She frowned. Cupped a hand over her lips. “What?”
“Prove my scars don’t bother you.”
His thumb drew a circle right above her knee.
She shivered. Whispered, “They don’t.”
“Dance with me.”
She wanted to bang her head on the table. Of all the things, he had to choose that one? “Sure.”
“You could fake some enthusiasm.” He rose and helped her to stand.
A quick surreptitious sweep of the other side of the table showed both Mishe and Breede busy texting. She relaxed.
Tania allowed him to lead her to the crowded dance floor. “After I’ve stomped on your toes a few times, your enthusiasm will fade. I’m a lousy dancer.”
“No such thing.” He drew her into his embrace.
“I’m not exaggerating.”
“Relax. You’re as stiff as the proverbial board.” He gave her a little shake.
All she could picture was him inside of her. A whole lotta steam, his cock pounding into her. Damn, she was needy.
He twirled her to the left.
She went right.
They both stumbled.
“Hey. I lead. Not you.” He shook her again.
“Fine. Tell my feet.” She hated having to yield to anyone. Had never been able to trust even Jaz dancing with her. Gripping his shoulder tighter, she ground her teeth. “I told you. I’m rotten at this.”
“No. You’re not. You just need to let go. To trust in your partner. Look at me.” He squeezed her waist. “Trust me.”
For long seconds all she saw was him. All she felt was him. All she smelled was him. He had invaded all of her senses. She was drunk on him. Wanted nothing more than to have him inside her.
She had lost her mind. Was going mental in front of her parents and brothers. Didn’t care about anything other than finding somewhere private so he could screw her again. Suddenly she realized what had been missing from their lovemaking. “You never kissed me.”
He did such a fast three-point turn that the room went topsy-turvy. “A mistake I intend to remedy right away. At the left end of the hallway, there’s an exit door that leads to a greenhouse. I’ll meet you there.”
A firestorm lit her from within. She couldn’t wait for him to plunge into her. “Yes. Yes.”
The strains of the music mellowed. The last note played.
He released her from his hold and bowed.
An old-fashioned, formal bow.
The gesture went straight to her heart.
He looked at her like she was the only woman in the world.
She yearned to hold onto the moment.
The meager functioning gray matter left in her brain collected long enough for her to quickly scan the room.
Her parents seemed to be in the midst of a quarrel with Jaz.
Breede and Mishe hovered on the edge of the disagreement.
Senior Chief Johnson had a heavy flirtation going with Lissette.
Uncle Viktor was engrossed in a conversation at another table with a man Tania didn’t recognize.
Aunt Dozene, her godmother, had arrived late as usual, and was being berated by Viktor’s wife while Tania’s mother attempted to quell the scolding.
Axe and Tania’s absence would go unnoticed.
Tania couldn’t believe what she was about to do. Sneak away at her brother’s graduation for a quickie. But, she needed him inside her. Wanted to breathe in their mingled aromas. This was crazy. She had lost her sanity.
“I’m so fried,” she muttered to herself, but sidled out of the room anyway.
It took every ounce of her remaining will power not to gallop to the door looming at the end of the long, long hallway. She spied the greenhouse the second the arctic blast brought by the sudden hail storm chilled her flesh. Before she could even hug her arms to ward off the cold, Axe scooped her off her feet.
Befuddled but strangely content, she snuggled into his chest, slipped a couple of fingers underneath his jacket, and worked her way through a gap in his shirt to graze his chest. He was hot and hard and smelled of paradise.
She was so ready.
Her pussy clenched and contracted.
He yanked the metal handle on the door to the greenhouse and kicked at the same time. A humid, hot wave of air blanketed them.
She sniffed. “Orange trees. They smell wonderful.”
“Wrong. You smell wonderful. Only you.” He nuzzled her neck. Nipped her claim spot. It felt so right. She arched to one side inviting him to taste more of her.
He flicked her chin. “To me, Tania.”
The way he stretched out her name had her on the brink.
“Axe.” She loved the way his name rolled off her tongue.
