Goal: A Mate (Bachelor Auction #2) Read online

  “Get your ass over to Kelly’s and pack a bag for her. You come pick her up at the office and take her to your cabin in the middle of Nowheresville. And do not let her leave until you’ve convinced her that she’s your mate and I figure out a way to deal with the cat shifters without killing them. OK? Good.” Reenie hung up before Brandon could respond.

  He hit speed dial. Reenie answered on the first ring. “What?”

  “Just come and pick her up? That’s kidnapping.” He didn’t feel comfortable with just taking her to his place without her permission. Even if his wolf gave a woof of approval.

  “She’s your mate, not Alberto’s! Kelly is overworked, not getting sleep, horny all the time—she thinks I can’t tell—and obsessed with trying to make this work. She needs a romantic weekend away. And, I admit, I have an ulterior motive. I have a plan for how to handle things with the kitties, but I need her out of the way. And before you ask, yes, it’s legal, and I won’t need bail. Why are you being so stupid? Look, you want her as your mate right?”

  Brandon could practically see his sister rolling her eyes, exasperation on her face. “Of course,” he replied. “She is my mate.”

  “Then take some initiative. Besides, this could be your last chance. After this who knows what will happen, what with her dad’s stupid proclamation. Grab your chance now. Besides, it’s your birthday. You should make it special.”

  Shit! He’d forgotten all about it. A weekend spent with his mate without any interruptions and with an excuse to be romantic? “Fine. I’ll do this, but I’ll give her the option.” He turned the key. “I’m not just going to kidnap her.”

  The engine purred back to life. He backed up and drove to Kelly’s rental house. As soon as he pulled up, he spotted trouble. Alberto stood at the door, ringing the bell. He was wearing suit pants and a jacket with a crisp white shirt with no jacket, despite the cold. Annoyance grated Brandon’s nerves as he shut down the vehicle and got out, not bothering to lock the door.

  Brandon’s wolf growled. Liquid heat poured into his muscles as his body readied itself for the shift. Some of his earlier pain faded away in the face of a challenger for his woman.

  “What the fuck are you doing here?” Brandon made a show of flipping through his key ring to find the extra Kelly had given him just in case. Yeah, she trusts me, he said to himself. Not you.

  “I’m here because Kelly is my intended, and with Martin giving the go-ahead for the merger it’s important that she and I have a little talk about our future.” Alberto did that thing where he showed off all his teeth, and Brandon wanted to punch him all over again. “I can give her financial stability so she doesn’t have to work anymore. I can give her comfort and all my time, since I won’t be running hither and yon with the local hockey team. And besides, I’m a purebred werewolf. I’m more than perfect as her mate. You can’t say the same thing. Her father agrees, otherwise he wouldn’t have sent out that e-mail. Can you say the same thing? Hmmm?”

  Brandon could smell the sour tang of the fib he couldn’t work out the real reason that Alberto would be at Kelly’s near the end of the work day.

  “You know she’s at work right? Did you think you could break into her place and wait it out? Try again asshole.” Brandon found the key he was looking for, unlocked the door, and slipped past Alberto, blocking the entrance so the other shifter’s couldn’t slip in after him. For some reason a faint trace of rose perfume hung between them.

  What the fuck? Brandon leaned forward, bringing his nose closer. It was unmistakably Reenie’s scent. He pulled back and eyed Alberto with a new idea that he liked even less than the idea of the bastard sniffing around Kelly, but he held himself back. He would decide what to do about Alberto and Reenie after Kelly was safely bound to him.

  “Take all the time you want with Kelly, but in the end she’ll be mine.” Alberto leaned against the door frame, arms crossed, his damning grin fixed firmly in place. “There’s nothing you can do about it.”

  “She’s my mate.” Brandon’s wolf peeked out with a growl. “You’ll learn that soon enough. Now get the hell out of here.”

  “Going to challenge me, little wolf?” Alberto lifted a thick black eyebrow in question. His gaze darted down to Brandon’s shoulder.

