Mate Set Read online

  Anger clouded Uncle Omar’s face while he leveled Mika with a cold look. “I told you no bars and you…” That cold stare shifted to Grady. “How the hell did she make you take her?”

  Grady took a deep breath. His voice was harsh and deep when he spoke. “She said I could take her out or take off my clothes. She was bored and she’s a pain in the ass who’s spent days teasing me. It’s mating season, damn it. If she’d stripped or come on to me the way she threatened to do then there was no way I could have controlled myself. She’s too damn attractive. That’s how she made me take her out of her home and to my bar. Jessup Lorne’s son is in town, he saw her and grabbed her. He had three enforcers with him to guard him and he had his damn hands on her, determined to take her with him. He refused to let her go because she wasn’t marked and didn’t carry my scent since I’m not fucking her. He demanded I mark her in front of him while he was watching or he was leaving with her. He was actually looking forward to a fight with me.”

  “You killed Jessup’s son?” Elroy shoved the chair upright and got to his feet. He growled. “You should know better, damn it. The last damn thing we need right now is the Lorne Pack and our pack going to war.”

  Grady shook his head. “I didn’t kill him or fight with him.” Grady glared at Omar. “He told me to prove she was mine and left me no choice in the matter. He said to mark her while he watched or he was taking her.” Grady’s hands balled into fists at his side. “He wanted her so bad that he wasn’t reasonable and didn’t care that she isn’t Other.” Grady took a deep, shaky breath. “I had to bite her. I didn’t know what else to do other than let him take her or start a war by killing him.”

  Mika watched her uncle pale. He closed his eyes and his head lowered until his chin nearly rested on his chest, saying nothing. She knew it had to be a bad thing for her uncle to react that way. He stayed frozen, barely breathing.

  “I had no choice,” Grady said softly. “It was start a war, kill him to stop him from taking her, or let him and his three enforcers walk out of there with her. We’ve all heard the rumors about what he does with his women. Omar, should I have allowed him take her instead? I made a decision to protect her since she’s human and wouldn’t have survived. If I’d let him take her it would have been a death sentence to her. I’m sorry.”

  Omar’s head slowly rose as his eyes opened to stare into Grady’s. “You made the right decision. We have all heard the rumors about how he passes his women to his enforcers when he’s done and how abusive they are. She definitely wouldn’t survive that kind of abuse as a fragile human.” Omar looked at Mika. “Look at the trouble you’ve caused.”

  “I’m sorry.” Mika frowned. “I just wanted to go out. I’m going crazy at home because I’m not used to being locked up.” She jerked her thumb at Grady. “He stays a room away from me and I have no one to talk to.”

  Grady growled softly, turning his head, glaring down at her. “I barely speak to you because you tease me and I stay a room away because it’s safer for both of us if I do. Maybe no one explained mating season to you but keeping my damn hands off you has been the ultimate test of control. I’m a goddamn saint, Mika. Yesterday morning when you woke up you walked around your house in a half shirt with no bra and tiny shorts that didn’t cover the lower half of your ass. I have bruises on my knees from gripping them so damn tightly to inflict pain so I could concentrate on that instead of touching you.”

  “Well, excuse me, Mr. Growly. I’m not used to having a man in my home. I wake up and go eat. I’m dead to the world without coffee and some food in the morning. Be happy I slept in that much, considering I usually sleep naked.”

  “Mika!” Uncle Omar cleared his throat. “Look at me.”

  Mika jerked her gaze from Grady and met her uncle’s eyes. He looked grim. “He marked you as his. You don’t know what that means.”

  She frowned. “I will smell like him? That’s my educated guess.”

  She watched her uncle move toward her. “It takes a few hours but you will carry his scent.” He walked to her and halted. “Normally it would be fine. It will fade from you in a few weeks from just a quick bite.” His gaze flew to Grady. “How deeply did you mark her?”

  Grady’s mouth tensed into a line. “I was angry.”

  Uncle Omar growled and reached for Mika’s shoulders. She flinched when both of his hands came down. In seconds her uncle had bared her shoulder. He closed his eyes and then sighed. He released her after covering her injury again.

