"I'm sorry, what?" She asked, wondering how she could sound so calm.
"I asked if you were OK." He leaned down to look into her eyes. "What’s wrong?"
She shook her head and closed her eyes. "Nothing, I just got a bit light headed from all of this excitement." She looked away, trying to hide the truth in her eyes and took a deep breath. "I'm fine now."
"Are you sure?"
She nodded and thinking she'd managed to disguise her feelings, she looked at him, really looked at him. He was different now, not like the jaded jerk she'd first met months ago. It was his different attitude that did it, she decided, because she could deal with a jerk but how could she fight off a sweetheart?
He seemed more relaxed and smiled more, not mockingly, but a real smile; the kind that came from within and made your eyes shine. He was smiling at her now and it transformed his whole face. "What do you see?"
She looked into his glowing hazel eyes and murmured. "You, I see you."
That caused him to pause for a second. "Keep looking at me like that and I'm going to kiss you in front of everyone." He warned and after a second of thinking about it he proceeded to do just that.
He wrapped an arm around her and she melted against him. She sighed into his lips and tried to deepen the kiss; he groaned and gave her bottom lip one last flick with his tongue before putting his hands on her shoulders and stepping away. His breathing was labored as he looked at her flushed face and kiss swollen lips. It was getting harder, every time he kissed her it was getting harder to pull away. All he wanted was to carry her away and complete their mating but she wasn't ready and even though it was killing him he had no other choice but to wait.
"I have to go."
He turned to leave but she stopped him, placing a hand on his arm. "What? Why?"
"I have a lot of things to do at home." He ran a hand in agitation through his hair. “Will you call me tonight?"
She nodded but he couldn't see it because he was already headed for the door. Confused, she stood there and watched him go.
Watched him go and wondered what was wrong with him. She was new to the whole relationship thing and she didn't know if she should let him go or run after him.
"It’s killing him you know."
She turned around to face Christian. "What is?"
Instead of answering Christian took her arm and led her to a secluded area of the yard where they could talk without being overheard. "Did you know that your mating is incomplete?" Jessica shook her head slowly. "It is; there are two steps in mating. A man will mark his mate but it is up to her to complete their mating."
"How do you complete a mating?"
"You, uh," He cleared his throat and Jessica had to hold back a smile, realizing that he was uncomfortable, and then her smile died with his next words. “Intercourse, sex, doing the dirty, getting jiggy with it."
She raised her arms to stop him, feeling the heat crawl up her neck. "OK, OK I get it. You don't need to draw me a picture."
She grumbled. "So the girl has to ask for...sex?"
That made him laugh and he shook his head. "No, trust me, you don't have to ask for sex. All you have to do is accept him as your mate."
Her eyebrows came together in confusion. "But I thought..."
"That once you were marked that you didn't have a choice?" She nodded. "Well you do."
"What if I say no?"
"He will die." Jessica gasped and he laughed. "Just kidding."
Jessica punched him in the arm. "You’re not funny."
He grew serious. "And neither is the pain that he is enduring."
She eyed him up and down. "You seem to speak from experience."
"That I do; nothing like the pain of feeling that half of you is missing."
"What happened with you?"
"I messed up.” He confessed but before she could ask him about it, he continued. "Put him out of his misery already. He might be blind to the way you look at him, but I'm not."
Her eyes flew wide open but he didn't give her a chance to respond. Like Nick he just turned and walked away.
Minutes later her mom Lauren found her standing in the same spot, "There you are! what's wrong?" she asked upon noticing the look on her face.
Jessica shrugged but then thought about it and decided to confide in her mom about her feelings towards nick and her talk with Christian. Her mom nodded understandingly then shocked her by telling her to go to him.
"But I thought you said I was too young."
"That was before knowing you loved him, when you were only being led by the desire to find out about your father and besides you are an adult now."
Jessica smiled. "I am aren't I?"
Her mom nodded returned her smile. "And I'm sure that if you ask, he will help you in your search for information about Cade."
"Thanks mom." She kissed her cheek. "I'm going to say bye to my mom-my other mom." She added and Lauren laughed in understanding. "And Uncle Mike and then I am leaving."
She kissed her mom one more time before she went to say goodbye to all of the guests then ran inside and up to her room to change. Minutes later she went flying down the stairs and came to a sudden stop when she saw Axel and Christian waiting for her by the door. "How did you know?"
In answer they tapped their ears to remind her of their excellent hearing and she rolled her eyes. "I wasn't planning on leaving without you." She assured them and then added wryly. "I don't know where he lives."
"We will gladly get you there and thank you" Christian told her sincerely. "Nick is like a big brother and I hate to see him hurting."
Jessica didn't know what to say to that so she just nodded and made her way to her bike.
Till death do us part.
Those were the words ringing in her mind as she followed Christian; Axel took up the rear, towards Nick. She knew that if she went through with her plans, there would be no turning back.
Chapter 18
It was a beautiful home, she thought as she got off her bike and took off her helmet. His two story farm house looked newly remodeled with an amazing wrap around porch. Thinking that later on she would a chance to admire the architecture, she headed towards the door.
