Loribelle Hunt - Once Bitten

Idiot. She'd only used a short asp last time because she'd been trying to head off future problems by allowing him to save face, to let him believe she'd defeated him with help.

“I don't need any. But you'll need a body bag if you don't withdraw.” She shook her head in mock concern. “After I make you yield, and you will yield, the incoming beta has a right to challenge you. And he'll win.”

“I don't think so.” He clearly thought he had the advantage. “Let me know when and where.” He left with Baker following him. Her two remaining soldiers stood and approached.

“You want me to make the arrangements?”

“Yes. Tomorrow afternoon. Let's get this over with.” They left. She could feel the outrage pouring from both Caleb and Zach, but waited to speak until she heard the front door close. Zach let her pull free, and she went to perch on the edge of Grant's desk.

“This is the way things are,” she said to them before either could find his voice.

“No fucking way.” It was Zach who spoke, anger and concern and dominance thickening his voice.

She sighed and turned her gaze to Caleb. His conflict was easy to read. “Tell him,” she said softly. His snarl filled the room, and he paced before responding.

“She can do it,” he finally told Zach, who looked completely incredulous.

“She's human.”

“She's a little more than that,” her father said softly, and she turned to find him sitting in the ugly green chair he'd claimed for his own years ago, one leg crossed over his knee and a mischievous grin on his face. Something in his tone got everyone's attention. When the room focused on him, he continued. “She's a latent werewolf and a witch who's come into her full power, right, baby girl?”

How did he know? She nodded. “So it would seem.”

Instead of responding to her, Henry turned to Zach. “Which means, as good a fighter as she was before, she'll be better now. Faster. Stronger. Smarter.” Caleb cocked his head to one side and looked her over. “Is that true?” She didn't really know, but it felt right. “Yeah. I think so.”

Zach shook his head. “That's not good enough.”

“Well, we'll find out tomorrow, won't we?” she snapped.

His eyes turned hot and carnal. Promised to follow through. “Watch it, kitten. I'm your mate, not one of your soldiers.”

If her father and alpha weren't sitting in the room, she'd have ripped her clothes off and offered herself to him. And he knew it too, the big jerk. His nostrils flared and he strode toward her. She skipped out of way just in time.

“That can wait,” she said forcefully.

“The longer you put me off, the worse it's going to be for you, kitten.” His smile was all kinds of devilish promise and hit her like a punch in the gut. Dear gods. What had she got herself into? She ground her molars together to keep from biting back at him, from goading him into action.

“I think we can deal with the details in the morning,” Grant said, rising to his feet, dismissal clear. “Caleb's place isn't exactly habitable right now, Liza.” She nodded. No one had touched the place since he'd left five years ago. “Mine's fine.” She caught her father's scowl. “Pretty isolated though.” She smiled and didn't even try to hide her dry amusement. “I think I'll be fine.” He snorted. “Maybe I was more concerned for their safety. All alone with you in the woods.”

Caleb laughed and Zach choked while her dad kissed her on the cheek. “See you tomorrow.”

It wasn't until they were inside her small house that she really focused on Zach again. None of them had bothered to stop for dinner, and he prowled the front room while she put together some sandwiches. She put them on a plate on the kitchen table and, leaning against the counter with hers, waited for the explosion. When he finally spoke, it wasn't to her.

“You can't seriously be planning on letting her go through with this. It's crazy.” He shoved a hand through his hair. “She's human .”

She swallowed her last bite and took a long drink of water. “Does he need a demonstration?” she asked Caleb.

He shook his head. “No. We can't risk you getting hurt before tomorrow.”

“Can't risk?” Zach sputtered. “We're not going to risk her at all!” That did it. His attention was focused on the wrong person. She stalked across the room and poked him in the chest with her finger. “You listen, you big oaf. I am not paladin because the alpha likes me. I fought my way into this job the same way it's done in every other pack.” She got his attention all right, but it was more than she bargained for. His hand was on the back of her neck, yanking her to him, before she could dodge. Shit, he was as fast as Caleb.

“One scratch, kitten,” he whispered, lips scant millimeters from hers, “and I promise you won't be able to sit for a week.”

It wasn't much in the way of acceptance, but it was a start. Her exhalation was pure relief, but her pride wouldn't allow her to not push back. “I can't guarantee that.”

“That doesn't change anything, kitten.”

His voice rumbled against her chest, turned her nipples hard and throbbing, brought her body screaming to life. She rubbed against him without responding. What could she say even if her voice was working?

“She's got a tough day tomorrow. I think she should get some rest,” Caleb said to Zach, but when she turned to look at him, she felt anything but tired. His grin was wicked. “Or maybe she's too keyed up to sleep. We should help her relax.”

“Definitely.”

Caleb led the way down the short hall to her bedroom and Zach followed her. He closed the door behind him. Caleb looked around. “Where do you keep your toys, baby?” Sucking in a deep breath, she felt a hot blush spread up her neck to her face. “What toys?” He cocked en eyebrow, his expression saying she damned well knew what toys he meant.

“Where, Liza?”

“Bottom drawer.”

She mentally reviewed everything in it and groaned. Mortified, she sank on to the edge of the bed as Caleb and Zach, with their backs to her, opened the drawer and started lining its contents across the top of the dresser.

Grinning, Caleb looked over his shoulder at her. “You got kinky while I was gone, baby. I like it.”

Zach laughed. “Now that is an understatement. You should get naked, kitten,” he said when his hot gaze met hers.

Her stomach clenched in knots, but she did as he said. She carried her clothes to the hamper in the bathroom. When she returned to the bedroom, Zach was waiting for her with restraints. She trembled, but it was with anticipation not fear. His smile was small and tight as he nudged her to the bed. He put on the soft leather wrist cuffs, then moved to her ankles. After positioning her on her back in the center of the bed, he secured her to the posts, limb by limb.

He sat back on heels and looked her over. “Worried?”

“A little.” She bit her lip when his hand stroked up the inside of her leg. He paused over her pussy until she looked up at him, then slowly pushed a finger inside. She was wet already.

With a smile, he lifted the finger to his mouth and sucked it.

“A little worried, but a lot turned on, kitten.”

Instead of returning to her, he stood up and joined Caleb looking over her toys.

“What do you want to start with?” Caleb asked.

“How about this?”

“Do I get a vote?” They both ignored her. She craned her neck to see what Zach suggested, but couldn't.

Caleb chuckled. “Nice. Or this one?”

She heard a buzz and wondered which vibrator they were thinking about torturing her with.

Zach picked up a flogger and it swished when he flicked his wrist.

“That'll have to wait until after the challenge.” He turned to give her a hard look. “Of course if she gets herself hurt I'll have to wait until she heals to punish her.” She got wetter. Hell, she might get a scratch on purpose with that promise. Zach didn't miss her arousal. His eyes lit with heat. “When was the last time someone flogged you, kitten?