Free Claiming Clara by Cherie Nicholls Page A

laughed.
    “Don’t ask.”
    “I won’t.” He reached out and pulled her to him. “You still have my shirt on.”
    “I had no clean clothes.”
    “You have a tendency to steal my shirts. Is this an addiction we are going to have to deal with?” He smiled down at her.
    “Wow, for a second I forgot you are a big dork.” She laughed.
    “Dude, you love my dorkiness.” He grinned.
    “I do, dude.”
    Wall leaned down and kissed her, reined a line of kisses along her jawline and neck until he reached the mark he left on her.
    Clara shuddered.
    “Let me do this right, my own.”
    “No, you marked me, and I wouldn’t change that for the world,” she assured him. Running a light finger down his nose, she gave him a small smile.
    Wall closed his eyes as she ran her hand up through his hair. She watched him relax under her hand, a contented smile on his face until she took a handful of that hair and yanked, hard.
    “Dude!” Wall gasped.
    “But let me be very clear; the next time I tell you to let me handle something, you sure the hell better stay out of my way. As much as I love you, I will start breaking vital parts of your body. Do we understand each other?” she asked with a daunting calmness.
    “Yes,” Wall replied through clenched teeth. She let him go and smoothed his hair back into place.
    She turned to walk away, glad to have made her point, but she hadn’t gone more than a few steps when he caught her around the waist and pulled her hard back against his chest. He caught her hair, pulled it so her neck and his bite exposed.
    “Now, my own, let me be very clear. I will not tolerate anyone threatening you. I will do whatever I have to do to keep my family safe, and baby, you sure the hell better let me know if anything like this happens again. You don’t mention it, and well let’s just say, you think I punished you before? That will be nothing compared to what I will do if you keep that information from me. You’re my woman, my mate, and very soon, I hope, my wife. Nothing will stand in my way when I am protecting you. Not even you.” He ran his rough tongue over the bite, pulling a low groan from her.
    “Dammit, Wall.” She moaned.
    He tugged her hair causing a sharp pain, one she didn’t find disagreeable.
    “What was that?” The aggression in his voice sent an excited thrill down her spine.
    “Dammit, Harvey.” She practically purred.
    “Hmm, yes, my own?” He took her earlobe in his mouth sucking it gently.
    “My father is here. We should go and see him.” She tried to reason as she felt his hands start to move up her body.
    “We will, my own, just not yet.” He promised as he cupped her breast through his T-shirt.
    “We should go now. He won’t be here for long.” She tried again, though even she could hear the lack of conviction in her voice.
    “Mmm.” he started to move her back toward the bench in the far corner of the building. She went willingly.
    Light streamed in from the garage door being flung open, shocking them both.
    “When you have finished mauling my sister, our father wants you to come eat with us. Now.” Heath growled.
    Clara pulled away and glared at her brother, wondering if her parents would be too upset if she killed him.
    “Dude!” Wall yelled.
    “So?” Heath shrugged.
    “But, dude.”
    “I don’t care.”
    “Dude.”
    “Now.”
    Clara walked away, rolling her eyes at the two of them. Laney stood outside, laughing quietly at the two men.
    Wall caught up with her, dropping an arm around her shoulders as they headed toward the house.
    “Finished arguing with our Alpha?” she asked.
    “Err, that wasn’t an argument. That was a very grown up male discussion,” Wall stated.
    “Oh right. Sorry. My female brain clearly missed that bit.”
    “That’s okay. Your small female mind just can’t handle the complexity of such male things,” he assured her.
    “You’re an idiot.” Clara sighed.
    “Dude!” Wall moaned.
    Clara laughed, skipping up the