Even as I had that thought, power flowed out of me and I started to move toward her. The longer I watched her, the more my control frayed. She felt me then, as the bond chimed between us; her head jerked in my direction and all color drained from her pretty face.
The bears reacted to her reaction and tried to stand between her and me, which would have made me laugh if I wasn’t basically past the point of all rational thought. She pushed through them, knowing that I could tear those cubs to pieces in seconds if I chose.
When their hands landed on her again, I ground to a halt, gritting my teeth as energy swirled at dangerous levels. She shook them off, and that was enough for me to continue to stalk forward toward her.
My mind was blank as I wrapped a hand around her neck, feeling her soft skin and power flowing beneath. Words left my lips before I could stop them. “You belong to me.”
I felt her compliance and arousal at my words, and hell if my body didn’t surge forward. I needed to taste her. I needed to touch her right now. But first I had to warn those fuckers, who were still close enough to hear me.
“The next man to touch you dies.” Couldn’t make it clearer than that.
Still, they were too stupid to know when the big bad wolf was in their midst. Lifting my head, I nailed the biggest one with a glare. “Don’t test me, bears. I will rip you into pieces and not think twice about it.”
Tee’s panic faded somewhat then as she got protective of her pack. I loved when her eyes flashed as she faced off with me. She’d never been scared of those bigger or more powerful. If anything, that was when she hit back harder.
I barely remembered her argument; I was too fascinated with watching her. And then somehow we were on the dance floor. It took me a beat, but memories of the last time we’d danced like this came back to me, and I reached out and hauled her closer. The music here tonight was perfect for the sort of dancing I needed to do with her, and some of the darkness calmed inside of me. When she turned and pressed her ass into me, a low groan escaped me. My control was shot to shit. I needed to have her now.
In a flash I lifted her, a delicate floral scent smashing my senses as I fought for control. I was rougher than I’d normally be, but she didn’t seem to mind as I slammed her back against a nearby wall. Her legs wrapped around me, and even through her jeans I could feel her heat as she rocked into me.Fuck.
My head went to the crook in her neck without thought, and I drank in her scent, pressing my lips to the softness of her skin where the tank left it bare. I heard her moan, driving my desire even higher.
“I need you, Tee,” I admitted. “I’m fucking losing my mind without you, and the darkness….”
The darkness was unstable without her. Which scared me, because I still wasn’t sure if giving in to the mate bond was a good idea, but here in this moment, holding her like this, I knew I couldn’t resist her.
When she mentioned “my guys” it was enough for my control to snap. I slammed my mouth on hers, the sweetest taste invading my senses as our tongues collided. She kissed like a fucking dream, even if it was a rougher first kiss than I would have liked.
She blinked up at me, small and innocent, but the fight was not gone. Still, it was clear by the way she was still rocking into me, and the tongue sliding across her lips, that she liked this more dominant side of me. I’d always been careful to lock him down with Regina, in case it scared her off, but deep down … I was as bad as Braxton Compass when it came to my mate. Dominant. Possessive. Ready to kill.
“Tell them not to come by for a few days,” I warned her.
She nodded and started to walk.
“And, Tee…” She stopped and turned back. “Don’t touch them. I only have so much control right now.”
She bit her lip as she stared. “Be right back,” she promised.
I never took my eyes off her, not the entire time. I heard most of their conversation, felt the concern from her friend, and when she told him she loved him at the end, it took every ounce of my control not to stride over there.
I reminded myself that they had been there for her when I wasn’t, and that she did love them. But it was me she was leaving with now.True mate.
Mine.
16
Elizabeth Teresa Montgomery II
Louis was silent as we trekked out of town and headed in the direction of my cabin—we could have taken a step-through, but I felt like we both needed a breather and some cool Alaskan air. He didn’t seem surprised that I wasn’t living in Condor though, and that made me think. “You knew I was here the entire time, didn’t you? My wards did shit all to stop you finding me.”
I swallowed hard as he met my eyes. It was as disconcerting as always to be locked in that powerful purple gaze. “Of course, I would never leave you without my protection. As long as you were content and safe, I left you alone, because that’s what you wanted.”
My heart was actually hammering in my chest. I wasn’t sure I’d felt like this since the first time I realized my feelings for Louis had developed beyond friendship. That day, and the day he broke my heart by loving my sister, were the two strongest memories I had outside of my family’s deaths.
“Why are you really here?” I asked him quietly. “You said you didn’t want this bond, that you were too damaged and that another mate might push you right over the edge….”
So why? Why was he doing this to me? Because I had no strength of will to resist him.
He was silent, the only sound our boots as we trudged through the snow. “I couldn’t stay away,” he finally admitted. “I tried my best, I fought against the urge to follow you, but apparently the selfish bastard side of me is stronger now, and I decided to come and find what’s mine. You forced us to be apart for a week, at least for me, and during that time you were the only thing I could think of. You’re it for me, Tee. I won’t be stupid enough to walk away again. This time I’m going to fight for you.”