  What the fuck could his sister see in this asshat? Brandon’s wolf rose up as he pulled his arm back and swung, decking Alberto on his chin, causing his head to snap to the side. “Leave, asshole. She’s mine. Back the fuck off.” Brandon took a step back and slammed the door closed.

  Reenie was right. He needed to stake his claim. He needed Kelly to realize he was more than a friend. Kelly was a neat person, so it wasn’t difficult to gather the items she would need for a weekend away. The last thing he picked up was her baby doll nightgown. As he lifted the filmy, diaphanous garment, he spotted a black velvet case lying beneath it. Remembering his encounter with Alberto, he wondered if the bribery had begun. He reached for it only to stop. No, no, no. He wouldn’t violate her privacy. He turned away.

  But the wolf whimpered as he tried to leave the room. The hair on the back of his stood up. The beast tried to surge up and take over. Each step became labored as the animal pushed at him to go back and peek. He gritted his teeth and tried to fight through it. Sweat beaded on his brow and his arms and legs shook. “Argh, fine!”

  The wolf released him, and he let out a gasp of air. He wiped away the moisture, turned on his heel, and went to the dresser. He opened the drawer and picked up the case. With a flick of his thumb, the lid opened to reveal a sleek, flesh-colored vibrator. The cock portion was very lifelike—and about his size if he was guessing—with ridges and veins. The flared head was painted red, as if to show the fabricated penis as flushed and filled with blood, ready to go. Next to it sat a few packets of cleaning solution and lubricant. Below that was a silver bullet, which was about the length of his thumb but a bit thicker. A small remote control sat next to it.

  Set in the lid of the box was a series of circular items—he had no clue what they were for—along with some clips. He picked up a clip and turned it this way and that. What the fuck? He only had a basic knowledge of sex toys and could identify only the most obvious of items. A few times he and some teammates, on a lark, had gone into adult shops. They hadn’t seen everything, but he’d come away with a few ideas to use in his sex life. He could only imagine what he could use this for with Kelly. This weekend was going to prove a revelation to him—if she went along with it and didn’t try to kill him.

  He closed the lid and stowed the box in the satchel. Just as he was about to leave, he spotted her plants. He couldn’t let them die. She would never forgive him for that. It was one of the things he loved about her—that she cared so much about the small bit of greenery scattered around the place. The pots of herbs and flowers weren’t just there for decoration. She used all of them in decorations for the holidays or cooking. Once the plants were well watered, he gave her home a once over, and after satisfying himself that there was nothing else that needed attending to, he set her alarm and locked up.

  Alberto was nowhere to be seen as he left, but he did spot a few fellow pack members skulking about. Two of them were his own age and one was about her father’s age. He could only shake his head. It was a good thing that Reenie had called, otherwise who knows what could’ve happened? Werewolves on the prowl for a mate could be dangerous; ones that wanted alpha status as well were unpredictable.

  Brandon climbed into the SUV and put the duffle bag in the back before buckling up and turning on the car. As it warmed up, with the heat blasting, he kept watch in his rearview and side mirrors. If the men moved closer, he’d call Martin or a few of his friends to keep watch. Maybe even Reenie to house sit. He wanted no distractions or problems to arise while they were gone. Brandon would be claiming his mate this weekend, edict and alpha hunters be damned. Kelly was his. The time for ignoring that was over.

  Chapter Five

  Kelly leaned against her car, forehead resti
ng against the window. The day had been too long, yet there were not enough hours in the day. Tomorrow would probably bring in more issues. The cat shifters had backed off as soon as Kelly and Al had shown up, but they wouldn’t be cowed by a show of force and threat of lawsuits.

  Kelly couldn’t understand why they were doing this. Reenie had set up a talk between the cats and Madison, but it wouldn’t be until next Friday, so it was a wait-and-see game at this point. Now Kelly wished that she could have gone out on a date with Brandon after all. It would at least have been a distraction.

  At the very thought of being alone with Brandon, heat swirled in her stomach and moisture flooded her pussy. Last night’s dream rose up. Maybe a little quality time with her vibrator would take the edge off.

