by Anya Nowlan
“I see him, too,” she said. “I think we can get a little closer without him seeing us,” she added, still hiding her face behind Wes’ wide frame.
He slowly swayed her closer to the edge of the dance floor, encircling her in his arms, like a living safety net. Heart beating fast, Dakota watched as Elias laughed and drank champagne, looking like he didn’t have a care in the world.
“He looks awfully cheerful,” Dakota muttered.
“I guess a tiny thing like attempted murder doesn’t weigh him down,” Wes huffed.
Doing her best to ignore the way Wes’ body rubbed up against hers, Dakota tried to make out what Elias was talking about, but with the music, and the voices of the other guests, it was nearly impossible.
“It looks like small talk, but I can’t be sure,” she said.
“It is,” Wes nodded. “Elias just asked someone if their son was adjusting to campus life at Harvard.”
“Nice ears,” Dakota remarked.
“Just one of my many helpful abilities,” he replied, his warm breath hitting her neck.
Dakota found herself wanting to say something that would really convey how much she had come to appreciate his help, and how invaluable Wes was to her. It went way beyond his physical abilities. He made her stronger just by being at her side and believing in her.
But before she could even begin putting any of her feelings into words, Wes spoke up.
“His phone just buzzed,” he said, his flirty tone suddenly replaced by a no-nonsense attitude.
Dakota’s fingers dug into Wes’ shoulders as she watched Elias excuse himself from the conversation he was in the middle of, and walk toward the exit of the ballroom, his hand going into his pocket.
“He’s leaving,” she said. “We have to follow.”
Without another word, Wes expertly maneuvered them away from the sway of dancing bodies, and to the edge of the room. Dakota kept her eyes on Elias’ back as the man disappeared into the hallway.
Disentangling from Wes, she grabbed his hand and led her toward the same hallway, stopping near the doorway and peeking out.
“He’s going right, where the living quarters are. That area is not meant for guests,” she said.
“Then let’s go see what he’s up to,” Wes nodded, brushing past her to lead the way.
Dakota didn’t argue him taking point. He could probably hear Elias stop or change directions, and she didn’t have that kind of advantage. So, walking as quietly as she could on her five-inch heels, she followed. Luckily, the thick carpet muffled their steps as they crept along, Wes sniffing the air was they went.
When the hallway split into two, he gestured toward his left, slowing his steps. Dakota came to a stop behind him, her heart thudding against her chest. What if this turned out to be their shot? She never thought of the possibility of Elias separating from the other guests. Could they just overpower him right then and there, force him to take them to the books?
How would we get him outside with all these people around? His security is probably waiting at the door, and if Elias calls out for help, we’d be screwed.
Reluctantly, Dakota had to admit that abducting the man in the middle of a fundraiser wasn’t exactly the best plan. She couldn’t let her eagerness to take down Elias cloud her judgment, like it already had once before in Denver.
I’ll never get the books back if I get thrown in jail.
Music from the banquet hall echoed out into the hallways, but she could still hear a creak, followed by a soft thud coming from where Elias had disappeared to. Wes must have heard it, too, as he turned the corner, grabbing into her hand.
At the end of the short hall, they were faced with a single, closed door. There was nowhere else to go, so Elias must have stepped inside to return that call he had gotten earlier.
Slowly, she and Wes stepped closer, with him all but pressing his ear to the door.
“Can you hear him?” Dakota mouthed to Wes.
He just nodded, and pressed a finger to his lips. Seconds ticked by, feeling more like hours, as Dakota waited and watched Wes listen in on a conversation she couldn’t hear.
When Wes suddenly turned around, grabbed her arm and pulled her back toward the main hallway, Dakota figured Elias’ call was over. Turning onto the long, narrow way back toward the banquet hall, she couldn’t help but wonder if they would make it inside before Elias rounded the corner and spotted them racing away.
She certainly wasn’t her fastest on heels and wrapped in a tight dress, but Wes propelled them both forward, until it felt like her feet hardly touched the floor at all. Risking a glance behind her, she spotted the shoulder of a dark suit appearing from behind the corner, just as Wes pulled her inside the banquet hall.
Flattening herself against the nearest wall, Dakota sucked in a breath, the adrenaline pumping through her making her feel a bit fuzzy. Wes turned to shield her from the entrance, blocking her with his imposing frame just as footsteps passed them by.
From the corner of her eye, Dakota caught a glimpse of Elias strolling toward a group of people waving him over, an insincere smile plastered on his face. Just watching him schmooze and waltz around like no one’s business made her blood boil.
As soon as Elias had his back turned to them, Wes grabbed her hand and led her outside. They walked toward the exit, hand-in-hand. The guards at the door nodded at them as they stepped outside, the evening breeze sweeping her hair back.
A valet ran up, a young man with an eager smile on his face, but Wes brusquely waved him away.
“Nope,” he said, and the man immediately took a step back, puzzled.
They set their sights toward where they had left the car, and Dakota could hardly wait to get out of everyone’s earshot before asking the burning question on her mind.
“What did you hear?” she whispered, studying Wes’ face. “Please tell me it was something we can use.”
