by Vivian Wood
He kissed her.
Jasper leaned down and captured her mouth hard, pressing his body against hers at the same time. She opened to him, parting her lips to allow him access. He slid his tongue against hers with no subtlety or teasing, provoking her response. She let out a soft sigh of pleasure, and he swallowed it. One hand gripped her hip hard while the other traveled up to her nape. He wove his fingers into her hair at the base, tilting her head to his satisfaction.
He lost track of everything but Maddie for a long moment, not noticing that the movement around them had stilled. Where he usually felt the weight of the pack’s gaze every second of the day, just now he was surrounded only by Maddie. Her sweet taste, the warmth of her body, and the soft wetness of her tongue. The feeling of her breasts pressed against his chest, the silken texture of her thick hair. He forgot what she’d done for his pack, forgot what had prompted the kiss in the first place. Forgot that he was supposed to be irritated with her inability to follow his instructions, her lack of concern for her own safety. Forgot everything but the fact that right this second, he had what he’d wanted for his entire life. The only female he’d ever longed for, the one he’d come back to again and again. He knew in that moment that he’d always come back for her, no matter what.
33
Jasper broke the kiss and grabbed her arm, turning toward the exit.
“Jas!” she protested, resisting. He turned to her with a frown, narrowing his eyes.
“I’m working,” she said, waving her free hand to indicate their surroundings.
“I don’t care,” he replied, leaning in and kissing her again. He towed her toward the exit, growling gently when she resisted.
“I can’t just leave!” she cried.
“Don’t make me carry you,” he said. A promise, not a threat.
She rolled her eyes, a grave mistake. Jasper grabbed her by the waist and hefted her over his shoulder, ignoring her enraged squawk and strolling toward the door. The males between him and the exit practically dove out of the way as he went. He pushed open the door to Alpha’s House in less than a minute.
“Jasper!” Maddie yelped as he sat her on the kitchen counter. The surface was still covered in FedEx packages and shopping bags. He took no little pleasure in sweeping them to the floor, leveling her with a quelling stare as he did it.
“Hey!” she said, slapping her hands against his chest. He looked her up and down, assessing the height of the counter against what he wanted to do. Nodding to himself, he leaned down and kissed her protesting mouth again. Her words of protest melted into a moan as he ran a hand up her ribcage and squeezed her breast through her shirt. Releasing her breast, he cupped her jaw and tilted her head to expose her neck. Dropping a kiss against her jawline, he moved down and nipped at her earlobe and breathed softly in her ear.
Resistance vanished, Maddie was his. Jasper ran the very tip of his tongue inside her ear, earning a harsh cry of pleasure from his mate. Kissing her neck, he gave her no notice before biting into her nape hard. Maddie shouted, her hips jerking hard against his. The second he released her, she went wild against him. Her hands dug into his hair, pulling his mouth against hers with a desperation he’d never witnessed.
Their lips and teeth and tongues tangled, and Jasper tasted his own blood. He groaned and ground against her, sliding his hands down to her ass and pressing her into the movement. Maddie rolled against him, her hands scrabbling to drag his shirt up and over his head. Jasper helped her pull it off, then slid his hands up her thighs and pushed up her skirt. His hands felt only smooth skin.
“You aren’t wearing panties,” he growled into her ear, making her shiver.
“I know,” she groaned.
“You were in a whole room full of males, wearing a short skirt, and no panties,” Jasper said, gripping the curves of her hips hard as jealousy and possessiveness rocked him.
“Have I been very bad?” she asked, tilting her head back and pressing into his touch.
Jasper released her, pulling the skirt up and over her head. He ripped at her shirt and bra, undressing her in mere seconds. She leaned in to kiss him, but he pulled his head back and worked at unbuttoning his jeans.
“Come to me,” she said, frowning.
“I am,” he grated, pushing down his jeans and boxer briefs. Grasping his cock with one hand, he pulled her close and pushed her knees apart with the other hand. Without a moment of pause, he pressed straight into her softness. She was just wet enough to give him entrance, barely ready for him, but Jasper was beyond caring. He felt less than human, his wolf howling with the need to dominate his mate.
She cried out at the rough joining, but he felt no resistance in her. He used both hands to steady her hips, surging into her with slow, heavy thrusts. He felt her growing wetter as he moved inside her, assuring him that she wanted this as much as he did.
He increased his speed but kept his thrusts steady, reaching a hand between them and pressing it to her belly, just above her mons. She responded instantly to the sensation, her inner muscles tensing and quivering with pleasure. Keeping his hand there, he slid his thumb down to her slit. Each time he thrust her body moved up just enough for his thumb to brush her clit, and he could feel her breath hitch with each movement.
She let out tiny, breathy moans and ground into his thrusts, making him crazy. Still, he wasn’t nearly ready to let go. Gritting his teeth, he slowed and pulled out of her completely. She growled at him, but he merely pushed her back to lie down on the counter. Leaning down, he spread her thighs and nuzzled her clit. He licked her gently and sucked at her for mere moments before she burst under his lips, calling out his name and gripping his hair, her orgasm one of the most intense he’d seen so far.
