Charity Received (16 page)

“I can’t hold it, chérie. I’m going to come.” His fingers tensed, his mind wanting to give her the chance to pull away while his body wanted to thrust deep and force her to consume every drop. Charity dug her fingers into his ass, her lips tightening around him, and as Kash uttered a harsh cry, semen pulsed from the tip. She swallowed repeatedly around the head of his dick, drawing the pleasure out until Kash had nothing left to give her. Then with one last swirl of her tongue, she released him, and he sank to his knees, pulling her into his arms.

Kash could feel her satisfaction as he tried to regain his breath. Charity had managed to bring him to his knees—both literally and figuratively. As she brushed her finger lightly across the mark on his neck, a surge of lust shuddered through him, and his dick started to harden again. Though only a fraction of what he’d felt earlier, after his recent orgasm, he shouldn’t have been able to rise to the occasion.

“Damn it. Charity, what was that?” She just gave a little shrug, and as Kash forced her to meet his eyes, he sensed her fear.

“It’s a mating mark,” she finally answered.

“I got that. Why does the back of my head practically explode every time you touch it?”

Tears gathered in her eyes. “I didn’t know that happened with males, or I wouldn’t have bitten you.”

She tried to scramble away from him, but Kash wasn’t about to release her. He pinned her to the floor, forcing her frame under his, and once she’d finally stopped struggling, he grunted in satisfaction. “If I ever hear you say you shouldn’t or wouldn’t have bitten me again, I’ll blister your ass.” Her eyes widened at his harsh statement. Sighing, he kissed her lips, softening his tone. “You have to promise never to do that in front of any of my brothers. I’d never hear the end of the ribbing.

And I have no desire to be compared to Arak. Flashing my ass to the world is not high on my list of priorities.” As he grinned down at her, he felt her tension ease.

“But when we are alone,” he whispered against her lips, “feel free to blow me away.”

Then he captured her mouth with his again and slid his tongue inside to sweep about leisurely.

The sound of a fist on the door had him pulling back. Charity didn’t move as Kash righted his clothing, then rose to his feet. “Zeke’s getting antsy,” he stated, answering her questioning look as he held a hand out to her.

“Zeke has been waiting for us the entire time?” With amusement, Kash watched her face turn red. “Why didn’t you tell me?” She worried her bottom lip between her teeth. With his thumb, he brushed it free. “How upset is he about his car?”

Her question made him chuckle. “He was more worried about you than his car, my little wolf, but I was made to swear that to secrecy.” Kash kissed her. “You can’t tell him I told you.”

Charity nodded sheepishly, embarrassment flooding through her. She couldn’t believe she, barely a virgin, had gone down on Kash in her cousin’s spare bedroom.

With Zeke right outside the door. But when she had swiped her tongue over the mark on his shoulder, she had felt the lust explode through him. And when he had come down her throat, her body had shuddered with a small orgasm too. The connection between them was growing.

The pounding that resumed on the door startled her, sending her crashing back into Kash’s arms. So much for shifter reflexes.

“Hey, it’s okay, chérie.” Kash wrapped his arms around her waist, his warm breath tickling her ear.

“Damn it, Kash.” Zeke’s annoyance could be heard through the wood. “Those noises had better be Charity killing you. Because if you left me out here keeping guard so you could get your rocks off, you and I will be going rounds.”

Charity couldn’t stop the growl that escaped her lips.

Kash chuckled, his lips dancing over the skin on her shoulder. “Are you going to defend me, chérie?”

Charity turned, curling his T-shirt into her fists as she looked up at him. “Do you need defending? I think between the two of us, we could take him.”

Kash threw back his head and laughed. “To watch you kick Zeke’s ass, I could make a fortune charging my brethren.”

He brushed her cheek with his knuckles, and Charity leaned into the caress, loving the feel of his hands touching her. If she were a cat, she’d have been purring. As he slid his hand along her jaw and down her neck, she rubbed her face against his chest. Kash’s scent filled her lungs, and the spirit of the wolf who shared her soul curled up contentedly in her chest.

Kash held her for a moment longer, his chin resting naturally on top of her head.

They fit together perfectly, as if they had been made for each other. And given how quickly Charity had fallen for him, she suspected that might be the case. She knew soul mates existed, had seen the proof with her own eyes. She’d just never expected to be one of the few to actually find hers.

