Chapter Nine

FORMAL EVENTS HAD become her nemesis over the years. They were long, boring, and demanded she be on her best behavior for long periods of time—something she’d struggled with after the death of her mother.

“Relax,” Mikel prompted low against her ear. Looking at him, handsome in his suit, particularly the shirt she’d had Dani make a size smaller than he’d ordered, helped rationalize this as different. Standing beside him by the bar she felt more like a welcome guest, and not an unfortunate inconvenience, than she ever had at the events of her childhood. “If you’re not having fun, we’ll leave,” he promised. Violet’s heart swelled at his care for her.

“Let’s give it a chance.” She was pleased when that got her a small smile.

He wasn’t having the time of his life either, but she understood why. Margie had been right. Mikel was polarizing, and the majority of the town was automatically repelled when he got close, leaving the two of them always on the periphery.

“My stars, I’m talented,” Dani declared as she and Red sidled up beside them.

“Damn, boss,” Red said, eyes running so appreciatively over Mikel that Daniella smacked her playfully in the gut.

“S’pose I’ll let you help dress me more often,” Mikel told Violet with a wink.

“You look amazing too, babe,” Red cut in.

“Right back at you guys, just wow,” Violet replied, and it was true. If designing was Daniella’s passion, then dressing herself and Red was her calling. They were stunning in gowns that could only be described as sisters, each with little pieces that nodded to and contrasted the other but not identical enough to be twins.

Red lifted the silk at her waist, a rich wine color with dark-gray accents that matched with her mate. “And look, this outside piece comes off and there’s a shorter skirt underneath, and it’s actually—”

“Ruby, you promised. Not until at least eleven o’clock,” Dani interrupted. Violet gawked.

“Your name is Ruby?” she demanded, stunned that, somehow, she didn’t know this about the girl she’d come to think of as her best friend.

“Eww. Yes.” Red made a face. “And baby, fine.” She turned to Dani. “But last time I was this covered up I was at church and ugh.” She shivered.

“You’ll manage. It’ll be well worth your while, darling,” Dani assured her in a tone Violet was sure made even Mikel blush.

Red kissed the air in her direction as a group descended upon them. Apparently, the Daniella Hawthorne social effect was marginally stronger than the Mikel Davis one, as people joined their cluster. An easy conversation started about last year’s ball.

Red turned back to Violet and mouthed boring. Then she said, “Want to go check out the food? Don’t know about you but I’m starving.”

She looked to Mikel, not wanting to ditch him with present company if he wasn’t having fun, but the smile he gave her was genuine. “Eat,” he insisted, leaning down to kiss her cheek.

His hand snaked around her waist to swat her discreetly on the rear. She turned back to glare at him while they were walking away, and he looked up from watching her ass to wink.

 

VIOLET WAS LISTENING to Etah recounting the latest town scandal of two cousins who’d mated. “Or at least it’s scandalous to the younger generations. The oldies seem to think it’s just fine, since they’re all about those ‘pure bloodlines,’” he was explaining when someone slid up behind her.

“Hey.” She accepted the kiss Mikel pressed to her lips and noticed the tightness in his face when he drew back. She followed his eyeline and forced her body to stay relaxed when she saw Kane making a beeline for them.

“Ah, Mikel and Violet,” Kane greeted them. Their group of friends fell back to give them space. “She makes a beautiful descendant,” he added at the sight of her eyes.

Mikel mumbled a tight-jawed thanks—he was no politician. Violet stepped forward just barely and into the spotlight. “You’re so kind,” she replied warmly with what she knew to be just the right amount of modesty. “What a wonderful event; the community is just amazing, and the food…” She pressed her hand to her chest appreciatively and ignored Mikel staring at her like she’d grown an extra head.

“I’m so glad you’re enjoying it,” Kane returned. They were singing from the same sheet music, all careful pomp and compliments. “How’s business?” he asked Mikel politely before someone interrupted.

“Kane, the elders want to ring the—Oh, Mikel.” The man’s eyes flitted to Violet. Something in her chest jumped.

“Yes,” Kane cut in quickly, “this is Violet, though from what you mentioned you’ve already met?”

Mikel’s grip tightened on her waist. She ignored it. Jared drew a breath to speak.

