Alpha's Child by Aubrey Rose

hard to deduce what she’d really meant.
    It was not a good time to conceive because they were in danger.
    And they were in danger because of Julia.
    Julia pressed her lips together. She barely remembered what she said to Katherine the whole walk back. When she finally got into the house and back into her room, she shut the door behind her. Damien was sitting on the chair next to the window, and when she came in, he stood up to hug her.
    “Damien, we can’t do this,” she said.
    “What?”
    “Wait for them to attack us. Everyone’s on edge, scared. I am too. I don’t want to feel that way.”
    Damien’s expression was dusky. “What do you think we should we do?”
    Julia took a breath.
    “Leave,” she said.
    Damien’s lips parted in surprise. Then they pursed in brooding.
    “It’s not that simple,” he said.
    “Then what? Sit here and worry?” A lump rose in Julia’s throat. “I don’t want anyone else to get hurt because of me.”
    “I can’t ask the rest of the pack to pick up and go. Not after two years of wandering.”
    “Then we go on our own,” Julia said, softly but firmly.
    On the surface Damien barely reacted, but Julia could sense him stiffen.
    “Dee can come with us,” Julia said. “If Kyle and Katherine want to stay, they can. Same with Jordan. Or Mara.”
    “I don’t…”
    His mouth kept working but no more sound came out. He looked lost. Torn. The idea of breaking up the pack was horrible to Julia; she couldn’t even imagine how it felt to him.
    “We have to leave, Damien,” she said, taking his strong, rough hands in hers. “Together.”
    And though his expression was still heavy with worry, Damien nodded.
    That tiny gesture of assent unleashed in Julia a roaring outpour of love for her mate. A shaky little exhalation escaped her and she pressed herself against him and kissed him fiercely, her hands clutching the back of his shirt.
    Her burst of passion set him off. With a nearly soundless growl he pushed back against her, enveloping her, running his right hand up her spine and plunging his fingers into her hair.
     

CHAPTER TEN
    Damien
    Damien backed Julia against the wall, her full lips locked in his, so soft. He brushed the tip of his tongue along her lower lip and her body squirmed. Her fingers traced the waistline of his jeans—the light touch made him dizzy—and then worked at the button. Her frantic hunger for him pulsated from her.
    Then, out of nowhere, she bit his lower lip. Not just a nip—a bite. She’d never done that before. The surprise gave him a surge of masculine aggression. He tightened his fist in her hair, tugging at the roots and jerking her head back. She gasped in both pain and pleasure. He put his lips right up to hers, not quite touching. She strained forward against his grasp to either kiss or bite him.
    “Oh, no,” he whispered softly. He held her head back, teasing her. He could feel her presence flowing toward him from all directions, a tornado of emotion. In it flew mixed frustrations and desires, angers and passions. She wanted him and loved him and hated him and was frightened—
    Julia put both her hands on his chest and dug her nails into his skin. With a growl he knocked her arms up and pressed her backwards onto the bed, clambering on top of her before she could move. Her back arched against the cool sheets into his broad chest. Warm hands caressed his back, pulling him closer. He slid his hand up her smooth thigh, under her dress, and tugged her panties down.
    Then she raked her nails across his back. The pain sent thrills through his back, a burning that mixed with his burning need, and with hers. He grabbed her wrists and slapped them down on the bed over her head, pinning her down.
    Careful, careful . The word beat like a drum in his mind as he tangled his limbs over hers, the small bump on her belly nearly invisible but so present . Every motion of his was deliberate, even when he was rough. He would never hurt them. No. And she