Alpha’s Secret: A Bear Shifter Romance (Bad Boy Alphas Book 10)
Alpha’s Secret: Chapter 8

Jordy

“Mornin’, Kit.” Grizz’s gravelly voice rumbles through me.

I press back into the warm wall of his giant body and his purring growl sends pleasant vibrations through me. I automatically arch my back, grinding my bottom into the taut frame of his hips. His growl deepens with frustration. Large hands force my legs apart. I hold my breath as his right hand begins to explore.

Outside the room, a harsh ringing sound breaks the silence. I jerk in Grizz’s arms and his hold tightens.

“It’s okay. Just the telephone.”

“You should get it,” I whisper as the phone keeps ringing.

He answers with a growl.

A beep and the answering machine picks up.

“Rise and shine, it’s a beautiful day,” an Irish brogue trills.

Grizz growls as Declan continues leaving a message. “I got news for ya, so call me maybe.”

“Did you tell him—” another voice breaks into the message.

“Right, right, I’ll tell him,” Declan interrupts. “Jay-sus, calm your bits.”

“I’m just sayin’—” the second voice says and the two start arguing until the machine beeps the end of time to leave the message.

A second later the phone starts ringing again.

“Oh for Fate’s sake—” Grizz groans.

The phone rings until it beeps again and a new voice leaves a message. “This is Parker. We’re at the burger joint. Stay away from the Fight Club.”

“Give me the phone,” Declan breaks in.

“No. I told him—” the two start arguing again and the phone cuts out.

Grizz heaves an aggrieved sigh while I tuck my face into Grizz’s chest and giggle.

“Guess we gotta go meet with those idiots,” Grizz huffs into my ear.

“You know, you’re the only person in the world still with a landline,” I say to him.

“I’m old school.”

“Or just old.” I wrinkle my nose at him.

In the next moment I find myself over his lap.

“I’ll show you old school.” He flips up the shirt and swats my bare bottom.

“No!” I kick, even though he barely spanked me. “I didn’t mean it! I take it back!”

“Sure you do, now that you’ve earned a punishment,” he says, and I clench my legs together, a thrill running down my spine. He’s joking, but Grizz doling out playful punishment is enough to make me wet.

A second later, his hand slides between my legs and he feels my aroused state for himself.

“Fates,” he mutters.

I relax, surrendering happily as he explores my sopping folds. He knows just how to touch me—light but firm. “You like having your ass smacked, don’t you, Kit?”

“Yes,” I admit.

“Why?”

“Don’t ask why. There is no why. I’ve tried to understand this thing about myself my entire life. Why punishment turns me on. Why I like to be dominated. There’s no answer for it. I was just born this way. That’s the one good thing that came out of my enslavement to Augustine. I discovered a whole world of sexual satisfaction. And I also discovered I’m not alone in my desires. There are dozens of other sweetbloods even more into pain than I am who play at Toxic.”

“You want more?” his voice is gruff and I hear concern in it, like he’s unsure about even asking the question.

“Yes, please,” I answer, as sweetly as I know how.

His huge palm claps down on my buttocks, spanking one side then the other a couple times. He tests my wetness again. I moan with pleasure. He clears his throat. “How hard?”

“Harder, please.”

“You want me to hurt you?”

“Yes,” I admit. I like the sensation of pain. The hot tingle that comes after it’s been delivered. The build up to sex I require before I can find the satisfaction of release.

My shifter ears pick up the sound of his heart beating faster than normal. Is he excited? Or genuinely nervous about hurting me?

He tugs my wrists behind my back and pins them there with one hand. “Okay, little fox. You’re going to get a spanking. And then you’re going to show me your gratitude.”

I smile into the covers because he’s already such a natural dominant. He starts spanking me hard and fast and I writhe over his lap. It’s a perfect spanking. His hand is huge like a paddle and he spanks with enough force to make it really burn. I count the slaps in my head to keep my mind busy, keep myself from squirming right off his lap from the intensity. He delivers thirty, then stops and strokes his calloused palm over my twitching ass.

“That good?” His voice is rough.

“Yes, Mas—Grizz.” I remember in time not to call him Master.

He delivers another four smacks, concentrating on the backs of my thighs where it stings more. Yep, he’s a total natural. “Now, what are we going to do about this?” he muses, sliding his fingers between my legs. I part my thighs and tilt my ass up, offering myself to him.

