by Milly Taiden
He carried her toward the cottage and she reached to turn the knob. It was unlocked. The entire place was like a beachside dream, flowers and food and a soft, plush rug in front of a low burning fire.
“You really did think of everything,” she said, sliding from his arms.
“Right now, I can only think of one thing and that’s my cock so deeply inside you, we can’t tell where I stop and you start.”
Becca moved to the plush rug and stripped off her wet clothes, leaving them with a small wet spat on the hardwood.
“You said lady’s choice, right?”
He licked his lips. “I did.”
“Good. You mentioned a bike ride. I think I should practice my straddle, first. What do you think?”
“I think that’s a terrific idea.” Jaylon stripped as well, leaving his clothes with hers before lying on the thick rug. She climbed over his hips, letting the tip of his cock just graze her soft flesh.
“Hmmm. I might have to adjust the seat on this one. It might be a little too big to take in just one go. What do you think?”
He grabbed her hips and yanked her onto his waiting cock, her knees hitting the rug.
Jay added another piece of driftwood to the fire pit and then squatted beside the stones, watching the flames lick at the wood.
“This whole day has been amazing, Jaylon. Thank you.”
He straightened, wiping his hands on his thighs before stretching out next to Becca on the blanket. The sun had set, yet the full moon left the white sand illuminated, the sound of the surf behind them, calm.
“What did you like the most?” he asked.
She wiped her mouth and scooted up beside him. “You mean besides these amazing baked clams and roasted corn you made, the wonderful cottage, the whales and dolphins and the gorgeous setting?”
He ran a finger down her cheek. “Is that all?”
“There’s the mind-numbing sex.”
He smirked. “And?”
She crawled up to tuck herself under his arm, resting her head on his chest. “Let me see. Oh yeah, and the fact none of this would matter if it wasn’t you I was sharing it with.”
“Ding. Ding. Ding. We have a winner.” He kissed the top of her head.
“You really don’t need to fish for compliments, Jaylon. This is perfect. You’re perfect. I couldn’t imagine a better day if I tried.”
“So, what do you think? Are we compatible then?” His words were a whisper against her hair.
She snuggled up even tighter. “Like a hand in glove.” She looked up from his chest. “I just have one question, though. How are we getting back to the city tonight?”
“We’re not,” he replied. “The cottage is ours until late tomorrow and I arranged for everything, including getting you back to the Pinelands.”
She nodded, but couldn’t help the wave of disappointment that crashed.
As if he could read her mind, he pulled her up so he could search her eyes. “We have to head back, Bec, regardless of how much we want to stay right here, right now. You know it and I know it. But going home is only so we can let our clans know it was mission accomplished. Mates found. Where we take it next is up to us, not them, right?”
She nodded. “Right. Want to come and tell them that for me?”
He laughed, giving her a quick kiss. “It’ll be fine. Let’s give it a few days. A week tops. They’ll settle down and then it’ll be smooth sailing.”
“Promise?”
He kissed her again. “Cross my heart.”
18
“She’s a cat. A leopard to be exact.” Jaylon’s gaze didn’t waver from the old man.
Matheus took the information in stride. He didn’t nod or balk, just kept a steady gaze toward the head of the council’s table.
“Neither of you seem surprised.” Jaylon’s eyes shifted from his father and the old counselor, ignoring the others in the room.
“Gerri Wilder is an old friend, Jaylon,” his father began. “She matched your mother and me decades ago, so if she matched you with this feline, then I’m fine with it. In the end, who you mate is your decision.” Wyatt turned from his son to the elder. “Matheus, don’t you agree?”
“No, I don’t.” The old council member inhaled before continuing. “Nevertheless, the council didn’t stipulate species, so I have no choice but to honor Jaylon’s choice. You are our Alpha, and if you feel this cat can take her place as your Alpha Female even though she has no clue about us or our ways, then so be it.”
Jaylon’s eyes widened at the man’s glib answer. “Our ways? Since when was that an issue considering we have NO ways? Not anymore. Wasn’t that the whole point behind this request?”
