Under His Spell Ch.03

Takoda noticed she was nervously fumbling with her keys in her lap, so he reached down to grab her hand, holding it gently within his.

"From the first day we met I knew you were right for me. I knew there was something different about the connection we had, something special that I wasn't going to find anywhere else. It's been a long time since I felt like this."

As his finger stroked the back of her hand he sensed that her heartbeat was growing faster.

"So basically I'm still the same. Nothing major has changed, right?" Her eyes searched his for reassurance, and he nodded.

"You'll feel things more intensely now, especially when you're around me, but you're still a human, if that's what you're wondering."

As he spoke the words to her he noticed her visibly relax.

"Well that's good to hear, but I still feel worried and I really need to know what's going on with my body."

Takoda's eyebrows dipped into a frown. "What do you mean? You're not sick, are you?"

"I was last night, but that's not what was worrying me." Pulling her hand away from his, Lynn undid the top two buttons on her shirt and pulled the top of her blouse aside to show him her mark, "This thing was pulsating last night, and it really freaked me out. I mean, what was that all about? It really scared me."

"I know it did. Everything you went through last night, I felt it too. Your fever, your aches and pains. I knew you were confused and scared and i'm sorry I wasn't there to be with you as it happened. I really am."

His eyes expressed the sincerity in his words.

"I tried to be there for you, Lynn. That's why I kept calling, but you wouldn't even answer the phone. I never wanted you to go through all of this alone. I was hoping to explain things to you before the change began."

"The change? What change? What is this thing doing to me?"

"Please don't call it a thing. You're insulting my manhood by saying that. It's my mating mark, and it means everything in the world to me."

The bruised expression on his face told Lynn that he was genuinely hurt by her choice of word to describe it.

"All right then, your mating mark. Why was it pulsing?"

"Your body was adjusting to it, and that's also why you came down with the fever. It just takes awhile for it to become fully acclimated. You're fine now though, right? It's not still moving, is it?"

"No, when I woke up this morning everything was back to normal. I'm still upset with you, though. I didn't have a say in any of this/ You didn't even ask me if I wanted to be mated."

Takoda lowered his gazefor a moment before once again meeting Lynn's eyes. "You're right, I didn't ask your permission, and it was never my intention to force it upon you. I did however, feel in your heart that you had very strong feeling for me. Much more so than you ever have about any other man."

"You seem very sure of yourself. So I guess you sensed that about me from the very first moment we met, huh?"

"Of course I sensed it. As a shape-shifter, I just know these things."

"You're making excuses. You've marked me, and now you feel bad about it. I can see it in your eyes."

"I do feel guilty about it, Lynn. I didn't ask you if it was okay before I did it, and I do regret that. I just hope you believe me when I say that I never meant to complicate your life. I allowed my wolf to take over and I unwillingly shifted. It was a mistake and I'm sorry that I did it. But if there's something I don't regret, it's being able to watch over you more closely. You're my woman now, and I don't like seeing other men hanging around you. Especially not here in this house."

"What are you taking about?"

"You had a man here the other night."

"And what business is that of yours?"

"I don't like him. He's not right for you."

"And you are?"

"So much more than he could ever be." His eyes narrowed as he said it, remembering the face of David, the man who hopelessly lusted after her.

"He's my coworker, that's all. He just stopped off to give me some papers I'd left at work. Not that it's any of your business."

"Maybe so, but I still don't like him. In fact, I hate him. He came over because he wanted to try and have sex with you. He was only using the portfolio as an excuse to get inside your house. He's very devious, I hope you understand that. I don't want him ever coming around you again, you understand?"

"You have no right to order me around like that. I'll do as I damn well please."

"Will you?"

"Yes, I will." Her eyes stared intensely into his without blinking.

Takoda willed himself to remain calm, but his wolf was threatening to emerge. He'd already claimed her so she was undoubtedly his, but he couldn't stand the thought of her being around David. Takoda didn't want her anywhere around this other man, not after the stunt he'd pulled in Lynn's bedroom.

Recalling the events of the previous night, Takoda angrily recalled David's presence in her bedroom and he began to feel the anger rise inside of him.

The memory of David touching Lynn's intimate garments caused him to boil with rage. Just the thought of another man's hands on her body was enough to send him over the edge. If anyone ever tried to touch or harm her, he would personally see to it that they were ripped apart. As thoughts of David ran through Takoda's mind, he realized that the only way to completely get rid of Lynn's coworker was to hunt him down and kill him.

As dark thoughts formed in his mind, a dangerous glint passed through Takoda's eyes. The presence of Lynn, however, pulled him away from his murderous thoughts, and as he came back to the present moment, his eyes began to once again soften.

"Have it your way, Lynn. You can do as you please, but that won't stop me from watching over you."

