The cold evening air washed over her, and for a moment, her mind cleared. Obviously Catherine knew. Why would her sister keep something like that from her? And Jason … did he suspect?
Maybe Catherine knew about his reputation and didn’t want her hurt. Nathan said Jason didn’t do the mate thing.
Her knees felt weak and she braced herself against the door. Except for that time in the car, he’d been flirty, but he’d never said anything. In fact, he’d downright ignored her at dinner last night. It had irritated her, but she hadn’t let it show.
She calmed herself. Maybe it wasn’t true. Surely, someone else could tell Jason and Matthew apart? Besides if they were mates, Jason’s dragon would have known. He obviously didn’t want her.
The faint sound of voices knocked her out her reverie. She couldn’t make out what they were saying, but there was something that didn’t feel right. And she trusted her instinct.
She walked around the building toward the back, to what she assumed was the employees entrance. Looking around the corner, she stopped and tried to listen in case she was wrong.
“Please, I have to get back to work…”
“Aww, c’mon. Just hang out with me for a bit. I’m sure your boss won’t mind. I’m a good customer.”
“But—”
“I’m sure he’d be disappointed if you didn’t stay and keep me company.”
“Well … no, please! Don’t touch me!” A scream rang out.
Christina seethed with mounting rage and without another thought she marched toward the two voices. A large shadowy figure loomed over a small one. Without hesitation, she grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him away.
“What the fuck!” The figure staggered back and the stink of alcohol assaulted her senses. The large man swung around, his face red under the lamplight. “Hey, mind your own business, bitch!” He lunged at her.
Christina’s lips curled into a smile. Finally.
Chapter 7
“Jason, did you hear what I said?”
“Huh? What?” Jason’s head snapped back toward Jessica. “Sorry, babe, I was, uh, distracted by work stuff.”
Jessica’s full, red lips turned out into a pout. “I drove all the way here and got dressed up for you, and you’re thinking about work?”
“Aww, sorry,” he said, leaning in close. Her perfume was sticky and cloying, but he forced himself to nuzzle at her neck. “Won’t happen again.”
“Good.”
He searched his brain, trying to figure out what she had been saying. Since they met at the restaurant where they had dinner, she’d been talking about herself—where she got her hair done, her nails, her expensive clothes, and her boring job. “So, tell me again about your evil boss?”
“Oh, yeah. Well the other day, I’m like, texting with my friend Gina—she’s like, in crisis mode because she caught her boyfriend in bed with some skank, right? Anyway, he catches me texting her and it’s like, almost my break, yeah? And then…”
Jason pasted another smile on his face and nodded. Pretending to listen to chicks was a skill he’d perfected over the years. But he wasn’t zoning out right now as Jessica continued to talk about her boss. No, his mind and gaze kept wandering over the table across the room.
Motherfucker. He didn’t know Catherine was having her bachelorette party tonight. Of course, he didn’t think to ask, but still … the moment he walked in and saw Christina, he knew this was a mistake. Correction: the moment he saw Jessica at the restaurant, he knew it was a mistake. His damn dragon knew this was wrong and was making him pay.
It was a good thing Jessica was human or she’d have felt the fight the animal inside him was putting up. But he carried on with the farce of a date anyway as he didn’t want to humiliate Jessica by simply telling her the date was over. He may be a bastard when it came to women, but he wasn’t a heartless bastard.
He should have ended the date right after dinner, but she’d insisted on coming here. Did Christina see them yet? Didn’t seem like it. She was casually chatting and sipping on her wine without a care in the world. Then she started flirting with Nate…
He loved Nate like a brother, but he was well aware of what his friend was thinking. As soon as he cozied up to Christina, Jason knew what he was doing. He’d have done the same thing after all, and knowing how hard he pursued Catherine, he knew Nate would be relentless. He kept his gaze fixed on them, his body tensing as the seconds ticked by.
He shook his head. This was getting to be too much. Maybe he should just turn his attention back on his date.
“Jason!” Jessica snapped. “Now what’s the matter?”
“Huh? I’m listening, babe.”
“Good,” she said with a smug smile. “So, that’s a yes then? On my last question?”
“Yeah, sure, whatever.”
He glanced back at the table and frowned. Christina was gone. Where the hell was she? Catherine had come back from the bathroom, Kate was slamming back more tequilas while Sybil watched, and Nate … well, he was gone too.
“Bastard,” he growled and disentangled Jessica’s arms from his torso. He didn’t even give a backward glance as he marched toward the door. He pushed it open, storming out into the dark parking lot. He recognized Nate’s figure, standing in front of the doorway, scratching his head.
“Where is she?” He grabbed him by the shoulders and spun him around.
Nate’s eyes glowed an eerie green and a growl escaped his throat, the wolf inside him making its presence known. But when he saw Jason, he reared back. “What the fuck, man?” His eyes, returning to normal, looked confused. “Who are you talking about?”
“Christina,” he said through gritted teeth. “Where is she?”
“I don’t know!” He put his hands up. “Catherine asked me to check on her. But she’s gone.”
A cry and then a moan from somewhere in the back of the building caught their attention, making them both start. His dragon roared and he sprang into action, reaching the source of the sound within seconds.
