Mate Set (Mating Heat Book 1) Read online

  “If you really wanted me to share your bed, this was a hell of a way to insist,” he ground out harshly. His hand gripped her leg, yanked her flat on her back and shoved her thighs apart before he came down on her. “Don’t ever torment me again. I could hear every breath, every moan, and every other sound you made while you touched yourself.”

  Mika cried out in sudden pleasure as Grady entered her. He gripped her arms, jerking them above her head, and used his elbows to support his upper body weight to keep from crushing her. His hold was tight but not painful on her wrists. He started to move inside her in deep, long strokes. Mika wrapped her thighs around his hips and curled her legs over his ass.

  Intense pleasure hit her while Grady fucked her hard and fast. He drove in and out of her. When he released her wrists, she wound her arms around his neck and clung to him as their bodies moved together. He tensed and she felt him jerk. He groaned and came. She noticed that he kept his face turned to the side, his teeth far from her skin.

  Disappointment hit Mika. Grady cursed softly and then was rolling them over. His large, strong hands moved her so she was straddling his lap, sitting up on top of him. He was still hard inside her. He lifted her with his hips, driving into her. One of his hands gripped her hip to steady her while the other reached between them to rub against her clit while he bucked.

  In less than a minute, Mika came—hard.

  Chapter Six

  Mika woke up alone. The bedroom door was open, allowing the smell of coffee to lure her into crawling out of bed. She winced a little as sore muscles protested. She was a little tender between her thighs in that day-after-too-much-sex way.

  Grady had growled the night before as she sprawled on his chest, panting after he’d made her come. Mika had just lain there, letting the aftermath turn her into jelly. She had breathed in that wonderful scent Grady’s skin put off and listened to his heartbeat pounding in her ear. He was warm, large, and comfortable to lie on. Mika had drifted to sleep on top of him.

  She studied her bed as she climbed out of it. Had Grady spent the entire night with her? He’s accused her of tormenting him. What the hell was that about? She sighed and stumbled to the bathroom. Her mind gave her simple instructions—use the bathroom, brush your teeth, take a fast shower. Zombielike, she went through her morning habits.

  Ten minutes later when Mika walked out of her room, still damp and wearing a robe, Grady was in the kitchen. His hair was wet and she knew he’d showered too. He was leaning against the counter holding a coffee mug in one hand and a cell phone held to his ear with his other. His dark gaze fixed on her but no emotion showed on his face.

  “I’m going to have to put that off.” His voice was soft as he spoke, looking away from her. “I’m sorry. I know we had plans.” He pushed away from the counter and walked around Mika. He was careful to not touch her as he moved into the living room. “I got assigned pack duty and I can’t take off for a weekend.”

  Mika walked to the coffee and poured some into a mug. She cocked her head, straining to hear anything, but it was silent, as though Grady were listening to someone. She couldn’t see him since he’d moved out of the room. She hesitated and then tiptoed over to the wall and pressed her ear against it.

  “I know it’s mating season and I know we had planned on spending the weekend together, Megan. I just can’t get out of this because it’s pack related. You know how that goes. Your job with your pack is important to you, and so is mine as an enforcer. I was looking forward to a few days of no-holds-barred animal sex myself. We’ll do this in a few weeks when our schedules clear up again.”

  Mika hated the raw pain that sliced through her as she realized he was on the phone with a woman. That “no-holds-barred animal sex” comment hit her like the verbal slap that it was. She reeled away and walked back to the sink to stare out the kitchen window. Tears filled her eyes, blinding her, and she hated them.

  It hurt that Grady was talking to another woman, obviously a werewolf bitch, and possibly the one he’d mate with when he wanted to settle down. He said they’d meet up in a few weeks so he was definitely planning on fucking that bitch.

  She closed her eyes, frantically fighting more tears, and just stood there trying to get hold of her emotions. The real problem was that she was having them. She was falling for Grady as fast as if a ton of concrete hung around her neck, and he was never going to fall too. He’d slept in her bed but he was talking on the phone to another woman, making plans to meet up with her in the near future. She admitted it hurt and she was jealous.

