Tears still streaked down her face. “I won’t go with him.”
“I know, baby. I wouldn’t let you even if you wanted to.” Gage wiped the tears from her face before bending down and kissing her cheeks, nose, eyes, forehead before placing a light one of her lips.
“Sleep now. I’ll be here when you wake.” Gage waited until her eyes closed before he stood and thought about what to do next.
Gage stood from where he sat at the table in his room. True to his word, he worked up here instead of his office. He studied the papers he’d gotten when he’d first looked into Marissa. Logan and Sam were in his office trying to find something else—anything else.
A phone call to another Alpha—Lamont from three territories away—had helped. He had even offered to send his best Enforcer and son Cain down if Gage needed any help.
Grateful to have the older Alpha behind him, Gage relaxed. As Lamont had stated, there had always been something wrong with Marissa’s original Pack. And while they would probably find papers to claim Marissa as theirs, Gage could turn around and file a claim that Marissa had been thrown out and had not been protected by her Pack. Gage knew he had a good case for that. Marissa had been on her own for the past ten years.
It also meant that Gage would have to take her into his Pack to file those papers and keep her from Brandon. He didn’t mind having her there. She’d be a good member, but he wanted more. He wanted a commitment from her. He’d found his life-mate.
The light knock on the door took his attention from his thoughts. Walking quietly to the door, he opened it to Hannah, one of the older females who helped with his house. She had worked for his father before him and had always been a surrogate mother to him.
“I brought you both some bread and soup. And made her some tea,” she told him.
Gage opened the door wider to let her come in with the tray. She placed the tray on the clean side of the table before looking up at him. Hannah had been with the Pack for fifteen years. She had come to his father after a member in her old Pack had assaulted her. Her Alpha hadn’t done anything and Hannah had run away. Gage’s father had gladly taken her into his Pack and his home. She had cooked for the wolves and kept his house ever since.
“You’re doing a good thing,” she said, and Gage could see tears in her eyes.
Gage shrugged at the admiration in her eyes. “I’m not only doing it for her.”
“I know.” She placed one hand on his cheek. “She wouldn’t make it there. It would take everything out of her until she slowly died.”
Gage placed his hand over hers, sharing comfort with her. “I will protect her. Even if it costs me my life.”
“I know.” She smiled sadly. “And that is why I choose to follow you like I did your father.” She left him with that.
Gage walked over to Marissa. She was curled up and had dried tears on her face. Running his fingers over her cheek, he watched her blink awake.
“Hi,” he greeted once her eyes opened.
She blushed and looked away. “Hi.”
Leaning over her, he took her lips. Marissa opened for him before wrapping her arms around his neck. Gage moaned into the kiss and pressed her back into the bed. The power and control she held shimmered beneath the surface. She pulled at his shirt, finally getting it over his head. Reaching up, she ran her tongue over his chest. The muscles under her mouth quivered and his breath brushed against her cheek.
Gage used his lips on her shoulders, then pulled the straps of her dress down her arms. She still wore the dress from the ceremony and he wanted it off her. Reaching behind her, he unzipped it, baring her to him.
The rest of the clothes were quickly removed as they touched and kissed each other’s skin. When he positioned himself over her, he held her legs open with his own. As he entered her slowly, they watched each other.
Marissa lifted her hips up to allow Gage to slip in smoothly all the way. He filled her, and she started to move under him. Gage kept his strokes slow and deep, watching the emotions in her eyes as he brought her pleasure. Her mouth opened and small sounds came from her. Gage grunted as the natural pace picked up, his body demanding he take her, the wolf demanding he claim her.
Crying out, Marissa wrapped her legs around his waist, taking him deeper. “Yes. Gage Oh yes.”
“Mine,” he growled. “Mine.”
“Yes.” Marissa eyes glowed, showing the rare glimpse of her wolf. “Yes, Gage, take me.”
Gage slammed into her over and over. “More. I want more.”
“Yes,” she cried out.
“Tell me you’re mine. Mine.”
“Yes. I’m yours. Take me Gage. Claim me.” The words came out, flowed from her without hesitation.
That was all Gage needed to hear. He pulled out and turned her over. He placed her on all fours and entered her quickly, going all the way to her womb.
Gage thrust into her fast and hard. He slammed into her, holding her hips, his mouth running over her back. When he felt her body start to tremble and she cried out her release, he opened his mouth. His canines lengthened, and he bit down, sinking his teeth into her shoulder. Her blood filled his mouth and he claimed her as his own.
Licking at the wound, he cleaned it as he found his own release, pulling her along with him one more time.
Empty and satisfied, he turned her back over and took her mouth. He shared her blood with her, licking the inside of her mouth before biting down on his tongue, filling his mouth with his own blood. He held the back of her head firmly as he forced his blood into her mouth.
With the claiming and blood exchange finished, they collapsed as mates.
Chapter Seven
Gage held Marissa in his arms and caressed her body. She hadn’t said anything since they’d finished the claiming, but she hadn’t pulled away either. Her body remained relaxed and soft against him.
When she rubbed against him, he felt the wetness between her thighs—evidence of the claiming and mating still running through her body. Cupping her round curvy bottom, he lifted her up and onto his thighs.
“Ride me, baby. Fuck me.”
She did. Moving up on her knees, she took him inside. She rode him fast, lifting herself up and down, her clit rubbing against him while he played with her nipples.
“Mine.” He lifted his mouth to take one pert nub inside.
Marissa cried out, riding him faster, taking them both to a fast but powerful climax. Sweating and panting, she fell on his chest.
Gage held her tight. “I love you.”
Marissa jerked and brought her head up. “What?”
Gage laughed at the expression on her face. With a hand in her hair, he brought her mouth inches from his. “You heard me.”
“But—”
Gage nipped her lip. “I’ve claimed you. Why would I do that if I didn’t love you?”
“To protect me. To keep me in your Pack.”
Gage’s stomach dropped. Was that what she really thought? Was that why she did it, allowed him to claim her? Gage started to move her off of him.
Marissa tightened her legs, holding Gage under her. Inside her.
“Marissa.”
Marissa just shook her head. “I’m sorry.”
Gage sighed. He’d been stupid. Thinking she would fall in love as fast as he had. But he’d known the first time he saw her looking defiant and angry that she was the one who would take his heart.
Using his strength, he lifted her off of him. She growled but he ignored her and stood.
“Where are you going?” she asked.
Gage didn’t even turn around. “To shower. We still have a lot to do to take care of your old Pack.”