by Vivian Arend
Nope. Still with the poke-poke shit. The stupid beast sensed something was wrong with his mate and wanted to fix it, right now. Jared couldn’t figure out what the lupine was going on about, which made both of them slightly pissed off and started the typical shifter internal-domination games. Two-brains-in-one-head couldn’t always live together in harmony, and this was one of those times.
Keri had pulled the gown off the wall and was flipping the hanger back and forth, checking both sides. He could hardly wait to see her in it. The skimpy garment had a low, low back, which should showcase that incredible tattoo she had. Which was a good thing.
The scoop of the fabric also meant that when he managed to sweet-talk her into dancing after dinner, he’d get to have his hand on bare flesh. Which was also a good thing.
There was no way she could wear a bra with that neckline. A very, very good thing.
He was such a dog.
“Oh!” Jared fumbled in his pocket. “I checked. If you want, you can get your hair done. And your…whatever else you want. They can sneak you in so you’re ready in time for our seating.”
Keri took the salon’s card from him and that brow of hers went up again. “You think I need a haircut?”
Jared stopped in confusion. That wasn’t the response he’d expected. “Umm, no, but I thought you might enjoy getting done up all fancy.”
The pause was barely there, but he still noticed. He’d made her uncomfortable, and that was the last thing he’d intended. His wolf gave him shit and this time he agreed.
“Actually, I stopped at the salon to grab a bottle of massage oil so I can seduce the crap out of you later, and then I thought most women love to be pampered and stuff.” Jared grabbed her hands and squeezed them tightly. Starting a lifetime relationship not knowing a thing about the other person was freaking hard, but damn if he’d mess it up over something as inconsequential as a dinner out. “That whole ‘I’m yours, you’re mine’ thing? I meant it. In everything, even in the little things. Hell, especially in the little things that make you happy. If you tell me you want to go to dinner in our jeans, I’m game. I don’t mind pushing the boundaries of politeness, but I also want to give you special things. You can dye your hair neon green and I’ll still think you are gorgeous. You can—”
It was his turn to be kissed into silence. Keri all but crawled up him, and her tongue was down his throat, and if he didn’t exercise more control than he wanted to, he was going to be buried in her body and not let either of them come up for air all night long.
It took every ounce of strength to catch hold of her hair, wrap it around his fist and tug lightly. She gasped, not with pain, but something sweet and dark and dammit, his cock couldn’t possible get any harder, but it did.
“You’re going to make us late for dinner.”
She grinned. “I’m sorry I misunderstood your offer. I’d love to hit the salon, on one condition.”
He knew that look. Oh man, he’d seen it on his mom and sisters when they were about to do a little “improving” on him. “No. Please, no.”
She batted her lashes.
“Oh, as if that’s fair. Using your physical addictiveness to entice me into a salon? You’d do that to me?”
She stroked her fingers through his hair. “I like how you look as well, Mr. Gilliland, but if we’re going to do this, let’s do it up right. I doubt we’ll be dining with royalty very often in our lifetime. Why not make it a night to remember?”
Jared grinned. “Deal.”
Keri shuffled past him. He called to confirm their bookings as he watched her pull on minuscule underwear. It wasn’t the right moment to expand on the fact this was probably going to be the first of many such dinners.
He didn’t want to freak her out too badly.
“Thirty seconds and I’ll be ready.”
Jared waved as she disappeared into the bathroom. He leaned back on the desk then remembered he’d better phone his parents before the night was over, but the call was bound to take more time than he currently had. If he forgot, and his folks heard from someone else, his ass would be in a sling. Only, what were the odds he’d be too distracted when they returned to her room?
Better safe than sorry. He slipped open the drawer looking for a piece of paper to leave himself a reminder. He’d plop it in the middle of the bed so they couldn’t miss it.
Jackpot. A notepad.
He grasped a page, tugging to remove it from the pad, and the entire drawer jerked forward. Displaying a very familiar diamond-and-ruby pendant tucked into the back corner.
“Keri—?” Panic sealed his lips in mid-question.
Oh shit. Oh shit. Jared darted a glance toward the bathroom to make sure the door was still closed, then palmed the brooch and slipped it into his pocket.
His heart pounded as if he’d been racing around the deck whilst being chased by some of the bigger and nastier cougar shifters, the type who were known to provide loans with horrible interest rates to the losers hanging out in the onboard casino.
Not that he’d had any business with those kind of riffraff, but they were a part of shifter culture as much as human society.
The brooch rested in his pocket like a lump of coal, ready to burn his life to ashes. It wasn’t fair, but then, life wasn’t fair. He was old enough to know that truth.
Keri stepped from the bathroom and joined him with a happy smile. “Ready to go.”
He put his best face forward. “We’ve got plenty of time. We’ll come back to change if that’s okay.”
She wrapped her fingers around his arm and they stepped together up the hallway.
They were quiet as they strode the hall. Jared was too busy thinking about what the hell he was going to do to solve this shit of a mess to make polite conversation.
Keri cleared her throat. “It’s weird, isn’t it? This whole mate thing?”
