Primal Instinct

by Ally Parker

  This wasn’t how it was meant to be. She hadn’t expected for Ava to carry so much hate toward her.

  “She doesn’t hate you,” Jaxx said through their connection. “Give her some time to settle and try again.”

  Ava sneered, spun, and pushed open the doors to medical as the first tear rolled down Kenzie’s cheek.

  24

  Jaxx bit back his growl of frustration. He wanted to march back down to the infirmary, sit Ava down, and tell her how things really played out. That Kenzie—a victim in her own right—did everything possible to give her freedom back. He was sure his little wolf cried for a solid hour before falling asleep on his lap. Not knowing what to do, he let her sob and shake in his arms, and he’d endured every second of pain with her.

  Glancing down, he stroked her hair. Everything about her was near perfect, especially when she wore one of his black tees. It did something to him on a purely animal level. His wolf saw it as a sign of victory. As if she was claiming a part of him. And she looked damn sexy. He could easily slip his hand…

  Good God, he really was an animal. He shook his head. His mate needed sleep, comfort, and support, not his hands roaming over her body like a pirate trying to find hidden treasures. No matter how badly he wanted to explore. She stirred, nuzzling her head into his crotch, her warm breath heating the fabric separating his dick from her mouth. He ground his molars. Exhaling, he tried thinking of anything other than the heat that reminded him of how good his mate’s lips felt wrapped around his length.

  He snapped his eyes closed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Not helping."

  He looked down, eyeing her delicate features. His thumb brushed the shell of her ear, lingering on the soft skin, and ran down the curve of her neck. He closed his eyes, his mouth salivated, and he promised that soon he’d bite her right where his thumb caressed, marking her as his. Again. While he had done it in the cell, he wanted to do it on his own terms, taking her from behind. Making his declaration to protect her with his life something more than to stop him from turning rogue.

  The beat of his heart pounded in his chest. She owned him, beast and all. They hadn’t had a chance to discuss their future. He’d decided back in the cell wherever Kenzie went for her freedom, he’d be right by her side; as long as he had Kenzie, he had everything. Her power over him caught him off guard. The rumor of the mating bond spoke about a strong bond, but he wasn’t prepared for the strength of his emotions. Their connection felt like an unbreakable need, a relationship of rawness, filled with belonging. Though he suspected Kenzie as a person was the key factor in the depth of his reaction.

  She stirred, nuzzling her head in his crotch. He opened his eyes and blew out a shuddering breath, head falling back on the chair. Stroking her head softly, it took effort not to rock his hips forward. In his mind, he pictured the way her pussy had gloved his cock back in the cell. The heat. The warmth. The way each muscle spasm stroked him closer to the edge. Kenzie moaned, and the scent of her arousal hit him. Hard. He looked down to meet Kenzie’s burning eyes. She smiled and traced the hard outline of his length.

  “I love the way you think about me. Like I’m something special.”

  Stunned he hadn’t sensed her presence in his mind, he smiled and tucked some hair behind her ears, his palm sliding down to rest on her neck. “You are something special. My mate. My life.” His thumb traced her cupid’s bow. “No matter where we are, I’m going to spend the rest of my life proving it to you.”

  She sat up and crawled on his lap. “I want to stay here in Shadow Moon.”

  Cradling her hips in his grip, she aligned her center with his dick. Tring to focus on what she said, he shook his head. For their whole mating she had been adamant she didn’t want to stay with the pack, that she wanted her and Ava’s freedom. “What about Ava?”

  Kenzie shrugged. The action slid the neck hole off her shoulder, exposing the swell of her breast. “Like you said, she needs time and some space. It makes sense if we stay here.”

  His stilled, not believing his ears. “I don’t understand. Why here, why not Wolfden? Don’t you want to be close to Ava?”

  “I’ll visit Ava. She needs time to heal, and I don’t think being around me will help. Plus, I’ve come to really care for the pack.” She cleared her throat. Her eyes were illuminated with her wolf. “I’ve come to care for you.”

  His lips tilted up an inch. “We’ll have to see if we can upgrade caring for something a little more intense.”

