Chapter 21

ANITA

My flames crackle to life at his sexy promise, lust filling my veins, and my body melts at his declaration, but instead of following through with his bold claim, he freezes. The tips of his fangs sink into his bottom lip, and he closes his eyes as if he's afraid of my reaction.

His ears flick back and forth, torn between being tucked tightly against his head or turned forward to listen for my response. What charms me the most is that his tail slinks forward and curls possessively around my ankle, his beast already laying claim.

An ache fills my chest at the brittle way he holds himself, like he's bracing for rejection. Despite being a beastling, there is something fragile about him. If I reject him, I fear he will close himself off and never recover.

While I'm not sure how this mating business works, the thought of abandoning him is abhorrent. Heat builds in my bones, my flames licking at my flesh, demanding that I lay my own claim.

It's impossible to turn him away when my magic is begging that I make him mine. Instead of ducking under his arms to escape, I reach back and hop onto the counter, then hook my legs around the back of his thighs and drag him forward.

His eyes pop open wide, his pupils blowing out. I lean closer, my cheek brushing against his jaw, then I throw out a challenge and whisper into his ear. "You can try, but I suspect you'll be the one who cries mercy first. Your skin would look really pretty with my mark decorating it."

I barely finish speaking when the sound of wood creaking reaches my ears. I draw back but don't have time to investigate before Stryker sinks his hands into my hair and cradles my face like I'm something precious. He draws my head back, and my breath catches when I glimpse his hungry expression.

It looks like he wants to devour me. I shiver, imagining all the naughty things he will do to me when he gets his hands on me. It's enough that I groan, then I close the distance between us. When our mouths collide, all thoughts vanish, leaving nothing behind but the need for more.

I hitch my legs up, wrapping them around his waist, and draw him closer. A hum of approval escapes me when his cock presses against my clit in just the right way, sending sparks shooting through my system.

Unable to be close and not touch him, I gingerly rest my hands on his pecs, relishing the heat radiating from him. I pull away from his kiss and explore his chest, worried that my touch might hurt him, but my flames remain dormant for the moment.

My attention wanders for a second, searching the bathroom almost in panic when I don't find Soren. It's only when I see him leaning against the opposite wall, watching us with a fierce intensity, that I relax. His steady presence settles my nerves, and I know he will do whatever it takes to stop me before I can hurt Stryker.

I barely finish that thought before Stryker kisses me again, and the rest of the world vanishes. The brisk smell of snow drifting off an icy mountaintop fills my head, and the taste of wildness is like a drug rushing through my veins. A rough purr rumbles in his chest as our tongues battle for dominance, and my breath catches when the vibrations move through his body and hit my core.

I can't stop myself from arching against him in a silent demand for more. One of his hands slips to the back of my neck, as if he's afraid I might try to get away, while the other hand skims down my back to settle on my hip. He drags me closer, his grip possessive, and my brain short-circuits.

He takes full advantage of my distraction by dragging me to the edge of the counter and pressing the full length of his cock against me in a way that sends a shudder of lust through me.

Wanting to drive him just as wild, I brush my tongue against his fangs. Claws immediately graze my skin, dimpling my flesh, but they don't press hard enough to draw blood.

I should feel threatened, but the drag of his claws against my sensitive skin just makes me crave more of his touch. My nipples harden, begging for attention, and I curse that my shirt is in the way.

I usually don't throw myself at a guy within hours of meeting them. Normally, I thoroughly vet a man before I approach them to ensure they have no connections to my family, then I buy them a drink, flirt, and drag them into a back-alley or bathroom for a quick fuck. Before they even get their pants buttoned back up, I vanish to avoid awkward conversations and clingy situations.

Most don't even know my real name.

It's different with Stryker. He knows more about me than most. He's seen me at my most vulnerable and didn't flinch. Something about this beautiful, broken man calls to my soul.

He's mine.

It's as simple as that.

I pull back, panting heavily as I reach for the bottom of my shirt. Stryker growls, knocking my hands away, then he takes over and whisks the top over my head. His attention drops to my breasts, my bra barely able to contain them. I'm not a busty woman, but I have enough and know how to make a good bra work for me.

