by Celeste Raye
“Her father will give you anything. He is very interested in getting her back, and I think you should hear him out. Give him a demand, anything he said.”
Dean scoffed. “That just means he has nothing.”
“I think that you’re reading the situation wrong, Father.”
“I don’t think that I am. You paid all of your attention to her! I didn’t see you talking to the women I brought for you. What was the point in coming at all?”
“What is the point of talking to them?” Jake snapped back. “I don’t want to marry them, so it doesn’t matter what they’re like. You picked them, not me. I don’t want them. But if I have to choose, then I am going to take the blonde. It doesn’t matter her name or anything else about her really, now does it?”
“You have never talked to me in this way before. This woman, Alexis, she is messing with your head. She is making you fight me, your leader! You know better than this.”
“No, Dean, it has nothing to do with her and everything to do with you. I am doing my duty, but I don’t have to like it.”
He walked away, and Dean wanted to stop him. He had more to say, but he knew when his words were going to fall on deaf ears. He wasn’t stupid.
Dean called on Donovan to help him. He had to get Alexis out of the mix before Jake did something he wasn’t going to be able to come back from.
Chapter Seventeen
Alexis had decided. She did not have anywhere else to go. She couldn't go home, because even if she were allowed to go back, how was she going to be able to face everyone? The only way forward was Jake.
The problem was Jake was already promised to another—or several others. His father was the one that was in her way, and just a few looks from him during dinner had told Alexis that Dean was the one that she needed to fear.
So, Alexis had to show Jake how she felt about him, really felt about him, and see what happened. She was going to have to throw herself at his feet, and the idea of it made her feel sick inside.
When he walked back in, she wanted to go back immediately, but it took her a moment. She had to realize he had something else on his mind and probably had not had a good meeting with his dad. Alexis put her arm around his shoulder and asked him if he was okay. It was something that he was always asking her, and even though he was the one that was supposed to protect her, it felt like Jake needed someone to tell him that everything was going to work out.
“You don't understand Alexis. I don't think this is ever going to be all right.”
“Tell me what's going on.
He looked up at her with those dark eyes and shrugged. “Trust me, you really don't want to know.”
“I have a pretty good idea. Your dad knows that mine does not have anything to give. Or at least not anything worth it for him, so now your dad wants to take me out. He also wanted you to choose a wife tonight instead of talking to me.” She paused for a moment before she asked him if that was about the gist of it.
Jake looked relieved that Alexis actually did understand what was going on. He had this massive weight on his shoulders, and just to hear that she understood was almost enough to relieve some of the tension—almost.
“Yep, that about sums it up.”
“So, do we have to leave tonight? I mean, is something going to happen right now?”
He shook his head. “I doubt it. I probably should have been less rude than I was, but I just couldn't believe how he was acting. He should not have said those things in front of you. It was more to get at me than it was to get at you. I just want you to know that.”
“I didn’t think it would be any different. How could it be? I am the enemy, and to many people here, I will always be only that. I just never want you to look at me that way. Promise me that, and the rest, I don't care about.”
“You need to care, though Alexis. My father can make a decision that will change our lives. I am not in charge of the gang yet and going against him could spell the end for a lot of people.”
She was shaking inside from his words because Alexis knew that he was not the type to make things look worse than they were. It was probably worse than that and he was trying to make her feel better. Alexis went back to her original idea. She didn't think that it would change much, but she did hope that it would relieve some of the tension she had picked up from the conversation.
“Let’s not worry about this tonight. Have a drink and forget that everything is so screwed up. Can we do that?”
He chuckled and agreed that it wasn’t such a horrible idea.
“That sounds like the best idea. I don't want to think about this anymore tonight. It's not like he's going to come in and try to do something right now. But it does mean that he will do something soon, so we're going to have to keep our eyes open. I stand by my promise, Alexis.”
He was looking at her so sweetly, and Alexis went to her tiptoes to give him a kiss. It wasn’t planned, but it should have been. All of the tension and stress that she was still carrying was almost immediately gone. It was filled with want and desire that was hard to think about, but she couldn't help it. Just being in his arms told her all she needed to know. He was the one that she was looking for.
Whatever Alexis was starting, she was bound and determined to finish it. The desire was ripe, and she wanted him more and more; the longer she touched his lips to hers, the more she knew that it was right, whatever it was that was happening between them.
As Jake started to pull her closer, her thoughts left her mind. At the moment, all she could think about was this the man next to her, kissing her and making her forget all else. It was just what she needed.
He stopped at some point and asked her if she thought it was a good idea, what they were doing.
“Turn your brain off, Jake, and just give me what I need. What we both need. I know that I’m not the only one that is dying for it.”
“You aren’t going to hear me arguing there, Alexis. I’ve wanted to get my hands on you since I met you. I don’t know what it is about you Alexis, but I need you.”
