She was so enchanting and had inner strength he respected. His words disturbed her, she was afraid, but she was attempting to be brave. "I don't want you to be fully vampire. You couldn't withstand the sun. My blood will protect you from having that weakness."

"Because you're also a werewolf."

It was difficult to follow her thoughts. Many of them were streaming so quickly he could only catch a word or two. Jasmine was smart, something he already knew. She was trying to make sense of it all, using books she'd read and logical guesses to fill in the blanks.

"Exactly."

Mate. That word kept popping into her thoughts, and he concentrated harder, attempting to focus on just the ones on that subject.

Mate. s.e.x. G.o.d, he's hot. It wouldn't be so bad. Who am I kidding? The guy would probably blow my mind with s.e.x if he didn't suck me dry of blood and kill me first.

"I barely know you. I need to think about this," came out of her mouth.

I love his eyes, regardless of what color they are. And his chest. He's so big. I wonder if he's one of those guys who are all muscle because he uses steroids. Did it shrink his package to a tiny size? Don't you dare glance at his crotch. He's watching and he'd notice. That would be so embarra.s.sing. Are you kidding? Who cares about that? He says he's a vampire who's also a werewolf. Of course, I'd have to be attracted to him, right? Of all the men to pick to obsess over. Good going, Jas. Oh my G.o.d. How can this be real? Do I run? Scream? Fight? What the h.e.l.l do I do? I'm so out of my league. s.h.i.t! He's staring at me and his eyes are glowing again. Can he really read my mind? That disturbs the h.e.l.l out of me. Who could date someone like that? There'd be no privacy at all. What relationship could survive that? s.h.i.t. I think he is reading my mind. La, la, la, la, la. Does that even work? Maybe I should start singing nursery rhymes. I know I'd want to get the h.e.l.l out of my head if I had to hear my singing.

Chase shielded her thoughts to prevent any more from reaching him. He had expected her reservations about becoming his mate, but not how bothered she'd be by his ability to read her mind. He decided to make it clear there really wasn't a choice. She was logical. "Your life was already taken, Jasmine. It belongs to me now."

He regretted the words instantly when she lunged at the weapon, waving the curved point of the poker at him. It was the wrong approach.

"Get back!"

"Sweetheart, you couldn't hurt me with that." To prove his point, he moved fast, removing it from her hold before she could even gasp. One arm wrapped around her waist and hoisted her off her feet to pin her against the wall. "The important part is that we'll be together."

She flattened her hands on his chest as her eyes widened with fear. He hated her reaction but could understand. He dropped the poker and slid his fingers into her hair to protect her head from the bricks if she attempted to pull back.

"Let me go."

"I can't. You're mine, Jasmine. I wanted you when we met, but I didn't want to introduce you to the darker side of life. Someone else did that when you were taken."

"You could make me forget it all, couldn't you?"

"Yes." He lowered his gaze to her mouth, wanting to kiss it. "But you were almost killed. It could happen again. I'm not willing to risk that. I wanted you, and destiny brought us together for a second time for a reason." His gaze held hers.

"Destiny? You believe in that?"

"Yes." He was tempted to read her again but resisted. It made him feel guilty, considering she was probably singing "Old McDonald" or some other childhood song inside her head right now, believing it would protect her from that invasion of privacy.

"I don't."

"Not yet, but I'll convince you."

"I don't think you can."

"Kiss me."

He'd show her there was pa.s.sion between them. It had always been there, but he'd resisted it when they'd spent those four evenings together viewing properties. Seeing her in that bas.e.m.e.nt, understanding how close she'd come to death, changed that. She was everything he'd always wanted, and she deserved better than living in a dark world. But she could have died-and good intentions be d.a.m.ned.

The second her mouth parted to voice a protest, he was there.

Jasmine's lips were as soft as they looked when he covered them. She gasped but his tongue m.u.f.fled the sound as he a.s.serted his dominance to his mate. White-hot fervor rolled through him when she kissed him back, her hands fisting his shirt. The animal side of him snarled, wanting to claim her.

Chapter Three.

No one had ever kissed Jasmine the way Chase did. It wasn't just lips coming together. Her entire body seemed affected by each thrust of his tongue against hers. A spark of warmth turned into a burning need that flared to life and slowly spread to her lower belly. His fingers tangled in the hair at the base of her neck and tugged her head back to gain better access. Carnal images were forced into her mind.

She clawed at his shirt, tearing at the fabric in desperate need to feel skin. One of her legs wrapped around his waist to hook over his muscular a.s.s. It was as if pure l.u.s.t poured out of him and into her. Jasmine couldn't get close enough-rubbing against him, she moaned. She'd gone from frightened to burning alive with s.e.xual need.