Appreciation darkens his eyes, and he lifts one clawed hand and drags it down the center of my chest. With a flick of his finger, his claw slices through the material, and my breasts spill free. Before I can gasp, he drops to his knees and sucks my nipple into his mouth.

The rough texture of his tongue nearly has my eyes rolling back into my head. I thread my fingers into his shoulder-length black hair, holding him close, and I can't resist touching the tip of his ear. It's so thick and fluffy that my fingers sink into the fur.

A loud purr rumbles in his chest, vibrating against my sensitive nipples, and my core clenches with the need to be filled. He pulls back, inhaling deeply, and I blush when I realize he must be smelling my lust.

His blue eyes are nearly swallowed by his pupils, then his focus drops to my jeans like a predator slowly closing in on its prey. He reaches for my pants, not waiting for permission, and slices cleanly through the material. He doesn't even bother stripping them from me before he buries his face between my legs and just feasts.

It takes only one lick of his rough tongue for my body to go rigid. He draws me closer to the edge of the countertop until I fall back, and he's holding my full weight. Not once does he stop licking and exploring my folds.

It's like he's been given a gods-be-damned map on how to pleasure a woman, because in less than a minute, I'm on the cusp of an orgasm. When his tongue inches a little too far back and caresses the rosette of my ass, I try to squirm away, but he holds me still.

With the second pass, I'm gone, the first tremors of my orgasm swallowing me whole.

He quickly returns to my clit, giving it a few licks like some damn Morse code that tells my body to detonate again, before I've even come down from my first orgasm. My vision turns black around the edges, my limbs tingle, and my lips feel numb.

I'm not even aware that I'm riding his face until he grips my hips and controls my pace. I'm barely coming down from my orgasm when he thrusts his tongue into me. It's longer and thicker than I expected, and he manages to twist it a certain way, hitting something inside me that makes the world around me vanish.

He angles his head just right, so his fang hits my clit each time I rock against him, leaving me gasping with each thrust. When he purrs, my body fucking ignites, and I'm drowning in a third, even stronger orgasm that steals the breath from my lungs.

When I come back to myself, it's to find Stryker still between my legs, licking me gently, his tongue thorough as he cleans me. He looks up at me, and it's nothing but his beast staring back.

I've never fucked a beastling before, but I've heard rumors of their stamina. It's said they can go for hours before taking their pleasure, and my pussy clenches at the thought. Three amazing orgasms are usually enough to satisfy me for a few weeks, but not with him.

It's like my body thinks they are just appetizers, and it wants more.

When something moves in the background, my head jerks up, and my eyes widen when I spy Soren silently watching us with a starved expression. His eyes are pure black, and he doesn't blink once as he stares.

I stiffen slightly, flustered that I completely forgot we weren't alone.

He stayed to make sure I was safe and didn't turn anyone to ash.

I don't know if I'm grateful, embarrassed, or turned on that he watched Stryker pleasure me.

When I see the hard outline of his massive cock in his pants, my pussy clenches, and there is no denying he enjoyed the show. Despite having another man between my legs, it's a struggle to pull my eyes away from him, and a thrill goes through me that he's forced to watch and not touch.

Even from across the room, I can smell his arousal.

Why is it so fucking sexy that he's watching?

Stryker stands, blocking my view, and I blink up at him, the spell broken. I can't stop the flush of heat that fills my face at being caught. I should feel horrible and I would, if it weren't for the knowing look in his eye.

He knew my attention wandered, and I'd almost swear he was pleased.

Which is stupid, right?

Not one to shy away from a problem, I tilt my head to the side. "I would have thought beastlings would be more territorial, yet you don't seem bothered that he watched us. Why?"

He gives his lips one last lick, like he's savoring my taste. His smile is slow to form, revealing his fangs, and damn if my greedy pussy doesn't clench at the sight. "Beastlings are very territorial." He leans in closer, his hands landing on either side of my hips once more, and a soft purr rumbles from him in a way that instantly makes me wet for him once again.

He leans in close, brushes his face against mine, and kisses the corner of my mouth. I turn toward him, chasing his lips, but he pulls away before I can deepen the kiss. He nips my bottom lip, then answers the question I forgot I asked.

"It's different when more than one beastling wants to claim the same woman. Packmates share everything." Before I can even process his words, he slips his arm around my waist and pulls me closer, not stopping until his cock is pressed against my pussy. He nuzzles my neck, his damn purr louder, and I can feel myself growing even wetter, like some damn Pavlov's dog situation.

