by Jen Talty
“She told me this is the one.” Decker frowned. He’d always been protective of both his sisters, but he and Lola had a weird bond. Most would have thought he would be closer to Tina, since they were only ten months apart, but Tina was more like Jackson in the sense they were both introverted to a certain extent and preferred being alone, where Lola and Decker enjoyed the party scene and never went more than a week without having a significant other of some kind. They hid behind popularity where Tina and Jackson just hid.
“She says that about all of them,” Tina said.
“But wolves mate and…” Amanda snapped her mouth shut, staring into her glass of wine.
“We do, but it’s still a courtship, and my sister jumps into every relationship with both feet. Usually, it ends as quickly as it started but eventually, she’ll find her mate. We all do.” Jackson had been avoiding this conversation with her for the last few days; even when her father had brought it up, Jackson brushed it under the rug. He hadn’t accepted the concept, so how could he expect her to. Besides, if they were soulmates, they still needed time to get to know each other and falling in love need to happen organically.
Her father might believe in love at first sight, but Jackson didn’t, not even with his mate.
If Amanda was indeed his mate.
“I’m happy to stay single for a while.” Decker, of all the children, didn’t want to find his mate. He wouldn’t admit that he was afraid of hurting his partner and being a parent, screwing up his pups worse than his father had messed with their heads.
They all also had to deal with the concept that their parents had been soulmates, but for whatever reason, their father had turned out to be a disgrace to their wolf pack.
“Your mate is going to have to be a saint,” Tina said.
“All of our mates are going to have to put up with a lot.” Jackson reached his arm around Amanda’s back, resting his elbow on the counter and his hand on her hip. He didn’t care that both his siblings arched a brow at the protective gesture.
“Here’s to that.” Tina raised her glass.
“I should head out, since I’m on duty tonight,” Decker said, taking in his last sip of wine. “I’ve enlisted a couple of buddies of mine to help keep an eye on the place, and I should join them.”
“Always look up,” Amanda said with a sweet smile. “We never think anyone will see us coming that way.”
Jackson could stare at her tanned complexion all day long. There was nothing about her looks he didn’t appreciate. He could only hope her true personality would be the same.
“Only way I’ve seen a witch sneak up on anyone.” Decker set the glass on the counter. “Amanda, good luck with my brother. He’s a total pain in the ass.”
She smiled. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“I’ll be lurking around if you need me,” Decker said as he waltzed out of the room, confidence radiating from his strong frame. But Jackson knew underneath that tough exterior was an injured boy who still hurt over a legacy he had no control over.
“Well, I’m not going to be a third wheel.” Tina set her glass next to the sink. “Besides, I’ve got court in the morning.”
“So much for moral support as we watch the entertainment news shows.” Jackson managed to slip his hand under Amanda’s shirt, rubbing his thumb on her hip, thankful she didn’t pull away, though he worried she’d smack him the second his sister walked out the front door.
“I wouldn’t worry about the reporters and their hype. Having the Prince and our mom at the press conference I’m sure made an impact when you told the world of your crazy, wild love affair.” Tina patted his shoulder, before leaning up on tip-toe, kissing his cheek. “I’ll see myself out.”
Jackson curled his fingers around Amanda’s waist, holding her against him. Tina had let herself in and out of his house since he’d bought it. He wasn’t about to walk her to the door now, nor would he let Amanda do it.
“See you in the morning, sis,” he said.
She waved over her head, disappearing into the other room. Minutes later, the front door clicked closed.
Jackson continued to sip his wine, his arm wrapped around Amanda, fingers under her shirt, gliding across her supple skin.
“Your siblings are nice,” she said, raising the glass to her pink lips, the red liquid easing into her mouth.
“I’ll keep them.” He rotated his body, setting his wine on the counter. “We don’t have to watch the news.”
“No. I want to.”
“All right.” He took her by the hand, leading her into the family room, bringing with him the opened bottle of wine. They sat on his dark-brown leather sofa that his mother picked out for him. Two swivel recliners were positioned on either side of the couch. The television hung over an electric fireplace. In the center of the room, covering part of the dark wood floor, was a white plush area rug, also found by his mother. She loved to decorate and had made a decent business out of doing it for other people.
Knowing she now had a place of her own to decorate with all the nice things she hadn’t been able to afford during his childhood, made him smile. However, there were people who wouldn’t dare use his mother’s services because of her ex-husband, a thought that made his blood thicken with rage.
He pointed the clicker at the TV and found the channel where the most popular entertainment show was about to begin. The music that kicked off the show floated out of his surround sound speakers.
A picture of the two of them, sitting on a sofa in the studio, holding hands, flashed across the screen before panning over to Barbara Hollie, the host of the show, and the woman who did the interview.
“The entertainment world is all abuzz with the news that Lady Amanda Windsor of the Royal witch family in the Coven of the Silver Flock is indeed in a relationship with the son of her uncle’s murderer,” Barbara said, starting the interview.