“Don’t get your hopes up,” Wes warned. “But I think I did.”
“What?” she asked, barely stopping herself from jumping up and down with excitement.
“I only heard his side,” he started. “He sounded annoyed, talking about not wanting to let anyone inside.”
“Inside where?”
“I don’t know, but he also complained about a construction crew that should mind their own business,” Wes replied.
Dakota’s mind was racing a mile a minute. Could they really have gotten this lucky?
“You mean there’s a place he doesn’t want anyone to go inside of, and it’s near an active construction site?” she asked, a smile slowly spreading on her face.
“His evil lair?” Wes offered.
“Exactly. And now we have something to help narrow down which one of his properties he is using to do his dirty work at.”
Watch out, Campbell. We’re closer than you think.
Thirty
Wes
Opening the hotel room door for her, Wes followed Dakota inside. She kicked off her heels and rolled her shoulders, the green silk draping off her caressing her body with each movement. Yet even looking at her luscious body couldn’t distract Wes from what was on his mind.
They were now closer than ever to finding the books, yet he didn’t feel like celebrating. No, all he wanted was to know where Dakota stood, and if she even cared about him at all. It was time to lay the cards on the table, and see what happened.
“Dakota,” he started, and she whirled around to face him across the room. “Why did you run away earlier? And don’t tell me it was because you like to shop alone or any other such bullshit. I want the truth.”
She looked taken aback for a moment, before crossing her arms in front of her.
“I don’t know what you mean,” she argued.
“Yes, you do,” he replied, taking a step closer. “I know you’re attracted to me. I can smell it on you. But ever since last night at the barn, you’ve been holding back. I don’t want to push you into anything, or demand anything from you, but
I would like to know what’s up.”
Dakota chewed on her bottom lip, her arms still crossed tightly in front of her.
“I just don’t think we need to complicate things for ourselves,” she shrugged, but her tone was strained. “We both know how this is going to end.”
“Do we?” Wes arched a brow at her. “Enlighten me, then.”
“You know,” she said, letting her arms drop to her sides. “I’m an assignment for you, and while we’ve become friends during this time together, that hasn’t changed. Once we get the books back and you see I want nothing but to destroy them, you will go back to your home. Your family. I don’t have a family anymore. All I have is this job that no one else knows about, and a responsibility to throw myself into danger so others don’t get hurt. You see the problem here?”
“I don’t,” was Wes’ curt reply.
“What?” Dakota frowned.
It seemed she hadn’t expected that particular response.
“You’ve got it all figured out, but you forgot one thing,” he said. “You forgot to actually ask me what I think about all this.”
Dakota looked uncomfortable as she looked at him, fidgeting with the sides of her dress. Taking off her earrings, she walked into the bathroom, and Wes followed her, not wanting to let her get off that easy.
“What’s there to think about? There are facts, and…” she began to argue, but Wes wasn’t having it.
It seemed Dakota was trying to tell him she was pushing him away for their own good, and he just couldn’t agree with that. And the fact she hadn’t consulted him before deciding she knew what was best for him didn’t fly with him at all.
“What facts? Have you ever thought that maybe I don’t want to go back to Pinedale once this is over?” he waved a hand. “And if you had just talked to me, you would know that.”
He had never said it out loud, but there had been a niggle on the back of his head for some time now. The pack was all he had ever known, but that wasn’t a good enough reason to stay with them. He would always love his wolf brothers, but he knew they would be the first ones to tell him he needed to do what felt right to him.
Absentmindedly placing her earrings on the edge of the bathroom counter, she tapped her fingers along the edge of it before turning around.
“But your pack…” she trailed off, as if knowing what he had been thinking about.
“Will be my family no matter where in the world I am,” he finished for her, leaning on the doorway. “But I want to carve out my own path. I can’t do that in Pinedale. I have more to give than they need, but I think it’s just right for you. For us.”
Blinking at him, Dakota looked to be gathering her thoughts.
“And what’s that path?” she asked after a long moment.
“I was kind of hoping my path was with you,” Wes admitted, not giving himself a chance to shy away from the truth.
Dakota was his mate. He was sure of that now. That meant there was no holding back. She might have been fighting her feelings for him, but he wasn’t going to any longer. Life was too short for that.
“Do you really want to be a part of this kind of life?” Dakota sighed. “I’ve tried having relationships before, but it never works out, for obvious reasons.”
“But I know about everything,” Wes argued. “Demons, spells, the whole nine yards You don’t need to hide anything from me. I’m not some squishy human who will break at the first hurled projectile. No more secrets. We can do this together.”
“You really want a life full of danger?” Dakota countered.
“Do I strike you as the playing it safe type?” Wes arched a brow at her. “And who are you really trying to convince here? Me or you?”
“I don’t know,” she shook her head. “I’m just figuring everything out myself – taking over for my dad, getting his books back, what I’m going to do after I do that… I guess I’m afraid,” she admitted.
There was that familiar sinking feeling again, and Dakota was beginning to understand that it didn’t come from anything else other than inside herself. She could have all the support she ever needed but if she couldn’t get over her insecurities, it wasn’t going to change anything.
