The elevator stopped and a man walked in to the cab with her. He was tall. Almost as tall as Jake. With short blonde hair and green piercing eyes. Really pretty eyes. He wore black jeans like nobody’s business and an AC/DC T-shirt.
Nic blinked and smiled. Yikes. He was hot with a capital H. If only her stupid body and heart hadn’t decided they wanted Jake she’d definitely be up to talking to him.
He inhaled. A small predatory smile curved his lips. “Wolfe?”
“I’m sorry?” Boy those drinks had sure made it hard to keep track of a simple conversation.
“Do you,” he said, his voice rough and a faint glow taking over his eyes, “belong to the Wolfes?”
She shook her head. This guy had to be confused. Who the hell would own her? “I don’t belong to them, no. I’m here with them. We’re celebrating the upcoming wedding of one of my friends with Aric Wolfe.”
The elevator dinged at the lobby. About damn time. She needed another drink.
She strolled out and glanced around, hoping to see one of the others in her party. She was late as it was. They’d agreed to meet by the bar. If only she knew where the bar was.
“Can I help you find your way?” Pretty eyes said.
She turned at the sound of his voice. “Do you know where the bar is? I’m meeting my friends there and I’m already late.”
He gave a sharp nod. “I’d be happy to guide you to The Core Bar, Ms.?”
“Nicole, Nicole Acosta. Thank you…”
“Grady Harris.” He picked up her hand and brought it to his lips in a soft lingering kiss.
Wow. Talk about a gentleman. There went that fantasy. That kiss didn’t even bring a shiver into her body. Sad. So damn sad that all Jake had to do was message her and her hormones were all over the place. Yet here was this hot man kissing her hand with a look that could only be described as wanting to tear her panties off and it did nothing for her.
She pulled her hand out of his grasp and smiled brightly. “Nice to meet you, Grady. I really appreciate you showing me to the bar.”
Another ping from the elevator and Kel and Shaari popped out. Shaari glared daggers at Kel and smiled the moment she noticed Nicole.
“Hi, Nic.”
“Oh, hey you guys. I was just going to the bar.” She turned to Grady. “I guess I don’t need an escort after all. Thanks for the offer anyway.”
“Nic?” Something in Kel’s voice made her turn to him. Kel’s brows shot down and a frown replaced the smirk he’d had leaving the elevator. “I’ll take you to the bar. I was there earlier.”
“See you around, Grady.” Nic grinned.
Grady spoke softly as she stepped away. “Count on it, Nicole.”
Nic moved toward her friends and waved over her shoulder at Grady. His face was set in hard lines but the brightness in his eyes hadn’t diminished. Another wave of disappointment washed over her. That would normally make her giddy if said by Jake. She was so screwed. Not admitting she might have feelings for Jake didn’t stop them from existing. She could very well be in love with the mutt and dammit all to hell there was nothing she could do about it.
“Watch it with him,” Kel advised.
Shaari’s eyes took an instant glow. “Are you a shifter expert now?”
Kel’s lip curled in a smirk he directed at Shaari. “No, but I am a man and I know when a man wants a woman. It’s you women who refuse to acknowledge what’s in your faces.”
Well too bad for Grady, he was shit outta luck when it came to Nic.
“Kel, man, you’re messing with my high,” Nic groaned. She needed another drink or her buzz was going to go down the drain. All because of Jake. Heat crowded her belly. Jake Wolfe had the ability to turn her on without even being around. She really was screwed. And not in the fun way. They entered a club filled with bodies swaying and music pumping.
“I thought we were going to a club next door?” Nic yelled. She glanced around the low-lit space in search for her friends.
“Jordan changed her mind when Ellie got a migraine.” Shaari pointed to the group of people sitting in a table off one corner. “Jordan said we can’t go to watch men shake their groove thing without Ellie. Those were her exact words.”
True. Ellie would have a cow. Come all the way to Vegas to try to relax over having Caleb rejecting her help only to miss out on the fun? Not if they had anything to do with it.
