by Ruby Madden
Public face was everything in a wolf pack. If Tamsin's appearance as being in control was strengthened by playing up this little exchange right now, so much the better.
Jackson still inclined his dark head at Tamsin, the corners of his mouth curving up in the barest hint of a sardonic grin. Always so cocky, so certain of his effect on women. She'd never before succumbed to his charms, and she certainly wasn't about to start right now. No matter what her stupid body might be doing. Steeling her voice, she went on. "You do understand my implication, don't you?"
Just the slightest tightening of one of Jackson's beguiling eyes tipped the fact that he'd caught her barb.
"I most certainly do understand, my most gentle and persuasive lady." Now, he executed a bow with an elaborate flourish. Tamsin's cheeks flamed and she silently stewed, though the cool smile never left her face. He was playing with her, in such a courtly way that she could not take him to task for it. But she could keep playing the game right alongside him without even batting an eye. She'd lived in the glaring spotlight of pack politics her entire life. It was all she knew, and she knew it very well by now.
"That is most gallant of you, Jackson.” She aimed her own most charming smile at him. “Yet I'm not a surrender to be entranced into senselessness by your pretty gestures. I know you better than to fall for that." Deliberately, she arched a single brow at him, planted one hand on her hip, cocked it out in a deliberately insouciant manner.
This time, she snared him.
His gaze shot straight to the swell of her hip before it leisurely made its way up her body back to her face. This time, any hint of a smile was completely wiped from his expression. Instead, a look of naked hunger that she never seen before when he looked at her made her body clench all the right places even as flustered turmoil roared into her brain.
Wait. No. No, no, no. Their little public game was backfiring on her, and she didn't like it. Not one bit.
~~~
Something in Jackson sat up and took serious notice as Tamsin flaunted her untouchable wares before him. He sensed surprise and the faintest whiff of interest from behind him. Before he could stop himself, he whipped around to glare first at Mac, then at Finn. Both of them were suddenly regarding Tamsin as if she were a delicacy to be sampled.
Well, she wasn't. She was no one else's delicacy. Nobody's delicacy but Jackson's.
He snarled at the male wolves, even showing a hint of teeth before he caught himself.
Hang on a damned minute there. Tamsin wasn't a delicacy. She wasn't even on the menu. Never had been, never would be. And she definitely wasn't his.
Instantly cursing the direction of his thoughts, Jackson reined himself in. With careful precision and calculated nonchalance, very definitely ignoring the suddenly startled looks on his friends' faces, he turned to look again at Tamsin.
"Perhaps," he said in light tones, "we should make this a more private conversation. It seems our audience is spoiling for a fight. I don't want to ruin my alpha's treasured day any more than I already have. My lady," he added. He just had to see that saucy flash in her eyes once again. Just once. He'd never before realized how fun it was to tease Tamsin.
She did not disappoint. Expressive violet-blue eyes snapping at him in another uncharacteristic show of temper, she said in a sweet voice, "By all means, pack beta. Let us find a more private space.”
Despite the accuracy of his title, it took him aback to hear her call him that, which she almost never did. It was a subtle dressing down of his status. A reminder that he was not alpha, and never would be. She was angry with him, for sure.
It also stung a little. Even more than her slap earlier. Fine. It kind of really hurt. Keeping his frown internal, Jackson instead put his trademark lazy, promising smile back on his face. Pack beta? Pack playboy? Fine. That role, he could play without even thinking.
“What I have to say to you are not appropriate words to be overheard by our peanut gallery here." She jerked her chin at Finn and Mack, the gesture a surprising combination of strength and delicateness.
“Then let us repair to a balcony, my dearest Tamsin.” Jackson sketched her a half bow again.
By this point, both Finn and Mac were staring at them with far more than just casual interest. Curiosity and sheer mental wheel-turning were clear on each of their faces.
Tamsin must have noticed it as well. Her tone still smooth, although Jackson knew her well enough to catch the pointed irritation beneath it, she added, “Now that your flagrant interruption of our alpha's wedding has been dealt with, you and I can discuss some essential pack business you have missed in your absence.”
