4. Dylan

Dylan

Chapter 4

The cab pulled up in front of a brick warehouse. "This is your stop," the driver said, glancing curiously over his shoulder at me through the plastic barrier.

Sure enough, when I looked through the window, I saw the sign that said Hair of the Dog. The irony wasn't lost on me, being a cat, but I'd overheard a few of my father's guards talking about this place. Apparently, it was for shifters only, and considering I didn't have a lot of experience interacting with humans, this seemed like a safe option.

"Right. Thanks." I tried to look like I knew what I was doing, but everything was new to me. On the rare occasion I left the estate, I had a private driver and a security detail. I'd never been in a cab, and certainly never in this neighborhood. I pulled out my wallet and stared down at the credit card I'd never used.

"Just tap your card on the pin pad," the driver suggested, opening a window in the scuffed plexiglass shield and passing me a device I'd seen on TV at least.

The machine beeped, and the driver wished me a good night, so I assumed the payment had been approved. I climbed out of the car onto the sidewalk and approached the club's door, guarded by a large man with a neck the size of my thigh.

Before I could reach the door, however, I caught a whiff of something, and my feet ground to a halt. It was like nothing I'd ever scented before, rich and earthy and textured, like tangy pine sap right here on the sidewalk, when clearly there was nothing of the sort in these brick-and-concrete surroundings. There wasn't even a single blade of grass in sight. I turned in a circle to look around, searching for the origin of the scent, but there was nothing and no one. My panther grew agitated, scrabbling at my insides. Even considering the moon's pull, this was out of character for him, and I staggered a few steps as he fought to get me inside the club. The bouncer was eyeing me warily. He was probably wondering if I was having a seizure.

Calm down, would you? People are staring.

Don't care, my beast snarked.

"Membership?" the bouncer asked when I was a few feet away.

"Uh…" I patted my pockets, pretending to look for my wallet. What membership? Was that code to slip him 50 bucks or something?

He sighed. "You must be new. I just need to see that you belong here." He flashed his bear's chocolate-brown eyes at me.

"Oh." Gods, I must look like such a noob. I offered him a peek at my panther's eyes, and the bouncer nodded, satisfied.

"Do you need me to tell you the rules?" he asked as he opened the door. With it came a waft of air, and there was that pine scent again, stronger this time, and my brain scrambled.

What was he saying? Rules? "Safe to assume no violence."

The man nodded. "Also, no pets allowed, if you know what I mean. This close to the full moon, things can get a little… precarious," he said carefully. "It wouldn't take much to tip the whole club into a free-for-all."

"Like a brawl?" I could hold my own. My father had insisted on learning self-defense.

He snorted, smirking. "No, like an orgy."

My jaw dropped, the air leaving my lungs in a whoosh. "Oh…" A fight I could handle, but not sex. That was a definite no-no, and I could only begin to guess what kind of consequences came with breaking that particular rule.

The bouncer was watching me, gauging my reaction. His smirk dropped, his eyes softening. "Still want to go in?" It sounded like a genuine question.

While I had my doubts, my panther had never been so certain about anything before. I couldn't have walked away even if I wanted to. "Yeah, it's cool."

I headed inside on shaky legs. My heart was racing, my palms slick with sweat. What the hell was wrong with me? It couldn't just be the loud music, could it? But when I walked through the second set of doors, it was like that single pine tree had turned into a whole godsdamned forest, and I doubled over with a groan, hands braced on my knees. I felt my eyes go green and gold, my canines extending in my mouth. Shit. What the hell?! The bouncer said no shifting, and it was almost the first thing I did when I walked in the door? I held on, but it was a close thing.

Mate, mate, mate, my panther chanted.

Seriously? Now?! I couldn't decide if this was the best timing ever or the worst, but considering I rarely left my father's estate and was never permitted to speak to anyone, the chances of having randomly met my mate were limited to here and now.

Blowing out a breath, I straightened up and scanned the crowd. It was easy to find him. It was the equivalent of having a spotlight on him, the way my gaze was drawn to the alpha on the dance floor. He had blond hair, short on the sides and longer on top, tousled and damp with sweat. His face was flushed, with a light layer of scruff across his angled jaw—and he was staring straight back at me. Oblivious to the jostling crowd, I made my way toward him.

A man tried to dance with my mate, but the second he put his hands on him, my alpha turned and snapped at him with sharpened teeth, his eyes flashing an electric blue. Several people took a step back from him on instinct. He was a predator. A wolf.

I'd never been so turned on in my life.

We came face to face right there on the dance floor, mere inches apart. From this distance, his scent danced across my tongue, and I found an undertone of rich, buttery leather.

He leaned closer, still not touching me, inhaling along my neck. "Cat," he said, and the way he said it was like a term of endearment, like sweetheart or dear—or mate.

"Dog," I replied in kind, the corner of my mouth drawing up.