“Oh gosh, I’m so embarrassed,” Violet said quickly. The cold gray eyes of the alpha were flinty while they watched. “Jared, right?” The man only blinked at her, tight jawed. “I’m guessing you work in security. My family used a lot of services over the years. I’m pretty sure you picked me up from school once or twice as a kid. I was having a hard time adjusting, and I recognized you—” She paused to tuck her hair back behind her ear and look at Mikel. “Of course, now I feel ridiculous for getting so upset.” His face was stony, and if there was a worse costar for this performance, Violet couldn’t think who. She turned back to Jared. “I hope we can start over. I’m Violet.”

He took the proffered hand and her explanation, as expected.

“Uh—” He glanced to Kane. “No problem. Yeah. I’ve picked up work outside once or twice; that’s probably it.”

“Small world,” Kane supplied congenially, but Violet still felt his gaze on her.

“Absolutely,” she agreed. “Well, I hope we haven’t taken up too much of your time. It sounds like you’re needed.” She held Kane’s gaze confidently. “Thank you for a lovely event.”

They parted with polite goodbyes, and he was barely out of earshot when Red was beside them with worry on her face. “All good?”

“Yeah,” Violet assured her, squinting her eyes in a way she hoped conveyed she’d fill her in later.

Later came another hour into the night when Mikel and Jack were talking business with a local restaurant owner looking to upgrade his booths.

“Hey, we’re leaving, what happened?” Red demanded while she hugged her.

“Nothing major,” Violet told her quietly. “He asked about the thing with me recognizing Jared, and I played it off like I was just new and scared. He knows something, but I don’t know how much.”

They parted, and Red’s face was grim.

“Nothing’s happening tonight,” Violet assured her. “Enjoy yourself. You kept the skirt on, sounds like good things are coming your way.”

“You have no idea,” Red instantly brightened. “But I promise to tell you all about it tomorrow if you’ll return the favor.” She waggled her eyebrows.

“I don’t want to know,” Etah announced as he joined them, understanding Red was heading out.

The goodbyes were quick, and Violet enjoyed the boys’ company for a while. Then, they drifted on to other conversations, and she found herself alone.

“Looks like I just missed out,” a smoky voice said from beside her. Violet turned to study the blonde-haired woman who was waiting. “Oh, come on, gorgeous, you remember me,” she insisted.

“From the fire, sure,” Violet offered a little coolly.

“Uh oh,” Natalia—that’s what her name was—chided. “Not allowed to talk to me anymore?” Violet followed her eyes to where Mikel was glaring at them across the room, gaze dark and possessive. It stirred something in her.

“He doesn’t own me.” It came out on instinct, half because independence was her default and half because of the wicked way she could see a muscle in his jaw jump when he read her lips. She had a feeling she’d pay for the comment later—she was counting on it.

“Does he know that?” Natalia asked when Violet turned her eyes back to her.

She shrugged and took a sip of her drink, watching Natalia over the rim. She was beautiful, dark-blue eyes, a lioness’s confidence, and the body to match, yet she didn’t scream predator to Violet.

“Thought for a second I was your type.”

“You are,” Violet offered with a smile, knowing it to be true. Six months ago in the Twisted Scissors, she would have gone out of her way to go home with this woman. “But so’s he,” she added and inclined her head to Mikel.

That had been more of a surprise, but it wasn’t any less true. The way she needed him was insatiable. Her body responded to him in ways she hadn’t known it was capable of before he’d touched her.

She shot him a glance, and as expected, he was watching, fuming.

“If he can get over himself for a night, let me know. I’ve got a tub big enough for three at home.”

Violet blinked, impressed at the boldness of the offer, caught up for a second in imagining what that might look like, her and him and her. It was sexy to imagine herself in Mikel’s lap, this gorgeous woman straddling hers, kissing her, as their breasts pressed softly together. It was sexy right up until she imagined Natalia pulling back and moving in to kiss Mikel.

“I’m not interested in sharing, but I like your style.”

Natalia looked surprised by this but tipped her drink cordially. “I’m not hard to find if you change your mind.” She slid away back into the crowd.

Violet poured herself another drink, taking her time over choosing a glass and ladling her choice of punch, rubbing lime on the rim, and adding strawberries. While she worked, her mind mulled over it, starting back on the three of them and once again ending on just her and Mikel, on the look on his face while he’d been watching her. A hand closed on her hip, and she knew it was him before she turned around.

