Stubborn Mate Read online

  “What’s your name?” He stared at her in silence.

  “Ok, Wolfie, here’s the deal. I realize you have no reason to trust us, but you will just have to take a leap of faith and believe me when I tell you we don’t mean you any harm. We bought you so that we could free you.” The wolf continued to stare at her.

  “I bought him a little over six months ago.” Emma jerked her thumb at Kane.

  “See, he’s free.”

  “Then what is he doing here?”

  “I’m here as proof.” He turned his head and showed the wolf his scar.

  “My implant and tracking devices have been removed. We have arranged for yours to be removed soon. Then you will truly be free.”

  “Take off my handcuffs.”

  “On one condition.”

  “I knew it. There’s always a price to pay. What do you want from me?”

  “I want you to promise you won’t hurt any of us.”

  “I will kill you if you harm her,” Kane stated with a growl, his wolf eyes glowing brightly in the back of the limousine.

  The wolf turned and looked at Kane, gulped and nodded in understanding.

  “Baxter, if you please?”

  Baxter removed the handcuffs and shackles on his feet. Emma nodded and he withdrew a small box containing the remote. The wolf tensed and he handed it over to him. The wolf grabbed the box and held it close to him, eyed them suspiciously. He opened the box, saw the remote and snapped it shut.

  Kane didn’t like the dangerous wolf sitting so close to Emma, so he demanded that he move. Kane moved to sit beside Emma, Baxter slid over to Kane’s vacant spot, and the wolf moved into Baxter’s empty seat. Kane picked up Emma and placed her in his lap.

  “What are you doing? Put me back in my seat,” Emma demanded, annoyed at Kane for moving her.

  “His scent will be all over you if you sit there.”

  “So?”

  “It’s a wolf thing, you wouldn’t understand.”

  The only man’s scent that would be on her body would be his. Anyone else’s scent would drive his wolf insane. He refused to think about what that meant. All he knew was that Emma was on his lap and it felt good. Comforting. Natural. She was soft and her scent, enticing. He tightened his grip on her waist and leg and tried to get his growing erection under control.

  Emma looked at him, opened her mouth to tell him off and her phone rang. She checked the caller id then answered,“You bitch! When did you start sleeping with Derrick?”

  It was silent on the other end as Elle determined whether she should lie or come clean.

  “I…uh…what makes you think that?”

  “Because he just kissed my hand and said something about going to Cancun! Ellie, damn it, don’t toy with him. He’s a good man and he’s in love with you!”

  “I know. I’m not seeing anyone else. I…just drop it ok? I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I just didn’t want you freaking out”

  Wanting to change the subject, Ellie asked, “Did you get it?”

  “Yes. We’re on the way to the airport right now. It will be late when I get back, so I will see you in the morning.”

  “I’m really sorry, Emmy.... By the way, that lawyer took care of Mark. The Sherriff dropped the charges and he’s free. Turns out it was consensual. The daughter just panicked when her father caught them.”

  “Good. Are Mark and Chris still in town?” Kane stiffened when he heard her ask about the other men.

  “They skipped out as soon as Mark was free. I’m sure they’ll be calling you soon. Emmy?

  “Yes?”

  “I love you.”

  “You’re still a bitch but I love you too.”

  She smiled and hung up. The phone rang again. She checked the caller id and answered.“Mark?”

  “I’m sorry, Emmy, really. I’ll pay you back every cent.”

  “With interest. I dropped everything to bail your ass out, and I’m not doing it again. Keep it in your pants!”

  She hung up. Exasperated, she said “Men!” and shook her head. She returned her phone to her tiny purse. The car stopped and Baxter returned her hat. She fixed it so she was covered again, and they boarded the private jet.

  Once on the private jet, Emma took off her hat, removed her gloves and relaxed in the seat. Pure joy filled her face as the jet took off. She could always tell the exact moment the wheels left the ground and always found it exhilarating.

  Kane watched her face as it transformed into pure joy. She smiled happily as the jet took off. Her anger had dissipated completely and Kane’s desire for her increased tenfold. Would she ever smile that happily in his company? Ever be relaxed and happy or would she forever be tense and angry when he was around?

