Chapter 19

She sits quietly as Nikki gently combs her hair while listening to her as she gives her valid reasons as to why Maddox is acting this way.

"He is trying to protect you, you're his mate," Nikki smiles at her through the mirror.

She was his mate. His life mate.

The words so foreign and unknown to her. Celestial beings did not have lifemates.

Did they?

She lowered her gaze as the challenging question in her mind brought on so many more; that she did not realize Nikki was finished until she told her to look up.

She glanced at her reflection. Her hair a shiny mass of ringlets was long and cascaded down past her collar bone. She wore the strange waxy film over her lips Nikki called lip-gloss that made her lips seem wet and shiny.

She did not like it and wanted to wipe it off but Nikki begged her not to.

She finally stood and was suddenly floating on the high heels Nikki managed to get on her feet. Never has she ever walked in such odd things but they made her look taller. Balancing in them although was a tiny task she mastered as she walked around her room.

The dress was the most challenging yet. It barely covered anything yet it was sparkly pink and beautiful. She did not understand the phrase Nikki used and why the creator was mentioned when she stepped back to look at her.

"My God! You're gorgeous you are gonna knock him on his ass." she smiled brightly.

It was an odd saying but Hannah brushed it off all the same then turned to look at herself once more.

The drive to the festivities she did not like at all. They had gotten lost.

She suspected that the woman named Siri, Instructing Nikki to 'turn left' and 'signal lost' was to blame. She wanted to return home. This was overwhelming enough.

After the long harrowing drive, they finally made it. And with great relief, she stepped out of the car and felt him. Whether she wanted to admit it or not. She was anxious to find him.

And she did.

She noticed the change in his eyes, the way he stared at her from across the room. It was as if he wanted to devour her. He closed the distance and pulled her to him. It was so right, so natural. She sensed his movements and her body followed as they seemed almost to glide across the dance floor.

"Are you still mad at me?" he whispered. Courage rose in her chest and she held his eyes with her own, savoring the indescribable feelings that coursed through her body.

"No."

He held her tight and gently, moving back and forth. They danced five times. She began to look into his eyes, wanting him to kiss her.

He held her tightly until the music stopped. "Let's sit for a while," he said, rubbing her fingers.

He pulled away and held her hands while pulling her along to sit near the bar. He motioned for the bartender to come over.

"What'll you have?" he asked Maddox.

"Get her a Sprite and I'll have another cold one," he said.

She watched him then slowly turn to her.

He inched closer to her and gently leaned in to brush a loose curl away from her cheek. The gesture made her feel warm all over. "You look beautiful tonight, Hannah," he murmured.

She gazed into his eyes, reading a mixture of emotions that took her breath away.

"Thank you," she replied softly. "So..do you."

He smiled.

They were suddenly interrupted by one of the pack members that wanted to talk to him. He excused himself leaning into her ear and telling her 'he won't be too long.'

Quietly she sat and watched him step away to speak to the man. Some time had passed as everyone began entering the dance floor again. She watched Nikki from afar in the company of a male.

Content and in her own little world, she never noticed the guy slowly approaching her until he appeared at her side.

"Hi," the husky voice pulled her attention away from the dance floor around to look at him.

"Hello," she answered politely.

"Care to dance?" he held out his hand.

His gaze brushed over her slowly and it made her feel strange. Her brow creased.

"I...I...No than-," she began.

"Come on, it's one dance," he insisted.

He stepped closer to her still with his outstretched hand waiting expectantly for her to take it. When she did not move, she watched him lean in and gently glide his finger down her bare shoulder.

"Come on...I won't bite," she stared at him blankly as he gave her a sexy grin.

"Besides, a pretty thing like you shouldn't be here all alone," he looked at her with a lusty gaze.

She squirmed away gently from his fingers.

"I am not here alone," she shook her head. His persistent gaze and gentle touching bothered her.

"Really? I don't see you with anyone," he tilted his head to the side.

"I am here with Maddox," she said shivering slightly with his grin.

"And what, is he your brother or something?" he scoffed.

She frowned. "No he is my...mate," she searched anxiously around for Maddox then.

The guy chuckled and stepped closer. Then tilted his head to the side observing her. His gaze followed the length of her and landed on her neck.