“Yes, but—”
The Alpha lifted one hand, cutting the elder off. “There is no but, Matheus. Becca Duran is a shifter, as the council required, but she is also the Prowl Leader of her Leap. My equal. As to her taking her place with us, the same argument could be asked with regard to me joining her clan. It cuts both ways.”
Matheus nodded. “As well it should.”
“Yes, but for you and the rest of the council, you can’t have your cake and eat it, too. You can’t give me the right to choose my own mate and then take it away with trumped up excuses, like the small size of her Leap.” He eyed the other elders. “I’ve heard the whispers, gentlemen. Gossip is a two-way street, especially in a large pack.”
“Her Leap is not our concern,” Matheus countered.
“It should be.” All eyes turned toward the lilting voice as a woman stood from her seat in the gallery.
“This doesn’t concern you, Giselle.” Jaylon’s gaze narrowed her way.
“No, Jay. You’re wrong. This concerns me and every other female in this pack. Is it true this girl is the daughter of the former Prowl Leader of the Pineland Leap?”
He nodded. “Yes. What of it?”
“Then she’s also the one who bolted from the scenting ceremony that resulted in the death of her father.” Giselle’s voice rose for effect.
“Giselle, what are you talking about?”
“She didn’t tell you, then.” She moved from her seat and walked toward the council table, dropping a file in front of Matheus. “Looks like you bagged yourself a secretive little pussy.”
Jaylon growled and took a step toward the woman but Wyatt put a staying hand on his son’s shoulder.
“What’s all this about, Giselle? I’m not going to put up with your manipulative shenanigans.” Matheus pointed at the woman. “Hell, the scent of self-pity and angry jealousy are wafting from you in waves.”
Giselle shook her head. “I’m not playing games, Matheus, but neither will I stand by and allow this slit in a skirt take her place over the women in this pack simply because she’s a full shifter. Look at the facts.” She pointed to the folder in front of him.
“As soon as I heard the girl’s name, I did a little research on her and her Leap. On paper, the Pineland Leap is perfect. They have tremendous territory that any pack-owned business would love to sink their teeth into, but as far as her personally, Becca Duran is damaged goods.”
Jaylon pulled away from his father’s hold and stared down his old lover. “You are on very thin ice, Giselle.”
“I don’t blame you, Jaylon.” Giselle crooned, “Everyone knows how cunning cats can be. She needs our money and our connections, but the fact remains she’s not free.”
“Explain yourself!” Matheus demanded.
Giselle kept greedy eyes on Jaylon, ignoring the old man’s outburst. “You spent three days with this woman, and you didn’t happen to notice markings on her?”
Jaylon balked. “What are you talking about?”
Giselle lifted one telling hand to her shoulder.
“Oh, come on! You’re grasping at straws, Giselle. I have intimate knowledge of that woman’s entire body and there were no mating marks, anywhere. Especially not on her shoulder.”
Giselle laughed. “Jaylon, she’s got her claws into
you so deeply, you can’t see straight. Cats don’t mark the shoulder. Sorry. My bad. They mark the nape of the neck, close to the hairline.”
Jaylon blinked, trying to remember.
“Seems our Alpha is not so sure anymore, is he now?” Giselle asked, fingering the edge of the folder on the table.
Matheus shoved the makeshift dossier away. “That’s enough, Giselle. I want no part of this kind of innuendo. There is no place for interspecies gossip in this council room. We do not subscribe to pack purity. Yes, it’s gone too far in the opposite direction, but that is what we are trying to rectify. No one cares if the young lady is a cat.”
Jaylon nodded. “Thank you, Matheus.”
The old man looked at him over the top of his glasses, lifting one hand. “Nevertheless, I want this prior claim investigated, Jaylon. Do you understand? Pineland is a traditional Leap, much more so than we have been for ages. I will not allow us to become embroiled in legalities or worse over something like this.”
