Chapter Three

S park closed and locked the hotel room door before turning to face Mina.

He was…furious? Terrified? Perhaps a bit of both.

There was a slight bruise forming on her cheek under her right eye where Striker had backhanded her.

He’d love to get his hands on the male wolf and beat the shit out of him.

Spark had seen his mother abused enough over the years to know never to lay a hand on a woman in anger, and Striker had known damn well that Mina was more than just a wolf when he’d lashed out at her.

Spark didn’t care if she had bitten the asshole; she hadn’t deserved to get hit in return.

He tenderly cupped her jaw and stroked his thumb across her cheek.

“We should put some ice on that. I imagine your daddy is going to take a chunk out of my hide when he realizes what happened, and more importantly, what could have happened. You do know he was going to force mate you when he got you home?”

“I know,” she said softly. “I’m sorry I ran away. I just… I wanted you to chase me, to see that we could have fun together, and maybe I wanted you to worry a little, so you’d realize that you want me too much to let me go.”

“Mina.” He sighed. “I already know I want you too much to let you go, but I don’t have a choice. Your father is never going to approve of me. If you haven’t been mated yet, I’m sure it means there’s someone special he has in mind for you.”

She snorted. “Like I want to be a bargaining chip in some deal of his. I want love, Spark. Is that too much to ask?”

“And you think I love you?”

“Maybe not yet, but I think you could. Tell me you don’t feel the mating pull! Tell me that you don’t believe we’re mates, the destined kind and not two people who were forced to tie their lives together.”

He couldn’t argue with her because what she said was true. He felt the mating pull, knew she was destined to be his, but his hands were tied. If he claimed her, things would turn ugly between his brothers and her club. Not to mention her father would single-handedly destroy him.

“Just tell me you don’t have the balls to be my mate,” she said with her hand on her hip. “Admit that you don’t have what it takes to make me yours.”

A snarl escaped him as her words found their mark.

“Let me make this easy for you,” she said, then pulled her dress over her head and let it fall to the floor. “I’m going to take a shower and you’re more than welcome to join me. If you don’t, then I’ll know where I stand.”

He watched her sashay her way across the room and into the bathroom, leaving the door cracked an inch.

Spark couldn’t deny that he wanted to go after her, but he reined in his beast and stepped out on the balcony, hoping it would be enough to dilute her scent.

Sometime between the animal shelter and the hotel, she’d started going into heat.

It wasn’t overpowering yet, but the subtle scent was growing stronger with each passing minute.

His cock pressed against his zipper as his beast clawed at him from the inside, wanting out, needing their mate.

Hell. He had no doubt in his mind that she was his mate, but what the fuck could he do about it?

No one betrayed the Shadow, and he damn sure couldn’t betray his own brotherhood.

But that’s exactly what he wanted to do.

Spark wanted to throw caution to the wind, wrap his arms around Mina, and never let go.

Minutes dragged by and then a delightful scent teased his nose once more.

He looked over his shoulder and found Mina, wrapped in a towel, stepping out onto the balcony.

He looked around to make sure they were alone, not wanting anyone else to see her like this.

When her arms went around his waist, and he felt her press her breasts against his back, he nearly lost control.

“Mina, stop playing games.”

“My daddy always told me to go after what I want. And what I want is you, Spark. I’ve never wanted a man as much as I want you. Just thinking about you makes me wet.”

He growled softly. “That’s the heat.”

She pressed her lips to his back and snuggled even closer. “I won’t deny that being in heat makes me a bit horny, but I know the difference in that and what I’m feeling now. I’ve wanted you since the moment I stepped foot in that restaurant, and you can’t claim that I was in heat then.”

“What do you want from me, Mina? Do you want to spit in your father’s face after he’s entrusted you to my care? Betray my brothers so you can scratch an itch?”

She tensed and then her hands began wandering his body, one sliding over his very erect cock.

Mina squeezed gently and he couldn’t hold back his groan.

Damn, but that felt good! And he’d bet his favorite Harley that it would feel incredible being inside her.

He’d damn near give his left nut just to find out.

“I don’t want to scratch an itch,” she whispered softly. “I want my mate to claim me and make me whole. I want the man I can’t stop thinking about, to want me in return.”

“You’ve got my cock in your hand. I think you know I want you.”

