The Omega's Mate: (7 page)

Cain lifted her fingers to his lips and planted feathery kisses on them.  Her sex fluttered as pleasurable tingles permeated her body.

“Cain I…”

He released her hand and his own journeyed down her shapely body.  Alighting on her round ass, he pulled her up toward him.  Instinctively her fingers curled into his shirt, and she wrapped her legs around his torso, as far as she could.

Carly was surprised when he didn’t kiss her.  Instead, he buried his head in her hair and scented her.  She leaned her cheek against his hard shoulder and did the same, allowing his fresh earthy scent to wash through her.  Boldly she kissed his neck.  His tense muscles relaxed, and she began planting butterfly kisses over his neck and jaw.

Cain stood still breathing deeply.  He was becoming increasingly excited, but he forced his animal to calm as he gently held his mate.  The last thing he wanted was to clasp her too tightly; if he weren't careful, he could seriously hurt her.

Carly nipped his chin with blunt teeth, and he growled softly.  Looking into his eyes she could see the blackness of his bear, she could see the want he had for her, but also the need to be loved by her.  Her own eyes flicked to the green amber of her wolf.  A bizarre, genetic throwback, found in a few wolf shifters.

Cain gasped.  She truly was remarkable.  “Your eyes are beautiful.”

Carly’s cheeks reddened. 
She was stood in the kitchen, in the arms of her bear mate smothering kisses on him, yet even a small compliment made her gooey inside and blush.

“Everything about you is beautiful…”  He breathed before licking her ear.

“You’re beautiful too,” she murmured.

Cain let out a rumbling laugh, making his magnificent chest shake.  She felt the vibrations resonate through her small frame.  “I think you may be delirious from desire.”

Quickly he pressed his lips against hers.  She opened her mouth in surprise, and he dipped his tongue in, reveling in her taste.  His bear groaned at her gorgeous, sweet flavor.  He wasn’t a very experienced kisser; he’d never really been interested in kissing before, but his enthusiasm for his mate more than made up for it.

Carly moaned as she dug her fingers into his rock hard shoulders.  He was like a warm, silken skinned, walking mountain!  His kiss was intense and strong, yet surprisingly tender and loving.  Just like him.  Pleasure wantonly coursed through her, and she welcomed his feelings of lust and stirrings of love.

Oh, so slowly and reluctantly he pulled away.  They’d been locked in an embrace for ages, yet to them it felt like mere seconds.  Any amount of time would never be enough.

Carly’s wolf whimpered in satisfaction as she nuzzled his neck.  “Thank you.”

Again with the rumbling laugh.  “You’re thanking me?”

She licked her lips relishing his taste.  “Yes, that was lovely.”

Cain rubbed circles on her back.  “Anytime beautiful.”

She licked his neck and giggled.  “I may hold you to that.”

Carly couldn’t remember what she’d been worried about.  How could she have ever thought that this herculean man was anything but perfect for her?

The bell on the front door tinkled, and Carly stiffened in his arms.  They scented the air.  Rosalee.  The female Alpha called out hello, and Carly squirmed in his arms, wanting to be released from his hold.

Cain withheld the irritated growl burning to be free. 
He doubted Carly would be pleased if he did tell Rosalee to fuck off, so he held his tongue, barely…

Grudgingly he dragged Carly down his body, enjoying the feel of her soft curves.  She stifled a gasp as she pressed up against the bulge in his jeans.  She knew he was big but damn!  She quivered in both fear and anticipation.

Carly gave him a shy smile before disappearing to talk to Rosalee.  Cain tried to soothe his bear, whilst willing his erection to go down.  His animal was furious at the interruption, but Cain was buzzing from their interlude.

Yes, he wanted to mate and bond with her too, more than life itself!  But he sensed hesitation in her, not least because of his actions over the past few days.  So he was prepared to wait.  She wasn’t like the other women he had been with; she didn’t want something fast and furious, she needed tenderness and love.  It would be that much sweeter when she came to him and asked him to bond with
her.