“Hey.” She smirked up at the storm on his face.

He set her drink on the table and took her by the hand. The energy pouring off him was delicious. There was always a charge between them. Most days since he’d mated her, they fucked.

Sometimes, it was soft and slow before she fell asleep in his arms; other times it was quick and dirty in the shop while Jack went out to get lunch. He’d had her hot in the shower, and deep and hard and slow in the kitchen, but not once had he fucked her like that first time or like he’d fucked her when he’d made her his. She longed for it, and while he led her up the stairs to the wraparound balcony above the ballroom floor, she was sure she was going to get it, soon.

“I don’t own you?” He repeated her words, and something in her stomach pulled tight at the set of his shoulders, the ring of gold in his eyes.

He pushed her up against the railing before she could reply and stepped up behind her, his hands gripping the metal on either side of her hips, keeping her there. Violet looked down over the party while he nipped the soft skin of her ear and pressed his hard cock into her ass. A flush of heat tumbled through her in response.

“Then why is your cunt soaked for me?” he demanded, and the crassness of it surprised her before it devoured her.

She pushed back into him, and a hand came around her, quick to seize her throat and squeeze.

“Look how you like it. Anyone could look up at any moment and see you rubbing yourself on me.”

Violet whined and the pressure on her neck released. He wasn’t wrong. Her body was burning, aching, and sensitive. Her nipples were hard, and the slide of his erection against her ass through his slacks and the silk of her dress was doing nothing to sate her.

“Natalia wants to know if we’d like a threesome,” she goaded him. His fingers bit her hip while he pressed her harder into the rail.

“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” The words were almost a growl.

“No. Told her I wasn’t interested in sharing you,” Violet corrected him, because the game was fun, but not if it made him truly insecure.

He hummed in response; his breath was hot on her neck. “So, all this—” He slid one hand deftly down between her and the rail and into the high split in her dress. He pushed the thin swath of her thong aside and slipped against her wetness. “Is for me?”

Her head fell back against his shoulder when he started to rub her. Anyone who happened to look up would only need a second glance to understand what they were doing. Part of her was horrified, but part of her was hot with the thrill of it.

“You’d let me fuck you right here, wouldn’t you?” His tongue traced her mating mark, and she shuddered. “Answer me, Violet.”

“Yes,” she hissed out. His hips jumped against her in response, rutting into her ass. “I want you,” slipped out of her.

The words had an immediate effect. He was off her in a flash, then she was tugged back and further down the balcony. Mikel opened one door, closed it, then opened the next, and pushed her inside. The lock snicked closed, and she pulled the straps of her gown down her arms.

When he turned, he had one hand already working on his belt. The other caught the back of her head and guided her down to her knees. Violet licked her lips as she understood what he wanted.

“You’d be the perfect little alpha’s claim.” His cock sprung free when he pushed the slacks aside, and she tugged his boxers down.

“How so?” She reached for him, ignoring her uncertainty. She’d used her mouth on plenty of women to great result. How hard can he be?

She took him firm in hand then into her mouth. He was hot and smooth and salty. Her tongue hurried to trace the shape of him. He drew a sharp breath, green eyes squeezing closed when she gave him an experimental suck.

“If I was the alpha, I’d have claimed you when I caught that arrow.” He moved his hand to the back of her head, stroking through her hair then encouraging her movements gently while she worked him in and out of her lips. “That’s how it works when an alpha mates.” His cock throbbed in her mouth.

“Tell me,” Violet demanded, as she licked her way down him and around the head of his cock. His hips rutted in response, and she smiled up at him.

“I’d have bitten you right there in the dirt outside the square. Wanted to.”

It was thoughtless to moan at the sentiment. He pulled back and his cock popped from between her lips, then he lifted her into a hot, wet kiss.

“I’d have ripped those jeans off you with everyone watching,” he promised darkly, but he was careful with the zipper of her dress.

Her panties went next, the thin lace of her bra tore under his hands, then her ass hit the cool oak of the conference table, and he pushed her legs apart.

“When the alpha takes a mate, he breeds her in front of the pack.” Something in her gut jumped at the slide of his cock against her and at the words, the thought. He scoffed at her knowingly, kicked off his pants, and snatched her up. They were to the back of the room and onto the outside balcony in a moment. Valets and townsfolk bustled below, headlights and streetlamps illuminating the road as residents started to head out.

