A Twisted Anthology: A Twisted Design Book

Love is Blind Part 9

My watch said it was six in the evening. Some of the trolls had left after failing with Rock. Others stuck around because they wanted to see if he found his mate. Some were just enjoying coming up and touching me, so they wanted to hang out until I left.

I pulled some lotion out of my purse and started applying it to my arms, legs, and neck. Their rough skin was annoying Blanche, because she was healing rashes and scrapes almost constantly. It was like tripping in the road over and over.

The scent of melon came near. “You want me to get your back?” Sean asked.

“Please. I don’t think a human could have survived this.” I laughed.

“Not without some serious road rash.” He replied.

The soothing feeling of the lotion on my back made me feel better. The touching wasn’t as constant anymore. It seemed the novelty was wearing off. I was a little glad for it. A cheer suddenly went up.

“Another fail!” Forrest announced.

He explained to me that they cheered because it meant an attractive female was still on the market. A lot of the male guests were of age, but some were still under fifty. These parties were big social events.

We waited on him to pull the next name. I heard him open up the folded paper. There was a deep, rumbling, growl that sounded like a rockslide. It shook me and I was suddenly afraid in a way I hadn’t been before.

“This isn’t funny. This is dangerous and risks me breaking my promise of safety to my guest.” Forrest said in an angry voice.

I almost smiled. There was no way that it was anything but my name. I took a calming breath and tried to look curious.

“Read the name!” Someone shouted.

The sound of laughter was in his voice. This was definitely the man who had put my name in. I silently thanked him.

“Carmen.” He replied sullenly. “Are you mated?”

“No.” I answered.

“The rules are the rules. We have to follow them. Can someone bring her here?”

Sean took my arm and guided me. I didn’t bump into anyone, though I knew the house was still rather full. They were all quiet. Only the sound of their breathing and occasional shifting gave them away.

I tried not to look excited. It must have worked, because trolls were blunt enough that they would have said something if I did look excited. Sean stopped me and Forrest took me from him.

He led me further into the house. I shivered with anticipation. He must have thought I was scared, because he stopped.

“Everything is going to be alright, Carmen. I have to put you in the room with him, but the chains only reach halfway across. If you stay near the door, he can’t get you. You only have to stay in for thirty minutes.” Forrest instructed me.

“Anything else I should know?” I asked.

“Don’t speak. He may be crazy, but he’s also smart. His body is telling him to sink it into as many females as possible right now. That means you, too. He’ll say whatever he has to in order to get you to come close enough to grab.” He said.

“How would anyone be able to tell if it was smooth talking or an actual mate bond?” I wondered aloud, hoping to get some insight into how they sensed them.

“The room is small so Rock would be affected after a few minutes when his mate goes in. You do it by smell, right?”

I nodded.

“Ours is the actual bond itself. When our true mate is near us, we feel calmed and soothed. Trolls can be explosive. Our mates temper us. Right now, Rock isn’t the man you know.” Forrest told me.

“I’ll do my best.” I said.

“I can’t save you if you get too close to him. If I come back in thirty minutes and he has you, you’re on your own until he’s done with you.” He warned.

“Got it.” I murmured, feeling myself heat up at the idea of being with my mate again.

The sound of a door opening turned my attention to my right. I could hear chains rattling. There was some grunting and straining.

“Here’s the next one.” Forrest said and pushed me inside the door just enough that he could close it.

I pressed myself against the wall. There was a smell in the room that was like nothing I’d ever smelled before. Almost like cinderblock and char. It didn’t mingle with the scent of my mate very well.

The fact that the scent was still there told me that there was no way I was imagining things. No way that Blanche was confused. Rock really was my mate.

“Why are you hiding? Don’t you want to feel the halfie? Or are you afraid I’ll beat you in a fight?” Rock laughed.

I bit my lips together. I wouldn’t say anything. Not until I knew he was feeling the bond.

Keeping my fingers on my watch, I felt the time tick past. Rock kept hurling insults and challenges. This was smooth talking to trolls? I supposed, if they were explosive, that could turn into other forms of passion.

