Hacking That Sass: Sassy Ever After

by Élianne Adams

  “Is that right, Wolf Boy?” she asked, breathless at being so close to him.

  His eyes narrowed. “You know, don’t you?”

  She licked her lips again, and he moaned. “I know you’re a shifter. With that username, it didn’t take much to deduce. Plus, I’m pretty good at putting two and two together.”

  Leaning closer still, Luca feathered the softest kiss against her lips before retreating again. “And what do you know about wolf shifters?”

  Her lips tingled at the intimate caress. She should have pushed the man away and demanded space, but she wanted more. Her gaze dipped to his mouth. “I know that they’re possessive. Protective. Very private—especially regarding letting humans know of their existence. And they are happiest in a pack.”

  “What else?”

  “When they find their mates, they’re usually together for life.”

  He half moaned, half grunted as he swooped in for another chaste kiss. “That’s right.”

  “Is that why you were all bug-eyed and had your fists clenched when I first came up?”

  He drew a sharp breath. “I thought I had hidden the reaction better than that. I’m sorry if I scared you. The wolf doesn’t like having an unmated male anywhere near you.”

  “And why is that?” she held her breath. She didn’t expect a declaration of undying love, but she needed to know what she’d face while she was in Dexter. Was he looking for a good time? For some reason, being his week-long fling didn’t sit well with her. Not at all.

  “Because you’re mine, Kaitlin. You’re my mate. I suspected it before I asked to have you help me crack the coding on that damned hard drive. I knew I was right the second my wolf scented you.”

  She gasped. So, more than a short affair, then. “When you smelled my neck?”

  “You weren’t even up the stairs yet, babe.” Luca leaned in, sniffing her from her jaw all the way to her ear before flicking his tongue over the lobe. “You smell so damned good. I don’t think I’ll ever get enough.”

  Heat speared through her, igniting her body, drawing a whimper from the back of her throat with the need rushing into every part of her. Hands on his shoulders to steady her, she closed the gap between them, ending the sweet torture he was putting them both through. “Kiss me, already,” she demanded before she took things into her own hands and crushed his lips with hers.

  What little control she’d had left evaporated. His tongue demanded entry, and she was powerless to deny it. She didn’t want to. With a sigh, she melted into him and opened herself to his sensual assault. He snaked his arms beneath her jacket at her back, bringing his hands up under her sweater to stroke the skin at the base of her spine.

  When she shifted her weight, pressing her body more firmly against his, Luca moaned. If she’d had any misconception about him not finding her desirable enough, it disappeared at the feel of his hard shaft pressing against her lower belly through their clothing.

  He pulled his lips from hers but didn’t release her. “We’d better get going. Otherwise, I can’t guarantee you’ll get to eat tonight,” he said in a husky whisper that had her wanting to dive into a feast that had nothing to do with food.

  “Eating is overrated.”

  His lips twitched, but rather than swoop down and claim her mouth again, he kissed the tip of her nose. He squeezed her a little tighter, then dropped his arms to his sides and stepped away. “We don’t have to be gone long. I have to get a chair and a remote, but we can call our food order in and bring it back here to eat if you want.”

  “Let’s do that,” she agreed. She wasn’t the kind of person to tumble into bed with someone she’d just met. Just as she wasn’t a one-night stand kind of woman, either, but this was different. It was big. And she’d be lying to herself if she pretended them fucking like bunnies wasn’t going to happen. Did they really need to go into town?

  Luca took a deep breath and moaned. “Right. Let’s get out of here. The sooner we get to the store, the sooner we can get back.”

  Five

  Nothing in his life could have prepared Luca for the overwhelming need to claim his mate. It was an undeniable force within him demanding he bind them soul to soul. Kaitlin was so perfect it made his head spin. It wasn’t just her body, though her curves did threaten to make him trip over his tongue to look at her. It was her smart mouth and sassy attitude, too. She hadn’t even flinched when he’d told her she was his mate.

