Jasmine Moon

by Celia Breslin

  Ross winced. “Ouch, dude. You compared her to our sibling? And how did it go?”

  “As well as you would expect. But, yeah, she said she wants no-strings sex. Afterward, we part as friends. Go back to our lives and our jobs. No harm, no foul.”

  Ross shook his head. “Sounds like a business proposal.”

  “And that’s a problem because…?”

  “Because anyone with two eyes can see the chemistry between you two, and anyone with a functioning nose can smell the mating pheromones coming off you both whenever you’re near each other.”

  Well, shit. “Doesn’t matter.”

  “The fuck it doesn’t,” Ross countered.

  Couldn’t matter. He had a plan. They had a plan. “I’m not like you, Ross. I have no interest in nor do I need the goddamn picket fence life. I have our business to run, in case you’ve forgotten.”

  His brother stiffened and glared at him like he itched to throw a punch. “What you need, you idiot, is balance. You can’t work 24/7. It’s unhealthy and a fucking waste. Come on, man, live a little.” He waved a hand in the direction of the dance floor. “Look at her. The mating bond you’re so ready to ignore? It’s fucking special. You really want to ignore it? Reject her?”

  He wasn’t rejecting her, God damn it. He’d agreed to her idea. A solid plan. One guaranteeing the success of both their ongoing, current careers. “Leave it alone, Ross. We know what we’re doing. We both agreed it’s for the best.”

  Gee slammed a bill on the bar top, rattling the empty glasses. “Twenty says your head-in-his-ass brother here claims his mate by the time you say, I do, to your little wolf.”

  Ross grinned and fist-bumped with Gee. “You’re on. My twenty says he’s a fucking idiot and will let the best damn woman who could ever happen to his sorry ass just slip on through his worked-to-the-bone fingers.” He speared Evan with a serious stare. “I hope you prove me wrong. I really do, man.”

  “Enough.” Time to get the hell out of fucking dodge, leave his interfering brother and the other nosy wolves to their partying, and head into private time with Mina.

  Hoots and hollers assaulted his ears as he neared the center of the dance floor. Mina and Lexi saw him coming and waved. Lexi whispered in Mina’s ear, and the smaller woman grinned and slapped palms with his sister. Before he could reach them, Lexi shot him a thumbs-up then both women darted to Jake and his DJ setup.

  Evan stopped in front of them. What were they up to now?

  Jake handed Lexi a microphone and stepped aside to let her poke at a large black box with a tablet sitting atop it. Lord help them all. His sister—a great artist and the most tone-deaf singer ever—had a karaoke machine.

  Chapter Five

  Mina bumped hips with Lexi while her pal belted out a rather tuneless version of Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want To Have Fun.” Most everyone sang along and/or cheered for Lexi. Except Evan. Humph. What a party pooper. She, on the other hand, couldn’t remember the last time she’d had so much fun at someone’s bachelor-bachelorette party. Usually, she endured such parties while dodging well-meaning friends trying to hook her up with “The One.” Fortunately, everyone here focused their energy on Darci and Ross. As they should. Speaking of the cute little bride-to-be, where had she gone?

  When Mina scanned the room for her new, additional bestie, the room tilted on its axis and started to bounce. Oopsie and helloooo Mina’s brain on alcohol. How many shots had she consumed? Too many, thanks to her naughty-influence BFF. Curse Lexi for plying her with her favorite bar beverage. “Bad friend, no French fries for you.”

  Bowing to the audience after she finished her song, Lexi handed the mic to Mina. “My little bestie says what now?”

  Mina poked her friend’s bicep of freakin’ steel. “No more singing. And no yummy carbs for you. You got me drunk.” Sheesh, she sounded super sauced.

  Lexi laughed. “I see the alcohol force is strong in you, young She-wolf.” She snapped her fingers. “I know the perfect song. I’ll even sing it with you.” She motioned to Darci, who joined them then pulled a bar stool from next to the piano and planted Mina’s tushy on it. “You. Sit. Before you face-plant. Darci, take her other side.”

  Firming Mina’s grip on the mic, Lexi then leaned in and shouted into it, “And now, for something completely awesome.”

  Two taps on the karaoke machine and the Human League’s “Don’t You Want Me Baby” fired up. Darci and Lexi took turns leaning into the mic for the verses, while Mina laughed her head off and joined them for the chorus.