The question helped him focus, the innocent query deceptively complex. It was as if she were completely a part of him and yet completely hidden behind a wall. “I can sense little things I didn’t expect. And I like your sense of humour. I know a lot of people who have found their mates, and they’ve always told me that the relationship was totally right, just what they’d been looking for.”
Keri stumbled a little, and he braced her. “You okay?”
She nodded then blurted out, “Am I what you’ve been looking for?”
The brooch slowed his step, a ball and chain of worry weighing him down.
Her fingers tightened before he could respond. “Jared? You okay? I…I’m sorry if I put you on the spot. Let me say that differently. I hope I can become what you’ve always wanted in a mate.”
And with those brave words, all his fears vanished. He turned her into his arms and rested his forehead against hers. Taking slow breaths, looking into her eyes and seeing her soul.
Finding out his mate was possibly the thief everyone was talking about belowdecks had momentarily freaked him out. But she was right—people could change. He was going to support her every way he could, and they could move forward into a new life together.
“I know it’s early, and we don’t know each other completely yet, but Keri, I’m going to fall in love with you. Thoroughly and completely. So you’d better bet you’re what I’ve always wanted in a mate.”
A tiny crease marred the corners of her eyes as she fought back tears. “We can do this, can’t we? We can fall in love, as well as our wolves?”
“Oh yes.” Jared pushed his wolf as far into the corner as he could. For once the beast went with only a second’s pfft at being told to bugger off. “We’re going to fall in love so hard our wolves are going to be jealous of our human sides.”
Keri laughed out loud. “Yeah, right.”
Jared kissed her laughing lips, her mouth still open as he captured her. It was a short exchange, with more tenderness than passion. A kiss of hopeful need and yearning to belong mixed with promises of long days and years to come.
Jared would
make sure they fell in love.
But first, he had to find some way to return the brooch to the Fedoras without Keri being caught. Because the distinctive arrangement was most definitely his father’s handiwork and had been a family gift to the rulers a few years back.
Chapter Eight
“Shut. Up.” Tessa wasn’t bouncing, she was staring, slack-jawed, as Keri attempted to tug her hand free from Jared’s firm grasp. “You are the special guests dining with the Fedoras? And who’d you steal the dress from?”
“It’s a long story. Really, very boring. You don’t want to know the details at all because they’d literally make you tip over and fall asleep.”
Tessa waved a dismissive hand in front of Keri’s face and stepped closer to Jared, eyeing him down, then up, then down again. Jared all cleaned up and dressed in a formal suit was enough to make any woman’s knees weak. “Well, well. When my friend goes hunting, she finds lovely prey.”
How Jared managed to keep a straight face, Keri wasn’t sure. “You have such a way of setting everyone at ease. You must work as the cruise director or something.”
“Just saying.” Tessa dipped her chin politely at Jared a second before Keri suspected she was going to jump him. “When you decide you’re tired of him, I’d be happy to take him off—”
Keri’s wolf growled. Tessa’s eyes shot wide open even as she stepped back in defense, the cat grin breaking free.
“Oh my, there’s more to this story than a shipboard fling, isn’t there?” Tessa swung a finger between the two of them before leaning forward slightly to whisper conspiratorially. “You guys got that doggies-in-love-forever thing happening, don’t you?”
Jared bowed formally. “You are the soul of discretion, I can see. Yes, we’re mates, and I’m very happy to have found Keri. You’ll have to tell me all about your college days some time.”
Keri wondered that Jared could small talk so easily. Although the charm-the-panties-off-the-women bit he’d shared about? Was an ix-nay orever-fay from this point on. “Personally, I’m all for stringing her into a corner and hanging catnip about a foot out of reach. You’re being far too nice to her.”
“Your friends are my friends, right?”
Yeah, sort of. Unless that meant he was going to introduce her to the mafia and expect her to accept them as well. A little of the glow of happiness left the moment.
She turned to Tessa, who now wore this shit-eating grin. “Stop that.”
“What?”
“You know.”
Tessa snorted. “I’m thinking about all those stories you told me during college, and how much you’ll pay me now to not reveal your secrets.”
“She’s a feisty one, isn’t she?” Jared asked.
“BFF. Means I love her to pieces but occasionally want to throttle her.”
“Understandable.”
Jared tugged Keri closer to his side. “Sorry, Tessa, but I need to steal Keri away. We’ll talk to you soon, but we don’t want to be late for our dinner date.” He dipped his head politely, the crisp cut of his suit almost squeaking as he moved.
Tessa sighed and wiggled her fingers. “You all have fun. Unlike some people, who have work to do.”
The walk across the thick plushy carpet felt different today, and not just because they were headed to a meeting with a couple so far above her current position Keri was afraid she’d get a nosebleed. It was the glittering lights of the formal chandeliers overhead. It was the silky slide of the fabric over her bare skin—Jared had convinced her she should leave off the undies along with her bra to avoid having panty lines. But most of all, it was her mate walking beside her, his elbow bumping her lightly as she clung to his arm, his fingers folded over hers. How he managed to look as if that suit was his normal everyday wear impressed her and scared her to death.
She’d either mated one of the world’s most instinctively talented actors or…or… she had no idea what was going on.
