by Jenna Leigh
Of course, right now, the prince was pissed off at her, but she could fix that. “Oh, yeah, I want it.”
Charlotte’s smile widened and she went off to find the shoes and underwear to compliment the dress. As if anyone would see her panties except Marcus, if he straightened up and flew right.
“Do you need anything else?” The other woman’s voice brought her from her reverie.
“I need some other underwear and things. My house was broken into and the thieves vandalized my stuff.” Lainie couldn’t repress a shiver at what had been a very personal violation. If it was Caulder who ordered the break-in, she’d find out and he’d pay.
Chapter Seventeen
Marcus sat at his desk and twirled his pen over his fingers. It was an exercise in both dexterity and relaxation. Lainie’s words had hurt much more than he wanted to admit. “This whole mess”, she’d said. He supposed it could be thought of as such. But, he liked it this way. Messy and wild and a little off center. Her smart mouth made him laugh more than he had in a long time. Laughter had never been a part of his life, love even less.
His pack loved him and they’d die for him. His uncle—wait, grandfather—loved him, but apparently he loved Lainie more. Keeping her safe had been the other man’s mission in life for fifteen years. Marcus dropped the pen and put his head on the desk. What if she left after tonight? Like Cinderella, she’d disappear and leave his broken heart behind. Better than a damn shoe, but not by much.
He closed his eyes and sighed. He was fighting the moon change on top of it all. The full moon was in a few more days. Soon it would be time to howl at the sky with his fellow wolves. Time to run free in the desert with the smell of the spicy sage filling his nostrils. He loved this time of the month; it was when all his worries slipped away. But now, it was different, because Lainie was at his home, where she would stay until he deemed it safe enough for her to leave.
Marcus sighed wearily. Being Lupin was hard; he was tired of all the bullshit that went with leading the pack. He had no children of his own, but he had to bless each union within his group. When he found his own mate, he wanted to have what they had. Could he bring children into the world, knowing they were genetic mutations that could destroy and maim? If they were like him, they could do some good in the world. Who was he kidding, what good did he do? Marcus closed his eyes wearily. He was just so lonely, and when Lainie had come back, he’d thought she was the one. Apparently, she didn’t share this line of thinking. “A mess”. Well, shit.
Staying in human form all the time, never losing control used up a lot of energy. He did it automatically, but still, it made him tired. Sleep pulled at him and he didn’t fight it. Laying his head on his arms, he closed his eyes with the scent of her teasing his nostrils.
The scent grew stronger and he frowned but didn’t open his eyes. She smelled so good, he wanted to lick her all over, nibble and suck and… Hell, he was as hard as a rock.
Someone stroked his hair, pushing the strands away from his face and he sat up, blinking at the vision sitting on his desk.
“Hi.” Lainie grinned shyly.
“Hi,” he grumbled, before clearing his throat. “What are you doing here?”
“I thought we’d eat a late lunch together.” At her words, he glanced quickly at the clock on his desk and saw that it was almost one in the afternoon.
“I could eat.” He refused to meet her eyes. She’d hurt him, but he’d be damned if he let her see that.
“I brought it with me. I hope you still like…” She paused and slid over until she was right in front of him. She planted one foot on each arm of his chair.
He glared at her. “What are you doing?”
“What does it look like?” She raised her brows and leaned forward with her elbows on her knees. The jacket gaped open slightly and showed him she wore nothing more than a bra beneath it.
He looked closer and noticed the tiny lavender-colored flowers embroidered along the top edge of some damned bits of lace surely invented to torture him. His pants no longer fit in the crotch. Unwillingly, he let his eyes fall to her legs. “I like the boots.”
They were black and to the knee, making the suit look less business-like and more sexy. She let her legs fall open a little farther and he swallowed hard.
She wore a pair of panties that matched the bra, down to the flowers. He caught himself counting the flowers and bit his lip. “What are you up to?”