He just hoped he could persuade his bear of that.

Chapter Eight

Cain picked up his room key from a smirking wolf shifter, working the desk at the Bed and Breakfast.

“Have a good evening,” chuckled the wolf, before leering and winking.

Cain grunted at the wolf and ambled up to his room.  Things had cooled down after Rosalee arrived at the shop.  At least Carly had cooled somewhat, Cain was still hard as steel for his little mate.  He’d wanted to continue where they left off, but Carly hadn’t with her female Alpha so close by.

Instead, Rosalee chatted about pack members while Carly listened amiably.  In spite of Cain’s overt hints and general murderous glowers, Rosalee didn’t get the message that he wanted her to leave. 
Or if she did, she ignored him.

They continued working for a couple more hours, until eventually Carly called it a day.  Rosalee finally tripped off and left them alone.  Cain walked his mate out to her car; it was a Volkswagen beetle decorated like Herbie. 
God everything about her was cute
.  Carly gave him a chaste kiss goodnight, before he reluctantly watched her drive away.

Every fiber of his being told him not to let her go, to keep hold of her and kiss the hell out of her.  But again, he told himself that he must be patient. 
He and his bear fucking hated himself for it, but he was going to be patient no matter what.

Cain wrinkled his nose in disgust as he approached his door.  A pungent scent of cheap perfume assailed him.  On opening the door, the smell intensified. 
Ah, shit
.

His heart almost stopped when he found Jules sprawled out on his bed.  His bear snarled.  She had to go now!  She wore tiny red, lacy underwear under the shirt he insisted she keep the last time she turned up in his bed.

Jules leered at him.  “Hey, big guy.  Surprise!”

Cain ran his hands through his hair.  “What are you doing here?  How did you get in?”

Fuck!  Did other people know she was here?  Did other people see her go in his room? 
Would they tell Carly?!

Jules stroked her hands down her long legs.  “I came to see you; I missed you.”

“How did you get in here?” he asked quietly.

“Easy!  I told the wolf on the desk that I was you girlfriend, and I wanted to surprise you.  I slipped him twenty bucks, and he gave me a key to your room.”

Ah crap!
  That idiot on the front desk is probably part of Carly’s pack!  “You need to leave now!”

“Awww come on... I forgive you for the other night…”

Cain’s jaw ticked with the effort of controlling his temper.  “You’re not listening.  You need to leave.  Right now.  You can’t be here.”

Jules spluttered in confusion.  “But I thought you wanted…”

The bear was prowling in frustration.  “I don’t.  We can’t do this anymore.  I’ve met my mate, and I don’t want her to see you here.”

Jules rolled off the bed and bared her fangs.  “So you’re just dumping me?  Just like that?”

Jeez…  “I wouldn’t say dumping… it’s not like we were in a relationship.  We had fun, but we can’t have fun anymore.  I’m sorry.”

Jules huffed.  “Fine, if that’s what you want, I’ll go!  You’ve changed your fucking tune!  You change your mind again in a week, don’t expect me to be waiting for you!  You’re not that good in bed!”

Cain allowed her to push past him to the bathroom.  She slammed the door shut, and he could hear her irritated mutterings.

Cain stood by the door, rubbing his neck.  “Really Jules, I’m sorry.” 

He knew that Jules was a fan, and she did have a few boundary issues, but he had no idea she thought they were an item.  They had casual sex.  That was it.  Or at least they used to.

There was a knock at the door and without thinking Cain opened it to find Carly stood outside, beaming at him. 
Ah, shit.

*

“Carly!”

“Hello Cain.”

Carly felt her cheeks redden as she smiled at her mate.  Since the moment he’d waved goodbye to her earlier, she’d been agonizing over this decision.  She’d come to his room with the sole intention of seducing him.  Not that she thought it would be hard to do, considering the desire that had been rolling off him all day. 
Not to mention that bulge in his jeans…

Part of her thought it was too quick and that she needed to wait and get to know him first, but her overriding lust won.  After the sweetness of his kiss earlier, she was certain this is what she wanted, and she saw no point in waiting.  Her wolf was prancing around gleefully.