“We’ll talk later.”
“Okay.” She didn’t need words. Just him inside her. Frantic, desperate to feel him, she tore at his jacket’s buttons. One went flying.
He set her down. Grasped both of her hands with one of his and twisted her so she backed him.
“Please. I want to see you this time,” she begged.
For a spilt second he didn’t move. Then he lifted her off the dirt-packed ground until they were face to face. “Wrap your legs around me.”
She obeyed him immediately. Her skirt fell back and she shivered.
They both glanced down at her bare legs and the lacey red panties she wore.
“Not going to work.” He untangled her from him.
Puzzled, she watched him drop to one knee. He burrowed under her skirt and licked her clit through the lace. A sizzling bolt of lust sparked from scalp to bare toes. She wobbled and latched onto his shoulders.
He tore the panties down to her ankles.
She dug her nails into his jacket.
“Let’s take the edge off for you,” he murmured, his lips grazing her pussy.
He pressed one thumb to her clit. Thrust a finger into her core.
“Axe,” she moaned and surrendered to the climax thundering through her.
He rolled and pinched her clit. Caressed her folds. All the while finger fucking her into yet another orgasm. Right before her knees gave out, he swept her high against his chest, and stalked to a potting table lined with a clean sheet of vinyl.
When he laid her down on the table, her legs dangled over the edge, and one of her shoes clunked off.
She held her breath when he unbuttoned his pants and unzipped. His phenomenal cock sprang free. He was huge and hard, his foreskin drawn back tight to showcase the glorious reddened crown with its weeping slit. She salivated as the fragrance of his spicy arousal blossomed through the greenhouse.
The narrow opening of his trousers squished a pair of massive testicles.
When she reached for him, he caught her hands, and planted her fingers around his erection. “Put me in.”
He flipped the silk skirt to her waist.
Tania opened her legs wider and scooted closer to him all the while caressing his awe-inspiring, beautiful penis. She moaned when the tip of his dick rimmed her vagina.
He lifted her leg and rested her bare foot on his chest.
She arched off the table and more of him sank into her.
He grabbed her butt cheeks, elevated her higher, and drove in to the hilt.
She climaxed explosively. Her pussy contracted and released in rapid-fire jerks. Tania clung to his forearms. A violent series of shakes wracked her.
He fucked her hard, plunging in and out. His cock stretched her to bursting.
“Now,” he commanded. “Come for me, now.”
She shrieked when he pinched her clit.
Chapter Seven
Unable to resist, Axe nipped Tania’s claim spot. Breathed in the essence of his mate. Knew in that moment he couldn’t let her go. From the second he’d smelled her in the stadium, he’d been a goner. The need to claim her, to mark her, to protect her had overcome him.
Mine. Mine. Mine.
The word boomeranged in his head.
His f
angs ached. He ran his tongue over the pointy tips. His dick began to swell at the base. His mating instincts were on overdrive, ready to seal his sperm inside her. If he didn’t get out of her blistering pussy right away, their fates would be cemented.
He had to stop inhaling her fragrance. Had to force his fingers to stop petting her satin-soft skin. Had to stop tasting and feeling the pulse beating in the hollow of her throat. She was making these sweet little noises, a whimper-purring kind of sound.
Axe boosted himself onto his forearms and glanced down at her.
She wore a Madonna smile.
He grinned. Kissed the tip of her nose.
Her eyelids flew up. She stared at him. Color rioted across her face. She ducked her head. Clamped a hand over her eyes. “I can’t believe we just…”
Nudging her chin, he teased, “Fucked like minxes?”
She whipped her hand away and wrinkled her nose at him. “Do you have to put it that way?”
“My bad. Made love like minxes.” He waggled his brows. “Better?”
“No.” She shoved at his chest. “How long—”
“Not long enough. Next fuck, we take our time.” He forced himself to ease out of her tight, hot pussy. Regret dogged every millimeter of his withdrawal. He stared at the damp mahogany curls framing her core. Blew out a sigh when his cock popped out of her with a loud sucking noise. His dick had found home and didn’t want to leave.
