alphas are.”
Nick took her hand as she got close enough to touch.
“You’re too damn nice for your own good.”
Clara smiled. “No, I’m not. I just know what it’s like
to not belong. My whole family hated me, Nick. Your pack loved you. Would you
ever go back to them if given the chance?”
“No, I wouldn’t.” He couldn’t bring himself to join
back to a pack who’d been ruled by a different alpha
for so long. That kind of takeover could cause more problems than he cared to
think about.
Cupping the back of her neck, he drew her close.
“Why not?” she
asked, whispering the words against his cheek.
“Taking over any pack can be tricky. Men, women, even
the children know you’re there because you overthrew their old alpha. I can’t
do that. I can’t go back and see my pack hate me.” Nick closed his eyes, more
interested in inhaling her sweet scent. Fuck, the last week had been torture.
Now that he had her in his arms, he never wanted to let go again. She meant
everything to him.
“It was your pack to start off with. How can you not
see them welcoming you with open arms?” She cupped his face, tilting him back
to look at him.
Nick, given the choice, would have claimed her mouth
to silence her. He knew she deserved the truth.
“They put up a fight over the verdict, but they could
do nothing. The alpha who took over is a good one. I made sure for the first
couple of years that he was good for them all. I would never have forgiven
myself if something happened to them.” Nick hated it when he agreed with the
new alpha’s methods. When he realized he was never going to become an alpha
again he had focused all of his attention into making money. Once he settled on
money he made sure to employ other outlawed males who didn’t agree with the
collective alphas’ decisions. His business thrived, and he’d found a best
friend in Dean.
Life was more than perfect for him.
“Are you happy?” she asked.
Nick ran his fingers down her back to cup her ass. “With
you in my life, Clara, I’ve never been happier.” He turned her, pressing her
against the side of the pool. His desire rose with every second passing. There
was a challenge he needed to win. By the next full moon Clara would be in his
bed.
Will you be in her heart?
Leaning down, he licked a line across her plump,
inviting lips. The thought made him pause for a split second, wondering if it
was possible to get her to fall for him. He’d bought her like a possession, and
it was how he thought of her at times, his prized, virgin possession.
“Nick,” she said, moaning.
“Do you forgive me?”
“Do you promise never to be a grouch again?”
“Yes.” He claimed her lips, slamming his tongue inside
her mouth. Nick trapped her against the wall, kissing her deeply, wanting her
to moan and writhe against his touch.
She held onto his shoulders with her nails digging
into his flesh. He moaned, loving the small bite of pain her nails gave him.
Opening her thighs, he got her to wrap her legs around
his waist. Her pussy pressed to his stomach, and he wished she’d not worn a one
piece swimsuit. No matter, he’d have her naked in no time.
Cupping her ass, he gripped the back of her head
holding her in place to take his kiss.
He broke the kiss first, going down her neck. Tearing
the costume from her body, he exposed one full, rounded red nipple. Biting down
into the harsh bud he heard her scream. The scent of her need wasn’t dulled by
the water.
Nick needed more. Walking toward the stairs at the far
side of the pool he laid her on the cool ground.
In two easy tugs he removed the swimsuit from her
body. He admired every curve, loving the feel of her against his palm.
“I will never regret owning you, Clara. I want you
more than my next breath.”
“Please, don’t stop, Nick.” She arched up as he sucked
her nipple into his mouth. He tweaked the other nipple, watching her scream.
Clara always responded to him when he caused just a