In unspoken agreement, we both moved at the same time, closing that final distance between us. His strong hands closed around my hips, squeezing, and I set my palms on his stomach, slowly sliding them up his chest, marveling at the planes and ridges hiding under his t-shirt. If this was who fate had chosen for me, I wasn't complaining. There was undeniable strength in him.

We didn't plan to dance, but suddenly we were, swaying to the thumping beat in an erotic way. I was distantly aware of the crowd around us, pressing in on all sides, but my focus was squarely on the man in front of me, with his arms around me in a firm grip. I felt safe and protected, and even though I knew nothing about who he was, none of it mattered right now. There would be time later to get to know him. I only had a couple of hours before I had to be back home, and I didn't want to waste a second of it.

He was only a few inches taller than I was, and when I leaned in, chest to chest, I marveled at the way our bodies aligned. I could feel the firm outline of his cock when I ground my hips against him, and his low groan was the sweetest sound. I felt powerful being able to induce this need in him. I wondered what else I could do…

I traced a line with my nose up the column of his throat, inhaling his scent, and when I reached the shell of his ear, I was struck with the urge to put my mouth on him… so I did. I lapped at his smooth flesh, tasting his sweat, sucking his earlobe into my mouth and nipping at him with my teeth. I felt the full-body shudder roll through him, his breath skittering unevenly across my neck.

"Damn, baby," he moaned as he slid his hands down to my ass, kneading into the muscle, using the leverage to build friction between us. "You are way hotter than I deserve."

"I was just thinking the same thing." At my panther's insistence, I licked him again, this time along his jaw, enthralled by the rasp of his whiskers on my tongue. "You're the best damn birthday present I never knew to ask for."

"It's your birthday?" he asked, sounding pleasantly surprised.

I nodded. "I just turned 21." I didn't know how old my mate was, not that it mattered to me, but he was at least a few years older.

"And are you here with anyone?" He fought to bring his head up, looking around for a party. His gaze was lust-drunk, lids at half-mast.

"No, I came alone."

"That's sad. No one should be alone on their birthday." He frowned, but it quickly stretched into a sexy smirk. "Well, you're not alone anymore. Maybe I can help you celebrate."

"I'd like that." I was still staring at those full lips, and maybe it was the moon's influence or the overwhelming urge to complete a mating bond, but I tipped up on my toes and claimed his mouth.

I should've been kissed before my 21st birthday. There were a lot of things I should've done by now, and normally I probably would've taken the time to rant over how overprotective my father was, but my lack of experience didn't seem to matter in this case. Not when my alpha was so eager to lead—and I was more than ready to follow.

His lips were so hot, so insistent as he slanted his mouth across mine, and when he teased his tongue across the seam of my lips, it was like he was asking permission to enter. Access granted! I parted my lips, and he plunged his tongue inside, massaging mine. I tasted red licorice and liquor, and the unexpected combination made my pulse skyrocket.

One hand dragged up my shirt, searching for skin, while the other hand slipped down the back of my pants, his middle finger gliding down the crack of my ass. I could feel how slippery I was, my slick leaking from my hole. Damn these tight pants! I cursed. I wanted more, needed it. I whimpered into his mouth, a pitiful whine, as I humped against him, searching for some kind of relief. Pressure built until I thought I was going to scream. Oh my gods, I was going to come right here in public, without even being penetrated. My moan was so loud, everyone must've heard it, even against the backdrop of dance music, but I was way beyond caring.

My hands had a mind of their own, dragging my extended claws up his neck and scalp, my fingers tangling in his hair and pulling hard until he reared back, and I saw his wolf's eyes staring back at me.

I couldn't think straight. My panther was in my ear, begging, pleading with me to mark him. We could do it right here on the dance floor, nobody needed to know. Everyone did, though. Of course they knew. The pheromones were coming off us in thick waves. I saw more than a few glowing eyes turned our way. What was it the bouncer said about an orgy?

A thick hand came down on my mate's shoulder, and following the arm up, I tipped my chin to look way up at another alpha wolf, his eyes forest green, the muscles in his jaw bunched. "Get out of here, would you? Before things get out of hand."

"That's the best idea you've ever had," my mate said, his voice a whole octave deeper. "Come on, let's find somewhere more private."

Without taking his hands off me, he walked forward, pushing us through the crowd like a plow, with no regard to whose toes we stepped on. For the most part, they cleared the way, heads turning to follow our progress, their gazes hungry. I was stumbling backward, blind to where we were going, but I put my trust in him. I knew fate wouldn't steer me wrong.

Together, we tumbled through a swinging door, the glaring fluorescent light making me blink up in confusion. "The bathroom?" I scoffed.

"I know, it's cliché, but I promise next time will be more romantic. Right now, I just need to be inside you. Okay?" He at least looked apologetic as he flipped the lock.

I couldn't do anything but nod like a fucking bobblehead, desperation making common sense a thing of the past. "Yeah, okay. Good deal."

