Pack Secrets (11 page)

“It’ll be our secret,” she vowed. “Anything else you think you’ll scare me off with?”

He scrunched his nose as he thought. “I’ll have to have you…a lot. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of touching you, being inside you.”

Angel was already nodding. “If you don’t, then I’ll just jump you.”

Grinning, he leaned forward. “I want you to stay. We’ll figure everything else out.”

She brushed her lips over his. “I want to stay.”

Gripping his shoulders tightly, she tugged him to cover her body. As she slid her hand down his back the muscles beneath her palm moved while he rocked against her. It felt good to have his weight pinning her down.

“I want to feel your skin,” he demanded, sitting back on his heels. He yanked off his shirt then reached for hers. She brushed away his hands so she could speed things along.

Alex refusing to stop touching her didn’t help, but she was determined to get naked with him. By the time she unhooked her bra his hands where on her breasts, kneading.

Reaching for the button of his jeans, he lifted up but kissed her neck.

“We should have just stayed naked,” she told him.

“I couldn’t talk to you without clothes on,” he confided.

Well, he had a point there. Wrapping herself around him, she pushed until he flipped back. Straddling his legs, she tugged off her pants before finishing removing his.

Already hot and hard for her, he moaned as she grasped his cock, pumping several times.

“Are you going to ride me?” he asked as his eyes gleamed in anticipation.

“Is that what you want?” she teased. “Or maybe…” Leaning forward, she licked at the head of his cock.

He moaned.

“That’s what I thought,” she said smugly, before taking him deeply into her mouth.

Wrapping her fist around the base of him, she set an easy pace that was sure to drive him wild. Alex pumped his hips, trying to get her to stop teasing, but Angel wasn’t having any of that.

“Please! Angel, I need more.”

Popping off, she grinned up at him. “What do you want?”

“You, always you.”

He deserved a reward for that answer. She straddled his waist. As she reached back to position him at her entrance she locked gazes with him.

Sliding down, she didn’t look away. “You’re mine,” she claimed him.

“Yes,” he hissed.

That’s all she wanted. Everything else would work itself out. Raising and falling, she took him hard and fast. With his nails digging into her hips, she knew she would have bruises but she didn’t care.

All that mattered was the connection she felt as she made love to her mate.

* * * *

Sunlight was barely breaking over the horizon when everyone gathered in his den. Alex kept his arm around Angel’s shoulder once they’d settled on the couch together.

Kieran and Remy had arrived from Lubbock to take over guarding the rogue Guardians. With his Alpha and Caspar speaking quietly about how’d they transfer their prisoners, Alex and content where he was.

“I take it you’re staying here?” Caspar asked, glancing over at Angel.

“Unless you need me?”

“No, it should be fine. Keep your phone on just in case, but we can handle getting these three back,” he told her.

“Then I’d like to stay.” Angel peeked over at Alex. “We still have some things to work out but I’ll return soon to get my stuff.”

Caspar’s wide grin lit up his entire face, making him look years younger. “So…?”

“He’s my mate,” she declared proudly.

Caspar laughed. “I figured, but you hadn’t said anything. Take as much time as you need. Bring Alex with you when you come to collect your things so he can meet everyone,” Caspar said as he rose.

Alex stood also as Caspar offered his hand.

“I’m very happy for you both,” Caspar told him.

“Thank you,” Alex replied sincerely. He knew from the way that Angel had spoken about her boss that she valued Caspar’s opinion.

Alpha Shawn had also risen and was now hugging Angel. “Welcome to the family,” Shawn said quietly to Angel.

His heart was full as he overheard those words.

“Thank you.” Angel hugged Shawn back.

Caspar released him only for Shawn to wrap him in a bear hug, lifting him off his feet.

“Alpha!” he protested.

Shawn just laughed.

Once he was back on his feet, Alex reached for Angel. She came into his embrace immediately.

“Thank you both. We’ll have a celebration once Angel gets settled in,” Alex shared.