  When they were done with what had to be the most hilarious rendition of the song in the history of ever, Jake plucked the mic from Mina’s hand and replaced it with a water bottle. He delivered some to the other girls, too. “Drink up.”

  Mina smiled at him. “Thanks.” But, gosh darn it, the stupid top wouldn’t turn. Why did they make the twisty tops so untwisty? “This is war, Mr. Plastic.”

  “Here. Let me help.” A ginormous hand enclosed hers and, like magic, the stubborn bottle relinquished its cap. Mina blinked up, and up…and up at Evan. Oh, there’s his face. “You’re so tall.”

  His smile softened those frownie lines usually present in his forehead. She liked the way the corners of his eyes crinkled when he let himself smile. And the sparkle in his beautiful whiskey-colored eyes? Yeah, it made her tummy do a few loop-de-loops. Hm. Maybe the swirlies came from the booze she’d consumed. She took a sip of water. Some fresh and freezing mountain air might be helpful right about now, too.

  As if he could read her mind, Evan slid one arm around her waist, the other under her knees, and scooped her up into his holy-cow-he’s-so-strong arms. “I think someone could use a breather. Time to go. You, too, Lex.”

  “You’re not the boss of me,” Lexi snipped with a sniff.

  Jake wrapped his arms around her from behind and nuzzled her neck. “Go on, luv. Party is over, anyway.”

  “Well, when you put it that way. Let’s go home and get our snacking groove on.”

  Awesome, her friend spoke her language—carbs would settle her tummy in a jiffy. Mina clapped her hands. “Oooh, pizza? French fries? Oh, I know—croissants and coffee?”

  Lexi laughed. “Of course you want carbs and caffeine. And I’ll do anything for my bestie.”

  Jake released his hold on Lexi. “Meet you at Evan’s car.” He kissed her in what seemed to be an intended quickie, but Lexi grabbed his face and held him for a lingering, heated kiss making Mina’s own face flame.

  Man, she could go for some smooching. But with Evan. Like now. She shot him a speculative look and whoa, he wasn’t watching his sister’s PDA—he stared right at Mina. He looked…possessive. Hungry. Commanding. Her inner wolf raised her intoxicated head and huffed. Of course, he is. D’uh. Dominant, sexy male.

  She curled her fingers into the lapel of his jacket, loving the rich texture of the wool under her fingertips, but oh, how great would it be to stroke his bare skin? Her other hand squeezed the water bottle making it crackle. Forget the carbs. She wanted to snack on the delish dude holding her with ease like she weighed nothing more than a swatch of silk fabric.

  “You’re so hot,” she blurted then smacked a hand over her mouth.

  Ack, drunk confessions. In public.

  The side of his mouth curled up in a lopsided smile. “I like how you speak your mind, Red.”

  “I do, too.” She glanced around at the thankfully thinning crowd. “Normally.”

  Most everyone was leaving, with the exception of the teens apparently hired to clean up after the bash. No one paid her any attention. Hurrah.

  Lexi joined Evan and Mina. “All right, party is over, people. Off we go.” She punched Evan’s arm. “My girlfriend can walk, you know. Well, probably.”

  “Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence, bestie.”

  She curtsied. “I aim to please.”

  With Lexi leading the way, Evan carried Mina’s tipsy self ou
t into the night, saying quick good-byes to the party stragglers as they went. Outside, a brisk winter wind whipped around them.

  Mina gasped and huddled into her man taxi. “Holy freaking freezing. I forgot my shrug inside.”

  “I’ll get it. Mine, too.” Lexi darted back to the bar door. “Meet you at the car.” She winked and disappeared inside. If Mina wasn’t mistaken, her friend had mouthed, Told you so, and had provided her some alone time with the fine hunk of male hightailing them to the car. And she was totes okay with it.

  Totes? She groaned. Yep. Definitely too much to drink.

  She closed her eyes and rested her head in the curve of Evan’s shoulder, savoring the feel of his powerful arms holding her tight while his long legs ate up the distance to the car. He could make a habit of carrying her around, and she wouldn’t complain, not one bit.

