by Kele Moon
“I hope so.” Desmon walked to the door, but the click of his expensive shoes against hardwood stopped. “I like her, Jason.”
“Yeah, I like her too.” Jason sounded so proud, Brandi had to lift her head and give him another curious look. He just gave her a devious smile and said, “It’s not every day I find out I’m in a months’-long, semi-serious relationship with a sexy human.”
“Coffee,” Brandi decided as she hid her face in her arms once more. “Lots and lots of coffee.”
Chapter Nine
Jason had planned on spending the day “laying on the charm,” as Desmon called it. He needed to get to a place where he felt a little more comfortable before he explained to Brandi that he mated her for life and it couldn’t be undone simply because he was rash about it.
Mates didn’t do well being separated once they bonded.
It affected their mental and physical well-being. Jason didn’t know many wolves who’d survived for long periods after they were separated from their mates. That’s why bonding was treated with great reverence and caution, though sometimes it just happened like it did with Jason and Brandi. His mother had never been the same after his father left, but she’d had Jason, so that kept her going. Maternal instinct was a powerful motivator for survival, but she died way too young for a Werewolf, and he never once doubted it was his father’s fault.
It was unfortunate Brandi didn’t understand anything about the natural laws that governed Werewolves. She’d essentially gotten married with no option of divorce, without knowing it. The mating also made her incredibly ripe to get pregnant, but Jason could smell Brandi was on birth control, which was why he hadn’t bothered with condoms. Not like diseases were a concern…Werewolves had a lot of enemies, but disease wasn’t one of them.
In the end, Jason did what he did best. More action, less words. He wanted to fix things for her, protect her, and make up for the pain she’d suffered at the hands of Werewolves. So he took a few wolves out and they tracked down her car, which was no easy feat when the storm had washed away all trace of it.
The assholes who’d tried to kill her must’ve moved it after the other wolves didn’t turn back up. Jason finally found it clear over in Goodwin territory. Luckily, they got it without being detected by the rival wolves.
Brandi was so thrilled to get the car back, it made Jason want to spend the rest of his days playing hero for her.
He’d been concerned that she’d want to go home after she got her car, but he reminded her that they still needed to catch the wolves responsible for attacking her. He didn’t trust them not to seek her out. It wasn’t the only reason he wanted her to stay with him, but it wasn’t a lie either. She agreed quickly, giving him the impression that hanging around a few extra days wasn’t such a hardship, even if it was with a Werewolf.
Now it was night, and the storm still raged. There was horrible flooding in the valley. If it kept up, Jason was going to be spending his mating honeymoon rescuing wolves with houses in the lower sections of pack lands. He called Desmon to touch base and see if he needed help, but got no answer.
Which meant the phones were fucking up worse than he thought, or Desmon was dealing with larger issues and was too stressed out to be bothered with Jason.
So Jason left a message offering to help if it was needed.
They’d gone to the store and picked up food. Jason bought steaks, because it was already obvious he wasn’t going to impress Brandi with his hunting skills.
Cooking with Brandi in the kitchen and having her there was nice. Comforting. Brandi suggested they watch television while they ate, except Jason didn’t have a television. Then she grabbed one of her bags they’d brought in earlier from the trunk of her car, and pulled out her computer to put on something for them to watch.
She picked a modern spy film.
Brandi claimed it was the only man movie she owned.
Jason enjoyed it immensely, especially when Brandi curled up next to him on the couch after they were done eating. Their plates lay abandoned on the coffee table, and he should probably pick them up, but feeling Brandi against him was more appealing. She smelled amazing, and she felt so fucking good, all soft curves pressed against him. He kept turning away from the glare of the screen to glance down at her looking extraordinarily sexy in one of the nightshirts she got out of the bags she’d packed for the trip to visit her friend.
“He is effective, but he has no honor,” Jason mused, as he watched the head spy callously dismiss the woman he was supposed to be protecting when she died. “He doesn’t care she’s dead. He makes a joke about it. Your men, they don’t care at all for their women, do they? Like my father, they have no loyalty.”
