Yvette Hines - The Club

Over the last week, she had seen Trae each night when he had stopped by after work to help her pack her things and explain more of his culture and origins to her. She loved the pack’s tie to the Cherokee Nation. For years she had wondered if there was Native blood in her family, especially since people always commented on her jet-black hair and her high cheekbones, but not knowing her parents and her lineage it would remain a mystery. Trae thought it might be true simply because she was his mate and matches didn’t form out of thin air, and he’d convinced her.

She didn’t care one way or the other, as long as he was in her life. All her fear had dissipated. It wasn’t that she was not anxious about tonight and the importance of everything that would take place, but it was all overshadowed by the fact that when she opened her eyes in the morning she would be part of a family. A big family. A family of two hundred, including distant relatives in Oklahoma.

During the week, every time she thought of it, she had gone from tears to giddy, excited laughter. Nothing—except for Trae—meant more to her than that.

On Monday, she had heard from Kelsey and had a chance to tell her best friend that Trae had come over and she was going to ‘marry’ him on Friday. She didn’t know how to explain to her friend the truth of what was going on. Hell, it was hard for her to comprehend, let alone transfer that information to someone else. Kelsey had been shocked, but had told her she was happy for her and would support her.

Despite all her friend’s theatrics, Kelsey was a romantic. Kelsey believed that Olivia and Trae had fallen madly in love and he had swept her up in a whirlwind affair, all the way to the altar. Olivia had allowed her friend to believe it. It was partly true. In the week she’d had to accept her destiny and get to know Trae—a man who was strong, dependable, considerate and a damn good, passionate lover—she’d given her heart to him as well as her body.

She didn’t think the same was true for him. He was an Alpha male, whose sole concern was leading his pack and providing a strong next generation. There was no doubt in her mind that he would protect her and care for her. As he’d explained, not only did his mark bind her to him, but him to her as well. So, she was okay with that and prayed he would grow to love her one day, too.

Perhaps one day she would also be able to tell Kelsey the whole truth. She thought that her friend, who knew how she had yearned for a family over the years, would understand.

She pulled out an off-the-shoulder tunic dress in forest green, the same deep colour as Trae’s eyes when they were intense and filled with desire. Early that morning, he had told her to make sure that she wore something that revealed his mark on her back. All the pack members would be looking to see whether she proudly displayed it, especially since she was human.

Laying the dress on the bed, she headed to the shower for the second time that day. Even though being at a spa was relaxing, she always felt icky after having so many hands on her. After her shower, she added a lightly-scented lotion to her body. There was an advantage to being able to hear her man’s thoughts. She knew that Trae enjoyed her scent, the natural musk of her own body. She didn’t want to mask that, especially not tonight. Even though sex wasn’t part of the third marking, she still wanted to be inviting to him.

She filled her hair with curls, then piled it high on the crown of her head, ensuring it did not obstruct the view of her shoulder. After slipping on a matching thong, she put the dress on, making sure it sagged over her right shoulder. Turning, she checked her back—the mark could be clearly seen, even though it was now faint, appearing to be an old bruise. She had to admit to herself that she was looking forward to having his mark on her permanently.

The final touches to her outfit were gold, dangly, leaf-shaped earrings and gold, high-heeled sandals. Lip gloss was her only facial enhancement.

Hello my delicious, rabbit .

Shivers of heat danced along her spine at Trae’s voice. She still wasn’t sure how she felt about being referred to as something her mate might consider a meal.

She heard him chuckle in her head as she moved through her apartment to the front door. Would this man never use a doorbell?

Opening the door, she saw him standing there in a black suit and a tie that matched his eyes and her dress. He was so sexy and appealing she wanted to rip the suit off him and beg him to take her, right there and then.

Eyeing his green tie, she said, “Did you read my mind?”

“Just luck. Damn, you look good, Olivia. I don’t know if I’m going to make it through the night.” Rushing across the threshold, he swept her up in his arms and kissed her.

Sighing with satisfaction, she submitted fully to the kiss. Trae encircled her waist with his hands and slipped them down to the slope of her ass, cupping each cheek. The dress might have been loose at the top, but it was snug around her hips to mid-thigh, where it ended. She was glad the material was light, because she could feel every caress and squeeze of his hands.

Unable to help herself, she ground her sex against his hardening cock.

Fuck, I wish I had time to make love to you and that we were alone.

We are alo—

Before she could finish her thought, someone cleared his throat. Since Trae’s tongue was in her mouth it couldn’t be him.

Moving her mouth away from Trae’s, she stared at him.

“Olivia, I’m sure you remember Diego,” Trae said.

Stepping back from Trae’s embrace, she looked past him to the other man who had entered her apartment. She was astonished how her mind and body became completely captivated and solely focused on Trae, disregarding everything and everyone around her. She wondered if it would always be like that.

It will ease up after the third marking and not be so all-consuming. But it will never go away.

That’s good to know.

“Diego, it’s good to see you again.” A little embarrassed, she smiled at him, feeling the heat in her cheeks.

“A grand pleasure, Olivia.” He glanced over at Trae with a sly smile. “I’d hug you, but I think even that would be too much for the Alpha dog to handle.”

Trae growled.

She gave Diego a conspiratorial wink.

Trae growled again, louder this time.

Olivia laughed. Don’t worry, it will get better after the third marking, she joked, mentally giving him his own words back.

“If you give me your car keys, Olivia, I’ll get it to the house and meet you guys at the ceremony grounds,” Diego said.

“Are these the suitcases you’re taking with you?” Trae pointed to the luggage in the hallway.

Crossing to her purse on the coffee table, she pulled out her car keys. “That’s it. There are a few more things that I need to move to the house, but they can wait until next week when I come out to meet the charity truck for the furniture and dishes.” Anything that wasn’t a personal item to her, like her clothes, her old college memorabilia or anything work-related, she was donating to a shelter for battered women in town.

“Perfect.” Diego took the keys from her, then went and picked up her suitcases and headed towards the door. “I’ll see you two in an hour or so.”

“Thanks, Diego.” Trae patted the man on the shoulder as he passed.

“No problem.” Diego left the apartment.

Staring at her from across the room, Trae appeared to be warring with himself about what to do. When his hazel eyes trailed along her body, she knew what was on his mind. The same thing that was on hers. Sex. But they had to go—she didn’t want to show up late on the first night she would meet his parents and his pack.