McKenzie, Cooper - Saving Chloe (Siren Publishing Classic) (9 page)

“Can you get up and walk?” he asked, offering her a hand.

She took his hand and stood up, but her knees remained weak, and she ended up leaning heavily against him.

“That’s okay, darlin’. Here, you hold this,” he said, handing her the shopping bag before lifting her into his arms, “and I’ll carry you.”

She stiffened then relaxed as he settled her high in his arms, making sure to hold the back of her skirt against her legs. No need to give the store clerks a free show. He walked out with his woman in his arms. He knew they both looked relaxed and happy, but he didn’t care what the clerks thought of them. After all, they probably had people coming in all the time to do just the same thing.

Chloe was quiet, and he thought she slept as he drove home, so he didn’t bother trying to talk. The classical music on the radio filled the comfortable silence.

When they reached his house, he opened her door. “You will stay with me tonight, won’t you?” he asked as he helped her to the ground.

She looked up at him and smiled. “I’d like that, but I have to go home in the morning because I promised Jasmine I’d make her cookies for her family lunch.”

“We’ll be talking about how those people are hurting you at a later time. For now, let go inside and get comfortable…or as comfortable as you can get,” he said, patting her ass, which he knew shifted the plug and made her jump as they crossed the yard to the porch steps.

* * * *

“But they’re my friends,” she protested. “I think.”

She yelped when Declan popped her left ass cheek with the flat of his hand as she crossed to the porch to the door.

“I’m serious, little one. Those people are borderline crazy. I have a feeling they could be dangerous if yer not verra careful around them.” He closed and locked the door once they were inside then pulled Chloe into his arms.

“You may be right, which is one of the reasons I haven’t completely blown them off. I’m afraid of what they might do in response,” she admitted softly as she rubbed her cheek back and forth against his chest.

“Don’t worry, darlin’. I’ll protect you from the Porch People,” Declan said as he wrapped his arms around her, his hands on her ass cheeks. He pulled her close enough that his erection pressed into her belly. “Still want to watch that movie?”

“Uh,” Chloe moaned as her body once again reacted to Declan’s nearness by kicking her brain off-line.

“I’ll take that as a ‘We can watch it while we play some more’?” Declan smiled down at her, heat and arousal clearly visible in his eyes.

“Okay.” Chloe smiled, relaxed and happy to follow wherever he led.

Declan guided her through the kitchen and stopped. “Would you like some wine? Another beer? Milk? Soda? I’m not guaranteeing I have all that, but—”

“Water would be great,” she said with a smile.

“Water it is.” Declan opened the refrigerator door and pulled out a bottle of water.

They moved down a hallway at the back of the kitchen. He pointed out the bathroom and pantry as they passed. When they reached the door at the end of the hall, he opened it then stepped back and allowed her to enter first. Flipping a light switch by the doorway turned on several small wall sconces, which illuminated the biggest bedroom Chloe had ever seen.

The king-size bed looked almost lonely sitting against the far wall, while a pair of leather club chairs sat in an alcove to the left facing a modest-sized flat-screen television. To the right was a small round table with two chairs. Something about the room made Chloe feel this room was rarely used, though she couldn’t put her finger on exactly what.

Declan opened the low cabinet under the television and looked at her. “What kind of movie are you in the mood for? Romantic? Comedy? Drama? Blood and guts?”

Chloe shrugged. “Whatever. The way I’m feeling, I’m not sure we’ll be seeing much of it anyway.”

“Mmmm, you’re probably right. Maybe we should just turn on some music instead.”

Chloe watched as he picked up a remote, and then turned on the television before hitting several buttons. The room filled with the sound of soft jazz as he laid the remote down and turned to smile at her. All at once she grew nervous. Would he throw her on the bed and claim her without any other foreplay? Or had he changed his mind about making her his mate?

“Dance with me?” he asked, extending one hand.

Chapter 10

“I’d be honored,” Chloe said. She crossed the open space between them and took his hand.

She wasn’t surprised when he began to slowly waltz her around the room. She felt awkward and stiff, the plug changing her posture and shifting every time she moved. He, on the other hand, danced smoothly. His moves were coordinated and fluid as he led her around the large room. Obviously, he’d done this a time or two.

Chloe didn’t feel the awkwardness she normally did when dancing with a partner. With Declan, it felt right to be in his arms and follow where he led, which was unusual since she normally resented anyone who tried to boss her around, though inevitably she gave in. But now she submitted to him easily, allowing him to show her the way, both in and out of bed. With a sigh, she shifted close enough to lay her head on his shoulder.

Declan tightened his hold as their dance steps slowed. Soon they simply swayed back and forth, turning circles in one spot next to the bed.

“Look at me, Chloe,” he whispered.

Lifting heavy, relaxed eyelids, Chloe dropped her head back until she met his blue-eyed gaze.

“I want desperately to claim ye as my mate, but ye have to be sure ye want this. If I do, we will be mates forever. There will be no other man for you in this lifetime.”

“Will I become a vampire?”

“No, little one. Vampires are born, not made. When ye become my mate, there will be some changes. Ye will live as long as I do, which, as ye know, is a very, very long time. We will be able to communicate telepathically. Ye may also gain physical strength and develop the ability to sway others to yer way of thinking.”

“Wow, I’ve never been able to change anyone’s mind before. I usually just give in or shut down when someone starts a fight,” Chloe said with a sigh.