“Well, some do. There are good ones out there.” Brandi lifted her head from where she was resting it against his chest to look up at him. “Or so I’ve heard.”
“Our worlds are very different.” Jason kept staring at the computer, watching as the spy left behind the dead woman without a backwards glance. “I would turn into a monster if someone killed you in front of me. Even the most terrifying stories humans created about our kind wouldn’t touch what I’d be if someone did that.”
She gave him a bemused smile. “That sounds oddly sweet, in a totally disturbing Werewolf sort of way. I didn’t know you cared.”
“I care,” he promised her. “I’d protect you better than that guy could. I have skills he doesn’t.”
She laughed. “That’s a tall order. He has some pretty impressive skills.”
“So do I.” He waggled his eyebrows. “In all ways, but I don’t want his large collection of women.” He pulled her tighter against him and squeezed her arm affectionately. “I only want this one.”
Her smile became wide and pleased, making her cheeks flush, and Jason couldn’t resist leaning down and kissing her. Brandi parted to him with a soft, feminine sigh that made his dick rock hard almost instantly. He slipped his tongue into her mouth, unable to taper his low growl of arousal, but Brandi didn’t seem to mind. She kissed him back fiercely, in a way he never imagined a human could, until they were both breathless.
He’d pushed Brandi back against the couch and was partially draped over her when they finally parted for air. The movie was forgotten as Jason pulled up to study her. Her lips were red and swollen, and he rubbed his thumb over her bottom one. Brandi shuddered from that simple caress, making him realize the heat may have not totally been to blame for her raw, sexual responsiveness the night before.
It was just Brandi.
“Why’d you stay?” he asked, still breathing heavily as he fought to keep his carnal side at bay. “The real reason.”
“So crazy Werewolves wouldn’t attack and eat me.” Her chest was heaving too, the deep V in her nightshirt showing off the curves of her full tits. “You said they could track me to my apartment.”
“That’s the only reason?” he pressed, because he needed to know if she felt it too, this inexplicable pull to be close, to fuck, to drown herself in this relationship even though they barely knew each other. He rubbed his thumb against her bottom lip again. She sucked in a sharp breath, and closed her eyes. Then she licked it, sending a rocket-fire pulse of lust straight to his dick. His hips jerked of their own accord, as he demanded, “Tell me.”
His voice was rough with need.
“You’re sounding very wolfy,” Brandi teased.
“You’re making me feel very wolfy.” He let out a low, animalist growl that made her jerk back, but she was smiling, which meant she knew he wasn’t a threat, so he pressed, “I want to know. Why’d you stay?”
“Because I didn’t want to be eaten by crazy Werewolves.” Her smile was back. “Not that this place is any better. I was practically molested when your friend just walked in and smelled something he liked.”
“I said I was sorry about that.” He dropped his head back to the curve of her neck. “Everyone in my pack knows I keep a spare key hidden on the porch. Paul let himself in probably th
inking I was still out running with the pack.” He kissed her neck, and she made one of those soft, purely feminine sounds that forced him to run a hand up her smooth, bare thigh. “Sometimes the men will show up here after a run and have some beers with me.”
A howl sounded from outside, and it was close. Another one followed. Brandi jumped. Jason turned and eyed the locked door. He sighed, wondering if he was cursed somehow.
Unbelievable.
“Like tonight.” He winced when she looked up at him with wide eyes. “Some of them are outside.”
“Are you serious?” She sounded stunned. “It’s raining like crazy. Why are they even out in this?”
“I can hear them talking. Jazz and a few of our other enforcers were still scouting for the wolves who tried to kill you. We take attacks on our land very seriously. Rain doesn’t stop us.”
“Jazz, the other alpha wolf?” She sounded even more panicked. “Is he going to come in here with a suit, barking orders and listening while I make phone calls too?”
“Not likely.”