After about six minutes, Rock went quiet. He stopped pulling at his chains and I heard a sound, like an impact with the floor. He was calm.

“Please. Listen to me before you say anything. I know I’m only half troll and I’m not a strong fighter or conventionally attractive. I know I’m small and probably weaker than you. I’m speaking from my heart right now. I’m hoping it speaks to you. I work hard. I’m not wealthy, but I’m very comfortable. I’m well-known in the community. I can give you a life like you want. You can work, stay home, travel. I’ll work to give you everything. Please accept me. I’ve done everything I can to overcome the handicaps I was born with. I may have soft skin, but I’m hard on the inside. I’ll make you my queen if you’ll accept my mark.” Rock said.

I could feel tears in my eyes. It sounded a lot like the things I’d said to Jordan when he told me he was going to reject me. I told him every good thing about me. I told him how I would cherish him. He still couldn’t love me.

From where Rock’s voice was coming from, I knew he was on his knees. He was begging for his mate to want him. No matter how relaxed and unaffected he had acted last weekend, he wanted to find his mate as badly as I did.

“Say something. Anything. Even if it’s just to tell me to f**k off.” He pled.

I walked carefully toward the sound of his voice. I stopped short of where I could hear him moving and breathing. We were in the same boat now. He could see as much as I could.

“I’m sorry, Rock. I couldn’t tell you anything until you were old enough. If you’ll accept me, I’ll be your little wolf slut for the rest of our lives. I’ll make you a sanctuary of softness. I’ll submit to your power and strength. I know I’m small and a lot weaker than you, but I need someone with your strength to keep me safe. With some small concessions, I can live a nearly normal life. And I want to do that with you, Rock. My Alpha. My handsome troll.” I murmured.

“Carmen? You can’t be in here, it’s not safe for you.” Rock insisted. “Wait…. You’re my true mate? A werewolf. I was certain…. This can’t be right.”

“Oh, goddess, not again.” I felt tears welling up in my eyes. “Don’t reject me, Rock. I couldn’t handle it again. I’ll do anything. Please, don’t reject me.”

“That was why you asked what I would do if my mate wasn’t a troll. You had Sean take you to me because you knew you were my mate. We don’t have rules like that one. You should have told me.” Rock growled.

“Should have told you something I didn’t have proof of? Pardon me, Mr. Troll, you smell like one of my very favorite desserts and I feel sparks when I touch you. My wolf is screaming mate and that all means you’re meant to be mine. I know I’m just a defective werewolf, but please accept me with absolutely no proof on my part. Yeah. I’m sure that would have gone over well.” I scoffed.

“You’re not defective!” He yelled.

His arms wrapped around me and he held me to him. Rock nuzzled my neck. I inhaled his scent and let him hold me.

Rock began kissing my neck up to my jaw. His grip on me loosened and I moved my hands to his face, resting my thumbs against his tusks before I started kissing him. I nipped at his tongue and he growled at me. I sniffled a little before I growled back.

He pulled away and his hands came up to my face. His fingers trailed over my chin and jaw, my lips, and my cheeks. He stopped to wipe the tears from my face before tracing over my nose and brow. His fingers slid through my hair and he stopped to caress my ears.

“My soft little wolf.” Rock murmured.

“My big, strong troll.” I sighed.

“You’re really mine.” He chuckled. “Ever since last weekend, I’d been having the weirdest dreams about waking up next to you. Cuddling you on the couch. Sliding up your skirt and quietly taking you from behind in public. Claiming your body in every room in my… our house. I never had literal dreams about my future. And the daydreams I had of my true mate never rang true for a troll woman. I always imagined someone more tender than they are.”

“Can I mark you as mine? Can I finally claim you? I’ve been going insane all week longing to be with you again.” I whispered.

“If you can get the key to these chains, I can mark you too. They’re cold iron, so they nullify my magic.” Rock explained.

I took his hands off of me and started feeling down his arm to where the chains had cuffs. I examined the cuff and found where a lock was hooked into it. Breaking an external lock was a lot easier than an internal one in a cuff.

