Page 5 of His to Claim

Her hesitation was followed by a mumble under her breath. She’d turned into a wildcat, enticing me even more.

I inhaled her fragrance once again as she did what she was told, struggling to release the buckle. She was nervous, more so than I would have imagined given our history. My instinct told me that only a part had to do with our reconnection. I’d gathered more than just a hint of fear, prompting the beast in me to find out the reason why. What was going on with her to make her so distracted?

I’d learned at the scene of the accident that she’d moved back into town, another shocker as far as I was concerned. I subsequently learned she’d been in Denver for three months. Three fucking months and she hadn’t thought to see if I was around.

Jesus.

As she tugged on the leather strap, every cell in my body exploded in fire, white hot and sizzling. I was more alive than I’d been in years, my bones and muscles stretching. I’d never lost control of my beast, had never accidentally turned. In fact, other than recent events involving several murders, I hadn’t shifted in years. I’d felt no need, or maybe the simple truth was I’d attempted to hide my true identify. Living as a normal human certainly had its perks.

And its downfalls.

As leader of the Nightwalker pack, I was completely aware changes were coming, continued unrest building amongst our combined packs. While we were considered Wolfen, our group had been banished years before based on bad blood.

We were now one big happy family.

Or so Maximillian Cordero ordained it, a man who’d been my childhood friend turned instant enemy because of bitterness and anger shared between our fathers. Since taking over as Wolfen pack leader, he’d tightened the reins, making certain none of the pack members went against protocol or the damn rules.

But hell, I’d been a troublemaker my entire life. That wasn’t about to change.

Especially not because of a woman.

She jerked the last of the belt from the tight loops, holding the strap in her hand like a nervous kitty cat.

I took it from her, sliding the end of the strap against her cheek, moving ever so slowly between her luscious breasts. “Do you know what bad girls receive?”

“A spanking?” she asked, her entire body tensing. “Which is ridiculous. Grown women aren’t spanked.”

“In my world they are. There are other forms of punishment as well if necessary, but I don’t think you want to find out.”

“That sounds like a threat. Sir.”

The feisty woman had no idea what she was doing to me. “Hmmm… I only make promises, Vanessa. First things first. Move to the couch and lean over the back.” I nodded toward the supple leather, giving her a commanding look.

“Sure.”

“What do we say, Vanessa?”

She narrowed her eyes then half laughed. “Yes, sir. I have to be crazy for doing this.”

“Much better.”

I waited until she was in position before advancing, feeling more like a predator than anything else. When I moved closer, something grabbed at my mind, another instinct that I couldn’t seem to push away.

She was in danger.

Hmmm… The realization was one I’d have to come to grips with. We weren’t starting a relationship. She didn’t belong to me.

Except for tonight.

I rubbed the leather between my fingers, my cock continuing to twitch. I was fully aroused, the hunger explosive. I kicked her legs apart then brushed the tips of my fingers down her spine. She mewed, her body tensing. When I tapped her bottom, the buildup of heat in my fingers was dramatic. She’d ignited embers I thought long since dead.

She dropped her head, her grip on the back of the couch firm. I could even hear the scratching sound her perfectly manicured nails made against the leather.

“Now, for such an egregious situation, you’re going to receive thirty strikes.”

“Thirty?” she huffed, jerking up from her position.

“You’re going to stay in position as well. If you don’t, I’m going to start over. Do you understand?”

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