  Emma, oblivious to Kane’s scrutiny, pulled out her laptop and turned to the wolf.

  “Wolfie?”

  “My name is Reid.”

  “Reid, were there other wolves in captivity? Like you?”

  “No. I didn’t see or smell any, but I did hear them talking as though they were planning on getting more.”

  “Do you know how long you were held or where?”

  Reid shook his head.

  “It was underground, a basement of some kind. They kept it cold. There were no windows where I was kept. I have no idea where. Not too far from the warehouse. Maybe an hour? Two hours? It’s hard to tell time when you are blindfolded.”

  Reid described his ordeal, from the moment he was taken to the time she bought him. Kane explained his ordeal, noting similarities between the two wolves’ situations.

  Emma bit her lip as she pondered the information. Reid wasn’t much help in terms of identifying his captors, so she decided to search on her own. She typed in several things on her laptop and began reading. Kane unbuckled his belt and crossed the aisle to sit beside her.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Some research. Trying to figure out who’s behind your captivity and surgery. They took blood and tissue samples from you and Reid. That probably means they are going to do a DNA profile, map your genes. Once they do that, your kind will be in serious trouble.”

  “I don’t understand. What can they do with our DNA? How can they hurt my kind?”

  “For starters, they can determine if you belong to the human species. If you don’t they can pass all kinds of laws limiting you, locking you up, use you as test subjects. Think of Jews in Nazi Germany.”

  “Fuck.”

  “If you and Lucien are examples of your kind, then you are physically stronger. I imagine you are the military’s wet dream. They can use you as soldiers.”

  Kane nodded grimly, “We are stronger and faster than normal men. We heal faster too.”

  “Aside from experiments on what makes you so strong and the ability to heal, they would experiment on you with all kinds of things. What will make you sick? Weak? What can they use to control you? Can they use any part of you to make normal humans stronger? Frankly the list goes on and on. And I bet there’s stuff even I can’t imagine.”

  Emma shook her head and turned back to the screen. A student of history, she knew all too well what humans were capable of.

  She searched for companies that worked with DNA and genetic profiling and a list of thirty companies came up. She clicked on their websites, read their vision statements, checked out their management team and read about their products. Kane sat beside her, reading along occasionally, but mostly studying her as she worked. Emma occasionally paused to type notes on the computer.

  Kane happened to glance over at the computer as she clicked on the fourth company. Its logo was familiar and he tensed, sat up straight.

  “Emma, I know that symbol. I remember seeing it when I was a captive. It was on a pen one of the doctors used.”

  Emma read everything about the company, taking very careful notes. She typed up a quick email, sent it and reluctantly shut down the laptop and put it away. The jet landed and Reid was taken to a hospital by two of Lucien’s soldiers, Nicol
ai and Harley. Georges drove them back to the hotel.

  Kane sat quietly beside Emma, desperately wishing he had an excuse to hold her.

  Chapter 5

  It was late when they arrived at the hotel and Emma went to the front desk to ask for a room. The concierge handed her a key and mentioned that her bag had already been sent to her room. Georges and Baxter were given their room keys as well. Georges went to the car to make a phone call, leaving Baxter with Emma.

  “Emmy? I will walk you to your room.”

  Kane watched Baxter escort Emma to the elevator. He fumed and moved towards the stairs, taking two at a time.

  Once the elevator doors closed, Baxter turned to Emma and gave her the taser. He quickly showed her how to use it. They exited the elevator and he walked her to her room, waited while she opened the door.

  “He’s very aggressive, Emmy. If he won’t listen to you, then tase his ass. If you need anything, yell. I’m right next door.”

  Emma thanked him, went inside and closed the door. She set down her laptop bag on the coffee table and threw the taser on the bed. A knock sounded on the door and Emma opened it, thinking Baxter had forgotten to tell her something. An angry Kane stood in her doorway. He pushed his way into her room and sniffed. When he realized she was alone he turned around, pushed her gently aside and closed the door, locking it. The clicking of the lock released her from her shock and she found her voice.

