Suck It Up (3 page)

“Electrocution. Water therapy. Forcing me to stop shifting for a month. Anything they could think of, really.”

He didn’t stop to think. He slid off his stool and went to her. Forcing her to turn around, he brought her forward until she was encased in his arms. Until he felt her safe against him, her breath against the side of his neck.

“I’m sorry,” he finally said, leaning his cheek against the top of her hair.

She stood still in his embrace. When she finally looked up at him, he saw the moment she spotted the lion in his gaze. She retreated, her back hitting the counter behind her.

He smiled, trying to reassure her. “I’m sorry they hurt you. An Alpha should have never done that to you.”

“He didn’t know any better.”

To see her excuse that pathetic SOB angered him so much his nails lengthened in reaction. “Don’t!” he snapped.

That scared her even more. He could see the tension in the way she held herself, the submissive position she’d unconsciously adopted. She looked down at the floor, and he hated seeing her so cowed. That wasn’t the Kellie he knew! Inhaling deeply, in control once more, he took her chin between soft fingers and nudged her head up.

Her eyes met his for a brief second before they dove back down.

No, no, no. He wouldn’t let her be afraid. Not of him. Never of him.

“Look at me, Kellie.”

She shook her head.

“Please.”

That seemed to do the trick. Slowly, almost as if she thought he’d rescind the order, she looked up. He caught her gaze and held it, showing her his lion, letting her know they’d never hurt her.

She let out a small “Oh.”

He couldn’t help himself. He leaned down and took her mouth, comforting her in the only way he could. She froze for a second, and he thought he’d gone too far too fast. When she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down further, he growled against her mouth. When she opened her lips to his insistent tongue, it was her time to purr in reaction.

She groaned seconds later, and he congratulated himself on a job well done. It didn’t last long. His lion looked up and started pacing inside him, and that’s when he realized her groan had been one of pain. He pushed away and looked down at her. Her eyes were closed, her hands forming fists at her sides. The moment she bit down hard on her lower lip, he knew her lioness was acting up. And it was his fault…

It’s my turn!
Kellie roared inwardly, fighting her animal, wanting her to back the hell off. He’d been kissing her, and it’d felt so good to be held, to feel his lips on hers, his tongue, his hands…

No!
I don’t like him.

I don’t fucking care!
Kellie snapped back.
We had a deal. You had your turn last month, now, it’s mine. And I. Want. Him.

He wants to hurt me!

No, he wants to help us.

I don’t believe you. I don’t trust him.

It’s not your decision, damn it!
When would her lioness understand she was the one in control here, and not her? She was the human here, the one living in this world. Sure, whenever she shifted and let her lioness roam free, the animal could do whatever she wanted. But Kellie was still the one living this fucking life, wasn’t she?

“Kellie?” Palms cupped her cheeks.

She opened her eyes. “Yes?”

“You were talking to her, weren’t you?”

Nodding, she tried to evade his gaze, but he wasn’t making it easy. “I was trying to talk some sense into her.”

“Did it work?”

“No.” She sighed. “She’s got to remember we have a deal though. I mean, really!”

“You made a deal with your lioness?”

Shoot!
“Huh, yes?”

“What kind of deal?”

“Well, you see, we kind of take turns.”

“Take turns? Doing what?”

She eyed him for a moment then blew out a breath. “You’re not going to let it go, are you?”

A quick smile. “Nope.”

“That’s what I thought. Fine. We take turns dating.”

“Meaning what? One time it’s her, another it’s yours?”

“Yes and no. It’s always me. I mean, it’s not like she could date. She’s an animal, remember?”

He rolled his eyes, clearly not amused.

“But yes, it’s the same principle. Last time, she chose our playmate; this time it’s my turn.”

“Woman then man, is that it?”

“Yup.” She averted her gaze this time and nearly succeeded.

“So, you picked me?”

Shit!
She decided to go on the offensive instead. “You’re the one who kissed me!”

“I did,” he replied, his eyes steady. “Do you like having sex with women?”

Breath whooshed out of her. “Do we really have to do this now?”

“You’re the one who asked for my help,” he replied, mimicking her so well she was one second away from sticking her tongue out at him.

“Damn it. Yes. Yes, I guess. It’s even nice sometimes. The women she picks are always the same though: petite, kind…submissive.”

“Interesting,” he mused. “What about when you’re with men?”

“What about it?”

“Do you like it?”

“Yes, of course, I do.” She frowned, wondering what he was on about.

“And, what kind of men do you pick?”

“Oh.” She blinked, thinking back to her last dates. She’d never managed to agree with her lioness on that score. Unwilling to fight anymore, just happy that she could be with a man after all, she’d chosen the ones her animal liked well enough. The men had been…okay. There’d been nothing exceptional about them, not their looks, not their temperaments or the way they were in bed. “Hell.”

“What?” Nate asked straight away.

“They were the same. Damn her! She made me choose them, and they were the same!” Kellie was so angry she could have roared!

“Not a single dominant man, I take it?”

“No!”

“I see. That makes a lot of sense actually. Okay, finish your plate. I want to try something afterwards.” And with that, he sat back down and started eating again as if nothing had happened.

She eyed him warily, but the scent of meat was too strong to ignore. Gulping down the glass of wine he’d poured her, she ignored her animal pacing inside her and focused on the present instead.

She had no idea what Nate had planned, but one thing was clear: she was going to do anything he wanted. No more nice Kellie. She was going to control her lioness or die trying!

Chapter Five

“She doesn’t like me, does she?”

