HannasHaven (5 page)

“Because I know you’ll be there. And I know you would never
let anything harm me.”

Damn straight. Except what fucking right did he have to
protect her? Sure, as a submissive member of the pack, she’d be afforded his
protection just as any other would be. He’d be running the goddamn circus. That
would grant him even more privileges.

But it wasn’t enough. Not nearly enough.

He couldn’t watch her all the time.

Especially not when she was pretending to be the girlfriend
of someone else.

He snarled.

Hanna turned, her breath coming quickly, eyes widening as
she stared at him. No doubt he looked as feral as he felt.

“I forbid you from doing this.”

She sighed, rolling her eyes.

Yep, so spanked.

“You can’t forbid me from doing anything, Marcus.”

“I’m in charge of you.”

“For the moment,” she told him. “That doesn’t mean I have to
follow everything you say.”

“When it comes to your safety, it does.”

Hanna stood and paced. “Why are you doing this? Why are you
trying to make this harder on me?”

The tears in her voice pushed back his anger and her
emotions filtered through the haze of jealous fear he’d built up.

Worry. Nervousness. Sadness.

“Come here, Hanna.”

She turned to look at him suspiciously. Marcus opened his
arms and simply waited.

Slowly, she moved toward him. Marcus grabbed her around the
waist when she got close, pulling her onto his lap.

“Marcus!” she protested. Immediately, she tried to rise, struggling
to get free, but he held her tight. Pressing her head to his chest, he simply
held her there until she tired herself out.

Damn, they had to work on her endurance.

“Everything’s going to be all right, you know,” he
whispered.

“How do you know?” she replied breathlessly.

“Because I won’t let it be otherwise.” He put his own
emotions aside. She needed his reassurance right now.

“What if I don’t like them? What if they don’t like me? What
if… What if I can’t pretend? What if I fuck up? What if—”

“Hush.” He placed his finger over her lips. “All these
what-ifs
are crazy, honey and you’re going to make yourself sick with all this worry.”

“But what if I can’t do it? It took days to even speak to
you and another week before I’d let you near me,” she cried pitifully. “And
that’s doing well for me!”

He almost chuckled. But she was serious.

“Hanna, it will be okay. You’re stronger now than you were
before. You don’t have to touch anyone you don’t want to.”

“But I have to pretend to be their girlfriend. I don’t even
know how to be a girlfriend. I was a terrible mate. I could barely stand physical
contact with Dan. How am I meant to put up with strangers touching me?”

Marcus ran his hand down her arm. “You don’t mind me
touching me though, do you?” he asked.

She shivered and shifted slightly, brushing up against his
hard cock. Marcus bit the inside of his cheek, holding in his groan. She must
have sensed his discomfort.

“You okay? Am I too heavy?”

Marcus took a deep breath and tightened his hold when she
tried to move again. “Stay still, honey. I’m fine. And in no universe could you
ever be considered too heavy.”

She smiled at him, a weak attempt at best.

“You could pretend to be my girlfriend,” he blurted out.

She gaped at him. “What?”

“Think about it. We’ve been living together for nearly a
month now. You’re used to me, it’s the perfect solution. We’ll say you’re
mine.”

Hanna snorted and rose to her feet. This time he let her go.

“That’s not going to work.”

“Why not?” He leaned back in lazy satisfaction.

He’d get to keep her close, where he could watch over her
and he didn’t have to stop himself from tearing one of Cooper’s brothers limb
from limb when they groped her.

“How exactly will you explain me? What? In the last month,
during all your free time, you suddenly acquired a girlfriend?”

“They won’t know for sure how long we’ve been seeing each
other.”

“So why would you bring me to live with you, into an
unstable environment?” she asked skeptically.

“Same reasoning goes for Cooper’s brothers, Hanna. Why would
one of them bring their girlfriend along?”

“We can say that we didn’t realize it would be this bad.
That they thought I could stay with Laney but realized that we’d rather be together,
especially when we realized how tired and rundown Laney is.”

“It’s only going to work if you can stand to be close to
them. We already know you’re comfortable with me.”