“Oh fuck,” Jackson muttered.
“When we come back, Hollywood Entertainment we’ll hear from Lady Amanda and her new love, Jackson Ledger, in an exclusive interview.”
“I should have known she’d do something like that.” Jackson tossed the remote on the tilted coffee table.
“My father’s going to go apeshit on her.”
“For the first time in my life, I’m hoping for some sort of literal gag spell, shutting that woman up forever.”
Amanda let out a slight laugh. “I have no idea why both our agents thought she’d be the best one to do this interview.”
“Ratings and the show is number one.” Jackson knew no matter who did the interview, comments would be made about his father, even if they danced around the subject.
A commercial ended, and Barbara’s face came back on the screen. In the background, video footage of Amanda and Jackson played in the background.
“Earlier today, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Amanda and Jackson to discuss their new movie together and their secret love affair.”
The camera panned to the couple sitting on the sofa.
“At least we sort of look like a couple in love,” Amanda said, folding her legs under her butt, sipping her wine.
“That’s because we’re the best in the business,” Jackson teased, leaning back, resting his feet on the table. A warm swirl filled his gut. He felt comfortable with her at his side. There was a natural ease between them, and it showed during the interview.
“I hate starting off with this question, but you know our viewers are all wondering, how does the Royal family feel about you dating the son of the man who murdered your uncle?” Barbara asked.
Jackson remembered the question, and how it made him squirm, but looking at it on television, thankfully, his anger hadn’t shown through.
“At first, there was some concern, not because of Jackson, but because of how the tabloids would make our relationship into a circus, which is why we kept it a secret for so long,” Amanda said, resting her hand on his leg.
Watching how he laced his fingers thr
ough hers on the television pulled a smile across his lips. He had to admit, they made a good-looking couple.
And they looked happy together. An odd thing to notice when they were essentially strangers.
“So, tell me, why go public now?” Barbara asked.
“We knew once we made the announcement we’d be co-starring together, we wouldn’t be able to hide it anymore,” Jackson said, looking at Amanda. “And honestly, we’re tired of not being able to be ourselves.”
Jackson swallowed, hearing his own words and remembering how he felt saying them during the interview. He’d been staring at Amanda, and his pulse pounded. Being attracted to her was one thing.
Wanting to be with her another.
And the idea she could be his soulmate both excited him and terrified him.
The rest of the interview discussed the movie, but Jackson focused on their body language. He worried that someone would notice an uncomfortableness between him and Amanda and question their relationship, possibly accusing them of creating more hype for the movie.
Nothing about their movements seemed awkward or contrived. They leaned into each other and touched each other randomly. They had locked gazes a few times, pausing to smile at each other. They really did look like two people who cared deeply about one another.
The show ended on a bit of sour note when they did a montage of each of their lives, reminding the world once again, that Jackson was the son of a murderer.
“I think it went well.” Amanda pressed her hand against his thigh, squeezing gently, sending a shock to the tip of his tongue.
“The interview was good but starting with my dad and ending with him is going to be what everyone talks about.”
“It will die out quickly. Besides, tomorrow morning we get to walk out of this house, greeted by the paparazzi, and followed to our favorite coffee shop and have a million pictures taken.” She reached out, pushing his shoulder with her hand in a playful gesture. “We should really give them something good to talk about.”
“It’s not like no one knows I’m a wolf. When I dated Heidi, everyone always asked if we’d mated, I mean, she’s a wolf too.”
“I really don’t understand how that process works.”
“Well, it doesn’t happen instantly, but we believe it’s predetermined, so there is a pull toward one person that is stronger than any other.”
“That sounds more like how everyone else falls in love,” she said, her eyelashes fluttering over her warm, ocean-like eyes.
“It is to a certain extent, but once we meet our mate, that’s it. We don’t want to be with anyone else. I’ve seen wolves walk away from their soulmate, not believing they were meant for each other, only to come back knowing they would never be satisfied without them.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m still surprised they haven’t asked that question of me. It usually comes up when they talk about my mother and the fact she’s never remarried, much less had a boyfriend.”
“You really believe a man like your father could have been your mother’s perfect match? Your mother is so kind and gentle. I don’t buy it.” Amanda tucked a piece of hair that had tumbled out of her loose bun behind her ear.
“I don’t want to believe it, and my mother has cut him completely out of her life and seems happier, so I suppose it’s possible. There are wolves that never mate.”
“Can mating be a choice?”
“Being with your mate and accepting them are a choice, but not who they are. That’s decided by fate.” He struggled with the concept of soulmates because of his parents. His father was more than an alcoholic. He was a bad man and didn’t care about anyone but himself. He blamed others for his misfortune. Took advantage of everyone he could, and he prayed on the weak.
“So how do you know someone is the one you’re supposed to be with?”
“You just know,” he said, placing the palm of his hand on the side of her face, his thumb rubbing the soft skin on the top of her high cheek bone. “I’ve never trusted witches,” he said so softly he barely heard his own voice. “You have the power to change how people think and feel.”