Pushing her hands away, he stood and flipped her over, pressing her bare torso down onto the granite counter top. She was compliant and relaxed as he ran his hands over the perfection of her ass. She nearly jumped out of her skin when he pulled his hand back and slapped her ass, hard.
“Jas!” she choked out, surprised. She made as if to move, but he held her in place.
“No,” he said simply, angling so that he could land a loud slap on her other flank.
She went quiet, uncertain. He spanked her again, and again, alternating sides. Her pale flesh was marked with neat red handprints, which made him hard as a rock. He stepped between her thighs again, sliding his fingers against her softness to make sure she was still ready for him. When he found her warm and wet, he pressed his cock inside her and drew her thighs closed.
She gasped. His sensitive, hot little mate. She was wrapped around him so tight, and he watched his cock pounding into her. When she began to tense, her orgasm building, it was everything Jasper could do to keep from spilling everywhere. He closed his eyes against the image of their joining, giving himself the precious time to make his mate come. Thrusting hard into her, he knew the exact moment when she started to go over. Just as her orgasm gripped them both tightly, Jasper let go and pumped into her desperately. He came for what felt like a lifetime, his seed coming and coming as he shuddered his release inside her.
He dropped to his elbows, resting against Maddie for a long moment and listening to her breathing.
After a long moment, he stepped back and kicked away the clothes that lay at his feet, then rolled Maddie over and pulled her into his arms. Picking her up, he carried her upstairs without a word.
When he reached the bed he laid Maddie down, covering her with the thick down comforter before lying down next to her. She scooted a little closer, turning and resting her head on his shoulder as she curled up against him.
Jasper sighed. If only this were his life, every moment. No more dealing with back-stabbing pack members, pregnant humans, and then of course there was Gwen…
He had to do something about Gwen. She was clearly unhappy, and not without some cause. He couldn’t give her the Beta position back, but he couldn’t have her clawing at Maddie’s back every second of every day either. There
had to be a compromise in there somewhere, some way to get them to get along without his direct command. As if his direct command would mean anything to either of them. The thought of their reaction actually made him crack a smile.
No, there was a solution. If Jasper could find something they both cared about, and get them to work together… that could solve the problem. But despite their similar looks and stubborn attitudes, they had no common interests that he could recall.
He’d have to work on that thought.
“What are you thinking about?” Maddie asked suddenly, interrupting his thoughts.
“Uh…” he said, searching for something to say that wouldn’t sound like a slight to Maddie.
“Gwen,” he sighed. “You know, what to do with her. She’s unhappy.”
“Oh. I see,” she mumbled.
Maddie’s withdrawal was immediate, and final as a slamming door. She pulled away, rolling to her side.
Damn. In trying to keep from insulting her, he’d accidentally hurt her feelings.
“It’s not what you think—” he started.
“It’s fine,” Maddie said.
“No, you don’t understand.”
“I understand. It’s fine,” she insisted, pulling the comforter up around her face and neck.
“Mad—”
“Let’s just go to sleep, okay?” Maddie said, her voice sad.
“Maddie, don’t be like that.”
“Jasper, please,” she said. “Can we please just go to sleep now?”
He was silent for a long time, wondering what he could say to fix things. He was still puzzling over it twenty minutes later, when Maddie let out a soft snore. Jasper sighed and moved closer, pulling her into his arms. At least asleep, she’d let him comfort her.
Jasper closed his eyes and waited for sleep to take him as well.
34
Maddie took a deep breath to prepare herself before knocking on the door of Gwen’s office. She actually gave herself a little pep talk before she knocked, which was ridiculous.
So what if Gwen hates me? So what if she’s the female Jasper is pining away for? So what if she’s in charge around here? Her job is to be Jasper’s beta, and she’s not doing that. If I can face down Kat O’Riley, Head Bitch in Charge in the Louisiana pack, I can sure as hell tell Gwen to back down.
Maddie steeled herself and put on her game face, and then knocked on the door.
“It’s open,” came Gwen’s muffled response.
Maddie opened the door and stepped inside. Gwen’s expression immediately turned stormy, but Maddie closed herself inside the office anyway. Gwen sat at her simple chrome desk, wading through a huge stack of paperwork.
“What do you want?” Gwen asked, her voice flat.
“I need to talk to you,” Maddie said, propping herself against the wall and trying to look foreboding.
“Get out of my office,” Gwen said, returning her gaze to the piles of paper she was attempting to sort.
“Not until we talk,” Maddie said, crossing her arms.
“You are the last person in the fucking world I want to talk to right now. Or ever. Now get out of my damn office,” Gwen said, not bothering to look up.
Maddie’s temper flared, and but she held her tongue. If she was going to resolve this, she had to be diplomatic.
“We’re both adults. Let’s discuss this civilly.”
“There is nothing for us to discuss.”
“I think we need to talk about you and Jasper.”
Gwen paused, turning in her chair to face Maddie.
“Why would I want to talk about that? Why would YOU want to talk about that?”
“Because it’s affecting Jasper, and it’s affecting the pack. Surely you can see that.”
“I’m aware of the repercussions, but it’s out of my hands now.”
“Not as far as I see it. I think you’re being short-sighted.”
