“Okay, I’ll tell you. Ayanna made us all draw names, and we’re supposed to, um, try and seduce him.”
I didn’t bother trying to contain my growl. She didn’t frighten—quite the opposite, I could smell her essence in the air. My alpha side turned her on. It was almost more than I could handle just then.
“So, you each have one person you’re targeting?”
She nodded.
“Tessa, Ayanna, that last chick that asked me to dance. Did they draw my name?”
“Yes,” she confirmed, not quite meeting my eyes. That would be normal in wolf culture, especially in my aggressive state, but this was Jenna and she only did that when she was nervous or hiding something.
I ran a hand through my hair again, not sure I wanted to know the answer, but needing to at the same time. “Whose name did you draw?”
Her eyes flashed to mine. “Matt.”
I started to curse and began to pace, a clear sign of my wolf’s displeasure.
“But,” she said, and I saw a twinkle of mischief in her eyes, “Anita wanted him and traded me before we had to announce our draws.”
“Okay, so Anita is trying to seduce Matt?”
“Yes, and I suspect she may have a crush on him. I mean, she yanked that paper from my hands almost faster than I could read it and shoved hers into mine.”
I took a deep breath. “And who did she draw?”
“You, Chase. She drew you.”
I stared at her and my mouth fell open. I closed it, but no words came out at first. Slowly my brain started to comprehend. “So, if Anita now has Matt, that means I’m your challenge?”
She grinned happily and closed the gap between us as she wrapped her arms around my waist and planted a quick kiss on my lips. “Yup. And I don’t think I’m sucking at this challenge nearly as much as my sisters thought I would.”
I threw my head back and laughed. “That’s hardly fair. You’re a cheater.”
“Am not,” she said, playfully smacking my chest.
“You totally are, but seriously, that outfit was not playing fair.” I sucked in a sharp breath. “Next time you wear jeans and a turtleneck. Save this thing, for my eyes only.” I had wicked images of what I’d like to do with her in that skimpy little outfit.
“Anita insisted we go all out tonight. Some of the girls were giving me a hard time about it, saying I was too much of a goody-goody to even bother trying, so she thought this would show them.”
I laughed. “You definitely showed them. How many am I going to have to avoid from now on?”
“Four,” she confessed. “Well, five if you count me.”
As if I would ever avoid her.
“And how far exactly is this seduction challenge supposed to go?” I kissed her forehead. “This?”
She shook her head no, so I kissed her lips.
“This?” I said breathless, pulling back.
She shook her head no again. A combination of lust and curiosity spurred me onward. My hands glided up the sides of her slight hourglass figure and I reveled in the shiver that shook her body. She didn’t try to stop me as I cupped her left breast, filling my palm as I explored. I let my thumb drift lightly over her nipple, feeling it pebble at my touch.
“First base?” I said in a voice deeper than I expected.
She bit her lip and shook her head no once again. I smiled and let my hand drift further south down her body. She let out a soft sigh as I reached the top of the sweatpants I had insisted she wear. Staring into her gorgeous violet eyes, I pushed the pants gently down her hips. They were too big and loose on her, so it took no real effort. Still, she didn’t stop me.
The look of sheer lust radiating from her eyes was nearly my undoing. The high of knowing my mate wanted me was better than anything I had experienced in my twenty years of life. The smell of her essence filled the room and I wasn’t sure I had the willpower to stop.
I leaned in and kissed her as my fingers pushed aside the soft cotton of her underwear and began to discover her intimately. I knew she was a virgin. I wasn’t sure how I knew since she had never told me, but I knew it was true. It drove my wolf crazy and made us overprotective of her. No other man would ever touch my beautiful mate and I rejoiced in that knowledge.
Her breathing came out in quick pants and she pulled out of my kisses as my hand mercilessly explored her, memorizing each place that caused her to moan, or, better yet, purr. I watched her as her body convulsed under my touch, never losing eye contact. The emotions swimming in her eyes told me far more than words ever could.