Her back flattened against the wall as Chase's body pressed tighter to her front. His pelvis ground between her thighs, rubbing his trapped, stiff c.o.c.k along the seam of her panties.

The nightshirt she wore rode up, only the barriers of her panties and his jeans separating them. The rigid length of his c.o.c.k brushed back and forth, heightening her desire to feel him inside her. It was insane yet it all made sense. She didn't want to question-just feel.

This was the guy she'd fantasized about almost nightly. He had been a gentleman, holding her hand while they'd traipsed around woods in the dark, and he'd always opened her car door when she'd met him. He made her laugh with his quick wit. Chase had been mysterious with his short replies about his personal life but he was a good man. She'd known the difference after dealing with a lot of clients who hit on her at the first opportunity. Not once had he made her feel uncomfortable or afraid.

It had been the complete opposite instead. She'd felt safe with Chase-protected and comfortable. He was smart, talking about books he'd read and current events. They had things in common. He loved to watch the same action films she did and enjoyed cooking. He'd listened to her as if what she said mattered, and he was attentive. She'd just really liked him. It had been disappointing when he hadn't asked her out after she'd dropped hints that she'd welcome more time spent together.

And his package was impressive-not small at all.

His hips slowly rocked against her c.l.i.t, drawing her closer to climax. It felt so good she almost bit him when the pleasure grew too strong. He seemed to know it too, as he tore his mouth away to shift attention to the column of her neck instead. Hot, wet kisses trailed from under her ear to the top of her shoulder, where the nightshirt stopped him from going lower.

His teeth raked her sensitive skin and she moaned louder. She was pretty sure those were fangs, and they felt amazing. He could bite her, but no fear rose over that thought. Instead, she almost wanted to feel them just for the sake of knowing any part of him was inside her.

He untangled his hand from her hair, gripped the nightshirt, and shoved it higher as he adjusted his body to put s.p.a.ce between their hips. A slight tug was the only warning before her panties were ripped away. She opened her eyes to watch them sail across the room. It was a speak-now-or-this-is-happening moment as he worked his zipper open to free his c.o.c.k. She wasn't a virgin, and she knew silence implied consent.

She wanted Chase Woods. Right or wrong, crazy or not, she wasn't going to say no.

He didn't do what she expected. Instead of entering her, his fingers explored her s.e.x. She was wet and ready but he pressed his thumb over the bundle of nerves, drawing circles over her c.l.i.t. She moaned louder as the pleasure grew more intense, digging her fingernails into his shirt where she clutched at his shoulders to help support her weight, which he held with one arm. It seemed easy for him.

"Jasmine," he rasped, slightly out of breath. "Say yes."

"Yes!"

She had wanted him for a long time-too long. It had taken months for her to abandon all hope that he'd call to ask her on a date. It had been depressing. He wanted her now though, and it wasn't just a one-night stand. He was looking for a mate.

"Wait," she panted, suddenly filled with questions before they went any further. The memory of their past gave her pause.

He growled in frustration but stopped kissing her, and his thumb stilled as he pulled his face back until their gazes met. "What?" His eyes narrowed as he peered deeply into hers. "Yes," he said, obviously reading her mind. "I'm serious about the mating. We'll live together here, where you'll be safe. I'll still have my job but you'll never have to worry about me cheating. You'll be it for me, the only one I want, Jasmine." He paused. "How can you be sure? Mates are bonded. You'll be able to read my thoughts and feelings. We'll feel a type of addiction to each other that nothing else can compare to."

"Do you have to keep reading my mind?" She glared at him, irritated. She didn't want to think about that.

"Sorry. I want you too." He adjusted her in his arms, pinning her tightly to the wall again. "I've wanted you since we met, and I really need you to agree to spend your life with me." A smile tugged at his lips. "Yes. You'll live a lot longer. We could have hundreds, if not thousands of years together. No, we won't grow bored of each other. The bond won't allow it. The s.e.x will be incredible, and we'll be emotionally intertwined. Two becoming one, is how it's been explained to me. We'll have our own ident.i.ties but we will complement each other."

"I'm a little afraid," she admitted. "This is going way too fast."

"I know, but I can't give you the time you want. There's no way you're leaving here without becoming my mate. I almost lost you once-I won't risk it again. You're too vulnerable as a human to return to the outside world. There won't be dinner dates and courtship first to a.s.sure you I'm the right choice."

"What if I regret it after it's done? We don't know each other that well. Can't you give me a few days? I haven't seen you in almost a year and there was a lot you wouldn't tell me."

A pained expression crossed his handsome features. "You can't leave here, but I understand your need for time to make the decision with confidence."

