Mating Brand: 3 (Mating Heat)

Laurann Dohner

Book 3 in the Mating Heat
series.

Brand meets his dream girl in
college—a half-human, half-leopard shapeshifter who cannot shift. Werewolves
and cats are natural enemies but the power of their sexual chemistry overwhelms
them. She steals his heart and makes him whole. When she abandons him it
fractures his world and he knows no woman can ever take her place. Though many
seek his attention, he is cold and unattainable.

The love they share is soul deep
but the fate of Charma’s family lies in her hands. The memory of every heated
touch they share will cut out both their hearts when she leaves him but to save
them all, she must run. After nine years of desolation and heartbreak Charma is
back. She risks forfeiting her life to warn Brand of an impending attack but
she doesn’t hesitate. Brand has her in his arms once more and he will never lose
her again.

A Romantica®
twilight erotic romance
from Ellora’s
Cave

Dedication

To my hero—MrLaurann. Thank you for all your love and
support. I couldn’t do what I do without you.

The past

Hot, slick skin drew her mouth to his flat belly. The sheets
had been kicked off. The window air conditioner droned softly from the other
room but it wasn’t a match for the sweltering heat of an early Texas summer.
Charma licked a bead of sweat just under Brand’s bellybutton. She loved his
taste, his scent—everything about him. He instantly responded. His cock
stiffened, lengthened and proudly rose to full mast as a soft moan rumbled from
his broad chest. She grinned and kissed the curve of his hip. His large hand
fumbled for her hair, missed, and gripped her bare shoulder.

“Good morning,” he rasped.

“Not quite but it’s getting there.” She lifted a little,
gauged how awake he was, and opened her mouth again. Her tongue traced the
underside of his shaft, making his cock twitch.

He raised his head to stare at her with passion-filled eyes.
Their soft brown depths appeared more golden than chestnut when he woke. His
nose flared and his body tensed. “You’re going into heat.”

She nodded, purposely breathing warm air on his sex as she
spoke. “I know. I realized it when I woke. Should I take the pills? I need to
start them right away to mute and control it, otherwise it’s going to hit me
full force in a matter of hours.”

“Don’t take them. We’ll call in sick for the next few days.”
His hand caressed her shoulder. “I survived last month.” His full, generous
mouth curved into a grin. “I’m up for it.”

She glanced down at the impressive evidence right in front
of her mouth. “You certainly are.”

He sat up. “Come here.”

“I’m good where I am.”

“You’re better than good but I also remember how aggressive
you get.” He chuckled. “And while I’m tough, I don’t want your fangs giving me
any accidental piercings.”

“I won’t bite.”

“Hon, it’s the only time of the month you grow fangs. I love
you but I’m not risking it. I wouldn’t be much good to you packed in ice until
I heal tomorrow.”

Charma pouted. “I want to taste you.”

“Trust me. I’d love that too but you aren’t really in
control right now. Want me to show you the scars on my shoulder from last
month?”

“I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay. It’s not a complaint. Stop apologizing. I like
wearing your marks.”

She sat up. “You could put a scar on me and I’d feel better.”

Brand lunged, took her down flat on her back and pinned her
under him. “It was an accident. You didn’t mean to bite into me and I’d never
mar your beautiful skin.”

Her mood darkened. “I know.”

“Hey.” He adjusted over her until their noses touched and
stared into her eyes. “You’re the one who won’t mate with me. I want you to.
That’s the only way I’ll ever sink my teeth into you.”

She turned her head away to study the wall. Tears threatened
to spill but she managed to blink most of them back. “You know I can’t.”

She could smell their pain as it filled the room, mingled,
until she couldn’t detect which one of them scented of it more strongly. Brand
suddenly rolled away and climbed off their bed. He stormed toward the door.

“Take your pills.”

“You’re going to punish me?”

He stopped. She could stare at his big sexy body all day. He
didn’t turn to look at her. “It’s getting harder for me not to mate you. I
think it’s best if you take them to manage your heat. You’d hate me if I lost
control.” He left the room.

She lay there staring at the empty doorway long after she
heard the shower come on. The urge to join him made her ache. It wasn’t just
because her body throbbed for sex or that hormones now raged inside her. She
loved Brand with all her heart and wanted nothing more than to mate with him.
She just knew it could never happen.