Finally, as her breathing started to even and her cheeks flushed as she came back down to reality, I grinned proudly.
“Second base, then?”
After the moment we had just shared, I don’t think I could have said anything more surprising to her. She giggled and buried her face in my chest, still shaking her head no.
My forehead creased as I forced her to look at me.
“Just how far does this challenge go?” I asked. I already knew Jenna was not the only virgin among the panthers. They all were. It was the number one reason my fraternity brothers continued to frequent their house. That many virgins in one place had started a sort of frenzy for domination.
“Home run. Nothing less,” Jenna told me. I sucked in a sharp breath.
Everything in my being screamed to take her right then. I didn’t think she’d resist either, but her first time should be more than a quickie with my brothers down the hall waiting for us to join them. Channeling every ounce of resolve I could muster, I pulled the sweats back up to her waist and kissed her forehead.
“Not happening tonight, princess.”
I could feel her disappointment hit me like waves in the ocean. Relieved to know she wanted me as much as I wanted her helped ease the transition away from the bedroom.
“Trust me, it’s not that I don’t want to, I definitely want to, I just don’t want my brothers and Anita waiting for us down the hall when that happens. I plan to take my sweet time and enjoy every second of it.”
Her skin flushed, but a new kind of confidence seemed to blossom before my eyes. She moved with cat-like grace, mesmerizing me. It reminded me of the trance she’d put me in watching her dance at that party. I thought maybe she’d be embarrassed walking out of my room with the others forming assumptions about what had happened between us, but that was absolutely not the case.
She took a moment to smooth down her hair and check her appearance in the mirror. Satisfied with the results, she curled into my side as we headed back to the main den. I left her at the door for only a moment to run back in and grab a second set of my sweats.
She did pull away as we entered the main area, just out of reach of my touch, but she carried herself with the new confidence I was seeing evolve before my eyes. Just before we reached the others, she grabbed my arm and leaned in to whisper in my ear.
“I know what home plate is, but if that was only second base, what’s on third?”
I doubted she had ever been as candid with anyone in her life, but she didn’t even blush asking me. I leaned back and whispered, “A whole lot of the same, but next time I get to use my mouth.”
Her body stiffened, and I smelled her arousal.
“Oh,” was all she could say.
I chanced a quick look towards my brothers. Yeah, I was certain they had heard and smelled her too. If they were anyone else, my wolf would not have been happy, but two mated males were no threat to us.
Anita was watching us suspiciously but didn’t say a word. I saw her check out the new outfit Jenna wore and laugh.
I threw her the second set of sweats and left no room for argument. “I can take you home now, or you can put these on. You two are better than this.”
Anita sighed and put the sweats on right over her clothes. “It was only in good fun,” she said, then dropped down into a chair and sulked. “What’s wrong with dressing up and prowling for guys?”
“What’s wrong is tha
t you deserve better than that, both of you. You really want your first time to be some meaningless booty call?”
“This coming from the biggest man-whore on campus? And you told him we’re virgins?” Anita asked Jenna, turning fifty shades of red.
I was glad the heat was off me, but her “man-whore” comment didn’t sit well with me.
“I didn’t have to, he already knew. Says it’s some sort of wolf thing. They smell really good.”
Anita’s lips formed a straight line and she closed her eyes, holding back a laugh.
“That’s not what I meant.” Jenna looked at me and shrugged. “Fine, you do smell good, but I meant wolves have a heightened sense of smell, and well, they noticed. That’s why all the D.O.G.s, have been sniffing around our place.”
I think Anita was more shocked at Jenna’s frank comment regarding my scent than anything else. I didn’t have to really know her at all to understand Jenna would be facing a full inquisition later. Luckily for us, Matt came back at that moment and slunk down on the oversized chair next to Anita.
“You’re back early,” I commented as I joined my brothers on the couch and picked up a controller. Jenna hesitated for a moment, and then joined us.
