| |
For the sake of his pack, Rafe hadn’t spent every moment of the last few days with Jessica. And now his wolf was riding him hard, demanding that he find her and show her that she was his. He’d never felt this way about anyone before.
Mating was funny that way. Some people could know their mates for years and years before claiming them, others knew in an instant. And then there were some monsters who claimed women who would never accept the bond. No matter how much Rafe needed Jessica, he would not do that to her. She was his mate, his partner, not some object to be owned.
It rankled that he could not bring her down to the party himself. But between his search for her sister and other pack matters, it had been a miracle that he could make time for the party at all. The best he could do was to give her that dress and the cuffs. He’d been looking at the entrance to the grand hall every thirty seconds to see if she had accepted his gifts. But as the clock ticked past nine she still wasn’t there.
That thought summoned her and she walked through the entrance with Mac beside her. Both of them stood stiffly and could barely keep the dislike off their faces. Rafe knew their introduction had gotten off to a rough start and he only hoped that they would grow to tolerate each other as time went on.
Jess caught his eye and the rest of the room may as well not have existed. The dress hugged her curves, emphasizing the swell of her breasts and her hips. The crystals glinted in the light of the room, both off of her dress and off the cuffs. She was so damned beautiful that he wanted to take her right there and he’d taken two steps toward her when she stepped aside, breaking their eye contact.
It didn’t matter. They would find each other soon enough and then Rafe would make her his.
Mac came over before any of that could happen, “May I speak to you for a moment. In private.”
Rafe nodded and they made their way to the balcony. This discussion was a long time coming and he was surprised that Mac had held his tongue for so long. Two doors from the grand hall led out onto the balcony and they made sure both were closed. As long as they kept their voices down, no one would hear them.
“Were those real diamonds on the bracelets?” Mac never liked to level an accusation when he could ask a question instead.
Rafe had seen it trip up plenty of lesser men. But he had nothing to hide and felt no shame. “Of course, Jessica will have only the best from me.” Though Jessica herself had probably not realized that the bracelets were more than decorative. She didn’t seem the type to casually accept expensive gifts.
“You spent thousands of dollars on a woman you’ve known for three days.” Mac was very careful to keep accusation out of his voice. It was never a smart move to challenge an alpha, especially not over his woman.
“Don’t hide behind money, Mac.” Rafe hated false concern, especially when it came from his friends.
“If you choose to keep Miss Patrick around things will become complicated. Others may stop trusting your judgment when they learn you’ve taken an enemy’s sister as your lover.” Mac stood casually and leaned against the stone rail that surrounded the balcony. His words were barely above a whisper.
“Her sister is a person of interest, not an enemy. And she’ll be my mate. Jessica, that is. I have no romantic interest Rebecca.” Mac nearly fell backward off the balcony when Rafe mentioned the word ‘mate.’ He could barely stop himself from laughing.
Mac looked like he wanted to say something, but his eyebrows drew together and he leaned to the side. Before Rafe could ask him what he was doing, his second in command walked away to look through the second door that led back inside. He kept to the shadows but propped the door open half an inch. Silently he motioned Rafe forward.
This door didn’t lead directly into the great hall but into a small anteroom. A quick glance inside revealed two figures and the dim light glinting against her bracelets gave Jessica away.
“It looks like your intended may have other plans.” Mac wasn’t cruel, but sometimes had a way with words that made Rafe grit his teeth.
“Shut up, I want to hear this.” Rafe wasn’t some brute who would keep Jess from speaking to another man. Once they were together, he would trust her completely. But it didn’t mean he wasn’t curious.
“Is that Martin?”
It looked like. Martin entered the room and shut the door behind himself, giving himself and Jessica privacy, at least he thought that. With the music from the great hall, it was difficult to hear, but not impossible.
“I’m glad you decided to see reason,” said Martin.
Jess crossed her arms across her chest, “What do you want?”
“Your sister sent me to get you out. I can get you to safety.” He stepped close to Jess, putting a hand on her arm. Rafe wanted dash forward and push the man away, but he wouldn’t, not yet.
Jess didn’t need protecting. She tore her own arm away and took a step back. “No, she didn’t. So tell me what you want.”
Martin’s back was to them now but from the set of his shoulders, he planned to threaten Jess.