“You’d better be dressed, because I’m coming in,” Zeke called, disturbing the peace that had settled over her. She turned as the door opened, and Zeke stepped inside.

“Well, Sasquatch, if you aren’t a sight for sore eyes.”

His gaze roamed over her quickly before sending a questioning look to Kash. Charity wasn’t sure about Zeke’s look or Kash’s response, but she didn’t really care. She was so glad to see Zeke and relieved he wasn’t angry with her. With a squeal, she launched herself into his arms. But when his skin came into contact with hers, her joy turned to a cry of pain. It felt as if she had been burned, and she immediately backed away from him. Zeke tried to follow her, but with a whimper, Charity held out her hands defensively.

Kash yanked her against him and rubbed his hands up and down her arms where Zeke had touched her as Zeke asked, “What’s the matter, Sasquatch? Are you hurt?”

He glared at Kash. “What did you do to her?”

Zeke tried to pull her away from her mate, but Charity slumped farther into Kash’s embrace. Before, the pain had always subsided as soon as the touch ended, but this time it continued, like little pulsing shocks moving along her skin.

“Enough!” Kash barked. “Zeke, you’re just making it worse.”

Zeke instantly stilled, his gaze burning into hers, and she smiled weakly, trying to alleviate his concern. “Making what worse?” he growled.

“Touching her. It’s what is causing her pain.”

Zeke snorted in disbelief. “Bullshit. My touching Charity never caused her pain before.”

With the pain finally having receded, Charity said quietly, “It’s a part of shifter mating and not a very pleasant one. It’s my fault. I assumed it would have gone away by now.”

Zeke studied her a moment, as if trying to detect the truth in her words. And she figured he probably was. Then he nodded. “Apparently not.”

Charity grinned. “No, apparently not. God, I’ve missed you.”

A smile played across Zeke’s lips, and he nodded before eyeing Kash warily.

“You’d think I’d be jealous, but I’m not.”

Charity buried her face in Kash’s neck. “You have no reason to be. When a wolf finds her true mate, she wants no other. Ever.”

He tightened his arms around her as he kissed her forehead before resting his cheek against it. “Forever.”

“I’m going to gag,” Zeke mumbled, but before Charity could retaliate, a noise emerged from his pocket. It took her a moment to place it—“Achy Breaky Heart.”

Zeke scowled as he dug his phone out. “Why does Bale get ‘Bad to the Bone’ and I get this shit?”

Charity grinned. “Probably because Arak knows you won’t rip off his arms and beat him with them; Bale just might.”

Zeke shook his head forlornly. “I’ve obviously gone soft. There was a time whole countries feared me.”

“Yes. You are truly fearsome. You and your achy breaky heart,” she replied with a laugh.

Zeke flashed her his middle finger as he flipped open his phone. “What?” he barked into the receiver. “Uhh, Remy, I’m kind of busy. You’ll need to find someone else.”

Kash’s attention was captured by Zeke’s conversation with their leader, and he pushed her head onto his shoulder. With a snort, she pulled back, smacking his tight abdomen. He barely reacted, while her hand stung from the impact. Looking him over, she decided she couldn’t wait to get him naked. Turning, she caught Zeke rolling his eyes at Kash. “I’m telling you, Remy, it’s just not possible… Why?

Because I’m in Portland… Oregon, Remy. What the hell would I be doing in Maine?”

Zeke rolled his eyes again, and Charity giggled. “I’m with Kash… Yeah. Getting his mate.”

Kash leaned down and whispered in her ear, “Do you need to pack anything before we hit the road?”

“No. I never unpacked my truck.”

Kash smiled. “Good.”

He turned back to Zeke as the other male said, “In a couple of hours. Until then, why don’t you reconsider this meeting?”

“What was that about?” Kash asked once Zeke had flipped his phone shut. They started through the apartment, Kash’s arm wrapped around her waist as he led her out the front door.

“Remy wanted me to meet with that O’Malley bastard.”

Charity was startled. “Why?”

“While you two have been playing ‘chase the wolf,’ so have Arak and I. Only one not nearly as pretty. And this one bites.”

“So does mine,” Kash said with a chuckle and then a grunt as Charity elbowed him in the side.

“You probably deserved it. I didn’t,” Zeke retorted drily.

They stopped next to Charity’s SUV, and glancing around, she realized she didn’t see Zeke’s car. “But why O’Malley?”