That was a good enough answer for Alexis. She was caught up in the moment, and her body was already screaming for more. She didn’t know what it was going to come to, but it didn’t matter. None of it did. Just Jake and his hot mouth moving to her neck, making her call out in pleasure.
Chapter Eighteen
Whatever had changed in Alexis, Jake was no longer too worried about finding out why. He didn’t care at the moment, not when she was touching him in the way she was, making the little sounds of pleasure that were driving him insane. He already wanted her, but now, it was painful.
His loins were tight, and the pants he was wearing were becoming harder to sit in comfortably. Her red hair was down, fanning her body that was soon bare.
“You’re just as beautiful as I thought you would be, maybe even more so.”
Alexis was embarrassed, her face turning red. He was amazed that she was still acting so innocent. She must not have known how much she affected him. He was dying inside with need, but Jake knew that he had to take it slow. Jake wanted her to enjoy every minute of it, which meant that he had to get her ready, all the way ready for him. Because once he started, Jake was going to be hard-pressed to stop.
She was finally naked underneath him, and Jake was delighted in the trail of freckles that covered her body. He wasn’t going to be able to get enough, not until he counted and kissed every last one of them.
He could feel her shivering as his lips licked and tasted a few that were spanning her shoulders. His teeth started to devour her, trying to get more. He heard the moaning and whimpering that he’d heard before, and his manhood was throbbing so much that he could no longer ignore it.
Jake stood up, towering over her as he shucked his clothes off quickly. His intent was clear, and another tremble went through Alexis. Her eyes were targeting the naughtier bits of him, and he stood there as long as he could, letting her take it all in.
“You’re covered in tat
toos, Jake.”
He grinned and moved back over her body, kissing her on the lips before moving back to her neck.
“You’re covered in freckles.”
She agreed and then shivered. “Are you cold?”
“How could I be cold? I am burning up, and you’re like a furnace. I don’t think I could be cold in this situation.”
Jake liked the answer, and he felt his piece slide between her buttery-soft thighs. He wasn’t going anywhere quick, just checking it out and feeling the muscles tighten.
She whined when he rubbed along her button, but he didn’t thrust inwards. He wasn’t ready for that yet, but Alexis sure was. She was so wet, and he just had to rub between her legs to coat himself with her juices.
“You don’t know how badly I’ve wanted you, Alexis.”
Alexis wasn’t talking much, too concentrated on the feel of him. Jake didn’t blame her. He was still trying to get his head around how good she felt. He wasn’t ready to slide in just yet. Alexis was more than willing, but it wasn’t right, not yet. He needed just a little bit more.
His body moved down hers. Jake nipped and tasted her creamy flesh, spending extra time on each nipple. Alexis was begging for it, but he didn’t let it bother him. While she said she wanted it, needed it even, Jake wanted her past the point of return. She wasn’t there yet, but about the time he got to the apex of her legs, she was teetering on the very edge.
“No, Jake. I am too sensitive for that.”
Jake just chuckled and even the bit of hot breath that moved on her flesh was enough to make her jerk. Jake had focused on prolonging it, but now he had her taste in his mouth, and it was like candy. Each lick made him want another.
He wasn’t really paying much attention, letting all of the rest of it get to him. She was squeezing with her thighs, then pushing back the next moment, but it wasn’t what was needed. What was needed were her screams of pleasure, called out in abandon. That’s what Jake desired most, and it was like a gluttony of pleasure coursing through them both.
At some point, he realized that she couldn’t take any more. Or at least that’s what she thought. Alexis was pushing back, trying to desperately get away from his hungry mouth, but he wasn’t making it easy on her.
“Where are you going?”
“I can’t, Jake. I just can’t…”
He told her that she was being silly and proceeded to make her orgasm once more before he pulled back and wiped his mouth. It was never going to be enough, and Jake knew that slowing down was the last thing on his mind. While he had prolonged it for a time, it had just made him even wilder for it. Now, Jake wanted to be inside of Alexis so much and climbed back over her to do just that.
Their eyes met for a moment, him positioned where he was needed most. He looked down at her, pressing their lips together before thrusting in hard and fast. It took her breath away, the gasp in his mouth hotter than ever.
“I knew you would be perfect, Alexis, like you were made just for me. You just feel so damn good.”
Alexis was breathing fast, and she wasn’t as sure. Her insides were fluctuating around him, and before he could stop himself, Jake was pulling back and sending himself home once more. That’s what Alexis felt like: home. And he never wanted to leave.
Jake picked up a quick rhythm that left them both reeling. All he needed was the next thrust, and it was impossible to stop, even as she screamed out beneath him in the throes of passion. It was never deep enough, hard enough, and Jake missed her just as he was pulling out. It was all too much, and he finally lost himself deep inside of her.
