by Cara Carnes
Drayce grabbed her waist and dragged her forward until her body was pressed firmly against him. Pleasure shot through her when his mouth claimed hers. His tongue darted along her lips, licking until she opened for his sensual assault.
Tongues dueled, hands roamed. She groaned when he ripped her top off and palmed her breasts. Light pinches to her hard nipples made her gasp with need. She landed on the bed as his mouth moved downward. Heat encircled her nipple. His tongue laved the sensitive bud.
“More,” she demanded.
He grazed her skin with his teeth, a feral marking that flooded her core. Her nails dug into his shoulders, urging him to continue the ministrations. Cool air brushed across her when he lifted her ass and pulled her yoga pants down.
So much for taking things slowly.
She tugged and clawed at the shirt covering his gorgeous chest. He growled and discarded it, claiming her mouth once again. The kiss was rough and fierce, and matched the need rippling through her. Wrapping her legs around him, she pivoted her hips against the hardened length of him. The prominent denim-covered bulge thrust against her wet pussy.
Kinsey shoved him away enough to slide her hand between them and reach for his jeans. To hell with taking things slow. She needed him buried deep in her. Strong fingers wrapped around her wrists and hauled them upward until she was pinned to the bed beneath him.
“Drayce, don’t make me beg.” She thrust upward.
He swept his mouth against hers, a slow glide heightening the need within her until it burned hot—a fiery wave of sensations. “Let me show you number one on your list.”
Warmth tickled along her neck, then downward. Hot lips swept across her naval. Deft fingers slid under the band of her panty and pulled down until her mound was bared. He growled against her sensitive skin as he kissed her there, right above where she throbbed, ached for him.
Grasping her thighs, he spread her legs open and glided his tongue softly along her wet slit. A finger plunged into her as he lapped at her arousal. She thrust upward, longing for deeper contact. He held her in place.
His tongue plunged while his fingers taunted, circling her clit. Drayce’s mouth swept upward, his tongue flicking her swollen bud. She surrendered fully, drifting within the explosive relief he provided with each sweep of his mouth, each plunge of his fingers.
Her release was fierce, a burst of intensity focused around the fingers fucking her deeply, the mouth on her clit. Drayce. Her thighs locked around him. She rode the waves crashing through her until she collapsed in a heap of raw, sated nerves. As she blinked to awareness, he kissed her mouth and ran his hands down her sides.
“You taste better than I remember,” he whispered.
“We didn’t do oral last time.”
“No, but I sure as hell should’ve. Fuck, you smell better than strawberries and are sweeter than sugar.” He settled alongside her and sighed heavily. “Shouldn’t have done that. Now, all I’ll ever think about when I come to Gee’s is you, the smell of you, the taste of you on my tongue.”
“I’m starting to suspect you may be more stubborn than me. This is a problem. One of us has to be bendable.”
He grinned. “I’m thinking you’re pretty bendable.”
She slapped his shoulder and laughed. Full gut-wrenching laughed. How long had it been since she’d been so relaxed around a man? Had she ever?
Her intimate relationships had always been…unpredictable. The impulsiveness she embraced in her life never translated well with men. Nans always said it was because she hadn’t found The One. The Native American ancestry in her veins made her believe in such things. A spirit would guide her to her heart mate.
Years later, when Kinsey had learned of shifters, she understood where Nans’ beliefs had really been formulated—within the heart of the Jaguar den she protected. Did Drayce’s pack believe those things? Did they have soul mates? She knew better than ask. He resembled a frightened rabbit trapped by…well, a Wolf. She chuckled at the notion.
His gaze narrowed. “Little lesson, men don’t appreciate women laughing to themselves after sex.”
“Mmm, I’ll remember for future reference.” She reached for his pants. “I’m thinking it’s your turn.”
He massaged her wrist and shook his head. “No, it isn’t.”
“But….”
“Get some rest, Kinsey. We’ll talk in the morning.” He brushed his lips along her forehead, and something within her snapped to attention.
