“Well, that makes one of us then,” Simon quipped then nodded. “We’ll go somewhere neutral.”
“Neutral?” What the hell did that mean?
He pulled out his phone and made a call. A short conversation later, he hung up, looking satisfied with himself. As if he sensed my confusion, he reached over and took my hand, threading his fingers with mine.
“You’re my mate. I can’t let you walk away.”
“I don’t even know what that means, Simon.” Well, I did, but I didn’t. If that made sense. Basically, I knew enough to know that I didn’t know anything.
“It means you can’t run from me. It makes me go insane. When I walked into that room and found you gone, I nearly lost my mind. Don’t do that again.”
“Does mating mean you think you can give me orders?”
“Yes, and I expect you to follow them.”
I laughed. Then snorted. Then did some version of hysterical laughing that combined the two. Simon didn’t look amused, which only made me laugh harder. Finally, I got it together.
“You can’t be serious, Simon. And why did you bring a bag with you?”
“I always keep a bag packed in case of emergencies. I had a feeling you’d be difficult so I had my ride grab it for me on their way to pick me up. Since you ran from me.”
He growled, and yeah, that growl did things to me that made my panties instantly damp.
“I’m not difficult,” I countered but Simon merely snorted without even glancing my way. “Besides, why would you mate someone you don’t even know?”
“I know all I need to know about you,” he snapped which made no sense to me.
“Well, I don’t! Tell me something about you,” I encouraged. “I don’t know anything. Except you’re part of the James Pack.”
“What do you want to know?”
“Were you born into the pack?”
At his snort of laughter, I gathered I’d guessed wrong.
“I don’t know anything about packs. Hannibal isn’t part of one, and Leslie isn’t, either.”
“Leslie’s his mom, correct?” Simon asked.
“Yes,” I agreed. “She and my dad met and fell in love eight years ago. Hannibal was twenty, and I was fifteen. Before then, I didn’t even know wolf shifters existed outside of books and movies.”
“She told you?”
“I saw her shift one night and thought I was losing my mind. My dad knew, of course. The whole mate thing, I guess. She sat me down and told me about her and Hannibal and who they are. I’ve been fascinated ever since.”
“Good thing since you’re mated to a wolf, now.”
“So you say.” I said it to antagonize him, and it worked. He did that wolfy growl again that had my insides humming.
“So, the bite on your neck states. Once we’ve spent a few days making love, my scent will cover you. Even humans will back off then, though they won’t understand exactly why.”
“You’re making me sound like a possession again. And if you even hint at peeing on me to mark your territory, I’ll rip your dick off and choke you with it.”
Simon laughed, and the brief glance he tossed at me let me know how ludicrous he found that. He put the blinker on and exited the highway, his laughter filling the cab as he made a few turns and had us on a dirt road.
“Where are we going?” I asked, realizing I hadn’t paid near enough attention to his side of the earlier phone conversation.
“A friend’s cabin.”
“I want to go home.” I sounded like a little kid, and I didn’t even care. Being alone with Simon wasn’t going to be good for me. I mean, it would actually be pretty fucking amazing, I was sure. But I wasn’t sure I could trust myself to keep my hands off him and talk. And we really needed to talk.
He parked the Jeep, but I didn’t even glance at the cabin. My gaze was glued to him. God, he really was beautiful. He leaned close and brushed my lips with his.
“Let’s get to know each other,” he suggested and I wasn’t sure he meant verbally. Then he pressed his lips over the spot he’d bitten, and my core clenched. I wasn’t certain I didn’t have a mini orgasm in that moment. I wanted him to do it again, just to find out.
“Simon?”
“Yeah.” He tilted his head to the side, nuzzling along my neck.
“I really want to get naked with you.”
He jerked back, his gaze searching my face as color flushed his cheeks.
“Let’s head inside.”
I gulped as he got out and walked around the hood toward my door. I was going to have sex with a sexy shifter. A bossy one, but still sexy. My door opened. He reached in and released my seatbelt then held out his hand for me. I let him help me out, feeling shaky on my own feet.
“Ready?” he asked, and I knew he was referring to more than a trip inside.
As if he sensed my nervousness, he leaned in, pinning me against the vehicle while he ravished my mouth. There was no other word for it. Instantly, I was right back at the cusp of orgasm, just waiting for that one extra thing that would send me over. He pulled away, his smoldering gaze raking over me, and I knew he noted the state of my nipples and probably sensed how badly I needed him.
“Simon.” His name was a husky whisper.
“Cecilia.”
“Take me inside and fuck me.”
He swept me up into his arms, lifting me high against his chest, and I knew if I wasn’t careful, I could lose my heart to Simon Hollister.
Chapter Three
~Simon~
I couldn’t get her inside quickly enough. My cock was ready to explode as it was, but hearing her ask me to fuck her had it straining against my zipper in a mad plea for freedom. I took her mouth again as soon as I’d stumbled across the threshold of the cabin with her, leaning back against the door, I fumbled the lock back into place before letting Cecilia gain her feet. Then
