Page 18

Corbin came awake, and for a moment feared he was in the lab at the holding facility once more. It took him a minute to realize he was at PSI in one of their medical rooms. It helped that James was there, holding a chart and wearing a white lab coat.

“Mae?” Corbin asked, sitting up rapidly on the bed. Faster than he should have. The room spun and he grabbed a side rail to steady himself. An IV ran from his arm to a bag of fluid and a quick glance down showed he was wearing a pair of scrub bottoms. Nothing else. “Where is Mae? Is she okay?”

James eyed him. “What is the last thing you remember?”

“Is my mate okay?” he pressed. He wasn’t in the mood for games. When James crossed his arms over his chest and lifted a brow, Corbin knew the man wasn’t giving up any information until he got the answers he sought. With a sigh, Corbin responded. “There was gunfire and they hit the chemicals in the lab. Smoke filled the room. It hurt to breathe. I was worried for Mae. I wanted to get to her.” He thought harder on it all. About how he’d put her in a cell to try to keep her safe but how the men had shot at it until the glass gave way.

And he remembered Mae’s limp body.

He trembled as he lifted his head, his eyes searching his longtime friend’s face for any sign of hope that Mae was alive. James touched the foot of the bed and set the chart down. “She’s fine, Corbin. Not a scratch on her.”

He let out a breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding. “Where is she?”

“You claimed her,” said James matter-of-factly.

Corbin wasn’t proud of how he’d given into his baser side or how he’d claimed his mate. He’d wanted it to be special and wonderful. Not in some fucking lab. What was done was done. He just needed to get to her, to make sure with his own eyes that she was alive and well. “I did. And I’d do it again.”

James snorted. “Oh, I know.”

Corbin tried to stand, but found the room spinning once more. “What happened to me?”

“You got shot fourteen times,” replied James, giving him a disapproving glance once more.

“I got what?”

James groaned. “You took fourteen hits with bullets meant to kill a shifter.”

“How am I alive?” asked Corbin, getting his bearings somewhat. He put his feet on the floor but didn’t try to stand yet. “How long have I been out?”

“You’re alive because you mated with Mae. She’s got Fae in her and a lot of other stuff—I’d go into it all, but to be honest, the tests were inconclusive so I sent samples off to Dr. Green with the I-Ops for his opinion. But it’s safe to say that her blood gave you some resistance to silver. Mating to her saved your life.” James touched his shoulder and gave a tempered clasp. “You’ve been in here three days. We were only just able to convince Mae to leave your side. Striker is with her now. At last check he was offering to pose naked for her to sculpt, so I’d recommend feeling better and fast.”

Corbin groaned. “If I had more energy, I’d kill him.”

“I know. There is a change of clothes for you in the bathroom. Shower. Clean up before you go find her.”

Corbin nodded and then glanced at James. “What about the facility? What happened? Did we get everyone out?”

James stiffened and shook his head. “No. We retrieved some data. Not a lot because they blew most of their files and computers. The team has been trying to contact Ezra. He’s either still undercover or his cover was blown and well, I don’t want to speculate until we know more.” James sighed, the stress of it all showing. He’d been held prisoner not that long ago and many of his wounds weren’t ones that could be seen. Many were mental. “Corbin, from what we were able to gather, they were holding a man named Brad there. His name has come up by way of the I-Ops before. He was taken the same time one of the mates of an I-Ops was taken. Brad and Mae formed a bond in holding.”

Corbin wasn’t sure he liked where this was going. He stiffened.

James shook his head. “Not like that. From the files I was able to look at, there was enough overlap in their DNA that I think Mae and Brad are related to some degree. I don’t know that it’s enough for siblings, but I would say cousins maybe.”

“Did we get him out?”

From James’s expression the answer was no.

Corbin exhaled. “Does she know he didn’t make it?”

“She knows what we do,” said James, standing slowly. “That Ezra was there, working undercover for PSI as a Shadow Operative and that Ezra freed Brad and we can only assume Alice.”

“Alice?”

“Mae’s roommate. She’d been taken at the same time from what we can tell. We recovered records on her too. They wanted to breed her as well.” James was quiet for a moment. “We’re still trying to piece it all together. We have a lead on the vampire who was running the operation there. Mae’s not been able to reach her. And before you find out from anyone else, your mother called and spoke with Mae directly. Colette asked if you ripped anyone apart, and when Striker confirmed you did, she wanted us to tell you good boy. She wanted to fly here to be by your side, but Striker convinced her you’d be fine and that you’d need time alone with your mate if she wanted grandchildren.”

It took him a moment to wrap his mind around what he was being told. Mae’s roommate had been taken as well? Corbin closed his eyes, his heart breaking for his mate. “I need to go to her, James. The shower will have to wait.”

They both turned at the sound of Striker’s voice filling the outer hall.

“Lass, he’s nae gonna be doin’ anythin’ other than lyin’ on his lazy English arse healin’. You do nae have to run.”