Martin stepped forward again, this time taking a firm hold of her. “You’re coming with me now. I’m not going to let some vixen whore sell me out.”
To his credit, Mac took a step forward, ready to charge in. “No,” said Rafe. “Give her a minute.”
“For what?” Jess spat. “Until two minutes ago I didn’t have a clue who you were. I don’t even know you’re fucking name, asshole.” Rafe couldn’t see what she did, but in a matter of seconds Martin was flat on the ground with Jessica’s hand around his throat. Each of her fingertips ended in a claw.
It was Rafe’s cue. He and Mac entered silently, sweeping up on the two of them. Mac took control of Martin while Rafe saw to Jess. “You and Gemma take lead on this,” Rafe said to Mac, who nodded.
Rafe ushered Jess out onto the balcony and she went with no resistance. “Not many people could take out Martin. He’s considered a formidable fighter.” Rafe circled his arms around Jessica and held her close. Now that the altercation was over, worry tried to dog him.
“It might surprise you to know that many people underestimate me.”
Jess was practically shaking in her nice dress. Now that the scumbag was taken care of adrenaline flooded her system. For a second she had wanted to believe that guy, Martin. But Rebecca wouldn’t have sent anyone in for her, especially not after they’d already set up a meeting. It was way too risky.
Which meant whatever that guy wanted, it wouldn’t have ended well for Jess. She wrapped her arms around Rafe’s waist and rested her head on his shoulder. “Did you hear everything?” From the way he was holding her, she almost thought he had only come in at the last minute.
“I did,” but his arms only tightened around her.
“I don’t know anything about Rebecca’s crap, Rafe. I don’t know that guy, I don’t know where she is, I don’t know what she did.” She looked down to seem him looking at her. “And I think you know that. So can we cut the crap?”
"I know," said Rafe.
He let her go, but he didn't step back. Jess did, she needed a little room between them to clear her head. Right now she felt caught between two impossible needs. Her loyalty, whatever was left of it, to her sister, and this new blossoming feeling for Rafe.
"So if you believe me," she said, "What does that make my position here? Am I still your prisoner? That man in there can give you far more information about my sister than I ever could."
Instead of saying anything to her, Rafe took two steps back and opened the door to the room where Martin had cornered her. "Mac, Jess is free to come and go as she pleases. Let the guards know that she may leave whenever she wishes." He came back to her, "Is that what you want?"
Jess swallowed hard and gave him a jerky nod. “I don’t think I can face all those people in there after all that.” As she said it, she knew she wasn’t telling him the entire truth. Or, at least, she wasn’t admitting what she wanted. “And, I think you should come with. I needed Mac’s help to get this dress on. And I want your help to take it off.”
She expected Rafe to sweep her up right then and there, to take control and try to claim her right on the balcony, where any passerby could spot them. A part of her wanted him to do so. But he showed restraint, taking her hand and leading her through the halls and up the stairs to his room. Once inside, he locked the door behind them and turned to her.
“Why now?” he asked as he untied the tie around his neck. “I want you, I’ve wanted you since we met. But I would never force you.”
Jess stepped up close to him and laid a hand on his chest. Her fingers traced over the buttons as she looked at him. She couldn’t quite meet his eyes and her gaze instead focused on his lips. “No matter how sexy I think you are, I wasn’t going to sleep with the man holding me captive.” He held still beneath her, even his breath barely moving his chest. Emboldened, Jess looked up. “I don’t want you to think I’m doing this because I want you to free me, or because I’m playing some game. I don’t want you to think that you’re forcing me.”
He covered her hand with his own. “Then what do you want me to think, Jessica?”
“I’m here because I want you. Rafe Blackwood, not the Wolf or the alpha. Just you.” It felt like she was saying more, saying something she couldn’t quite imagine. And they were both still for a long moment, frozen by her confession. Jess wanted to ask him what he wanted from her, but she couldn’t force the words out.
The distance disappeared between them and his lips covered her own, slanting against hers, their tongues dancing together. The moment could not have felt more right. Jess wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer to her. She could feel the hard length of his arousal against her stomach. It only matched the hot wetness of her core.
Rafe tried to control the kiss, tried to control her, but Jess was nothing but his equal partner in this pleasure. She met his tongue stroke for stroke and let her hands roam down his back. She wanted to lose herself in the feel of him, let him take over and give her the most amazing pleasure that she could imagine. But she wasn’t here to be his plaything.