He yanked out his pocket square and gently wiped the creamy dampness from her folds. Every instinct urged him to roll her over onto her hands and knees, instead he patted dry her pubic hair, and reluctantly pulled her skirt back into place.
“You’ll have to write off the panties. They got ground into the dirt.” He bent down, retrieved the brown-stained strip of lace, absently rubbed the crotch over his nose, and then stuck the underwear in his pants pocket.
“Now. Let’s get you looking presentable.” He helped her to sit up and then hunted for her missing shoe. He snatched it from under the table. “K. It’s Cinderella time.”
He knelt, and took his time strapping on the sexy sandals, pausing often to knead her arch, and tickle the underside of her cute toes. She play-kicked at him and giggled. “Stop.”
Giving her ankle one last kiss, he stood, and pulled her off the table.
Brisk footsteps hammered past the greenhouse. He hooked an arm around her waist and pressed a finger to her lips. They waited in silence until the clomping faded.
“Stay while I check the area,” he whispered.
She nodded her understanding.
Axe exited the greenhouse, but stayed in the shadows of the glass. In the distance, he glimpsed three uniformed men carrying a large steel vat. He guessed from the strong milk and fish aroma that the first course, clam chowder, was about to be served.
Ducking back inside, he said, “All clear. Just the kitchen staff.”
Finger-combing her lush brown locks, she walked to his side.
He caught her mood change from the lock of her jaw. Regret had set in.
“No one can know about this.”
Axe grit his teeth. “I wasn’t about to broadcast our fucking.”
She narrowed her eyes and jammed both hands on her hipbones. “And there isn’t going to be a next time.”
“Then I’d better get this in now.” Axe hauled her to him and took her mouth. He coaxed her tongue into play. She tasted all minty and spicy. He drowned in the flavor of her, sucking and sipping, exploring all her secrets.
A door slammed.
He froze, licked her bottom lip to reassure her, before cocking his head and listening.
“What?” She gripped his lapels and twisted around him.
Axe sniffed. No mistaking that Wylfen aroma, or the rhythm of the alpha wolf’s unique lope. “Your brother, Mishe. He’s heading this way.”
She gasped. “If he finds us together he’ll kill you.”
“I’ll go in first and distract him. You duck into the Ladies’ and make a show of coming out. Got that?” Axe didn’t like the idea of leaving her alone, but if she went in first, and then he appeared, the game would be up.
“Yes.” She smoothed her skirt.
“Count twenty seconds.”
She peered at him, but nodded and kept her gaze fixed on him when he exited the greenhouse. It took him less than five seconds to leap to stadium’s side entrance.
Axe opened the door to find Mishe three feet away. He lifted a brow. “Nicotine break?”
“Don’t smoke. I’m looking for my sister.”
“She went to the Ladies’.” Axe pointed back down the hall. “It’s at the other end.”
The other man drew in a deep breath. He stared at Axe. “Just so there’s no chance of any misunderstanding. My sister’s off limits.”
“In general? Or just to me?” Axe straightened his bow tie as he stalked past Tania’s brother.
“In general. She’s about to be engaged.” Mishe fell into step with him.
Axe stifled the desperate urge to clip Mishe’s jaw. “Who’s the lucky man?”
“Lionel Rath. He’s a close friend of the family.”
Axe turned a snort into a whistle. As if. Lionel Rath was in his seventies. “The billionaire banker? Isn’t he more your father’s generation?”
“His son. Lionel Rath II.”
White hot rage seeped from Axe’s pores.
If Lionel Rath II so much as grazed Tania’s pinky, he was dead meat. Axe worked his jaw and searched his memory for any shred of information linking Rath and Tania. As far as he knew her name hadn’t even been entered in the Mate Alliance Registry.
“I’ll offer her my congratulations when we dance again.” Axe waited for the other boot to drop.
“Tania hates dancing. You’ll be doing her a favor by not asking her again.”