The moment she had arrived home, she packed an overnight bag and slipped into her sexiest lingerie.  Which admittedly wasn’t all that sexy.  The only matching set she had was yellow, with embroidered daisies, but still, underwear was underwear.  She threw on her coat and a pair of heels, and hotfooted straight to Cain.

She was sort of regretting it now.  It had always seemed so hot when someone on TV turned up for a booty call, wearing practically nothing.  Carly was freezing!  And her feet ached. 
Heels were not her thing.

On the way over, she had become more and more energized about being with her mate.   Heat rushed to her sex, as she remembered the feel of his firm muscles and his soft mouth. 
She couldn’t wait!

Luckily her pack mate Jimmy, who had been working the front desk of the Bed and Breakfast, ducked out to take a phone call, so she easily slipped by him.  She wasn’t ashamed of being there; she just didn’t really like gossip.  It was already all over town that Cain was her mate, but she just wanted a little privacy, until they bonded at least. 
After all, it was no one’s business what they got up to in private.

Carly had run to his door, eager to see the look on his face, yet… stood before him now, he kind of seemed a little horrified.  Perhaps he was just in shock at her forwardness. 
Well, if he was shocked by her turning up, he was about to have a heart attack!

Gently she pushed past him into the room and set her case down on the table.  Her nose tickled at a strong perfume fragrance but ignored it.  She shrugged out of her coat and let it fall to the floor.  She placed her hands on her hips, in what she hoped was a seductive pose.  She just needed to do something with her hands, so they stopped trembling.

Cain’s massive chest heaved, and his wide eyes blackened. 
He couldn’t believe it!
She was here, offering herself on a plate to him, at the worst possible moment!  How could he get Jules out without letting Carly go?  “Carly I…”

Jules chose that moment to come barreling out of the bathroom, in just her underwear.  She threw the shirt at his head.  “And you can have your shirt back!”

Jules harrumphed when she caught sight of Carly.  “Well, that was fast!  Is this your new number one girl?  Do you tell her you love her, whilst she’s blowing you in the shower?!”

Carly paled at the sight of the stunning hyena shifter.  Her wolf snarled at this woman, but Carly retreated in sadness.

The hyena was tall and lithe, with tanned, golden skin, and a curtain of silken auburn hair.  Her bright blue eyes flashed at the little wolf, and Carly forced herself not to cower.  She was wearing wispy, sexy red lingerie, a painful contrast to Carly’s yellow, flowery set.

Carly felt like a small, dumpy, pale creature with mud-colored eyes, and mousy brown hair, compared to the vision before her.

“Leave!” snarled Cain.

Carly’s bottom lip trembled.  “Are you talking to me?”

Cain’s face crumpled.  “No beautiful.  You stay.”  He pointed to Jules.  “You leave.”

Jules quirked an eyebrow at Carly.  “Charming isn’t he?  Treating us like dogs.”

“Get out!” bellowed Cain.

Jules sneered at the bear, before grabbing her coat and purse, and sashaying out the door.  Apparently Carly wasn’t the only one who had thought to turn up, only wearing her underwear and a coat. 

Cain quickly locked the door behind Jules and placed his mammoth bulk in front of it.  If experience had taught him anything, it was his mate tended to bolt when she was upset. 
Not happening this time.
Unless she fancied diving out the window, she was going to listen to his explanation.

Carly donned her coat, and without making eye contact tried to get past him.  “I have to go,” she murmured.

Cain folded his arms.  “No.”

“What?”  Carly stepped back, fighting the urge to cry.  She’d already shown enough weakness in front of her mate; she wanted to get the hell out of there before the tears started falling.

“You’re not going anywhere, until you listen to what I have to say.”