“Good girl,” he murmurs, screwing two fingers into me.

I cry out with pleasure. He pumps them, his thumb burrowing between my asscheeks to rest over my anus. The moment he applies pressure there, I start to hump his lap wildly. It’s embarrassing how little stimuli I require from this male to reach climax but I can’t help it. My body’s been primed for him since the moment I heard his deep growl.

“Fuck, Kit,” he growls pumping his fingers in and out of me. I only last another thirty seconds and then I come all over his fingers, my walls tightening and releasing, my juices leaking onto my inner thighs.

“Well.” He sounds almost shaken. “I still don’t get it, but…”

I twist and look over my shoulder to seek his face. “But?”

“I sure as fates liked my end of it.”

A smile tugs my cheeks so wide it almost hurts. “But I haven’t even shown my appreciation yet.” I crawl off his lap and rearrange my position to suck him off, but he groans and shakes his head.

“Gonna have to take a raincheck. Gotta big day today. Up and at ‘em.” And he rises, his big form taking all warmth from the bed.

I whimper but scramble to follow.

He disappears into the shower and I make myself ready and race to start breakfast. I only get as far as making the coffee before he tromps into the kitchen. I serve him coffee as he starts frying up some meat. I’m wearing a dress today, the one he picked out. It flutters around my knees and I prance around the kitchen, feeling pretty as I set the table.

As soon as Grizz drains his coffee, I’m at his elbow with the pot to fill his cup with a smile. I go to grab plates and suddenly Grizz is at my back, pressing me to the cabinets. His big arms come around me and he leans on the counter caging me in.

“You don’t have to serve me,” he mutters in my ear.

“I like to,” I whisper back.

He grunts and the back of my neck prickles. I’m not sure if he’s pleased or upset, so I wriggle around to face him. His eyes are bright and he moves his lower half against me. His hardness brushes against my stomach. He’s not mad. Just frustrated. Well, it’s his own fault.

“I can serve you,” I say. “As much as you like.” I’m not bold enough to take hold of his erection, but I lean into him.

“Got lots to do this morning,” he says.

“So you said.”

“Don’t have time to take you back into the bedroom and deal with you.”

“It doesn’t have to take a lot of time,” I offer.

“I think it does. I’d need at least a day. Maybe two.”

I smile at him and he steps away, adjusting his jeans.

“Stop being cute,” he orders with a grin. I duck my face.

His hand drops to my hip, caressing me through the thin floral fabric. “This the dress I picked out?”

“Yep. You like?” I ask, suddenly bold. I twirl. The skirt swirls out. Oops, too far. He definitely got a glimpse underneath. At least I’m wearing panties.

His eyes are bright. “Careful. Don’t do that around anyone but me.”

I nod.

“Go on, set the table,” he orders gently, patting my hip.

I obey, biting back my smile.

After breakfast, he listens to all the messages again, and deletes them. His face is serious, all business.

“Ready to roll out?”

I nod and hold up a plastic bag. “I packed water bottles. There are no snacks left—I think the Stooges ate them.”

“Stooges?” Grizz raises an eyebrow.

“The three shifters…” I drop my eyes. I’ve insulted his friends.

“Actually, that’s a good name for them,” Grizz grunts. “Shifter Stooges. There’s three of them.”

“I won’t call them that to their face,” I say anxiously.

“I will. They’ll probably think it’s funny.” Grizz grabs the motorcycle helmet and motions to me. “Grab your coloring stuff. I’ve got errands to run, and you might get bored.”

I want to protest that I won’t get bored with him, but grab my stuff instead.

As the bike zooms down the mountain, I lean with Grizz into each turn. Three days since he stole me from Augustine, and it feels so natural to be with him. The time with my master seems further and further away. But Grizz hasn’t told me what he plans to do with me. I can’t get too comfortable with him.

Sure enough, we’re sitting at a light when Grizz turns to me.

“Where’s that secret club?”

I lick my lips, glancing at the light. It’s still red, but could change at any second.

“Tell me quick, Kit,” he orders.

I blurt the street name. “I’m not sure of the exact address, but there was a restaurant nearby with a blue sign.” I describe the area.

He grunts and faces forward just before the light turns again.

I let out a sigh and hug his back as the motorcycle rolls through the intersection. Grizz is my master’s enemy. I can’t forget that. Even if he makes me feel good.