Mae appeared in the doorway. She was in a long skirt and a t-shirt. Her long hair was down. Her feet were bare. She had on glasses and her eyes were wide. “You’re awake!”

Striker scrambled in behind her, looking winded. “Och, by chance did they use the DNA of a track star in your makeup? Oh, Captain, yer awake.”

Mae beamed and then twisted, hugging Striker tight. “He’s okay.”

Striker wrapped his arms around Mae and patted her back gently. “Lass, when you cry, I cry. We had this talk already. You cannae be weepy around me. It makes me do the same and I’ve a manly code to live up to.”

“Why is he hugging my mate?” demanded Corbin.

James snorted. “Your mate has taken a shine to him. We can’t figure it out. He annoys the hell out of us, but she seems to be able to tolerate him. Strangest part of this all is, he’s not said anything inappropriate to her either. Malik and I think he’s probably dying or something.”

Corbin stood and met Striker’s gaze from across the room. He nodded to the man. “Thank you, Scot.”

“Och, Brit, she cannae help yer English.” Striker lifted a hand. “If you see Malik, do nae comment on his eyebrows. I took artist liberties with them and it does nae seem to want to wash off.”

Mae twisted to face Corbin, her eyes rimmed with tears. She looked to James first. “Can I hug him? I don’t want to hurt him.”

James chuckled. “You can. Though, I told him to shower first. Just so you know, I tried.”

She looked to Corbin and he saw it then, uncertainty in her gaze. He stiffened and Striker rubbed Mae’s arm lightly. “Lass, do nae fear him nae wantin’ you. I’ve explained to you already that he claimed you. His mark is all over you. Yer his wife, lass. He will nae change his mind on that.”

“Change my mind?” asked Corbin, needing to sit again. She thought he wouldn’t want her? “Mae?”

“How about we give them the room?” James motioned for Striker to go. The two men exited and Mae inched her way into the room more and more. She bit at her lower lip, her pink tongue easing out, making him hard in an instant.

Corbin pushed to his feet and opened his arms wide. Mae rushed to him and the next he knew, he was on his back on the bed, his mate on him, covering his face in kisses. He smiled, wrapping his arms around her and holding her close to him. As he realized that Striker had indeed explained in detail that Corbin had claimed Mae, he stiffened. “Mae?”

She stopped kissing him and stared down at him. “I’m hurting you, aren’t I?”

He held her in place. “No. I just, well, I’m sorry I claimed you the way I did. You deserve better. More.”

She pressed her lips to his mouth, shutting him up. He knew it was wrong to crave her the way he did, but he couldn’t help himself. Mae stole his hard-earned control. She eased off him, breaking the kiss, making him groan with frustration. A sly smile splayed over her face as she stood and began shedding her clothing, piece by painfully slow piece.

Corbin jerked, watching the erotic scene unfold, his cock hard enough to hammer nails. Mae was the single most beautiful woman he’d ever seen in all his immortally long life.

His gaze went to her low stomach and a fleeting thought hit him—what if he’d beget her with child. What if she was carrying his babe?

She touched his knee and then pulled on the scrub bottoms he wore, freeing him from them. “I want you so bad I hurt,” she said. “Tell me if you can’t do this. I don’t want to harm you.”

“Oh, I can do this,” he returned, making a motion to stand. She shook her head and pushed on him, forcing him to lie back on the bed. She climbed up and over him, inching down him. She lined her head up with his shaft and grinned once more.

“Mae, no,” he protested. “Let me love you.”

“Captain, you’re to lie back and enjoy this. That is an order.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Her lips eased over the head of his cock and Corbin nearly shot off the infirmary bed. He’d never last with her there, looking up at him, such a sultry expression upon her face, her naked form there, taunting him. She took the top of his cock deeper into her mouth and he tipped his head back, the muscles in his neck straining. As her hand wrapped round his shaft, massaging it, Corbin stifled a groan of delight. He lifted his arms above his head, knowing if he dared to touch her, he’d yank her off his cock and the pleasure would end. She had the ability to reduce him to this. The ability to make him nearly come at a moment’s notice.

Mae did a long lick of his cock, her hair falling down and onto his thighs. Corbin lifted his hands, knowing touching her would be bad, but he couldn’t stop himself. He took hold of the sides of her head, his fingers laced in her hair. Guiding her mouth over him, Corbin’s jaw dropped as she took him deep into her mouth, his cock touching the back of her throat. He jerked on the bed, thrusting upwards into her mouth, his body on autopilot. He pushed her head down more onto him and Mae moaned. His cock was soaked from her hot, wet mouth.

She raked her teeth over him and he lost it then, his ball sac drawing up, prepping for the explosion he knew was about to come. Corbin tried to lift her off his cock, but she locked gazes with him, remaining in place as his hot seed burst free from him, filling her mouth and throat. She swallowed and the sight of her drinking him down flipped his alpha switch. His lion wanted out, wanted to roar with victory. Corbin struggled to keep the beast locked down, his cock twitching, his body spurting every last drop of his semen into her.