There would be no conversation in the morning. The odious Enforcer, Ryker, would appear and have someone haul her out of town like unwanted trash. She took a ragged breath and forced back the stinging pain streaming through her.
She was tougher than this. Crumbling beneath the pressure of whatever war playing out in Drayce’s mind would not be in her future. All she had to do was formulate a battle plan and stake claim to what she wanted. The more she contemplated a future without what she felt with Drayce, the more she realized she’d been right to come here. Maybe they didn’t have a future, but she wasn’t about to scurry out of town until knowing for sure.
Curling into his arms, she wiggled her ass against his groin. “Stay with me. No funny business, I promise. I don’t want to be alone here.”
He sighed against her as though she’d asked him to run cross-country on a road of nails. Realistically, she probably had. She’d been turbocharged with need before he’d given her one of the most toe-curling orgasms of her life. He hadn’t had a release, but he’d pulled the brake on the sex train all on his own. Perhaps he’d realize the error of his decision by morning. In the meantime, she’d have to make sure he didn’t pull a ghost maneuver again. She turned and sprawled herself on him.
“What are you doing?”
“Pinning you down so you don’t leave me again,” she whispered.
His arms squeezed her closer. “I’m not going anywhere tonight.”
“Promise.”
“I don’t make promises, sweetheart.” Sadness darkened his expression when he looked at her, his fingers brushing along her cheek. “Promises get broken.”
And there it was—her first clue of the Drayce Freeman puzzle. “Fair enough. Then prepare to be weighed down by me all night because I’m not letting you run out on me again.”
Chapter Three
“Give me a reason not to gut you.”
A knife’s sharp tip punctured Drayce’s neck as he growled, staring up at an enraged Enforcer of the Jago Den. Fuck. “If you want to live, get the hell out of here while you still can, Jadrien.”
The man snarled and pressed the knife deeper until warmth trickled down Drayce’s neck. He forced his fighting instinct aside because of the sexy body pressed deeply into his back. Jesus, she resembled a coma patient when she slept—a very naked, vulnerable female coma patient. Something primal within him snapped.
He’d played the protector role for his dead bud’s mate for months, but this was the first time his Wolf was willing to die to protect a female. The instinct to attack Jadrien rode him hard.
“Get the fuck out of here. Now.” The precious bundle behind him shifted and murmured silly words about lists and food. He reached for the bed sheet and covered her fully. The movement exposed his jeans.
Some of the tension escaped Jadrien’s grasp on his neck as he studied the situation. “Why are you dressed?”
“Why are you here?”
“Get dressed.” Jadrien charged out of the room and slammed the door.
Kinsey shot up from the bed as though a bullet had lodged in her. Eyes widened, she looked around. “What? What’s wrong?”
Now she wakes up. Drayce muttered his frustration as he stood. A month’s worth of cold showers wouldn’t purge the need in his dick. Half his blood supply had permanently implanted itself southward. Sleeping with her wrapped around him like a monkey had been exquisite torture. Seeing her drowsy and utterly fuckable made his body burn for what he had no intention of taking.
Last night
he’d almost grappled for the glimmer of hope within their conversation. The way she’d fallen apart in his arms and given herself so freely had undone any good intentions he’d stockpiled. He was bad blood, a useless son of a bitch who didn’t deserve something as sweet as Kinsey, especially when he was now weighted down with a widow and kid.
She wouldn’t understand the vow. No one did.
“I’m thinking there might be a couple of things you haven’t shared with me yet.” He tossed on his shirt and slammed into his boots.
“W-what do you mean?” She jumped off the bed, carrying the sheet with her. “Where are you going?”
“Downstairs to deal with one seriously pissed off cat. Care to clue me in to why the Jago Den Enforcer would come cross-country and hold a knife to my throat?”
“Oh, my God. You’re bleeding.” She raced to him, her soft fingers working to stave the barely trickling flow. “Why hadn’t I noticed before?”
Was she intentionally being unforthcoming, or was she truly focused on his injury? Doubt oozed in him, a toxic acid burning whatever hope he’d stored away last night. “Think I’d rather chat about the Jaguar downstairs.”