“No,” Kellie muttered, her face nearly mashed against his shirt.

“If she hurts you, let me know, okay?”

She nodded, the movement making her wayward curls brush his lips. The brief caress brought a smile to his face, one that didn’t last long however. The scientist in him had a fleeting idea, one he wanted to explore further, but for that to happen he’d have to push Kellie. And he knew, he just knew, her lioness would retaliate. He hated knowing that what he was going to do would hurt her. Something twisted inside him at the thought, and yet, he had no idea what else to do. Sighing, he leaned back against the sofa and felt her adjust her position.

When he’d asked her to sit on his lap, she’d jerked as if shocked. She’d obeyed him though, making him wonder if she was responding to him as a man or him as an Alpha. Shaking his head, he fought the thoughts away and instead concentrated on the woman sitting astride him.

She faced him with her thighs on either side of him, their apex so close to his erection he knew he’d have to hold onto his control if he wanted this to last. She was aroused; still, again, he didn’t know which. All he could do was smell that intoxicating scent and let it wrap around him, around them… God, but he couldn’t wait to get his hands on her.

He cleared his throat and slid his hands up so they rested on her shoulders. She still didn’t look up, her breathing a bit more rapid against his chest. He let his palms drift down then up again. It wasn’t much of a caress; after all, she was still dressed, and it was just his hands on her arms. But her back arched a second later, a growl escaping her.

“Don’t let her hurt you,” he reminded Kellie, stopping his movements for an instant. “Focus on me instead. Ignore whatever she’s doing to you, saying to you. Focus on me and only me. Okay?”

She nodded and leaned further into him. Her breasts pressed against his chest, his control fraying a little at the unintentional caress. She felt so damn good. He breathed out and fought his instinctive urge to claim her. It wasn’t her fault he hadn’t had sex in weeks. He probably hadn’t gone so long without since puberty.

Moving back into his home Pride had been a bit of a shock to the system. He’d gotten used to having no one to answer to in the city, but here, between his father and his brothers, everyone else who knew him… Hell, he had no idea how he’d have a sex life.

He didn’t want the women to think that now that he was back and had taken over the town’s practice, he would be on the lookout for a mate. Especially now that Jay was mated, making Nate next on the list. It wasn’t as if anyone thought Andy would ever marry. After all, as the Pride’s Enforcer, he wasn’t the best prospect even if he was one of the Alpha’s sons.

Shit, why am I thinking of this now?
Focusing on the lovely woman in his arms once more, Nathan decided to switch it up a bit. Letting his hands fall from her arms, he grabbed her hips and squeezed. She rocked back against him, and he nearly saw stars.

“Fuck,” he mumbled between gritted teeth. His cock fought with his jeans, and neither was winning. The buttons dug into his skin, and he cursed himself inwardly for having foregone boxers. It hurt!

“Are you okay?” Kellie asked, her eyes finding his.

“I’m fine. How are you?”

“It hurts.”

“I know.” No, hold on. She hadn’t been talking about him or his erection! “She’s hurting you?”

“Ye-yes.” Her eyes half-closed, she clasped her hands on his forearms. “What next?”

“Huh…”
Think, Franks! Think!

“Nate?”

“What is she doing?” he finally asked, his brain scrambling to get back on track.

“Raking her nails, the usual. Can I kiss you?”

He blinked. “What?”

“Can I kiss you?” she asked, just before she leveled herself up so she was on her knees. Her face was closer like this. Her lips, too.

He watched as she licked them, preparing herself for his kiss maybe. Or maybe she was anxious. Who knew? “Are you sure? I don’t want you to get too hurt.”

“I need to do this. We need to get past it, right?”

“Right.” That made sense. Before he could contemplate it further, she leaned up just as he was lowering his head. Their mouths met and clung, their tongues coming out to play almost immediately. Her fingernails dug into his biceps, and she moaned, the sound full of longing and passion this time.

Pleased with himself, Nate let his hands travel from her hips to her ass. He cupped her through her scrubs, the cotton not thick enough to hide what she wore underneath them. It had to be thong panties or nothing at all, he mused inwardly. He squeezed her cheeks, one in each hand, and would have happily kept on doing that for the rest of the evening had she not reared back suddenly…and fallen to the floor with a gasp.

“Kellie!”

Her mind went dark.

She moved onto her side and curled into a little ball, forcing her body smaller and smaller, hoping it would make the pain littler and littler. But it didn’t. Her lioness kept on tormenting her, angry that Kellie had chosen a man her animal couldn’t stand, angry that she was trying to control her.

Because that was the issue here and something Kellie should have realized a long time ago. The lioness wanted to be in control. That was why everyone they’d ever had a relationship with had been further down on the food chain. She wanted to be Alpha, even if she wasn’t.
She’s crazy; that’s what she is
, Kellie thought just as nails pierced her insides. She screamed, her body becoming burning hot.

“Shhh. I’ve got you, baby. I’ve got you.” Hands forced her to lie on her back, a heavy weight pressing her into the floor.

“No!”

“Shhh. Let me do this. I can help. Open yourself to me,” the man whispered in her ear.

He was lying on her. That’s what the weight was; his body, so big and masculine. She felt herself relax but then the pain started again.

“Give it to me, Kellie. Come on!”

She had no idea what he was talking about.
Give what to him? Who is he?
His scent wrapped around her, and she remembered him then. Nate. Nathan. Dr. McDreamy. He’d said he would help her, hadn’t he?

“I…I can’t,” she mumbled. “Make it stop! Please, make it stop.”