A man was lying prone on the ground. Standing over him was Christina, looking down at him with disgust on her face. A fierce determination marred her features, but as she looked up, her face softened. “Jason?”
“Christina.” He approached her slowly. “What happened?”
She shrugged. “He slipped. And fell. Then hit his head and knocked himself out.”
Something wasn’t right, he could feel it. “Should we call for an ambulance?”
She glanced over to her side. Jason didn’t notice the other woman pressed up against the side of the building, sheer terror in her wide, green eyes. “You okay, Penny?” she asked.
The young woman’s pretty face was ashen, but she nodded.
“Did he touch you?”
Penny shook her head, but her whole body was trembling.
Christina squatted down and leaned over the man, checked his pulse, and then his head. “He’s not bleeding out. I’m sure he’ll live,” she said, pure distaste dripping from her voice. “You could wait a bit until he regains consciousness. I’m going to go back to the girls.”
He watched as Christina casually walked away without a second glance. What the hell happened? Jason turned to Penny, but the young waitress scampered away before he could say anything. He told Nate to take the guy to Blackstone Hospital, and his friend simply carried the unconscious man over his shoulder and loaded him into his car.
He was still puzzled. It didn’t look like the guy had any injuries from the fall. Maybe a small bump on the back of his head, but nothing that would knock him out. The man was over six feet tall and probably 250 pounds, though most of it was fat around his middle. There was something else going on.
Jason walked back into The Den, intending to find out the truth. There was no sign of Penny. Or Jessica, for that matter. But, Christina was definitely there. In fact, she was the center of attention. A group had formed around the girls’ table, laughing and cheering.
“
Slam it down, girl!” Kate hooted. “C’mon!” She filled another shot glass in Christina’s hand from the bottle. “One more! One more! One more!”
“Excuse me,” Jason said as he pushed his way into the crowd. He grabbed the glass.
“Hey!” Christina slurred. “I wasn’t done with that.”
“Oh, you’re done,” he said, tossing the glass aside. He grabbed her hand. “C’mon, time to go home.”
“I’m said I’m not—stop! Put me down!”
“Holy shitballs!” someone, probably Kate said.
Christina weighed nothing at all, and he patted her backside as he slung her over his shoulder. “Party’s over,” he said to the other girls. “Get in your party bus and go home.”
“Let me go, you…brute! Vlaca!” He strongly suspected it wasn’t a very complimentary word, directed as it was with pure venom toward his backside. She let out a string of curses in a foreign language, but ignored her.
“Where are you taking her?” Catherine shouted. “Are you bringing her back to the castle?”
“I’m gonna sober her up first.” He continued walking outside, Christina screeching like a banshee.
“I said put me down!” She beat her fists on his back. “Where are you taking me?”
“We’re gonna get some hot coffee and then you’re going to tell me what happened tonight.” They were a few feet away from his truck and all he had to do was open the door and push her inside.
“I can’t … Oh my God, everything’s going black...” She went limp in his arms.
“Mother—” He gritted his teeth and then eased her down, setting her on her feet, his hands holding her steady. Her eyes were closed and her head lolled back. “Christina. Are you okay? Wake up!”
Her eyes flew open and then she moved away from him, quick as a rabbit. Jason let out a curse. Still, she was no match for his speed and she only got a few steps away before he caught up with her.
“Bloody hell,” she shrieked. He pulled her back to his truck, pinning her against the side. “Let me go! Why are you doing this?”
“Why am I doing this?” he roared. “Dammit—” He couldn’t stop himself even if he wanted to, and his mouth came crashing down on hers.
She struggled for a moment, a snarl escaping her lips, but he silenced her and soon she was returning his kiss. Eager, wet, and warm. She tasted like sunshine, like berries bursting with ripeness.
Arms snaked around his middle, pulling him closer. He obliged, pressing her up against the truck, letting her feel how much he wanted her. A gasp escaped her mouth as his rock-hard cock pressed against her stomach. He’d been hard the moment their lips touched. Hell, he’d been sporting this hard-on for her since they met.
Moving his lips lower, he nuzzled at her neck, her sweet scent wrapping around him. “Jason,” she moaned, pushing her body up against him. He hooked his hand under her thigh and wrapped her leg around his waist. She arched her back and ground her hips over his erection.
He could come right now, dry-humping her against the side of his truck. But that wouldn’t sate him at all. He knew had to have her, be inside her.
He slipped his hands down her back and then inside her leggings, over the sweet curves of her ass and between her cheeks. His fingers skimmed lightly over her tight little rear hole and she shivered. Maybe another time, he thought, as his digits found what he wanted. She was already wet, her pussy lips dripping.
“Fuck, baby, you’re incredible.” This was better than in his imagination.
“Jason, please.”
Did she even know what she was begging for? From the wetness on his fingers, he knew. He pushed a finger inside her tentatively, making her tense, and then relax against him.
“More,” she rasped. “More.”
Blood roared in his ears and he captured her lips again, his tongue dipping into her mouth as his fingers did the same to her tight little snatch.