  “He marked you well and you’ll carry his scent for months. It’s mating season so there’s no way he’ll be able to resist keeping his hands off you now. Even at this moment he has to control the urges that have to be hitting him hard—to tear your clothing from your body and take you. You have no idea how strong the compulsion is during our season to…” His lips sealed together.

  “Have sex?” Mika said softly.

  “Yes. For the next two weeks Grady will be sharing more than your house with you. I’d send you away but it would drive him crazy because it’s mating season. He’d hunt you down and it would incite his animal in the worst way. Females who’ve run from hunting males have ended up dead and it’s the worst tragedy since both usually die. The male never means to hurt the woman and when she ends up dying, the male can’t live with what he’s done.”

  Grady growled next to her and Omar flinched as he shot Grady a sympathetic look. “I know. It’s begun for you. I won’t send her away. I’m afraid you’ll hurt her or worse, lose control and mate her if you have to hunt her.”

  Grady shook his head. “Thank you. I’d never hurt her and I sure as hell won’t mate her. I want one of our own for a mate when I take one. My control is starting to slip. I’ve had sex with humans plenty of times so I know how to not hurt them since I’m aware of how fragile they are. I give you my word that no harm will come to her.”

  Omar nodded as his gaze slid to Mika. “I’m really sorry, Mika. You should have stayed at home like I warned you to do. I know that I threatened to spank your ass and I know you will think this is a much harsher punishment but he won’t hurt you.” He turned and gave a sharp nod at Grady. “Remember she’s my heart. She’s yours until mating season ends.”

  Shock tore through Mika. “I’m not his.” Her gaze flew from her uncle to Grady, noticing her uncle looked teary-eyed while Grady’s eye color had gone pitch black. “I’m not yours. What the hell does that even mean?”

  Omar answered. “I’m giving you to him, baby, but just until mating season is over when he will be more in control. He’ll be able to let you go without having the urge to track you.”

  “What does that mean?” Her heart was hammering in her chest. “You can’t give me to someone. I’m an adult, a person, and not an object to just be given away. I know I should have stayed home but this is crazy.”

  A tortured look crossed her uncle’s face. “There’s no choice in this. Would you prefer I have to injure him so severely that it takes weeks for him to recover so he can’t touch you? Do you realize how severely he’d have to be injured?”

  Elroy growled, glaring at Omar. “That won’t happen. He’s my son.”

  “I know. That’s why I’m giving her to him.” Omar lowered his gaze and his head. “I know what must be done, Elroy. Take her, Grady. Get her out of here but don’t hurt her. She’s a daughter to me.”

  Grady gripped her arm and turned, yanking her toward the front door. Mika could only gasp as Grady dragged her from the house. He dragged her along behind him to the bike.

  “Get on. We’re going to your house right now. Don’t fight me. I don’t want to lose control.”

  Chapter Five

  Grady unlocked her front door and firmly pushed Mika into her house. The door slammed behind them and the deadbolt slipped into place with a distinctive sound. She turned as he released her arm to look up at Grady.

  His eye color remained that eerie black and his features were tense, making him appear a little harsh. His
lips parted and she saw his teeth as he breathed hard. He moved, kicking off his boots and then yanked his shirt off over his head, dropped it on the floor. His gaze was locked with hers.

  “Undress quickly if you don’t want me to destroy those clothes because I’ll tear them off otherwise.”

  Shock tore through her. “I…”

  “You wanted me and now you’re going to get me, Mika. You’ve spent days teasing me. You bought condoms when I took you to the store. You wondered how long it would be until we found ourselves in bed together and now you have your answer. In about two minutes we’re going to be in your bed. If you don’t undress and get in your room now I’ll take you here on the damn floor. My control is all but gone. I can still taste your blood in my mouth.”

  She backed up and Grady followed her, stalking her with his graceful fluid movements. He reached for the front of his jeans, tore open the top button and reached for the zipper. Mika backed into the bedroom, flipping on the light, and kicked off her shoes as she kept backing up. Her heart pounded as she watched his every movement.