“Lay down and put your arms above your head.” I told him.

“Why?” He asked.

“I’m getting these chains off.” I replied.

“You sound like you’re smiling.” Rock laughed.

“I am.”

He did as I said. I moved the cuff on one wrist so the lock was on top. I braced the cuff against the ground with my foot, gripped the lock and pulled. After a few jerks, the locking mechanism broke and I pulled the cuff off.

“You’re stronger than you look, my little wolf.” He purred.

I giggled and set about breaking the other locks. Once I had Rock freed, he pulled me to him. I ran my hands over his bare chest. Rock squeezed my butt.

My hands trailed up to where his neck met his shoulder. I leaned in and kissed him there. Rock’s hands slid up and he stroked my back.

“Do it, Carmen. Make me yours. You’ve been waiting so much longer than I have.” Rock whispered.

“Happy birthday, my love.” I said softly as my teeth grew out and I bit into his skin.

There was a lot more resistance than I normally felt when biting flesh, but the jaws of a werewolf were fairly strong. He hissed and groaned as I bit him. I felt his blood flood my mouth and I let him go. I licked over the mark.

“Mine.” I growled.

Rock chuckled and pulled me close. He kissed my marking spot.

“This is where wolves mark?” He asked.

“Yes.” I murmured.

“Then this is where I’ll mark you. So werewolves know who you belong to.” Rock rumbled. “Get on your knees.”

I knelt down in front of him. He whispered something in a language I couldn’t understand. I felt him rub one of his tusks against my skin and kept whispering whatever it was. A burning pain started searing into my marking spot. I whimpered, but stayed in place.

The pain subsided and I reached up to the spot. It was like a brand. The raised bit was a scale outline of one of his tusks. I was excited and shifted my body so I could launch myself at Rock. He caught me easily and wasn’t moved even an inch.

“You’re so cute.” Rock chuckled.

He laid me down and grabbed the collar of my dress before ripping it off. He did the same with my bra and panties. It was a good thing I didn’t wear my favorites.

Rock’s fingers slid between my legs. I moaned at the feeling. That week had felt like a month. I was happy to be with my mate again.

“Mmm. You’re all wet again. After the day I had, I can’t wait to sink into your soft wetness.” He groaned.

Carefully, he started pushing himself into me. He gasped softly. I reached up and caressed his cheek.

“I thought I had dreamed this feeling, Carmen. I’m so glad the goddess gave you to me after that boy f****d up. I’ll never give you up.” Rock promised.

“I love you, Rock. I’ve loved you from the moment I met you. I’ll love you until the day I die. I promise.”

“I love you, too. I’m going to go slow. I’m still healing from my birthday, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to make you scream and beg later.” He chuckled darkly.

“I’m your little wolf slut, Alpha. Please, take me in whatever way you want.” I purred.  

He started moving gently inside me. I reveled in the feeling of having my mate at last. I would never let him go.

-

I lost track of time as Rock and I made love. All I could think about was the waves of pleasure that were overcoming me. I cried out as another orgasm took me to new heights.

The door to the room opened. We stopped moving. I probably should have felt embarrassed, but I didn’t I was too happy for that.

Forrest sighed from the doorway. “I told you to stay away from him. I’ll be back in an hour and a half to get you. As soon as he’s spent you need to get away from him. I’ll grab a healer to help you after and I’ll grant you a boon for not being able to keep you safe.”

Rock and I started laughing. I couldn’t help it, because of how giddy I was.

“No need for that, Forrest. You can go back and report success to the revelers. I found my true mate and she accepted my mark.” Rock said.

“How? You were chained?”

“I owe you four new locks.” I told him. “I couldn’t wait a moment longer to claim my mate and be claimed by him.”

“For now, I’ll need you to leave. Bring us some food and water in a bit, okay? I’m still not done with my soft little wolf.” Rock chuckled.

Forrest laughed. “I can see that. I’ll let everyone know. Congrats.”

The door closed and Rock kissed me deeply. I sighed with happiness. I couldn’t wait to spend the next two days in this room with him.