Damaged

Chapter 1

Catching the dark gaze of the Alpha behind her in the mirror, Quinn concentrated on relaxing her hands from the clenched fists at her sides. Firmer pressure met her stuttering inhale as his smooth palms, slick with lotion, moved over the roundness of her pregnant belly.

Two months she'd been with him. Eight weeks of learning his touch. Sixty-one days since he had forced her to accept his most generous offer.

Not that there had been any other option. After being stolen from the man who had forced his claim on her, after being raped more times than she would ever dare to count, there was no going back. Pale flesh marred by tight, pink lines and mottled red arcs that told too many tales of what had transpired ensured she would never be free of that taint.

Tobias Kahler, her mate, would sooner kill her on sight than take her back.

For that matter the Alpha coddling her, Lee Grimes, would kill her before he let her go. Not by his own hand, no. He had a pack of savage Alphas, each more dangerous than the next, to do his bidding. They would get their use of her long before they gave her the mercy of death.

Not that either man had ever wanted her in the first place.

A chill shuddered up her spine, skin prickling in the warm air of her room. The hollow ache in her chest bloomed, pulsing in ravaging crimson bursts as it swallowed her breath. Twisting in Lee's arms, she tucked her body close and nuzzled at his chest.

"Please, I... I need..." It was still too hard to ask for it. Easier when he slipped into her nest late at night, fresh from a shower where he'd washed away the blood and violence that clung to his skin. Even easier when he would gather her up, spreading her wide when he wanted. Much as he had done only a short time ago as the sun broke through the bleary gray clouds.

She shouldn't need it so soon, should have been quieted and sated for hours yet. The bleak anguish was always so close now. She clung to him and whined low in her throat.

"I told you I have business." Hand heavy on her shoulder, he didn't even apply pressure.

Quinn dropped in an awkward tangle to her knees, hands careful as she undid his belt and pants. He took pride in his appearance and did not appreciate it when she rumpled his clothes. Unzipping the fly, her small hand reached in to work his already hard cock into the daylight. Not wasting time, she covered his crown with her lips. Slow sucking and twirls of her tongue to pull his scent deep, the taste of him so hot it almost burned as it slipped down her throat and quieted the raging agony into a dull roar.

Only a thin ring of gray remained around blown pupils as she started to take him deeper. Swallowing the thin fluid leaking from his tip, a promise of what she wanted. What she needed. Brows drawn tight in a frown of concentration, she tried to do it just the way he liked. A gentle tap against her cheek jerked her focus up, meeting his satisfied gaze.

"Always look at me, pet." It was a gentle admonishment, softened by his fingers carding through the length of her curls to pull her just a little closer.

Quinn struggled not to gag as he butted against the back of her throat, tapping against sensitive nerves as he sought entrance. He wouldn't be satisfied with less. Swallowing hard, coughing only the once, she slid further down.

And then relinquished all control.

Gripping her knees to keep from grabbing hold of him, her head moved to the rhythm he set. Hand snarled in her hair, he bobbed her up and down his length. Quinn struggled to move her tongue, to suck down the fluids that threatened to spill over onto his expensive trousers.