by Kym Grosso
“Ah sweetheart, this is all wrong, but you feel so good,” he spoke into her mouth.
“Please, I…” she moaned, losing her words as he shifted his hand, gliding his fingers between her legs. “Goddess, yes.”
“Kai,” he breathed into their kiss.
“I’ve never…please don’t stop,” she begged. His strong fingers slid through her wet folds and she cried out loud as he plunged a thick digit inside her core.
Kai threw her head back, gasping as he pumped it inside her. Jake peppered kisses along her neck, and she tilted her hips into the thrust of his hand.
“What are you?” she heard him ask.
“I’ve never…Alpha, yes…” Her words faltered as his thumb brushed over her clit.
His lips grazed her breast and he lapped at her nipple. “Jesus, you taste so fucking good.”
Kai, barely cognizant of time and space, panted as he teased her swollen nub. His teeth bit gently onto her plump tip, a slice of sweet pain spearing through her. Her pussy quivered around his fingers and she cried out as her orgasm slammed into her.
“Ah…Jake, please.” The wolf had lit her body on fire, and she wouldn’t be satisfied until he was buried deep inside her.
“That’s it baby, come for me now. Fuck yes.” He speared his fingers into her hair, fisting it in his palm.
Kai’s lips parted as her head tilted backwards, her eyes locked on his. Jake crushed his mouth onto hers, and Kai succumbed to his devastating kiss. His power simply washed over her like a warm waterfall. Her conscience warned her that she might hurt him, but goddess help her, she’d lost control, needed him to make love to her.
As she reached for his cock, he clamped his fingers around her arm, thwarting her advance. “No, sweetheart.”
“What?” she panted, her senses clearing.
“Jesus Christ I want you, but not like this, Kai.”
“Jake.” His name on her lips speared through her heart, and she imagined screaming it as he made love to her.
“Come here, sweetheart.”
Kai didn’t resist as he rolled onto his back and pulled her into his embrace. A warm blanket covered her and she laid her cheek on his chest. Her heart pounded as she realized what she’d done. For the first time in her life, she’d allowed a supernatural to touch her.
“Jake, I’ve never…you need to know…” She attempted the confession, but struggled to find her words.
“Shh…we’ve got lots to talk about. Let’s do it in the morning.”
As he pressed his lips to her hair, confusion swept through her. This should never have happened. Not only had she let him touch her, she’d begged for more, and feared she’d never be the same.
A life alone, she’d been told by the Elders. Cursed, there was no creature on Earth worthy of her good fortune. She’d absorb the energy of others, robbing them of their powers. Yet the Alpha appeared stronger than ever, and his vibrations only raised her higher.
As she drifted off to sleep, she considered that he hadn’t wanted to make love to her. A seed of doubt had been planted, and she grew more determined to find the witch. The only way to protect herself and others was the spell. Shilan’s voice played in her mind as sleep set in, the pain of her loss reminding her of her purpose to find her sister.
Light speared into the room, and Kai threw her arm over her eyes, blocking it. Where am I? She brought the sheets to her nose, inhaling Jake’s masculine scent, and she recalled his sensual touch. Images of her and the Alpha entwined flashed in her mind, and she smiled.
Kai’s thoughts shifted to her sister, and guilt speared through her. Although she craved to explore her fragile relationship with the wolf, she shouldn’t be bothered with him. Kai knew the first thing she must do was see Ilsbeth, but Jake had adamantly refused to entertain the discussion. Given little choice, she would go with or without him to seek the spell, and ask forgiveness later.
Pattering water sounded, and Kai glanced to a slightly ajar bathroom door. Jake. He’d been the only supernatural who’d touched her skin, sent her over the edge of ecstasy. Ignoring the temptation to go to him, she heeded the logic that told her to be cautious.
She blinked, rubbing her eyes, and took in the sight of her surroundings. Sunlight streamed through the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows of the master bedroom. Stark white walls surrounded the California king bed. She shoved up onto her elbows, resting her head against its black leather headboard. A Brazilian rosewood armoire faced the bed, a matching floor mirror rested against the adjacent wall.