"What do you mean I can't leave?" That alarmed her. Was she a prisoner?

"No, you're not a prisoner," he answered, still seemingly aware of what she was thinking. "It's not safe for you to be anywhere else."

"I have a life, a house I'm paying off, and a job." A dozen other objections filled her head. "You can't expect me to give up my entire world to live in yours." It was too much for any sane person to ask of another. "We need to discuss this."

He glanced down between their bodies and growled. "There is plenty of time for that later. Do I have to keep my hands off you?" He looked up, reading her again. "We make love while sharing blood to mate. I'll bite you to take yours while you drink mine to seal the mating bond."

"You already gave me your blood."

"To heal you. We have to exchange blood and s.e.x at the same time to lock the mate bond." He ground his hips against her again, this time nothing separating them. "I can't get you pregnant. We'd have to be mates already for it to take. I don't need a condom. I don't have any diseases."

All her questions and insecurities fled at the feel of Chase's thick c.o.c.k sliding against her bare c.l.i.t when his pelvis pressed against her. Pleasure had her shaking in his hold, clutching him frantically just to keep grounded. He rubbed their bodies together in a slow, erotic dance, their hips rocking together.

She'd worry about the future later. The man she wanted most was making thought impossible as he seduced her. Chase was doing a fantastic job too. Need and desire conquered logic.

"Say yes." His husky demand against her ear was too s.e.xy. "Let me in."

She couldn't speak, too overcome with pa.s.sion, but she managed a sharp nod. She wanted him, and no way would she deny the s.e.xual chemistry and mind-blowing o.r.g.a.s.m he silently promised.

He kept moving, torturing her with each stroke of his rigid flesh sliding against her c.l.i.t. He felt big, extremely hard, and knew how to take a woman to the edge of losing her mind enough to beg. It was on the tip of her tongue to do just that when he shifted her a little higher.

"Wrap your legs around my waist."

She adjusted her thighs higher, wishing to feel skin instead of his shirt. Part of her regretted they weren't naked. It would mean halting what he was doing though, separating to strip, and she was too close to coming to do that. She ached from need and wasn't strong-willed enough to find patience. She had none when it came to Chase Woods.

He growled low, an animalistic sound that just turned her on more. It reminded her that he wasn't all human. It wasn't a deterrent. Instead it just heightened the desire for him to take her. His pelvis shifted away but then he was back. The broad crown of his c.o.c.k nudged against her wet v.a.g.i.n.al opening and paused.

She wiggled, rolling her hips with him poised there, wanting him. "Chase," she urged. "Please?"

"There's no going back," he swore in that same rough tone. "You're mine."

Then he shifted and grabbed her a.s.s with his big hands while his hips slowly thrust upward.

Jasmine moaned at the feel of him entering her. He was as wide as she'd estimated and the feel of being stretched and taken was all-consuming. She was wet, ready, and the nerve endings inside her p.u.s.s.y sent ecstasy straight to her brain as his c.o.c.k completely filled her. It barely registered that she cried out his name.

"f.u.c.k," he snarled. "I knew it."

She wondered what that meant somewhere in the back of her mind, but then he was moving inside her, withdrawing, slamming home deep, over and over. There was nothing but their heavy breathing, sounds of their bodies slapping together, and the eager need to reach that wonderful place they both sought.

It hit Jasmine first, the climax tearing through her with such force, she wondered if she'd survive. Her body trembled and Chase followed when her v.a.g.i.n.al muscles clamped around him, fluttering from her release.

"Son of a b.i.t.c.h," he panted, his body shaking too.

She felt him coming. Strong jets of s.e.m.e.n filled her. She could feel every blast as he groaned and buried his face against her throat. It just drew out her own climax, and she was sure he felt a little bigger, as if that were possible. His thrusts tightened into sharp jerks.

Chase barely remained on his feet. It was a miracle his knees hadn't buckled but he'd been too afraid of Jasmine getting hurt if they crashed to the floor. She was his weakness in every sense, both physically and emotionally, the way he felt with her in his arms.

He'd known she was special the moment they'd met, and those indications had grown with every minute they'd spent together while searching prospective properties. It had been tough walking away from her when their business concluded, but she'd been too sweet to horrify by introducing her into his world.

He'd chosen to let her go rather than damage her innocence about all things Other. It would have been impossible to hide his true nature from her if they'd dated. He wouldn't have been able to keep his hands off her, and she would have noticed when his eyes changed color and his fangs grew during the heat of pa.s.sion. Making her forget by controlling her mind had been an option, but long-term exposure to memory wipes could damage her sanity.

