"For fuck's sake," I mutter, stretching both ends simultaneously. My fingers brush her skin and I barely bite back a growl of excitement. It's baby soft. Smooth. My cock strains eagerly toward her and, like an idiot, I inhale deeply. The smell of her pheromones and arousal makes me dizzy. Judging by her scent, she's close to ovulation-they must've known that. Must've known that no full-blooded shifter male could survive being locked up with a naked alpha she-wolf in heat over the full moon without claiming her at the very least, if not marking her forever his.
I manage to cover her pussy and one breast with my shirt before I drop the fabric and step back. One more brush of her skin and I swear I'll be pawing every inch of her.
I somehow drag my eyes away from her uncovered breast, with its peach-tipped nipple beaded up and hard. I wonder which part of this scenario turns her on-the bondage, nudity, or my attention on her fucking gorgeous body. No, I definitely don't want to know.
My breath grows short as a fresh shot of lust kicks through me. I clear my throat. "You're American?"
She nods. "Are you?" Her voice comes out half-whisper half-croak and she clears it and runs her pink tongue along her chapped lips.
I bite back a groan.
Fates know I want to lie and say yes. Pretend I've been kidnapped from America, like her. Brought to Monte Lobo and thrown in a cell. Rage at my own predicament almost brings on another shift.
"No." I reach out to twitch the fabric up again, but only succeed in making it slide away from both breasts.
Fuck-those nipples. They are begging to be in my mouth, my tongue treating them to the adventure of a lifetime.
I close my eyes and pace away a few steps to master my lust. "Are you hurt?" It comes out gruffer than I mean it to.
"I'm thirsty."
I go to the door and pound my palm against it, making thunder of the steel echo against the walls of our cell.
I'm not surprised when there's no answer. "She needs water," I shout in Spanish. I can't see out the window because it's a one-way glass, frosted on the inside. This time I hear a low voice behind the door. Motherfuckers. They're standing there listening to this whole thing. At least I disabled the fucking camera.
"My name is Carlos. Carlos Montelobo." I steel myself once more to face her. "I am so sorry you've been mistreated this way."
She licks her lips again. She has to stop doing that. "It's not your fault."
That's where she's wrong, and I'm an asshole if I don't tell her.
Her eyes travel down from my face to my naked torso, reaching my waist before they skip back to my face. She blushes.
Oh fates. So sweet. So fucking sweet.
I stab my fingers through my hair. "Unfortunately, it is my fault."
Her eyes narrow.
I hold up my hands. "I mean, I didn't know they were doing this, but this is my pack. I'm supposed to be the fucking alpha. Only I was locked in with you by the council of elders."
"Why?"
She knows why. I can tell by the way her gaze darts to my erection.
I swallow and sit down on the bed, my focus traveling once more to her bonds, as if I might discover some other way to free her. "Our pack suffers from too much in-breeding. We've dwindled in size and many of our numbers are unable to even shift. We call them defectuosos. Most females are barren and cannot reproduce. I knew el consejo was working on a plan to introduce new breeding, but I had no idea it would be this." I jab a hand in the air to indicate the cell.
"They want you to breed with me?"
"Yes." Guilt drops down on my chest like an anchor, dragging me into its depths.
Her cheeks grow pink and she pulls at her chains.
"Shh." I touch her before I realize my own intent, stroking her cheek with my thumb. "Don't worry, beautiful. I won't force myself on you, I promise." When she continues to tug on her bonds, I grip both her wrists below the shackles. "Stop." My voice sharpens with command.
She freezes, her wolf responding instinctively to the dominance of an alpha male. Her glare doesn't match her obedience, though.
And her body's response doesn't match the stink eye.
Yeah, my body is right there with hers. Restraining her has my cock waving like a flag. Her exquisite breasts are just inches from my chest. I can feel the heat of her body, the puff of her breath against my neck.
"I don't want you to hurt yourself any more than you've already been harmed." I ease my weight from her and release her wrists.
She flushes, and I want to tear out my own throat when tears pop into those incredible blue eyes. One escapes and slides down her cheek. I reach out to thumb it away. "Don't cry, muñeca. I won't claim you and I won't let them hurt you. You have my word."
She jerks her face away from my hand. "Why should I trust you?"
She's smart. "You shouldn't."
I'm not even certain I can honor my word, but I know I will die trying. "Right." She gives a bitter laugh.
Council Elder
I stand outside the cell with my fellow elders Don Jose and Don Mateo, watching the two young wolves interact. I've sent the guards away. They aren't necessary-these cells are impossible to break out of. "It's only a matter of time. Their attraction is already apparent."
"Agreed," Mateo says. "He'll mark her before midnight. That much of the plan will be successful. But when we let him out, he may rip all our throats out. His wolf has grown fierce since we saw him last."
"I have a plan for that." Don Jose taps one finger on the door. "We drug them both before we separate them, then overdose his mother. When Carlos wakes, he will have to respond to that crisis first.