Pack Alpha (6 page)

“No, you don’t need a reminder, do you? You remember just fine,” he said softly. Then, with his gaze holding hers, he entered her slowly.

Marissa thrust her hips up, taking him completely. “More.” If they were going to be damned she might as well enjoy every second of it.

“Yes, more.” Gage kept his pace slow and deep. Releasing her hands, he cupped her hips to hold them, not allowing her to set the pace.

“More. More.” Marissa kept her hands pressed against the dirt like she knew he wanted.

Almost pulling completely out before slamming back in, he gave her what she needed. “This isn’t something you can just ignore, Marissa.”

“Just…protecting…you…” She spoke between pants as he picked up speed.

Gage raised her legs over his shoulders, taking him deeper with the next thrust. “I’m…the…Alpha.” He gritted his teeth.

Her muscles gripped and massaged him each time he entered her. She was so wet, allowing him to easily pump in and out. His cock was thick and filled her with every wonderful thrust. It was almost as if her body had been made for him. Marissa knew that wasn’t true, but oh how she wished it was.

As Gage slammed into her harder, Marissa cried out. Her climax came quick and fast, making her arch, taking him in farther. She milked him with her body until he was releasing inside her. Gage shook as his seed poured into her.

She basked in the feel of his claiming. It didn’t mean what she secretly craved. Gage would never call her his but for the moment she could pretend.

It was a good thing she was on birth control. Things had happened so fast with Gage. Unexpected and wonderful things, but they hadn’t spoken about protection. Marissa couldn’t carry or pass on human diseases. That was one shifter gene she did carry but pregnancy would be a huge issue. An Alpha having a baby with a non-shifter? They’d both be killed.

Gage was still inside her with his arms braced to keep his full weight from crushing her. He didn’t seem to be thinking about anything at all.

It worried her that Gage would be so reckless.

His Pack needed him to stay strong and lead them. By being with her he wasn’t just putting himself in danger but all of them.

When he started to nuzzle her neck, she closed her eyes and sighed. She’d just managed to complicate things beyond what she would be able to control. She had to think of some way to save them all.

Chapter Four

“Marissa…” Gage didn’t know what to say to express his feelings. To tell her that she was his. It was too soon but he knew it, his wolf agreed, and fate had brought the two of them together. She would fight him, but he would never let her go.

He could offer her so much if she’d just accept him. There was a reason he was the Alpha of the largest Pack in Texas. He was strong and could protect those who trusted him with their lives. Marissa would be included in that group.

Reaching up, she cupped his cheek.

His heart twisted in happiness at her intimate gesture.

“I’m not trying to be difficult here, but by being with me…” she started.

Gage caught a familiar scent and stiffened as his head snapped up. Now was not the time for visitors.

“What?” Marissa pushed at his chest.

Standing, Gage pulled Marissa up with him. “Someone’s coming.” He didn’t know how in tune she was with her senses but she should be aware someone was walking up on them. Maybe she didn’t have enhanced hearing?

“Who?” She went in search for her clothes once again. Her shirt was right beside where she’d been lying. She blushed as she picked it up.

After what they’d done he didn’t know why she’d be embarrassed but it was endearing. Shifters were used to seeing one another without clothing and although she didn’t change herself she’d still been born in a Pack.

“I know who it is and they are deliberately making enough noise so we hear them.”

“So they know we’re here?”

Turning around, Gage smiled at her reassuringly before he kissed her forehead. She was worried and he wanted to assure her that everything would be okay but he doubted she would believe him. Damn it, a little more time and he would have been able to convince her that she should go back to the main house with him. “Your shorts are tangled in the tree root.”

He watched as she pulled her shorts and shirt on quickly. She peeked over at him, and he didn’t miss the look of hunger in her eyes. Then she glanced toward his clothes in a silent message. Gage wasn’t in any hurry to put them back on and wished she hadn’t been either. It wasn’t like the Pack hadn’t seen him naked before. They did shift and go on runs together.

“Gage.”

“You have a great body.”

“Gage. Someone is coming,” she whispered with a look of horror on her face.

“They’re already here.” Turning, he faced his second in command.