“Oh, just wanted to see you, is all.” She reached out and grabbed his tie, pulling on it until he leaned forward between her upraised knees.
“Are you trying to seduce me, Ms. Westerbrook?”
“Is it working?” Her fingers found their way into the opening between the buttons on his shirt. She lightly scratched him with her nails.
“If I say no, what happens then?”
She jerked on his tie and pressed her mouth to his. Her tongue ran over his lips and then delved inside. She licked and sucked on his mouth. He barely suppressed a moan. “I try harder,” she answered when she finally released him.
She leaned over until she was in danger of falling into his lap. Her knees were almost above her shoulders. His eyes crossed when her panties wedged themselves between the slick, bare lips of her pussy. “You look pretty hard right now, though, Marcus.” She grinned playfully at him.
He didn’t notice because he was pushing her skirt up to her waist. “When did this happen?” he asked, or roared rather. He slid his hand into the side of her underwear and cupped her now hairless sex.
She fell back from the force of his movements and stared up at the ceiling. His hand moved up and down her mound, caressing her bare skin.
“I did it today. You know it wasn’t that way when you left this morning!” She wiggled when he still didn’t take his hand away.
She throbbed for him to thrust his fingers inside her and make her come for him. Hell, she’d almost done that on the way up to his office just by imagining his face when he saw what she’d done.
When he still didn’t speak, she leaned up to see his face. “What is it? Don’t you like it?” She tilted her head to one side. “It’ll grow back.”
“Who—” He broke off and took a breath. “Where did you get this done?” When she didn’t answer he growled.
“At a salon, I got my hair done too.” She tossed the long glossy strands over her shoulder.
He narrowed his eyes, unable to see any change in her hair, not that he gave a damn about that right now.
“Oh, my legs too.” She wiggled them at him one at a time. “Your business associate’s wife, Charlotte, recommended it to me, in fact. The staff there is very professional.”
“Was it a man or a woman?” He punctuated his question with a soft squeeze and she tilted her hips up against his hand. “Tell me.” With a slow movement she was sure was meant to torture her, he pushed his fingers just inside her. His thumb circled her clit in soft, feathery strokes designed to tease, not satisfy.
“It was a man!” She’d have confessed it was the president of the United States if he kept doing that. “I think he’d like you better, if you get my meaning.”
“What?” Marcus paused and tried to figure out what she’d said, not an easy feat when his fingers were buried inside her pussy. “Oh.”
“Oh?” She started to move away. “You know, I’m not your property. You haven’t made me any promises, and I—” She squealed when he tore the underwear off and stuffed them into his pocket. “Marcus! Those were brand new!”
He was no longer listening to her. Instead, he cupped her with his hand, fascinated by the sight of her stretched out on the desk. “You said you brought lunch?” He spread her open, the glistening folds parted like a flower to reveal the bud of her clit.
“Yes,” she whispered.
“I’m having dessert first.” His mouth was on her before she could think up a reply. He lapped at her clit, spearing it repeatedly with his tongue, making her thighs trembled with each lick.
He pushed her legs farther apart until her feet fell off the chair. With her legs hanging down, the top of her mound was much more prominent. He pushed it higher and bit down softly, enjoying the shudders that racked her frame.
“Oh, yes.” She sighed when his teeth moved back and forth.
He sucked on the smooth skin, enjoying the fact that this just gave him more space to work with. He lightly spanked it and she squealed coming up off the desk toward his hand.
He slid his hands under her ass and lifted her to his mouth, flipping her legs onto his shoulders. She scrabbled for purchase but he didn’t give her a chance. “Open the jacket let me see you.” He whispered the command, but she sensed the thread of steel despite the softness of his voice.
Her fingers trembled when she rushed to spread the jacket open. “Take off bra too, you’re good at that, if I recall.” He flicked her clit with rapid motions of his tongue when she hesitated. Her head fell back and she groaned, twisting and writhing in his hands.