  Taking his time, he framed her face and closed the distance between them. Mindful to keep his animal urges at bay, he fused their lips together and gently swiped his tongue across the seam. She moaned into his mouth. Her small hands clutching his shoulders, she rocked against his aching cock. He wanted this mating to be perfect. The cell had been all about his survival, and in Kenzie’s eyes had been nothing more than a business arrangement. This time he wanted to make it all about her. Breaking the kiss he pulled back. “Tell me what you want.”

  Panting, her breath hitched, her cheeks flushed with color. Damn if it wasn’t the sexiest thing he’d seen. She searched his gaze, leaned forward, and whispered, “I want it all.”

  Dipping her head, she licked the crook of his neck right over her mark. Blood rushed to his cock, and his need exploded. He growled. Gripping her hips, he ground his length into her pussy. She shuddered, throwing her head back, her arms braced behind her on his thighs. The action jutted out her breasts covered by his shirt. The offensive material was something he had to rectify. Steadily, he ran his hands up her sides, bringing the shirt with him. Tugging the material over her head, his eyes feasted on his bounty. He moved forward and lapped at her nipple, making sure to keep his strokes as soft as a feather.

  Her breath hissed out, and she clutched his thighs, thrusting her breast forward. “You make me feel out of control.”

  Funny, he was thinking the same thing. Pulling her nipple deeper into his mouth, he sucked. The perfume of her arousal made him feel drunk. Her weight shifted, and he looked up to meet her gaze.

  “Your eyes are glowing.” Lips tugging to one side, she pushed him back into the sofa. “You must want me bad.”

  Audibly, he drew in a breath. ”You have no idea.”

  Sliding his arms around her, he yanked her close. Her breasts pressed against his chest. She giggled, the sound filling him with happiness. Her hands locked behind his neck, and he stood, carrying her to their room. “I want to spread you out and take care of your needs like I should have during our first mating.”

  Her arousal intensified.

  “Trust me. My needs were taken care of.”

  He placed her on the bed and spread her legs wide. His fingers curled around her thighs, and he yanked her ass to the edge of the mattress. Falling to his knees, he dipped his head and swiped his tongue over her clit.

  She moaned.

  His fingers trailed up her thighs, one of his digits dipped into her center, and her muscles clenched around him. Damn, his female made him lose himself. He fought hard to control himself, but his wolf had other ideas.

  Kenzie moaned. Her hands reached up and she fisted the headboard. Jaxx thrusted another finger into her, his digit teasing her sensitive nerves. Beats of desire pounded through her with each rhythmic stroke. His heated breath fanned against her center. Soft, wet lips fastened to her clit, and he sucked on the bundle of nerves. Pleasure stole her breath, and she arched off the bed, rocking her hips against his face. Her hand shot down and laced through his hair, holding him in position.

  “Jaxx,” she breathed.

  He feasted on her like she was his favorite meal. Pleasure escalating, an orgasm hovered just out of reach. His tongue flickered faster. Harder. Her thighs quivered around his head. As he held her on the precipice of an orgasm, she writhed on the bed.

  “Damn it, Jaxx. Give me what I want.”

  “What do you want? Tell me.”

  “I need you. All of you.”

  As if waiting
for her admission, Jaxx swiped his tongue across her one last time and stood. “I can deny you nothing.”

  Unbuttoning his jeans, he pulled his shirt over his head and let it drop to the ground. The flash of a smile was gone, and a sexy predator remained. He bent, and the bed dipped under his weight. Powerful muscles rolled across his chest, and his arms flexed as he crawled over the top of her. God, he was sexy. Yet, he was so much more than that. She loved everything about him. He was everything she wanted. Everything she ever needed.

  Lowering himself, he pressed his cock to her opening. He stared into her eyes, hovering above her. “I love you, Mackenzie Sutton.”

  Then he thrust forward, filling her. She wrapped her legs around his hips. Her back arched, pleasure shot up from her center, and she moaned. “Yes.”