“You bailed on me, and a fight broke out between Theta and the panthers. I’d had enough. What are we doing? Call of Duty?”
“Yup, room for one more,” I offered, but felt Jenna stiffen. Somehow, I knew she wanted to say something, and when I looked at her she was biting that damn lip. “Would you like to play?” I asked her curiously. She nodded, and a mischievous grin broke out across her face. I handed her a controller. “Sorry, dude, you and Anita can be on deck to play the winners if you want.”
“No, thank you,” Anita said. “That’s Jenna’s thing. I hate those stupid games.”
“Jenna’s thing, huh?” I asked, turning towards my mate with open curiosity. She blushed and shrugged. “Okay, so me and Jenna, against Liam and Patrick.”
My brothers high fived each other happily.
“Easiest battle ever,” Patrick said.
“You’re going down, little brother,” Liam added. “And Jenna, FYI, he hates to lose.”
I laughed, knowing it was true, but the thought of my mate actually enjoying video games and wanting to play with me brought more pleasure than winning ever could. It only took minutes into the game to realize Jenna knew how to play, too. We pulled ahead quickly.
Anita laughed. “Jenna’s only competitive in two areas: academics and video games. She’s competed in Worlds the last four years.”
“Damn,” Liam said. “If I wasn’t already mated, I’d marry you.”
The growling bubbling out of me was cut off when my brother nudged me in the side. I pushed him back and soon we were play fighting, flipping over the back of the couch onto the floor as we wrestled.
Patrick shrugged. “Wolves. What can you do?”
Jenna gave one quick glance our way and then turned her full focus back to the game. “Just you and me then, leprechaun.”
Patrick laughed heartily. “You’re on, princess.”
A few of my frat brothers started trickling back in. And at some point I hadn’t noticed, Anita and Matt disappeared. The brothers all cheered on the game as Liam and I joined in. It had felt good to wrestle with my brother. So much felt like it was changing fast, but my family was one thing that I knew would always remain constant.
It was a close matchup, but in the end, Jenna easily defeated Patrick all by herself. Pride welled within me. Others were already forming teams and claiming next challenge. A few tried to take on partners with Jenna, but she was firm with them.
“Sorry, Chase is my partner. He just got a little distracted”—she gave me a stern look—“but I’ll give him another chance. Do it again and I’ll be hunting for a new partner,” she threatened half-heartedly.
We spent the next five hours taking on team after team. She was relentless, amazing, probably the best Call of Duty partner I’d ever played with, and she was mine. She held her own with all my brothers, both family and fraternity.
Anita and Matt had snuck back in at some point, and I couldn’t help but wonder if the stupid challenge was already over. They seemed quite cozy together, and happy. It didn’t go unnoticed that she was no longer wearing the sweats I’d given her.
“In your face, Damon!” Jenna yelled, taking the final shot to end our closest game yet.
She had been on her feet, fully invested in the action, for much of the match. Her victory dance was the most adorable thing I’d ever seen.
“You’re a nerd,” I said as she sat back down next to me.
“That’s really no big secret,” she admitted. “But you, Chase Westin—who knew you were such a nerd?”
My brothers all laughed.
“I don’t think we’ve ever had a chick over to play with us, so it’s a well-kept secret. You’ll have to sign a confidentiality agreement. We can’t have it get out that our most eligible bachelor and campus ladies’ man is a closet video game junkie,” Damon teased.
I hated the title, and I really hated that I couldn’t claim my mate before them. Even my fraternity brothers couldn’t know about us. So, I kept my mouth shut and took the ragging while chancing a sad look at Jenna. I could see the emotions swelling in her eyes and knew she felt the same.
Looking at the clock, I realized it was 3 a.m. already.
“We should get you girls home, it’s getting late,” I said, not really wanting her to leave, but not wanting to press my luck, either.