  But…there wouldn’t be any habit-forming behaviors, would there? Because the mate-fueled chemistry thing between them was a one-off deal. By her own design, even. The thought rained a little cloud of ick on her happy moment. Damn it. Her mind slalomed down a hill of reasons why a fling formed the rational way to deal with their situation, to scratch their mutual, lusty itch then move on—consuming and successful careers on opposite ends of the country, good lives, separate lives…. No want or need for more. Right?

  The electronic tweeting of the SUV car alarm snapped her eyes wide. Evan set her on her feet to open the door for her, and her equilibrium took a little spin, the ground undulating under her boots.

  “Whoa.” She swayed and reached a hand to steady herself on the SUV, but Evan grasped her arm and helped her inside, the perfect picture of competent, hunky male. She inhaled as he leaned over her to secure her seat belt. “Man, you smell good. Fresh and earthy, like ocean air and the trees by my beach house.”

  He rested a hand on the seat on either side of her, leaning close. “Flattery will get you anywhere you want to go, Red.”

  Her heart jackhammered in her chest faster than the needle on her favorite sewing machine. “Promise?”

  A slow nod. Blazing amber eyes. “Mm-hm.”

  She let her half-crushed water bottle slip from her fingers and onto her lap. Okay, then, more flattery it is. “Your whiskey-colored eyes make me want to design cool amber jewelry to go with my spring collection.”

  “I see. You want to go home and work, then?” he teased. Or at least she thought so since he caressed her arms, her hips, her legs….

  Thoughts scattered. Her heart raced. Work? As if.

  “No.” She raised a shaking finger and traced his lower lip. Time to test his flattery-anywhere claim. “Your lips are so soft I could kiss them all day.”

  He nipped at her finger. “Fine by me. But how about all night?”

  Her tummy flipped and, this time, definitely not from the alcohol. “All night, too.”

  A wolfie rumble from his throat was her only warning. He claimed her mouth in a fierce, rip-her-panties-clear-off kiss, and boy oh boy, did her head spin now. But in a good way. Her lips parted under the demand of his, gladly giving him an all-access pass. He nipped, he licked, he sucked on her tongue. Dampness seeped between her thighs, her thong doing little to stop it. A gravelly growl preceded his fingers slipping aside her tiny thong so he could caress her folds. He found her clit and stroked.

  She arched upward with a gasp, and he sucked in her air. His free hand massaged her breast. Even through the thicker material of her push-up bra, he flicked her nipple with his thumb, sending pings of pleasure from her chest to her core and back again. He slipped a finger inside her channel. She cried out at the invasion, her insides clamping onto his finger, her lust for more driving her mad. He set up a mind-exploding rhythm with his naughty finger while his thumb teased her clit on every inward thrust and sent her spinning ever closer to orgasm.

  “Evan. God.” She thought his lips were awesome? His talented hands would be the death of her. What a great way to go.

  He sank a second finger inside her, curling both against the sweet spot near her pubic bone, the one guaranteed to drive her a absofrigginlutely mad with lust. He flicked her clit faster with his thumb. His erection pressed into the side of her thigh, making her moan.

  She struggled to untuck his shirt, unhook his belt, anything to get her hands on him, on his hot, hot body. “Body. Skin. You. I need—”

  Flick, rub, his moves derailed her words. Her body stiffened; her passion spiraled higher. “I need—”

  Tremors ran through her muscles. Her breath caught in her throat, and she stared into his blazing-sun eyes. Time stalled, the cold winter world melted away, leaving solely Evan and the wicked way he worked her body.

  “Come for me, Red.”

  “Yes.” She climaxed hard, her inner muscles milking Evan’s finger over and over while he plundered her mouth with his wicked tongue.

  When she slumped, boneless, against her seat, he stepped back and gave her a look only a dominant could dole out. Powerful. Possessive. Assured.

  “Sexy as hell,” he rumbled then licked his fingers clean.

  Wowza. The pleasure he seemed to take from tasting her arousal on his skin had her twitching with aftershocks.

  “They’re coming.”

  She blinked. “What?”

  He pulled down her dress. Yikes, she hadn’t realized how far up her thighs it had roamed. The man had good moves. Better than good.

  He smoothed a hand along her leg. “Jake and Lexi are coming.”

  “Oh.” Reality crashed back into focus. Company. Car ride. Lexi’s house. Snacks. Good grief, how could she sit in the car and pretend nothing had happened? They were wolves for goodness sake. Their noses would tell them what Evan and Mina had been up to.