“Really? I’d bet lottery odds that she enjoyed our dance.” Axe relaxed when he heard the soft thud of the far door closing.
The other wolf heard the sound too and glanced back.
A waiter pushed a trolley cart laden with dirty dishes down the hallway. The packed china dishes rattled.
“After you.” Axe waved Mishe through the open doors leading to the dining hall.
Mishe shot him a narrow-eyed glare, but strode into the room.
Axe bent as if picking up something from the floor and checked the hallway. Tania was sprinting to the Ladies’. She gave him a thumbs up and shoved open the door to the bathroom.
Axe needed another drink. After ensuring Mishe had returned to his seat at the table, he smoothed his blues and wound his way to the bar.
He ordered another scotch and downed it. The fierce burn of the alcohol didn’t take the edge off his anger. He wanted to shake his mate silly. Jackhammer Lionel Rath II into the next century.
Axe signaled the waiter for another round. He nursed the drink until Tania made her way back to her seat. He traced the saucy sway of her ass, now naked under the thin silk skirt. Envisioned her cheeks reddened by his palms. Not that he’d ever hurt a hair on her head.
By the time he returned to the table, the chowder had been served. He slipped into the seat next to Tania’s, draped a napkin over his lap, and sipped the thick soup. Aware Mishe watched his every move, Axe didn’t say a word, but finished the chowder, which had to have been flavored with chicken shit.
Lycus must have noticed Axe’s tension for he hissed their heads up signal.
Axe met Lycus’s glance above Tania’s head.
Lycus frowned and crossed his eyes in Mishe’s direction.
Axe gave him a surreptitious yes-nudge of his head.
Lycus understood immediately. Engage and distract Mishe.
“Jaz tells me you’re with Wasserman and Litchfield. Do you by chance have an international contract specialist?” Lycus asked Mishe.
When Lycus and Axe had first been approached by Jazshuka Prakov, they had researched the entire pack. But, until Jaz joined Prymal, the dossiers on Mishe and Bre
ede had been reed thin.
“Yes. Why? You in need of one?” Mishe sat forward and his forearms crowded the empty soup bowl. If the inherent hostility and aggression wasn’t evident in his voice, it was in Mishe’s body language.
“A buddy of mine is looking for the best international contract lawyer in the business. Money’s not an issue.” Lycus paged through his cell, found what he wanted, and slid the phone across to Mishe. “Here’s his contact information. Give him a call. Mention my name. “
Axe had to choke back a guffaw. Trust Lycus to hone in on the fact that Wasserman and Litchfield had to supplement all the legal work they did for the Senior Council with non-Wylfen matters.
Mishe’s attitude changed in a heartbeat. The business lawyer in the alpha took over. “Does your friend have need of a specialist?”
Taking advantage of no longer having Mishe inspecting him like a hawk, Axe patted the napkin to his mouth. “Your brother just told me you’re engaged to be engaged. To one Lionel Rath.”
Tania’s spoon clattered onto the floor.
All the color drained from her face.
Chapter Eight
Tania froze.
Engaged to be engaged? To Lionel Rath?
Mishe halted his conversation with Lycus and gave her a hard stare. “You okay?”
She spread her lips. “Just being a klutz.”
Hoping her shock didn’t show, she bent down to retrieve her dropped cutlery and bumped heads with Axe.
“You didn’t know.” He snatched the silver spoon and pressed it into her hand.
She met his gaze. Too stunned to speak, Tania shook her head.
“Finish your soup. I’ll check up on this.”
How? Why?
She sat up straight and wiped her spoon with the napkin. Focused on eating the chowder, which tasted worse than fungus.
All the while her mind raced.
The Senior Council met the last Monday of every month.
Mate alliance decisions were handed down then.
Today was the last Friday of the month. No wonder Dad had been belaboring her moving back home for the last three days. The Senior Council had picked her mate. The alliance laws mandated the details of mate courting. She would be forced to move back home right away.
Prymal Lust Page 6