We pull into the parking lot of the burger place we hit up yesterday afternoon. The white Camaro is waiting.

I hop off the bike, pushing down my dress as Grizz dismounts and pulls my things out of the saddlebag.

“Wait here,” Grizz says, handing me the coloring book and pencils. I hug them to my chest as he advances on the three Stooges. One of them is wearing an old fashioned pageboy hat, the type men wear in the old black and white movies I used to watch during the day, when Augustine let me. The three shifters all lean out of the car, eager to tell Grizz something.

I fidget with my skirt and rock from foot to foot until Grizz turns and waves me over.

He meets me halfway, just as the breeze catches the hem of my dress and flips it up around my thighs. I smooth it down and make a note to wear bike shorts underneath it next time. Although the look on Grizz’s face as his eyes roam over me makes my almost-Marilyn Monroe moment worth it.

I halt in front of him. He puts a hand on my back, inching me closer and bending so his face arrives at my level.

“You look good in your dress, Kit.” His eyes are bright.

“Thanks,” I whisper. My nipples bead against the floral fabric; I’m not wearing a bra so it should be obvious his effect on me. A slow smile stretches his scarred lips. I wait for him to do more but he steps away.

“I’m going to leave you with these guys for the afternoon. Don’t worry, they’re nuts but you’ll be safe.”

“I want to come with you.”

“No can do, Kit. It might be dangerous.”

I start to protest and he places a finger on my lips, silencing me. “Tell you what. I’ll pick you up before dark, and we’ll have dinner in.”

“All right. I’ll cook for you,” I offer softly.

“I’d like that.”

He drops a kiss on my forehead, pats my ass, and after growling out orders to the three shifter Stooges to “watch and protect her with your life,” he gets on his bike and roars away.

I swallow hard and hug my coloring book to my chest as the silly shifter trio turn curious eyes to me.

Grizz

My bear snarls as I motor away. But it can’t be helped. Sooner or later, Augustine’s gonna realize Jordy’s gone, if he hasn’t yet. And when he does, he’ll be pissed. Vampires don’t like other people playing with their toys. Even if they mistreat their toys. It’s a power thing.

And while part of me relishes the chance to take on Augustine and teach him a lesson, I’m stupid to get myself involved. As soon as this job is done, I’m back on the hunt for the vampire who killed my mother. I eat, sleep, dream revenge and that’s no life for Jordy. She deserves more.

At least she told me where the secret vampire club meeting place is. I can continue telling myself it’s worth keeping her around.

The blue restaurant sign zooms by on my right. I slow and do another pass before parking in an alley. Jordy couldn’t give me an exact address, but no worries. I can sniff out the rest on foot.

It takes me less than five blocks before I smell it. The cold, earthy smell of vampires underneath another meaty scent.

I break into the building with a crowbar and a heavy shove from my shoulder.

It’s an old dance hall of some sort, complete with a stage. I head up there. Good for an auction.

And in the basement: bingo. This would be where they keep the cages.

Blood, sweat, tears. Smells like a shifter auction site to me.

I’ve got one more errand and then I’ll get back to Jordy. Hope she’s faring okay with the three Stooges, as she calls them. Fates, but she’s cute.

I do one more lap of the building, checking out all the nooks and crannies. Creepy place, but nothing too sinister, not until I go in to the room behind the stage. The green room it’s called by theater types. There’s furniture back here, old fashioned velvety chairs and chaise lounges, perfect for a diva. It smells like vampires. But that’s not what has the hair on the back of my neck prickling.

In the center of the room, there’s a large brown stain on the floor. I crouch down but don’t need to smell or touch to know what sank into the wooden floorboards so deeply.

Blood. Lots and lots of blood.

Jordy

The three Stooges stand around the Camaro, stuffing their faces with burgers. It’s barely 11 a.m. The grey-haired guy, Parker, waited with me while the other two lined up at the door until an employee let them in. They returned with enough bags to feed an entire pack.

The dark-haired one, Declan, turns to me and says something with his mouth full.

“Pardon?” I ask.

“He asked if you wanted a burger,” Parker says between bites of his own sandwich.

I decline, still hugging the coloring book to my chest. I can’t help keeping an eye on the road, hoping Grizz will come motoring back on his bike.

Declan swallows a bite. “I know what ya are.”

I turn back to him and blink at his pointed finger.

“Wee, sleekit, cowran, tim’rous beastie.”