  The wolf let out a low grumble, and Kelly smiled. Or maybe she could call him. A large yawn took her off guard. She wasn’t sure whether she wanted to curl up for a nap or curl up in bed with Brandon. The latter sounded much more appealing, but she doubted he’d be home. There was a multitude of things to do before Pierce made the big announcement about the new hockey league.

  “Kelly?” Brandon’s rich baritone shivered across her skin, warming her up from the inside out.

  She glanced toward where the sound came from. Brandon stood a few feet away. The wind ruffled his wavy hair, giving him a rakish look. The overhead street lamps bathed only half of him in a waxy golden light. His bright blue eyes seemed to glow with an intensity she couldn’t read. He wore a simple pea coat; the parted sections revealed his blue plaid shirt and jeans. Scuffed-up motorcycle boots finished off the casual outfit. Dark-brown scruff covered the bottom half of his face.

  She lifted her hand, wanting to feel the rough texture against her fingertips. Kelly swallowed and took a step toward him.

  He raised a thick brow but said nothing.

  “Brandon?” Her voice shook as she said his name. Something about the way he stood, the silence and stillness, made her nervous.

  The wolf flashed in his eyes, a spark of copper, before melting away to color of midnight skies.

  She licked her lips. “Bran?” A tremble of fear caused her stomach muscles to flutter. She’d seen that expression on his face during a face-off on the ice, but he’d never turned that look on her.

  “You gonna come with me quietly, or do I have to make you?” He crossed his arms over his chest, one finger tapped against his bicep.

  She narrowed her eyes until she watched him through a veil of dark lashes. “What the fuck are you talking about?” Despite her words, a damning thrill zipped along her spine. This had to be the moment she had been waiting for. He was here to see what would happen between them before she gave into the needs her pack and let Alberto claim her.

  “You’re my mate. Mine.” His voice had become deeper, rougher, and sexier. “I’m not gonna let some fucknuts try and claim what belongs to me. Yet I know that I don’t have what it takes to be alpha, and I don’t want either of us to be exiled from the pack. So the only thing I can give you is myself. For whatever time we have before fate takes you away from me.”

  She ruminated over his declaration. This really was the only time they could be together. He didn’t want to be alpha, and neither of them wanted to let the pack down. This merger would increase their size but offer them much-needed income. She couldn’t put it off much longer. But neither could she put off her date with Brandon.

  “Fine. Come and get me.” Kelly didn’t do anything as dramatic as drop her purse and get into a fighting stance; she just waited to see what he would do.

  Brandon shrugged and walked forward until he was in front of her, mere inches away. He bent down and pressed his lips to hers. One of his hands cupped the back of her head. His fingers delved into her tresses, destroying her bun until it fell loose to her shoulders. She reached up and clutched the sides of his jacket, pulling him closer as his mouth moved over hers. His tongue traced the line of her closed lips before she allowed him entrance. He teased her with each glide and stroke. She could taste the coolness of mint and a hint of lemon as well as something richer, darker. The kiss was so much better than she’d dreamed.

  Kelly pressed her body against his, feeling the hard planes of the muscles hidden by fabric, feeling the heat that poured from him into her, driving away the cold. He sucked, scraped, and nibbled at her bottom lip, turning it hot and sensitive with his actions. Brandon grabbed a handful of hair and held her head still as he drank of her lips. She forgot all sense of time and place as she leaned into him until there wasn’t any space between them. The ridge of his erection pressed against her thigh, letting her know he was just as affected as she was. He pulled back, huffs of air drifting up in front of his face like clouds, obscuring him for a few seconds. His lips were parted, reddened by his efforts.

  He released her hair and stepped back. Then he crouched down and scooped her up without effort. She didn’t protest. Instead, she clung on, not caring that she was leaving her car behind. All fight had gone out of her. It didn’t mean the wolf had decided to bow to its mate’s desires. Not yet, anyway. First it wanted to get a taste. Then it would make him work for it.

  Brandon set her down on her feet and opened the passenger side of his dark-gray Lincoln MKT for her, leaving his hand on the top of the door.

  “Don’t think just because I’m going with you that you’ve won.” She stepped up and slipped into her seat, dropped her purse to the floor and buckled up.

