Chapter 1
Catching the dark gaze of the Alpha behind her in the mirror, Quinn concentrated on relaxing her hands from the clenched fists at her sides. Firmer pressure met her stuttering inhale as his smooth palms, slick with lotion, moved over the roundness of her pregnant belly.
Two months she’d been with him. Eight weeks of learning his touch. Sixty-one days since he had forced her to accept hismostgenerous offer.
Not that there had been any other option. After being stolen from the man who had forced his claim on her, after being raped more times than she would ever dare to count, there was no going back. Pale flesh marred by tight, pink lines and mottled red arcs that told too many tales of what had transpired ensured she would never be free of that taint.
Tobias Kahler, her mate, would sooner kill her on sight than take her back.
For that matter the Alpha coddling her, Lee Grimes, would kill her before he let her go. Not by his own hand, no. He had a pack of savage Alphas, each more dangerous than the next, to do his bidding. They would get their use of her long before they gave her the mercy of death.
Not that either man had ever wanted her in the first place.
A chill shuddered up her spine, skin prickling in the warm air of her room. The hollow ache in her chest bloomed, pulsing in ravaging crimson bursts as it swallowed her breath. Twisting in Lee’s arms, she tucked her body close and nuzzled at his chest.
“Please, I… I need…” It was still too hard to ask for it. Easier when he slipped into her nest late at night, fresh from a shower where he’d washed away the blood and violence that clung to his skin. Even easier when he would gather her up, spreading her wide when he wanted. Much as he had done only a short time ago as the sun broke through the bleary gray clouds.
She shouldn’t need it so soon, should have been quieted and sated for hours yet. The bleak anguish was always so close now. She clung to him and whined low in her throat.
“I told you I have business.” Hand heavy on her shoulder, he didn’t even apply pressure.
Quinn dropped in an awkward tangle to her knees, hands careful as she undid his belt and pants. He took pride in his appearance and did not appreciate it when she rumpled his clothes. Unzipping the fly, her small hand reached in to work his already hard cock into the daylight. Not wasting time, she covered his crown with her lips. Slow sucking and twirls of her tongue to pull his scent deep, the taste of him so hot it almost burned as it slipped down her throat and quieted the raging agony into a dull roar.
Only a thin ring of gray remained around blown pupils as she started to take him deeper. Swallowing the thin fluid leaking from his tip, a promise of what she wanted. What she needed. Brows drawn tight in a frown of concentration, she tried to do it just the way he liked. A gentle tap against her cheek jerked her focus up, meeting his satisfied gaze.
“Always look at me, pet.” It was a gentle admonishment, softened by his fingers carding through the length of her curls to pull her just a little closer.
Quinn struggled not to gag as he butted against the back of her throat, tapping against sensitive nerves as he sought entrance. He wouldn’t be satisfied with less. Swallowing hard, coughing only the once, she slid further down.
And then relinquished all control.
Gripping her knees to keep from grabbing hold of him, her head moved to the rhythm he set. Hand snarled in her hair, he bobbed her up and down his length. Quinn struggled to move her tongue, to suck down the fluids that threatened to spill over onto his expensive trousers.
Lee only liked it messy when they were in her nest, letting him scent the sheets and blankets. There he liked to remind everyone, including Quinn, who she belonged to now.
She fought for the small breaths he allowed before plunging deep into her throat. Strained to keep her watery gaze fixed on his despite the urge to cough and gag.
Up and down, faster now.
The taste of him was thick, heady. Quinn squirmed, fingers drifting before she remembered not to touch. It was his now, he’d said. She wasn’t allowed to touch what was his. Slick perfumed the warm air around them in sugary waves, exciting the male above her. Rougher, he pushed her further down.
Then held her there.
Waited until she jostled, nails scraping over her legs as she tried to remain still. Throat convulsing as it tried to evict the thick cock lodged there.
With a guttural groan, Lee thrust forward until Quinn’s nose was mashed against his knot in the musky darkness of his fly. Cock kicking in the tight confines of her ravaged throat, he released jet after jet of thick come, continuing to choke and strangle until Quinn listed to the side.
As soon as he pulled out of her throat, her lips clamped over him, sucking down his offering as he continued to spurt into her willing mouth. Groaning her pleasure, her satisfaction, she drank it down until there was nothing left but the final watery sprays against the roof of her mouth.
The roar subsided into a snarling murmur.
“Oh, very good, pet. Very good.” Lee released her hair, stroking back the curls that now dangled well past her shoulders. Standing straight, he gave her a small nod to proceed.
She licked him clean, massaged the last swell of his knot to get the dregs of him onto her tongue. Tucking him away, righting his clothes, Quinn was always surprised how he looked as if he had done nothing while she came away looking as if he had used her hard.
“Be ready for dinner tonight,” Lee said as he helped her up from the floor, all solicitous care and soft touches. “I want you to wear that blue dress you got last week.”
“But it’s…” Quinn trailed off as Lee raised a single dark eyebrow, sucking her lips in between her teeth before nodding. “Of course. The blue dress.”