He continued. “Regardless of their vast property, we cannot allow our Alpha to enter into mating negotiations until we are sure there are no previous claims on her or her position. Deep Water has too much to lose.”
Jaw tight, Jaylon stared at them, Giselle especially. “This is nothing more than spite on the part of a woman who covets Becca’s rightful place as my Alpha Female. NO ONE can tell me not to take her as my mate except me. You allowed thirty days for me to find an acceptable candidate and it took me less than thirty hours. My wolf is certain Becca Duran is the one, even if she doesn’t yet wear my mark—and I stress, YET.”
“Jaylon—” Matheus began only to have his comment cut short.
“I hear your concerns, Matheus. I planned to bring Becca here to meet my father and the rest of the pack, but that will have to wait until this gossip is settled. I’ll head to the Pine Barrens in the morning and get to the bottom of this. My father will accompany me as our former Alpha and my second.” He scanned the gallery. “Any objections?”
Matheus banged his gavel. “Done. You have seventy-two hours to report back with an acceptable account or I will personally choose your mate.”
Jaylon shook his head. “Not going to happen, Matheus. If I don’t have a satisfactory answer within seventy-two hours, I will forfeit my right as Alpha and take whatever holdings I have with me.”
A collective gasp rippled through the gallery “The Ross family owns more than half of our commercial enterprise. You’ll ruin us,” one of the males called out.
Matheus frowned. “And what of you, Wyatt? Do you feel the same as your son?”
Wyatt spread his hands. “Jaylon is all I have, Matheus. If you want to prevent this from coming to pass, I suggest you swing your gavel at the jealous troublemakers bent on causing a fuss.” He spared a look for Giselle and then moved to flank his son. “Who Jaylon chooses as a mate should never have become a council matter, and I’m sorry I complied.”
Jaylon slipped his hand onto his father’s shoulder. “I’ll be back in three days and I hope it will be to introduce Becca Duran as our new Alpha Female. The decision will be mine and mine alone, and I expect Deep Water to welcome her with open arms if that’s what’s meant to be, otherwise the Ross family will have a lot to think about.”
19
“Well, you don’t smell different,” Lyssa commented with a laugh.
Becca looked across to her friend in the driver’s seat. “Why in the world would I?”
Lys shrugged. “Because you said you lost count of how many times you got off with that wolf.”
“Again with the wolf thing. Give it a rest, Lys. He’s a guy. A guy I really, really want.”
Lyssa made a sad attempt at a low whistle. It sounded more like a croaking animal. “Still.”
“He didn’t mark me, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
Lyssa pulled over to the side of the rural highway and put her truck in park. “He didn’t mark you? How?”
Becca flipped her hair back. “No bite marks, Sherlock. See?”
Her friend ran her hand over the nape of Becca’s neck, feeling for anything different.
“Oh, for the love of all that’s holy. Seriously, Lyssa? Find anything?”
Lys pulled her hand back and shook her head. “No. Just the faded marks that have been there for ten years.”
“Twelve, but who’s counting.”
Lyssa pursed her lips, considering. “What did your wolf say when he saw the old marks?”
“He didn’t.” Becca shrugged.
“Wait. He didn’t see them or you didn’t tell him?”
“Both. And why should I bring it up? It was so long ago, it doesn’t matter anymore. What’s dead and buried should stay that way.”
“Becca—”
She shook her head, not letting her finish. “No, Lyssa. I haven’t been this happy in forever. Jaylon and I have so many real obstacles ahead of us, why add one more with this irrelevant story from my past? I’ll tell him when the time is right. I’m sure I’m not the only female shifter in history to make one bad choice.”
“And how do you know this one isn’t another bad choice?”
“Because as you were quick to point out just days ago, Ms. Wilder is never wrong.” Lyssa went conspicuously quiet and Becca hid a smirk behind her hand.
“Speaking of obstacles, the council is waiting.” Lyssa put her blinker on and pulled back onto the road, ignoring the last comment. “They asked me to bring you straight from the train, but I think we can stop at your cabin first.”