“Jadrien. Wait. Did you say he was here?” Shock resonated in her voice. She grabbed the clothes from last night. “I’ll talk to him, figure out why he came.”
“You aren’t wearing those clothes in front of him or anyone else.” Her eyes flared with challenge. Fuck, he’d seen the glint in enough Betas’ eyes in the pack to know he had a handful when it came to Kinsey. He was screwed. “Don’t. Not right now.”
“What’s the problem?”
“The problem? You really don’t have a fucking clue what the problem might be. Unbelievable.” He shook the disgust from his tone. “The Enforcer of your best friend’s den encroached on our pack’s turf, broke into my room, and held a knife to my throat while threatening to gut me. And, sweetheart, his threat doesn’t even scrape the surface of the shit pile we have.”
“Oh, really? What’s the rest?”
“There’s no way a den or any pack would send their second-in-command for a mere human. What aren’t you telling me?” He closed the distance between them. “Let me clue you in. I hate liars, so I’d be real careful how you answer.”
“You think I’m lying to you? Why the hell would you think that?”
“Have you not been listening to me? No Enforcer would travel cross-country and leave his people defenseless. Why would he come after you?” Drayce’s voice rose in frustration. Shit, this smacked of a territorial mating issue. How many times had he been sent after some broken-hearted schmuck with his fur all twisted up over some stupid female? More than he could count. No, the Enforcer would’ve gutted Drayce first and not bothered to ask questions. Rage battered at the few strands of hope he had. Maybe she had an explanation.
“I don’t know.”
Doubtful. Jaguars weren’t known for holding their tongues. They were also possessive asshats, and Jadrien had certainly come across as one. Kinsey slid a pair of jeans over her bare ass. Fuck.
Slinging on the closest available shirt, she donned a pair of sneakers and headed toward the door. “I’m going to give him a piece of my mind.”
She took the stairs two at a time, her fists pumping as she charged into the bar. He’d never seen anything sexier. Ryker raised his eyebrows when she proceeded forward until scant inches separated her and the Jago Enforcer. Jadrien stood there, unaffected by the clear violation of personal space Drayce knew Jaguars demanded. The fact he didn’t react shocked Drayce.
Jadrien leaned in. “You have a lot of explaining to do.”
“Excuse me? I think you’ve been dipping too far into the catnip, bucko.” Her voice boomed. Gee chuckled behind the bar. “Care to expand on your statement?”
He prowled a step forward, and Drayce took a protective step toward Kinsey, a feral growl rumbling from his throat. Jadrien smirked. “You have interesting tastes in bed mates.”
“Who I take to my bed is not, nor has it ever been, any of your business. Now, back to your comment about my having a lot of explaining to do. It seems you are the one who has a hell of a lot of apologizing to do. How dare you come here and charge into my hotel room and hold a knife to Drayce’s throat.”
So much for keeping the event under wraps. Ryker stood to attention and looked over at Drew. Shit, Drayce hadn’t seen him enter the fray. Not good.
“You run off, the impulsive minx you’ve always been, with barely a word to anyone, and you don’t think I’m going to be sent after you? Lauren’s been climbing the curtains, wondering where the shit you are because apparently you’ve forgotten how to use a cell phone.” Backing up a step, he lowered his voice. “You may never accept this, but as far as we are concerned, you are Jago and under our protection and rules. You had no right to traipse across country without speaking to Daniel first. Or at least me.”
She harrumphed under the heated accusation. “The only person I have to seek permission from before bedding Drayce is Drayce. So, let’s get to the real basis of this charge across the country to drag my ass back. You and Lauren’s dad aren’t happy about my refusal to consider any of your men’s pursuits.”
Tension flanked possessiveness. Drayce settled his hand on her waist. He might not have any business pursuing her, but he’d be damned if he stood back and let someone else scoop her up. Everything about his existence was pretty fucking shitty right now.
Except for her.
“I’m not airing pack laundry here, Kinsey.”
