Page 30 of Posing for the Artist Wolf

Without thinking, I lunged forward. I planted myself between Kai and the door, my hand reaching out to stop him. “Don’t you dare.”

His head snapped up, surprise flickering across his face.

“You think I’m some damsel who needs protecting?” I challenged, anger rising to combat the fear still thrumming through my veins. “I’ve seen my fair share of shitty things in life. This isn’t that different.”

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what I was about to share. I didn’t like talking about my brother or his problems. But if I had to drag all my skeletons out of the closet to get through to Kai, I would.

“Would you believe this isn’t my first time being held hostage?” The words tumbled out, my voice steadier than I felt.

Kai stilled. The bright green of his wolf bled into the warm brown of his eyes. “What?”

“It was about two years ago,” I began, clenching my fists to hide the tremor. “Derek, my brother... he’d gotten mixed up with some bad people. Drug dealers.” I swallowed hard, memories flooding back. “One night, they came looking for him. Found me instead.”

I could still smell the stale cigarette smoke, still feel the cold metal of the gun pressed against my temple. My eyes must have betrayed my fear, because Kai instinctively reached for me, pulling me closer. His warmth enveloped me, grounding me in the present.

“He held me for hours,” I continued, my voice barely above a whisper. “Kept demanding to know where Derek was, where the money was. I didn’t know. I couldn’t tell him what I didn’t know. It’d been six months since I’d talked to Derek.”

Kai’s arms tightened around me, a low growl rumbling in his chest.

“I was terrified,” I admitted. I grabbed for the kernel of anger resting at the very bottom of my fear. I’d spent months not answering calls or leaving my apartment. Goodbye, career networking, hello depression and anxiety. “And you know the worst part? Derek has never apologized. Not once.”

Kai’s fingers flexed against my back. He tilted his head to look at me, eyes searching mine.

“You were there, Kai. You fought for me. You protected me. And when things looked bleakest, your pack came for us both.” I squeezed his arm gently, willing him to believe me. “That’s not putting me in danger. That’s keeping me safe.

“So don’t you dare walk away thinking you’re protecting me,” I said firmly. I cupped his face in my hands, forcing him to focus solely on me. “Because the truth is, I’ve never felt safer than I do with you.”

His resolve was crumbling; I could see it in the way his shoulders sagged, in the way he leaned into my touch. “I’m no good for you.”

“Maybe. But leaving now? That’s what would really hurt me.” I swallowed hard, and gave voice to the truth that might have been too much, too soon with anyone else. With Kai? With my fated mate? They came just when they were needed. “I don’t want to lose you, Kai. I... I don’t want to lose my mate.”

The air between us crackled with tension. Kai’s gaze dropped to my lips, his breath coming faster. “Claire,” he whispered, a plea and a warning wrapped in one.

I leaned in, eliminating the last bit of space between us. “Stay,” I murmured against his lips.

His grip tightened, his eyes fluttering shut. For a moment, I thought he might push me away. But then his lips were on mine, rough and bruising. Desire washed through me, hot and sweet, chasing away the chill in my blood.

I reveled in the heat of Kai’s body against mine. The memory of those cold, dank woods, and the lingering fear that had plagued me for hours, disappeared. My senses were full of Kai—his scent, his taste, his touch.

Kai growled, the sound rumbling through both of us. His hands slid down to grip my ass, pulling me tighter against him. I moaned at the feeling of his hardness pressing into my hip, already aching for more.

We broke apart, gasping for air. Kai rested his forehead against mine, his chest heaving.

“Are you sure?” he asked. His voice stroked over me, igniting a fire in my veins. “This isn’t something you can take back. I will never let you go.”

His words were a vow. A promise. I nodded, pressing another kiss to his lips. “I don’t want to take it back. I want to be your mate.”

The last shred of his control snapped. With another growl, he claimed my lips in another searing kiss. His hands were everywhere, roaming over my body, exploring every curve and valley. I gasped as he lifted me, my legs wrapping around his waist as he carried me upstairs.

He laid me down on the bed, caging me in with his muscular arms. His lips trailed down the column of my throat, teeth nipping at the sensitive skin. I tangled my fingers in his hair as he ground his hips into me, eliciting another moan. My core throbbed with need, desperate for relief.

Kai seemed to read my mind. His hands dipped under the hem of my sweater, teasing across my stomach and higher. In one swift motion, he tugged it off, tossing it to the floor. His fingers found the clasp of my bra and had it off in seconds.

His eyes raked over me, pupils blowing wide. He ran a hand up my ribs, brushing his thumb against the swell of my breast. My head kicked back as he captured my nipple between his thumb and forefinger, squeezing lightly.

“Fates, Claire, you’re beautiful.” The words were a soft rumble. His gaze flickered back to my face as his other hand cupped my chin. “So fucking beautiful.”

Kai brought his lips back to mine as he pinched my nipple, swallowing my cry of pleasure. He kissed a path down my throat, across my collarbone, and lower.

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