A comfortable silence fell between them as they both became lost in their own thoughts. The sound of light rain pattered against the living room window and as Lynn glanced outside at the cloudy sky, she found herself recalling the first day she'd met Takoda.

"I knew there was something different about you when we first met. Your gaze was so strong that as soon as I looked into your eyes, it felt as if you were pulling me further in. It was almost impossible to look away from you.

Sliding a finger beneath her chin he tilted it up, then leaned his face in closer to hers.

"I was testing you, Lynn. I wanted to see how receptive you would be to my advances. You liked the way I looked at you though, didn't you? I know it turned you on."

His thumb tenderly stroked her cheek. The heat between them grew as he touched her, and his keen senses immediately picked up the scent of her arousal.

"I was curious."

Takoda's lips tugged upwards into a smile, "I know you were, and so was I. From that very first moment that we locked eyes I knew we would be together."

As his fingers slid across her silk clad chest her body instantly responded. He felt her nipples harden beneath his touch and her breathing began to quicken, filling him with excitement and need.

"You are all mine, aren't you, Lynn?" Takoda pressed his lips against her ear and gently began sucking upon the tip of her earlobe.

"No, I'm not," she breathily murmured.

As the lie left her lips he felt his smile widen and he removed his mouth from the flesh of her ear.

"Of course you are. It's what you wanted from that first day we met."

Peppering kisses against her neck, he moved his mouth down toward the pulse point of her neck. As his lips rested upon it he felt the beat instantly quicken, indicating that her arousal for him was increasing.

"I can feel your excitement for me," he breathed against her neck.

Moving his lips back up to her mouth, he pressed them lightly against her lips, just barely brushing against their softness. The first kiss he gave her was light, a tender peck. Then he followed it up with a deep, passionate one.

As their tongues brushed together, Lynn let loose a heady moan. She was willing her body not to respond beneath his ministrations, but the feel of his mouth and hands upon her was almost too much for her to handle.

Despite the fact that she was deeply attracted to him she was also filled with a strong apprehension. She didn't know what kind of powers he might have, and she was also feeling unsure about the effect the mark would have on her.

According to Takoda, the emotions she that she regularly felt would now be enhanced, which meant that the feelings she'd previously had for him would now be increased. She wasn't sure if she was ready for this. She'd experienced heartbreak before, and if the relationship she was having with Takoda was to ever end, she wasn't so sure she'd be able to handle the pain.

The presence of Takoda was driving her crazy with arousal and the feelings she had for him seemed to constantly be growing stronger. She was losing too much of herself in him and she couldn't deal with being this way. She wasn't used to being so crazy over a man, and she wasn't about to let her love for Takoda take over everything else in her life. Willing all of the power inside of her, Lynn pushed her hand against his chest and broke their heated kiss.

"No, this has to stop. I can't do this anymore."

"Why? What did I do?"

"I could feel myself melding with you. It was like I wasn't even myself anymore, you were becoming a part of me." Lynn stood up from the couch and backed a few steps away from him.

"That's what's supposed to happen, Lynn. You're my mate, now. It's just your mark responding to my touch. It's perfectly natural for you to feel those things."

"No it isn't natural, at all. I can't do this, Takoda. This is just too weird."

Takoda rose to his feet and took a step toward her, "I can see you're afraid, but I'm not going to hurt you. I wish you could see that. Please stop blocking this from happening and open yourself up to me."

Shaking her head she replied, "I can't be with you, Takoda."

"Please, Lynn. Don't throw what we have away." He took another step toward her and tried to touch her arm but she shied away from his touch

"I want you to go. Please don't make this any harder than it has to be."

Releasing a heavy sigh, he turned his back to Lynn and made his way toward the front door. As he reached it he paused, then turned to face her.

"I know you want to be with me, Lynn so just stop kidding yourself and allow this to be. I understand that you're confused and scared about things, but why are you so afraid of loving me?"

As he stood there waiting for her to respond, all she could do was just stare at him. She did want him to stay, and yet she was also afraid of being around him. She was stuck between two conflicting desires and wasn't sure of which one she should go with. As fear and love battled for domination she averted her eyes from his own, not wanting to be drawn into his powerful gaze.

"We belong together, Lynn. Let me stay with you tonight."

"Why, so you can make another mark on me? Please just go already. We can't be together and I need you to accept that.

Lynn walked over to the door and opened it, lifting her eyes to meet his in a firm stare. As they stood there next to the door a cool breeze swept inside and the rhythm of the rain filled the air.

"You can't turn me away, Lynn. No matter how hard you try. We're bound together now-for life."

He then crossed the threshold, walked down the porch steps, and headed away from her house. But not without Lynn feeling a strange mixture of both relief and sadness.