The rogue had changed all that. She could have died, and Chase wouldn't allow it to happen again. Her job put her at risk of meeting unpleasant strangers and giving them opportunity to harm her when they were alone. He should have seen it coming, but he'd been too focused on protecting her from the harsh reality that humans were lower on the food chain than they a.s.sumed.

Any residual doubts of her being his mate were gone. His werewolf traits weren't usually dominant but they had flared to life with a vengeance. The animal inside him recognized her for who she was-his.

His d.i.c.k was aching-swollen still, even after coming so hard-and wouldn't be leaving Jasmine's snug p.u.s.s.y anytime soon. I get it, he told that part of himself. She's mine. I'm paying attention.

It was tough to turn around and walk to the bed. He really did feel shaky and weak. It was another symptom of her being his mate. Nature's way of b.i.t.c.h-slapping the toughest of his kind came with physical symptoms to emphasize it, making them realize they weren't complete without someone to share their lives with.

He stretched out on the mattress with Jasmine on top of him. She didn't protest, just shifted her legs to straddle his. Her rapid breathing slowed as she recovered, and he yanked up the nightshirt to stroke his fingers down her back and a.s.s. She had a nice one, and he'd marked it up a little when he'd gripped her too firmly. His blood inside her would a.s.sure there'd be no bruising, but the red imprints of his hold were there when he lifted his head to peer down.

b.a.s.t.a.r.d. He should have taken her on the bed, made love to her instead of nailing her against the wall. She deserved better, but he'd denied himself far too long. He'd tried being n.o.ble by resisting his attraction to her. No more.

He'd never forget seeing her in that bas.e.m.e.nt with torn flesh where she'd been bitten, her wrists raw and bleeding, and how she'd trembled in his arms when he'd held her. One more day and she wouldn't have survived. He hadn't even known she'd been in trouble.

I should have kept tabs on her. I should have watched out for her. I should have- f.u.c.k! He'd left her exposed to danger, is what it boiled down to. She was his mate and he'd been too stubborn to admit the reality of it. He'd shrugged it off as strong attraction and nothing more. Seeing her so near death had been an instant wake-up call.

"How are you?" He nuzzled her cheek.

"Good."

He loved her voice, so feminine and pleasant to his ears. Her skin was soft and she had the s.e.xiest curves. He trailed one hand to her hip, giving it a gentle squeeze. His mate wasn't bony the way most werewolves and vampires tended to be. She'd been right about the women who frequented the club. They were too perfect, thanks to their bloodlines. Or because of plastic surgery, if they were groupies there for the thrill of living dangerously. The humans thought it was just a place to meet rich, handsome men in the Goth scene, and were interested in having s.e.x with them in hopes of a fun time or a benefactor. They weren't aware they were volunteering to be late-night snacks for any vamp whose eye they caught.

Jasmine was all his, perfect just the way she was, and he'd make sure that didn't change. He could protect her by keeping her hidden inside his den. No way did he plan to expose her to the people he knew. His vamp bosses were trustworthy but other vampires were p.r.i.c.ks. They viewed humans as the weaker species, only good for drinking and f.u.c.king. There were rules in place to stop them from killing for either purpose, but she'd view vamps as monsters. He could relate. Sometimes he hated their cold indifference to anyone they believed inferior.

He cringed when thinking about his pack. He'd never intended to become their leader, but they'd smelled the wolf inside him. Their alpha had challenged him the moment he'd taken the job as head of security at the club, refusing to take orders or back down. He'd had to kill the idiot when he'd refused to submit.

Some of the females in the pack aggressively pursued Chase. He wasn't interested, but Jasmine wouldn't easily be accepted as his mate. He could think of two b.i.t.c.hes who would challenge her for the right to be at his side. Not going to happen.

He'd walk away from the pack, his job, everything just to keep Jasmine safe.

He and his sister would protect her if Arry ever gave away the location of his secret den. It was doubtful it would happen. They had too much in common, came from the same vampire nest where they'd been raised, and while she was a pain in the a.s.s, he didn't count her as a threat. She just annoyed him by believing they should settle for each other as mates. He'd set her straight.

Jasmine stirred on his chest and raised her chin. Uncertainty shone in her direct stare. He easily read all her concerns. It was good that she was taking all this better than he had guessed she would. Screaming and crying had been options he'd considered.

"You're safe here with me. I'd never allow anyone or anything to hurt you."

"What do you really want from me?"

It was a tough question. The answer would scare her. Everything. "Your life as you knew it is gone. The rogue might have friends. I didn't find any indications of anyone else living with him, but it's a real possibility that someone is keeping tabs on him. They would seek revenge. You could become a target."