Half way up the steps she stopped, turned around and looked at her guards. "I'm calling the fealty card, whatever you heard after Nick left my house, keep it to yourselves." She waited until they nodded and then added. "And I think you guys should sit out here and enjoy the day. What do you think?"
They both smirked at her and nodded again, she glared at them one last time before continuing her way up the stairs. She raised her arm to knock when the door was opened and she came face to face with the set of eyes she’d seen on a certain wolf.
"You shaved."
At first he looked at her as if she was from Mars but then threw his head back and laughed when he figured out what she meant. "Yeah, I did," He threw his arms out. "So what do you think?"
Looking him up and down, she nodded approvingly. "Nice, I'm Jessica by the way." She stuck her arm out and he took it. “Glad to finally meet you."
Matt smiled at her. “Same here."
"Is Nick here?"
Matt looked over his shoulder towards the stairs. "Yeah, but are you sure you want to see him? He is not in the best of moods."
"Yeah, I'm sure." She was also sure she knew was wrong with him.
He shrugged. “OK, it's your funeral. Go on up he is in this room." He moved aside to let her pass and pointed her in the direction of Nick's room.
"Thanks, and do you mind hanging out with Axel and Christian for a while?" She asked, her face as red as a tomato, as she passed him.
"Why?"
"Just do it." She told him as she ran up the stairs.
"Is that an Alpha's order?"
She looked over her shoulder at him. "Yes it is."
"Well then your wish is my command."
She smiled wickedly and winked at him. "Yes, yes it is."
He laughed and shakin
g his head he stepped out of the house and closed the door behind him.
She found his room easily enough but it took her a couple of seconds to find the courage to take this last step. After taking a deep breath and telling herself to just do it she raised her arm and knocked on his door once.
"I said I didn't want to talk to anyone." She heard him snarl.
"Not even me?" She asked him as she opened the door and stepped into his room.
Nick had been lying down on his bed and he shot up out of it when he heard her voice. It was amazing to power she had over him. He'd been in a sour mood since he left her and with just the sound of her voice she had the power to make him feel better. Unfortunately, seeing her in his room was proving to be a test on his control.
"What are you doing here?"
She closed the door, leaned against it and took a deep breath before saying. "I am here to claim you."
He looked at her as if she was a ghost, shocked, amazed-he couldn't find the right word, and then shook his head; afraid he'd heard her wrong. "Come again?"
"You heard me, I am ready."
She pushed herself away from the door and took a step towards him, hoping he didn't see the way her knees were shaking, threatening to give out under her.
"Stop!" He took a step back and raised his hand. "Don't."
She ignored him, knowing that it was now or never, and took another step.
"Jessica, be warned I can only hold back for so long."
She stalked him like prey and a corner of her lip quirked up when he took a stumbling step back. Jessica didn't fail to notice the hilarity in their situation. For weeks he had been doing the chasing and now that she was ready to be caught, he was turning her away out of some sense of chivalry.
"Be sure Jessica, there's no going back from this."
Nick tried to get her to see reason but she'd already made up her mind. Yet, he was right about one thing, there was no going back for her. Nick backed himself against the wall and held a hand out in front of him. Her lips twitched threatening to break out in a smile from the absurd picture they must present. A six foot something Alpha trying to hold off the advances of his five foot something mate.
The hilarity of the situation helped to relieve her anxiety and gave her the strength to take the last few steps to reach him.
"I am sure." She told him when she finally came to a stop in front of him. She stood on her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I'm positive, your warnings have been duly noted and I understand the consequences." She murmured, looking straight at him, her lips less than an inch away from his. "And I accept." She whispered, leaning into him.
The feel of her body brushing against his, the look in her eyes and her words snapped the leash he had wrapped around his control. He snaked his arms around her and held her tight; like a drowning man holding on to a lifesaver would, he imagined, and kissed her with all the passion he'd been holding back from her. She groaned in appreciation and the sound vibrated all through his body.
The taste of her flew through his body, leaving his nerves on high alert.
When they came up for air at last, he cupped her rear and pulled her closer; letting her feel the effect she had on him. "There isn't a day that has gone by that I haven't ached for you." He confessed to her and kissed her again, not giving her the chance to respond.
Without breaking their kiss, he walked her backwards until her knees hit his bed. He smoothed his hands down her sides, gracing the sides of her breasts and continuing down to the front of her shirt, specifically to the last button of her button up shirt. He toyed with it, traced a finger around it before he began to undo it slowly and only then did he separate his lips from hers.
He stepped back and slowly unbuttoned her shirt from bottom to top; slowly because he wanted to memorize every inch of her flesh that he uncovered. He had just reached the button just under her breast when she brought her hands up to cover his hands with hers to stop him. It was this first sign of her nervousness that he noticed.
He leaned his head down, his eyes leveled with hers, and looked straight at her without blinking. "You want me to stop, you just say so and I will."