"I don't see a mark. You haven't been claimed." he tilted his head in the direction of her neck.

She frowned. She did not understand what he was saying. She needed to leave. Walk away from him. She sensed that he was not a very nice male. She slowly slid from the barstool to leave. But his fingers curled around upper her arm in a harsh grip that stopped her.

"You're a pretty little thing. All I want to do is dance. And maybe who knows, if we hit it off maybe we can go back to my place and get further acquainted," he pulled her closer against him.

Her chest tightened. She softly tried to pull her arm away but it was no use.

"Please let me go," she whispered.

"You heard her," Maddox said from behind her.

She turned to face the furious male as he stepped closer to confront the man that still held her arm in a harsh grip.

She struggled to pull away but he would not let her go.

"Let. my. mate. go!" Maddox growled.

The tense moment brought those near to stop and circle them as they began to get into a heated discussion.

"Mate?" the man chuckled humorlessly. "I don't see a mark, she hasn't been claimed. So, she is fair game."

"I don't think so," Maddox growled stepping closer.

He reached for her arm and pulled her out of the man's grasp. Roughly Hannah was pulled against Maddox and curled into his side, then he gently pushed her behind him protectively.

Her heart raced heavily in her chest and her ears turned warm as she heard Maddox growl. "She is mine."

Soft hands wrapped around her shoulder and she looked up to Nikki that began pulling her away.

Everyone stood back and watched Maddox step nose to nose with the other man. Timidly, she stood at Nikki's side and watched the impressive height and muscular form of Maddox ripple and flex with rage as he reached up and gripped the man by the throat and lifted him slowly up in mid-air.

She gasped. And stepped back slightly into Nikki. She felt his strength and anger roll off of him in waves of a pulse that shook her bone-deep.

She wanted to go to him. She did not like this feeling.

Immediately Brody and another Male were at his side. Heatedly they exchanged words and he tossed the man to the floor. The male gasped and coughed holding his throat as the others helped him up.

"If you know what's good for you, don't ever touch my mate or cross my path again," Maddox warned him before turning away and walking towards her.

He approached her with an enraged expression that made her stumble back. "We are leaving, NOW!" He pulled her along behind him. He was less than gentle with her when he pulled her along the sea of people near the exit.

His finger's dug into her wrist as he dragged her behind him, apparently in a hurry to leave.

He hurried her along towards the back entrance out into a dark alleyway. They made it past two buildings then abruptly he stopped and turned to face her, his eyes were glaring red.

She was winded and breathless as he dragged her along only to stop before her, directed her near the wall on the side of the building, and bent on his knee to the floor. His large hand reached for her ankle and pulled her feet gently into his lap and took off her heels then just as quick, the other.

Then he slowly stood. His imposing frame loomed over her. He said nothing. He just stared at her, his penetrable red glowing eyes held her there.  Then possessively he cupped her nape and pulled her close. He sank his hand into her hair and dipped his head to capture her lips. There was no gentleness in the kiss as he pressed her into the wall. There was only demand, urgency, and hunger.

He broke away from the kiss and held her gaze. Flames seemed to dance in his eyes as he spoke. "You're mine. Understand?"

She nodded. Not able to speak.

He dragged her into a crushing embrace once more and kissed her with a savage claim of possession that heated her blood making her heart flutter. Suddenly, she wanted things from this human male like what she had watched on his television.

A riot of intense sensations soared inside her as he pressed the length of him into her body and pressed his lips to her ears. His sweet breath whispered in her ears; words that were foreign to her:

Of wanting to be inside her...

Making passionate love to her all night...

You are mine Hannah, only mine.

Then his frenzied rough fingers glided gently along her skin beneath her dress caressing her thighs and slowly going up until his fingers grazed her panties with tantalizing familiarity.

He touched places on her that made her head spin. He pulled away. His voice was a growl when he spoke.

"We need to get out of here before I take you against this wall."

Her eyes lifted to meet his and the heat in his gaze stirred things deep inside her that shattered all the fears and reservations she had.

She leaned into him rising on her toes seeking more that he gave to her willingly until he hauled her up into his arms and carried her away.

She wanted this.

She wanted him.

*******

Here we go !!!!

We are getting to the good stuff...

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