Kai bunched the sheets around her as silence settled, the sound of dribbling water echoing in the room. As he pressed open the door, her breath caught at the sight of the glorious Alpha.
“Mornin’ sweetheart. Feel free to shower. I’ve gotta go call Logan.” Jake gave a sexy smile as he dried his hair.
Kai wished she possessed a shred of control but as he came closer, her eyes fell to his broad chest, devouring the sight of him. The hard ridges of his abs tapered into a v, and she resisted the urge to tear away the towel that hung low on his hips. Get your shit together, she told herself. She took a deep breath and diverted her line of vision to the window.
“You like what you see?” Jake asked with a small laugh.
“Um, yes…it’s quite a view,” she nodded, her cheeks heating. “Breathtaking.”
“Sometimes you just don’t expect to see such a beautiful sight in the morning.”
“It’s definitely,” Kai turned her head to face him, and stared at the bulge pressing through his wet towel, “um…spectacular.”
Jake gave a laugh, edging toward the bed. “Spectacular, do ya say? Well, you haven’t even seen all of it.”
Smartass. Kai grinned, her eyes lifting to meet his gaze. “Well, I suppose in order to really give an honest opinion, I’d have to see the whole thing. I mean, it’s only the right thing to do.”
“You sure about that, now?” he joked.
“Fairly sure. I think I should experience it for myself.” Kai’s courage rose and she dropped the sheet, exposing her breasts. The sexy as sin Alpha teased and tempted her, and her need to play outweighed reason.
“Ah, Kai. I’m not sure this is such a good id…” Jake sighed as she pressed to her knees and inched closer to him.
“I’ve lived many years confined to good ideas. Last night…it seems we didn’t finish.” She reached for him, placing her palms on his chest, brushing her hardened nipples against his skin.
“We can’t do this…ah…” Jake paused as Kai ran a fingertip under the rim of his towel.
“I’d like to see the full view.” Kai’s body flared in arousal. This man, this wolf drove her wild with desire. She attempted to flick open the edge of the towel, and he snatched at her hand.
“That’s the thing, Kai. Sometimes we want things. They’re so close in front of us we can touch them.” Jake tugged away the covering, his erection springing free. He pressed her palm along his abs, slowly sliding it down his skin, but stopped short of his cock.
“Alpha, please,” she begged. Her pussy ached, and she struggled to maintain eye contact.
“Someday, sweetheart. I’m goin’ to fuck you so hard, you’ll scream my name so loud that they’ll hear you across the state line. But it’s only happening after I get the truth.” Jake leaned toward her, the tip of him mere inches from her lips.
“I can’t…” Kai whispered, her breath brushing over his sensitive crown.
“And so, this lesson is a hard one. I’m afraid all you’re going to get is the view,” Jake told her. Releasing her, he turned and walked away. He opened a drawer, retrieved a pair of loose sweatpants and slipped inside them. “Good things come to those who tell the truth. It may seem like there’s nothin’ between us, but there is. You think on this and we’ll have a chat over breakfast.”
Anger stabbed through her as he strode toward the door. Kai tore a sheet off his bed and covered herself, her eyes filled with rage.
“There�
��s a robe in the bathroom. And Kai,” Jake paused and shook his head with a grin. “You are beautiful…last night, you have no idea how much I wanted to take things further. But I meant what I said. There’ll be nothing between us when we make love. I’ll help you find your sister, but no lies.”
“Fuck you,” Kai mumbled under her breath, and threw herself back onto the bed, her head landing on the pillow.
She cursed the wolf for teasing her. The truth. She’d never spoken the whole truth out loud. Safety had been paramount. She didn’t even fully understand her powers, let alone how to use them in front of others. The anxiety that had rushed through her in the ballroom was proof enough that she couldn’t handle the energy of supernaturals. Why she could control her urge to absorb the Alpha’s had been a welcome mystery but she couldn’t let him become a distraction. Although she needed him to help her find Shilan, her priority was the spell.
As she bounded out of the bed, she became more determined than ever to right her glamour. Whatever journey lay ahead, cloaking her existence was essential. If the wolf wouldn’t go with her to Ilsbeth, she’d go alone.
