Page 25

For the first time since I’d arrived here, Jackson’s house actually felt cramped. Slightly. And that was only because all of the Gold Wolves, myself, Mira, a baby, and two kids were all crammed into the living room despite ample other space. Cheerful music blared through the stereo system as we all relaxed.

“Oh, I wanted to give you an update on Rowen,” Chris said.

Nolan groaned, throwing his head back. “This is supposed to be a party,” he complained. “Do you have to bring up work?” When both Chris and Will shot him an annoyed look, he shook his head in exasperation. “All right, fine.”

“What happened?” I asked, my eyes glancing over to Dani and Claire off in the corner. They were building something or another, both of them wearing identical expressions of joy on their faces. It had taken all of two minutes for the two of them to become fast friends.

“There’s no sign of your dad anywhere,” Chris said to me. “The Blood Moons kicked him and the rest of Reacher’s cronies out of the pack. They just put a new alpha in charge, some guy named Jamie.”

“I don’t know him,” I said.

“Well, the important thing is he’s a council loyalist. He’s got strong ties with them.”

I didn’t say anything at first, staring out the window in contemplation instead. On one hand, I should be grateful. Relieved, even. Reacher was gone, and I never had to worry about him again. But my father was still out there, and I wasn’t entirely sure how I felt about that. A tiny part of me worried that he might come after me, or worse, Claire. The thought alone was enough to send shivers up my spine.

Jackson seemed to notice because he wrapped his arm around me, pulling me against him in a side hug. “He’s not going to come anywhere near here,” he muttered to me, his thumb stroking my shoulder. “And if he does, we’ll be ready for him.”

“Him being out there scares me less than I thought it would,” I admitted. “It still makes me nervous, but not in the way I expected. More like I just want to keep my people safe.”

He chuckled, eyes sparkling. “And that alone should be enough to terrify your father. Your anger and protectiveness are one of the scariest combinations I have ever encountered.”

I shot him an annoyed look as he gave me a wide, playful smirk and winked. “You better watch yourself, or I’ll show you annoyed,” I shot back.

This time, his laugh came out full-throated, delighted, and utterly genuine. “There’s that fire I know and love,” he said, pulling me onto his lap. He kissed me on the cheek. “It’s good to have you back,” he muttered in my ear.

Smiling, I leaned over to his own ear. “Thanks for bringing me back in the first place,” I whispered.

He shook his head. “You did that all on your own,” he said, reaching up and brushing a strand of hair behind my ear.

The rest of the party blended together, people moving around and chatting, the girls running around. I relaxed, enjoying the relief I felt now that everything was done. It wasn’t until my conversation with Mira that I started growing nervous again.

“We haven’t talked about the elephant in the room yet, you know,” Mira said. She sat next to me on the couch and pulled Alex onto her thighs.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. “Yeah, I know.”

“So. You and Jackson. Even all those years ago?” Mira raised her eyebrows.

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Yeah,” I said. I ran my fingers through my hair as I forced myself to look at her. “I’m so sorry, Mira. I should have said something. I should have told you when we were teenagers as soon as I thought he might be my mate. But I didn’t know what you would say or how you would take it, and I was so afraid of losing you as a friend.”

Mira nodded, bouncing Alex up and down on her knee as she considered her next words. “I wish you had told me,” she said. “Because we are supposed to be friends. But I also understand why you didn’t. I get also why you didn’t tell me about Claire, and it’s obvious how much Jackson cares about you. I want both of you to be happy, and if you two together is what that entails, then I’m not going to stop you.”

I took a deep breath. “I’m glad you understand. You’re an amazing friend, Mira.”

“I am, but you’re not fully out of the woods yet. Do you know I have ten years of fun-aunt Christmas and birthday presents I have to make up for?” She shot me a mock-angry look. “Do you have any idea how long I’ve wanted a niece I could spoil rotten? And all this time, I had one I didn’t know about?”

I laughed. “Maybe that’s a good thing. Fewer chances for you to give her those loud toys designed to drive a parent insane until the batteries ‘go missing.’”

“Of course it would be those types of toys!” Mira exclaimed. “That’s the whole point of fun-aunt gifts.”

Trying to keep a somber face, I said, “In that case, I’m terribly sorry I deprived you of your fun. How on earth will I ever make it up to you?”

“Oh, don’t worry, you’ll pay for it,” she said gleefully. “We’re talking the loudest, most obnoxious toys I can get my hands on for the next several years.”

“Watch it,” I warned. “Turnabout is fair play. Alex is still a baby, so I’ve got plenty of years to return the favor. And that’s not including the damage I could do when it comes to Dani. I’ve really been thinking she needs an electric guitar, and maybe a set of drums.”

“Careful, Mira. She means it,” Jackson warned, coming to stand behind the couch. “Audrey doesn’t do empty threats.”

“That’s one of the reasons I like her,” Mira joked, giving me a wink.

Jackson’s lip quirked upward in a half-smirk. “Same here.” His hand slid to my shoulder and began massaging it. I let out a soft sigh of satisfaction.

I angled my head to look up at him, raising an eyebrow. “Did you come here for something or just to sing my praises?”

“I was thinking I could use some fresh air,” he said. His thumb ran up and down my neck, sending shivers through my body that made my heart begin racing. He leaned forward and whispered in my ear. “Interested in joining me?”

I gave a knowing grin. “I think that sounds perfect.”

Mira gave a knowing smirk as I stood and followed Jackson to the back door.