She cried into his mouth, and he felt her tighten. She threw her head back, banging it against the glass, and let out a desperate yelp. He thrust deep into her, her slick cunt gripping his fingers as she came, her body shuddering then slumping against him. Withdrawing his hands from her, he lifted his fingers to his mouth and tasted her.
God, she was fucking amazing. This felt amazing. It felt right.
“Christina,” he whispered against her neck.
“Jason, I…” Her body froze. “Jason, this isn’t…” She placed her hands on his chest and pushed him gently away.
Confusion muddled his brain. “What’s going on?”
“I just—She shook her head. “Why did you kiss me?”
“I did more than kiss you,” he said.
“We can’t do this.”
Her words washed over him like cold water. “What do you mean?”
“It’s just that…you…” She stammered. “You don’t really want this, do you? I’m just convenient, the closest girl you can get your hands on.”
Irritation scratched at him. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“What about her?”
“Who?”
Anger burned in her eyes. “That girl you were with?”
Shit. Jessica. He’d forgotten about her. “She was nothing.”
She let out a sarcastic laugh. “Which just proves my point.”
“Excuse me?” What the hell was she going on about?
“I know your type,” she spat. “You jump from one bed to another—”
“Stop!”
“Well, do you deny it?”
He couldn’t of course. And how dare she, anyway? He was single and free and he never hurt anyone, at least not on purpose. Whenever he took a girl home, he made his intentions clear: one night only. He never pretended to be anyone else and didn’t need to apologize for being who he was. But, the look in her eyes … was she hurt? His own emotions were making it too hard to judge. “I’ll take you back.”
“No,” she said. “The girls are still here.” She nodded to the pink Hummer across the parking lot. “I’ll get a ride with them.”
He watched her go, his feet rooted to the spot.
Mine!
“For the last time, shut the fuck up!” He was done. Done with this whole thing. He was going to ignore his dragon from now on. If the pain ripping in his chest was any indication, mates were much more trouble than they were worth.
Chapter 8
Christina’s head throbbed and she let out a groan as she pulled the covers over her head. It was too bright and the sun was shining even behind her closed eyelids. Peeking from under the covers, she realized the curtains had been left open and the sunshine was streaming through the windows.
She groaned and pulled the covers down. What happened? She looked around, her brain still muddled with sleep, though the pain splitting her skull reminded her. Alcohol. Too much of it. And—
“Glad you’re awake, Sleeping Beauty.”
She whipped toward the sound of the voice, covering her eyes as the blades on sunlight seemed to penetrate her head. “Ugh … Catherine? Did you stay here all night?”
“I almost did,” she said. She was sitting on the couch in the sitting area, a magazine on her lap. “But Matthew dragged me back to bed. I came by a couple of minutes ago to make sure you were okay.”
“Yeah, I guess I’m okay.” Catherine stood up and walked over to her, then handed her a bottle of water and two pills. “Thanks,” she said accepting them gratefully. She washed down the pills with water. “Uhm, how did I get here?”
“You don’t remember?” Catherine asked in an incredulous voice.
“Uh, some of it.” Only up to the part where I almost had sex with Jason Lennox. She groaned and fell back onto the bed. Did that really happen? Her body was screaming yes. And screaming for another earth-shattering orgasm.
But, it was too much. The desire burning in her, the emotional maelstrom he was putting her through. She wanted him, but at the same time, she couldn’t be his mate. It just couldn�
�t be true. She had a life, she had a job. There were so many people out there depending on her and there was still one more thing she had to do. Avenge Mama.
Being here had already distracted her so much and took her away from her work. In the last three days since she had been here, she hadn’t even checked her phone or email. The other agents might have put in more intelligence on the smuggling ring and who was behind them. And she wanted to get back into the field. Beating up that man who tried to molest Penny last night had been satisfying on some level. She hated people who thought they could do anything they want, just because they were bigger and stronger.
This whole mate thing was all a distraction. Jason Lennox was a distraction. Besides, all he wanted was a quick lay. She’d have gladly given in except that the things he made her feel … they scared her.
“Hello—Earth to Christina,” Catherine said, interrupting her thoughts. “You feeling better?”
“Mildly.” The medicine seemed to be working because she was starting to think clearer and managed to put the whole mate thing aside.
“A shower should help. Go and get ready,” Catherine urged. “Matthew arranged a surprise for us.”
“Ugh, can’t I stay in bed?”
Her sister pointed to the bathroom. “Go.”
She trudged to the shower, muttering under her breath. However, she had to admit, Catherine was right. The shower made her feel better.
“Ready?” Catherine asked when she exited the bathroom, dressed in her jeans, socks, and sweater dress.
“Where are we going?” she asked as she ran a brush through her hair.
“You’ll see.”
* * *
As Catherine drove them further and deeper up the mountains, Christina had to admit it was beautiful. She’d even seen a few animals on the way up—some deer, raccoons, and rabbits. After nearly an hour of driving, they got off the main road and drove through the gates of a fenced-in area, then parked in the middle of a group of trailers.
“Where are we?” Christina asked as they walked up to the mouth of a very large cavern.
The Blackstone Bad Dragon Page 6