  Had he thought for one second that he could take her to the loft and make love to her without biting her neck, he would have. But with the pounding need beating at him and his wolf demanding its mate, he wouldn’t have been able to resist. Not that he wanted to. Hell, no. He’d happily have given her his mate mark and never let her out of his sight again. But that wouldn’t have been fair to Kaitlin. He needed to provide her with all the facts before he did that. She’d have to choose the life he offered.

  Being mated to him wouldn’t be easy. His work often took him away from home for weeks at a time. It was dangerous, and a lot of that time, he’d be unreachable. He didn’t think Kaitlin was the type to cling or need constant reassurances, but that kind of life wasn’t for everyone. Not to mention after they started having children. She’d bear all the parenting responsibilities when he was away. He’d do his best to make it up to her when he was home, but that wouldn’t make it easier when he wasn’t.

  His heart did a funny flip at the thought of his mate carrying his young, her soft belly growing hard and round with his child. Never had he considered a pregnant woman sexy, but the image he’d conjured in his head did all kinds of things to his libido. Things with which his wolf wholeheartedly agreed.

  “What was that?” she asked from the passenger seat.

  “What was what?”

  She reached over and placed her hand on his thigh. An inch higher, and she’d have a lot more than his leg in her palm. He sucked in a breath, then moaned when she gave it a little squeeze.

  “The sound you just made,” she asked, her voice almost a purr.

  His grip tightened on the wheel. If the pulsing need slamming into him since Kaitlin’s arrival was anything like what his brother experienced every day, it was no wonder he and Ry were always going at it.

  The only thing stopping him from reaching for Kaitlin now was that he was driving, and there was nowhere safe for him to pull over. “That is entirely your fault.”

  “My fault?” she stroked her hand up a fraction, making his breath catch in his throat, then brought it down to his knee before releasing him.

  “Yep. The wolf’s nose is very sensitive. Your scent is divine, and your arousal is driving us wild. I still have your taste on my lips, and all I can think about is going in for more,” he admitted.

  She pressed her thighs together, and a soft moan slipped from her lips. She took a deep breath before relaxing again. “Will I get to meet him?”

  Unable to keep from looking at her, he glanced over and nodded. “Nothing would make him—or me—happier. He’s been begging for a shift since he first smelled you.”

  Her nose wrinkled up. ‘I’m starting to think I need a shower.”

  His cock throbbed at the image her words conjured. “Your scent is amazing. We can shower when we get back if you want, but I promise you, you smell delicious.”

  She cast a glance in his direction, the corners of her lips tipped up, and it was all he could manage to keep his focus on the road. Thank goodness they’d arrived at their destination. Otherwise, he’d have to find a secluded spot and enjoy her lips again. Anything more than that would have to wait, though. Once he got her naked, it would be a while before either of them surfaced again.

  “Tech City, huh? You know your way to a girl’s heart. What are we getting here? You said you needed a chair.”

  If she were any other woman, he might have thought she didn’t like where he’d taken her, but this was Kaitlin. “You’ll see.”

  He wasn’t out and around the front of the Mustang quick
enough to open her door for her, but he took her hand and helped her climb out. As soon as their fingers touched, a jolt of electric pleasure rushed over him. Luca shook his head. He’d have to thank Niko for showing such restraint each time he touched Rylee in his presence. That sexy tingle invaded every part of him and landed straight in his groin.

  “What are you shaking your head for, WolfMan?” Kaitlin asked, interlacing their fingers as though they’d been together for years in real life instead of just online.

  How could such a simple act feel so natural—so wonderful? “Just that I’ll have to buy my brother a case of beer or something for not pouncing on his mate every time she came into the room. I’m not sure I’ll be able to pull it off.”

  Her laughter tinkled around him, making his heart flutter. “You said they did it like bunnies, and that’s why you spent so much time with me playing Dragon’s Domain.”

  “They do, but they were somewhat discreet about it. Amazing feat. And I spent my time with you because I couldn’t get enough.”

  Her lips twitched, but she managed to keep her laughter subdued. “And you think you’ll be worse?”