“I need to get to know them, Marcus. I need a place to live
and this is the only solution I’ve got. If I’m forced to be around them then I
have to get to know them. Besides, there is one vital flaw in your plan.”

“What’s that?” he snarled. He was losing the argument and
not liking it one bit.

“No one’s ever going to believe that you’re attracted to
me.”

He gaped at her. “What are you talking about?”

“You’ll have enough on your plate without having to pretend
to feel something you don’t. No one is going to believe we’re together.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, sweetheart. Because wanting you
is one thing I don’t have to pretend.”

* * * * *

Hanna beat the wooden spoon through the thick cake mixture,
her mind whirling.

“I think it’s dead.”

She whirled at Marcus’ voice. He leaned against the doorway.
Damn, he could move quietly.

“W-what?” Breathless, she tried desperately not to blush.

“The batter. No need to beat it to death, I think it’s
gone.”

She looked down at the bowl and sighed, setting it on the
counter.

“Why did you say it?” She was done with worrying. She wanted
answers.

“Why did I say what?” he replied.

“You know what.” She turned to face him. “Why’d you say you
wanted me?”

He stared at her impassively, his arms folded across his
thick chest. “Because I do.”

Hanna sucked in a deep breath and shook her head. He took one
step forward then another, stalking toward her. She was unable to speak, unable
to form a reply, a thought. A few inches away from her, he stopped, and she
could feel the heat of his body. His scent reached out, swirling around her. It
took every ounce of control she had not to close her eyes and lean into him, caress
him.

“Tell me to step away, Hanna.” His low tone shivered across
her skin. “Tell me you don’t want this. Tell me to back off. Because I’m a real
bastard, sweetheart, and I will push you. I will push you unless you tell me to
back off right now.”

“I can’t. I want this. I want you.”

Raising his hand slowly, Marcus cupped her cheek. Hanna’s
heart went into overtime. Sweat broke out down her back. Heat from his hand
seared her skin, traveled throughout her body. Her clit tingled.

“W-what’s happening to me?” she asked. These feelings
running through her body were like nothing she’d ever experienced before.

“Tell me what you feel.”

Feeling heavy, drugged, she could barely string her words
together. “I-I feel hot, tingly. I can’t seem to…to catch my breath. My stomach
is queasy, b-but not like I’m going to throw up.”

“And what about lower down?” He grabbed her hip with his
free hand, not touching her anywhere else. But still she could feel the warmth
of his body, his scent surrounded her. Her wolf arched, basking in his touch,
his scent.

Mine.

“Hanna?” he asked insistently. “Tell me what you’re
thinking.”

“I’ve gone mad. I can’t think.”

“Your body wants me. I can smell your arousal. Haven’t you
experienced this before?” Something dark moved through his eyes. She blinked.
It was gone.

“No, no, nothing like this. I, ahh,” she stumbled over her
words.

“Hanna, look at me.”

She glanced up at him nervously.

“How many men have you had sex with?” he asked, placing his
hand under her chin so he could study her intently.

“Just one,” she whispered.

He closed his eyes.

“I’m sorry.”

His eyes shot open, staring down at her in surprise. “Sorry?
Why?”

“For not being very experienced.”

He enveloped her in his arms, holding her so tightly she
could scarcely breathe. “Tink, you don’t ever have to apologize for that. Not
ever.”

He leaned down and kissed her. “So Dan was your only lover?”

“Yes. We only had sex a few times. I think he knew I wasn’t
attracted to him that way.”

“What was your long-term plan? You couldn’t stay with him
forever.”

Hanna swallowed hard. “I owed Dan my loyalty. I may not have
been attracted to him but he was my friend. You’ve seen how odd I am. Even if I
had wanted to leave Dan, I was afraid that no one would take me in.”

“Ahh Hanna.” Marcus cupped her cheeks. “We’ll find you a
home, baby.”

But not with you.

She stifled her pain.

“What was that thought?” he asked with concern.

“Nothing,” she muttered, looking over his shoulder.

“Hanna,” he growled.

“Marcus,” she mimicked.

“Brat,” he scolded. “You’re in trouble enough as it is, I
wouldn’t go adding to the spanking you’ve got coming.”

“Spanking?” she squeaked. “What? Why?”