"Thank gods," he panted as he lunged for me. He gripped the backs of my thighs and hoisted me up, and I wrapped my legs around his slim waist and held on for dear life. He pressed my back against the cold, tiled wall, using his body to pin me in place in order to free up his hands. With no measure of grace, he tore my vest down the middle, buttons popping, and shoved my shirt up to my chin. "Fuck, your skin is so smooth." He proceeded to taste, kiss, nip, devour whatever he could get his mouth on. When he closed his lips around my nipple and added suction, I cried out, holding his head in place.

Ours, my panther purred, and I felt the declaration to the depths of my soul.

As lost as I was to the passion, I barely registered that he was working at my pants, first the button then the zipper, fighting to get them past my hips. All I knew was that I needed him, needed him to relieve the pressure.

And then his hands were on my ass, parting my cheeks to give him access, the skin slippery. He delved just one finger into my slick heat and moaned. "You're so tight," he praised.

Tight? Oh, he had no idea. Those words sank through my addled thoughts, snapping me out of my daze. My eyes flew open, staring up at the water-stained ceiling in dawning horror. Shit. I couldn't give him what he wanted. Not yet. My father would kill him.

"Wait," I panted, "stop," even as my panther yowled in furious misery.

To his credit, he stopped, but I could sense it was a near thing. His animal instincts were pushing him hard, but ever so slowly, he extricated his finger from my ass and lowered me to the ground. He took a step back, his breath unsteady, hands shaking at his sides. "Did I hurt you?"

"No, but there's something I need to do." Before I could overthink my actions, I gripped his shirt in my fist and dragged him back, kissing him hard. He sagged against me in relief, and for the first time in my life, I took control—and I loved it. Growling, I flipped him around until he was the one pinned to the wall. He could've overpowered me if he wanted, but he stayed where I put him. "Stay," I commanded, and his eyes flared with arousal.

He liked when I pushed him around. Good to know.

I lowered to my knees, staring up at him as I tugged on his belt. "I want to see what you have for me. Will you show me?"

"Fuck me," he muttered, rushing to help me with his pants, his pupils blown wide. "Take whatever you want. It's all yours."

I may have been inexperienced, but I was no stranger to porn. I'd seen plenty of cocks, just never one in person. When he drew his thick erection out, I found myself struck speechless. It looked too big to fit into my mouth, let alone my ass! Veins stood out starkly along the shaft, blood rushing to fill his phallus.

I watched in fascination as he stroked himself, squeezing a drop of glistening precum from the tip. "Like what you see?" he asked. He might've acted confident, but I could hear the thread of insecurity my wide-eyed stare had caused.

"Oh, I like," I vowed, licking my lips in preparation. "I more than like." And then I closed my mouth around the silky-smooth head and slid him down my throat. This was the single most erotic moment of my life. I closed my eyes in bliss, savoring the feel of my alpha's cock filling my mouth. I moaned and sank down further, taking him as far back as I could.

"Gaia, save me," he cursed, grabbing the back of my head and holding me there. "Don't move." I could feel his pulse racing through those swollen veins.

Mate, claim, mark, ours, my panther pressed, fighting to get to him.

We can't! We're not his to claim, not yet. There is only one way this can play out.

First, though, I could allow myself to indulge. I gripped him around the base of his dick, and as I drew my mouth back, I slid my fist up to follow. In tandem, between my mouth and fist, I began to work him into a lather.

He groaned low in his throat. "Baby, if you don't stop, I'm going to come," he warned me. It only made me double down. I wanted to make him explode, make him fall apart, make him mine. I wanted everything he was and everything he would be. I squeezed him hard in my fist, my teeth scraping gently down his length.

Even with his impending climax, he couldn't stop himself from thrusting his hips, fucking my mouth. My own balls felt heavy and swollen, and I regretted that I wouldn't be able to share my body with him. Not tonight, anyway. But soon.

His breath caught, and his cock thickened further in my mouth before he groaned, releasing his thick semen in hot spurts. It wasn't at all what I'd been expecting—it was better. Thick and warm and salty. This was my mate's essence, and as I swallowed, I took a piece of him into myself. It wasn't enough, but it helped ease my panther's drive to claim.

After licking him clean, I tucked him, still half hard, back into his pants, and then blushing, I rose from the floor. "Thanks," I said, wiping the corner of my mouth with my thumb, sucking it to make sure I hadn't missed a single drop.

The tension had leached from his body, and he drew me closer, kissing me languidly, as though searching for the proof of his flavor in my mouth. When he finally pulled back, he smoothed my hair away from my face and gazed down at me with the most awed expression. "Who are you?"

I sighed. This was going to hurt, but I told myself it would be worth it—it had to be. "Why couldn't I have met you last week," I lamented. Reaching for my wallet, I pulled out a simple white business card, with nothing but an address, and slotted it into his jeans pocket. "Be there tomorrow, 10pm." Then I kissed him once more softly before turning and walking away, my chest so tight I couldn't breathe. He was too stunned to chase after me; he hadn't seen that coming.

It wasn't until I had snuck back into my suite back at home and flopped down on my bed that I realized I never even asked him his name.