  “Morning,” Grady said from behind her.

  She kept her eyes closed, refusing to acknowledge him as she took deep breaths until she knew she had the urge to cry under control. She opened her eyes, sipped her coffee and stared out the window to avoid looking at him. She needed to get a leash on her temper that was rising fast because anger was how she handled the raw pain of knowing he wanted to be with another woman instead of her.

  Mika wanted to be honest with herself. He was only with her because he’d been ordered to protect her. He’d been forced to live with her and if he hadn’t marked her, he’d probably still be refusing to touch her. Life sucks, she determined.

  “Mika? I said ‘morning’.”

  She didn’t turn to face him. “I heard you.”

  He was silent but she could sense him watching her. “Are you all right? Did I hurt you?”

  He had no damn idea how much. She remained silent. She didn’t turn but she just knew he was slowly drawing closer. She felt him directly behind her though he didn’t touch her.

  “Mika? I know I hurt you. Do you need a doctor? Was I too rough with you?”

  “It must be hell for you.” She kept her voice soft.

  Long seconds passed in a room too quiet. “What must be hell?”

  She slowly turned then and set her coffee cup on the counter next to her so she wasn’t tempted to chuck it at his head. She forced herself to look up at Grady. Only a foot separated them. “Having to be with me instead of who you want to be with. I’m sorry that I ruined your plans for the weekend, and I’m really damn sorry that you have to put up with me for the next two weeks. Duty must a hellish thing for you right now. Excuse me. I’m in need of some space so I’ll be in my room. Alone.”

  Grady’s face paled slightly. She inched sideways, and walked quickly away from him. She didn’t want to be in the same room with him. She heard him softly curse as she left the kitchen but she didn’t look back. She walked to her bedroom and closed the door.

  It was insane to fall for someone so fast. She must have lost her mind. He’d saved her twice, given her mind-blowing sex repeatedly, and he certainly was too damn attractive to ignore. She walked to her dresser. She needed to be away from him to clear her head, even if it was just hiding away in her bedroom.

  She put on jeans, a T-shirt, and running shoes. She studied her reflection as she brushed out her damp hair and pulled it into a ponytail. She was going to get hurt even worse by the time this was over. Spending one night with the guy was already affecting her to the point that she’d had to fight bawling like a baby in the kitchen. What would happen when it was time for her to go? After getting used to touching Grady, having him around, it would be hell when it ended.

  She shook her head sadly. It would be really stupid to set herself up for that kind of pain. She wasn’t psychic but she knew she’d fall harder for the guy.

  He wanted a werewolf mate. Hell, what could she offer him anyway? Her life was in Orange County. She’d have to give up her shitty apartment and have to quit the job she couldn’t even stand. She’d never see her friends, who were in relationships and who barely found time for her anyway.

  She winced. The truth hurt. Giving up her life in Orange County wouldn’t be difficult at all.

  Mika sighed. If Grady wanted to mate her, she’d go for it, even if it was totally nuts since she barely knew him. She’d have a sexy, hot man in her bed every night. He had a job, so he wasn�
�t a loser, and they could live in her house. It was probably bigger than his place over his bar. Besides, she loved her house and had wanted to move in full-time once before. Uncle Omar would have to accept it if she mated Grady.

  Spinning away from the mirror, she was totally disgusted with herself for even having those stupid thoughts. Grady didn’t want her that way so going over how nuts it would be to mate with the guy was a moot point. Imagining little Grady babies was just ridiculous.

  She bet that any kids she had with him would be super cute, and she really wanted kids.

  Mika clenched her teeth and walked over to collapse heavily on her bed.

  Grady was a werewolf and she wasn’t. They were either born or brutally made. She knew it was usually a deadly attempt when someone tried to turn a human into a werewolf. Uncle Omar had explained that to her when she was a child and had wanted to turn into a puppy and run with her uncle in his wolf form.