  His hand dipped around the small of her back levering her off the bed. Firm pumps of his length caressed her pleasure sensors, giving her body what it wanted. Dipping his head, his tongue whispered over her nipple. Hovering over her, his body trembled. A deep rumble crawled up from his chest and catapulted out of him. One minute she was enjoying each plunge, the next he pulled out, leaving her empty. Before she could mourn the loss, Jaxx flipped her onto her knees and in one swift motion, pressed himself in to the hilt. Her fingers dug into the sheets. “God, yes!”

  The warmth of his body pressed against her back. He swept her hair from her shoulder, his voice whispered into her ear. “I love the feel of your body under mine.” The pads of his fingers feathered from her navel to her breasts, and he thrust into her. “The way you fit around my cock as if your body was meant only for me. I love you.”

  Ecstasy shot along her neurons and slammed across every axis in her body. Her walls clenched around his dick. Her hands fisted into the sheets, and fabric tore. Her head arched back into his shoulder, and she screamed out his name.

  “You’re a fucking miracle, and you’re all mine, Kenzie.”

  His teeth pierced her skin, and her orgasm continued, wringing every ounce of pleasure from her body. He grunted, and the warmth of his release filled her. Boneless, the only thing keeping her upright was Jaxx’s arm wrapped around her. His lips were still fastened to her neck, and aftershocks of desire made her legs quiver. Jaxx rolled them, keeping himself locked within her. He retracted his canines and licked across his mark. “Are you okay?”

  Smiling, she looked over her shoulder. “I’m more than okay.”

  He licked his lips. The action making him even sexier, if that were possible. He unsheathed himself and she rolled toward him. Bracing himself on his forearm, he stared down at her, his intense gaze making her feel like she never wanted to leave his arms again. After everything they had been through, he deserved to know exactly how she felt. Reaching up, she opened their connection, leaving no crevasse hidden.

  She clasped his face. “Without you I was lost. I had no one, and I was sinking down a black hole. You showed me what it was like to live again. You’re a good man, Jaxx. You’ve got strength, you’ve got power, and you use it to help those weaker than you. Not everyone does that. I can never repay all the things you’ve given me, but I will be happy to spend my life trying.” She kissed him. “Jaxx Reynolds, I love you.”

  His gaze flamed a neon green. “I love you too, little wolf.” He cleared his throat. “I want you to know I love you not because I need you, but because of who you are.”

  She already knew that. Unlike herself, Jaxx had never hidden his feelings. But she’d been too scared to look. To acknowledge how she felt and what the meant to her. Their fingers laced, and Jaxx brushed his lips on the back of her palm. “You consume my every thought. You’re an ever-burning presence in my mind. You own me, Kenzie, both the man and the beast.”

  Happiness filled her—God, she couldn’t remember the last time she’d been this happy. She reached up, cupping his neck, and pulled him down to her. “That’s a good thing, because I want both the man and the beast. Now, quit talking and show me exactly how much you love me.”

  25

  Jaxx eased the throttle and pulled into the parking lot. A large black slab with Prowlers scrawled in orange lights greeted them. Kenzie’s arms banded around his waist. His boots walked the bike forward, and kicked the stand out. Her weight lifted as she swung off the bike.

  “So this is Prowlers.”

  He looked back in time to see her remove her helmet and shake out her hair. “Yep. In all her glory.”

  Eying the front of the bar, he imagined how Kenzie might view it. His lips compressed. It wasn’t anything spectacular, but the gray concrete block fixtures were clean-ish and somewhat welcoming. Kinda. If you squinted your eyes the right way.

  He removed his helmet and cradled it in his hand. His gaze strayed back to Kenzie.

  She arched a brow. “This is what you do when you’re not fighting rogues or capturing women?”

  Biting back a smile, he nodded. “Well… the bar has always lured the females. No capturing needed.”

  Kenzie’s quick reflexes ploughed into his stomach with a slap. He laughed and held up his hands. “I’m joking. The bar is for business only. It keeps money coming into the pack and also provides us a place to blow off some steam.”

  Her attention returned to Prowlers. “It’s amazing.”