Jason winced again as he got to his feet, his body mourning the loss of Brandi. He still had a raging hard-on and the room reeked of desire. Something he was sure Jazz and his crew would notice, if they didn’t smell that he was mated first.
Jason walked for the door, adjusting his dick in his jeans as he went. He pulled his shirt lower and then turned the lock. He could hear Jazz looking for the key under the mat. It was a sure bet they’d all walk right in. He blocked the door when he opened it, because there were four very naked Werewolves standing on the other side.
“Hey.” He stared at Jazz with wide eyes, trying to silently communicate his situation. “Tonight isn’t a good night.”
“Don’t want to lose your money, huh?” Jazz laughed as he shook his head in a very wolf-like manor, spraying Jason with water as he tried to dry his soaking-wet hair. “Move, Jason. This storm is killing us. We’ve been out there, in fur, in the pouring fucking rain for over twenty-four hours. I’m done. I need a beer and whatever leftover meat you caught for dinner.”
Jazz sniffed the air. The rain and mud were obviously affecting his sense of smell, but he turned back to Jason with wide eyes. “The human is still here?” He leaned in, sniffing Jason, and then huffed in disbelief. “Did you—”
Jason gave him another look, hoping to shut him up. “I have company. It’s really not a good time. Didn’t Des ever contact you and the guys? I know he left you a message on your cell phone. You haven’t been back to your place since yesterday?”
“Nope.” Jazz let out a low laugh of disbelief. “But I bet he wants to kill you if he smelled what I am. How’d that even happen? You just met her. But let’s discuss this inside. Like it or not, you’re stuck with us for a while until this storm passes. It’s getting nasty out there. I don’t want any of us caught in a mudslide.”
“Why, are you afraid your human will find something she likes better if you let us in?” Luke taunted as he shook his head in the same way Jazz had.
Jason growled, and curled back his lip, showing off his fangs that had grown long. He was feeling more than a little territorial, and he made sure they all knew it.
“Really?” Jazz stared at Jason in disbelief. “He’s kidding. We’re not going to molest your human.”
“Unless she wants us too,” Caleb added.
Jason growled louder.
“Look, it smells to me like she’s off the market. So why are you growling at us when we’ve been out scouting to protect her while you’ve been holed up in this cozy cabin with a sweet-smelling human?” Jazz gave him an unimpressed look. “Or maybe we interrupted something.”
Even with the rain and the shock of Jason’s scent changing now that he was mated, it was obvious Jazz could smell the desire still choking the air out of the room. He was fucking with Jason on purpose, likely since he’d been bored scouting in fur since yesterday.
Jason just sighed, knowing this could only get worse. He met Brandi’s gaze as she looked at him over the edge of the couch. “You better close your eyes. Four naked men are about to walk in.”
Brandi frantically shook her head no. “I don’t have any pants on.”
“Your shirt covers everything.” Jason wasn’t particularly thrilled about them seeing her in a nightshirt either, but it was long, hanging clear past her knees, and by Werewolf standards that was more than enough. “Close them or you’ll see more of my friends than you probably want to, since you’re such a stickler for clothing.”
“So what, we’re just going to stand here because your human has a thing about clothing?” Jazz asked in an unusual display of annoyance, which meant the days of rain and fur had worn on him. “Are we allowed to walk past her to take a shower?”
“I’ll grab some clothes for everyone.”
Jason dashed up the stairs, knowing the enforcers and Jazz were impatient and Brandi was anxious.
Bad combination.
Chapter Ten
Brandi watched Jason run up the stairs and then sat there on the couch, feeling exposed. Every hair on her body stood on end when she thought about the Werewolves behind her. She trusted Jason, but that was about it. Even Desmon had left her incredibly on edge in that dominant, scary-boss sort of way.
She was hyper-sensitive to what they were saying, even though they were talking in low voices by the door.
“All the rain and mud’s messing up my smell. Like mated mated?” one of the Werewolves was asking.