Without another glance at him, she turned and gracefully stalked off toward a door leading out to the balconies that encircled the building. Jackson paused before following her. Giving a quelling glance to Finn and Mac, he warned, “Shut it. Not a word from either one of you.”
Setting his sights on Tamsin, he headed after her lithe form as she easily passed through the unobtrusively yet clearly deferential clumps of merry revelers on her way outside.
Despite being focused on her, he caught Finn's low, still amused voice behind him. “Wouldn't dream of speaking, pack beta. Do have fun with her.”
Jackson managed to ignore it and kept his sights focused instead on the most alluring sway of hips ahead of him as Tamsin exited the ballroom.
Leading him to what suspiciously felt like might be his doom.
A doom that his entire body felt inexplicably thrilled to experience.
Chapter Three
Tamsin strode through the room in a quiet maelstrom of undefined rage. Outwardly, she knew she still appeared composed and cool. Glancing over at her brother and Cassie, she spared a quick, genuine smile for their obvious happiness. Even Trevor, her brooding, controlled, fierce alpha of a brother, wore a jubilant expression Tamsin had barely seen for decades. Cassie's face, open and expressive as always, shouted her own bliss about the day and the ceremony. Their pairing was one meant to be. Tamsin couldn't be more thrilled for both of them. Unlike some wolves in this place, she wasn't about to rain on their happy parade.
No, Tamsin understood what the situation demanded and provided exactly that. This day was one about celebration, joy, and of course appearances. Jackson should understand that quite perfectly as well. However, it seemed all of his wanton fucking during his vacation had turned his brain to mush, making his memory as holey as Swiss cheese.
Despite the thoughts whirling around inside her, Tamsin was damnably aware of Jackson's presence as he followed her to the balcony. Every sense she had seemed to be attuned to the tall, über-male wolf who prowled behind her. Just that realization pissed her off even more, and she felt her steps quicken in response. Forcing herself to take a deep breath, she stepped outside onto the balcony and headed several yards down it so they would not be within sight of the cheerful crowd inside. The impressive amount of land surrounding the estate created a distracting, beautiful scenery of wooded mountain, landscaped lawns, and the beckoning depths of the forest that lay beyond. Jackson's scent surrounded her as well. It was every bit as wild, mysterious, and inviting as the deep forest that lay beyond.
Damn it.
"Does my presence offend you, my lady? You seem a touch agitated on what should be a most jubilant occasion instead.”
Jackson's voice was more than a little mocking. Even so, it managed to send another little shiver over Tamsin's skin. The knowledge of the fact that Jackson—Jackson, of all people!—was arousing her in this way sharpened her voice as she answered him. She kept her gaze firmly on the view off the balcony as she spoke. "You have got to be kidding me, Jackson Rule." Tamsin gripped the railing of the balcony, throttling the smooth metal beneath her hands. "How dare you interrupt it the way you did, striding down the damned aisle as if you were part of the ceremony yourself. What on earth were you think—"
"Now, now," he interjected. Dark laughter rippled beneath his words. "Me
thinks the lady doth protesteth too much, my dear Tamsin."
Oh, that did it. Tamsin's control snapped. Utterly enraged, she let go of the balcony railing and whirled to look at the jokester. The playboy. The pack's bad boy and best friend of the alpha, who thought he could get away with absolutely anything. "Cut the crap, Jackson," she snarled in a low, shaking voice. Her blood pressure slammed through her veins, causing her brain to misfire as she looked straight at Jackson and his taunting jade eyes. "We're not in front of anyone else right now. You can talk like a normal person.” She flung her words at him like tiny darts, masking the absurd flutter she felt in her pulse. “You know perfectly well you skirted the line because Trevor will let you get away with it. Just like he always does.” The bitterness in her own voice surprised her so much, she paused to take a breath before going on. “Besides, he is so rightfully besotted with joy today that he would let just about anything slide. So it's up to me to make sure that both our alpha and our pack is protected. And if that means protecting it even against you, Jackson, I will do just that."