Memories of four months ago filled her mind…

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

She was sitting in class listening to the history professor
drone on and she barely heard the door open to admit someone who’d arrived
late. She’d been tapping her thigh lightly with her thumb, trying to pay
attention, but boredom had taken hold. A scent filled her nose, nearly sending
her into a panic.

She jerked her head to stare across the room at the really
large, tall, black-haired male who took a seat. He didn’t so much sit as plop
down in an indolent sprawl. He had to be six foot four and about two hundred
forty pounds. Most would assume from his beefy, muscular body that he belonged
on the college football team. Charma knew better. The distinctive smell of
werewolf assured her of the danger he posed.

It was clear the second he caught her scent. Instantly
alert, he sat up straight. His head snapped in her direction and his dark gaze
focused on her. Her fingers dug into her jeans as terror gripped her. The only
thing that kept her from bolting out of her seat to run for her life was fifty
students and the boring professor who were witnesses. He’d never attack her in
front of humans. She was safer to remain still.

He frowned but then did the unexpected. He lifted a hand and
gave her a small wave. She gaped at him until a slow grin spread across his
handsome face. Those soft brown eyes didn’t flash a warning of impending
attack. He winked instead before looking away to ignore her for the rest of the
class.

Charma lingered inside the classroom after it ended, afraid
to go outside in case he waited to drag her somewhere remote. There were plenty
of places on the large Texas campus where no one would witness her death.
Filled with dread, she headed for the door, knowing she couldn’t hide there any
longer.

He stood outside, as she’d feared. She stiffened, her heart
pounded hard enough to cause pain and she trembled. She knew she had no chance
of surviving when he attacked.

“Calm down. I’m no threat.” He frowned. “Damn, you’re
terrified. There’s no reason to be.”

She didn’t believe him. They were natural enemies.

“I came to college to learn.” His voice was pleasant, husky.
“You know—meet new people, experience new things. You’re the only person I’ve
run into who is…” He paused and glanced around, before meeting her gaze again. “Special.”

She couldn’t find her voice. It had to be a trap. He wanted
to play with her, maybe lure her into a false sense of security and then strike
for the fun of seeing the shock on her features before her death.

“I think we should leave bullshit family politics at home
where they belong, don’t you? We’re just two college students right now. I
swear I’m not going to hurt you.” He drew in a deep breath through his nose. “Are
you a panther?”

She still couldn’t talk around the lump balled inside her
throat. She shook her head instead. Her books felt extremely heavy clutched in
front of her chest to shield her heart if he decided to suddenly claw it out.

“I’m not familiar with your scent.”

She cleared her throat. It took long seconds to work up the
nerve to speak as she fought her instincts to flee. “I’m half human, half
spotted leopard.”

He grinned. “Really? I bet you’re pretty when you shift. I
mean,” his smile faded, “you’re pretty as a human but…you know what I mean.”

“I can’t shift.” She wanted to kick herself for admitting
that but her brain refused to work right. Terror made her blurt stupid things.

“Too human?”

“Please don’t hurt me. I’ll leave. I’ll go to my dorm and
can be gone in less than an hour. I don’t own much so it won’t take me long to
pack.”

“Aw, damn.” His voice turned gruff. “Don’t do that. What can
I say or do to assure you that I’m no threat? I just waited around to make that
clear and, um, I kind of hoped I could buy you coffee.”

She gawked at him again.

“I’m used to being with a pack.” A sheepish look crossed his
features and he sighed, meeting her gaze again. “I’m lonely. We’re surrounded
by humans and I miss talking without always having to watch what I say. I was
hoping we could hang out. I found a great spot where humans don’t go. I guess
if you can’t shift you wouldn’t want to go running with me though.”

He looked sincere and it stunned her. “I love to run anyway.”

His expression brightened. “That’s great. We could go
together. Hell, I’m always worried about someone spotting me and calling animal
control. They’d just think you were a woman out jogging with your big dog if
you were with me.” He laughed. “A really big dog that resembles a wolf but most
humans mistake me for a German Shepherd from a distance.”

Charma started to relax. He wasn’t growling at her or making
threats. She still breathed. All those things surprised her. “I haven’t run
into any other shifters.”

“Most of us don’t seem to go to college.”

“True.”

“I’m the only one in the history of my family. What about
you?”

“The same.”

“I really didn’t mean to scare you. May I buy you coffee or
dinner to make up for it? We should stick together. I bet you miss your pride.”