  “What the hell do you think you are doing?” Emma glared at him, her hands on her hips.

  “You have a need. I will satisfy it,” he said as he took off his shirt, tossing it aside.

  Emma sputtered, backed up until she hit the bed. She turned and picked up the taser, held it in front of her.

  “Get out of my room right now, or I will tase you.”

  “You are a healthy female with needs. I am a healthy male with needs. We can satisfy each other.”

  “Oh, really? Well, I am not that desperate, so GET OUT!”

  She denied him again! His wolf raged at her rejection. Angrily, he turned and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him. Kane went to his room, which was located next to Emma’s. Before leaving that evening, he had arranged for Emma to be sent to the room adjoining his.

  He took a very cold shower, which did nothing to ease his burning desire. He dried off, pulled on a pair of boxers and paced the room. He thought about what Emma said. Had she rejected him only because he accused her of paying for sex? She had thrown his own words at him and he knew he deserved it. He cursed himself for the awful things he had said to her. No wonder she hated him. He paced the room, tried to think of how he could undo the damage he had done. He suspected there was nothing he could say to fix things between them.

  Emma took a shower, dressed in a nightgown and went to bed. She tossed and turned under the covers. She was too wired, no, too horny to sleep. She slipped her right hand into her panties and began touching her clit. She dipped her finger inside of herself and moved back to her clit. She circled it, rubbed it gently at first then harder as she thought about Kane. He annoyed her but he was sexy with his scarred face and muscular body. When he scowled, she thought he was even sexier. Some part of her wanted to be the one to turn that sexy scowl into a smile.

  She removed her panties, pulled the sheet back over herself and lay back on the bed. She thought about earlier in the evening when he had pulled her onto his lap and she was sure she had felt his erection. This time she slipped her left middle finger deep inside of her and stroked her clit with a finger on her right hand. She continued to fantasize about Kane, imagining it was his finger buried deep inside of her. She moaned and writhed on the bed.

  Next door, Kane’s ears twitched and he heard her moaning in bed. Livid that she had company to sate her desire, he kicked in the door that separated their room. He stormed into her room, intending to kill the male that dared touch her so intimately.

  Emma yelped and sat up in surprise when the door came crashing in. Her mouth hung open when she spotted Kane standing there, pure rage on his face, fists clenched, body tense, as if ready to fight. His eyes glowed, a golden color, as he stared at the bed.

  “Kane! What the hell do you think you’re doing? Get out of my room!”

  When he realized she was alone, he calmed down, unclenched his fists. The rage left his face, but he was still angry that she was satisfying herself, denying him that pleasure. He moved towards the bed and pulled back the sheet. Emma hurried to push down her nightgown, to cover herself.

  “You have a need and I will satisfy it,” he stated.

  He climbed on the bed, took her left hand and sniffed her fingers. He stopped at the middle one, opened his mouth and sucked it all the way in. He closed his eyes, savoring her taste. His tongue moved around her finger as he licked it. Slowly, he withdrew her finger from his mouth. He opened his eyes and met hers. She gulped and blushed. He dropped her hand and moved to sit at her feet. He grabbed her calves and pulled, causing her to fall onto her back with her legs spread wide, bare for him to see. He spread her legs wide, leaned down and licked her.

  Emma gasped. Kane licked her again then nibbled on her clit. He moved lower, pushed his tongue inside of her tight channel and Emma moaned loudly, lifting her hips. His thumb found her clit and he rubbed it as he fucked her pussy with his tongue. Emma grabbed his head and pushed it down further, needing him deeper inside of her.

  Kane withdrew his tongue and she whimpered. He smiled with satisfaction and removed his boxers. Positioning himself above her, he entered her with a forceful thrust. Emma groaned and wrapped her legs around his waist. He kissed her, pushing his tongue inside of her, forcing her to taste herself. Emma wrapped her arms around his head and shoulders, pulling him closer, pushing her tongue into his mouth, sucking on his bottom lip, nipping it gently.

