Hacking That Sass: Sassy Ever After

by Élianne Adams

  “Not a great idea, but maybe we can find some trolls to kill instead? Or maybe ride a dragon together?”

  He let his hands fall from her as she stood and turned toward him. Pulling her lower lip between her teeth, she looked up at him and stepped closer. “I’d rather ride a wolf than a dragon,” she said as she trailed her fingers up from his wrist to his elbow.

  Luca caught her hand, drawing her to him until nothing was between them, not even air. “Is that right?”

  Pushing herself onto her tiptoes, she pressed her lips to his jaw, then gave it a little nip. “Definitely.”

  Her heart skipped a beat at the devilish grin he gave her as he lowered his head and claimed her lips with such tenderness Kaitlin sighed and melted into him. Warmth seeped into her skin where he glided his palms up her back beneath her shirt.

  Off in the distance, a long howl cut through the silence. Luca stiffened and tore his mouth from hers. “Stay here,” he said as he rushed for the stairs.

  “Where are you going?” She wasn’t a wolf, and she had no clue what that howl meant, but she knew Luca, and the tension rolling off him shot hers into the stratosphere.

  “Just going to check on what’s happening out there. I’ll be right back. You’re safe here,” Luca assured her just as his head disappeared down the stairs.

  She spun and ran for the window. If Luca was out there with God only knew what, she wanted to see him. She had to know he was safe, too. But before she could reach it, a shadow blocked out the moon, stopping her in her tracks. It only lasted a second, but she’d swear red eyes had stared back at her. Then, in a blink, they were gone, leaving her wondering if they’d been there at all.

  The hairs at the back of her neck rose, and a shudder raked through her body. Even if her imagination was running wild, it didn’t mean she couldn’t use her head. Rather than rush to the window as she’d planned, leaving her exposed, she dashed across the room and hit the light switch. Only the blue glow of her screensaver illuminated the loft as she made her way back. She would take a quick peek, make sure Luca was okay, and then duck out of sight again. There was probably nothing out there, but it wouldn’t hurt to be a little prudent.

  With her back against the outside wall, she slid closer to the window. If her heart wasn’t pounding so hard against her sternum, she might laugh at the sight of herself. All that was missing from her being in an action movie was a Glock in her palm. Or maybe some pointy, wooden stakes. Yeah, that might be better.

  When she reached the edge of the window, she sucked in a deep breath before turning and peering out. It took a second for her eyes to adjust and to spot them, but to the left, close to the tree line, Luca stood next to Niko, facing the Alpha pair. Had it not been for the brightness of the moon, she wouldn’t have been able to see them at all.

  Luca swung his arm to the side, indicating the forest behind them, then ran his fingers in his hair, ending with a rough tug, clearly frustrated. Next to him, Niko stiffened. Whatever they were discussing, neither was happy about it, and Luca was going against his quiet nature, letting them know.

  As if he sensed her watching, he turned and looked right up at the window, his frown clear from where she stood. Jaxon reclaimed his attention a moment later, but right then, when he’d stared up at her with the moon reflecting at her in his eyes, she’d seen the wolf. Not the body, or the fur, but the wildness inside him. It should have scared her shitless, but it didn’t. If anything, her pounding heart settled into a quick, but steady pulse. That determined look said one thing. I’ll keep you safe.

  ***

  “You can’t go after it. We didn’t lay eyes on it, or see what it was,” Jaxon said through gritted teeth. The Alpha was holding on to his anger by a thread.

  Most of it was directed at Luca because he’d openly defied him, but under all that was a protective fury. The enemy had gotten close to the farm. They hadn’t spotted whatever had been out there, but dark, potent energy still tainted the air.

  Luca sucked in a deep breath and forced the words that would get him in deeper trouble with his Alpha down his throat. Getting himself bled by Jaxon wasn’t going to help anything, and it wouldn’t keep Kaitlin any safer. Had it been any other wolf who’d turned his back intent on chasing the enemy after a clear order not to, and then mouthed off to him, Jaxon would have already shifted and taught them the lesson they deserved. As it was, the only reason Luca was still standing in his skin was that the only other witness to his defiance had been Niko. That and he’d never gone against Jaxon before. Even now, the slightest push would tip the scales.