Barbara had dressed to the nines. A pretty blue top with what appeared to be a dark set of jeans made up her ensemble. Jordan had a cute tank top with the words hot mama glittering on her chest. And Emma wore what could only be described as a very sexy and daring tiny white top. If her girls could talk they would be saying ‘check us out world’.
The club pumped with music. Kel and Shaari stood off to the right arguing in low voices. Nic couldn’t tell what the problem was but it was obvious that something pissed someone off. The first round of drinks arrived at the table. Nic’s already good mood was getting better by the second. Fuck Jake. Fuck his sexy body or that tongue that drove her wild. Or the way he made her pussy super wet with just one look. Asshole.
The alcohol shot down her throat in a blazing trail. Before waiting for it to settle she took another shot. What the hell gave him the right to make her heart flip flop? To make her hormones crazy? Another shot. Why did he have to make her wish for things she’d never given thought to before? Why him? And a new shot.
“Take it easy with those.” Barbara pulled Nic to her side. She cupped Nic’s face in her hand and stared worriedly into her eyes. “Feel like talking about it?”
“Not even a little.” She picked up a new shot and winced. Wait a damn minute. Why the hell was she getting drunk over Jake? He wasn’t all that. He was just some guy she’d fallen into lust the first time she met. A guy who she’d sniped with on every possible occasion and a guy who always said things that made her think of the dreaded L word.
A word she’d never been familiar with. She’d never taken him seriously. Those times he gave her the hot growly smiles or whispered dirty things when they weren’t surrounded by the others, those times were the ones that made her giddy. Her once school girl crush had grown. She hated to admit it, especially under the influence of liquor.
“Nic, honey, trust your heart,” Barbara said softly.
Nic’s chest felt compressed with fear. Her fear of love was genuine. She had seen nothing good come out of it and in her household the only person to truly care about her was Letty. Her mother was too emotionally distant to show her any kind of care or concern unless it was to ensure she did the job of good daughter. She inhaled hard and then smiled sadly. “I don’t think I can. I’m scared of being hurt. I don’t want to be another notch on his bedpost. And I don’t want to hurt him by not being the woman he needs.”
Barbara growled.
Nic blinked. She reeled back. Barbara had never done that. Ever. Through the haze of liquor, a different kind of fear formed in her throat. Was she in danger from Jake’s mom?
Barbara’s features had gone from classic beauty to animalistic. “Stop this nonsense. You love Jake. Jake loves you. Get on with the making me grandbabies already!” Then Barbara smiled and handed Nic another shot. “Here. If this is all that makes you feel courage over my son, then have it. But understand something. There won’t be any of it in your system in the morning and you’ll have to face your decisions sooner or later.”
Later sounded good to her.
Jake arrived at the club ready to kill. He fisted his hands at his sides and didn’t bother to stop the growls that emanated from his animal.
“Bro, you’re scaring some of the humans,” Mason whispered. “Tone it down.”
No. He wouldn’t fucking tone shit down. He came for her and he wasn’t leaving Vegas or the damn hotel until Nic was officially his with a mate mark on her shoulder and her acknowledgement that she would stop the nonsense about them having nothing. ‘Don’t pressure them’ his mother had said. ‘Make sure you get them
to come to you without feeling like you are forcing things.’ He’d listened. He’d joked with Nic. He’d flirted and hell, he’d done what his mother and Ellie had suggested at the scenting ceremony. He’d ignored his instinct to mate her and once again took things casual so he didn’t scare her. Fuck casual.
“No. She’s mine. I’m making her mine. Now. Tonight.”
Mason laughed next to him and slapped him behind the shoulder. “This should go over really well.”
Nic’s getting hitched message had fueled his anger already. She’d said there was nothing for them to talk about. He was a man-whore and she didn’t want to compete with his harem of loyal clients at the club. She wanted a man for herself, not someone to share with a bunch of horny women. When Kel called and told him about Nicole meeting some guy at the lobby, Jake had visualized killing the shifter, whoever he was, in every way possible. All of them bloody.