Of all the high-handed controlling assholes!
  Her sadness ebbed to be replaced by anger, in part fuelled by the fury that radiated from her mate.  “There’s no need to explain.  I think I should be the one to apologize again.”

Cain looked at her suspiciously, and his bear stilled.  “You do?”

Despite the raging emotions the little Omega felt, she made herself act calmly.  It was unsettling for the bear.  “Yes, I just turned up at your room unannounced.  It was rude of me.  I should have called first.  I shouldn’t have just assumed you wouldn’t have company.”

“Carly, beautiful…”
Cain gave her a pained expression.

Carly appeared to have landed on a passive aggressive approach.  “You’re free and single; I shouldn’t be surprised you had someone here.”

“Single?!” he wailed as his bear roared in displeasure.  His claws and fangs flexed, and he started gesturing wildly with his thick arms.  “I’m not single, and neither are you.  Do you think you are?  Do you think I would allow you to go out, and be with other men?  You’re mine!”

Carly felt a little trepidation at staring down the enormous bear, but for once she wouldn’t shrink away, for once she would be strong, even though both she and her wolf were trembling nervously.  She allowed a little more of his ire to seep into her psyche, strengthening her resolve.

“We shared one kiss…”

“We’re mates!”  Cain exploded.  “I love you!”

Carly froze at the unexpected words.  Her wolf yapped like a puppy, and she felt warmth spread throughout her body. 
But… 
“You don’t know me.”

Cain had been a little taken aback at his proclamation, but his bear was howling to the sky.  True, it was fate that decided Carly was the one for him, but five minutes with her was enough to show him how perfect she was, and how much he wanted her, and needed her.

“I know I love you, that’s all I need to know.”

Damnit!
  Carly felt her resolve slowly crumble.  Why did he have to say that?!  “If you love me, then why was she…”

Hesitantly Cain stepped forward and placed a solid hand on her shoulder.  She tensed at his touch but didn’t try to shake him off.

“She’s someone I used to hook up with before I met you.  She followed me here and slipped that jackass on the front desk twenty bucks to get into my room.  She comes to my fights.  She’s just a fan; I guess it was a bit of hero-worship on her part.”

Carly scoffed. 
Hero?  Him?

“I didn’t invite her here.  Why would I?  I already have the perfect woman hot for me.”

Carly rolled her eyes.  “I’m the perfect woman?”

Cain chuckled.  “Well, at least you’re not objecting to the fact that you’re hot for me.  But yeah, to me you’re perfect.”

With that, her determination to give him hell went totally kaput. 
Sneaky
bastard
.  Making her fall for him so hard, making her love him so much.  She reached out with her powers and felt the tingles of love and honesty.  She doubted he was lying.  He didn’t have enough control over his emotions to fool her.

“Ahem.”  Cain cleared his throat.  “Aren’t you going to say anything about me?”

She frowned.  “Hmm, like what?”

Cain flexed his impressive muscles.  “About how perfect I am…”

Carly started giggling, and it went on until eventually she was hooting with laughter.  “Thanks, I needed that,” she said, wiping a tear away.   The sadness and worry flitted away.

Cain and his bear started grumbling, until Carly reached out and traced a finger down his abs.  “I guess you have a nice body…”

“You guess?”

“Well, I haven’t really seen it up close.” 

She fluttered her eyelashes; Cain rubbed his thumb over the juncture between her shoulder and neck, right where he intended to place his bonding mark.

“Then we really need to do something about that.”

Cain pursed his lips.  His bear was driving him to take his mate, but he knew he had to try at least to act like a gentleman.  Even if it was eating him up inside.

“Carly, we don’t have to do anything tonight.  I don’t want to push you.  I’ll wait as long as it takes until you’re ready.”

Carly blinked.  “As long as it takes?”

“If it’s a day, a week, a month or a year, I’ll wait.” 
God he prayed it wouldn’t take a year
.