“Really? And what exactly do you suggest? You are, after all, my replacement.”
“Don’t blame this on me. Things were bad in this pack long before I got here. I’m just doing a little spring cleaning, not changing the pack structure.”
“I don’t hear a solution there, so I’m not sure if you have a point.”
“Forgive him.”
“Excuse me?”
“I don’t know what happened between you two to make things so dire, but Jasper is walking on eggshells trying to keep you from being upset with him.”
“I hardly think—”
“No. I know him. Believe me when I say that’s what he’s doing.”
“Well, I don’t know what to tell you. I can’t help that he carved me out of his life and replaced me. I don’t know what you can ask of me that I’m not already doing.”
“Jesus. I’ve taken your place in name alone. So you’re the second in command now and not the Beta. So what? You’re still doing the same job, basically running the pack. When I leave again, you two will be back to normal.”
Gwen stared at Maddie.
“What?”
“We will never be back to normal. I can’t believe you’d say that. And I can’t believe you’re standing here, telling me you’re going to just leave and give him up.”
“It could be just like before, if you’d just forgive him and stop being such a bitch.”
Gwen laughed, shaking her head.
“You’re really not getting this, are you? And of course Jasper hasn’t explained any of it to you.”
“He doesn’t have to explain anything. I can see for myself that things are unsettled, and that my being here has made it a lot worse.”
“Obviously you can’t see everything.”
“What does that mean?”
“We’re not on the same page here. We’re not even in the same book.”
“You’re talking in riddles.”
“I don’t give a shit that I’ve been replaced as Beta. I mean, I find you profoundly annoying and I want you out of my damned Bunker. But the title means nothing to me. I have the pack’s loyalty, so it’s never been about that.”
“Well, then obviously I don’t understand anything.”
“No, you don’t.”
“So tell me, Gwen. Relieve me of my total ignorance. What is it that has your panties bunched so far up your ass? Why do you persist in torturing Jasper?”
“You’re not just my replacement as Beta. You’re my replacement in his bed.”
Maddie went silent, shocked. Gwen crossed her arms, leveling Maddie with her iciest glare.
“I— I didn’t know.”
“I see that now. I would say I’m shocked that Jasper didn’t tell you, but I’m not. Jasper has all kinds of secrets up his sleeve. You, for instance. Until last week, I thought you were some childhood friend who’d died years ago. He never said that exactly, never explained, but he let me assume… Well, what does it matter now? Here you are, anyway. Reminding me of what I lost.”
Maddie stared at the other woman, swallowing hard.
“Maybe now you can see that it’s not a simple matter of forgiveness. And to have you, of all fucking people, here in the Bunker and being rubbed in my face…”
“Me? Why me?”
“Are you really that blind?”
“I think I’ve proved that already.”
“Well, too bad. I’m not here to make things clearer and easier for you. I’m here to run this pack.”
“How am I being rubbed in your face, Gwen?”
“No. I’m done. You have the life I wanted, the mate I wanted, and you’re casually discussing how you’re going to throw it all away. You have Jasper, and with Jasper comes a lot of unanswered questions. You want to know, go talk to your mate. He’s the one who owes you explanations. I don’t owe you a fucking thing.”
“Gwen—”
“You’ve taken up enough of my time already. Now get out.”
Gwen turned away, leaving Maddie with more questions than ever.
35
Maddie rapped on the door, waiting for Sadie’s soft acknowledgment before opening the door to the human girl’s new quarters. Slipping inside, Maddie shut the door behind herself and scoped out the dormitory room. Sadie had everything tidy and in place, the opposite of Maddie’s laundry basket-style mobile closet system.
The room was pretty bare bones. A double bed, a bedside table, a dresser, and a chair. Still, the human girl seemed much more at home here than in the infirmary.
Sadie sat on the bed, an open laptop next to her.
“Hey,” Sadie said, giving Maddie a shy smile.
“Nice setup you’ve got here,” Maddie said, pointing to the lavender-colored cotton sheets and comforter that adorned Sadie’s bed.
“Thanks. Kellan got them for me while he was out doing errands,” Sadie said with a blush.
Maddie’s lips twisted a little. Kellan had been with either Maddie or Sadie most of the past week, so she doubted he’d casually ‘picked up’ anything. More likely he’d taken a bit of his precious downtime and gone to get Sadie some luxury items. There was a vase with fresh daisies on the bedside table, and a stack of gossip magazines. All that was missing was a box of chocolates, really.
“Am I disturbing you?” Maddie asked, looking at the laptop.
Sadie shook her head, closing the computer.
“Just doing a little research. Not that I’m having much luck,” she said with a sigh.
“Research on Shifters?” Maddie asked, taking the chair across from Sadie’s bed.
“That, and Shifter pregnancies. There’s almost nothing online about Shifters, much less humans pregnant with Shifter babies.”
“We work pretty damned hard to keep ourselves off the radar completely,” Maddie agreed.
“But there must be other people out there in my situation. Like your friend… what was her name?”
“Tessa,” Maddie supplied.
“Yeah. I’m definitely not the first human to get in the family way with a Shifter, but there’s no information out there. How am I supposed to know what to expect?”