Rejected by Alpha, Collected by Dragon

Chapter 10. And in this corner...

Chloe

My alarm wakes me up, and I stretch languidly. My body feels a little sore from the run last night, and the resulting intensity between Duncan and I afterwards. One of his arms is under my head like a pillow, the other is around my waist, holding me hard up against his body and he’s so warm and comfortable, I don’t want to get up. The alarm is insistent, though, and he reaches over to blindly swipe at my phone, silencing it before bringing his hand back to cup my breast gently. His lips graze my neck, and I blink, wondering if I have time for this, or if I’m too sore to even attempt it.

I can feel his hard length pressing into my ass, and decide I’m definitely not too sore as a deep throb begins between my legs. I wiggle against him, and he groans. “I thought you said you had an early shift this morning,” he mumbles sleepily against my neck. His hand is slowly kneading my breast, his fingers toying with the n****e that’s already standing at attention. Ready for duty, sir!

“I do,” I whisper, my voice is breathless, and I wiggle my ass against him again.

“Do you want something?” he chuckles, his warm breath caressing my skin, making me shiver.

“Mmmm…” I purr, squirming against him more insistently, seeking the friction I’m suddenly desperate for.

“I’ve created a monster,” he whispers, biting my earlobe gently. His hand moves from my breast to between my legs and I moan as his fingers rub tiny circles around my cl*t, my hips grinding into his hand, begging for more. “Already so wet,” he breathes.

I groan and press back into him as his erection slides between my butt cheeks. The memory of the feeling of his thumb inside me last night makes me wonder what it would feel like to have his sizable c*ck filling me up back there and I blush at the thought.

“What are you thinking, little wolf?” he chuckles and I blush harder.

“Nothing,” I squeak, not quite ready to admit how dirty my thoughts have become. “Just that… you should probably hurry. My next alarm is going to go off soon.”

“Mmm…” he hums deep in his chest and I can tell he doesn’t believe me. I don’t know how he knows, but somehow I know he knows I’m turning into a dirty little s*x maniac. Not sure either of us will complain, though.

He lifts my leg, settling it over his thigh as he shifts slightly so he’s nestled between my thighs, and slowly pushes into me from behind. At this angle, I can feel him rubbing against an insanely sensitive spot deep, deep inside. My orgasm is building quickly, and when he reaches around and rubs my clit- the barest of touches- it sends me reeling. My hips jerk against him as I bury my face in the pillow to muffle my screams.

For the record, I definitely recommend starting the morning with three and a half orgasms.

And, I was only seven minutes late for work.

Brenda looks up when I step inside, the little bell ringing merrily to announce my arrival. Her eyebrows shoot up to nearly her hairline, and she drags me into the backroom, telling the waiting customer to give us a minute.

“Are you insane?” she hisses at me the instant the door closes behind her. “You slept with the Black Dragon?”

“Well, kind of,” I pout. I’m still having difficulty meshing Duncan MacElroy, incredible lover and purveyor of multiple screaming orgasms, and the Black Dragon, whose stories are often told to misbehaving children to keep them in line, but which usually just results in those children having horrific nightmares. “I slept with Duncan, if that’s what you mean.”

“Chloe, I understand how painful it is to be rejected by your mate,” she says gently, “but to let it break you so much that you go with that… that…”

My anger is swift. “That what, Brenda?” I square my shoulders to her as I prepare to challenge her. “I know his reputation, but that’s not him. He’s been nothing but kind to me. I don’t care if you’re afraid of him, I’m not. If you can’t deal with that, I’ll leave and it won’t be your problem ever again.”

Her eyes are wide as she looks at me, surprised at my tone. I’ve never challenged anyone before, but Kit is growling in my head, ready to leap to Duncan’s defense as well. He might not be my mate, but my mate doesn’t want me. Duncan does. Even if it’s only because he thinks I’m broken. Whatever. I’m going to enjoy every moment I have with him, and I don’t care what anyone else thinks. It’s not their life!

“Sweetie, I didn’t mean to upset you,” she says quietly. She seems to shrink into herself, and then she does something I never expected anyone to ever do to me. She moves her head to the side, baring her neck in submission, her eyes firmly on the floor.

I rush forward and hug her. “No, no, I’m sorry!” I gush. “I’m sorry I yelled. I know you’re just trying to look out for me. I’m fine, though, really!”

She hugs me back, but it feels a little hesitant. “I need to get back out there,” she says as she pulls away from me, still not quite meeting my gaze. “Why don’t you hang back here for a few minutes? The muffins will be done soon, and you can plate them up, if… if you’d like.”

I nod sadly, not sure what just happened, but I feel a little off balance. Luckily, the day is busy enough that the weirdness between Brenda and I fades into the background of the rush.

