He realized then that he wanted to claim her. That’s why his body eagerly responded to her every move. He, who had no problem sleeping with women and leaving them, who had no place in his life for a mate, wanted Meredith. Permanently.
The concept stunned him. That’s what all the possessiveness he was feeling was about. The way she was able to soothe him in the midst of a crowd of humans. How he wanted her above all other females and couldn’t imagine ever wanting another. She was his mate.
“You’re thinking awfully hard about something,” she teased. “I can practically see the wheels in your head turning.”
He patted her butt and curled his hand around one firm cheek while trying to order his chaotic thoughts. “I’m fine.” And he was. She wasn’t his mate. This was only about phenomenal sex. Nothing more. No wonder he usually left before morning. Staying just messed with his head.
“You’re better than fine.” Her voice was low and sultry, making his dick flex. She laughed. “I can see you’re not the only one awake.” Reaching down, she stroked her hand over his erection. His hips rose to meet her and all thoughts and worries disappeared.
Not to be outdone, he dipped his fingers between the crease of her butt and found her sex. The tender folds were slick and damp. The gentle catch of her breath was followed by a breathy moan.
“Again?” She gasped as he slipped one finger in and out of her channel.
“If you’re not too sore.” As much as he wanted her, he didn’t want to push it if she was tender. Last night had been a vigorous workout for both of them.
“I’m not too sore.” She slid her hand from the base to the tip of his shaft and back down again.
He noticed she didn’t say she wasn’t sore and hesitated, removing his hand. He cupped her face in his hands. “Are you sure? We can wait.”
Her gaze softened and her lips parted. “I’m sure.”
She leaned down to kiss him, their lips almost touching.
A loud banging on her front door made her jerk so hard her forehead clunked his. She scrambled back and stared at the bedroom door, a look of horror on her face at the sound of the front door to her apartment being unlocked and opened. Heavy footsteps walked through the outer room, heading for the bedroom.
Isaiah heaved a sigh. There went his chance at sleepy morning sex and sure as hell ruined any chance he had of having breakfast with her.
Meredith scrambled for the sheets, tugging them to her chin. Isaiah leaned back against the headboard and waited. His preternatural sense of smell picked its way through the overwhelming perfume of sex that permeated the room and he scented the intruder. Not that he needed any special powers to know that it was one of her sons. Whether it was the more levelheaded Benjamin or the more aggressive Michael remained to be seen.
There was a short knock on the door. “Mom.” He knocked again. “Mom, you okay?”
Michael. Isaiah sighed, knowing this wasn’t going to be simple.
“I’ll be out in a minute, Michael.” She shot him a worried glance, but didn’t speak. Isaiah could have told her it was pointless to try and hide from her son. Michael’s sense of smell would kick in at any moment.
As if on cue, the door flew open and a furious Michael filled the doorway, his fists clenched at his sides and his wolf rippling under his skin. “What the fuck are you doing here?” he demanded, glaring at Isaiah.
“I think that would be obvious.” Isaiah had no idea why he was baiting the younger man, feeding the flames of his temper instead of trying to extinguish the fire.
Maybe it was the way Meredith stayed silent beside him. Was she ashamed of what had happened between them? His ego and his pride took a hit and he shoved back the sheet and rolled out of bed, doing nothing to hide his aroused state.
“Michael, you need to go downstairs.” She shooed him with one hand while keeping the other clenched around the sheet.
Isaiah could have told her it was useless. The sheet might cover most of her body, but there was no disguising the red marks on her neck from where the stubble on his jaw had abraded the tender flesh. Nor was there any way to hide the state of the bed and the smell of sex in the air.
Her son ignored her. “You sonofabitch,” he roared and attacked. Isaiah was ready for it, knew it was unavoidable. He was handicapped because he didn’t want to hurt Michael. That would just piss off Meredith and ensure he’d never get back in her bed.
Michael, on the other hand, felt no such restrictions. He pulled no punches as he swung at Isaiah. The wolf inside Isaiah went on alert, every sense acute, every instinct screaming at him to protect his woman. He ducked the punch and moved swiftly, coming up behind the younger man. Slipping his arms beneath Michael’s, he yanked up and clasped his hands behind his opponent’s neck, locking him into an unbreakable hold.
“Don’t hurt him,” Meredith cried as she all but leapt out of bed. Isaiah had no idea which one of them she was talking to, but she suspected it was him.
Michael must have thought the same thing because he growled and threw himself back, slamming Isaiah back against the wall. The entire room shook and a picture crashed to the floor, but Isaiah hung on. He had to get the younger man to calm down before he released him. He didn’t want to have to hurt him, but he would if he didn’t soon stop.
Her son was a strong man, big too. But he was no match for Isaiah who was several inches taller and a hell of a lot meaner. He’d been hunting bounty hunters and rogue wolves when he wasn’t much older than Michael.
“Isaiah!” Meredith’s frantic cry broke through the haze of his memories and he realized that Michael had stopped struggling. In fact, he was damn close to breaking the boy’s arms.
He took a deep breath and released him. To give him credit, the younger man moved slowly and the only sign he gave to the pain he must be in was a measured roll of his shoulders. Michael was tough, he’d give him that.
“I think you should leave.” The material wrapped around Meredith rustled as she walked toward them, her eyes pinned on him. “And you—” she turned on her son, “—we’ll talk about this as soon as I’m dressed.”
“You slept with him,” he spat.
She calmly nodded. “Yes, I did. And I don’t need your permission to do so. I’m still alpha of this pack.”
“Maybe not for long,” he challenged.
Isaiah bristled at the implied threat to Meredith and growled. She slapped her palm on the center of his chest, not taking her eyes off her son. He caught a glimpse of pain in her gaze before it disappeared behind a wall of calm.
“That may be, but for now I’m alpha. Go downstairs and wait. I won’t tell you again.”
“Mom,” he began, but broke off and shot an angry look at Isaiah.
She shook her head and nodded toward the door. Michael whirled around and stomped out of the room and down the hall. She winced when the front door slammed behind him.
“Well, that went well.” She secured the sheet around her, walked to her dresser and tugged open a drawer.
“Meredith,” he said her name, not quite certain what he was going to say. There was no way he was going to apologize for fighting with her son. Not that it was really a fight. Hardly even qualified as a scuffle. More posturing than anything. He was damned if he was going to let the young pup attack him and not defend himself.
She shut the drawer and turned, panties and a bra clutched in her hands. “I don’t want to talk about this. Not now.” She glanced toward the open bedroom door. “I have to talk with my sons and the rest of them.”
“What about us?” He was a fool for asking, but couldn’t seem to stop himself.
She laughed, but it wasn’t a happy sound. “There is no us. You’re passing through town.” She waved a hand toward the bed. “This was an affair. One I’d hoped to keep quiet.”