Mae popped her mouth off his prick and licked her lips, the sight driving him mad with need for her. He should have been sated. Hell, he’d just had his cock sucked dry but he wanted more. He wanted her.

Corbin met her gaze, his body still jerking from pleasure. “Love, come here.”

She obeyed, slinking up his body, nipping at his torso as she did. She was a little minx and he fucking loved it. She went for his lips and he ravished her mouth, tucking her hair behind her ears as he did. When the kiss finally broke, he grinned and wrapped his arms around her.

“Nearly made you shout my name,” she said, with a sly smile. One that promised more pleasure. “Didn’t I?”

She’d done far more than that. She’d almost made him shift in the middle of getting head. That wouldn’t have gone over well. “You nearly did, love.”

He reached down and took hold of his shaft, guiding it to her as she lowered herself onto him. He tensed, wanting to last for her. He was a skilled lover yet with her he could barely control himself.

Her pussy encased him fully and she gasped, her eyes widening. “Corbin.”

He cupped her breasts, knowing it was painful for her. He didn’t move. Not until he knew she was ready for him, her channel easing somewhat around him. She ground herself on him as he pumped up and into her, holding her tits as he did. The sight of her above him took him to the edge straight away. He teetered on the brink, thrusting, her body holding tight to him.

Mae stared down at him, her eyelids heavy and her lips full and wet. She bit her lower lip, increasing her pace on him as she began to hum. The second she did, Corbin threw his hands out to the side, scared to hold on to her breasts as he fought to keep from shifting forms. He knew without looking that fur coated his arms. And he felt it inching over his chest as well.

Mae kept going. The more she hummed, the more Corbin spiraled down the road to no control. He pumped up harder and harder, causing the entire bed to shake. The bed struck the wall over and over. He didn’t stop and Mae didn’t move off him. She kept going, kept humming, kept riding him. With a roar he flipped her, using all of himself to keep from cutting her with his clawed hands. Now above her, he took the lead, slamming himself into her welcoming body.

She clung to him as he went at her hard. She continued to hum though it was broken somewhat, mixed in with grunts of passion. They locked gazes and she began to sing. He didn’t know the song. He couldn’t even make out the words as his head spun with the raw need to possess the woman beneath him. He felt her pussy tightening on his cock and he knew she was coming. He pounded hard, the bed moving more before giving way under him. It crashed to the floor but he didn’t dare stop.

“Corbin! Yes! Corbin!” she cried out. Mae wrapped her legs around him and tugged, drawing him down more on her, his face buried in the crook of her neck as she kept singing to him as he fucked her. The urge to sink his teeth into her won out and he was powerless to stop it. He bit the very spot where he’d claimed her, pumping until his balls drew up tight and then he held firm in her, jetting seed into her.

The door to the room slammed open and he turned, still buried in his mate, sweat dripping from all the parts of him that weren’t yet shifted. He knew what he must look like to his two teammates who rushed in. Corbin had done the unthinkable. He’d taken his mate in a partially shifted form. The most blatant sign of no control there was. Shame filled him, but he couldn’t pull out of her. He didn’t want to be away from her.

Mae clung to him and giggled, staring up at him. “I think we gave them quite a show.”

Growling, he grabbed for the sheet and yanked it up his side, making sure his woman was covered. His shifted hand tore the material and he exhaled slowly, his body tense.

“Captain?” asked Malik, his voice soft—his eyebrows looking drawn on, rather poorly. “I think maybe you should go.”

Mae gasped and then surprised Corbin by moving slightly under him and peeking out over his shoulder at Malik and Striker. “You two go away.”

“Miss,” said Malik softly, his hands out. “He’s not himself. We should take him.”

“Och, he’s actin’ like a ruttin’ fool and we need to drag his arse away from you before he harms you, lass,” said Striker, dumbing it down for all involved.

Mae snorted and rotated her hips under Corbin, making his cock harden in her once more. “Mmm, I think he’s acting just right. Go away.”

“Mae, yer nae sayin’ yer fine with this? The bloody fool is partially shifted.”

She narrowed her gaze on him. “Dougal, I will not say it again. Out.”

With a huff, Striker nodded and pulled Malik out of the room with him. Corbin couldn’t help but laugh at Mae scolding Striker and it working.

He glanced at his arms and the fur there, his laughter died instantly. “Mae, they’re right.”

“Shh. I sang and it caused this. I couldn’t help singing any more than you could help this.” She touched his face tenderly. “You aren’t hurting me and you’re only shifted a little.”

She wasn’t scared of him?

“Kiss me and then get back to what you were doing before Evil Eyebrows and his side kick interrupted.”

Corbin paused. “About Malik’s eyebrows…”

Mae laughed. “Ask Striker. Now, where were we?”