Page 11 of Harvest

The man’s eyes widened. “You weren’t kidding when you said you knew her.”

“She was living in Italy and wasn’t ready to leave. When a position for her became available atLuna de Loboshe got annoyed as she thought I was manipulating things, and maybe I was. I was tired of not having her in my bed.”

“Not overly submissive,” Nic teased.

“Not to anybody and their brother, but she submits to me, which is kind of how I like it, but she’s well-trained enough to know how to be respectful… her behavior up in the bar notwithstanding. She didn’t know I was going to be here.”

“Acting out?”

“A bit. But now that she’s here and once I have her collared, that’ll be the end of that nonsense… at least publicly unless she wants to be punished the same way.”

Nic nodded. “If you like, I’d be happy to clean up for you.”

“I’d appreciate that and if you’d get me an aftercare blanket. Put her things back in her locker and assign her a permanent one. Just leave my kit outside the door. I’ll get it before we leave.”

“Happy to do it. For what it’s worth, it’s a good thing you were here tonight. I had thought to offer to do the session with her. I might have fought you for her.”

It was all Xander could do to keep from growling. He knew Nic meant no harm.

“You’d have lost,” he said calmly.

“Given the fierce look on your face, I have no doubt about that.”

Xander turned back to Stephanie. She was gorgeous. The marks that decorated her body would fade quickly. His goal had been to send her into subspace and make her climax. He doubted she would use her safeword to escape their bargain, but he wanted her up in the private room in case she tried to do just that. Perhaps he ought to gag her before he went down on her, but then he’d have to deny himself the pleasure of hearing her call for him.

He nuzzled her neck, before easing the ear buds out of her ears and removing her blindfold.

“You, my beautiful mate, were incredible. I’m going to release the restraints, but I’ll be right here to catch you. I’m going to wrap you in one of our blankets and take you upstairs to take care of you,” he whispered.

She was so far gone, she couldn’t speak and merely nodded, but her body retained its soft languidity. Xander unbuckled the ankle cuffs before tossing a blanket over his shoulder and moving directly in front of her body. He released the first wrist restraint bringing her arm down over his shoulder and wrapping part of the blanket around her. Stephanie pushed ineffectively at him and mumbled.

“Shh, sweetheart, I have you,” he whispered as he reached up to release her other wrist and finish wrapping her in the blanket before sweeping her up in his arms.

Xander cradled her against his chest, carrying her to the antique freight elevator. At the upper floor, he strode down the hall to open, light-filled room on the western side of the building, looking out over the bay. He loved this room. The windows could be adjusted to be clear glass, opaque glass, or a one-sided mirror, depending on the inhabitant’s desire for privacy.

“No,” she mumbled, pushing against him.

“Yes,” he said, closing the door behind them and laying her down on the bed.

“I don’t want to be here with you,” she said.

“That’s not true and we both know that,” he said, pressing her back down into the mattress and securing her arms to the headboard.

He thought about restraining her legs, but decided he’d rather control their position himself. He eased the blanket from her body and smiled. His mate was simply stunning laid out like the feast he meant to make of her. She struggled with the restraints as he sat, removing his vest and unlacing his fly, allowing his cock to jut out before he pushed his leathers down past his ass. He looked at her and grinned. Her eyes were riveted to his dick. Good, she’d better get used to seeing it because he meant to have both of them naked as often as he could. God he’d never wanted anything or anyone as much as he wanted her.

She shook her head.

“Yes, Stephanie. I don’t want to mark you until I’ve made a formal claim to your alpha.”

“Marco will never allow you to claim me unless I want it.”

“Two problems with that argument,” he said, sitting down and removing his boots and his leathers. “The first is that Marcois no longer your alpha and two, even if he were, he would never allow you to deny your fated mate.”

“How do you know Marco? What makes you think he is no longer my alpha?”

Xander chuckled. “You’d be surprised at what I know. You are Stephanie Savik and were part of Marco DeMedici’s pack in Tuscany. You were offered and accepted a position at theLuna de Lobovineyard and thus became part of the pack in residence there. That makes your alpha Damian Steele.”

Stephanie’s body stiffened as fear and concern began to overtake her. Xander rumbled to her soothingly and was gratified to see her respond—softening and relaxing. He stroked her with his hand to encourage her trust and to enhance the bond he could already feel forming between them. For one who had never believed he would have a fated mate, he found succumbing to it was infinitely pleasurable.

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