Before I know it, it’s three o’clock and I start to get a little excited flutter in my stomach. I have one more hour left of my shift before I’m off for the day. Duncan said this morning that he would pick me up and we could go out for dinner. The idea of an actual date with Duncan has me finishing my shift feeling like I’m floating on a cloud.

So, when the little bell over the door tinkles and I turn to find my ex-mate stumbling towards the counter, it takes me a minute for my mind to fully engage.

“Dominick?” I c*ck my head at his disheveled appearance. “I mean… Alpha?”

“Chloe, I need to talk to you,” his words are slightly slurred and the smell of alcohol is almost overpowering. It takes a lot of alcohol to get a werewolf drunk, but it seems Dominick has been giving it all of his attention for quite some time.

“Have you been drinking?” Queen of the obvious over here, but I can’t believe he’s out in public like this!

“I take it all back!” he shouts.

“Ok,” I slide a glance at the group of wolves sitting in the back corner of the café, all of whom are surreptitiously looking in our direction and whispering to themselves. I work in a coffee shop, not a bar. I have no idea how to handle a wolf that’s managed to drink too much. “How about I make you a strong cup of coffee?”

“You are my mate,” he blurts out. “I, Alpha Dominick Canter, recant rejecting you, Chloe Wright, as my mate.”

I blink at him, not sure what is going on. Nothing changes, though. When he rejected me, the pain was instantaneous and intense. I wait for the opposite effect, a sense of euphoria, perhaps? Instead, we just stand there blinking at each other. Finally, anger bubbles up in my belly.

I grab him by the wrist and start dragging him to the backroom, ignoring the tingles that shoot up my arm the moment I touch him. “Get back here and stop making a spectacle!” I growl at him, slamming the door. “What is your problem?” I hiss, trying to keep my voice down so the wolves on the other side of the door can’t hear me, even though I really want to scream at him. “You can’t reject me when it’s not convenient to have a mate and then take it back! What are you going to do when I irritate you? Reject me all over again? Because, trust me, I will irritate you!”

“I don’t care,” he mumbles pitifully. “I just want my mate by my side.”

“It’s too late,” I shake my head. “I can’t. I…” I take a deep breath, knowing what I have to do, but hating it with every fiber of my being. “I, Chloe Wright, reject-“ I don’t get to finish as his mouth crashes to mine and I find myself pinned to the door by his body. Tingles spread through my body, little electric shocks that make every cell wake up. My arms wrap around him, and I sigh as his tongue slides into my mouth. I can taste the alcohol he’s been imbibing, but under it I can taste him. It’s strong and masculine and addictive. It’s similar to the way Duncan tastes, but different, too.

Duncan.

It’s as though a pail of ice water has been thrown over me and I push Dominick away. “Stop,” I pant. “I can’t.”

“Can’t? Or won’t,” Dominick whispers.

“Both,” I look into his eyes, willing him to understand. “I won’t hurt him like this.”

Dominick reaches out for me, grabbing my arms and pulling me towards him. “Chloe, please just hear me out. I’m sorry I kissed you like that. I just… please don’t reject me yet.”

“I…”

Before I can think of how to respond, the door crashes open and a very angry Duncan bursts in. His eyes are practically glowing, and his canine teeth have lengthened into long, sharp, dagger-like points. He stares at Dominick and I, his breathing labored, every muscle taut and ready to leap into action, and I get a glimpse of why he has the reputation he has.

“Duncan, I can explain!” I cry, pulling away from Dominick who’s trying to shove me behind him. Even this pissed off, I can’t believe Duncan would try to hurt me. I lay a hand on his arm, surprised to find he’s shaking. “Duncan, this isn’t what it looks like,” I say gently, hoping he believes me.

He glances down at me before glaring at Dominick again. “What it looks like?” he growls, anger dripping off every syllable. “Why don’t I tell you what it looks like? It looks like some limp d*ck alpha is butt hurt that I have his girl and he’s come here to try to take her back. It’s too late, Dominick! She’s mine!” his bellow is enough to shake the walls, and I blink up at him absorbing his words. Is he claiming me?

“She’s my mate!” Dominick yells back just as loudly. I glance back at him and gasp. His eyes are flickering between his usual green and the light brown of his beast. His teeth have also extended, and his shirt is pulled tight enough across his muscles, it’s starting to rip.

“Ooo-kay,” I say slowly. “How about everyone takes a deep calming breath?” If these two start a fight in here, they are going to destroy this place! Not to mention each other. I take a breath in, counting to five, then let it out again, 3-4-5. Neither man acknowledges me. They’re both staring at each other, breathing hard, waiting for the other to make the first move. “How about this time, you both breathe with me?” I suggest sounding like a damned preschool teacher and take another breath.