Saying the words hurt him but he wanted her to understand that it was all up to her, that he would respect her wishes if she changed her mind. It would kill him to stop but he would if that's what she wanted. He smiled reassuringly at her and waited for her to decide, praying to every deity he could think of that she didn't say stop.
It seemed like he waited an eternity for her answer.
After taking a deep breath she slowly lifted her hands, and moaned, her hands on his chest, in an overly dramatic voice and batted her lashes at him. "No, please, don't, stop."
The breath he didn't know he'd been holding rushed out his lungs and he chuckled, both glad to know she wasn't so nervous that her spunkiness had deserted her and that she truly wanted this as much as he. He undid the button that covered her breast and that chuckle became a groan. Mesmerized, he unbuttoned the rest of her shirt and pushed it off her shoulders until she stood in front of him with only a lacy bra covering her breast. His heart stuttered upon his first intimate look at his mate.
She raised her arms as if to cover herself but he raised his hand and stopped her. "No, don't. I want to look at you." She paused for a second, as if trying to gather her courage, then lowered her hands slowly and he smiled. "You are beautiful." He whispered in awe and it was the truth.
One look at her and she'd managed to erase every memory of all the women in his past. She was a vision and he had to touch her to make sure she was real. That this was all real and not just some trick made up by his desperate mind. It hadn't been a lie when he told her about his daily ache for her.
He brought his hands up and graced the top of her breasts with his fingertips, making her shiver. "Beautiful." He repeated and bent low to kiss the top swells, her skin was warm under his lips and he gave her a light flick for a quick taste; delicious. He looked at her, his lips still gracing her breast and asked. "Are your panties black and lacy too?"
She nodded slowly but he decided to find out for himself.
He brushed his lips against hers one more time before he lowered himself down to his knees and trailed opened mouth kisses down her stomach until he reached the top of her jeans. Trying to cool his heated blood, he took a deep breath and with it he realized that something was different about her scent.
Like her body, not stick thin with curves in all the right places, her scent captivated him. There was nothing he could find about her that he didn't like. His mind likened her fragrance to that of a ripe fruit, ready for the picking.
And after a second of hesitation and another deep breath he decided that her scent was becoming stronger now that the serum was almost completely gone from her body. His mouth salivated at the thought of tasting her core; if her smell was this enticing to him he could only imagine how much he would enjoy her taste.
In a rush to do just that, he struggled with the top button and with a growl he ripped it clear off her jeans sending it flying across the floor.
"Sorry." He murmured. "I'll buy you another pair."
Jessica didn't hear a word; she was too entranced with the sight of Nick, on his knees, at her feet, to care about a silly pair of jeans. She watched as he lowered the zipper and proceeded to drag her jeans down her legs. When they were down by her feet he tapped a foot- then the other, silently asking her to lift her feet and Jessica complied.
When he freed her from her jeans he flung them across the room and turned his attention to her lace panties. They did match her bra. He traced the top line softly before hooking one of his fingers on each side and lowering them slowly. He felt like a little kid on Christmas opening what was sure to be the greatest gift of all.
When he finally took them off of her, the panties went the same way of the jeans. Standing bare before him, he leaned forward to place a soft kiss on her mound.
"What are you doing?" She asked hi
m trying to back up but the bed stopped her. She knew what he was doing, she thanked her explicit dream for that, but she couldn't believe it was actually happening in real life. She'd only planned so far into his seduction hoping he'd take charge-and he had but she'd the thought that he would love her like this had never crossed her mind, not even in her wildest imagination, not even after the amazing dream she'd had of him.
He looked up at her, "I’m about to claim you," he declared. With those words he leaned forward and gave her center a light flick of his tongue, the sharp intake of breath had him raising his gaze to hers once more and asking suspiciously, "Has anyone done this to you before?"
She shook her head mutely and he couldn't help the smile that escaped his lips. His wolf wanted to howl with joy from the knowledge that this aspect of intimacy would only be shared with him, that he would be her first-and only- lover to taste her sweet juices.
Renewed determination to make their first time memorable pumped through his veins. Leaning forward once more, his hands on her thighs, he dipped his tongue between her petals and gave her a center a soft flick. Shocked, she tried to step back but he stopped her retreat with his hands on the back of her thighs and she settled for clamping her legs shut. Nick guided her down on the edge of his bed and tried to open her legs but she refused to budge.
"You don’t have to." She waved her hand at the general direction of her apex. "Do that."
Nick chuckled softly. "I want to." He assured her, his hands covering her knees. "Now, relax and open for me." He continued, looking at her, willing her to relax a little and comply. After a couple of seconds of tense silence he finally felt her relax and she began to spread her legs slowly. Trying to reassure her, he smiled, and drew gentle circles around her knees. "You're going to like it, I promise."
She nibbled nervously on her lip, and it felt to him like a life time had passed before she nodded and spread her legs completely for him. His mouth watered at the sight sitting before him. He wanted nothing more than to dig in and gorge himself, taste her until he'd had his fill.
Stunned by his urgency, he sat back on his haunches and took a deep breath trying to bring his urges under control; reminding himself that she'd never been loved this way.
The Heir Page 18