Chapter Five
Jake shut the door tight, and sucked a breath. The scent of her desire called to him, his wolf pacing with regret as he walked away. Jesus fucking Christ, he cursed inwardly. He glanced to his hard-on and adjusted his cock.
When he’d woken this morning, he’d sworn not to touch her again. Last night had been a lapse in judgement. Jake struggled to understand why the hell he was so damn attracted to her. Despite the shit storm at the party, his protective instinct roared, and he couldn’t simply turn her over to Logan. If he didn’t know any better he’d think his wolf knew her, but there was no fucking way. Wolves only mated wolves. Yet the second she knelt onto the bed, presenting herself to him like a king cake on a platter, his cock had hardened to steel.
“Fuck. Fuck. Fuck,” Jake repeated out loud as he attempted to shake off his arousal. “She’s nothing. And even if she were something, she doesn’t belong to you. Help her find her sister and then sort your own mess.”
Jake stopped short at the top of the stairs as the loud clang of a pot sounded from downstairs. What the fuck is it now? Bounding down the steps, skipping every third one, he tore into the kitchen. The smell of fresh pastries hit him as soon as he entered the room. The refrigerator door slammed and the vampire came into view.
“What in the hell are you doing in my house?” Jake asked. He glanced to the plate of food on the counter and shook his head.
“You know…you’re a little uptight for a wolf. Did anybody ever tell you that?” Quintus asked, peeling back the wax paper from a stick of butter. “Where do you keep your utensils?”
“Are you serious?” Jake ignored his question and switched on his coffee maker. He opened the cabinet and snatched a bag of the French chicory.
“You need to relax.” Quintus slid open a drawer and selected a knife, “Ah, this will work.”
“Maybe I’d be a little more relaxed if I didn’t have a certain vampire in my life. No offense but after New York, I never expected we’d cross paths.” Jake opened the coffee, scooping the grounds into the filter and slid it into the machine.
“True. True. I supposed we’d never meet again.”
“You fucking attacked me.”
“As I recall, you were in my town. My club.”
“You threatened Kat,” Jake countered as he added water to the well.
“You misunderstood my intentions.”
“I don’t think so. You wanted to bite her. To drink her blood.”
“Well, yeah. That’s pretty much how it works, wolf. I’m a vampire. Do you need a lesson on our requirements?” Quintus picked up a cinnamon roll and began to spread butter onto it, continuing to lecture Jake in a nonchalant manner. “I drink blood. I need it to survive. Some tastes better than others. Yadda, yadda, yadda. Kat’s was tasty. I think that about covers the basics.”
“What in the hell are you doing here?” Jake blew out a breath, and rummaged through the cabinet for coffee cups.
“Breakfast?” He bit into a pastry and moaned. “So good. I got beignets too. Croissants. Plenty here.”
“Thanks. I guess,” Jake said, a hint of irritation in his voice as he opened the refrigerator in search of cream. “Answer the question. And while you’re at it, how’d you know where I was and how’d you get through the wards?”
“I know lots of things. You don’t get as old as I am without resources. Your wards are good, but not good enough. I’ve spent a lot of time with witches. Picked up a few tricks of my own.”
“What the hell do you want?”
“I want to discuss the female you brought home with you.” Quintus made his way to the kitchen table, sat down on a chair and popped the remaining bite of food into his mouth.
The hair on the back of Jake’s neck stood at the mention of Kai. His wolf growled in warning, threatening to shift.
Quintus held up a defensive hand. “Settle down there, Alpha. I’m not here to harm her. Or you.”
“What in the fuck is wrong with everyone? I’m Jake. Jake Louvière. Wolf. Not a beta. Not a fucking Alpha. Jesus, already, will you all stop?” As long as his feet were on Acadian soil, he’d never consider himself Alpha. Having Kai and Quintus call him by that title bored a hole in his stomach. Jax’s words never left his mind, but until he led a pack, he wasn’t Alpha.
“I’m very old, you know.” Quintus raised an eyebrow at Jake.
“So you keep tellin’ me. Coffee?”
“Please.” Quintus nodded. “You know, I’ve been around Alphas in the making.”