  He grinned, bent down, and stole a kiss. “Oh, but I have.” He reached up and took her chin between his index finger and thumb. “You are mine for the weekend.”

  “Not yet. Gotta mark me first. Make me remember this time together.” She tried to turn her head away, but he held firm.

  “No. You’ve always been mine, and I will claim you.” His voice seemed to be come from deep within his chest, coming out as a growl. “For this moment, if nothing else.”

  Before she could respond, he stepped back and shut the door, leaving her in a cocoon of warmth that blasted from the heaters. He opened the driver’s side, got in, and buckled up. Then they were away.

  Kelly peeked at the side mirror in time to see Alberto’s little red Mustang pull up. A laugh bubbled up inside of her, but she resisted letting it out. That asshole was too late. He’d just missed her.

  Maybe a little time with Reenie would make him forget about her, but she doubted it. Her best friend and Alberto were both far too stubborn to change their minds about anything. They really were a good match. She just hoped her friend didn’t end up having angry sex with her on-again-off-again ex in Kelly’s office—or worse, on her desk. “What? You’ve fallen quiet.” Brandon’s voice drew her from her thoughts.

  She peeked at him and decided it would be best to change the subject. “Where are we going?”

  “Somewhere we won’t be disturbed.” He turned onto a dirt road. The headlights flashed off tall pines bathed in silvery moonlight.

  “Bear country? Are you serious?” For a second panic kicked in. Bear shifters hated trespassers on their land. They’d been known to attack without warning. Some of Kelly’s anxiety dimmed as a memory from a few summers rose in her mind. “Wait, your cabin’s out here, right?” She grinned. Despite being bold and brave, she knew their pack members wouldn’t risk enraging the bears by tracking them all the way here. Ingenious.

  “Where else could we go? My house in town? We’d be interrupted every five minutes if we were lucky. So the cabin it is. Time to reveal some of things you may have missed about me over the years.”

  She studied his face. Only splices of light from the moon illuminated his face. The planes of his features were hard, determined. What had he been hiding from her all these years? This new side of him excited her. In the past, she’d only seen his laser focus applied to hockey, but even then it had been incredibly sexy. Turned on her, it made things all the more interesting. She shifted in her seat.

  “Things I missed?” she pressed. “Like?”


  He reached over with his free hand and laid it on her thigh. The warmth of his touch seeped through the layers of her cotton skirt and beyond, to her skin. He slid his palm up to her hip before removing the contact to shift gears. She missed it as soon as it was gone.

  “Just enjoy the ride. You’ll find out soon enough,” he murmured.

  She snorted and settled into her seat. Then she closed her eyes. Each inhale brought his rich, woodsy, spicy cologne into her, lulling her into a state of relaxation and comfort.

  Soon enough, his hand returned to her leg, rubbing it up and down the length. He took the hem of her skirt between his fingers and pulled it up just a bit, revealing the tops of her knees. She stilled, waiting for him to do more.

  “Do you want this?” His tenor was a low rumble that seemed to come from way down deep inside of him, as if he were giving voice to the animal. “If we start this—”

  She grabbed his wrist and moved his hand up. “I know what this means.” Sweat beaded on her brow. Her blouse was too thin and her skirt cumbersome and unnecessary. Arousal poured into her like air from a bellows, stoking gusts of need along her limbs and around her torso. Tingles raced along her inner thighs and danced along her pussy lips. Her nipples tightened to aching points. A buzz started in her head as snippets of past dreams drifted up from her subconscious to fade to black after a second. So many fantasies, so many needs, and so many years of denial.

  “Do you? Say it,” he urged.

  She glanced over at him. His profile was indecipherable. No readable emotion showed, not even in his eyes, which were directed to the road ahead, or his lips, which were a thin line. His fingers flexed and tapped along the top of her leg. She released him.

  “Say it, Kelly.”

  The command rippled along her spine. Something inside of her snapped. After all the years of ignoring her attraction to him, now she could finally claim him. The fog that swathed her mind cleared for a moment, and she could see the implications of giving in. It would stop all the other wolves from circling around her. She’d be claiming her man, her mate. There was still the alpha thing to deal with, but they’d both be getting what they wanted.