When he speaks again, it takes me a second to uncross my eyes and process his words. "He had to stay. Think of it as an audition. One, to make sure I won't harm you, and two, that I can pleasure you so thoroughly, you forget your own name."

I blink up at him at the bold brag…only to realize he's not bragging. The earnest expression on his face says he's determined to fuck me so completely that I won't be able to walk straight without thinking of him, and I'm not sure if I should cross my legs or drag him closer and demand he prove it.

At my reaction, a tiny smirk curls his lips, and a groan is torn from me at his cocky attitude. How long has it been since I didn't have to look over my shoulder every step? Where I could just lean back and enjoy life?

Stryker's allure is impossible to resist.

Just once, I want to know what it feels like to be treasured.

I peer up at him from under my lashes, lick my lips, then take a leap of faith and give him a devilish smile in return. "Do your worst."

His eyes dilate at the challenge, his breath hitching, then he lunges the short distance between us. His mouth slants over mine, and his tongue plunges in my mouth, taking command. I do my best to keep up with him, but it's like a demon has been unleashed, and I'm forced not to think and just hang on for the ride.

His hands skim down my shoulders. One hand reaches back and sinks into my hair so he can take control of the kiss, while the other unerringly finds my tits. Instead of playing with them, he uses his claws, drawing a pattern over my breasts hard enough to sting. He avoids my nipples, going over the area again and again until my skin is so sensitive that it burns.

When he draws back, it's like I can still feel his touch.

He nips my lips with his sharp fangs, the kiss so rough that my mouth tingles at his possession, and damn if my pussy is not dripping at the way he so thoroughly claimed my body.

I reach for him, almost desperate to touch him, but he quickly catches my hands.

"No touching," he says in a voice so husky that my pussy aches to be filled.

I pout, which has him leaning down to give my lips a punishing nip.

"No sulking," he warns, no hint of playfulness in his eyes. "I won't be swayed until I've claimed every inch of your body. If you can't stay still, I'll have Soren hold you down."

I gulp when I realize that he's deadly serious, and I'm helpless to do anything as pure lust sweeps through my system and sets me on fire. His nose twitches as he catches my scent, and a devilish smile comes to his face.

He grabs my throat, forcing my head back, and steps closer until I'm dragged up against every inch of him. "Hmmm, you like that, do you? Your wish is my command."

The words barely leave his mouth before Soren takes both of my hands in his grip, then pulls them behind my back in a way that has my tits thrusting forward. Stryker's eyes drop, then he licks his lips. "How can I refuse such a pretty invitation?"

He cups my breasts gently, but they are so sensitive that I squirm with the need to be filled, and he's barely even touched me yet.

I'm so screwed.

Something tells me that I'll never be the same after they claim me, and I'm not sure if I'm excited or scared by the prospect.

When Stryker's lips descend, thinking becomes impossible. He licks and sucks at my breasts over and over until I squirm against the counter, desperate for release. When his claws skate over my stomach, I think I stop breathing, but instead of sinking his fingers into my aching pussy, he lowers them to the destroyed jeans that are still clinging to my waist.

Claws dance over my skin as he makes short work of them, and they flutter to the floor, forgotten. Those dark claws once more draw patterns over my skin, and I'm soon left trembling.

I'm not aware that I'm whimpering until Soren reaches up with one hand and cups my jaw, turning my face toward him. Then he's kissing me roughly, his tongue punching in and out of my mouth. Instead of bringing relief, it just ratchets the tension up higher, and my hips move in time with his thrusts.

When Stryker's mouth returns to my breasts, it only takes seconds for an orgasm to sweep over me…all without even touching my pussy.

I should feel satisfied, but the orgasm feels empty without them filling me, and my hunger turns desperate. I rip away from Soren, shove him away, then launch myself at Stryker. I hit him in the chest strong enough to send him stumbling back.

He grunts, off-balance as he tries to catch me, and I take full advantage of his distraction and shove him until his ass lands on the closed toilet. I don't even hesitate to use my magic to turn his pants to ash, leaving me with a mouthwatering view of his dick.

It's as perfect as the rest of him—long and hard and already weeping for me.