Logan kept his eyes down and his smile hidden as he faced his Alpha. Gage saw it but hoped Marissa remained out of view. He didn’t want the teasing that Logan would give him to make her uncomfortable.

Now thinking more clearly, Gage was glad Marissa had covered herself up. He didn’t want anyone else to see her.

“Alpha,” Logan greeted, dipping his head respectfully. Gage knew it was more for Marissa than him.

He crossed his arms over his chest. “Logan.”

Marissa had moved behind him even though she had pulled her clothes on.

“I…uh… Elizabeth came home to have lunch with her sister and got worried when she wasn’t in the house. She called up to the main house so I came over…to…uh.”

“Oh, God.” Marissa dropped her forehead onto Gage’s back.

Gage saw Logan unsuccessfully try to smother a laugh. “We’ll be right up.”

Nodding, Logan started to back off.

“Take the short way,” Gage ordered.

Logan had obviously circled around so he could make sure they heard him. If he’d come straight from Elizabeth’s there would have been a good chance of him running right into them. He appreciated his friend’s compassion for Marissa.

Marissa kept her face hidden in Gage’s back until Logan passed. “Oh, God.”

“Relax.” Stepping away, Gage bent down and grabbed his jeans. “We’re adults.”

Her face was red and she kept her gaze on the ground. “I am so sorry. I didn’t know she was coming home,” she mumbled, but he heard her clearly.

Gage shrugged into what was left of his shirt. “Wouldn’t have mattered. Once I saw you standing at the edge of the trees, I would have had you anyway.”

She didn’t respond to his announcement but turned away. “Have you seen my panties and bra?”

Recognizing the change in subject, Gage decided to let it go for now. “Bra’s by the tree, although I believe it’s toast.”

Marissa picked it up. “Panties?”

Gage pulled them out of his pocket. “They were under my pants.”

Marissa held her hand out.

Gage just smiled at her and stuffed them back in his pocket.

“Gage.”

“Come on.” He reached out for her hand and tugged her toward the house.

“Gage, give them to me.”

“No.”

“Why do you want them? Some kind of trophy?”

Laughing, he continued to tow her. “Whatever you want to think, Marissa.” He couldn’t very well tell her that they smelled like her and he planned to carry them with him at all times he was away from her. That might make her freak out even more than she already was.

“Just don’t see why you’d want to keep them,” she complained but didn’t say anything else.

He grabbed her hand then hauled her after him. They would straighten all of this out then hopefully he could talk Marissa into having a quiet dinner with him later. He knew she needed to spend time with her sister but Gage didn’t want to be away from her for long. And he always got what he wanted.

It would be a point of pride for him to show her around the Alpha house and introduce her to his Pack. Marissa would make a great partner for him and her strength would benefit the Pack.

Gage could already picture her fitting right in.

They were close, the entire Pack. Ever since his dad had left them in his care, Gage had made sure to be a good and fair Alpha. His dad had led them for so long that any change in leadership would have been difficult, but Gage felt like the transition had been smooth.

His father now sat on the Wolf Council that ruled over all wolf shifters in the United States. Gage was so proud of him and hoped that he’d be able to come down soon to meet Marissa.

She was quiet on the short walk back to Elizabeth’s. Gage knew she was embarrassed but as a shifter she really should have been used to being exposed to outdoor sex. It was natural for what they were.

Walking into the house, Marissa felt a new wave of embarrassment. Not only was her sister there but also the man from the woods and Elizabeth’s mate. Marissa tried to pull her hand away, but Gage tightened his grip.

“Marissa, I was worried when you weren’t in the house and didn’t leave a note. I’m sorry I…”

Again Marissa attempted to pull her hand away but couldn’t. “It’s okay, Elizabeth,” she aimed to assure her sister.

How could she explain to her sister in a room full of strangers that the mistake was her own? She didn’t want Elizabeth blaming herself. Marissa was the one to mess everything up. All she had to do was control herself and she couldn’t even do that. Two days and she was already breaking laws.

“No. I shouldn’t have called up to the main house…”

“Elizabeth, it’s fine.” Marissa waved a hand—unfortunately, it was the hand still holding her torn bra.