  It was all about biting, blood loss, and near death to get someone to turn into a werewolf. The bite would have to come from a werewolf in full wolf form. There had to be massive blood loss and shock to the body, taking the person to death’s door, and then there was just a slight chance the body would accept being turned. More died from trauma than those who survived the attempted change. Uncle Omar said only about one in twenty survived long enough to let the process take hold so their bodies could heal to survive.

  No. Even if she was willing to attempt being turned into a werewolf, and she wasn’t, there was no way it would be allowed. Uncle Omar would kill anyone who even suggested it.

  The drawbacks to mating a werewolf as a human were well known to her. Her parents had been harassed and not accepted by the pack. They’d moved away to avoid it but Grady would never leave. She and Grady would have to deal with that kind of mindset from the pack. The fact that he was alpha-blooded would make him want a werewolf woman even more. Pure-blooded mating made for strong offspring. Any children she had with Grady would probably be considered mutts in werewolf terms.

  Unlike her parents, she would be raising shifters. Grady had alpha blood so all his children would definitely be shifters, even with her, a mere human. She’d never have that in common with her children. She’d always be different from them because she couldn’t change into another form, and she’d have to learn how to care for shapeshifter children.

  She couldn’t be with Grady the way a werewolf woman could. No midnight runs and no doggy sex while in four-legged bodies. She curled her lip at the thought of his conversation on the phone. She bet that’s what he meant about animal sex with that bitch, and that was probably important to Grady. She’d overheard her uncle and Minnie chuckling about how great sex was between them in Other form. It had grossed her out but she wasn’t able to see their perspective.

  Mika couldn’t forget what Minnie had told her either. Grady was Elroy’s bastard child and his mother had been human. Elroy’s mate was a bitch, but she’d taken it to a new level by refusing to accept Grady into their family. He probably felt left out and bitter.

  Acceptance was probably something Grady longed for. Mating with a human was a surefire way to never receive it.

  Mika’s shoulders sagged in defeat. There was no way Grady would ever mate with her, even if she totally fell in love with him and wanted to mate with him.

  She had to face that there wasn’t going to be a happy ending here. She wasn’t what Grady wanted or needed. If he hadn’t had to bite her, he’d never have touched her. He’d said it himself. She wasn’t worth losing his balls over, and Uncle Omar would have castrated him if he’d touched her before he’d had to bite her to save her from that jerk in the bar to maintain peace between the packs.

  The house was quiet. She wondered what Grady was doing and what he was thinking. She could guess he was probably considering what a pain in the ass she was and wished that he’d never laid teeth on her. He’d be going on his weekend with his werewolf bitch for his obviously desired animal sex the minute Mika was gone.

  The phone rang and startled her. She leaned over and grabbed it before it rang a second time. “Hello?”

  “I wanted to call you last night,” Minnie said softly. “Omar ordered me not to. Are you all right? I heard what happened and Omar was really upset. He’s worried. He wanted to call and check on you but he’s afraid to. He thinks you’ll hate him for giving Grady permission to fuck you, and I think he’s afraid you’ll tell him you got hurt. Are you all right?”

  Mika hesitated.

  “Damn it! Was he not careful with you? They can be rough and you’re so human,” Minnie growled. “If he hurt you, I’ll tell Omar. He’ll kill the son of a bitch.”

  “No, don’t do that. He didn’t. I’m fine.”

  “You don’t sound fine.”

  Mika stretched out on her bed and took a deep breath. “It’s complicated but I’m fine.”

  “Do you want me to come over?”

  “No. Please don’t.”

  “You’re not talking much.”

  “You have good hearing.”

  There was a pause. “Oh. He’ll hear what you say.”

  “Exactly.”

  “Did he hurt you during the sex?”

  “No.”

  Another pause. “Was he hell on wheels?”

  “Oh yeah.”

  Minnie chuckled. “I’d heard that about him. Us women talk and he’s gotten around. So what’s the problem? Give me a word and I’ll guess. He won’t be able to hear my side of the conversation unless he’s sitting close to you.”