  Kane pumped his hips, thrusting hard and fast inside of Emma. He had waited too long for this, she was too hot and too tight for him to stay in control. He couldn’t stop himself, couldn’t make himself slow down. He promised himself, next time he would be slower, gentler with her.

  Emma placed her feet flat on the bed so she could push her hips up, driving him deeper inside of her. She felt the tension building as Kane pushed his thick cock into her faster and deeper. He pulled one of her arms from around his head, held it down beside her head. He moved the other hand and held her arm down on the other side of her head. He raised himself above her, holding her down, pumping hard and fast into her. Her eyes were closed and she bit her bottom lip. Still holding her arms, pinning her, he leaned down and kissed her.

  Kane moved lower, kissing and sucking on her neck. He changed his angle, hit a bundle of nerves and she screamed his name as her body convulsed. Waves of pleasure crashed through her and she continued rocking her hips against him. Her muscles squeezed and massaged him and Kane lost himself inside of her. He kissed her gently and rolled off her. He got up, turned and picked her up, cradled in his arms.

  “Where are you taking me?”

  “To my bed, where you belong.” He carried her into his room, placed her on the bed.

  “Remove your nightgown,” he demanded as he stood beside the bed. She raised an eyebrow.

  “No,” she stated stubbornly and crossed her arms over her breasts. He reached down with both hands and grabbed the bottom of her night gown. RIP. He tore her nightgown from the bottom all the way to the top.

  “You bastard! That was my favorite nightgown!” She swatted his hands away.

  “Then next time you will listen when I tell you to remove your clothes.”

  “Ooo, you are something else! You know what you are? A NEANDERTHAL!” She got off the bed and stomped away, heading back to her room.

  “Where do you think you are going?”

  He went after her and grabbed her nightgown, pulling her to a stop. She turned to face him, hands fisted at her sides.

  “I am going back to my room. Get your damn hands off of my nightgown!”

&nbs
p; As she pulled at her night gown, he released the bottom, held the top and pulled it off her shoulders spinning her a bit as he removed her torn nightgown. Before she could steady herself, he picked her up again, and carried her to his bed. He set her down gently and climbed into bed with her. He pinned her, his arm over her chest and his leg thrown over one of hers.

  “Get off me! Why did you bring me here?”

  “You belong in my bed. You have needs and I can satisfy them if you are here,” he stated and closed his eyes, pretending to go to sleep.

  She studied him as he lay next to her with his eyes closed. She knew he wasn’t asleep.

  “Why did you destroy my nightgown?”

  “You wouldn’t remove it,” he stated calmly.

  “Why did you want me to?” He opened his eyes and stared into hers.

  “I want your skin next to mine. Nothing will keep you from me, Emma, not even your clothes.”

  Stunned at his possessiveness, she stared at him and he closed his eyes again. He wanted her naked beside him? Sex wasn’t enough to satisfy him?

  “I can’t sleep like this.”

  “You will stay in my bed,” he answered swiftly, without opening his eyes.

  “You don’t understand, I can’t sleep in this position. I sleep on my side. I’m uncomfortable like this.” She pushed at his arm.

  “You’re too heavy, move!”

  Kane rolled onto his side and watched her. She got off the bed and he quickly sat up, ready to chase her again. She pulled back the sheet, slipped into the bed, gave him a dirty look and turned onto her side, facing away from him. He smiled, moved under the covers and positioned himself next to her, slipping his arm around her waist, laying his groin against her bottom, his leg thrown between hers. His head was on her pillow, close enough to smell her hair. He nuzzled her hair, kissed the back of her neck.

  “Good night, my Beautiful Emma,” he whispered in her ear.

  Finally, he thought as he drifted off to sleep, he would spend the night with a woman in his arms, in his bed.

  Emma was shocked. He called her beautiful? Kane confused her. First he didn’t want her, had said horrible, hurtful things to her. Now he had her in his bed and called her ‘beautiful.’ Why had he changed his mind about her? Her tired body finally overcame her active mind and sent her to sleep.