“Yeah, so have I. Logan. He’s my Alpha.” Jake poured two coffees and set them on the kitchen table.
“Jax knew, didn’t he?” the vampire pressed.
“Why are we doing this?” Jake opened the refrigerator, retrieved the cream and handed it to the vampire.
“We’re doing this because we’re going to work together to help the woman in your bed.”
“How the hell did you know she was in my bed?” Jake held up a silencing palm. “You know what? Don’t tell me. I don’t wanna know. I’m good.”
“She’s a special creature. She must be protected.”
“Yeah well, I can see she’s got special witch-like powers goin’ on. What I don’t get is all the secrets. I’m kinda getting sick of this shit.” Jake sat down at the table facing Quintus and sipped his coffee.
“Her sister. She’s alive. I sense her but I cannot find her. You must help.”
“Why do you care? What’s your involvement in this show?” Jake asked, his eyes locked on Quintus.
“The female. She’s very special.”
“Yeah. I got that.”
“She’s rare. A unique being among us. Her powers, they can be used by others.”
“All I know is that she’s scared. Last night, she was freaking out. Something about all the supernaturals.” Jake sighed in frustration. “Would you just do me a fucking favor, okay? Tell me what she is. Why all the secrecy? I can’t help her if I don’t have all the pieces of the puzzle.”
“I am not permitted to tell you.”
“Seriously?” Jake scrubbed his chin. “I can’t do this. All this shit is for the fucking birds. No. You want my help? Then you need to tell me what the hell is going on.”
“It is not my place. I’m sworn to silence on this. And I ask you, do you really want to hear it from me?” Quintus cocked his head and gave him a pointed stare.
Silence drifted between them as Jake pondered the question. Fucking vampires with their condescending attitudes. He knew the answer. After having Kai within his arms, he’d only be satisfied with the truth from her lips.
“Can you at least tell me your involvement in this mess? Last night…those wolves seemed to know you. That demon, whatever the hell it was, it knew to go after you first before Kai,” Jake noted.
“I have many enemies. But this evil that comes for her? It knows
I am a protector…as it now knows of your existence. You see, Kai,” the vampire paused, as if to listen, and lowered his voice, “she doesn’t know of my place in this. There is a vampire on the west coast who seeks to kill her, she’s dangerous. Not just to Kai, but to other vampires, wolves…she rules over many species within her territory. She does so with an iron fist. She’s brutal beyond comprehension.”
“So I take it she’s as old as you?” Jake asked.
“Quite, if not more so. You asked how I got through your wards. My long life has given me both the opportunity and means to explore the craft. The one of whom I speak…Kasdeya. She is a master of the dark arts. Over the years, I’ve taken care to help keep Kai and Shilan hidden. If their powers are stolen…this will be very bad for everyone, supernaturals and humans alike.”
“Does Kai know?”
“She doesn’t know that I’ve helped her, but I believe the Elders have told her about me. The night in the bayou. I sensed her distress, but it’s the first time we’ve met.”
“She was injured.”
“Yes, and it’s the first time she’s materialized.”
“I thought you just said she was powerful.”
“Very much so, but she’s been hidden for so long. She doesn’t practice her powers. Hasn’t transformed yet.”
“Transformed? Into what?” Jake’s concern grew at Quintus’ statement. He’d been certain she wasn’t a shifter.
“Her true powers will reveal themselves in time. Like a seedling, she requires care and attention, protection from the elements yet freedom to explore. Her sister, Shilan, she’s similar to Kai but not the same kind.”
“The other night in the bayou. She’d been bitten. What did that?”
“Kasdeya. I suspect Kai went to plead for her assistance. Foolish,” Quintus scoffed, standing from the table. He crossed the room and reached for the plate of beignets. “Now that she’s tasted her blood, she will not give up searching.”
“The demon? Was that her?”
“Yes, I suspect so. It’s a demon-like apparition. A form of Kasdeya. While her physical presence remains in San Francisco, these demons, the ghosts if you will, they search for Kai. She’s vulnerable without the spell. Especially in New Orleans.” Quintus set the plate on the table and sat down again.