  He’d felt Kaitlin’s eyes upon him like a warm caress before he’d turned and looked up at the loft window, and sure enough, barely peeking out, there she’d been. Their bond was strengthening.

  “I know. You’re right. How the hell did the bastard get so close? Wolves surround us,” he said. Even now, he could see the glow of their eyes in the woods behind them. They were restless—pacing.

  Maple stroked a hand down Jaxon’s arm, curling her fingers around his when he released his fist at her touch. The fierce look on her face would have fooled a human, but her fear stung at Luca’s nostrils, infuriating his wolf more. It would be worse for Jaxon. She was a worthy Alpha female, but she was new to her role and still getting her bearings with her wolf. It was up to him and all the other males to keep her and the other mates safe. How could they do that when the enemy came onto their lands and then disappeared again like a fucking ghost?

  “We’ll figure it out. Next time you challenge me, make sure you’re ready to follow through. I won’t go so easy on you. Now, get back to your mate and wrap it up with the damned hard drive so we can get it out of here,” Jaxon demanded, ending with a feral growl.

  Dominance clung to the air, making it heavy and difficult to breathe. Luca dropped his gaze and turned his head, offering his neck. By rights, Jaxon had every right to be pissed. Niko was still as stiff as a board next to him, ready to pounce. As much as they both respected the Alpha pair, Luca didn’t question his brother’s ultimate loyalty. He’d jump in, and as always, they’d fight as one if need be. That kind of challenge wouldn’t end well for any of them. Thankfully, it hadn’t come to that.

  “I’m sorry, man. I didn’t mean to get out of line,” he said, meaning it.

  Jaxon reached for him and grasped the tense muscles at the back of his neck, giving them a little squeeze, before releasing him again. “Having a mate to worry about changes things in a big way. I get it. It’s so new for you, I’m letting it slide this once. Just keep your head on straight, or else someone’s going to get hurt. You’re not any more expendable than anyone else in this pack, damn it. Remember that.”

  Luca lifted his gaze and nodded before turning on his heels and heading back to the barn. Jaxon was right. Hunting an unknown enemy alone wasn’t just foolish, it was suicide. And he had more than himself to worry about now. If anything happened to him, Kaitlin would be left alone to face whatever was coming.

  By the time he reached the barn, the wolf had settled enough that he wasn’t growling. The sweet scent of his mate filled the air, soothing him further as he climbed the stairs up to the loft.

  As soon as he came onto the landing, Kaitlin was there, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her trembling body close. “You doing okay? Why are the lights off?” he asked.

  Kaitlin took a deep breath and burrowed closer. “I felt like I was on display. Like I was being watched. It’s silly, I know, but it made me feel better to have the lights off. I was so scared, I thought I saw some eyes staring back at me when I looked out at first, but when I looked again, there was nothing.”

  “Not silly. We can close the blinds if that helps,” Luca offered as he flicked the light switch, bathing the room in brightness once more.

  A pretty pink flush crept into her cheeks. “I should have thought to do that, but I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

  He held her for a moment longer. “I’m fine. Wha
tever was out there is gone. For how long, I have no idea. Let’s crack this hard drive so we can get it out of here and they’ll leave us alone.”

  Sixteen

  Kaitlin cracked her neck to one side, then the other. Next to her, Luca glared at his monitor as though doing so would make the coding magically pop off the screen at him. She sucked her bottom lip between her teeth, fighting a losing battle against a grin. He looked so damned sexy sitting there with his hair sticking out all over the place and a small graveyard of candy wrappers littering the desk around his mouse.

  He hadn’t asked for any of the sweet treats, but seeing how much he’d enjoyed the first two she’d given him, she hadn’t had the heart to hold out on him for the rest.

  Standing, Kaitlin stretched her spine, twisting left, then right. They’d been at it for hours, and other than the occasional text from her boss and the Blue Creek Alpha looking for updates, they’d been left alone.

