Loribelle Hunt - Once Bitten

She focused on Zach. He just looked…resigned. Her powers were growing, and she thought she knew what he was thinking. He didn't want to fight her, but he figured it was the best way to prove she couldn't handle being paladin. It pissed her off. Okay. Fine. He was stronger and faster than she was. So was Caleb. But Caleb and Zach were supposed be stronger than her.

You couldn't have pack leaders of equal strength with anyone else in the pack. There would be constant war.

Worry crept into Zach's expression and she took advantage of it. Lashing out with her left leg, she caught him in the sternum. He staggered but kept his feet. His eyes were intent and determined when he circled again. This time he attacked first, the punch hitting her back just high of her kidney.

It stung. To that point, she hadn't really felt the hurts of the fight, adrenaline flooding her system like a shield. This one she felt and other dull throbs were beginning to make themselves known. She didn't want the match to continue until she was so worn down that she couldn't fight back. How humiliating would that be? She wasn't about to concede unless she was forced to either. Her pride wouldn't stand for that.

Again she thought of his right knee. Was it his Achilles' heel? She'd half decided to find out when he moved close, so fast she reacted much too late, and he swept her legs out from under her. She fell hard, but his big hand cradled her head as she went down. Her breath left her body in a whoosh, and he pressed her into the hard-packed earth.

“Do you yield?” he asked softly.

It should have bothered her. Should have pissed her off. No one had taken her down in a fight in longer than she could remember. But all she was aware of was his warm breath feathering over her face, his hot eyes boring into hers. The erection pressed against her belly as he held her down. She couldn't answer. Couldn't get her lungs or her vocal cords working right.

She just lay under him, breathing hard, trying to remember what she'd been trying to prove.

“Should we do this the old-fashioned way, kitten?” His knee nudged her legs apart so he was nestled between her thighs. She gasped, suddenly so hot and horny it was an effort to make her brain function.

“I'd prefer not to have an audience,” she whispered.

“You should have gone for my knee. I could see you wanted to.” His voice was just as soft as hers had been, soft enough to not carry to the crowd.

“I…couldn't.”

He sighed. “You can't hesitate, Liza. Ever.”

“I know.” She nodded. He was right. “Could we get up now?”

He just watched her until she huffed. She didn't want to fight him anymore anyway. Her body had…other ideas. “Fine. I yield.” She let her voice carry to the onlookers, and he stood, pulled her to her feet with him.

He traced the scratch down her throat to her collarbone. “I thought I warned you about this.” His grin was slow, full of sin and promise. She fought the urge to press her legs together.

“Mmm. I believe you did,” Caleb whispered behind her, his hands settling on her hips.

People approached and introduced themselves to Zach, but she found it hard to focus on them. It took her several minutes to get a grip on the need raging through her body, to figure out it was their pheromones swamping her with lust. She hissed her displeasure, and Zach shot her a guilty look. They'd done it on purpose to knock her off balance. She was ready to break free of Caleb's grip and stalk off when Jonas walked up. She immediately went on alert, tensing for a fight.

He nodded at her, then Zach, his face and eyes wary. “I forgot how well you handle yourself, Liza.”

Was that supposed to be a compliment? She didn't say a word, just waited him out.

His lips curved in the slightest grin. “I suppose I should thank someone for saving my ass from humiliation.”

“I suppose you should.” She couldn't help the way her lips twitched in response.

He glanced at Zach, but didn't say the words. “I'm going wandering a bit. I'll drop by your office in the morning to fill you in on my patrol area and team.” She nodded. “Okay.”

She stared after him as he left. Her nemesis gone? Just like that?

“What the hell did you say to him?” she asked Zach as they turned towards her house.

“Kitten, you don't really expect me to answer that, do you?” His expression was so pained and guilty she laughed.

“Yes,” she replied, tucking her hand in his back jeans pocket. “I do.”

Chapter Eleven

It was a long time later, lying naked and sweaty between them, that she brought it up once more.

“You can't do that again, Zach.”

He lifted her hand to his mouth and nipped her palm. Heat instantly unfurled in her stomach. She made her voice firm.

“You aren't going to distract me.”

“Liar.”

Damn werewolf senses. She could scent her growing desire. Of course, he could too. Caleb remained still and quiet, and she turned her head to look at him. She didn't have a clue from his expression what he was thinking, but he definitely was.

“What?”

He shrugged. “I already said this is between y'all.” She smiled. She knew him better than anyone. “And it's killing you to stay out of it, isn't it?”

“Maybe.” His lips curled in a teasing half smile. “I'd like to make you quit. I'd like to keep you close where I can always protect you.”

“Exactly,” Zach added, but Caleb glared at him and he didn't continue. Wasn't that interesting?

He went on before she could protest. “But I know that would make you miserable and I know you can take care of yourself.” He reached across her and tapped Zach's chest. “Unlike some people.”

Zach rolled his eyes. And just like that, she felt like a spectator at a tennis match. It would have been funny if they weren't dissecting her life as if she weren't even there.

“Fine. She can fend for herself. The point is she doesn't have to.”

“She does have to. That's who she is.”

“She'll get over it.”

“You wouldn't expect her, or me for that matter, to make you change who you are to make our lives less complicated.”

“You're different,” Zach said darkly. “And you know it.”

“Enough!” She sat up and glared first at Caleb before turning to Zach. “You did not get a tame puppy for a mate. Get over it.”

She took a deep breath and forced herself to wait a few seconds before she said something she'd regret later. “Caleb is right. I wouldn't ask you to change. I need you to accept me as I am.” That he didn't want her as she was hurt as much as thinking Caleb didn't want her because she couldn't shift.

“Oh, kitten, that's not it,” he whispered, pulling her down and wrapping his arms around her. “You're perfect the way you are. I couldn't stand to lose you.”

“And you don't trust me to take care of myself.”

“I trust you,” he said grudgingly. “It's everyone else I don't trust.” She sighed. “I really can take care of myself, you know.” He waited so long she didn't expect him to reply. “I know. But if you ever again hesitate like you did today, I swear I'll spank your pretty ass and you won't be able to sit for two weeks.” His hands slid down her back to grip and knead her butt. She laughed. The threat didn't have the effect he was going for. It sounded more like a promise to her. His responding growl was low and not at all menacing.

He rolled over and pressed her into the mattress, holding her hips still when she wiggled to get free. His erection nudged her sex, and she held her breath, waiting for him to enter her.

“The question is…how much do you trust us, sweetheart?” Caleb drawled.

Oh gods. She knew that tone. She turned her head to meet his gaze and her heart started to race. “What did you have in mind?”