“If you think so little of me, why now?”
“Because you're mine,” he snarled. “You always were; you just didn't see it because of your damned devotion to the pack.”
She couldn't help it. She laughed until it hurt, until just glaring at her response wasn't enough and he pulled off onto the shoulder. He leaned over, caging her between the seat and door.
“What's so damned funny?”
“You.” Her laughter was gone with his sudden move. “Your dad told me once you were an idiot for leaving me. I thought you were just being honest about what you wanted.” She took a deep breath that made her breasts rub against his chest. “You wasted five very long years because of that misconception.”
He glared. “Explain.”
“Why bother? You already know everything, remember?”
“Start talking before I turn you over my knee, baby.” She would have destroyed any other man that dared make that threat. But not Caleb. Never Caleb. His voice dropped to one promising sensual fulfillment, a kind of play she wouldn't accept from anyone but him or Zach.
“Yes, I was devoted to the pack.” She lifted her hand to stroke the side of his face. “But Caleb, you were at the core of the pack.”
“And when I left?”
She let him see the bewilderment she'd never shown before, never understood before. “I don't get this, Caleb. All the females are devoted to the pack whether they're dominant, beta, or omega.”
He gave her a hard considering look.
“There was nothing else,” she said softly. “I couldn't leave, and I couldn't stay and do nothing.”
“Don't worry, baby. When we get home, I'll give you plenty to occupy your time.” His low sexy voice set her body to a slow burn and damn him, he knew it. He grinned. “You stayed because you hoped I'd come back.” That arrogance, that assumption she'd just fall at his feet, made her teeth ache.
“Watch it, bubba. You won't be able to fit that ego through the door,” she snapped.
Laughing, he kissed her quickly, then pulled back on to the road. “I'm sure you'll keep it in line.”
They hadn't gone far before he pulled off the road and into a motel parking lot.
“I can drive if you need some sleep,” she offered.
“That's gonna be hard to do with my cock inside you.” Crude words but they made her instantly needy. She tried to trample it, control it, while he exited the vehicle and entered the small office. He returned in minutes, drove around the corner of the building, and carried her inside.
“We don't have time for this,” she said breathlessly.
He nudged her towards the bed and fell on top of her. “Can't wait,” he said, his voice low and guttural.
And gods help her, neither could she.
Chapter Nine
Liza was tempted to tug on the collar of her sweater when she entered the house, but knew it wouldn't do any good. Even if no one noticed the marks, they'd be able to smell Caleb and Zach on her.
She heard voices coming from the office down the hall, and led the way, not surprised when Caleb held her back and entered first. Rolling her eyes, she stepped around him to take stock. Alpha, her dad, two others, and Jonas and Baker, looked up expectantly. Their curiosity quickly changed to shock when they took in Caleb. She hid her smirk at the look Jonas and Baker exchanged. They were
Her father stood and smiled, holding his arms out, but Caleb held her back when she tried to step forward. She turned her back on the room to face him. “What are you doing?” she whispered harshly.
He didn't even look at her as he responded. “Protecting what's mine.” She glanced over her shoulder and saw both Jonas and Baker standing. Eyes narrowing, she took in the tense, wide-legged fighting stance both had adopted. “I'll deal with you two later,” she said while shoving Caleb's chest until he stepped back into the empty hall. She slammed the door behind them and almost laughed at his expression. He looked a little shell-shocked that he'd taken her direction. Hell, that was her job. Alpha and beta cared for the pack, and she was the gatekeeper.
“What the hell are you doing? 'Cause until you fire me, I still serve a purpose here. I can handle both those idiots. You don't have to do that for me.” God, she'd forgotten how fast he could move. One minute she was blocking the door, bitching with her hands on her hips, and the next he had her pressed to the wall, wrists held in one of his hands over her head. His hips pressed against her belly, his cock thick and hard, and she forgot what they were fighting about. Leaning forward, he kissed her neck, sucking her skin into his mouth as he growled.
“I outrank you here, baby. I can and will interfere if I feel the need.” Damn it. He was making it impossible to think. She bucked against him, trying to push him away, but he just growled in reprimand. Power filled the air as her anger spiked. When she shoved his chest again, he reluctantly stepped back, a wary expression on his face.
“I think that answers that question.”
“What?” she grumbled, but didn't pay much attention as she struggled to regain control of her magic.
“You don't need sex to access your magic anymore.”
He was right. She'd expected her power to dissipate or get locked up again within a couple hours of having sex, but they'd just spent twelve hours in a car. She probed the power in her mind and breathed a sigh of relief. It wasn't sex magic after all. Her mother had been right about one day setting it free. She scowled. But she had no idea how to work it, how to mold it to her uses. She'd start practicing tomorrow. For now…
She didn't tell him what she was doing, didn't say another word to him. He didn't try to stop her when she reentered the room, but he couldn't help displaying his dominance. One hand rested on her hip, while he wrapped his arm across the front of her shoulders, pinning her back against his chest. She set her hands on his forearm but didn't try to break his hold. Sometimes it was better to let an alpha male have his way. At least he wasn't trying to