“Jenna, you’re welcome anytime. Xbox is always open,” Neal told her.
“My purse is in your room,” she whispered as we stood up and I led her back to my room. The second the door closed, I pulled her in for a kiss, but I knew we couldn’t indulge. The last thing I wanted was the others thinking that my mate was easy and available.
She took off the sweats, showcasing the sexy little outfit she had chosen to wear to the party. It felt like that had been ages ago. My stance on the thing hadn’t changed. Alone, in my room, for my eyes only, it was the sexiest sight in the world, and I loved it. Knowing she was about to walk past most of my brothers in the skimpy little thing, set my wolf on edge.
“We still on for the library tomorrow?” I asked hopefully, trying to distract myself.
“Not sick of me yet?” she teased.
“Never,” I said, giving her another heated kiss before forcing us to leave the room.
“Anita, you ready?” Jenna asked as we got back to the main room. Another round of games had started, but mostly the group had broken up.
Anita begrudgingly followed, but so did Matt. We walked the girls back to their house. I gave Jenna a quick hug, daring a kiss just below her ear that I knew turned her on. She swatted at me and shot a warning glare my way. I flashed her the dimples and watched her melt.
We really didn’t need to be concerned about Matt and Anita. They were so wrapped up in making out with each other that they never gave us a second a thought.
“Matt,” I said, smacking him on the arm to break them up. “Give the poor girl some air already.”
There was something about Anita, my first panther friend that made me protective of her. I didn’t want to see her get hurt and knew she and Matt couldn’t be together long-term. Hypocrite, a small voice in the back of my head said.
The front door opened just as he released her.
“Where have you two been?” Ayanna demanded.
“Sorry we kept them out so late,” I told her, giving Jenna a meaningful look and squeezing her hand before letting go; though, knowing about the challenge, I leaned in and kissed Jenna on the cheek. Her skin flushed and her eyes swore retribution, but I couldn’t hold back the joyful grin from my face.
Matt was far more in-your-face obvious as he kissed Anita one last time, before nodding at Ayanna.
“See you tomorrow, babe,” he said as we turned to leave.
Back home, my bed was covered in t
he scent of Jenna. It caused equal parts pleasure and torture. I longed for the day she could just stay.
Jenna
Chapter 12
The second the door closed, I noticed my sisters waiting on us, arms crossed and claws ready to come out.
“How dare you, Jenna!” Chloe squealed.
Confused, I asked, “How dare I, what?”
“How dare you monopolize Chase Westin like that!” she said.
I laughed. “Really? The stupid challenge wasn’t my idea.”
Louisa spoke up next. “No one thought you’d actually play along.”
“Well, you thought wrong. Chase is a good guy. He doesn’t deserve to be a target for this insanity.” I tried to defend him, and they laughed in my face.
“Called it!” Ayanna said. “You totally pulled the friend card to get him away from those of us actually taking this seriously.”
“You wish,” Anita said. “Chase was all over her tonight. They may not have gone all the way, but I know for a fact that they made it to second base.”
I glared at her. I couldn’t believe she’d just announced that. The last thing I needed was eleven sets of eyes tracking me and Chase.
“I don’t believe it,” Chloe said. “Were you there? Did you see it?”
“No,” Anita said, “but Jenna doesn’t whisper very well, either.”
I blushed furiously.
“Well,” Ayanna said, hands on her hips while glaring at me, “you all know the rules, and unless you have proof that you went all the way, then game’s still on.”
“Actually,” Anita said, pulling out a Ziploc bag showcasing a used condom and grinning from ear to ear, “challenge complete.”
Mouths dropped, including mine. I knew she and Matt had been gone for a while. How long, I couldn’t say, because I was too absorbed in the game. But, wow! Just wow!
“No way!” said Cameron, another one of our sisters.
“Woohoo, Anita, you little slut. Who did you have again?” Tessa asked.
Confusing Hearts (Westin Pack Book 4) Page 9
