Page 22 of Shifted Existence

Talon rolled his eyes. Now she was just being defiant for defiance’s sake. He stalked across the room, grabbing the hem of his shirt and drawing it over her head before he picked her up by the waist, carried her to the tub and dropped her in. She came up sputtering and grabbing the sides as if to get out.

“You will stay in that tub and bathe yourself. If you do not, I will lift you out of the tub and spank you until you choose to do so.” He stood over her, glowering down, releasing a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding when she relaxed her grip and relaxed back into the water. “Good mate.”

Watching her pick up the sea sponge and the scented bathing soap to wash her body was far more erotic than it should have been. He had seen plenty of naked she-wolves bathe; none had ever stirred him the way she did. Not only was she beautiful and innately sensual, but the look of pure pleasure on her face as the hot water worked its magic made him happy in a way he’d never thought possible.

“If you want to wash your hair, I will get fresh water and rinse it for you.”

“Why?” she asked with a trembling voice.

“You are my mate. It is my responsibility to care for you in whatever way you need. You are enjoying your bath. I can’t imagine the conditions you have lived in.”

“And can’t understand why I don’t jump at the chance to be your sexual plaything?”

“No. That I understand. While I know your life will be far better here with me, I also know what you have been told in the Conquered Realm. All I can tell you is that they were, if not outright lies, then shaded variations of the truth. There are packs here and in the New Moon Expanse that I would argue you’d be better off in the Conquered Realm. But in my territory that is not the case. When you have settled, talk to the other she-wolves who come from your old reality. Ask them if they would trade this life for the one they had.”

“But they weren’t given the choice.”

“Choice is something of an illusion for all of us.”

“Not as far as I can see. You chose me and I have nothing to say about it.”

“Fate chose us for each other. The Mirror in the river spoke to you, as well as to me. I have the advantage having been born with your scent in my nostrils, but it has also made me turn away from other she-wolves…”

He was interrupted by a soft rapping on the side of the tent before Melea, who supervised the cooking and feeding of the camp, entered bearing a tray of food—fruit, meats, sweets. “I wasn’t sure what your mate would like, so brought her an assortment.”

“Thank you, Melea. That was kind of you.” He took the tray and Melea departed. “Our realities evolved along a very common plane. You should recognize most of this. If not, just ask.”

He set the tray down beside her and watched as her eyes grew round and heard her belly grumble as she turned away.

“It’s not poisoned or drugged in any way,” he said. “You need to eat. How will you ever escape me if you don’t keep up your strength?”

Bailey splashed water at him. “You make fun all you want, but I will be free.”

“I am not making light of your situation. You have made your feelings known, but I have also felt your longing for a better life. We just disagree on how you might best accomplish that. When was the last time you had a proper meal? Perhaps if you can accept what is being offered and put aside your anger as to how it came to you, you will find that you rather like it here with me.”

“Never,” she said, shaking her head as if trying to convince herself.

“Never is a very long time, Bailey.”

CHAPTER14

Talon had thought if he brought her in slung over his shoulder with the evidence of his discipline and claiming on full display, she would acquiesce. Nothing had been further from the truth. He knew cleaning the claiming mark had been painful, but she wouldn’t even admit to that. She was angry, arrogant, and defiant, but he feared it was those very traits that drew him to her.

He tried to rein in his arousal. The thought of dragging her out of the tub, laying her out on the bed, settling himself between her thighs and knotting her for the first time held more than a little allure. Talon wondered if she had any idea how close she had come to being knotted and tied down by the river. She had no way of knowing. Even though she was keenly intelligent, she knew so little of Eclipse Province or those who inhabited it, including him. The Conquered Realm had done their females no favors by casting the wolf-shifters as the ultimate bogey man.

She had tried to deny him when he’d pulled her close, but her resistance had been fleeting. Bailey had allowed her walls to fall down and had melted into his body, offering herself to him. He had felt her tremble in his arms as she fought the instinct to give over and submit to him as her fated mate. He knew it was difficult for her—her body’s natural reaction was in sharp contrast to what she had been taught she wanted.

Talon knew he needed to dance on the razor’s edge with her. He had no desire to crush her spirit, but he needed her to commit to him, to acquiesce and accept his authority in all things. She was far more dangerous than just your average fractious she-wolf. He wondered if she understood that she, too, was alpha and that as such, her she-wolf would only intensify her emotions.

He fisted her hair and drew her out of the tub. Even naked and spent, she was a sight to behold. He tugged down on her hair, a wordless command to get to her knees. She defied him as he knew she would. Never releasing her hair, he placed his other hand on her shoulder and pressed down with enough force to make her sink to her knees at his feet.

Keeping her hair in one hand, he unlaced his breeches with the other. “Open,” he commanded.

She did so—not to comply, but to defy him. But an opening was all he needed to push his rapidly hardening cock past her lips. He groaned with pleasure as her lips wrapped around his staff and once more he was surrounded by her wet heat. He tugged on her hair, encouraging her to take him deeper and she did so, sliding her tongue along the sensitive underside.

He locked eyes with her unflinching gaze as he began to move her head back and forth along his cock. The sight of it disappearing into her mouth was one of the most erotic things he’d ever seen. Talon had no desire to break her spirit; he wanted her to choose to accept his dominance. He knew it was too soon for that, but her obedience in accepting that she would pleasure him was a good start.

When her teeth grazed his skin a second time, he growled. “Don’t even think about it. If it happens again, you’ll feel my strap across your pretty bottom enough times that you won’t sit for a week.”

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