  “I don’t know what to say.”

  Minnie was silent. “You have feelings for him, don’t you? You sound depressed.”

  “Yeah. Good guess.”

  “He’s a good catch, Mika. If you feel things for him then why fight it? I know your uncle doesn’t want you with a wolf but Grady is a damn good man. You could do a hell of a lot worse and you’ve been raised with our kind so there won’t be many surprises.”

  “It’s not me.”

  Another long pause. “He doesn’t want a relationship beyond the sex?”

  “Bingo.”

  “You don’t know that. Give it a week. I can’t see any guy spending that much time getting to know you without falling in love. Any man would be damn lucky to have you, Mika.”

  Mika was silent.

  “Mika?”

  “I’m sure that’s not going to happen.”

  “He said so?”

  “In so many words.”

  “Why? What is he? Blind? Stupid?” Minnie was angry. “You’re my baby and that son of a bitch should know what he has.”

  “I’m not you,” Mika said softly. “Do you understand? I’m different.”

  Silence. Then Minnie cursed. “He’s been treated like shit by Eve because he’s a bastard and because his mother was human. Now he’s a bigot about you being human? Is that what you’re saying?”

  “You are really good at this.”

  “Is he putting you down for it? Insulting you?”

  “No.”

  “But you being human is a problem for him?”

  “Exactly.”

  “He won’t mate with a human? He said that?”

  “Yes.”

  “Oh baby, I’m so sorry. He’s stupid.”

  Mika smiled. “I agree.”

  Minnie was silent. “You like him a hell of a lot, don’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Like him enough that it hurts that he won’t even consider long term?”

  “Yeah. Stupid, huh?”

  “Not at all. You like him too much and you’re facing about two weeks of getting hot and sweaty with him. You’re going to get hurt when this is over and you go home, aren’t you?”

  “Did anyone ever tell you that you’re kind of spooky on how you can accurately guess things?”

  “I just know you. I’m also a woman, and I can put myself in your shoes. Are you sure you don’t want me to come over? I can send him on an errand a
nd we can talk without him hearing us. I can buy ice cream and we can talk about what dickheads men are as we polish off a carton or two of something a thousand calories a bite.”

  Mika actually chuckled. “Thanks, but no.”

  “I could tell Omar and he could order him to mate you.”

  Shocked, Mika insisted, “Don’t you dare! That’s not even funny. I already feel…” She softly cursed. “It would make it way worse and it’s bad enough as it is.”

  “Sorry. Damn. He feels as though you’ve been forced on him? Are you sure he doesn’t want you? Is he gay? If he doesn’t want you, he’s definitely into men.”

  “No. Definitely not that last part. The first part, yeah. Big time.”

  “And he told you that he doesn’t want you and feels forced?”

  “You know how phone calls go.”

  “Phone call?”

  “Yeah. His.”

  “You overheard him making a phone call?”

  “Yeah.”

  “To who?”

  “A woman.”

  “Shit. He had someone lined up to spend mating season with, didn’t he? A lot of unmated males do that. They find some bitch who they know doesn’t want to settle down yet and kind of make an annual date with them. Is that what you overheard?”

  “Yeah.”

  “What an ass. Is he still planning on meeting her? I’ll have Omar kick his ass. He can’t be in both your bed and another woman’s. Now that he’s marked you, you could probably detect her scent and it would drive you into a rage. It’s just damn rude, too. Not to mention because he marked you, if he screwed around it wouldn’t get him off. It would be like foreplay without the hope of a good ending, no matter what.”

  “No. That got canceled.”

  “He canceled? Well, that’s good.”

  “Is it? Just listening to what you say is hard when you’re telling me what you want and you know I can’t give that to you.”

  Millie was silent for a moment. “Shit. He got all ‘sex talk’ with her? In detail? Let me guess. He wants to chase her tail through the woods—and you sure as hell don’t have a tail.”