Elizabeth gasped as Logan and Greg laughed out loud. Marissa wished the floor would just open up and swallow her. Would the embarrassment never end?

Whipping her hand behind her back, Marissa pulled on the other one, and Gage finally released her. When she would have run upstairs, he put a firm arm around her waist and held her in place.

But instead of making excuses about what had obviously happened, Gage just hugged her tight against him. Knowing he needed a way out, she tried to come up with anything she could to get rid of him.

“I need to take a shower,” Marissa said to no one in particular. She was surprised when Gage smiled down at her and turned to the others. He knew what she was doing. It was obvious by the look on his face. Why he wasn’t freaking out Marissa didn’t know. Maybe since he was the Alpha he didn’t feel like he needed to follow the rules? That didn’t seem like the man she’d gotten to know but, really, she didn’t know him at all. Sure, he was kind and compassionate as well as being a great lover, but that didn’t tell her anything about how he ran his Pack.

“Gentlemen, why don’t we leave the ladies to clean up and have lunch?”

Marissa was grateful he wasn’t fighting her on this. If she could get a few minutes to think it would all be okay.

She was beyond relieved when everyone agreed and the men headed for the door.

“I will see you later tonight, Marissa,” he whispered in her ear before releasing her and walking away. “We’ll have dinner at my house.” No, they wouldn’t, but Marissa wasn’t about to argue in front of everyone else.

Marissa waited for the front door to close before lifting her head. Her sister stood with her arms crossed over her chest and a look of disapproval written all over her face.

“Don’t,” she warned Elizabeth.

“You didn’t learn the first time?” Elizabeth asked, concern evident in her tone and in the softening of her expression.

“It was an accident.”

“An accident?” her sister repeated with no amusement. “Tell me, just how do you accidentally get naked and have sex with the Pack Alpha?”

“How do you know I had sex with him?”

Elizabeth just lifted a brow.

“Okay, fine, I had sex with him.” Marissa started to walk out of the room.

“Why?” Elizabeth asked, following.

“It’s not like I planned it.” She couldn’t explain it to Elizabeth until she was able to explain it to herself.

“Marissa, he is my Alpha.” Elizabeth’s voice rose, and it reminded Marissa of when they were kids and Marissa had once again gotten herself in some sort of trouble. Guilt replaced everything else she had been feeling.

“I know.”

“I can’t believe you did this.”

The disappointment she heard doubled the guilt Marissa already felt. Reaching the guestroom, she pushed the door open. “You know, he did have a say in the matter.”

“Yes, he did.” Elizabeth sighed. “I’m sorry, but you know what happened last time. This is my Pack, and that is my Alpha. I won’t let you ruin this for me.”

That hurt. She knew Elizabeth had every reason to be angry but why was it always what Marissa wanted that caused trouble? When Marissa turned, her eyes filled with tears. “I didn’t mean to ruin anything.”

Elizabeth’s sigh was audible. “You know that male wolves for some reason think they are above the law. I’m sure Gage wasn’t thinking about it at the time, but you should have been.”

Marissa
knew
she should have. “I’m sure he thought he would be able to keep it quiet. Brandon always told me not to tell anyone about us and I’m sure that’s what Gage will tell me later.”

“If this got out…” Elizabeth took a step back and had tears in her eyes.

Marissa shouldn’t have come. She’d just turned the best time of Elizabeth’s life into a horrible situation.

“I’m sorry, Elizabeth.” Marissa couldn’t be any sorrier for her actions. Once again, she would be responsible for them losing everything.

“I know.” Elizabeth reached out and pulled her close.

Marissa dropped her head onto her sister’s shoulder while they hugged. At least she still had her family.

“It’s not fair,” Elizabeth said then drew back. “But we know how life isn’t fair. I shouldn’t have asked you to come. It was selfish of me.”

“No,” Marissa assured her. “My fault.”

Her sister sent her a sad smile. “Maybe it would be best if you left. Tonight.”

“Okay.” Turning toward the bathroom, Marissa felt the first tear fall. It
would
be best. For everyone concerned.

The bathroom was small but Marissa liked it. Not too much room. She slid down against the wall and let her tears fall freely.