“That’s great,” Caspar replied. “We’ll make sure to be around.”

“You’re always welcome,” Alex told them.

“We’ll have to work out a story about how you met Angel for the rest of the Pack but I’m sure they’ll welcome her with open arms.”

Alex had no doubt that everyone would love Angel as much as he did. But the other thing? “Story?”

“We still have to keep the Guardians a secret. It will be your job to help protect any of them who stay with Pack lands,” Shawn explained.

“Of course!” He looked over the three Guardians there. “My entire family will safeguard you.”

“We appreciate that. What we do is important. But it’s better left in the dark. There are some things the humans are just not ready for. Now there is one thing we have to discuss,” Caspar grew serious.

Angel stiffened against him. “What’s that?”

“Who gets custody of Kieran?” Caspar asked gravely.

“What?” Alex asked confused.

“Not me!” Caspar and Angel shouted at the same time.

“I swear, I never get any love.”

Alex glanced over his shoulder to see Kieran walk through the open sliding glass door.

“I thought you were helping guard?” Caspar asked, placing his hands on his hips.

“Too many puppies. I thought I’d see what was going on in here,” Kieran answered with his usual smirk.

Now that Alex knew Kieran a little better he didn’t get insulted. Instead he smacked Kieran in the back of the head as Kieran walked past him.

“Ow!” Kieran bitched.

“See, your man already knows how to handle K!” Caspar claimed.

“I don’t know,” Kieran said flopping on the couch. “I guess I like it here.”

Alex knew they were joking. Okay, he hoped they were joking. They had better he joking! He tightened his hold on Angel, glancing at her. She shrugged.

“He does grow on you,” she said, trying not to smile and failing miserably.

He groaned.

“Hey, look at it this way,” Caspar told him, “you’ll have help mucking out the stalls.”

Alex turned an evil grin toward Kieran.

“Hey, I just remembered I need to finish some paper work,” Kieran said jumping up.

“You don’t do paper work.” Angel stated laughing. “You pass it off to me and Remy.”

“Shh,” Kieran hissed at her.

Alex chuckled, glancing around his home at the additions to his family. The threat might be over but things were going to be far from boring.

Also available from Totally Bound Publishing:

Shifter Chronicles: Bear Claw

Crissy Smith

Excerpt

Chapter One

Jamie Ward pulled his Harley up in front of the Lake Worth Public Library and parked in the first space. It was rare for him to have a full weekend off, but he’d managed to get both Saturday and Sunday free.

After spending the day catching up on house chores and shopping, he was now prepared to spend his Sunday the way
he
wanted.

First up was hitting the place for some new books. He could have gone to one of the three major book retailers but he much preferred atmosphere of the old building and the helpful employees.

Plus the library actually had a better selection. More diverse anyway. Instead of stocking up on only the bestsellers, like the chain stores, here a little bit of everything was available. It was interesting to him that such a small, county-funded business would be able to provide him with anything he wanted.

After he’d moved to Lake Worth from Phoenix, he’d taken his bike around to check out his new neighborhood. He’d spotted the old, worn brick building and had felt the strong urge to go inside.

One visit had turned into two then three, and now he was a regular patron.

Jamie swung his leg off the bike and stood, stretching. Even though it was officially the end of summer, the heat was still stifling at ten in the morning.

As he reached the entrance, a young woman exited the structure with a small boy. It didn’t surprise him that she steered the youngster as far away from him as possible.

As a big guy, Jamie’s size was enough to make most people apprehensive of him, but add in his numerous tats and piercings, and he literally scared people.

He hadn’t been going after that reaction when he’d first started his markings. Well, that wasn’t completely honest. His appearance did a lot to help keep criminals in their place. Since he’d accepted his new position at the Shifter Coalition as the leader of the Black Bear Division, he’d used his looks several times to intimidate suspects.

He was proud of his body art. However, he didn’t want others to feel uncomfortable. So he hung back, stuffing his hands in his jeans, letting the woman and child pass without trouble. After they’d reached the stairs, he moved into the dark, cool entry.