“Declan,” Parker sighs.

“That’s a poem,” says the third shifter, a tall and skinny man who smells of feathers.

“I know it’s a poem,” Parker says. “It’s by the Bard.”

“Not the Bard, ya idjit,” Declan scowls. “That’s Shakespeare.”

“Whatever,” Parker waves a hand, balls up his wrapper and tosses it into the trash can. “All dead white poets sound alike to me.”

“But it’s in brogue,” the feather-scented man protests quietly as Declan and Parker start arguing loudly. I blink at them. Whatever I was expecting from the guys Grizz left me with, it wasn’t a discussion about poetry. By the end, Declan has stolen Laurie’s hat, and he and Parker have almost come to blows. They wad up their burger wrappers and pelt each other with them.

Once they settle down, I step closer to them, hiding a smile behind my book.

“That’s it, come sit a spell,” Declan grins at me and scoots over to make room on the hood of the Camaro. I sit carefully, tugging down my dress.

“So, wee beastie, tell us what you’re doin’ w’ a bear like Grizz.”

“I’m helping him,” I answer firmly.

“Are ya now?” The Irishman raises a brow. “‘Cause ya know what he needs most of all—”

“Declan,” Parker says in a warning tone, but it phases the Irish wolf not at all.

“—is to get laid.”

Parker swats Declan hard enough for the black-haired man to rock in his boots, but he continues with a wink at me. “He needs it, bad.”

“Oh, that’s what I’m helping him with,” I blurt, before I can stop myself.

“Ya sure? He’s a great big grizzly bear, and you’re a wee little thing. Aren’t ya afraid of him?” Declan says it in his jaunty manner, but his dark eyes search my face carefully.

“No. I’m not afraid of Grizz. He’s big and scary, but not to me. Never to me.”

“Declan, shut up.” Parker pulls Declan’s hat over his eyes and turns to me. “I apologize for his rudeness.” He’s so formal I can’t help but smile at him through my blushing.

“It’s okay. I’m okay with it.” I wave a hand in the air.

“See, she likes it,” Declan tugs up the hat and swats Parker back. “Obviously has the right stuff, if she’s taking Grizz on.”

“Don’t tell him, though,” I bluster on. My face is probably cherry Kool-aid red. “It’s a surprise.”

“A surprise?” Declan’s thick brows creep up into his cap, then he flashes a white-toothed smile and pats me on the back so hard I stagger forward. “I luv it. You’ve got more guts than I gave ya credit for, but I like your spunk and no mistake.”

“Ok. Thank you.”

“Glad this is all settled,” Parker rolls his eyes. “Didn’t realize you were so concerned with the sex lives of bears.”

“Not just any bear. Our prize fighter.”

“P-prize fighter?” the tall, thin man asks with a stammer. When I look at him he doesn’t meet my eyes, so he’s even more submissive than I am. A weak shifter—probably a bird. That would explain the feather smell.

“Yep,” Declan declares cheerfully.

“Oh bother,” Parker grunts, grabbing Declan’s hat and setting it on his head at a rakish angle. “Not another big bet on a crazy fighter.”

“That’s right. We’re all in. We just gotta keep the Tucson pack from killing our investment.”

I stiffen. “They want to kill him?”

“Oh yes. Ever since he sided with the vampires.”

“He’s not siding with the vampires,” I say and bite my lip. I don’t know how much information I can give out.

“Whelp, then we just gotta convince the wolves that. Otherwise, they could try to take him out before the fight. They wouldn’t win—you saw him against all those cats. But they could wound him, and the odds of the fight get worse.”

“Tell me you didn’t make this bet,” Parker groans and tugs the hat over his eyes.

“Oh, I made it,” Declan pronounces. “Friday night, we’ll be rich.”

“As long as Grizz doesn’t lose,” Parker says.

“You saw him fight,” Declan picks up a burger and waves it. “What was that? Ten, fifteen to one?”

Parker raises the hat but doesn’t look happy. “‘Cause there’s no other reason Grizz could lose. Like, perhaps, throwing the match for the vampires.”

Declan unwraps the burger and scarfs it in three bites. “That would be bad. Do not pass go, do not collect three million dollars.”

Parker groans again. “Don’t tell me you borrowed money to make this bet.”

“It’s a sure thing,” Declan licks ketchup from his fingers.