  He didn’t look when she moved behind him, but as soon as she leaned into his back and wrapped her arms around him, some of the tension in his shoulders released. “Come on, let’s take a quick break. I’m going cross-eyed,” she told him as she pressed her lips next to his ear.

  “It’s right there. I just know it,” he said, but already he was scooting his chair back and getting up. Turning, he wrapped himself around her and buried his nose in the crook of her neck. “You smell so damned good all the time. It’s a wonder I’ve been able to do any work at all.”

  With a little moan, she tilted her head further. Luca hugged her tighter and pressed a line of soft kisses followed by teasing, little bites that left her wanting more. Slipping her hands down, she cupped his ass through his jeans and squeezed him. “How many wolves are downstairs, and how well can they hear?” she asked, her voice husky. Although a few of the shifters had gone into the house to protect the Alpha pair, others had come into the barn to get some rest in shifts while the others watched over her and Luca while they worked.

  “Too many, and very well,” Emmet called up the stairs. “And our sense of smell is good, too.”

  “Damn. No hanky-panky in the predawn light for us then.” Outside, the sun was rising, brightening the world beyond the drawn shades.

  Luca’s chest shook against her, and a second later, his chuckle filled the room. “No. No hanky-panky with everyone listening in on us. I’d have to kill them all afterward, and Jaxon wouldn’t like that. Not to mention Bonnie—”

  “Don’t you fucking start, or I’m going to tell your girl all about the time you got your head stuck in the fence,” Emmet yelled again. The teasing tone held a hint of seriousness to it, too.

  Luca sucked in a breath, his mouth gaping. At the base of the stairs, Emmet chuckled. “I’m heading out to relieve the boys in the forest. Behave up there.”

  Kaitlin lifted her eyebrows. “What’s this about a fence?”

  Luca shook his head and backed away ignoring the question. He reached for his remote and hit a button, lighting his wall monitors.

  “So, you think distracting me with trolls and horny pixies will work?”

  Luca grinned and pulled two Cokes from the mini-fridge. “Nope. But it’s all you’re getting, so what do you say?” He sat on his gaming chair and spread his legs wide, patting the spot he’d cleared between them. Her new chair was sitting not two feet away, but she hadn’t been in his arms in hours, and the temptation was too great.

  Grabbing her controller, she made herself comfortable, smiling wide when he stiffened behind her, then moaned as she wiggled her ass against him. “Okay, maybe this will work—for now. I’ll ask Emmet about it later.”

  His moan turned into a groan. “Maybe I should kill him after all.”

  “Never mind that. We’ve got some trolls coming in at nine o’clock,” Kaitlin warned as she charged in. “Get your ass in here and help me out.”

  “Yes, Ma’am.”

  ***

  Luca didn’t want to move. Ever. Having his mate limp in his arms as she slept was satisfying as fuck. At some point between battles, she’d set her controller onto her lap and had stopped moving.

  As much as he’d loved playing Dragon’s Domain before, never had he enjoyed it more than he had with his arms around his mate and her resting against his chest. He’d known she was vocally animated and cussed like a sailor when she played, but she wiggled around a lot, too—something he both loved and hated at that moment.

  His cock was as hard as a steel rod, and there was nothing he could do about it thanks to the slumbering wolves down below. The throbbing ache was enough to drive a man to his knees, but he was content to stay right where he was. Twitching cock and all.

  He glanced at the window where the sun now shone bright, then to his computer. Their quick break had lasted a lot longer than it should have. There was plenty more work to be done, but there was no way he could move her without waking her. His wolf growled at the very thought.

  She’s human. She needs to sleep in a bed. Luca scolded the beast, settling him once more.

  Kaitlin wiggled closer. “That’s so sexy,” she mumbled sleepily, turning her face up to his and pressing a kiss to his jaw.

  “What is?” he asked.

  “That rumbly sound that comes from your chest sometimes. What were you thinking just now?” She straightened her spine and put some space between them, stifling a yawn behind her palm. As much as he hated the separation, he allowed it.

  Luca held his hand out for her, helping her stand. “That I needed to figure out a way to get you to the bed without waking you.”

  She stretched again, revealing a tantalizing strip of skin between her jeans and her sweater where it had ridden up. If he had more time, he’d explore that luscious skin with his hands, then his mouth.