  His hungry eyes gave her the answer before he opened his mouth.

  “Definitely.” Her smile bloomed at his declaration, lighting her entire face and stealing his breath. “Right, let’s get some shopping done. If we don’t get in there, I have a feeling we’ll be leaving empty-handed.”

  “Should we order food now, so it’ll be ready for when we get done here?” she asked.

  He dug his phone out and hit the number for Cooper’s on his speed dial. Beautiful and smart. The woman was scrambling his brain. He’d all but forgotten about the need to get food. “Anything in particular you want?” he asked as he waited for Maggie to pick up.

  “What are you having?” Her breath puffed out in a little white cloud in the cool air. She’d get cold if they stood there, not moving. Not acceptable. He tugged her forward. He could walk and talk to keep her comfortable.

  “Burger, fries, and a shake. Maggie makes the best in town, but she has fancier stuff like wraps and salads with nuts and fruit in it, too, if you want something else.”

  ***

  Kaitlin almost laughed at the way he wrinkled his nose at the mention of fruit or nuts in a salad. “I’ll have the same. Hold the onions, please.” She tugged on his hand, leading him forward. They had to get out of town before she stripped him down and had her way with him in the parking lot.

  By the time they entered the store, he’d hung up the call, their order placed. A middle-aged man greeted them just inside the door. “Mr. Garcia, it’s nice to see you again.”

  Nothing in Luca’s posture or the way he carried himself changed, but the energy around him shifted. It wasn’t anything she could pinpoint, but he wasn’t the same.

  “Mr. Anderson.”

  “What can I help you with today? Did you drop your phone in the bathroom again?” the man asked with a friendly smile on his face. He glanced in her direction and gave her a little wink. The teasing look told her more about how Luca had damaged his cell than she needed—or wanted—to know.

  Luca’s eyes narrowed, and a soft, almost non-existent growl rumbled from his throat, making the man chuckle. “I’ll find my way, thanks,” he said, giving Mr. Anderson a nod, then pulling her deeper into the store without introducing them.

  “What was that about?” she asked. “Is there some bad blood between the two of you?”

  Luca glanced at her, and his cheeks turned a deeper shade of red. “No, not at all. He’s a good man. Brings all the best toys and gadgets into the store for me.”

  “Looked like you couldn’t wait to be away from him. I didn’t even get to say hi.”

  Luca gasped and came to a stop in the middle of the aisle. “I’m sorry. That was rude. We can go back. I can introduce the two of you.”

  Even if she didn’t know the reason why, it didn’t take a genius to realize Luca wasn’t comfortable in the other man’s presence. “Nah, I’m good. Let’s get what we need. I’m starving.”

  Luca released his breath and nodded, leading her deeper into the store. “We need to get you one of these,” he said, stopping in front of a display of gaming chairs.

  “Those are lovely and all, but I doubt my boss will approve of me playing around while we’re supposed to be decoding that hard drive.” As much as she’d love to think of her time with Luca as a vacation, it wasn’t. She was being paid and had a job to do. This was her chance to show Mrs. Wagner her worth—what she was capable of—and she wasn’t about to blow it, no matter how irresistible Luca was.

  Luca’s gaze flicked to the chairs before resting on her once more. “We won’t be working twenty-four hours a day. I thought you might be more comfortable if you had a decent chair.”

  “I appreciate it, but it’s not like I can put it in my carry-on when I fly home again,” she said softly, then regretted it when the shine in his eyes dimmed at her words. She might not know what being a wolf’s mate entailed, but it would take time to figure these things out. In the meantime, she still had a life outside of Dexter.

  Pale gold flecks lightened Luca’s dark brown eyes. It had to be his wolf peering out at her, but what got her like a punch in the gut was the lost look staring back. “I still want to buy one for you so you’re comfortable while you’re here. Maybe then you’ll agree to come back.”

  “At least let me pay for it.”