“Don’t think that I’ve forgotten you told me to hush
earlier. And I’m still furious that you agreed to put yourself in danger.”

“Danger? Marcus, I—”

“Damn it, I don’t want to hear any excuses. I’m going to
kiss you now.”

Hanna barely had time to take a breath before his mouth
covered hers. She froze. His lips caressed hers, his tongue flicking along the
seam of her lips.

He eased back. “Open for me, baby.”

“Mar—” He lost no time swooping in on her once again, his
tongue slipping inside her mouth. She trembled, a whole-body shudder as
sensations raced through her, rocking her soul.

Her wolf purred, rubbing against her skin, wanting more.

Hanna’s nipples stiffened and she pressed her chest against
him, searching for friction, relief.

Marcus drew back, breathing hard, his eyes slumberous and
filled with lust.

“Fuck, that was hot.” He kissed down her neck, clasping her
around her waist, and lifted her to sit on the counter. “Raise your t-shirt.”

“What?” she gasped, barely able to catch her breath. Marcus
on the other hand seemed focused, calm. His eyes bore into her.

“Raise your t-shirt. I want to see your breasts.”

She blushed. “I can’t do that.”

“Why not?” he asked with a raised brow. He clasped hold of
the counter behind her, effectively trapping her.

“It…It’s daylight and I’m not…I’m not—”

“You’re not what?”

“Very attractive or feminine. I’m built like a boy.”

“Who told you that? Dan?” Marcus growled.

She shook her head, pinching her lips closed.

Marcus grabbed her hand and pulled it toward his cock. Hanna’s
cheeks grew hot as she felt his hard erection. “Say this after me, I am a sexy
woman.”

“I can’t say that.” She gaped at him, her cheeks burning.

“Hanna,” he growled. “We can wait here all day or you can
just do as I say.”

Stubborn bastard would do it too.

“I am a sexy woman,” she repeated grudgingly.

“I am so hot, Marcus is about to come in his pants like a
fucking teenager.”

Her jaw dropped.

“Say it,” he ordered.

No way, nuh-uh.
She shook her head. Marcus simply
stared at her, waiting. They stood that way, battling silently for endless,
long minutes. Finally, Hanna broke. “I am so hot, you’re about to come in your
pants.”

“Close enough. You going to take your t-shirt off or what?”

“So romantic,” she muttered. But she wasn’t turned-off by
his impatient gruffness. Dan had always been so solicitous, never pushing her
for more than she had been willing to give. Marcus would push her for
everything and she had a feeling he’d keep coming back for more.

Hanna pulled her t-shirt up and over her head. Her bra was
plain white cotton and for the first time in her life she wished she had sexy
underwear. But really she didn’t see the point in wearing a bra. Not as if she
had much there that needed support.

She stared at Marcus nervously, but he never looked up from
her chest. He rested his hands on her thighs. Pushing her legs apart, he
stepped between them. Suddenly her pussy was against his hard stomach, her
cotton shorts providing little protection.

She gulped.

Dear Lord, she hoped he couldn’t feel how wet she was.

He rubbed his stomach against her folds. She wished she had
the nerve to strip off his t-shirt, to remove her shorts and panties so they
were skin-to-skin. She groaned.

“You like that, Hanna?”

She could only whimper. Like? That didn’t nearly describe
it.

He dropped his head and found her nipple with his mouth
through the thin cotton, sucking hard.

“Fuck, that’s sexy.”

She looked down, her nipple strained through the wet patch
on her bra.

Marcus moved to her other breast. Dizzy with an awakening
bliss, Hanna arched back, resting her weight on her hands. Marcus leaned into
her, not breaking contact, his stomach rasping against her clit. Her head fell
back, her mouth dropping open in a silent moan.

He ground the ridges of his stomach against her as he sucked
on her nipple. Suddenly the walls of her sheath clenched and released, throbbed.
Hanna let go with a scream, swept up in a pleasure so intense, she had to hold
on to Marcus to keep herself steady in the onslaught.

Opening her eyes, Hanna found Marcus hovering over her, his
eyes filled with lust and concern.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

She was stiff with shock, gaping at him.

“No. Back off. Let me go. Now.”