I hesitate for a moment, wanting to touch and worship him with my mouth, but I'm too desperate. I straddle him and reach down, ready to impale myself on him, but before I can even curl my hand around his girth, Soren appears behind me. He catches my arms and drags them over my head, preventing me from lowering myself onto Stryker's cock.

My frustrated growl emerges as a whimper.

"If you're a good girl, I'll give you what you want," Soren whispers in my ear, his husky voice making me drip.

I'm nodding before he even finishes speaking, not caring if I come off as desperate. Instead of thrusting into me, Stryker reaches forward and cups my pussy. He sinks two fingers in me, deep and fast, and I moan, practically melting around him. When I arch my hips to take more of him, he retreats, and I nearly cry out in protest…until I see him grab his cock and boldly stroke himself, spreading my juices up and down the long length.

He does it two more times, and my body trembles by the time he's done coating himself.

When he grabs the base of his cock, Soren pushes me forward, lining me up. Just as he drops me, Stryker grabs my hips and thrusts up at the same time. My breath leaves me in a whoosh as he impales me with one stroke.

I think my eyes roll back in my head, the burn of his invasion quickly turning to pleasure. He waits for me to adjust to his size, and I swear I feel him touching my soul.

I'm suddenly desperate for more, but instead of moving, he remains motionless. I grit my teeth in frustration, squirming on his cock, but he stays maddeningly still. I glare down at him and snarl, "Fuck me."

The stubborn fool only shakes his head, appearing infuriatingly calm as he returns my gaze. Oh, I can see the strain in his body to remain still—the tiny shakes in his muscles, and the way his cock twitches—but his willpower is absolute.

"You're holding yourself back." He leans closer, nipping my bottom lip sharp enough to sting. "I want all of you, and I won't settle for less."

I narrow my eyes, then purse my lips.

Two can play at this game. I clench my inner muscles around his cock, grinning in triumph when his jaw clenches, and a snarl catches at the back of his throat, but he doesn't break.

He meets my gaze without flinching, and when an evil smile curls his lips, my heart skips a beat. "Oh, I'm not denying you orgasms. You can come as many times as you like, but I'm not stopping until you give me what I want."

How can a threat be so sexy?

My pussy clenches at his taunt, and I'm not sure if I want to cross my legs at the threat to destroy my pussy or demand that he prove it. While unlimited orgasms sound amazing, I sense the trap behind the words, and I'm thrown off-kilter. "Why?"

He searches my face, then he leans closer, his blue eyes becoming more intense. "Because you're holding part of yourself back, and I want everything."

He leans down, swiping his rough tongue against one of my nipples, and my body reacts to him like he's programmed it, clenching down hard on his dick. When he lifts his head, a determined glint sparks in his eyes. "One way or another, I will have it. You will either give it to me willingly, or I'll give you so many orgasms that you won't be able to tell where you end and I begin. I'll wear you down and own your body so thoroughly that you'll eventually submit. You won't be able to stop yourself."

I want to deny it, but I realize he's right.

While I have been giving him my body, I have been holding back my powers for fear my flames would hurt him. What's worse, I suspect he's right about eventually caving into his demands. I'll be so out of my mind with lust by that time that I doubt I'd even be aware if I burned the entire house down around me.

"The choice is yours," Stryker says, interrupting my thoughts, his voice soft. "I won't force you to do anything you don't want."

My breath catches, and my pussy clenches around his cock in denial, as if to keep him from leaving. "But then you won't fuck me, will you?"

I'm not sure I'm even breathing as I wait for his reply, although I suspect I already know his answer.

"I won't give you only part of myself. I don't know how." He must see the disappointment on my face, because he cups the back of my neck, refusing to let me pull away. "I'll give you anything else you want, all the orgasms your body can take, but I'll wait to claim you until you're ready."

I want to be angry—I should be angry—but he's just too earnest, just too freaking sweet, and I don't have it in my heart to be mad.

All he's asking is for me to believe in myself as much as he believes in me.

"Soren—"

"I won't let anything happen to him," the hellhound replies, even before I can ask. "I vow it."

A promise shimmers in his dark eyes, and I believe him, relaxing at his reassurance.

