Blind Date With A Bear(50)

“We both know better than that, Blackwood. Hart will send his dogs and take me down.” In a swift move, Marcum released his chokehold and grabbed Paige with one hand. Sharp claws appeared at the tips of his figures and he dug one into the side of her throat.

She gasped at the pressure and Quinn snarled as he watched a trickle of blood run down the side of Paige’s neck. At the moment, he felt more wolf than bear. “You just signed your fucking death warrant you son-of-a-bitch.”

He was about to lunge forward and just fucking pull Paige from his arms, when the bastard raised his hand and placed the barrel of a gun against Paige’s temple. “One step closer and your mate dies.”

Paige’s eyes pleaded with Quinn to be careful. There was no fear, no doubt that he would indeed get her out of this mess. Then her eyes changed and she looked as if she was begging for his forgiveness. Before he could stop her she let her body go limp and become a dead weight in Marcum’s arm. It was the opening he needed to lunge hard and fast. He vowed to put his mate over his knee when this was over. The move forced the bastard’s attention away from Quinn and he struck. He felt Ryland move around him and grab Paige by the arm, yanking her to safety. Ryker charged from the other side. It wasn’t necessary, Quinn had his hand around Marcum’s throat and was on the verge of snapping the jackal’s neck when he heard Paige’s voice.

“Quinn, let him go, baby. Let him go.”

He hadn’t realized his bear had come out until he looked down and saw his claws had extended from the tips of his fingers and his hand had sprouted long brown hair. Over the sound of his blood pounding in his ears, he heard Paige repeat his name over and over again. Once Ryker grabbed the man from him, Paige launched herself at him and he caught her and pulled her close. He ran his hands. “Are you okay? Tell me you’re okay, sweetheart.”

Tears were coursing down her face, but she was smiling. “Yes, I’m fine, I’m fine.” She placed tiny kisses over his face, rubbing her hands through his hair. He realized that she’d wound her legs around his waist and her sweet center was rubbing his cock through the placket of his jeans. He caught the back of her head in his hand. He claimed her mouth in a savage kiss, his fangs piercing the tender skin of her lips. Never again, he vowed. Never again. He’d always keep his mate safe.

While the man who had impersonated the building inspector would be dealt with by the police, Marcum’s punishment would be carried out by the shifter Council. Larson Hart, the Council leader, had assured Quinn the jackal would receive his just desserts. Quinn had no doubt, he was a man of his word. Right now, Quinn was more concerned with getting Paige home and claiming his mate.





CHAPTER NINE



Conflicting urges tore at him as he unlocked the door to her small rental house. He wanted to pamper her, comfort her, and make up for the terror she had experienced at the hands of the vengeful shifter. He also wanted to grab her, hold her, and kiss that plump mouth until it was bruised from his possession. Not to mention all the things he wanted to do to her pussy. The first thing he needed to do was make sure she knew exactly who she was. His true mate.

As far as she knew, they’d gone out on a blind date and had sex. As his father—and sister, after she’d been told of the events of the afternoon—had pointed out, he hadn’t convinced her she was his mate. While humans could feel that instant attraction, they didn’t immediately recognize the other part of their soul, not like a shifter. “Are you sure you’re okay, Paige?”

“I’m fine. He really didn’t hurt me, just scared me a little.” Paige’s mind still whirled with the events of the last hour. The fake email had been sent by the man who had held her hostage. He was the business rival of Quinn’s who had been responsible for sabotaging the site over the last several months. The same incidents that had kept pulling Quinn away from her. She really should have kneed the guy when she’d had the chance.

Quinn went from courteous and concerned straight into over-the-top-male rage in sixty seconds flat. He grabbed her by the shoulders and gave her a slight shake. “What the fuck were you thinking?”

“Excuse me?”

“I should put you over my damn knee and spank you.”

“Excuse me?” She knew she sounded like a broken record.

“What did you think you were doing, pulling that fainting routine?”

“How do you know I didn’t feel faint?” The look in his eyes said she was crazy if she thought he believed that for a moment. “All right, maybe it wasn’t the smartest thing to do. But it works in the movies. I couldn’t let him shoot you, Quinn.”