She stepped back until he released her. As she paced around the room, she tried to think but couldn’t. All she wanted to do was wrap herself around Declan and hold on forever. But she’d just met him. Was this really the right thing to do?

* * * *

Declan watched Chloe walk around the room and waited for her decision like a little boy anticipating the last bell on the final day of the school year. As the minutes extended, he was tempted to grab her and demand she agree. Instead, he locked his hands together behind his back, his fingers clenched so tight he caused himself pain and had to relax them.

Finally, she turned and walked back to stand two feet in front of him. “Yes, Declan, I want to be your mate. Please claim me.”

Declan released the breath he’d been holding. “Thank you, darlin’. I’ll do anything and everything I can so yer blissfully happy the rest of our days together.”

He wanted to grab her, tear off every stitch they were both wearing, and claim her immediately but hesitated. She deserved better. She deserved more romance than he’d shown her up to this point.

Just then a slow, bluesy piece began to play. “Dance again?” he asked with a smile.

Chloe nodded and stepped into his open arms again. This time, he focused on using the dance as a tool of arousal. He ran his hand down over her ass to cup and fondle her cheeks. He pulled her closer and closer until she could feel his erection against her belly. At the same time, the twin points of her nipples pressed into chest. That small touch built his own sexual fire even higher.

When she moaned and began to shift her hips sideways against him, he gritted his teeth to keep from exploding right there. He could take no more before he came himself. Running a hand down her spine, he slid one finger down the valley of her ass to shift the end of the plug. He smiled when her breathing hitched.

His own hesitated a moment later when she pressed her pelvis harder into his cock before arching her hips back into his fingers. Bending his head, Declan found himself looking at a woman who was so excited she was panting. Her eyes sparkled and flashed at him, and he knew it was time to move to the next level.

He released her and stepped back, earning a whining growl from his beautiful mate. “Strip, darlin’. I’m goin’ ta change out that plug before I make love ta ye until yer senseless, and then I’ll claim you fer me mate.” His accent had grown so thick he barely understood himself.

Chloe moaned her need as she began to fumble her way out of her clothes. Declan watched for a moment then started working on the buttons of his shirt. His hands were shaking so much he couldn’t work them. Giving up, he jerked his shirt open, sending buttons flying. His pants weren’t so easily dealt with, so he took a deep breath and forced himself to slow down long enough to work the button and zipper.

Finally they were both naked, and all Declan could do was stand and stare at his beautiful woman. She looked uncomfortable, so he closed the small space between them and hugged her.

“You are so damn gorgeous,” he murmured as he brushed kisses over the top of her head. “All round and curvy like a woman is supposed to be.”

She lifted her head and stared into his eyes as if to see if he was serious. “Do you really think so?”

“Oh, yes, darlin’. Women are supposed to look like women, not like stick figures. You’re perfect. Absolutely perfect.”

With that, he cupped her ass in his hands and lifted her high against his body, earning a purr as their bodies brushed against one another. “The Fates have chosen the perfect mate for me.”

Turning, he set her on the bed and gave her a quick kiss. “Get up on your hands and knees so I can change out your plug.”

* * * *

Not sure what had gotten into her, Chloe scrambled to do as he’d requested. She then watched as he dumped the rest of the contents of the bag onto the nightstand and picked up the second, larger plug. She began to shiver as he carefully and thoroughly lubed it up before moving behind her.

She tried to turn and watch what he was doing. She yelped when he pinched her left ass cheek.

“Hold still, little one. In fact, drop your shoulders to the bed. Then stretch your arms over your head.”

She did as he demanded and found she could not move away when he blew across the entrance to her pussy. She moaned when his tongue parted the top of her slit then slowly dragged between her pussy lips. When he reached her clit, he stopped and swirled circles over the knotted flesh. That simple touch sent Chloe dangerously close to the edge of sanity.

“Declan,” she moaned. “Need more.”

“Shhh, darlin’,” he said.

She jolted when he began to play with the plug in her ass, twisting it and easing it out, and then back in. He continued playing with it, pulling it nearly all the way out before pressing it in fully until she began to move in counterpoint to his movements.

She sucked in a breath when he pulled the plug fully from her. When it returned, feeling colder and slightly different, she sighed. Declan slowly worked the plug back in again, and when her muscles began to burn and protest being stretched farther than before, Chloe realized he had switched plugs, and this was one of the bigger ones.

Once again she began to move, pushing back against the plug as Declan pushed it into her, wanting, no needing, to feel the fullness of this newer, bigger intruder. She sighed when she felt the base press against her perineum and Declan kiss her back just above the cleft of her ass.

Chloe’s hips continued to arch up and down, needing just a little more to find the pinnacle of her release. When she felt him move away, she wanted to jump up and tackle him. But her body refused to do her mind’s bidding. It was too wrapped up in trying to fuck air.

“You deserve a reward for being such a good girl,” he praised as he patted one ass cheek. “Do you want to come on my tongue or on my cock?”

Chloe’s brain was so far gone that she could only grunt in response. At that moment she didn’t care how. She just needed his touch to drive her the last few inches to the peak of pleasure.

She didn’t even have it in her to get upset when Declan chuckled, a dark, sexy sound. “Don’t care? Then cock it is. I’m so turned on by this, I don’t know that I’ll be able to go slow.”