Page 4 of An Unexpected Claim

I tore my eyes away from her to check my watch before they returned to the sway of her sexy ass as she moved from table to table.Two hours.

Certain circumstances in my life had instilled nearly endless patience and ironclad control over myself. But tonight, it had gone up in flames, and with every second that I didn’t have Peyton beneath me, I felt aggression building inside me.

Our gazes collided frequently and the potency in our looks acted like non-verbal foreplay. A rare smile curved my lips when her body tightened as if to stem a rush of passion.

Though my eyes stayed on Peyton, my thoughts drifted to the events that brought me out this evening. Asher, my head enforcer, and Jase, another of my enforcers, had dragged me out to The Spot after a particularly shitty day at the Council HQ.In addition to the shifter

I hated the city, preferring the rural setting of my Silver Lake home in upstate New York. But, if I was in the mood to find satisfaction with a woman, I would never do so with a member of my pack, so I stuck to the city. But this hadn’t seemed like what I needed after finding more evidence that the divide developing within the Councils appeared to be a deliberate plot.

Now, I’d have to give those assholes credit for the idea because my intuition told me that this night with Peyton would be more incredible than anything I’d ever experienced. And that said a lot considering my age.

A night together didn’t require us to know anything about each other, which was generally the way my hookups went. However, Peyton’s surprise that I hadn’t used my ability as the alpha to force submission from my packmates piqued my curiosity. I knew there were packs whose alphas abused their telepathic power—often referred to as a hive mind—and I had some knowledge of most of them through my connections. But to have experienced it, Peyton would have to be a member of their pack, which didn’t fit with my assessment of her. Not only did her breed of cat choose to not live in packs or settle down with a mate, but I sensed the restlessness of a lone shifter inside her.

Her attitude toward the hive mind hinted at it, but there was also an edginess about her that told me she was used to being on the move. I could see how a nomadic existence came naturally to her. It meant she was strong and capable because shifters without a pack were easier targets.

It also made her an ideal partner for a one-night adventure, so I ignored any interest in her beyond her delicious body.

While I watched her, I perused her features. Black hair hung in long, silky waves to her round ass. Every time she tucked strands of it behind her ears, she brought my attention to her bright green, intelligent eyes that had little flecks of gold and were framed with thick, black lashes. I avoided lingering on her plump, red mouth as it inspired thoughts that had the potential to break my control.

As the night progressed, the air in the club became more and more saturated with pheromones. The couples on the dance floor were grinding against each other while others were outright fucking in booths or dark corners. Shifters were not shy about sex, one of the traits that marked us as part animal.

My wolf pushed against me again, demanding to be set free. He wanted Peyton almost as much as I did. The glimpse of her cat when the yellow-gold bled into her emerald eyes hadn’t helped the situation. But I forced him to back off.

At ten to midnight, Peyton glanced at me one last time before disappearing into the employee area behind the bar. I debated following her but decided to wait and let her come to me.

I’d known instantly that she wasn’t a submissive shifter and as an alpha wolf it was my natural inclination to dominate. Although I preferred partners who didn’t immediately capitulate to my power. Something told me that Peyton wouldn’t easily submit, but the fight would be hot as hell.

Peyton reappeared still wearing the fitted leather pants she’d had on all night, but she’d swapped her black tank with the club’s logo for a one-shouldered black top that hugged her body. The outfit showcased her full breasts, athletic limbs, flat stomach and slender hips. She had a birthmark on her shoulder that was similar to the one on my bicep, except hers was shaped like the paw of a panther with extended claws. There was also a tattoo of a butterfly on her wrist. I licked my lips in anticipation of putting my hands and mouth all over her smooth skin and losing myself inside her.

When she reached my table, she ran her hands through her hair, pushing it back, giving me a glimpse of her ears, each with four jeweled studs. Uncommon for a shifter since they would remain in her animal’s ears when she changed form, but it fit her. As her hands fell to her side again, a ring glimmered on her right thumb, a gold band with an engraving I couldn’t read.

This woman continually intrigued me. Under different circumstances, I might have tried to delve in and discover her secrets. But my life had too many moving parts already. I didn’t need another complication.

Tonight was about one thing. We both knew where this was going, and the anticipation made the air around us flammable. One spark and we’d go up in flames.

“Do you want to dance?” Peyton asked in a husky voice that sent bolts of lust through me. I raised a brow, and a tiny smirk played at her red lips. “Horizontal mambo,” she said with a laugh.

My mouth curled up in a wicked grin as I stood. “Excellent idea.” I delved my hand into her hair and cupped her neck, pulling her forward as I bent my head and captured her mouth. My tongue immediately plunged in and explored before tangling with hers. She moaned and stepped closer, pressing her body against mine as I tilted her head and deepened the kiss. She tasted sweet, as though she’d been sucking on candy, and it made me even hungrier for her. My mouth watered from her scent—like honey and cloves.

I used both hands to palm her ass and boost her up, urging her to put her legs around my waist, and fitting our centers together. Groaning into her mouth, I ground the large bulge in my jeans between her thighs. When her head dropped back and she cried out, I was at the end of my restraint.

My first instinct was to do as the other patrons had done and find a dark corner to sate our lust, but I knew once with Peyton wouldn’t be enough. I wanted to find a bed where I could keep her naked and screaming until the sun came up.

Peyton panted as she raised her head and met my gaze with equal fervor. “My apartment is two blocks from here.”

Perfect.I debated for a second on whether to carry her there—no one on a New York City street would give us a second look. But when she wiggled her hot little body, I knew if I continued to hold her, the friction with each step would torture me the entire way and might derail my control.

Reluctantly, I set her down and gestured for her to lead the way. At least it provided a spectacular view for the walk.

Peyton didn’t waste any time in heading to the exit and power-walking the two blocks until she reached a red brick building that rose up five floors. She unlocked the front door, and we entered an old, but clean, tiled hallway. Then she opened the first door on the right before spinning around and snaking a finger into one of my belt loops. She yanked as she walked backward, and I let her pull me into the apartment.

My eyes never left Peyton as she pulled me across the room to another door, through which I glimpsed the only item that interested me. A bed.

I allowed her to be in charge until we crossed the threshold, then I took over. A second later, she was in my arms again, her legs around my waist and her back pressed against a wall. “I hope you’re prepared for what’s about to happen, Peyton,” I muttered gruffly. “Because it’s too fucking late to change your mind.”

“I can take it,” she said with as much conviction as she could through choppy breaths, her body trembling, and on the edge of release.

“You’re close,” I grunted smugly. All the eye-fucking we’d done had clearly primed her.

---