Chapter Two
~ Ivy ~
I nearly swallowed my tongue when the man of my dreams scooped me up and draped me over his hulking shoulder. I automatically reached out to brace myself and gripped his hips, noting his ass wasn’t flat like so many men’s were. His was firm and round, and I wanted to nip it with my teeth.
I shook my head. No nipping. Definitely no biting. Absolutely no mating. Mating wasn’t in the cards for me. Not with my family history. That was something certain members of our pack enjoyed reminding me of whenever the opportunity presented itself. I hadn’t shared their taunts with Raina since she’d been back. Besides, tonight had been about recent complications in Raina’s life. One of which held me over his shoulder.
“Put me down.” I meant for the words to be firm, authoritative, but they came out slightly breathy. I blamed it on my upside-down position.
The Neanderthal wolf carting me around like a sack of potatoes ignored me. He moved with a fluidity I refused to appreciate or imagine in other ways.
“Hey, Cyan. Where’s Bas?”
Cyan as in sigh and moan? I shook my head. There would be no sighing and moaning. I needed to get that thought out of my head right now.
“He’s inside with his mate. I need you to stay here. Watch his back while I’m gone.”
I heard the other man clear his throat at Cyan’s command.
“Um, Cy. She’s a tiny little thing. Are you sure she’s full grown?”
“Put me down,” I growled, my back arching up as I gripped Cyan’s hips and pushed away. “I’ll show you grown.”
Cyan chuckled, and I seriously considered sinking my claws into him. I wouldn’t bite, but claws were always an option. Small! I growled again as disgust hit me anew. I’d been the same height since I’d turned thirteen. When you’re small, you learn to fight any way you can, and dirty is just another way to say survival as far as I’m concerned.
“She’s just fine, Simon,” Cyan finally answered, his voice a deep, husky timbre that sent chills skating to all the wrong places.
“How long do you think you’ll be gone?” Simon asked. “In case Bas asks.”
Cyan laughed again. “The only thing he’ll ask is for everyone to steer clear while he claims his mate.” His palm cupped my ass, giving it a squeeze. “A feeling I understand.”
A feeling he…? Oh, hell no! Hell to the no!
“Yeah, that’s a big no from me. Put me down, and trot back inside to heel to your alpha. Better yet, trot back in and drag your alpha out of here. I’ll do the same with Raina, and we’ll all be on our merry way.”
His palm disappeared then fell in a brief smack that had me tensing in surprise. It didn’t hurt, but still. He’d spanked my ass.
“I said put me down!”
His fingers flexed against my bottom, and I growled again. “If you whack me one more time, I’m going to bite you.”
His fingers caressed over the spot he’d smacked, and I shook my head to dislodge the vision of him doing the same when I was naked. Shit! I needed to hold on to my anger and shut away all those goosebumps and lustful thoughts.
“We’ll both do some biting before the night’s over,” Cyan promised. “Now, behave. Simon, stay here, and wait on Bas and Raina. My mate and I will head back to base later.”
“I’m not your mate!” I yelled and slapped his ass a lot harder than he’d tapped me. I heard several snickers and realized belatedly that most of the bar’s patrons loitered in the parking lot. Wolves were interwoven with them, and I realized several of Cyan’s pack mates had shifted into their animal skins. I still read the amusement from them, as well. I bit back the rest of the angry words hovering on my tongue. The last thing I needed was to make a spectacle of myself.
“Yet,” Cyan vowed then continued talking to Simon. “Don’t call me unless it’s an emergency. Understood?”
“Sure thing.” Simon peeked around at me again. “Ma’am.”
Cyan began walking, and I swayed against his shoulder. Asphalt turned to gravel, and I knew we were headed to the back lot, which wasn’t where I’d parked.
“My car’s back there.” I pointed behind us then shook my head at my stupidity. He couldn’t see me.
“You won’t need it.”
“Of course, I’ll need it. When I head home. Which is where I’m going once you put me down and I make sure Raina’s all right.”
“She’s fine.”
“So says you, and your opinion doesn’t matter to me.”
He laughed, the sound deep and rich. I felt the vibration of it in his chest and back. And damn it! It was sexy as hell. Whatever was happening, I needed to end it soon. Very soon. Before I ended up begging him to do something that would change both our lives.
“You’re making me dizzy. Put me down. Please.” I tacked on the last word, hoping it would sway him.
“If I slide you down my body, I’m going to hold you so your only option is to wrap your legs around my waist. Once we get to that point, clothes will come off quickly, and I’ll be balls deep in your tight, little pussy. Though the outcome’s inevitable, I’d rather not put on a show for anyone else to enjoy.”
I bit back the moan ready to spill from my lips. His words shouldn’t make me hot, but they did. It was going to take every bit of my self-control to fight both him and the desire he brought to life inside me.
“No comment to that?” Cyan questioned, but I kept my lips firmly sealed. After that comment, there was nothing I could say that wouldn’t come across as a challenge. At least, that was my assumption. I’d made a point of finding out as much as I could about the James pack as soon as I knew the Rigton elders planned to approach them. I made it a point to know anything that might impact me and my baby sister, Jasmine. Now, I tried to remind myself of several valid points.
A—I was consorting with the enemy right now. After the bullshit my best friend, Raina, had shared with me, this man and his alpha were enemies. It seemed the elders approach to obtaining new leadership for our pack had been to offer Raina on the marriage block, without consulting the woman first. Once upon a time, things like that had happened. Planned matings to form alliances. But not anymore. Not in a long fucking time. And it wasn’t happening this time, either. Raina had come to me for help, and I’d do everything I could to give it to her.