  He was already shaking his head before she finished the sentence. “I was going to buy one anyway. And since it’s staying at my place, it’s only right that I foot the bill.” Steely determination replaced the lost look in his eyes, and Kaitlin knew he’d won that battle.

  “Let’s just get something cheap—for now,” she added quickly when his frown deepened. “Once we know where things are going, then we can buy something better.”

  Luca looked like he would argue but then nodded. “Color preference?”

  “I’ll have a black one, like yours.” She was pretty sure that’s what she’d seen when they were up in the loft.

  “Great choice. It’s a sweet chair. Heated seat, massage option, cup holder, and a USB hub so you can keep playing if you run your controller’s battery too low.” His sad expression from moments before disappeared. “Plus, we’ll match.”

  “That can’t be the cheapest one they have.” She’d seen those chairs before, and yes, they looked awesome, but who could justify spending that kind of money on a chair to play games?

  “Probably not,” he said, but he was already moving away from the display, taking her with him. “We need another controller. Unless you brought yours?” he asked.

  “I’m on assignment. I didn’t expect to play games, so no, I didn’t bring my controller. You could have told me,” Kaitlin said, grinning at his barely leashed enthusiasm as Luca ushered her down the next aisle over.

  Before she could say anything, Luca had a remote in hand and was taking her in yet another direction. “That would have ruined the surprise.”

  She had been, all right. In a good way, of course, but still, a little warning might have been nice. She would have put a bit more care when she’d applied what little makeup she’d worn that morning. “For what it’s worth, I’m glad to be here, Wolf Boy.”

  He drew in a breath, pulling her forward so she faced him. “I’m glad you’re here, too.” Releasing her hand, he brought his to the back of her neck. The feel of his palm against her skin brought the urgency they’d shared outside to the forefront again. He brushed her lips with his in a tender kiss. It wasn’t the fire and passion from before, but the potency of it was no less intense.

  “Let’s get out of here,” she said when he retreated, her voice soft.

  Without saying another word, he took her to the front of the store to the register where Mr. Anderson waited. “Find everything you were looking for?”

  Luca handed the controller over. “Mr. Anderson—”

  “Frank,” the ma
n cut in.

  Luca sighed. “Frank, this is Kaitlin,” he said when Mr. Anderson kept smiling at them instead of scanning the barcode.

  Frank’s grin widened. “Nice to meet you, Kaitlin.”

  “Glad to meet you, too.” The introduction shouldn’t have pleased her so much, but it did. She wasn’t so insecure as to think that his earlier omission had anything to do with her, but that he thought to do so now warmed her heart.

  “We’ll also take a gaming chair like the one I bought if you still have one in stock. Kaitlin is staying with me for a few days,” he added in a rush.

  “Is that so?”

  She glanced at Luca, whose hand in hers went stiff.

  “Yes. She’s…mine,” he blurted. He squeezed her fingers a little tighter. His entire focus was on Frank, and she had to wonder if he even realized he was doing it. Stepping closer, she nudged her hip against his. Luca glanced at her, then lifted his arm, drawing her into his side.

  Frank’s eyes rounded, then a hearty laugh burst from him, attracting the gazes of some of the other customers in the store. “Well, good for you, son. You deserve every happiness in the world.”

  Six

  Luca tried to swallow, but he had no spit left in his mouth to make it happen. Fuck. He’d sounded like an idiot back there, spewing out words like a nervous teen. He wanted to growl his frustration. He wished he could be as smooth as Niko was in social situations, but Luca never had been. He could blame it on being raised by the pack rather than a family, but Niko had gone through it, too, and he’d come out of it just fine.

  He took a couple of deep breaths as he maneuvered the gaming chair into the back of the car, releasing the nervous energy rippling through him. By the time he was sitting in the driver’s seat again, his heart wasn’t pounding as hard. Only one more stop, then they could get back to the farm.

  “So, where to now?” Kaitlin asked as he pulled the Mustang out of the lot and onto the quiet street. If she’d noticed his awkward behavior in the store, she didn’t mention it. Thank God.