Marisa Chenery - Leifs Surrender

She’d noticed him as soon as he’d gotten in her line. She would have had to be blind not to. He stood about a foot taller than she, had a body that made her want to drool, and a face that reminded her of a male model’s. His not-too-short auburn hair had just brushed the collar of his black, form-fitting t-shirt. The blue jeans he wore were faded and snug in all the right places. She’d had to fight not to let her gaze zero in on the front of them to check him out.

As he moved up in line, Jaden couldn’t stop herself from stealing glances, knowing that looking at him was about all she’d be able to do. Men as good-looking as him rarely acknowledged that she existed. With her plain looks and glasses, she was pretty much overlooked half the time. She was used to it, therefore, she never had any high expectations when it came to good-looking men.

But when she’d asked him if he wanted paper or plastic and his gaze had latched onto hers, she’d had to blink a few times to make sure her eyes weren’t playing tricks on her. He had stared at her as if he was ready to jump over to her side and devour her in one bite. Jaden shivered just thinking about it. Having his blue-eyed gaze greedily lock with hers had her wishing for things that she knew would never happen. Her body, though, thought otherwise. Her nipples had hardened beneath her shirt, and her pussy had clenched with the need to be filled.

Of course nothing went beyond that. Once he’d paid, even making sure she didn’t touch him inadvertently when she handed him back his change, he’d practically run out of the store. He may have looked at her as if he wanted to devour her, but obviously that really hadn’t meant anything. C’est la vie. That was the story of her life.

After she rang through the last customer in line, she put a sign up on the end of the conveyor belt directing customers to the next cash register. It was her break time, and she was ready for it. Working as a cashier for a large grocery store chain wasn’t exactly her dream job, but it was better than not working at all. Her life was in a bit of a funk, and no matter what she tried, she couldn’t change things around. One day seemed to bleed into another.

As she headed for the small coffee shop inside the store, Jaden had to admit that getting stared at by an exceptionally hot guy was a step away from the same old, same old. Who knew, if she was lucky, he’d come to the store again. It was kind of pathetic to think catching a glimpse of a good-looking guy, who she didn’t have a chance in hell of ever really knowing, was the highlight of her day.

By the time Leif arrived back at Roxie’s place, he still hadn’t gotten himself totally under control. And the shock of actually finding his mate hadn’t worn off yet. It was like a bad dream come true. He was also fighting a battle within himself. His wolf side, and the mating urge that rode him, had him yearning to go back to the store and claim his mate. But the part of him that liked being unmated and wanted to stay that way fought it tooth and nail.

Leif turned off the car and grasped the steering wheel with both hands as he smacked his forehead on it a few times. He had to get it together. He could resist. All he had to do was stop thinking about her and how much he wanted to strip her naked and taste every inch of her body before he sank his aching cock inside her pussy. He’d be so deep inside her she’d never want to let him go. Leif could almost feel her inner walls clutching at his shaft as he rode her.

He groaned and smacked his forehead on the steering wheel again. Grrr, he had to stop thinking that way. There was no way in hell he was going to sleep with her. If he did, their souls would join and he’d be tied to her forever. Once werewolves became mated, they couldn’t stand to be away from their mates for long periods of time. In the beginning, a few hours apart felt like days. Their minds would play tricks on them, making them think something had happened to the other. Leif didn’t want that kind of commitment with a woman. Just thinking he was close to that very thing scared the bejesus out of him.

Giving himself a good shake, Leif grabbed the bag of ice cream off the passenger seat and got out of the car. Before he went inside, he had to make sure he didn’t show any outward sign of what had happened in the grocery store. If he did, Roxie would pick up on it and make his life a living hell. Like a dog, or a wolf, with a bone, she’d ride his ass until he eventually caved and went after his mate. He didn’t need that kind of interference in his life, thank you very much.

He walked through the door and headed to the kitchen to put the ice cream in the freezer. Leif had just put the grocery bag on the counter next to the fridge when Roxie came into the room.

Leif kept his back to her and opened the freezer door. “You didn’t tell me what flavor to get so I picked what I thought you’d like.”

When Roxie moved to stand beside him and her shoulder brushed his arm, he couldn’t stop himself from jerking away from the contact. He was still wound up as tight as a top.

“What’s the matter with you?” Roxie asked. She ran her gaze over him. “You look a bit…tense. Did something happen while you were out?”

“No. Having to go to a grocery store tends to do that to me. So are the flavors I picked all right?”

Roxie gave him another onceover, then looked at the ice cream containers he was putting into the freezer. “They’re good. Chocolate, I’m kind of meh on, but I like the other two. And if shopping gets you this strung out, I won’t send you again.”

“I’ll take my turn just so long as you don’t expect me to pick up more than a couple of items.”

He slammed the freezer door hard enough to shake the fridge. Why had he said that?

Did he now have run-away-mouth syndrome? He couldn’t go back to that grocery store.

Ever. If he did, he’d be only setting himself up for his own doom. Remember, dummy, you don’t want a mate.

Turning to face Roxie, he found her staring at him with a strange look on her face.

“What did my fridge ever do to you?” she asked.

“It slipped. All right?”

“Whatever you say.”

Before Roxie could say anything more, he said, “I’m going to look for Jager.”

“Why don’t you do that? He’s out in the backyard with Daylen giving her another sword fighting lesson. She may not be able to disarm him with a sword yet, but she used her karate skills and knocked him on his butt. I never get sick of seeing that.”

“Neither do I,” he said as he left the kitchen.

Leif made a short detour to his car to get his sword out of the trunk before he headed to the backyard. When he arrived, instead of sword practice, Jager and Daylen were locked in a passionate embrace, kissing like there was no tomorrow. Usually the sight of them—or one of the other two mated couples that lived in the Protectors’ mansion—

putting on such a display would leave Leif shaking his head. Now it just made him feel downright uncomfortable. It made him wish for things he didn’t want or need.

Walking closer to the couple, he said what he normally said in such a situation.

“Would the two of you go get a room? Is it really necessary for me to see you sucking each other’s lips off? You do anything more, and I’m liable to go blind.”

Jager broke the kiss and moved to stand at Daylen’s side with her tucked under his arm. “What’s the matter, Leif? Jealous?”

“Hardly,” he scoffed. He then lifted his sword. “I came out here to see if you wanted some real competition.”

“Hey,” Daylen said. “I could take offense at that. I may not be as quick with a sword, but I can still kick both of your butts.”