B—Though I knew things about the James pack in general, I knew nothing personal about Cyan. My sex drive was revving high, urging me to lie back, bend over, or fall to my knees, but that was sex. If my mother had taught me anything in life, it was the difference between sex and love. Cyan had mentioned the “m” word. Mate? Me? What the ever-loving hell? Who took one look at another person and decided they were the one? Not a normal person; that was for sure.
C—No matter what my body urged and he desired, I had more than myself to think of. I had Jasmine. My baby sister hadn’t had the best beginning in life, and God knew she’d turned my world upside down from the moment she’d arrived. I wouldn’t have it any other way. From the moment, I’d cradled her in my arms, I’d discovered what true love was, the kind that was unbreakable. From the moment her little hand had wrapped around my finger and held tight, Jasmine had been mine.
I’d been just shy of seventeen when Jasmine had been born, and I’d had no clue how to take care of a baby. Our mother had left shortly after bringing Jasmine home, and my baby sister had needed me. So I’d stepped up, and our alpha, Raina’s brother Rowan, and Raina had been there for me every step of the way. They’d kept me sane at a time when my life had been in complete chaos.
A year later, when Raina had gone off to college, Rowan and I had gotten even closer, mostly out of our misery over missing Raina. Though many had suspected there was more to our relationship, we’d never been anything but friends. No, that’s not true. We’d been family. He’d taken Jasmine and me into his life as if he were our big brother. He’d watched over and protected us. I hadn’t realized just how much until he was no longer there to do so.
Rowan. God, I missed him. We’d lost him far too soon in a freak accident. He’d been checking on some of our elder members when his truck’s back tires had blown. Those who’d been there said it had rolled five times before landing on the roof. Then it had caught fire. It gave me nightmares to think of him dying in such a horrific way. Those thoughts sobered me up, draining the booze and the lust out of me.
“Cyan, I—”
I stopped talking, angling my head as best I could when Raina darted across the lot, stopping at the edge of the grass and stripping. I noticed all the men who’d come with Cyan and Bastion turning their backs and making sure everyone else did, as well. I saw the smile on Raina’s face and didn’t worry when Bastion followed her.
“Doesn’t look like Raina needs you to save her.”
No, she didn’t. It looked as if Raina would be just fine. That made me smile. She deserved to be happy. She deserved a man who’d appreciate her. One who’d value her strengths. If that wasn’t Bastion, I’d help her hide the body when she killed him.
“I’m getting lightheaded here,” I mumbled when Cyan remained stationary.
I found myself maneuvered so I was cradled against his chest. I wrapped one arm around his neck and glanced up to meet his gaze. There was something in his stare that made my heart flutter. There was promise there, and I shook my head in denial even as he traced my cheek with his fingertip.
“I want to know you, Ivy. What makes your heart speed up with excitement? What’s your favorite food? Favorite color? What music do you dance to when no one’s watching? What book do you read over and over again, imaging it’s you between the pages?” His thumb brushed over my bottom lip. “How do you like to be kissed? Caressed? When I bring you to orgasm, will you scream my name or moan it?”
“Cyan.”
“God, I love my name on your lips. I want to taste you.” His head dipped toward mine. “One taste to tide us over for now. Until we can be alone.”
He brushed my lower lip with his top, rubbing it slowly along mine. His tongue brushed the bottom curve then flicked up, sliding along the seam, seeking entrance. I opened on a gasp, and he tilted his head, his mouth taking full possession of mine. He consumed me, tasting and exploring until I clung to him, my hands buried in his hair, urging him closer. My breasts were crushed against his chest, my stiff nipples poking his muscles. I wanted to rip off our shirts just so I could feel him skin-to-skin. Who was this man that he made me want him so easily?
“Would you look at that? Rowan barely gone, and she’s already spreading herself for another. Hell, Ivy, if I’d known how desperate you were, I’d have taken you to my bed.”
I tensed against Cyan. He’d achieved the impossible. For a moment, I’d forgotten who I was in our pack. I’d thought the little group of assholes who’d eyed Raina and me at the bar had dispersed after Cyan had thrown one of them into the wall. Looked like they were outside, lying in wait instead.
The snide words were followed by snickers. Then one of the others whispered, “Apple didn’t fall far from the tree.”
I stiffened immediately. I heard the censure. Even more, I heard the meaning behind the words. I wasn’t surprised by the three assholes who stood watching Cyan and me. Or the fact it was Austin Mickel who’d spoken. He’d tormented me since my teens. And with him were the Dempsey brothers, who were rarely far from his side lately. They were troublemakers. Ones Rowan had kept firmly in place while he’d been alive.
Before I could engage my brain and come up with a pithy reply, I found myself seated on the hood of an SUV with a very pissed off Cyan towering in front of me. In the blink of an eye, he had one big hand wrapped around Austin’s throat, lifting until the other man was on his tiptoes.
“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t rip out your fucking throat right now?” Cyan thundered.
“Cyan—” I began, but he cut me off.
“If you even think about saying anything to defend this asshole, I’ll take you over my knee and paddle your ass,” Cyan warned.
I didn’t know what was more ludicrous, the idea of me defending Austin Mickel or that of Cyan paddling my ass. Neither would ever happen. I kept silent, crossing my arms over my chest while I watched him. I’d been ready to give in. Hell, to beg Cyan to take me. The man’s kiss had rattled my brain. I almost felt as if I should thank Austin for intervening, and if that wasn’t ludicrous after the hell he’d made my life, then nothing was.