“Really? Funny. Seems like you’d already started it before I was even awake.” She crossed her arms and looked over her shoulder at Drayce. “He does crazy so good I’m thinking he’d be a perfect fit for Tricia.”
Drew chuckled along with Drayce.
Jadrien grumbled incoherently and flexed his fists.
“Let me guess. She’s protected as pack but not punishable as pack.” Drew smirked as he regarded Kinsey with obvious curiosity.
“Pretty much,” Jadrien offered. “I assume I’m not allowed to speak with her alone.”
“No,” Drayce snarled.
“Handle this without me,” Drew stated. He headed toward the door, but paused. “Oh, and Jadrien? If you ever enter Tao pack lands without permission again, we’ll have issues.”
The Enforcer nodded his acquiescence.
“She leaves town today,” Ryker stated. “I’m running a round, make sure we don’t have any stragglers.”
“I’m alone,” Jadrien offered.
Ryker glared and headed out. Silence loomed in the bar. Kinsey stood her ground between the Jadrien and Drayce, her focus on the man he wanted to pummel.
“You shouldn’t have left without telling us, Kins. You had a lot of people worried.”
“Sorry.” She shifted around on the balls of her feet for a few moments, her gaze cast downward. “I…the urge to come here was too strong to ignore any longer. The more I did, the worse it hurt. You know, the not knowing.”
“Drayce?” Melanie’s voice ballooned the tension. Kinsey’s eyes widened as she tensed.
Fuck. The whispered outcry grated his insides almost more than his reaction to the Kinsey’s sudden wariness. The battle within him ignited. Now would be the time to tell Kinsey about Melanie, let her see the brother-like bond he had with the Omega. The jaded soul within him accepted the newly presented way out. Say nothing and let her think what she might.
At least she’d have an escort home. A very dominant, protective escort home. The thought of any man tending Kinsey’s needs rattled the primal beast within him. But Drayce realized the inevitable truth. She’d never accept the circumstances he found himself in. She wouldn’t understand.
Melanie and Ellie would always be his responsibility. Robert might’ve died in the war, but the fucking IED had exploded all over Drayce. He’d never mate, never have whelps of his own running around his legs and nipping at his heels. He’d never have Kinsey.
Anguish sett
led in as the raging need churned within him. He turned to the softly inquisitive voice. None of this was her fault. “Melanie, sweetheart. What’s wrong?”
She came to him in a soft, gentle glide. The unhurried but cautious gait gave him a few deep breaths to check his resolve. This was the right thing to do. Kinsey deserved someone who could give her all his attention—all of him.
Drayce barely had time to breathe as it was and definitely didn’t have any room in his life for the commitment she deserved. There never would be. Melanie regarded Kinsey with terror in her eyes.
Melanie spent her entire existence trembling—terrified she’d be cast out of the pack who had never wanted her in the first place. Robert had argued and downright forced the Tao pack to accept his mate even though she was from a warring pack. The fact he’d died and she remained was a tenuous thread Drayce hated to consider. If Drew pressed the issue, which thank fuck he hadn’t yet, there’d be no choice but to mate her. Returning to her pack would be a death sentence for her and Robert’s rug rat. Drayce would never let that happen.
“You didn’t come home last night,” she whispered as she slid into his side, seeking the safety his presence offered. She’d always been timid around the pack, particularly the dominants.
Hurt and shock streamed through Kinsey’s face, but she remained still, silent. Jadrien settled his hand along her back and everything within Drayce erupted in an anguished denial. Defeat reflected in her gaze.
“Is something wrong?” he asked.
“No, but Ellie was afraid you’d gotten hurt. You always tuck her in.”
“Ellie?” Kinsey inquired.
Melanie smiled, twisting the knife into Kinsey a bit further with the reply. “My daughter, our daughter.”
Son of a bitch. Melanie had every right to declare Ellie as his daughter since he’d offered her the protection her mate would have. The fact the term shriveled his nuts into raisins didn’t matter. It’d accomplished what needed to happen.