“Vampires have the power to kill.”
“Vampires are my race’s enemy in general, but at least with them, I don’t have to worry about them casting some spell on me that I would have no idea existed unless some mesmerizing witch decided to take look inside my whatever and nearly dies in the process.”
“But I didn’t, and most witches are good and don’t use their witchcraft to harm others.”
“Perhaps. However, someone did.” He wanted to trust her. Even more so, he wanted to kiss her and not just any kiss.
“There are bad people in every species.” She raised her hand, circling her tender fingers around his wrist.
He sucked in a breath, waiting for her to push him away, but she didn’t. Instead, she leaned closer, her lips only an inch from his. Her sweet, strawberry scent teasing his system.
“You can trust me,” she said.
“I know.” The simple declaration surprised him. The deep connection he felt for her scared him, and he didn’t scare easily.
Slipping his hand behind her neck, he pressed his mouth against her plump, rosy lips, which tasted like a Creamsicle. Her eyelids danced over her deep-blue eyes like a well-choreographed waltz. It took all the control he could muster not to lift her into his arms and drop her on his bed. He wanted her, but for the first time in his life, he wanted to save every inch of her supple skin.
Her chest heaved, shoving her firm breasts against him. A deep growl vibrated from his throat while their tongues explored every crevice of their mouths with a tenderness he’d never experienced before. While there was a deep desire to please, there was no desperation to be inside her. Instead it felt like the first time he’d ever kissed a girl with the glorious wonderment of what could be next.
He eased her back onto the sofa, unfolding her legs. He lay down next to her, their lips still locked in a tangled web of affection. Heat poured from their bodies, soaking them with a sweet nectar.
There was no rush to strip them of their clothing, but the passion and intimacy between them exploded with the fierce drive that no way would anyone ever do it for him.
Except her.
Only her.
He nuzzled his face in her soft neck, kissing her supple skin, nibbling on her ear, enjoying the way her body shivered. His hand rested on her tight, flat stomach under her shirt, her skin softer than any piece of expensive silk money could buy.
He had no control over fate, and it seemed his destiny would be in the arms of Lady Amanda for the rest of his life. He fought that thought, telling himself he could be and was wrong. That no way could she be his soulmate, that his feelings for her were simple infatuation or maybe he just wanted to take a taste of the forbidden fruit.
She pulled his body over hers, letting him ease between her legs. Bracing himself, he raised up, staring down at her passion-flushed face, her lips slightly parted. A sweet, but seductive smile emerging.
“You’re a beautiful woman,” he whispered. “Since we’ve met, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you.”
She bit down on her lower lip in a voluptuous invitation.
He felt confident she desired him as much as he did her and that if he continued, they’d end up entangled between his sheets.
“You’re not so bad yourself,” she said, her hands burning his skin as her fingers dug into his shoulder blades, her legs wrapped tightly around his waist.
He growled.
“We’re flirting with fire,” he said.
She shook her head. “We’ve moved past that. If not tonight, tomorrow. If not tomorrow, next Friday. So, why fight it?”
“Because we have to work together.”
“I’m not going to worry about that. We’re both professionals.”
“I’ve had two really bad relationships and—”
She interrupted him by slipping her tongue in his mouth and grinding her hips
against his growing erection.
“I’m nothing like those women,” she said, her eyes sparkling with intense heat.
“No. You’re not, but I don’t want to make things weird for us moving forward.” That was a true statement, only he was concerned more about the possibility she wasn’t his soulmate. Then what? He swallowed his breath, pushing that thought out of his head.
He was attracted to her, that was it.
“Because things are so normal now,” her words dripping with playful sarcasm.
“You’re going to talk me into taking you to bed, aren’t you?”
“Do I really need to twist your arm?” She batted her thick eyelashes.
He pulled her to her feet in one swift motion. “Consider it twisted.”
***
Amanda’s grandmother had always told her that there was a fine line between being a lady versus being a vixen and that a true woman knew how to play both parts when it came to getting and keeping a man.
She didn’t necessarily want to keep Jackson.
But she sure as hell wanted a night in his bed.
Jackson lifted her shirt over her head, tossing it to the floor. He speckled her chest with soft, affectionate kisses as he unhooked her bra, cupping her breast while he drew a hard nipple into his mouth, swirling his tongue over the sensitive nub.
Most of the lovers she’d had before greedily took her in a haze of wild abandonment. She enjoyed sex the most when it was wild and raw; only with Jackson, the way he took his time with her, caressing her with his hands, mouth, and gaze, made her want something different.
Something dangerous.
Love, marriage were ideals she hadn’t craved. Maybe someday in the future, but not now. All she cared about was her career and making her mark in the film industry. It wasn’t about fame and fortune but doing what she felt most passionate about that had nothing to do with being born into the Royal family. Acting gave her a sense of accomplishment she didn’t get anywhere else.