Could she change? Could she trust him?
“Of what?” he asked.
“Of leaning on you. What if I get too used to it, and then one day you’re not there anymore?” she asked, eyes getting shiny.
Wes crossed the room in one long stride, placing his hands on her shoulders.
“I’m not going anywhere,” he assured her. “Because you’re it for me, Dakota. I felt it the moment we met. And being with you, doing this work with you feels right. More right than anything ever has. It’s like I’ve finally found my place.”
“What are you saying?” Dakota’s eyes widened.
“I’ve trusted you from the start. I never thought you were going to use the books for some evil purpose. I took the assignment to follow you because I couldn’t not ever see you again. My wolf has acted like he knew you from the second we stumbled upon each other in Pinedale,” he replied, watching a single tear stream down her cheek.
“Are you saying… I’m your mate?” Dakota asked, her voice little more than a whisper.
“I am,” he nodded. “But I’m not saying it to put pressure on you. I’m saying it because I need to say it.”
What could she say to that? Other than what she knew in her heart. There was a lot of bad out there, she knew it, but this was something good.
“It does feel right,” she replied under her breath, locking eyes with him. “Being close to you is like a drug, and it scares me sometimes.”
Relief surged through Wes as she said the words he had wanted to hear. So she did feel as strongly about him as he did about her. He had dared to hope so, since they were soul mates after all, but hearing it out loud was still special.
“You’re only afraid because you’re holding back,” he said. “You’re scared because you’re not letting go. You’re getting stuck in your head. Just trust me when I say I will always be by your side, if you’ll have me there,” he added, reaching out to wipe the tear from her cheek.
“Just be patient with me, okay?” she replied. “I’m trying to trust myself more, but it may take me a little while to get the hang of it.”
“Whatever you need,” Wes nodded. “Just promise me you’ll talk to me about what’s going on in that head of yours.”
“All right,” she replied. “Can I be honest then?” she asked, leaning back against the counter.
“Always,” he replied.
“I thought you were the hottest man I’d ever laid eyes on when we met,” she said with a small grin.
“You did?” he arched a brow at her, his wolf growling low in his chest. “Well, if we’re being honest, then I have to say I haven’t been able to tear my eyes away from you all night,” he said, letting his gaze trail over her. “You in this dress…” he trailed off, appreciating every inch of her silhouette.
“Oh, this old thing?” Dakota asked, cocking her hip. “I guess it is nice,” she shrugged. “But I can’t wait to get out of it,” she added, with a fire in her eyes that was hard to misinterpret.
“Let me help you, then,” Wes said, stepping closer, until Dakota was pressed up against the counter, her chest rising and falling as her heartbeat quickened.
“Please do,” she tilted her head at him. “What are partners for, after all.”
Thirty-One
Dakota
Mouth turning dry and butterflies filling her stomach, Dakota watched as Wes slowly knelt down in front of her, his fingers finding the edge of her floor-length dress. The fabric rustled softly as his hands slid beneath it, slowly moving up her legs.
“Is this helpful?” Wes asked, looking up at her.
“Very,” she nodded, resting her elbows on the counter behind her.
Her dress lifted up as Wes’ hands slid higher and higher, until his fingers were massaging her inner thighs
and making her core clench together. His thumbs almost grazed her pussy as his fingers dug into her skin, making a soft sigh escape her lips.
“Maybe we should leave the dress on, after all,” he remarked, pushing the extra fabric aside and planting a trail of kisses leading up her thigh. “You’ve barely had it on. And we had to leave the party in a hurry,” he murmured against her skin.
Dakota was at the point where she would agree with pretty much everything he said, as long as he didn’t stop touching her.
“And we didn’t even get to finish our dance,” she replied, her voice breathy.
“That was a shame,” Wes agreed, pushing her dress up even more, until the whole skirt was bunched around her waist and flowing onto the counter behind her. “Let me make it up to you.”
Dakota gasped when his fingers brushed over her panties with soft, teasing touches. He avoided her clit at first, ramping up the tension inside her and making her writhe against the counter. When he gripped her hip with one firm hand, she stilled.
His other hand gently spread her thighs apart, his fingers pressed against her slit as his thumb started rubbing circles against her clit. The touch was delicate at first, as Wes built up the pressure until her pussy ached for more.
Liquid heat pooled in the pit of her stomach, as she had to admit the effect Wes had on her was incomparable. One look, one touch, one damn word was all it took for her to be putty in his hands.
That was a lot of power for one man to have over her. Yet it didn’t bother her. More than ever, she wanted to go with her gut, and her gut told her she shouldn’t fear giving herself over to him.
Wes only took his hands off her to pull down her panties, tossing them aside as soon as she had stepped out of them. Dakota’s knees buckled as he started kissing around her pussy, while his hands slid around to hold on to her ass.
His tongue snaked out, spreading her pussy apart in long, scorching licks that made Dakota moan out loud. It was as if he knew exactly which buttons to press with her, to the point where her body was screaming out to him for more.