“You know, a slaver, a whore, an outlaw, a thieving, nogood Roger…in short, a Tygerian. ”
Tarr cast him a furious glare. “I don’t remember you exactly pushing me away out there in the water. Me being such a no-good whore and all. ”
“No,” Larsson said, smiling. “I decided to stop fighting it. The gods have seen fit to make you my mate, so I’ll just have to rehabilitate you. ” He trailed a finger along Tarr’s jaw. “I think I can train you. ”
Tarr pushed his hand away, his eyes blazing. “I think you have it the other way around. It’s you who will betrained. I’ll beat you every day until you settle in and obey me like a good little nobyo. ”
“You try to lay one hand on me and I’ll cut it off! No, I’ll cut you off! No sex until you straighten up!”
Tarr snorted. “If I want sex, I’ll take it elsewhere. There are plenty of men who would love to be my nobyo. You should be thanking me for making the offer!I’ll just find someone else who appreciates the honor of being my nobyo. ”
“You can try…you won’t be successful, but you can try. ”
“Oh, and why is that? Whatin hells are you talking about?”
“The uh…fever you had? It was from my venom. ”
“Yes, so you said—so what?”
“So the Lycan venom makes certain changes in the bodies of our mates. ”
Tarr’s eyebrows came together in a sharp frown. “What kind of changes?”
Larsson leaned back against the cliff wall behind him, really beginning to enjoy this. “Well, for one thing, you won’t be able to get hardfor anyone but me. ”
Tarr’s mouth fell open in shock while his eyebrows almost reached his hairline.
He sputtered a few times, trying to speak, while Larsson smiled back at him benignly, enjoying his reaction.
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Tarr said hoarsely, finally finding his voice.
“You can’t get it up for anybody but me. I’m your mate, Tarr, so that shouldn’t pose a problem. ” He grinned at Tarr again. “You’re all mine, baby. ”
Tarr rubbed a big hand over his face. “I-I’ll kill you. That’s what I’ll do. I’ll fucking kill you. ”
Larsson shrugged. “You can try…”
Tarr suddenly grabbed his stomach and doubled over with a sharp cramp. Larsson sat forward and rubbed a hand on his back, a self-satisfied smile on his lips. “Stomach cramp, Tarr? Oh yes, that’s another little side effect I forgot to mention. That’s from the venom in the mating bite. ”
“What the hells do you mean? You mean when you bit me, it made me sick? Are you trying to kill me?”
“No, nothing like that. It’s what happens to the mate when he isn’t pleasing his alpha or when he’s misbehaving. It’s all part of learning to become a good mate. Like I said, it’s because of the venom. ”
“What in hells are you talking about? I’m a Tygerian!I’m not in your fucking pack!”
“Well, technically you did become a member of our pack when we mated. All pack members have to learn discipline, and since I’m your alpha now, you have to obey me. When you don’t, you might get that stomach cramp. ”
Tarr jumped to his feet in outrage and stomped off, kicking the blankets and the water tin out of his way as he went. He got as far as the fire when he whirled around and pointed a long finger at Larsson. “You’re notmy alpha. We don’t have alphas, for the gods’ sake. You take this off me right now! Whatever curse this is—take it off!”
Larsson shrugged, holding out his hands. “I can’t. There’s nothing you or I can do about it now. Unless, of course, you leave me. Or if I die. Then the effects should wear off—eventually. ”
“What do you mean byeventually?”
“A few weeks…or months…depending on how strong the bond is. You seem pretty crazy about me, so it may take you longer. ”
Tarr took a few steps back toward Larsson, his hands clenched into fists at his side. “I’m not joking, Lycan. Take it off or so help me, I’ll…”
Larsson scrambled to his feet and squared off against his mate. “You’ll do what? Bring it on, Tygerian. I think it’s about time we had it out once and for all. I’m sick of your threats. ”