Free Blood Challenge by Kit Tunstall Page A

will.”
    She frowned. “You have to stop this nonsense. You know I’m leaving as soon as the snow thaws.”
    “No, you aren’t. I’m claiming you, Ellie.”
    Her eyes widened. “What the hell’s that supposed to mean?” She would have crossed her arms if there had been sufficient space between their bodies to do so.
    Rica met her eyes. He wore a resolved expression. “I’m challenging for you.”
    She felt a dart of fear, but not for the most obvious reason. Rather than being afraid of ending up his mate, she was terrified he would be injured. “You can’t.”
    “I can. I’m the Alpha.” Rica’s lazy grin was entirely too sexual for her comfort. “Will you challenge me in order to stop me, Ellie?”
    She gasped as his finger slid down her cleft, pausing to circle around her clit. She tried to draw away, but Rica’s arm moved around her waist, anchoring her to him. “You can’t just keep me.”
    He chuckled. “I can. It’s our way. We’re what you might consider primitive, Ellie. We eat when we’re hungry, catching the prey ourselves. We’re superstitious about such things as the phase of the moon and alignment of the stars.” His voice lowered to a husky rasp as he lunged forward, pushing her down sideways across the log. “And we fuck when we’re horny. I wanted you the minute I saw you, and you made it possible for me to keep you by helping Davinia.”
    She swallowed thickly as he pushed her more fully onto her back and parted her legs. His hand had dislodged from her panties, and now he used it to hold her against the log. She didn’t even notice the snow under her coat and hair. “So fuck me. That doesn’t mean we have to mate.”
    He looked surprised. “I have more in mind than a fling for the next few months. I want you by my side, Ellie. I want you to bear my young.”
    She shook her head, struggling to compose her thoughts as Rica settled between her legs, pressing his hard cock against her pussy through their jeans. She moaned when he thrust against her. “Are you saying you’re in love with me? That’s nonsense. You don’t even like me.”
    Rica’s laugh was more of a purr as he thrust against her again. “I don’t dislike you. I just don’t trust outsiders.”
    “How can you marry me if you don’t trust me?”
    “You aren’t an outsider anymore. You’re staying.”
    “I won’t…” She trailed off as Rica’s hand pushed under her coat and shirt to cup her breast through her bra. “Don’t do this, Rica.”
    “Sorry.” He sounded anything but. “I can’t let you leave now.”
    She closed her eyes when he ground his cock against her. She was prepared for more, and her eyes snapped open when he moved away. “What are you doing? You can’t stop now.”
    He got to his feet, grinning. “You know what to do if you want more.”
    She glowered as she sat up. “What?”
    “Don’t resist when I claim you. You and your Guardian both have to accept me. I can still force the issue by claiming you for a moon-cycle, but I don’t want it to be like that.” He bent down and lifted her from the log, setting her on her feet. His fingers moved quickly to zip up and button her jeans. “Come to me willingly, Ellie. It will be good between us.”
    “I don’t doubt the sex would be incredible, but I’m not going to be your mate.” The rest of her words cut off under his mouth as he branded her with a long kiss. She melted under his touch, opening her mouth to allow his tongue inside. As it thrust into her, mimicking the motion of his cock from a minute ago, she pressed herself closer. Once again, he pulled away, eliciting a muttered expletive from her.
    “Come on. I’ll walk you back to Viggo’s.” He took her hand casually to lead her out of the forest.
    Ellie allowed him to pull her along, not speaking as her mind whirled with thoughts. Uppermost was his claim on her. Most disconcertingly, she couldn’t seem to come up with a good reason not to accept him as her