  This wasn’t the perfect situation that Mika had in mind when she’d fantasized about her and Grady in her bedroom but she wanted him bad. The large man following her looked wild and untamed as his gaze burned into hers. He paused and then tore down his boxers and pants, dropping them to the floor.

  Mika stared at Grady’s naked body. He was better looking than she’d even imagined. Tan skin and a muscular body greeted her eyes. His stomach was flat and she saw muscles ridged it, clearly defined. Her focus lowered and she swallowed hard, her body responding instantly. Grady naked, in good lighting, made her feel damn impressed. Grady could proudly hold up his head in any men’s locker room. She wanted him as much as he obviously wanted her, judging by how hard he was.

  A deep, rumbling growl came from him. Her attention jerked up his body to his face. “Undress now.”

  She gripped her shirt and lifted it over her head. She had wanted Grady and now she was about to get him. This was what she’d wanted for days and she’d fantasized that it would come to this. The attraction between them was too strong to deny. A slow smile spread across her lips as she backed toward the bed. Grady followed her, inching closer. She couldn’t wait to feel his hands on her body.

  “The condoms are in the nightstand behind me.”

  Grady watched her tensely as she undressed. She stripped out of everything until she was totally naked. His look was hungry as he slowly raked every inch of her body with his intense gaze. He growled softly and then was moving. He walked past her but a gentle hand shot out that made contact with her skin, shoving her.

  Mika landed on the bed flat on her back. She was shocked that he’d done that to her as she watched him jerk open the drawer of her nightstand. He used both hands and just tore the box in half, causing condoms to spill out onto the floor. He bent, grabbed a roll of them, and tossed them on the bed after tearing one off. He used his teeth to tear open the condom wrapper and looked down at his body as he fit it over his cock.

  “In a hurry?” Her voice shook.

  Grady’s head snapped up. “Have you ever slept with a wolf?”

  “No.”

  The word he cursed under his breath made Mika flinch. She saw his jaw jerk as he clenched his teeth hard. “Usually this wouldn’t be a problem but I marked you. It drives me crazy to smell me on you and I want you bad. I’m also suffering mating heat. This isn’t going to be romantic but I won’t hurt you. I hope you don’t mind raw sex because you’re about to get just that. Spread your thighs now.”

  She had to close her gaping mouth. “I don’t…”

  He moved. She suddenly found her legs spread wide by Grady’s hands, which held them that way. In the blink of an eye Grady dropped to his knees next to the bed and yanked her toward him until her ass was at the edge of the mattress. Large, strong hands adjusted her thighs to push them wider open and higher. Mika met his intense black gaze and then he looked down at her exposed sex. She could only widen her eyes in surprise as Grady buried his face between her thighs and his mouth attacked.

  Shock tore through Mika as Grady’s mouth, lips, and tongue ravaged her. He shifted his hold on her so his thumbs spread her sex wider open to his seeking, teasing mouth. He stabbed his tongue inside her and then slid it out and upward to torment her clit before he sucked on the swelling bud. The pleasure increased in intensity when his teeth lightly raked her clit. Sensations overwhelmed her.

  Mika threw her head back, clawing at her comforter as moans tore from her. She didn’t fight since what Grady was doing to her body was amazing and too damn good to even want to resist. He growled and she moaned louder from the vibrations it caused where he was latched on to her. His tongue and lips had no mercy as he licked and suckled. He figured out just the right tiny spot that sent her pleasure into overdrive and zoned in on it. Mika screamed as her body tensed and the climax hit her hard. It shocked the hell out of her how fast she’d come.

  Grady’s mouth released her entirely as he eased back away from her a little. She was feeling the climax starting to ease back and she relaxed. Large hands gripped her hips and Mika cried out in surprise as she was flipped over as though she were a rag doll. Those hands yanked her to the edge of the bed until her knees touched carpet and she found herself kneeling over the bed. Mika’s eyes flew open.