How could she ever question the connection between them? It wasn’t all sex either. Nic had stolen his heart from the first time she entered his room, gasped and tried to apologize while staring at his cock. She’d often given him one of her smiles and his heart had jumped for joy. But when she laughed at something he said or did, that’s when he felt truly happy. He’d wanted to mate her the first day, but his mother and sister told him she wouldn’t appreciate his overbearing ways and to give her time to adjust to the shifter world. He’d given her years.
He clenched his jaw to try to stifle the growl. The club’s flickering lights and loud pumping music guided their way. Bodies swayed in a giant wave on the dance floor. His gaze scanned the room until he found her. She was in the middle of the dance floor, her body sexily swayed to the music. He watched her wiggle her hips, lift her hands up under her hair and dance. She was bold, moving with a sensuality he hadn’t seen in her, ever.
Whenever they’d had parties at his parent’s house, Nic had been the prettiest girl there. She had those gorgeous fuck me lips and sleepy eyes that turned him hard at the drop of a dime. Combining those with that lush curvy body and he was ready to beg her to be his. He’d followed the advice from women who knew more than him. He’d decided to take shit easy and let their attraction grow.
He’d gotten to know Nic beyond what she thought he knew. She’d been Ellie’s college friend and then co-worker. She had a deep adoration for her job with the school and the children in her classroom. Always the loyal friend, she’d given up days and nights to sit by both Ellie and Jordan when they’d been in the hospital after the brutal beating they’d taken months back.
There were so many layers to Nic and he loved them all. But the one that always made him wary was her fear of emotions. He saw it in her. The few times she’d gone with her instinct and he’d kissed her or said things to her, the truth of what he wanted to do to that gorgeous body had turned her on, but then fear would flare in her eyes. He’d worried he was too pushy. Too aggressive for a woman who was so pretty and feminine.
He continued watching her dance. She swayed in tune with every beat. It was as if she knew the music to the bone. Then, two guys eyed her. Jake knew the look. The predator catching scent of the perfect prey. His prey. Not tonight. No way in hell. Not ever.
He growled. Loud. Multiple people around him shoved away in a rush. Smart. Nic’s gaze swiveled his way and she curved those luscious lip into a wide grin. Then, to fuck with him even more, she crooked a finger. The message clear for him to come to her. Who was he to argue with her change of mind? Hell fucking yes he’d go to her.
She was too far from his grasp. He wanted her now. In the middle of the dance floor. To watch her sway her hips while riding his cock. To see her lick her bold red lips and moan for him as her pussy milked him of his cum. He wanted—no, he needed her now.
“I see my wild one up on a table,” Mason growled. “Time to remind her who she belongs to.”
Yes, it was. Time to remind Nic who she belonged to. Jake prowled the dance floor. She hadn’t taken her eyes off him. Her dancing had slowed down and it seemed she just waited for him.
When he reached her he noticed two things. First, she was drunk. No, not just drunk, she was wasted. Second, she was incredibly aroused. She was so damn hot he was ready to drop to his knees, shove her skirt up and taste her. A single lick of her slick swollen folds and he’d probably come in his jeans but he didn’t give a shit. His woman was wet for him. And he loved it.
Nic threw her arms around his neck, her breasts pressing tightly against his chest. He could feel the points of her nipples rubbing him through his T-shirt. Fucking hell.
“Jake...” her voice was low and husky. So seductive it turned his already hard cock to stone.
“Nic.” He inhaled her scent. The spray she wore was light and airy and sexy as hell and then there was her scent. That feminine perfume that was uniquely her. His mate. “Fuck, Nic. You want me, don’t you?”
“Mmm.” She moaned and licked his neck. “I want to fuck.” She sighed and moved her tongue up to his jaw. “More specifically, I want you to fuck me.”
Christ. He wanted to shove his face between her legs and devour her like nobody’s business. But not in the middle of a club filled with other men who could smell how aroused she was. He was already getting looks. He curled his lip and showed his extending canines to any male glancing their way.
“Let’s get out of here,” he muttered by her ear.
“Yes, let’s get the hell out of here and have some fun.” She stared at his lips. “Let’s do something wild and crazy. Something...different.” She licked her lips and he lost all train of thought. She opened her eyes wide and a sinful smile curved her lips. “I have a great idea!” She pressed closer to him and brushed her mouth over his. “Let’s get hitched.”
