Nakedness wasn’t something the pack was too concerned with. He’d been walking down his many halls and seen men and woman completely nude. It was natural to them, being around each other.
He was curious about her, and wanted to learn every single little detail, which was a shock.
She was the first woman in a long time to make him want a second and even a third look. Running his hand down his face, he tried to clear the thoughts from his mind. He wanted to know if she’d look just as pretty completely naked with his cuffs wrapped around her wrists.
Abel liked control.
He craved a woman submitting to him, but he also wanted a woman to take him, to relish the bites he gave, the sting of his hand. He wasn’t a Dominant within BDSM. He didn’t wear leather, nor did he have special tools.
Being a wolf, those tools were useless to him, and they were too impersonal. His hands did all the work, and so did his voice. There was something addictive about ordering a woman to do his bidding.
His cock, once again hard, pressed against the front of his jeans.
Lifting the cookie up, he cursed as it had soaked up way too much of his coffee, and it fell into the cup with a splash.
Chapter Three
For three days Cassie avoided the alpha. Wherever he was, she made sure to avoid him. His home was so large that she’d been able to do that, and she noticed several rooms he never seemed to venture in. The first was the kitchen, which became her new best friend. Again, that was kind of weird as the kitchen was once her enemy.
Her pack had banned her from using the kitchen at her old pack house. Her own parents ordered to keep her away from it, and she hadn’t been allowed to fix herself a snack, let alone cook. Several of the pack members here had held their hands up, giving her the room for her to do what she liked in there.
Since she’d started cooking, she’d made friends. They had come in to greet her, and a couple of the men had sunk to their knees saying they were not worthy and asked if she could cook all the time.
The bell on the alarm by the oven rang, and she pulled open the door, the scent of cinnamon raisin cookies filling the air.
It had been years since she’d baked one, or tried one. Her mouth was watering so badly. She’d already made herself a cup of coffee.
Placing the cookies on the countertop, she prepared the cooling trays, and after a few minutes began to transfer the cookies. Once that was all done, she placed the baking trays on the counter near the sink, took a seat, held a cookie, and tasted.
She closed her eyes as the flavor exploded on her tongue, and she let out a little moan.
“I like that sound.”
Cassie squeaked, coughing on the cookie in her mouth. She quickly swallowed and patted her chest as she did.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize this was a private thing,” Abel said.
“You’ve never come to the kitchen.”
“I’ve never smelled oatmeal raisin cookies before.” He moved toward the counter where the cookies rested. He picked one up and took a bite.
She watched him close his eyes and savor the bite. “They are fucking fantastic,” he said.
“Thank you.”
“No need to thank me. You baked these? They were not out of a package?”
“No. Carl told me they purchased all the stuff to bake, but no one ever got around to it. They kept throwing out the old baking stuff and restocking the shelves. I figured it was okay to use it up. It’s kind of a waste otherwise.”
He took a second one. “Can I have a cup?” He pointed toward the coffeepot, and she laughed.
“Of course. It’s all yours.” She sipped her coffee.
Abel joined her, placing a cookie beside her. “I didn’t mean to spoil your enjoyment of a cookie.”
“It’s fine.”
“It’s not, and you should stop taking crap. Accept an apology when you’re due one. Even better, demand one.”
His voice snapped each word at her, and she nodded, taking it.
“Thank you.”
“Good. You’ve been avoiding me.”
She didn’t even try to deny it. She couldn’t.
“I don’t accept you trying to hide from me. You’ve got to learn to handle your strength, and if you can’t show me your best, then this pack is not for you.”
Her heart began to pound. “I don’t want to leave.”
“It would be difficult to get rid of you. I’ve heard the pack talking. Your food over the past three days has won them over. Some of the women are not happy, but don’t take shit from them. I don’t accept it. Learn to stick up for yourself, understood?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve really enjoyed the food as well.”
“You have?”