Tamsin's chest heaved from the exertion of her words and the force of the emotion behind them. Despite herself, she was shocked at her own vehemence.
And she certainly did not miss the way Jackson's gaze slid straight down to her breasts, barely encased in the elegant, lightweight summer dress she wore, before snapping back up to her face again. Despite the ridiculously female response she had to his obvious glance, she made herself laugh with a derisive edge. "Really, Jackson? You're going to ogle my breasts just like you do to every other woman? As if I'm some sort of piece of meat you can have, like the rest of them? That doesn't work on me, and you know it."
Now it was Jackson's turn to bark out laughter. He lounged against the railing of the balcony, looking just like a cat with cream. The fact that he was enjoying their little interaction enraged Tamsin even more. She glared up at him, which was also annoying because she had to look so far up. Jackson towered over her by at least a foot. Tall, muscled, supremely self-assured of his looks, his presence, and his power, he appeared to be not remotely concerned by her anger. Even so, she thought she detected the slightest edge to his voice as well when he answered her.
"Tam, you know I—"
She sharply cut him off. "Do not call me that. My name is Tamsin."
The faintest crinkle at the corners of his eyes as he narrowed them didn't come because he had to squint to the sunlight of the beautiful day. No, she'd struck a nerve. Satisfied, Tamsin gave him the tiniest bit of a snarky smile. Ha. Take that, O Jackson the amazing.
"All right then. Tamsin," he emphasized her name with a slight lift of his eyebrows at her, "I would never dream of checking you out as I do to apparently every single other woman who ever crosses my path. I value my friendship with the alpha much too highly to ever treat his sister like a," he paused and looked into the distance, ostentatiously searching for an answer. "Oh, right. A piece of meat, did you say?"
This time, his smile held the slightest bit of danger. Tamsin still glared. In the moment, she rather pitied the fact that there were no such things as dragon shifters. Because she was pretty damn sure she felt steam coming out of her ears. And if she could shift into a dragon right now and scare the spit out of Jackson Rule, she would die a happy woman.
Damn the arrogant bastard, who was sexier than any man had a right to be. Damn her own stupidly female reaction to him.
Damn, damn, damn. This was nothing but trouble.
~~~
It took every single ounce of Jackson's self-control to not pounce on Tamsin and do something to her. To her lips, which were full and pouty and so ridiculously kissable it was half killing him to keep the three feet of distance between them.
This was not good. Not good at all. He still didn't know what the hell was wrong with him, but he had to get hold of himself, and fast. Deliberately provoking her, watching the explosion of emotions spread across her face, and knowing that he was goading her into doing or saying something she would never do or say in front of anyone else was making him extremely happy for some deranged reason.
Her breasts again swelled in the most distracting fashion as she took a breath to speak. He forced himself to keep his gaze on her face. That wasn't a really difficult proposition, actually. Like all wolf shifters, Tamsin was incredibly beautiful. She proudly wore her lush curves, unlike most female shifters, who usually chose to mask any perceived imperfections with a hint of illusionary shifter magic. Something about Tamsin's particular beauty called to Jackson more so than any other woman in recent months. Her delicate yet strong features could divert any ramada of ships, her violet-blue eyes were enough to stop a man's heart with a single glance, and her dark, wavy hair was just the right length for Jackson to be able to run his fingers through and lightly hold as he pulled her toward him for kiss.
Wait. No, what the hell was he thinking? This had to stop. This was insanity.
"Yes, Jackson, a piece of meat,” she snapped. “You look at women as if they're simply something to be used. Don't think I don't notice that." Those gorgeous eyes pinned him with the fury of her passion about the subject.
Jackson kept his voice casual and his stance relaxed despite the crazy direction of his thoughts. "Tamsin, don't let your brother overhear you. Those words are dangerously modern. Besides, I haven't seen you protesting the pack's century-old use of surrenders. Or," he shifted tactics, quite enjoying this repartee, "is it Cassandra? It didn't quite escape me that she was a surrender who has become our alpha's mate. Does this indicate a change in the staid old Wicked Mountain Wolf Pack?"