  Grinning down at him, Kaitlin bent and pressed her lips to his in a kiss that was much too chaste for his liking. “Come on, sexy wolf. We have work to do.”

  “You’re going to sleep. I’ll get back to work,” Luca said, turning Kaitlin toward the far end of the loft where the bed had been set up.

  He managed to get her two steps closer before she turned and faced him. “I’m good. Let’s get this done so we can both get some rest.” The stubborn tilt to her head and her tipped up chin told him one thing. You’re not winning this one. With a sigh, he led her back to her computer before heading to the stairs.

  “Where are you going?” she asked as she settled into her seat.

  “We’re going to need coffee. And food. I’ll be right back.” Not to mention he wanted to get an update from Niko about what had happened during the night. More than cracking any hard drive or decoding whatever information was on it, he needed to keep Kaitlin safe. He couldn’t do that if he didn’t know what they were up against.

  Down in the garage, three wolves slept, one near each entry point. Pride filled him at the sight. Even when resting, his pack mates positioned themselves to defend and protect. Nothing would get close to Kaitlin while he was out.

  He found Jaxon and Niko in the kitchen with the scent of coffee wafting from the mugs they held in front of them. Thankfully, the hissing of the machine on the counter promised more was coming.

  Jaxon glanced at his watch, and Niko lifted his eyebrows. “You look like shit,” his brother said after a second.

  “Good morning to you, too.” Luca yawned and scratched his stubbled jaw. “You’d look like crap, too, if you hadn’t slept in more than a day. Kaitlin and I are exhausted. We need caffeine and food.”

  “Sit,” Niko commanded as he shoved a chair out from the table with his booted foot before he strode to the cupboard and pulled down a large thermos. “We’ll keep you guys safe. You can rest. You know that, right?”

  Luca closed his eyes and threw his head back with a groan. “Aric has texted me five times in the last three hours alone. I’m pretty sure he’d disagree.”

  A growl rumbled from Jaxon’s chest. “He’s not your Alpha. I am. Get some sleep. You won’t do anybody any
good if you can’t see the monitors.”

  Luca didn’t dare outright deny the Alpha again. “We’re so close. I can feel it. If we keep plugging away at it, we might be able to finish up this afternoon and get that damned thing out of Dexter before nightfall.”

  “It wasn’t a fucking suggestion. Four hours, minimum. The hard drive can wait that long.” The order slammed into him like a freight train as Jaxon downed the coffee in front of him. He rose from his chair and stomped out the door, letting the screen door slam behind him.

  “I’ll make sure a fresh pot is ready for you at two-thirty,” Niko said as he grabbed both his and Jaxon’s mugs and placed them in the sink.

  Luca frowned. Since when did his brother avoid looking at him? “What’s going on?”

  Niko slammed his fist against the counter before turning to face him. “Carlton Ryder was taken from the Dirty Dog’s parking lot last night. Mario caught it on the bar security camera. He called first thing this morning after he’d reviewed the tapes. He was barely breathing when they found him. Had Carlton’s wife not gone beating on Mario’s door looking for her husband, we might not have made him in time.”

  Luca’s heart thudded against his ribs. “Vamp?”

  Niko nodded. “He’s on his fourth transfusion, but Estelle said he’s stabilized for now.”

  “Fuck. Even more reason for me to keep working and not go to sleep.”

  Niko straightened from where he’d leaned against the counter, his jaw set in a stubborn line. “Nope. Not a fucking chance. You go against a direct order, and I won’t be able to keep Jaxon from tearing into you. You’re lucky he didn’t do it last night.”

  Luca’s growl rumbled from deep within him, filling the kitchen. They didn’t understand the need pounding through him. They were all shifters with healing abilities—Kaitlin wasn’t.

  “Okay, Mr. Snarly Pants, get out of my kitchen. I have sandwiches in the fridge for you to take back with you. I was listening in from the hall. And nope, I have zero shame. You heard Jaxon. Grab them and go get some sleep,” Rylee said as she leaned over and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. “Did I mention how happy I am for you…about Kaitlin?”