I nibble on my bottom lip, hesitating another second as I debate everything that could go wrong, then I take a leap of faith and call my flames. My powers respond immediately, the tiny sparks flickering and dancing across my skin, overjoyed at being released from their cage.

They don't wait for my permission and spring forward in excitement. Soren allows little cinders to dance over his hands for a few seconds, a pleased smile on his face as the tiny sparks caress him, then he releases his grip.

Without him holding me up, my full weight settles on Stryker's cock. The man immediately takes control, flexing his hips hard and fast, and I can't hold back a groan when his cock flexes inside me.

My pussy clamps down hard, loving the feel of him buried deep, and it's almost enough to distract me from the way my flames slowly creep down my arms toward him.

Almost.

As if noticing my distraction, Stryker stills his hips, then he drags me against him until I'm splayed over his chest, and we wait as my power inches ever closer. When the first spark touches him, I hold my breath, watching his reaction, but nothing could have prepared me for his response.

Stryker groans as the heat swirls up his arms, then his head falls back and his eyes shut. His cock twitches hard inside me. Though he fights it, gritting his teeth to hold himself back, he can't stop the way his hips flex as he surges deeper into me.

If I didn't know better, I'd swear his cock swells, as if desperate to fill me even more. It presses against me in just the right spot, and I can't stop from rocking my hips in a desperate bid for more.

As my flames spread over him faster and faster, they sink into his flesh, and his breathing turns ragged. I stiffen, ready to pull back, when his eyes pop open.

Instead of fear or pain, pure lust stares back at me.

It takes my heartbeat a second to steady, then I can't help the wicked smile that crosses my lips. I lean forward, resting my fingers against his face, then drag them down his jaw, caressing his neck before trailing them across his chest, releasing a tiny lick of flames along the way.

Gooseflesh spreads beneath my touch, and he growls as his beastling rises to the surface. He's barely keeping himself in check, and I love when his impenetrable control finally cracks. He lunges forward and worships my breasts, biting and nipping the sensitive skin. I hold him close, my blood feeling like lightning through my veins.

Wanting him to feel what I'm feeling, I send another wave of flames dancing over his skin. He grunts as if I cupped his balls and gave them a healthy squeeze, then he pulls back with a growl, a wild glint in his blue eyes, and flashes his fangs in warning.

His hips snap forward, as if he's trying to get as deep inside me as possible. He narrows his eyes as he gazes down at me, his voice low and husky when he speaks. "Do that again, and I won't be held responsible for my actions."

I shiver at the warning, but it has nothing to do with fear.

Completely the opposite, in fact.

Wanting to steal his control like he stole mine, I give him a taunting smile and send another wave of heat into him. He shudders, dropping his head forward, and a moan rumbles in his chest. My magic whirls around his body, and I'm distracted when the flames hit his injuries.

My eyes widen when his wounds slowly seal shut, healing him without leaving a scar.

I quickly blink back the sting of tears, and a near suffocating weight lifts off my chest.

"I'm not a monster," I whisper, more to myself than anyone else. Not sure that I believe it—not without proof—I trace my fingers lightly over the claw marks that have vanished right before my eyes.

Smooth skin meets my fingertips.

Stryker cradles me close, kissing the top of my head, and murmurs, "Of course you're not a monster."

I blink at him in surprise, and the back of my throat tightens when there isn't even a hint of doubt in his eyes. Despite the flames flickering around us, I don't sense any fear in him. If anything, he cradles me like I'm something special.

For the first time since my powers manifested, I believe it.

"I can control my abilities and have a normal life if I want it." The revelation is so shocking that it leaves me almost giddy.

Unable to contain my excitement, I lean forward and kiss Stryker with all the pent-up passion I've been holding back for fear of harming him. Stryker immediately takes control, wrapping his arms around my waist and lifting me easily as he stands. I wrap my legs around his hips seconds before he spins and pins me against the door.

As delicious heat swirls back and forth between us, he thrusts almost leisurely. His movements are shallow at first, testing different depths and angles. When he finds one that makes me whimper, he purrs loud enough to fill the small bathroom.

No matter how much I try to hold myself back, the beginnings of an orgasm ripple through me, and my pussy flutters around his cock. I try to stave off my release, wanting to take him with me, but Stryker senses my resistance and takes it as a challenge. He picks up his pace, never once losing his rhythm, and that damn purr of his is like a vibrator massaging my clit and insides at the same time.