Nothing changes.

“Kit!” I call out for my wolf, who’s been watching silently the entire time. “What do I do?”

“See which one wins?” she shrugs.

“Kitania!” I yell. “That is not helpful!”

“Girl, we’ve got two dominant males ready to fight for us,” she wags her tail in a slow arc. “This is awesome!”

I huff at her, obviously she’s going to be no help.

Duncan’s hand closes on my wrist like a vice. For a moment, I’m afraid he’s just moving me out of the way so he can attack, but he starts dragging me through the café towards the front door.

“Duncan!” I yell at him. “Duncan, stop!” To my utter astonishment, he does and I run into his back. I rub my shoulder and scowl at him. “Wherever you’re taking me, I’d like to get there with my arm still attached to my body,” I huff.

I expect him to apologize, or at least slow down. Instead, he bends down and throws me over his shoulder. “Duncan!” I yell at him, incensed. He throws the front door open hard enough that the little bell goes flying across the room and smacks into the opposite wall, leaving a dent. “Sorry, Brenda!” I call out. “I’ll see you tomorrow!”

Every person stares at me with the same expression of shock. As Dominick storms out of the backroom, they turn their shocked faces to him. “Duncan, you put my mate down right now!” he roars. “Do not think you can walk away from me!”

“Duncan, please,” I whine. I wore a dress today in anticipation of going on a date with him, and now I can feel a cool breeze on places that should not be feeling a cool breeze in public. I’m not sure if I should be grateful I wore a cute thong since anyone who looks in my direction is going to get an eyeful right now, or if I should have worn something with more coverage to try to preserve a tiny shred of my dignity. “Please, put me down,” I try to keep my voice calm, rational. “This seems a tad undignified.”

I can’t see where we’re going, hanging down over his back, but he suddenly stops and shifts me around so I’m cradled in his arms. My breath hitches in my chest, loving the feeling of his arms wrapped around me, but it only lasts for a moment. The next thing I know, he’s sliding into his car, passing me over the center console onto the passenger seat. My butt lands hard, my legs splayed over the console and his lap, my back pressed against the hard door. I blink at him in surprise. I’m not entirely sure how he managed to maneuver me so easily, but it was pretty impressive.

“Duncan, don’t you dare drive away!” Dominick yells, stalking towards us.

“Seat belt,” Duncan growls at me as he shoves the key in the ignition with too much force and cranks the car into life.

I roll my eyes at him, trying to pull my legs onto my side, but it’s awkward. Even more so when he reaches between my legs to throw the car into drive and takes off far too fast.

My fingers grip the doorhandle for dear life as he flies through the streets, blowing past red lights and stop signs, weaving in and out of other cars like a practiced stunt driver. At one point, I close my eyes hoping it will help the terror, but I decide I’d rather meet death with my eyes open.

He screeches to a halt outside of his building. I’m shaking like a leaf from the wild ride, so I don’t react fast enough. He wrenches open the passenger door and plucks me from the seat, once again throwing me over his shoulder. Just as the front door opens, I see Dominick’s slick black car whip around the corner, the back end swinging out in a barely controlled slide.

Duncan takes the stairs two at a time while I bounce like a rag doll on his back. This is not a very comfortable position and I would huff at him if I thought it would help. Finally, we reach his apartment. He slams the door shut and locks it, and I assume he’ll put me down now.

I assume wrong.

He starts carrying me down the hall towards the bedroom, and I hate that I’m getting turned on. “Duncan, can you please put me down?” I say, trying to sound annoyed, but I can hear the huskiness of my voice.

The only response I get from him is a short grunt. Oh good, we’re communicating in grunts now. That’ll make conversations so much fun!

We reach the bedroom and he tosses me on the bed. I land with a small squeak of alarm. He tears his shirt over his head and crawls up my body, pressing me into the mattress as his body covers me. “If he thinks he’s going to come and take you from me without a fight, he has another thing coming,” he mutters. “He can stand out there all he wants. He’ll hear just how much mine you are!”

“Duncan, stop!” I whimper. Being manhandled may have turned me on more than I’m proud of, and hearing him claim me is making my heart do little somersaults, but I don’t want to be a part of… revenge s*x? Because I’m definitely getting the feeling that the two men in my life know each other and have some sort of vendetta against one another.

Duncan blinks down at me. My whimpering must have brought him out of whatever instinctual claiming haze he’d been in. He opens his mouth to say something, but a loud crash from the front of the apartment draws our attention. If I had to make a guess, I’d say that’s the noise a door makes when it’s ripped off its hinges by a furious alpha wolf on a mission.