Arriving so early on a Sunday, he knew he wouldn’t have to deal with too many other people. He liked this time of day. He could browse to his heart’s content and see what great new finds he could pick up.

Since he knew the entire layout by memory, Jamie first headed to the new release section. He leafed through the shelf, picking up and disregarding one book after another until he settled on the latest thriller from a popular author.

Jamie enjoyed reading the writer’s work, even if the middle of his books were rather dull. The beginning and ending of each story always made up for the boring chapters.

Tucking the hardback under his arm, he turned and almost collided into one of the rolling carts.

“Sorry,” the woman pushing exclaimed. “I didn’t think you were done yet.”

Jamie looked up and grinned. And there was the other reason he chose the library instead of the city bookstores.

Most of the staff had gotten used to him and all were friendly enough but the woman in front of him was by far his favorite employee.

She’d welcomed him on his first visit then had shown him around. Jamie always made a habit of stopping by whatever section she was stocking and talking to her for a few minutes.

“Brandy,” he said cheerfully. “How are you?”

A smile bloomed across her face. “I’m great. Yesterday was hectic, so there are more books to put back than normal, but it was a fun day. Well worth the extra work now.”

Jamie shifted a little closer. Even though Brandy had been kind and open, Jamie always tried to keep his distance. She might not seem intimidated by him but he didn’t know for sure. He would have flirted with her on more than one occasion except he was certain he wasn’t her type.

A pretty and smart girl, Brandy could do a lot better than the likes of him. Still, he would enjoy her company every chance he got.

Had she moved closer to him, or was it his imagination? Giving himself a minute to gather his composure, he glanced around the small section where they stood. His gaze fell on the poster of children sitting around in a reading circle.

Brandy’s project!
He wanted to smack himself. “So the reading went well?” Jamie had forgotten that on Saturdays the library had started a children’s reading program.

Brandy had been so excited about it and it was all she’d talked about on his last few visits. If he had remembered, he would have stopped by and shown his support.

“Yes! We had fifteen kids show up and all of them ended up checking out at least one book. All the parents enjoyed the break and said they would be back for the next one,” she said.

“That’s awesome. All your hard work really paid off.”

She blushed, which was as cute as anything he had ever seen. “Your suggestions on where to hang the notices around the neighborhood really helped. Over half of the adults told us they had seen the flyers.”

“That’s good.” Jamie was glad his suggestions had worked. Since he constantly watched his surroundings, he’d noticed where children seemed to hang out. “I’m glad.”

“It’s so important that kids get the chance to visit. Most of the parents in the area can’t afford the high prices at the chain stores and now they know they can come here for free.”

Brandy was practically bouncing on the balls of her feet with happiness. Jamie’s heart swelled. In his world, he saw so much ugliness. Brandy was a breath of fresh air to a hardened man like himself.

“I wish you could have seen how excited everyone was.”

Jamie made a mental note to drop by the next reading circle, no matter what. He’d have to stay back to make sure he didn’t upset the kids or their parents, but he wanted to see Brandy in her element. “Me too.”

“So enough about that. What are you looking for today?”

Jamie held up the book he’d chosen. “I was just browsing. I’m about to head over to the north section. I looked up some books on spirituality and I wanted to see if you had any in stock.”

“Oh, cool.” Brandy shoved the overflowing cart of books to the side and motioned for him to follow her. “Actually, we have several new titles that I’ve put out in the last couple of weeks. And I think there is one that you
have
to read. I finished it in one night. I couldn’t put it down.”

Jamie followed her through the long rows of bookcases, listening to her speak in quiet but animated tones. It didn’t matter who the author was or whether he was interested in the book, he would check it out to keep that brightness in her eyes.

Rounding a corner, Brandy paused to let another patron pass and Jamie didn’t miss the onceover the guy gave her. She didn’t notice the man’s attention. Brandy smiled politely, still talking to Jamie, and he had to work to keep the smirk off his face.