Once we were outside, we dipped into the trees, our hands entwined. I couldn’t express how right it felt, as if this was always supposed to happen, as if we were always supposed to be together.

We arrived at a clearing, sunlight streaming through the trees. Before I could utter a word, he pulled me into a kiss—deep, passionate, and full of need. I responded in kind. A jolt of fire rushed through me, settling between my legs as his rough fingers slipped beneath my shirt, his caresses sending tantalizing shivers through my body. His hand slowly moved upward, teasing me while his lips remained locked on mine.

An overwhelming hunger washed over me. I was too impatient to wait. I needed more. My fingers fumbled with his pants as he tugged at my shirt. My blouse fell to the ground at the same time his pants crumpled to his feet.

Heart pounding in my throat from excitement and anticipation, I crouched in front of him, pulling off his boxers. He sprang out, already erect. My stomach lurched with need at the sight.

I took his cock in my hand, fingers caressing it gently before wrapping around it. He groaned as my tongue ran along his shaft, teasing him. The moan intensified when I took him in my mouth, lips wrapping around the head. His hands dug into my hair. Glancing up, I grinned around his cock as my fingers continued pumping. The look of intense need and longing he was giving me drove my wolf insane and made the fire burning between my legs blaze hotter.

My tongue flicked across his tip, and he let out another inarticulate noise. My mouth glided up and down his shaft as I savored the taste of him. I could feel his cock stiffening even more as I continued pleasuring him.

After a moment, his own hand began thrusting my head back and forth, commanding the speed. His hips began bucking, thrusting his cock deeper into my mouth as he seized control. My own need burned even hotter as his grip on my hair tightened, his pumps getting more frantic and hungry. I could tell he was close, and his moans and grunts sent spasms of longing through me. I loved hearing the reaction I elicited from him.

I knew he was about to come a moment before he did, his groans growing more frequent, more urgent. Then he exploded inside me, filling my mouth with cum. He let out a sigh of satisfaction, the thrusts growing slower.

I swallowed, relishing the taste as he slid his still-hard cock from my mouth. I licked my lips as I looked up at him, still on my knees.

“Better?” I teased.

“Hard not to be when you’ve got a mouth like that,” he quipped, offering me a hand to pull me up. I noticed the way he looked me up and down, hunger and lust still lingering in his gaze.

I gave a coy smirk and made to step away. “Well, if that’s everything, I guess we should return to the party.”

A low, irritated snarl escaped his mouth, and he pulled me against him, my bare breasts pressed against his chest as his fingers dug into my hips. A new jolt of pleasure lurched through me as I felt his cock already hardening against my pelvis, pressing against me as he pinned me in place.

“You think I’m through with you?” he growled, his hand pinching my nipple and twisting gently. “Not by a long shot.”

The words were enough to send spasms of delight racing through me, fueling the fire all over again as he pulled me down to the ground with him.

I tilted my head, smirking at him. “And what if I’m done?” I teased, turning and moving as if to leave.

“Maybe I don’t care,” he said with a primal growl that made my stomach jolt with excitement.

Without another word, he pulled me onto his lap, impaling me on his cock from behind. I cried out in pleasure as he thrust into me, sending new waves of pleasure rushing through me. His hands grasped my hips as he held me in place, continuing to buck wildly.

Each jerk sent new waves of ecstasy and need racing through me, his cock thrusting deeper and deeper with every pump. I cried out, each moan growing higher-pitched as that delectable mindlessness washed over me as I succumbed to his touch.

He reached his hand around me to take one nipple between his fingers and tugged, pinching gently in a way that sent ripples of pleasure through me. I groaned, barely remembering to breathe as he continued to pleasure me. My mind had gone blissfully blank, and my nails dug into his thighs. All that mattered in that moment was me and him, the sensations of lust and need coursing through my entire body.

A gentle force pressed against my clit as his thumb found it. My back arched, new ecstasy radiating through me, stoking the inferno inside me. My breaths grew more ragged, every motion of his bringing me closer and closer to the brink until I knew there was no going back. I was entirely at his mercy.

That thought seemed to be enough to unravel me. I screamed as I shattered, the waves of pleasure overtaking me as I savored the ecstasy of release. My toes curled as my back arched, my head moving back to rest next to his as I rode the sensation. His mouth moved over mine, smothering the scream as he continued to thrust into me, holding me hostage against him. His grip on me tightened, and a moment later, I felt him finish inside me.

He kept bucking as I ground against his cock, our bodies pressed against one another. For a wild moment, I wondered if he would keep going even though we had both been sated. Eventually, though, he slowed, allowing me to slide off him.

“How was that?” he asked.

“Mmm. Certainly pleasant,” I said, smirking.

He grinned, reaching out and tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. His hand lingered on my cheek, and I leaned into his touch, relishing the feel of him being so near.

“We should probably get back to the party,” he said after a long moment.

I tilted my head as I looked up at him, the faintest of smirks playing on my lips. “Are you sure about that?” I asked.

His eyes roamed over my body, that wolfish hunger flashing in them once again in a way that rekindled the flame between my thighs all over again.

“Maybe they can wait a bit longer,” he conceded, coming to lay next to me.

Before he could do anything, I moved atop him, straddling him. He gazed up at me with undisguised love and lust as his hands moved to my hips.

“You’re amazing, you know that?” he said.

I gave a playful smirk. “I do,” I said, then leaned down to kiss him. “But thank you for helping me remember it.”

*****

THE END