Unable to hold back my orgasm, bliss bleeds through my veins and flames ripple over my skin. Sparks fill the space between us, extending my pleasure. Stryker growls, his thrusts growing erratic, his cock swelling more. His claws graze my skin as his grip turns brutal and his hips buck hard and fast.

As my orgasm fades, a lingering, empty ache remains. Stryker doesn't slow down, doesn't take his own release. That's when it hits me—he's holding back.

That just won't do.

I slip my hands into his hair, then jerk his head back and glare at the smug asshole. "Stop holding back."

Stryker groans, his thrusts becoming shallow. He licks his fangs, and I suddenly know what's missing.

I won't be fully satisfied without his bite.

I peer into his steady blue eyes, and the hope in them slays me. If I asked him to wait, he would agree without hesitation. He would never force me to do anything I didn't want, and my stomach swoops like a drunken wyvern trying to fly.

He would put my wants and needs before his own, even if it's pure torture for him to wait.

Standing before me is a future I never could have imagined in my wildest dreams. In my chaotic life, second chances aren't guaranteed. Moments of happiness are fleeting. The thought of losing Stryker because I wasn't brave enough to take what I want has a hollow spot opening up in my chest.

It's a risk I'm unwilling to take.

With shaking fingers, I reach up and sweep my hair away from my neck, then turn my head to the side in invitation. "Bite me."

His low purr cuts off abruptly, then it continues louder than ever, sounding like a rough engine struggling to stay running on a cold winter morning. He swallows hard, wonder filling his blue eyes…seconds before they harden and he lunges for me.

I don't even have time to flinch when his fangs sink into the fleshy part of my shoulder. A sharp stab of pain streaks down my arm from the bite, my fingers tingling as if he struck a nerve, and I grunt in surprise at the suddenness of his attack.

I don't fight him, knowing better than to struggle. I reach up, cupping the back of his head to hold him against me, and heat slowly spreads from the bite like I'm being injected with something. Warmth weaves through my muscles like a drug, leaving my body lethargic but my senses electrified.

Without removing his teeth from my flesh, he thrusts against me, and I'm suddenly drowning in pleasure. He pounds into me ruthlessly, not giving me a chance to catch my breath, and I love every second. Heat continues to spread through me like a fever, and the only thing keeping me sane is his touch.

Clawing at his back, I clutch him close, doing my best to crawl inside him. As if sensing my desperation, his speed picks up, and his naughty purr sets my body on fire. My orgasm catches me by surprise, stealing the air from my lungs and my ability to do anything but feel.

Stryker growls, his fangs vibrating like a tuning fork in my shoulder. Heat spreads into my chest like liquid flames and spills into every corner of my body. When it collides with my own flames, my body ignites like tinder and I detonate.

He slams his cock into me, pinning me to the door as if he can't get into me deep enough, every bit of him surrounding me until I feel him everywhere. The orgasm doesn't fade, but continues to build until nothing exists but him.

When I feel his cock jump and his cum fill me, he finally releases me from his bite. I'm out of my mind with pleasure, my body almost oversensitive. Instead of pulling away, he continues with shallow thrusts, as if he can't make himself stop.

Too blitzed out to do anything but breathe, I lean against him, struggling to remember how my limbs work…or that I even have limbs. A gentle purr fills his chest, and he licks my neck almost lazily. Each swipe of his tongue sends a shudder through me, and I groan as my pussy flutters around his cock, which has him rocking against me again in a never-ending circle of pleasure.

I'm not sure how much time passes before the last of my orgasm finally fades. By the time I have enough energy to tip my head back to look up at him, I expect to see his smug expression, possibly some gloating at the way he so thoroughly claimed me.

Instead, his eyes are full of wonder and awe. His hands are gentle, full of reverence when he lightly traces the bite mark on my shoulder. Even the lightest touch feels like he's caressing my soul. If I concentrate hard enough, I swear I feel him at the back of my mind like a warm hug.

It should freak me the fuck out, since I don't do connections or attachments, but he's different. For the first time in my life, I know what it feels like to have a home, and I will do anything to protect it, including removing any threat.

Which leaves me just one option.

My family must die.