“Mikel—” Cold shame washed through her because she was naked, and anyone who looked up would see them. Yet she was so unbearably hot, so besotted with the idea in all its wrongness.

He pushed her against the railing and bit down softly on her mark. “I’d let all of them see you, baby,” he breathed while he pulled her back against him and hefted one of her legs up over his elbow, leaving her open and exposed for the world below to see. A car honked at a pedestrian, and her breath was coming in short, sharp bursts.

“Mikel…” It was a moan, and she wasn’t sure if she was begging for him to take her back inside or just to fuck her.

“Natalia, everyone.” He slid his cock wetly against her open cunt, and she whined. His hand moved to cover her mouth. “They’d see how wet you were for me, how tight, unbred…perfect.” The head of him bumped her clit, and the friction made her shiver. “Then, they’d watch me take you.” The words turned low, dark, and feral while he pushed into her. Violet screamed into his hand, lost in the rush of her blood to her belly, and the image of him on her that first day, taking her like this, claiming her publicly.

Someone called a name she didn’t recognize below, but it still made her heart race. His hand slid down to her chin, and she gritted her teeth, her voice still catching in her throat every time he moved inside her.

“Wanted it,” Mikel growled, “so bad.”

He slammed into her again, and Violet fell apart. She shook against him once she was done and heard his breathing stutter, felt his hips miss one beat, then two. He bit down on her mark again without breaking the skin and emptied into her. The feel of it made her shiver and squirm on him, still imagining the scene he’d described.

His movements slowed, and the bite released to soft kisses, his hands turned gentle while he caressed her skin. “I want this whole town to know you’re mine,” he finished.

“Shit,” she breathed and leaned back against him to catch her breath, holding tight to his arm around her, spent.

Below them, the community carried on, oblivious to what had happened just three stories above.

 

VIOLET WAS STILL warm, buzzing pleasantly from what they’d done on the balcony, caught up in the soft glow of the streetlamps outside Town Hall, and the dying bustle of people around her as the party wound down.

“Who the fuck are you?” a voice demanded from behind her while she waited outside the huge, ornate doors for Mikel and the truck.

“Jason?” Fear curled in her gut at the sight of him.

His gaze roamed over her, the places where her dress was crumpled and her swollen lips from what she’d been doing just minutes earlier on the balcony.

“You ruined my fucking life,” he hissed, and he did look harrowed compared to the cocksure, confident piece of shit who lived in her memory. “Who the fuck are you?”

Violet spluttered.

“I bring you back because you’re a stuck-up little bitch who wouldn’t just have a good time with us. Mikel fucking Davis talks me out of claiming you. Now, we know why.” He sneered the words pointedly. “And now, the motherfucking alpha is breathing down my ass over why I brought you here.”

Violet’s heart stopped.

“Told him you were just some bitch from the club, but the next day, my bike still got destroyed parked outside Mack’s. Two days later, he’s back again like there’s something about you I’m not telling him. I don’t even fucking know you!”

He took a step closer, and Violet stepped back. People were starting to give them a wide berth as Jason got louder. “You ruined my life and for what? Obviously, you don’t have an issue putting out.” He went to grab her, and Violet shoved him back.

“Get the fuck off me. I’ve got nothing to do with whatever’s going on in your pathetic little life.” Her temper roared and rattled its cage.

She’d been cooler the last few weeks and part of her had attributed it to growing up, settling down, but now, faced with the douchebag who’d planned to bring her back here to rape her, she decided she’d just not been properly motivated. “Of course, I didn’t want to fuck you,” she spat.

Jason’s jaw set, and Violet squared herself for impact. Then, something moved past her shoulder, and he was gone, up against a wall six feet away with two hundred pounds of snarling Mikel pinning him.

“Don’t. Ever. Touch her.”

The eye contact they held was loaded. Jason’s face got progressively redder the longer Mikel’s thick forearm was locked against his throat. The street was still around them, quiet while people watched.

“You put your hands on her once, and I let you live. Won’t make that mistake again,” Mikel promised. A beat later, he released Jason with a rough shove. Jason stumbled and barely kept his feet.

Violet didn’t feel bad for him. Mikel took her hand and led her to the truck that was sitting in the middle of the road, driver’s door still open and waiting.