Her hands ventured between them, playing over the buttons of his shirt. She worked at each one, the process slow and fumbling as she wasn’t willing to break their contact. Jess could get lost in the taste of him. She’d kissed men before, but none had ever made it feel so right. None made it feel like coming home.
Rafe pulled away, kissing along her jaw and down her neck. He bit down on her throat, not enough to hurt, but hard enough so that she couldn’t forget him. As if that was possible.
She made quick work of the buttons and slid her hands across his naked chest and the taut planes of his muscles. He twitched under her, responding to the feather light touch of her fingers. Her hands crawled up to his shoulders where she was able to remove the white shirt and reveal his arms inch by precious inch.
Teeth nipping at her earlobe made her moan and Rafe took advantage of her exposed neck, trying to leave no inch untouched. He turned her around, his lips barely leaving her neck. "It's my turn," he whispered as he licked her ear.
She felt his fingers trace over the ribbons across her back. But instead of stopping at the tie, his hands trailed lower until they cupped her ass. "I'm going to make you mine, Jessica," Rafe promised. "Every sexy, beautiful inch of you."
With his hands on her there was no room for insecurity. Even though it lurked at the corners of Jess's mind nearly always, right now she felt more beautiful, more desirable than ever. It was a powerful, heady feeling. "Does that make every inch of you mine, then?" She asked.
"Always," said Rafe. He tugged at the ribbon of her bodice and she felt it loosen, the fabric sagging in front of her. The dress would have fallen off if it weren't for the strap. Rafe's fingers took care of that, sliding the strap off her shoulder and letting the dress fall down to pull at her feet. She was naked before him but for the lacy panties and the platinum cuffs he'd given her.
She turned around and froze when she took in the look on his face. Stunned. Awed. Blown away. Jess couldn't quite put her finger on it, but it was sure as hell gratifying. "I've never had a man dress me from head to toe before," she confessed.
Rafe laced his fingers with hers, "Silks, satins, diamonds. Say the word and they're yours." He tilted her head up to kiss her once more. This felt different, not any more intimate but desperate in a way she wasn't used to. Was this how a man drank after years in the desert? But his need brought out her own.
Her fingers were on the clasp of his pants and soon it was he who was completely naked before her. Her own panties disappeared, the laces at the sides untied. And then they were on the bed, her legs wrapped around his waist as he towered over her, an alpha before his woman.
He stroked her, his fingers playing against her moist folds. Jess felt him dip one finger inside, and then another. The feeling was amazing, but she wanted something more.
Rafe stroked her clit, bringing her to the razor's edge of pleasure before backing off. His fingers dipped in and out, the rhythm taking control of her and making her desperate for more.
"I want you inside me," she nearly begged. "I need you inside me."
Rafe smiled. "I'm happy to oblige." She felt his thick cock nudge against her cunt. With agonizing slowness, he pushed his way inside, making her feel every delicious inch of him. "You're so tight."
"Is that a complaint?" She grinned up at him. Connected like this, she didn't want anything else.
He moved in her, sliding in and out, his fingers working against her clit as his cock filled her. Jess surrendered herself to the sensation, letting her own instincts guide her. She didn't worry about thinking, didn't worry about trying to hold herself in the most favorable looking light. Being with Rafe let her be herself in a way she rarely got to share with another person.
She loved it.
The orgasm came out of nowhere, startling her with an overwhelming burst of pleasure. She cried out, her nails digging into his arms. Even when she drew the faintest hint of blood, Rafe didn't pull away. Instead he increased his pace, bringing out another orgasm even stronger than the first.
Jess was practically vibrating from pleasure, her thoughts a pleasant, viscous goo in her mind.
She thought she couldn't take any more pleasure, but Rafe wasn't done with her. Not quite. He leaned forward and placed his lips on her neck, his body pumping even faster into hers. His teeth brushed against her and then he bit, hard enough to mark. And that little pain took her over the edge, and this time he came with her, exploding within her with the force of his own pleasure.
They lay there silently for a minute, their bodies still entwined. "I'm not done with you yet, Jessica," Rafe promised.
Jess didn't know if she could take any more, but she was excited to try.