She finally got her fingers to work. “Slow,” he rasped, his mouth almost touching her. His gaze was boring into hers, watching her follow his commands.
She licked her lips and pushed the cups out of the way. She managed to get up on her elbows but he jerked her back down. “Marcus.”
“Touch them for me.” He began to lick her again. She cupped her breasts in her hands, squeezing them like he did.
He held her up with one arm wrapped around her leg, letting the other fall to the arm of the chair. It squeaked slightly when he moved. “The nipples too.”
Her skin flushed pink from the combination of embarrassment and arousal. She tweaked her nipples, rolling them, pulling them hard. He rewarded her by thrusting his fingers inside her pussy. He used the same rhythm that she used to play with her breasts. His cock was about to explode but he wanted her completely at his mercy before he took her again. She writhed twice more before he stopped.
He undid his pants and turned her over, forcing her down on the desk with her legs spread wide. “Your pussy is wet, Lainie. Wet and hot and open for me. Beautiful.” He pulled the jacket down over her arms, stopping at the elbows, effectively trapping them when he twisted the fabric in his hands.
Her ass was soft and round, and the skirt rucked up around it made it seem even more like forbidden fruit. He bit her hard enough to leave a mark. She said his name in a breathy whisper as he smoothed his hand over her ass then slapped it.
“What did I say about that?” she asked with a frown.
“What do you think you can do about it is the real question, darlin’.” He freed himself and thrust into her. The hot, hard length of his cock filling her made her come again.
Her juices trickled out onto his belly and then down to his balls. For the rest of the day, he’d be able to smell her on him, as would any other of his Wolfkin. They would also smell him on her, which was even better.
When he didn’t move, just kept rubbing her ass with his hand, she chanced a look back over her shoulder. When her eyes met his, he began thrusting inside of her and spanking her ass at the same time. The edge of the desk brushed against her clit with each movement, and her breasts swung over the cooling marble surface.
Each of the sensations combined to heighten her arousal. Stars exploded in her vision. He changed hands and started on the other cheek of her ass, the slaps a little more rough. Each one stung, but warmth was spreading to her pussy. She squeezed him tight, slowing his strokes slightly. He grunted and angled the head of his cock to hit her G-spot. Lainie bit her lip until she drew blood. He began to pull out of her; she felt it and squeezed harder to keep him inside.
“No, honey—” He bit off his words when she did it again. He roared when he came. The walls of her sex clamped around him almost painfully. A rush of heat, followed by cold chills raced up and down his spine and he spurted his seed deep inside her. He fell back into his desk chair, still embedded deep within.
At the resultant jostling, another orgasm jolted through her sex. He groaned holding her shuddering body close. He was locked in place until nature took its course and allowed him to slide free.
“Lainie.” He kissed her cheek and tasted the wetness of her tears. “I hurt you.”
“No, no, you didn’t, really.” She sounded faint and dazed.
He grinned at her and ran his hand up and down her newly bared flesh. “I like this,” he finally admitted. “Next time, I want to come with you and watch them do it though.”
She shook with laughter. The sensation wasn’t unpleasant at all. He twisted her so she was sideways on his lap.
She gasped when his shaft moved inside her, still hard and swollen. “I liked that, do it again.” She pulled his face down to hers for a kiss.
“You’re gonna be the death of me,” he gritted out between clenched teeth when she had the audacity to wiggle her ass against him.
“Come on, you’re still as hard as a rock. Just do that pulsing thing a few more times.” Her eyes were glowing with what he thought could be love, but maybe it was just good sex.
He made his cock flex inside her and she arched her back, rocking her hips. She moaned.
“You are insatiable.” He fought to catch his breath.
“You did this to me,” she informed him haughtily. “I was a good girl until you corrupted me with your big old—” He smothered the rest of her sentence with his mouth.