“Famous last words,” Parker mutters and goes to sit inside the car, cranking down the driver’s seat and laying out with the hat over his face.

“So,” Declan turns to me. “Where d’you meet our Grizzly?”

“Um,” my skin heats, toasting my freckles. “A club.”

“Which club, luv? The Fight Club, or the club of kinky vampires?

“The…um,” I stammer, “vampire one.”

Declan leans forward to say to the third, quietest Stooge, “She’s cute when she blushes. Sets off her red hair.”

“L-l-leave her alone,” the tall, thin one replies.

I smile at him gratefully. “It’s all right.”

“What was a nice girl doing in a place like that?”

“I was there with my vampire master.”

Declan blinks rapidly and I meet his gaze head on.

“You’re a s-s-s-sweetblood?” the tall shifter stammers.

“I am. Well, I was.” I don’t know what Grizz will do with me when he’s done, but I doubt he’ll let me go back to a vampire master.

“You’re not anymore? Did the vampire give ya away?” Declan asks.

I bite my lip and shake my head.

“Then how are you with Grizz?”

“Grizz broke into his house and, um, took me.”

Declan sags. “Jay-sus.” He hops off the car hood and paces back and forth. Inside the car, Parker sits up.

“What’s wrong? Laurie, tell me.”

Laurie points to me. “Grizz s-s-s-stole her from a vampire.”

“Aw, fates,” Parker swears and scrambles out of the car.

Declan continues pacing back and forth in front of the car, head down, mumbling an occasional curse word.

“You bet on a fighter who’s crossed a vampire. Who took from a vampire.” Parker whirls on me. “Which vampire did you say you belonged to?”

“Augustine.”

Declan stops to frown at me. “Tall guy? Looks like a male model? Wears suits all the time?”

Parker nudges the Irishman in the ribs. “You just described every vampire ever.”

“I did not!”

“Oh really? What vampire doesn’t look like a male model?”

Declan ponders this. “There was that small, skinny one. Remember? Ben something.”

“Benedict?” I offer.

Declan snaps his fingers. “That’s the one. Good ole Benny. Looks like he belongs in a boy band.”

Beside me, Laurie laughs softly.

Declan grins at me. “Tell me I’m wrong.”

“You’re not wrong,” I smile back. After the way he treated me in the club last time, Benny isn’t my favorite vampire. Not that any vampires are my favorite.

“Congratulations,” Parker says sourly. “You know who doesn’t look like a model or a member of a boy band? Frangelico.” At the name of the vampire king, everyone’s smiles drop away. “How will Frangelico feel about Grizz stealing from vampires?”

I shrug, my heart plummeting.

“I don’t think he cares much either way.” Declan rubs his chin. “He’s pretty lax about his sireds, the vampires he’s made. But Augustine…that’s another story.”

I wrap my arms around myself, suddenly chilled. Augustine is going to be pissed at Grizz if he finds out where I am. I totally forgot about that.

“W-what will A-augustine do?” Laurie asks.

“To a shifter who stole from him?” Parker shrugs. “Anyone’s guess.”

“What’s your guess?” Declan asks.

“I don’t know,” Parker waves a hand. “Hunt Grizz down and rip his head off?”

All oxygen leaves the vicinity. I sway and slump against Laurie who puts an arm around me.

Declan runs to the driver’s door, smashing into Parker who squawks and tries to push him off. They tangle together and start wrestling, arms flailing.

“In the car,” Declan shouts. “We gotta find him!”

“Are you okay?” Laurie whispers and I nod. My head is still spinning. I need to get to Grizz. I need know he’s okay.

“Calm down, dingbat,” Parker growls, pushing Declan off him. The Irishman dashes to the car and climbs in the driver’s seat.

“We gotta save him! Where are the keys?”

Parker holds them up. “It’s daylight. No vampires are awake.”

“Right,” Declan says, pushing his hair back from his face. “Right.”

“But you gave him intel on the shifter slavers, and sent him after them,” Parker says, folding his arms across his chest.

“Jay-sus, why’d I do that?” Declan rubs a hand up and down his face.

“I don’t know. So he wouldn’t kill and eat you?” Parker stoops and picks up the crushed hat, dusting it off before handing it back to Laurie.

“Oh me heart.” Declan lays a hand on his chest, panting. “I can’t take this violence.”

“Should’ve thought of that before you bet on a fight,” Parker rolls his eyes.

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