His heart stopped. She had to be kidding. “Babe, is this the liquor talking? Do you honestly want to marry me?”
He sure as hell wanted to marry and mate and tie her ass to his bed and never let her go.
“Nope, not the liquor.” She moaned and pressed her lips into his. Her tongue shot into his mouth. She aroused his desire with a single bold stroke. “Maybe a little the liquor. The rest is all how badly I want you. Only for me.”
What the fuck had he missed from her text that afternoon saying there wasn’t anything between them, to a let’s get married now? Who cared? “Why do you want to get married?”
“I can’t stand being without you, you sexy mutt.” She blinked aroused eyes at him. “I want more. Just you and me. Forever.” Her pupils were dilated so much it was almost impossible to see the color of her beautiful irises.
Hearing her finally admit to having some feelings for him made the decision for him. “Let’s go then.”
She wobbled on her feet and pulled away from him. He watched her slip out her neck-breaking gold stilettos and lose at least four inches in height. She grinned, picked up her shoes and blew on her bangs. She was so damn adorable.
“Okay, but we need Barbara. She said I need to do what I need to do with you.” Her words slurred a little. And she hiccupped. “The only way I’m gonna...uh...yeah...so...you. Me. Married.”
How much had she had to drink? He’d probably never hear the end of this in the morning, but he didn’t care. She wanted him and her words had been truthful.
“And this is what you want to do? You’re sure?” His mind told him she wasn’t serious. That it was definitely liquor talking, but his wolf said fuck that. She wanted to marry him and he’d comply. They’d work on it. This was easier than what he had in mind. He ignored the shaking of his hands or how hard his heart beat and instead focused on Nic. On her saying something he thought he’d have to harass out of her in a few years.
Jake’s heart filled with hope. What he felt for Nic had grown through the years. She was the one. The only one for him. So for her to want to be with him was the icing on the cake. Not to mention how amazing they were in bed. Sex would never be boring and with her wicked sense of humor life would never be dull.
; She hopped up and down, her breasts straining against the low-cut neckline of her dress and for a second he forgot everything but to watch her bouncing. God he wanted to see her bounce on his cock. Ride him like she couldn’t get enough. He pushed the vision back. For the time being, anyway. He’d get her to bounce on him later if he had his way.
She flung herself at him, trying to get him to hurry. He gave up trying to walk with her. Even without shoes she kept tripping over her own feet. So he picked her up in his arms. She screamed for his mother and lifted her shoes in the air, waving them excitedly. “Barbara! Let’s go! I’m making this mutt my husband!”
He didn’t see Jordan, Ellie or Emma, but Kel and Shaari were with Barbara and eyeing them with wide surprised eyes.
“Married?” Kel chuckled. “What the hell did she have to drink?”
Shaari gave him a sideways glance. “It’s what people in love do.”
His mother cocked her head and stared at Nic for a quiet moment. Her gaze met his own and she smiled. “If this is what it takes. Let’s do this.”
Jake woke up to nails raking down his chest. His wolf was instantly up and alert. He knew those nails. They’d left his arms scarred after multiple love making sessions. A grin split his lips and he glided his hand from her belly to fill it with Nic’s breast.
“Mmm,” she moaned. Her warm body lay half over him. A mass of curls covered her face but he felt her breath puff over his chest. “This is such a nice dream...” She groaned. “Don’t wake me up. I want to have a little fun first.” She trailed her hand down his abs and wrapped it around his cock. “I like how hard you are.”
“I’d like how hard I am too if I was inside your pussy now, babe.” He groaned the words, loving her tight grip of her fist on his cock. “Nic...”
Fuck! She squeezed him even tighter.
“I don’t know what you’re doing here,” she mumbled, kissing her way down his body. “But I like that you’re ready to make me come.”
“I’m always ready for you.” He rushed the words out, his lungs burning the closer her warm breath got to his dick.
Unexpectedly Mated (BBW Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance): An Alpha male. A curvy but sassy BBW. A trip to Sin City neither will ever forget. (Sassy Mates) Page 5