  He took a step closer. She unzipped her black leather jacket and reached out to him. He drew her hand to his lips and kissed the pads of her fingers, enjoying being able to touch her whenever the hell he wanted. “I’m glad you like it.” He dropped her hand and wrapped his arm around her waist. “Come on—let’s join the pack.”

  Together, they approached the twin red doors. From behind the black-glazed colonial bars lacing the windows, the rest of Shadow Moon waited. He opened the door, holding it wide for his mate, the pack greeting their arrival with a series of human howls and bottles clanging on tabletops. The noise drowned out their boots clipping on the wooden floor. Moving to the bar, they placed their helmets on the counter.

  Taryn leaned on the bar top with her forearms. “What’s your poison?”

  Kenzie peered at the wall of shelved alcohol. “I’ll have vodka and orange juice.” She popped her foot on the tin façade of the bar, the down lights under the top illuminating her boots.

  Taryn looked at Jaxx expectantly. “I’ll have the normal.”

  She nodded and went about pouring the drinks. He turned and faced the tables that had been pushed to the center of the room. Quinn was noticeably absent from the pack gathering. They’d both run into him before leaving. The poor male was still trying to regain the human’s favor. With his humanity on the line, he had to.

  Scanning the table, Jaxx was surprised to find Ava sitting toward the darkened end of the room, her arms folded and eyes glowering at Seb. Seb’s jaw worked, and his head flicked toward them. Ava looked their way and back to Seb, her eyes thinned to slits. From beside him, his mate sighed. “I hate seeing her so upset.”

  Upset? She looked like she was about to reach over and emasculate Seb with one swift swipe of her claws. Upset would not be his word of choice. He wisely didn’t voice his observations. Instead, he leaned toward Kenzie and traced a finger across her cheekbone. “I’m sure given enough time she will come round and understand you did your best to protect her.”

  “You should go and talk to her,” Taryn said from behind them.

  Taryn slapped the glasses on the counter. His scotch sloshed down the glass and onto the mat.

  “If there is one thing I’ve learned in my long life, it’s that you shouldn’t part ways without telling those you love what they mean to you.” She shrugged and grabbed an open beer from behind the counter, taking a deep drink. “Of course, what they do with that information is up to them, but at least you’ve done your part.”

  Kenzie pressed her lips together and nodded. “You’re right. It can’t get any worse than her already ignoring my existence.”

  He could sense his mate’s fear, the hurt that still coursed through her.
Determination all but shadowed those feelings. Her resolve to make one last attempt was at the forefront in her mind.

  Linkin and Hunter approached. Kenzie rushed forward and wrapped her arms around his pack brothers. “Linkin. Hunter.”

  Pushing himself off the bar, he approached and pulled the were in for a quick hug, patting him on the back. Linkin winced. “Not quite recovered yet?”

  “Depends who you’re talking to. Cadence says I’m a dumbass who shouldn’t be out of bed.” He lifted his shoulders in a shrug. “I, on the other hand, feel good enough to party it on with the pack.”

  Hunter snorted. “In other words, he’s a dumbass who shouldn’t be out of bed.”

  Looking at Hunter now, no one would have thought only days ago he’d been flirting with death. That was shifter healing for you. Linkin wobbled on his feet. Kenzie reached out and grabbed hold of his arm. “Maybe Cadence has a point.”

  Hunter steadied Linkin and wrapped an arm around the were’s waist. “It’s all good. Linkin isn’t as dumb as he looks. I was taking him back to the compound. We just wanted to come say congratulations.”

  Clasping Jaxx’s shoulder with his free hand, Hunter murmured, “You’re one lucky bastard. Gold looks good on you.”

  The men left, and Jaxx walked back to the bar and grabbed his drink. In the mirrors plastered behind the counter, he caught sight of the golden band shadowing his wolf glyph. Hunter was right. Lucky bastard was a fitting description. He was going to get the girl, keep his pack, and his risk of becoming rogue was gone. Life was good.

  Kenzie downed the rest of her drink and placed a hand on Jaxx’s chest. “I need to try and talk to Ava. Even if it’s just for my own peace of mind.”

  He smiled one of his lopsided grins. “I’ll be waiting right here if you need me.”