as his eyes darkened. “And, no, this sure as shit wouldn’t stop me.” With his forefinger he touched his broken tooth. “Nothing would.” His voice was nothing but a low resonant rumble, making the situation between my legs even harder to bear. Gods, I’d never ached for anyone else like this.
I swallowed hard and gazed into his beautiful, predatory eyes. “W-what are you talking about?” Now there was nothing I could do to stop the tremor in my voice.
“You were wondering if this would stop me from claiming you,” he said, his voice a low rumble in my ear. I shuffled away a step, heat rushing through me even as my mouth dried out.
He inhaled, his dark eyes gleaming, but he let me move back, a smirk curling his lips. “I can still scent you, Firecracker. And your thoughts definitely went to me claiming you—or doing something equally as sexy.”
I huffed, unwilling to acknowledge the effect he had on me. Drake may have incited my lust, but Connor took my emotions to a whole new level, even my mind betrayed me when he was near. And I didn’t know how to handle what was building between us.
The fighters left the ring. Connor jumped up and stepped through the ropes into the ring. “Join me?”
Was he actually asking me?
He gave me that sexy smile of his, and I hesitated. My eyes narrowed and I bit my lower lip. “Why are you being so nice to me, after yesterday? You have every right to still be angry with me. I...”
Shannon sauntered close. “That’s easy, runt.” She interrupted my apology. “He got laid last night. He was so upset by you joining another pack, he forgot all about you and fucked a brunette, who was, oh, so willing. Careful, once he’s done with what's between your legs, he’ll leave you hanging without a second thought.”
I froze, watching as she winked at Connor and walked off, sashaying around the rings towards where Santa the jerk was fighting with Reed.
Connor’s fury was like a blast of hot air against my skin, but I was too busy trying to sort through my own emotions. I knew he could have whoever he wanted, whenever he wanted. He was hot, fit, and had power in this enclosed world of badass shifters and violence. I tried to tell myself it didn’t matter, that I’d made my choice to join another pack. After all, why would he wait around for me when I’d thrown his protection, and our bond, back in his face? I bit back a groan. Gods, I knew alphas were dominating and protective of their mates. And instead of considering the real reason for his ultimatum, and the protection he’d given me from his brothers, I’d gone right back to being that snarky teenager, and rebelled against him. Damn, I’d been away from shifters too long; Connor didn’t want to control me, he wanted to keep me safe, because I was his mate. My blood boiled and I wanted to kick my own arse for running to Drake. Fuck, it hurt like a bitch to know Connor had been with someone else last night. Even knowing I probably pushed him there.
Determined not to let him see how upset I was, I got into the ring.
Connor’s face was blank, but his eyes were fixed intently on my face. I forced a smile and shrugged. Taking a steadying breath, I continued with my assessment of the prison. “So where were we? Oh yes…” I prowled to the middle of the ring and peered up at Connor’s face. “So the weak are no longer fodder for the psychotic molesters in this place, but there is something else going on that I don’t know much about.” I began to warm up, then looked up from where I’d leaned forward over my straight legs to stretch them.
Connor’s attention was riveted to my movements. I hid my smile. Yeah, he was a man, and just like any other, loved to watch a woman’s body as she moved. And I wasn’t quite the skinny teenager I’d been when he’d last seen me. I spread my legs a bit wider and stretched again, placing my chin on my knee, grinning into my leg when a low growl resounded behind me. He might have gotten a pissed off fuck from some other female, but that just made me want to show him what he was missing.
“Charlie told me women disappear once a month.” I straightened up