  Sure enough, Lexi bopped up. “Well, I smell you two have kissed and made up.” She made a big show of draping Mina’s fuzzy shrug over her. “There. All warm now?” She snickered. “I bet you are.”

  “That’s enough, Trouble.” Evan motioned to the other side of the SUV. “Get in, buckle up, and shut up.”

  Lexi rolled her eyes. “Shut up? As if.” She rounded the car and joined Mina in the back.

  Evan tossed Jake the keys. “One beer, right? You drive.” At Jake’s nod, he climbed in the passenger seat while Jake took the driver’s spot. Impressive. Mina could barely think straight after their sexy, orgasmic moment, but Evan possessed the brainpower to remember driving safety. Could the man be any more competent and generally awesome?

  She must have sighed because, as Jake pulled them onto the road and set off toward the mountain where Jake and Lexi lived, Lexi pounced on her. “I heard you. Care to share?”

  “Absolutely not,” Evan interjected in a tone of solid steel.

  Lexi flicked the back of his head. “Party pooper.” She bounced in her seat. “Hey, let’s fire up the tunes. Jake is driving like a centuries-old grandpa so we have time to belt a few.”

  “I’m driving as fast as conditions allow, Sunflower.” Jake’s patient and caring tone brought a smile to Mina’s lips. Lexi had spent less time in California since getting together with Jake, and Mina missed her friend something fierce, but she was happy Lexi had found a man capable of handling her particular, feisty brand of energy. And she clearly had his complete and utter devotion.

  Could I have the same, too? With Evan?

  Her smile faded. No, stupid brain, stop going there. They’d made an arrangement suiting them both, and they were sticking to it. So, why did her tummy twinge with regret for something that might have been?

  A thwack on her arm broke her reverie. “Earth to Mina. Tune time. You pick.”

  Mina shook her head to focus her thoughts on the here and now, on the fun moment with her friend. “No, it’s all you. Go for it.”

  Her bestie’s gaze gleamed with wicked intent, and she tapped Jake’s shoulder. “Duran Duran. Rio. Track four.”

  Jake snorted and pushed a button on the console. A girl’s laugh
followed by a guitar slide, keyboard, bass, drums…the familiar upbeat tones of “Hungry Like The Wolf” filled the car. Evan howled, Jake laughed, Lexi sang, and Mina joined in. Happiness bubbled in her chest like a fine champagne. This. Good friends. Good times. It may end all too soon, but, for now, she would grab it with both hands and enjoy the hell out of it.

  Awoo. Her inner wolf agreed.

  Evan’s new favorite sound in all the world was Mina’s laughter. The curvy, sweet woman dissolved into a puddle of tears at his sister’s vocal antics, pulling a chuckle from him, too.

  “No more,” Mina pleaded, voice squeaky and breathy from her laughing fit. “Please, I, I can’t breathe.”

  Jake punched the button and cut off NIN’s “Closer.” Evan applauded his move, but the lack of backup didn’t faze his sister. She sang the lyrics about fucking like animals, anyway.

  “S-s-stop,” Mina pleaded, seemingly stuck between panting and laughing.

  “Enough, Sunflower.” Jake let loose a burst of his alpha power, making Lexi yip.

  She unbuckled her seat belt and rubbed her head against Jake’s arm. “I love it when you get all alpha bossy. Do it again.”

  Jesus. TMI from his sister. “No. Don’t. Cut it out, Lexi.”

  Jake patted her head then parked the car in their driveway. “Everybody out.”

  Lexi stuck her tongue out at Evan, having apparently regressed into her former teenage self thanks to the alcohol she’d consumed, then hopped from the car. Jake lifted her over his shoulder and headed up to their house.

  Inside the car, Mina didn’t move. Evan climbed out and opened her door.

  “I’m exhausted,” she rasped, voice husky. Sexy as fuck. She flopped her arm against her seat. “Laughing is hard work.”

  “Bet you didn’t know what you were in for when you befriended my sister.”

  “Ha. She found me. Glad she did.” The smile the little redhead shot him warmed his chest. He unhooked her belt and grasped her waist to help her from the car. “Come on, then.”

  Once standing, she didn’t sway as he expected, and, in fact, seemed to have sobered up a bit. He raised his arms anyway. “Want a lift?”