Zeke turned to her, and by the look in his eyes, she knew she wasn’t going to like his answer. “Because we plan to capture one of these wolves, and when we do, we’ll need someone who can talk to him. But I didn’t like the way that asshole had treated you, and I certainly didn’t want to have to ask him for anything. Now we won’t have to.”

Because of her. Even though Zeke didn’t say the words, Charity understood what he was implying. Without meaning to, she stiffened, and her wolf grew agitated. She wasn’t ready to explain to them that she couldn’t shift until the baby was born. In fact, she wasn’t ready to mention anything about the baby—not until she was absolutely certain. And shifter pregnancies progressed much quicker than human pregnancies did, so she would know for sure soon.

“Charity?” Kash rubbed the back of her neck, as if sensing her distress.

Unsure how to respond, she looked for any excuse to explain her unease. “I don’t see Zeke’s car. How did you guys get here?” This time Kash tensed, and she looked at him curiously.

“When we get home, chérie, I’ll explain everything.” Kash continued to caress her neck gently. “I promise.” At her nod, his tension eased, and he smiled. “Now give Zeke your keys, and we’ll snuggle in the backseat. That should annoy him just enough to be amusing.”

Charity returned his smile and allowed him to guide her into the back of the SUV

after she’d dug her keys out of her purse and thrown them at Zeke.

“Cute,” Zeke mumbled as he climbed behind the wheel, scowling into the rearview mirror as Kash slid in next to her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders.

“Anything more than that, and you’re on your own.”

Kash only smirked at Zeke’s threat, but before she could ask how he planned to accomplish such a feat, her phone rang. One glance at the caller ID told her it was Tempy, and Charity answered with a sense of relief. Since it was the middle of the night, her friend must have had information on her sword.

“Hey,” she said, turning from Kash’s questioning look to stare out the window. It felt weird. She had a mate, and yet they both had so many secrets. Secrets Charity didn’t know if she would ever be able to completely reveal.

“Prue called. She said Kash paid her a visit at Club Dominus. Are congratulations in order? Or should I go hunting for the dumb-ass male?”

Tempy’s threat had her wolf rising, and a soft growl escaped from behind clenched teeth as she tried to push the wolf down.

“Don’t growl at me, sweetie, or I won’t tell you what I finally wormed out of Hope.

Though I’m thinking of letting Prue at her just because she irritates the hell out of me.”

“Tempy,” she warned. She wasn’t sure exactly what it was about Hope that raised the hackles of both Tempy and Prue. They got on so well with Faith. She never could understand it. From the moment she had met Hope, she found her to be energetic to the point of exhausting to watch, but honest, thoughtful, and caring. Hope had been the first to reach out to her when she’d shown up in Seattle. And while in the months that had followed she’d grown much closer to Tempy and Prue, Charity would never forget it had been Hope who had taken her under her wing.

“I know. I know. I don’t understand why you can’t see it, but never mind. As for the sword, it was your mate who went through your things, but Hope admitted she was the one to point him toward the box under your bed. She’s pretty certain he took it with him when he left.”

Charity didn’t know if she should be relieved or worried. Why would Kash have taken the box? Could he have some idea of what was inside? Shit. She didn’t even want to consider if he’d been able to open the box, because that bespoke all kinds of trouble she wanted no part of. And once again, her thoughts returned to the fact that Kash, Zeke, and their brothers all felt old. Really old. Ancient enough that he just might have known the box’s secret.

“Thanks, Tempy. I’ll look into that as soon as I can.”

“You do that, sweetie. You know I would feel a hell of a lot more comfortable if you brought the damn thing here.”

“I do, but it’s all I have left. I can’t part with it.”

“I know,” Tempy replied quietly. “Call me tomorrow so I know you’re okay.”

“Will do. Love you.”

Tempy laughed softly. “Back at ya.”

Charity considered asking Kash about the box right then but decided bringing it up would just open a can of worms she wasn’t interested in discussing quite yet. She’d prefer to hide the truth from him forever, but if he did truly have the box, that might not be possible.

As if sensing her trepidation, Kash pulled her closer until her head rested against his chest. She let out a weary sigh as his scent wrapped around her like an invisible cloak, and the heat from his body seeped into her bones. Her eyes fell closed as she inhaled deeply. She was content for the moment.