Finally, he was able to free himself and, after righting their clothes and cleaning up, he remembered the food. “I’m starved,” he announced in hurt tones, as if it were her fault.
“I said I brought food.” She moved to the couch, her hips swaying provocatively. The fact that she wore nothing underneath made him hard all over again. He’d restrain himself for now, sating one hunger with another, at least temporarily.
As they ate, he watched her. She picked at the seafood pasta on her plate and nibbled on her bread. Finally, she looked up at him. “Marcus, about this morning.”
“Yeah?” He paused with his fork halfway to his mouth.
“I didn’t mean us, as the mess. Although, we do get a little messy, at least, I do.”
“I like to clean you up.” He thought it only fair to tell her this fact.
She wrinkled her nose at him. “That’s not what I mean, though, I like that too.” He swallowed hard at her distant expression. “No, I was talking about Caulder and my house getting torn up. I never meant us. We are… I don’t know what we are yet, but I like it, the mess and all.”
He wanted to believe her, and she looked sated and happy right now. But, despite his whole gender’s thoughts on the matter, sex wasn’t everything. Though he could hear his Y chromosome screaming in righteous indignation at this suggestion, he wanted more than that with her—he wanted everything.
“Marcus?” She tapped the back of his hand. “I asked you what time we need to leave for the ball. I want to get it over with.”
“I’ll stay here and finish up. I have my tux in the closet, so, around six. I’ll come home to get you, and we’ll go together.”
She captured his hand, squeezing it. “I’m excited. I’ve never been to one of these things. I mean, I know I’m going for a different reason, but…” She looked down and blushed. “I’m really glad that I’m going with you.”
“I’m proud to escort you, ma’am.” He gave her his best cowboy drawl and grin. She laughed and they finished their meal in silence.
Chapter Eighteen
Marcus paced the foyer with his hands clasped behind his back. He paused in front of the large mirror on the hall tree and fiddled with his hair. He’d opted for one of the collarless shirts so he wouldn’t have to deal with a bowtie. He hated the damned things. Instead, he was being slowly strangled by the stupid shirt buttoned up to his chin. What a damn choice.
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His shirt studs were made of jet, each one gleamed in the light of the hall, matching the color of his eyes. He was going into enemy territory. He would have gone to this function whether Lainie asked him or not. He’d have gone so as not to lose face.
To not show would make him appear cowardly; he refused to back down to this asshole. How dare he hold the ball so close to Marcus’s own territory? Jacob Caulder’s businesses and pack were based in New Mexico, far enough away so they wouldn’t overlap. And yet, here the bastard was in Tucson, almost at Marcus’s backdoor, flaunting it in his face. “Son of a bitch,” he seethed, his eyes turning gold with his anger.
“Marcus?” Her voice floated down from the top of the staircase.
The fire in his eyes banked only to reignite in a different place when he turned gaze up at her. She glided down the stairs in a cloud of blue green fabric. With each step she took, she sparkled. “Lainie.” He moved to the foot of the stairs. “You look beautiful.”
She paused and smiled at him; his heart stopped beating then started again at a much more rapid pace. “Thank you. You’re beautiful too.” She shrugged her shoulders, drawing his attention to the golden smooth skin and her breasts and—
He scowled. “Elaine,” he snapped, and she stiffened. “Where is the rest of the dress?”
“This is it!” She came down the stairs, the romantic mood broken.
“Are you forgetting a shawl? Did Charlotte neglect to give you the turtleneck that went with the skirt you’re wearing?” Marcus put his hands on his hips and glared.
She’d stopped on the second stair so her eyes were level with his. She put her hands on her hips as well, and the fact that her breasts bounced up and almost out of the top of the dress distracted him. “I love this dress. It’s the prettiest thing I’ve ever owned. My own prom dress wasn’t this nice. I doubt my wedding gown will even begin to compete, so you’ll shut up and like it!”
“Huh?” Wait, what about a wedding?