Becca shook her head. “No, let’s go. I want to get this over with as soon as possible so Jaylon and I can move forward. His pack wants a traditional mating ceremony, and since we robbed them of a scenting rite courtesy of the glamorous Ms. Wilder, I want us to do it up right.”
They drove in relative silence until Lyssa pulled her truck into the circle of cabins, tires mud-spattered from recent rains on the Leap’s unpaved roads.
“Jaylon is going to have to get used to backwoods living if he goes through with this marriage with you,” Lyssa said, cutting the engine.
Becca laughed, climbing out of the passenger side cab. “And what makes you think I won’t move to Long Island and take my place as the queen of the South Shore shifters?”
“That’s funny, Bec. You and those hoity-toity matrons and snotty brat females? You forget you’re the one who took their most eligible bachelor off the market.”
She closed the truck door. “I didn’t take anything that didn’t want to be taken. Jaylon was willing and ready.”
Lys walked around the front of the car. “So you’ve said. A lot.”
Becca grinned. “And don’t you forget it.” She reached for her phone in her back pocket. “Speak of the devil.” Becca scanned Jaylon’s text and made a face.
“What?” Lyssa asked, concerned.
Bec shook her head, still reading.
“He texts you, and now you’re frowning. What gives? Is this meeting with the council now a moot point?”
Becca shoved her phone into her pocket again. “Just the opposite. Jaylon is coming here. Tomorrow.”
“Wow, talk about moving fast.”
Shaking her head, Becca chewed on her lip. “Something’s wrong.” Distracted, she fell into step beside Lyssa as they walked toward the council cabin.
“I don’t mean to pry, but what are you talking about?”
Becca smiled at her friend. “First, prying is your favorite sport. Second, I don’t know why.” She shook her head. “Chalk it up to intuition.”
“It’s not too late, Bec. You should call the wolf and tell him everything. Rumors don’t die. They become ghosts that haunt us, even if they’re false.”
“No.” Becca shook her head. “What happened is dead and buried along with my father and my brother.”
Lys looked at her. “And Nick.”
Becca’s eyes shot to her friend. “Why would you say his name? Why?”
Lyssa met he
r friend’s annoyed gaze. “Because Nick is part of it, Bec. Part of your story. He died in the flames the same as your father.” She frowned. “Not that losing a pig like Nick Reece was a big deal.”
Lyssa pushed open the council door and held it for Becca to go in first. She didn’t say another word as everyone was assembled.
“We’re glad you’re back, sweetheart,” Lucilla said with a forced smile. “Lyssa told us you found yourself a mate.”
Stunned, Becca shot Lys another look and her friend shrugged, mouthing the word, sorry.
“Uhm, yes. His name is Jaylon Ross.”
Lucilla nodded. “Yes. He’s a wolf, I gather.”
Becca replied with a curt nod.
“I’m sorry you went through all that, dear. Especially now as a solution closer to home has presented itself while you were in New York.”
20
Becca’s brows knotted and she looked from Lucilla to the others at the council table. “What solution? I’ve already made my choice and it’s Jaylon Ross. My cat wants him, and so do I. Case closed.”
“The case isn’t closed, Becca. Far from it.”
She whirled on her heel at the familiar voice. “Alastair.” His name was barely a whisper on her lips as she stared at the man’s face.
Man. Ha! Alastair Reece was barely ten years old when she met his brother Nick at a scenting ceremony all those years ago.
“How dare you show your face here! You killed my brother!” She spun, swinging an accusatory hand toward the council. “And you! Why don’t you just spit on my father’s grave! On Charlie’s grave!”
Lucilla stood. “Calm yourself, child. No one here has any love for Alastair Reece or his claim to be the ragtag Prime of the Wind River Pride. A position he took by force, no doubt.”
Becca’s eyes narrowed at the man. “Prime, is it? And how many of the old Prime’s family had to die to bring about this claim to fame, you lowlife runt?” She snorted. “Well, it looks like you finally got what you wanted.”
