Zena Wynn - Claiming Shayla

Shay balled up her fist and popped him upside the head—hard. “Watch it, buster. That hurts.”

He released her breast, making a small popping sound. “Are they tender?” He glanced from her chest to her face.

“Like you wouldn’t believe.”

He grunted, inwardly pleased at this small sign of the changes her body was going through. He lightened his touch and smiled when she moaned and her sheath tightened. Shayla undulated her lower body in a circle, and he lost it. He swung her around so that she was braced against the wall. “Hold on,” was all the warning he gave.

Shay was right with him every second, going over the edge into a screaming orgasm just moments before he spurted inside her. He leaned against her, breathing heavily. Annoyingly she pushed and shoved on his shoulders.

“What!” he snarled.

“Parents, wedding, Kiesha? Helloooo, we have to go.”

“Shit!” He lowered Shay until her feet touched the floor. If he thought he could get away with it, he’d take her back to bed. He wasn’t nearly satisfied.

She washed quick and climbed out of the shower, smelling of the soap she’d washed with. His wolf urged him to snatch her up and scent mark her again. He resisted. They really didn’t have time, but tomorrow was a new day and they had the rest of their lives. He allowed the thought to comfort him.

“Where are my clothes?” Shay faced him in the center of the bedroom with the towel wrapped around her.

“What’s left of them is in the trash,” he stated shortly.

“I can’t go to Refuge like this.” She swept a hand down her body, emphasizing her current state of undress. “Did you at least grab my suitcase?”

His only thought after she’d crashed was of finally getting Shay where she belonged, at home in his bed. “Didn’t have the opportunity.”

“What am I supposed to wear?” she demanded, hands on her hips.

“I’m sure there’s something here that will fit you.” He walked into the closet and came out with a black tux to find Shay glaring at him, an evil glint in her eye.

“If you think I’m wearing something an old lover left behind, forget it,” she said on a growl.

“Feeling possessive?” he teased. When she snarled at him, he laughed. “Shay, I’m alpha. This is the pack house. We keep clothing here in a variety of sizes since shifters have a nasty habit of losing theirs.”

“I knew that,” she muttered.

“Down the hallway to the left you’ll find the storage room. Pick something. And don’t take too long. I’ll be ready to roll in ten.”

Shay flipped him the bird as she walked out of the room.

Shay woke as the vehicle slowed and came to a stop. Once again she’d been aware of little of the drive from Rory’s town to Refuge, having knocked out almost before they got rolling. “Why are we at the church?”

“Shannon called while we were en route and stated that she’d bring your things here and save time. She said to tell you Kiesha excused your absence by telling your parents you’d started your new work assignment.”

She stretched and yawned before gazing out the windshield through sleepy eyes. “I’ll have to thank them. God, I feel like I could sleep for a week and barely make a dent in all the rest I’ve lost this past month.”

He lifted her chin by a finger, tilted her head in his direction, and studied her face intently. “After this is over, I’ll make sure you get rid of those dark circles under your eyes. I’ll take good care of you and our cub.”

Shayla was proud of herself for not flinching at the mention of her pregnancy. Then she had a thought. “Don’t you dare mention any of this to my parents,” she growled.

Rory met her stare for stare until she found herself looking away. He captured her chin between his thumb and index finger and turned her head back toward him. “When you’re ready, we’ll announce it together. This is your cousin’s day. I have no intention of doing anything to take away from it.”

Shay breathed a sigh of relief. The last thing she wanted right now was to have a knock-down, drag-out brawl with Rory over this. “Kiesha’s already pissed with me for not telling her. I just can’t handle any more grief,” she found herself explaining.

He released her. “Let’s go. They’re waiting.”

Rory opened the door and got out while she sat there looking at the church. Inside were the people who knew her best, the ones who loved her most. Their opinions were very important to her, but right now she could do without their alarmed inquisitiveness if her condition became known. Her father would go into protective mood, demanding Rory take care of his “responsibility.” Her mother, who had a streak of traditionalism a mile wide, would be in raptures over Shay finally “settling down with a nice man and starting a family.”

She snorted. As if by any stretch of the imagination Rory could be considered nice.

Then there was Kiesha, her cousin who loved and annoyed her the way an older sibling could. They’d shared everything through the years, but for the first time she understood and appreciated Kiesha’s reticence to share when she’d first hooked up with Alex. It wasn’t so much reluctance to dish but an “I don’t know what the hell is happening myself so how can I rationally discuss it with you” type of thing. Too bad she’d nagged until Kiesha had no choice but to talk.

Payback was a bitch, and payment was due.

Her door swung open, and Rory stood in the opening. “You going in or you gonna sit here till the wedding’s over?”

Snapped out of her thoughts, Shay noted the way he hovered protectively over her, the possessive glint in his eye. “Don’t do that in front of my parents.”

“What?” He looked confused. It was not a good look on him.

“That”—she waved a hand, indicating his facial expression and body posture—“whole possessive vibe you’ve got going.”

His eyes widened in surprise, then narrowed. “I’m a wolf, babe. It’s in my DNA.”

“Yeah, well, tone it down or something, will ya? Mom’s already going to be on the whole ‘when are you going to get busy producing grandkids, Shayla’ kick. I don’t need you giving her ammunition,” she snarled as she slid out of the truck.

He backed up to give her room. As she pushed past him, he murmured in her ear, “Only around your parents and only because you’re covered in my scent.”

“Damn it, why didn’t you tell me I stink?” she asked just to piss him off.

He growled. Shay smirked even as her pussy creamed. Damn she loved yanking Cujo’s chain. He was so easy. She picked up the pace, finally feeling a bit more like herself. She didn’t even grumble when his arm shot past her to pull the door open for her.

Shannon met them at the door. “It’s about time you two showed up.”

“Hello to you too. Where’s the bloodsucker? Asleep in his coffin?” Rory asked his sister.

“Don’t mind him. He has penis envy. Everyone knows vamps are at the top of the paranormal food chain, which means they do everything better,” Shay stated. Glancing past Shannon, she called out, “Hey, Dad,” effectively cutting off the snarling comment she knew Rory was forming.

“You’ll pay for that later,” Shannon murmured as Shay brushed by, headed for her father.

“Aye, she will,” Rory confirmed.

Shay certainly hoped so. Otherwise what was the point?

As her father enfolded her in his embrace, she could feel Rory’s gaze. Ignoring wolf man for the moment, she concentrated on her dad, whom she hadn’t seen in a while. He pulled back and stared down at her face. “Baby girl, you work too hard.”

She shrugged away his concern. “I got sick on my last assignment. Stomach virus. Still getting over it,” she explained.