  Grady’s body caged her as his chest pushed her back down where he pinned her securely under his large body. His hands left her hips then slid down her thighs on the outside. He gripped her knees and jerked them farther apart as he lifted her hips higher so her knees left the floor.

  She turned her head and stared into his dark eyes. They weren’t almost black anymore, they were completely black and didn’t look human, even in shape, since they appeared wider and rounder now. His lips were parted and she saw his canines as he breathed hard. She knew she made a soft, terrified sound.

  “Easy,” his voice was really deep—too deep. “I’m that turned on and I’m slipping just a little but I won’t hurt you. Look away if I’m scaring you, babe. It’s still me.”

  Mika turned her head away from him, not really wanting to see just how far he was going to slip. She was a little freaked out by having him turn a little into his wolf but he wasn’t hurting her or changing much except for the shape of his eyes and a show of his longer teeth. She glanced at his arms, not seeing a mat of hair but tan, smooth skin instead, and relaxed completely. She lowered her face into mattress as the blunt tip of his cock nudged against her pussy. He was thick enough that her body resisted slightly even though she was wet and ready for him as Grady gently pushed into her, going really slowly but deeper until he was fully seated inside her body.

  “Balls-deep,” he growled. “Thank God you can take me because I was afraid you couldn’t. You ready? I won’t be real gentle but I’ll try damn hard to not hurt you.”

  She nodded into the bed. Grady braced his arms next to hers until they were touching, pressed skin to skin. He withdrew partially from her and thrust forward. Mika moaned at the sensation. It felt really good as every thick inch of him brought sensitive nerve endings roaring to life.

  Grady growled and withdrew then pushed into her deep again. He had her pinned tightly between the bed and his body. She was unable to move, so all she could do was feel the pleasure as Grady rode her faster and harder, increasing the pace. Mika had never felt anything close to the way Grady made her feel and she was no slouch in the sex department. She’d had lovers before but none of them had even come close to feeling as good as Grady did. She realized another climax was coming. She never came during straight sex without more stimulation to her clit but that wasn’t the case this time. She tensed and came hard.

  Grady rode her harder, if that was possible, as her muscles went crazy and the pleasure made her scream. She clawed the bed and bucked frantically against Grady. He suddenly gasped in air loudly and his hips started to jerk violently against her ass. A loud groan came from him as h
e lifted his chest off her back. His hands gripped her hips to hold her steady as he snarled something she couldn’t understand as he came.

  His hips stilled.

  They were both panting. Mika acknowledged silently that Grady had just given her the best sex she’d ever had in her life. Grady was still gripping her hips but his hold eased and he shivered against her. When he slowly withdrew from her body she was glad she was lying half across the bed as he backed away, knowing that if the bed wasn’t holding her up she would have collapsed. She forced her eyes open and turned her head.

  She watched Grady straighten and tear off the used condom before he turned away to go into her bathroom. Mika was shaky as she forced her legs to move. She climbed all the way onto the mattress and collapsed on her side. She lay there while Grady turned on water in the other room and quickly realized he was using her shower.

  She was tempted to go join him but she couldn’t find the energy to get out of bed. She had to catch her breath. The shower shut off in under two minutes so she guessed that Grady must have just wanted to rinse off. He walked out of her bathroom with dry hair but water beaded on his chest and arms. One of her pink bath towels was slung low around his hips. His dark eyes had lightened from black to dark brown when his gaze locked with hers. He looked grim.

  “Did I hurt you?”

  Mika couldn’t resist grinning. “If that was pain, sign me up for more.”

  His eyes widened in surprise and then a smile tugged at his lips. “You’re signed up for the duration of mating season.”

  Questions filled Mika’s head. The top one came pouring out of her mouth. “Does that mean that I’m the only woman you’ll be sharing a bed with for the next two weeks? I don’t share.”

  He blinked and his smile faded as he studied her.

  Mika found the strength to sit up. “I know we’re not in a relationship or anything but don’t expect me to be a part of that shit. It won’t happen. If you plan on bed hopping then don’t try to climb back into mine.”