“You okay?” Jared pulled her to a stop outside the first-class formal dining room. “If there’s something wrong, please… We don’t have to do this. I can make our excuses—”
“No.” As much as she wanted to. “But thank you for asking.”
Enough mental chaos. She’d been on a damn roller coaster all day. But their conversation before hitting the salon—it was true. They could fall in love, they could make this work for their human sides and their animals.
Enjoy this moment then deal with the rest.
She kissed his cheek and stepped forward with him, shoulders squared, spine tall. And if there were butterflies still tangoing in her belly? Well, maybe they wanted to have a little dancing time as well.
Jared was impressed. More than impressed—it was once again made crystal clear why the Fedoras were in the position they were. Power as a wolf was easy to define. Charisma was harder. While a strong wolf could order you around, it took a special kind of personality to have people ignore your power and trust you and want to please you in spite of your strength.
Mr. Fedora had charmed and eased Keri through the entire meal. From the moment he’d risen and pulled out her chair, there had been light chitchat and easy conversation. No mention of anything that could be considered off topic—like their recent mating, even though that had to be all too obvious to anyone with a nose, other than himself. Mrs. Fedora had been equally attentive, and dinner had flown past.
He wondered why he’d spent so much time away from society when there were such good people there. Although—thinking back to the coffee shop and all the leaders of the Granite Lake pack—his friends might be a little rougher around the edges, but they too were awesome people to spend time with.
The music picked up and Jared rose to his feet as Mr. Fedora did.
“I am going to dance with my wife, but first?” Fedora turned to Keri and offered her a hand. “Might I take a turn with you, young lady?”
Keri’s cheeks flushed. Her gaze darted to meet Jared and that alone filled him with pride. Not like she had to ask permission, but that she wanted to check with him, and the resulting wash of connection between them? Man, this mate thing was very, very cool.
“I am so jumping you later…” he promised, grinning as her face turned bright red.
He turned to Mrs. Fedora and offered a hand, and the four of them stepped onto the polished boards of the empty dance area.
Mrs. Fedora wasted no time. “She’s a simply lovely creature. I approve.”
Jared chuckled. “Thanks.”
Her smile widened. “You puppies are all the same. Yes, dear, I know I don’t have any say in it, but I still approve. Your mother is going to love her. Keri’s got that little bit of steel in her spine that will make it easier for her to handle the media when they get a hold of you.” She paused then stared him in the eyes. “You will have to have a formal party at some point. I mean, I understand your wolf sides are already happily together, but there is certain decorum to follow.”
He nodded, turning her smoothly even as he kept an eye on Keri, hoping she was all right. “I know, but give me the time to explain everything to Keri. It’s not that unusual a situation—mates meeting out of the blue happens all the time, but I doubt she expected me and the accompanying chaos my family will bring.”
“But your wolves understand. She can handle it.” Mrs. Fedora’s expressive face changed. “You have, in your slightly unorthodox manner, been hiding out from the world. Perhaps it’s time for that to come to an end.”
“Don’t blame me—Mom and Dad were the ones who chose Alaska to move to. And it’s not hiding out, not really.” The elegant brow went up again. “Okay, it’s hiding out a little, but it worked. We’ve been happy as a family out of the spotlight.”
She tilted her head and fell silent, and he was realized the interrogation was over.
If only the brooch burning a hole in his pocket was back in her possession. He spun his partner to check out the dance floor. Keri was still smiling, a happy kind of overwhelmed-but-in
-a-good-way sensation sneaking his direction. There were more dancers now, surrounding them as they spun and twirled.
Perfect distraction. He reached into his pocket to grab the jewel, then replaced his hand on Mrs. Fedora’s waist quickly. It was only a second later he realized his idea of pinning the jewels to her and having her “find” them was a bad idea. She’d never be stupid enough to believe she’d sat through an entire meal without noticing.
Frustrated, he brought his hand back and dropped the brooch into his pocket.
Keri stumbled, and Mr. Fedora caught her beautifully. “Everything all right, my dear?”
She nodded quickly and propped up her smile, the corners feeling a little shaky. She’d just seen her mate remove a jewel from Mrs. Fedora’s dress and pocket it. All her hopeful wishes about the thievery being a misunderstanding fled.
She had to save him from himself. “It’s been lovely, but could I dance with my mate?”
Sheer elegance poured from the man as he tilted his head and smoothly brought them over to the other couple. A moment later Keri was in Jared’s arms, physical need rising and frustration not far behind.
“Are you having a good time?” he asked.
“It’s been incredible.”
Jared nodded and pulled her closer as the music slowed. She took total advantage and snuck her hand into his pocket, palming the stolen goods and bringing it out to hide it…
Shit. Hide it where? There was nothing but a thin layer of fabric covering her entire body, and unless she wanted to be doing weird body-cavity stuff, no way could she keep it around for long. She carefully rested her hand on his shoulder, thumb tucked in to hold the jewel, her palm completely covering it.
Under the table she spotted two purses, and really bad inspiration hit. She had to return the jewel to the other woman’s purse and everything would be fine.