“That’s what I’m smelling.” Jazz had a distinctive growly voice, lower than the others, more wolf-like in a way that sort of reminded her of Desmon. “And he didn’t deny it.”
“Jason hates humans.”
Another wolf snorted. “But we haven’t really seen what she looks like yet. There are exceptions to every rule.”
“I can hear you,” she decided to announce, before they said something really insulting.
“Hey, darlin’, I’m sorry, but it is an honest question.”
The way Jazz said it was reminiscent of Jason, how the word darlin’ rolled off his tongue like a caress. She could tell without seeing him that Jazz the alpha was a man who was used to being obeyed. It made her feel vulnerable.
Then one of the men whistled.
And the others laughed.
Brandi squeezed her eyes shut tighter, but all she saw were those wolves hunting her in the woods.
“I’m Jazz.” He sounded amused, almost playful. That was very different from Desmon. “You really don’t have to be so shy. We’re not human. Not like we have anything that needs hiding.”
They all laughed again.
Even if he was more playful, less intense than Desmon, she could tell Jazz wasn’t someone used to following rules. He didn’t like being told to stand by the door.
Brandi heard the creak of the floorboards as he walked up to the couch, and she warned, “You’re too close.”
“We don’t actually bite, you know.”
“Unless you want us to,” one of the other Werewolves offered.
That seemed to be his one good line.
Brandi wasn’t impressed.
Behind her closed eyes, she was seeing those wolves in the woods chasing her, teeth gleaming and vicious. The threat of biting was very real to her. Brandi stopped closing her eyes and jumped off the couch instead. She headed towards the stairs while trying very hard not to look back at the Werewolves.
“Hey, hey, hey.” Jazz caught her by lightly clutching Brandi’s shoulder, clearly moving much faster than her. “We were just—”
Brandi reacted before he could finish. She grabbed his hand and used the maneuver her brother and his friends had taught her. She dipped her shoulder, and yanked with all her might.
It shouldn’t have worked, but she did have an epic amount of adrenaline pumping through her veins. She heard gasps as the large man crashed on his back on the floor. Brandi saw the surfer-blond, extremely buff and naked Werewolf stare up at her with wide
blue eyes filled with shock.
He rolled over, recovering instantly, and couched naked in front of her. He looked more wolf-like all of a sudden, tilting his head like he wasn’t sure what to make of her.
He really was built. She could see the Nightwind tattoo on his thick, cut upper arm. He had wide shoulders and was muscular like Jason. Didn’t they have any fat, out-of-shape Werewolves? Her gaze darted to the other three naked men by the front door. They were all muscular and in shape, with their matching Nightwind tattoos that was obviously a brand of some sort. Each of them were Playgirl material all the way.
She glanced back to the blond man still staring at her with shock.
“Shit,” Jason cursed from above. “Don’t touch her, Jazz. Please. Remember, she’s human and she’s got a mouth on her. What was that thump I heard?”
Jason ran down the stairs for Brandi.
One of the men by the door laughed. “She threw Jazz. Flipped his ass right over her body and onto the floor. I didn’t know humans could do that. I thought that was a bitch-only move.”
Jason jumped between Jazz and Brandi. Now all she had to stare at was Jason’s naked back. She moved closer, until she was a breath away from him. Then she reached out and gripped his belt loop at the back of his jeans, needing the extra security.
Jason sighed and threw the clothes in his arms to the men. “Get dressed. She’s offended by us naked.”
Jazz, the blond, softly cursed. “What in the hell, Jason? You never dated a human in your life and you decided to mate with this one?”
Jason coughed loudly, and Brandi got the impression he was giving Jazz a look that silently communicated something. She was obviously right, because Jazz coughed too, only it sounded more shocked than anything.
“Are you shitting me right now?” Jazz barked in that low, growly wolf- like voice. “You didn’t tell her? That’s breaking at least three laws. Des is going to freak.”
She wanted to ask. Brandi got the impression all day Jason wasn’t telling her everything, but she wasn’t going to press the issue in front of these strangers.