Oh, now he'd done it.
Tamsin's breath exploded out of her. She practically spat at him like an adorable, enraged little wildcat. "Are you questioning how this pack is run? Today, of all days? Did you lose every last brain cell you possess during your little fuck fest?"
Tamsin cut herself off so abruptly he thought she might bite her own tongue. A flush rose over her face, and Jackson was caught by her beauty once again.
"I mean," she stumbled over her own words.
Jackson couldn't help himself from playing with her more. "I suppose you could call it that. But I don't think I lost any brain cells along the way. Seems to me, however, that you're pretty damn concerned about how I spend my vacation. You never worried this much before about my activities with other women."
Tamsin's eyes narrowed at him, and he almost thought she was about to combust. Fine. So he was still pissing her off. It was ridiculous to think of her as anything more than a longstanding, trusted advisor in the small inner circle that ruled the pack. Even so, he couldn't deny it was a hell of a lot of fun to be this close to Tamsin again. Breathing in her beautiful scent. Being more aware of her presence than of any other shifter in the place.
Being so distinctly aware of every inch of her beautifully exposed flesh that he could think of hardly anything else. Jackson forced himself to breathe steadily and calmly. Fine. So he had screwed half the Atlantic seaboard during his vacation. She had dared him to. Besides, Tamsin was a shifter. She wasn't celibate herself. And even more besides. She was his alpha's sister. Totally off-limits. He wasn't allowed to—
"No." The word growled out of him, low and rumbling through his frame. He'd been about to think, allowed to claim her.
Tamsin's eyes widened in abrupt confusion. She tilted back just a fraction on the high heels that showed off her luscious legs. "No what?" she asked.
"No," he said slowly, scrambling for a way to cover up his ridiculous gaffe. He couldn't very well admit he'd been thinking about claiming every inch of her body. "Ah,” he said, drawing out the word for quite a bit longer than necessary as he scrambled for a way to swerve the conversation. “Ah. Yes.”
Tamsin looked at him as if he'd lost his mind.
Well, that made two of them.
“No,” he said again, which probably made him sound even more insane. But he'd grabbed onto something he could say to
save himself. “I don't actually think this pack has changed all that much yet. Cassandra might be very good for our alpha, as everyone keeps telling me, but Trevor won't become a different person overnight."
Tamsin closed her eyes for a moment, most of the fight suddenly leaving her. Jackson kept himself still as he watched her. He was aware of the heavy summer air, the lush, wild scents from the gardens and the forest surrounding the estate wafting in on the slight breeze, and the sounds of laughter and voices from inside where the party continued. It blended together with Tamsin's own scent. Sweet nectar and honey, dark, rich spices, and something else that tingled along his nerve endings, urging him to just reach out and touch her.
His senses were being overloaded. He forced himself to simply breathe and not move as he waited for her to answer.
Finally, she said, "You're right. Trevor probably won't change that much. But Cassie is incredibly good for him. He has changed in some ways.” Very quietly, she said, “He's not carrying his grief around anymore the way he was."
Her voice was so low Jackson knew he was the only living being who could possibly hear her right now. This was something they never discussed publicly. To hear her bring it up at all was very interesting. She apparently still trusted him with that sort of confidence.
"But," she went on, voice hardening, "he's still our alpha, Jackson. He still has an enormous pack to rule. And he needs you and I to be there for him. We can't be like this. We need to be focused and steady."
Jackson raised his eyebrows. Despite his own urgings to be still, he couldn't help but ask, “Be like this? What exactly does that mean? What exactly,” he leaned a little closer to her and her spicy-sweet scent, “is this, anyway?”
Tamsin caught her lower lip in her teeth and nibbled. Jackson literally felt reason walk right out of his brain at the sight. He stared at her mouth without even trying to cover up the direction of his gaze. Only when she spoke did he look back up at her eyes again.