She didn’t dispute his assumption, though she disagreed. “You
seriously want to spend time with me?”

“Yes.” He moved slowly. “Those books look heavy. You’re such
a little thing. Allow me.”

She didn’t want to release them but she didn’t have a choice
when he gently pried them from her desperate hold. He watched her from his
towering height.

“See? It’s okay. I’m tame. Think of me as a big puppy.”

He has to be kidding.
The guy was a werewolf, one of
the most feared shifter breeds ever born, and the enemy. He offered her his arm
next.

“It’s okay. I’m Brand Harris. What’s your name?”

“Ch-Charma Heller.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Charma. There’s a cafe around the
corner. Lots of humans will be there if that makes you feel safer. It’s okay.”
He held her gaze. “Really. I’m just lonely and thrilled to find someone else
special I can talk to. I’d never hurt you.”

“But we’re natural enemies,” she blurted, still not taking
his arm.

“Says our parents.” He made a point of peering around them. “I
don’t see them. Do you?” He flashed a friendly grin that once again made her
notice his good looks. “I won’t tell if you don’t.”

Indecision nagged at her but she reached for his arm. Her
fingertips brushed warm, firm, tan skin. He didn’t snarl or jerk away. She
curled her fingers around his forearm as they walked together.

“It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it? I just arrived here after
transferring from another school. It didn’t work out there. I’m afraid a wolf
running around California didn’t go over well. I knew I had to take off when
they started to pass out flyers to warn the students of a wild wolf.”

A laugh escaped her. “Really?”

He actually blushed, his cheeks turning a rosy hue. “I
messed up. Man, was my uncle pissed. How long have you been here?”

“This is my second year.”

“What’s your major?”

“I want to be a veterinarian.”

He nodded. “I’m going for a business degree. So you got
stuck with history too. Is that guy always so boring?”

“It was a required class, and yes, I’m afraid so. I play
music inside my head just to stay awake.” She completely relaxed…

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Brand pulled her back to the present when he stepped into
the bedroom with a towel slung low around his hips. He regarded Charma. “Did
you take your pills?”

She crawled off the bed. “I’ll do it now.” She tried to pass
him but his hand shot out to curl around her upper arm. She refused to look at
him.

“I love you and I know you love me too. I don’t care how our
families will react. I want to spend my life with you. I thought we started one
together when we moved out of the dorms and rented this house. We’re happy when
we’re not stressed about our future.”

Charma turned her head to peer up at him. “I told you. My
family made a bargain with the pride leader. I’m promised as mate to someone
else and they paid for college in exchange.”

“I’ll pay back every dime. My family has money.”

“It’s not that. It’s about a promise.”

“Paying for college wasn’t worth signing your life over to
someone else.” Anger deepened his voice into a snarl. “You don’t want that
jerk. You love me.”

“I do.” She turned into him, pressed her nose against his
chest and inhaled his wonderful scent. “I love you so much.” Her hot tears
mingled with the chilled water droplets that remained on his skin from his cold
shower. “I didn’t have a choice. I would have been ordered to mate whomever the
pride leader chose. But this way I was able to postpone it and get an education
first. He allowed it because they need a vet.”

Brand released her arm to pull her tighter against him. “Hon,
we can work this out somehow. I’ll never let you go. We are mates already, even
if we haven’t cemented the bond yet.”

She wished with her entire soul for that to be true. Fate
had been cruel to her family. Brand didn’t understand pride politics or the
consequences if she didn’t mate with Garrett Alter. She couldn’t explain
either. She was too afraid Brand would do something really insane to keep her.
It would get him killed.

“Don’t take the pills. Not even the ones to prevent
pregnancy.”

Her gaze shot up to lock with his. “You know I have to.”

“Would it be so bad to have a baby with me?”

It would destroy her family. “It’s probably not even
possible. I’ve never heard of it happening. We’re too different.”

“Your human half could change that. We won’t know unless we
try.”

“I just can’t.” Her voice broke and she pressed her face
against his chest again, unable to witness the pained expression that twisted
his features. “I do love you. Know that. No matter what happens in the future,
you’re the only man who will ever truly own me.”

He snarled and suddenly jerked away. “Don’t tell me that and
then say I can’t have you in the next breath. I need to go for a run.” He spun,
tore off his towel and stormed out of the room.