She gave him a squeeze. “This part of you wants sexual release. I want the man to want all of me, not just what can be had in the bedroom.”

“Mina, you don’t play fair.”

“I’m playing to win.” She circled Spark until she stood in front of him, pushing him back toward the balcony doors, and then she dropped to her knees.

Spark thought his heart was going to stop when the angel at his feet looked at him from beneath her lashes. She was sultry and sexy, and he was trying damn hard to remember why he shouldn’t fuck her, but the reason was becoming fainter and fainter, just a memory.

He should have stopped her when she unzipped his pants. Definitely should have stopped her when she took his cock in her soft little hands. And he sure as fuck should have stopped her when she wrapped those luscious lips around his shaft and sucked him like a pro.

Instead, he curled his fingers into her hair and slowly fucked her mouth, delighting in the feel of that silky, wet heat encasing his cock.

She curled her fingers around his hips and held on, giving of herself completely.

When he was about to blow, he pulled free of her mouth, jerked her to her feet and spun her around.

With her hands gripping the railing, he raised her towel and plunged into her welcoming pussy.

Oh, God! She felt even better than he’d thought.

She sucked him in, greedily asking for more, and he gave her everything he had.

Every… single… inch . His beast was riding him hard, and he knew he wouldn’t be able to hold back, couldn’t give her the flowery words she deserved.

He fucked her like a wild animal—intense, raw passion.

Not wanting to leave her behind, he lightly pinched her clit before rubbing it in small, fast circles.

Oh, Christ! He didn’t think she could get any wetter, any hotter.

He pounded into her, not holding back. She tightened on him like a vise and he gave a shout as she milked every drop of semen from him, sinking his teeth into her shoulder at the last moment.

Mina whimpered and he felt her pussy spasm around him.

Spark eased off her clit and pulled his fangs from her soft skin.

What the fuck have I done?

“Spark, I…you were so worth the wait. I’ve never felt anything like that before, and I know it’s because we were meant to be together.”

“I marked you.”

She turned to face him, a happy, silly smile on her face. “I know.”

“You have to hide it! If your daddy sees that mark…”

Fuck!

Her brow furrowed. “Spark? What’s wrong?”

Everything. “I have to go. Don’t leave this room. And put some clothes on!”

Spark zipped up his pants, tried to ignore the hurt look in her beautiful eyes, and practically ran from the hotel room.

When he reached the lobby, he burst through the doors, hopped on his Harley, and peeled out of the parking lot.

Spark didn’t stop until he reached the Steel Riders’ clubhouse and ran inside like his tail was on fire.

“I fucked up,” he admitted to Timber, the club V.P.

“Is the girl still alive?”

“What? Of course. I mean, there was a matter of wolf napping earlier in the day, but she’s back at the hotel.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “I can’t stay with her.”

“Why can’t you stay with her? Blitz picked you personally for the job. He said if anyone could keep their hands to themselves around a woman in heat, it would be you.”

“Yeah, well…that might have worked better if she wasn’t my mate.”

Timber rose from the table. “What the fuck does that mean?”

“I claimed her.” Spark winced. “I told her to cover the mark. I know her daddy is going to kill me, and I may have wrecked things for the club. But she just kept pushing and pushing and…hell, I can’t blame her.

I wanted her, plain and simple. She went into heat about an hour ago and I couldn’t resist the temptation of my mate in that state. ”

“This is a cluster fuck. But we may be able to save the situation, at least for a little while. He’ll eventually see that mark on her, and chances are she’ll tell him she’s already mated if he tries to force a mate on her.

But her daddy happens to be heading this way right now to pick her up.

The full moon run fell through at the last minute and he wants his darling daughter back.

” Timber folded his arms over his chest. “So I’ll send Blaze and Luna to babysit until Shadow arrives.

He should be here in an hour or two. I’m guessing you left all your shit there. ”

“Yeah.”

Timber sighed. “I’ll have Blaze gather your things and return them to you.”

“Thanks, Timber. I’m sorry I fucked up.”

“When this comes back to bite us in the ass, don’t expect me to stick my neck out for you. And you know I have to tell Blitz what’s going on. He trusted you, and you betrayed that trust. I understand the pull of a mate, but damn, son… you may have fucked us over this time.”