They laid together on the bed, stuck in an embrace that Jake never wanted to end. He heard her breathing even out and he couldn’t believe she was sleeping. He wanted to wake her up, slip back in, and start again. But no, he had to let her sleep. He’d worn her out, and Jake was content to watch her sleep for a while.
Chapter Nineteen
Alexis had been left in the bedroom for a little bit, while Jake went to get them something for breakfast. She was still naked in the bed and feeling pretty damn good about the night before. It started as a way to feel less afraid of the future, but in reality, it had just made her more confused than ever before.
She had never been with a man that made her feel so much in such a short amount of time. It was rather devastating to her senses, and her body felt like it was now every bit as much his body as it was her own. In a couple of hours, he had shown her things that were hard to imagine. Alexis had not even known that her body could have so many orgasms in a night. She also had not known that she could fall for someone so quickly.
Alexis wanted to think that she was not like those women that fell hard and fast and embarrassed themselves, but that's precisely where she was. She was ready to put all of her feelings out there and hoped that he did not run away scared. Just the idea of it made her wonder what had changed and why she was so easily able to forget about everything.
Alexis was trying to figure out where Jake was. He was supposed to only be gone for ten or fifteen minutes, but it felt longer than that. She tried to find the clock, but there wasn't one in the room. There was not even one by the bedside table, and if it would have been a little warmer, she might have gone to find her phone. Then again, would it really matter? It's not like she had to go to work or school or anything. She had no obligations, except to wait for the man then had completely shut down her ability to think properly.
After another few minutes, Alexis heard the door, and she thought it was Jake coming in. She waited a minute and heard him knock. He must have left his key or something, she thought to herself.
She was so convinced that it would be her lover at the door that she did not even put anything on before she went to answer it.
It wasn’t Jake, though. Donovan looked just like his father, and there was a scary expression on his face. She tried to close the door, but he stopped it.
“I'm sorry, but your brother isn’t here right now. I can have him find you and talk to you as soon as he is.”
“That won’t be necessary.”
“Why not?”
“Because you're coming with me, Alexis.”
He started to come towards her again, and she mentioned something about not even wearing any clothes. Alexis also said that she wasn't going anywhere with him, but they both knew she had really no say in it. Without Jake there, she couldn’t defend herself against the strong shifter males.
“Please, your brother will be back soon.”
“Then you won't be here. Thing is, you're going away forever, and even though my brother might be a little upset that you've gone, he'll get over you and move on to a suitable endeavor. You are certainly not it.”
While he said such things to her, she could also feel his eyes going over the front of her, taking in everything. She had never felt so vulnerable in her life.
“I don't know what has happened, but Jake promised me that nothing would happen to me. He made that promise, and I know he would not break it.”
“You're right. My brother is loyal to a fault. I don’t know how you got underneath his skin, but you did. He’s picking you, the enemy, from some bullshit gang that doesn’t barely exist now, over his own family. You need to just go away Alexis because I agree with my dad. I don’t think you’re good for him.”
“So, you’re going to kill me?”
Donovan didn’t even look at her.
“You should already be dead. I don't know what my father is going to do with you, but I'm sure it will be suitable for your crimes. You went against our clan, and for that, you and the rest of your gang should die.”
Alexis didn't know what to say.
“Can I at least get some clothes on before we go? I'm sure that people are going to look at me strangely if they see me this way.”
“Fine. I don't want to hear flak from my brother about it later. Get dressed. Don't do anything funny though, because you only have five minutes, and then I yank you out of here butt
-naked if I have to.”
Alexis tried not to cry. She did find her voice breaking as she asked him once why he would do such a thing.
“What have I done to deserve this?”
“You seem to think this is my idea. I have nothing against you, though I think you have put certain thoughts in my brother's head. I'm only doing this because this is an order.”
Alexis scoffed. It was pretty hard for her not to take it personally,
She got dressed and didn't even fight when he pulled her out of the room. Donovan didn’t believe in what he was doing, but that didn’t mean that he would not follow the order that was given to him. Before Alexis knew it, she was being dragged out of the compound and knew that she would never see it or Jake again.
“Where are we going?”
“Like I told you, I'm taking you to see Dean.”
“Isn't Dean back there?”
Donovan shrugged. “This is where he wanted you brought, so this is where you will be.”
The uneasy feeling was back, and Alexis didn’t know what was going to happen next. It wasn't like she could change it anyway, so working herself up did no good. She was just going to have to wait and see what fate had in store for her.
Chapter Twenty
Jake was still reminiscing about the wonderful night he had, wishing that he was with Alexis right then. He was, instead, listening in on another meeting that seemed to go on forever. His father insisted that he attend, without Alexis, because there was a lot of business to work on.
He wasn’t paying attention, and thankfully, his opinion didn’t seem to be needed. Instead, everyone was just kind of looking around, trying to figure out what was going to happen next. When Jake realized that all eyes were on him, he finally sat up.
