his head to my shoulder, slowly nuzzling into my neck. “I won’t allow that to happen again. My Breed brothers and I will protect you.”
    “And if I don’t want that?” I gasped as his lips met my jaw.
    “Then you’ll be a very unhappy princess until we capture the bastards coming after you.” He leaned back, his ice-blue eyes meeting mine. “I’ve waited many lifetimes to find my mate. I won’t allow you to be at risk.”
    “But I’m safe here.”
    “Not safe enough.” He pressed his hips into mine, the hard ridge of his erection rubbing against my hipbone. I responded in kind, loving the way his eyes grew more intense with each pass.
    “And how do you propose to increase my security? Will you station your brothers inside my suite? Will they be forced to follow me as I go about my daily routine?” I pressed my face against his chest, clinging to the leather vest he wore to hold me upright. His smell was intoxicating, completely masculine and arousing.  
    His growl deepened. “No other men will be in your room, princess.”
    “Then how?” My lips dragged across his collarbone as I moved my head from side to side.
    “I don’t know yet.” He ran his hands up my arms, soft and slow. “How did they get in your room?”
    “The one came through the patio door from my balcony. The other from this hall.”
    He pulled away, brushing the sweetest, gentlest kiss across my lips. “Then it looks like I’ll be making my home on your balcony. And I’ll place one of my men outside your doors to guard from this side.”  
    He drew me close, the beating of his heart pounding against my chest.