Holy crap. Vanessa McCauley was coming onto him. In a big way.

So surprised was Jace Trenton at this turn of events he almost dropped her. At the last second, he tightened his grip, bringing her closer, then wished he hadn’t. She fit perfectly, her slender body nestling against his harder, muscular one like she’d been made for his arms. He never wanted to let her go and neither did his wolf, the creature within rumbling its approval of the female. More than approval, the creature had caught the scent of hers, strong and feminine, and wanted to know more. Much more.

So did Jace, heat rolling through his veins to lodge in his groin. His cock surged to life, thick and hard in an instant. And there was no hiding it from her, not with them pressed together from mid-chest to thigh as they were.

“My, my… I guess you’re pleased to see me.” Her melodious voice wrapped around him, but it was the sparkle of mischief in her eyes that drew him in.

He’d watched her from afar for months, but had never spoken to her. He had no reason to, and it wasn’t his place. Although he was the Captain of the Guard, it still didn’t mean he was anywhere near her league, not in a million years. He hadn’t thought she’d known he existed, never mind would actually flirt with him. She was a pack princess, a lady, and no lady would ever be interested in a rough wolf from the pits like him.

“Hmm… you could say that, yeah?” he managed, his voice rough. Gone was his usual slick manner with women. Instead, he was bumbling and unsure. This delicate, beautiful creature couldn’t be looking at him with interest…

“You don’t sound at all sure,” she pouted, reaching out to adjust his collar in a small, caring gesture that melted him down to the bones. He’d never had anyone care for him, not like that. No mother to speak of, he’d grown up an orphan wolf, in one of the city’s foundling homes until he was old enough to make his own way. That way had led him to a hard life in the pits. Fighting. Killing. He’d been sure he’d die down there until his friendship with Veyr and fate had conspired to bring them both to court.

She looked around, her hands still on his shoulders as she rested in the circle of his arms. “Perhaps I should find someone who is sure.”

That did it. His grip tightened, ensuring there was no escape. “Lady, you do that and there will be blood spilt, I promise you that.”

Her lips split in a small smile and once again he was baffled by female behavior. His instinct told him she wasn’t at all interested in finding someone else, she’d just wanted to see his reaction. Well, she’d gotten it. Like most alpha’s he was possessive as all hell.

“Well then, perhaps I should get you out of here before you start a fight…” She trailed off, looking up at him with expectant eyes. The arousal and interest rolling from her in waves over-rode all his mental objections about why this wasn’t such a good idea.

Triumph surged through his veins and he turned her in his arms. Looping one around her waist, he pushed through the crowded ballroom to a small side door half hidden behind a column. He nodded to the guard by the door, who made it his business to look the other way. This was the entrance to Veyr’s private wing, one which, in a departure from protocol, Jace had a suite in. But he and V went way back. They’d saved each other’s lives more than Jace could remember. If it hadn’t been for Jace, V would never have survived his first cage fight, skinny little runt he had been back then.

“Where are we going?” Vanessa’s voice was soft in the darkness beyond the door. Since V had decided not to attend the ball, too busy with his new lady, the lanterns along the corridor hadn’t been lit. Jace didn’t care, most wolves saw well in the darkness and he was no exception.

“Isn’t this the Master’s wing? Won’t he be annoyed—”

Jace turned, cutting off her words by backing her up against the wall. The moonlight reached long fingers through the large picture windows to caress the delicate lines of her face and highlight her blonde hair. His breath caught in his throat, the need within him tightening with a savage jerk. She was gorgeous. Utterly gorgeous. And he’d never thought he’d get to touch such loveliness.

Her soft gasp as he fit his body against hers, pinning her to the wall behind, was the stuff of his fantasies. Reaching up, he tangled his fingers in her hair, scattering pins to the floor.

“You’re beautiful,” he rasped, voice deep with his voice. He knew his eyes were maxed out, but he didn’t care. With the amber ring of pure-blood in hers, it wasn’t like he would scare her.

Her lips parted, as though in answer, but he didn’t give her a chance. Unable to wait any longer to taste her, he bent his head and covered her lips with his.

---

Oh my, he could kiss.

Vanessa whimpered in need as his lips covered hers. Despite his hesitant, almost shy manner before, as though he couldn’t believe what was going on, he kissed like a man who knew what he was doing. Crowding closer, until she felt every line of his hard, muscular body, his kiss was hard and demanding. Sure and firm.

He parted her lips with an assured sweep of his tongue and slid inside. She moaned as his tongue found hers, her hands curling around his upper arms. Or tried to. They were too big, too corded with muscle for her to get her hands anywhere near around them. She didn’t care, as long as he didn’t stop kissing her. She’d been kissed before, but never like this.

Jace kissed as though he were the last man on earth and she were the last woman. His tongue wrapped around hers, teasing and dominant at the same time. Urging her to yield to his strength, while still tempting her to play. She rumbled in the back of her throat, her wolf close to the surface and evaded him. Made him work for it. He growled in warning, but she didn’t care. It was fun to tease him, even if he was an alpha. She wanted to bait the bear, or wolf, just to see how long it would be before he’d snap.

He pulled back, loosened his hold to look down at her. “Careful, princess. I’m not the sort of guy you want to play games with. You might not like the games I want to play.”

“Oh?” She arched her eyebrow. “Perhaps I want to play.”

She ducked and twisted, wriggling free of his hold to dance out of reach. An alpha wolf herself, she was fast and sure on her feet. She’d never been this brave before, but she didn’t care. The unaccustomed alcohol surging through her veins, fortified for lycans, had loosened her inhibitions. She knew that and still didn’t care. She’d watched Jace from afar for so long, that to find out he wasn’t indifferent as she’d always thought, was like a red rag to a bull.

“But it all depends on if you can catch me,” she whispered, then grabbing her skirts, she set off down the corridor like a shot.

He didn’t call after her, the silence making her worry for a second she’d misread this. Perhaps he’d just been getting her out of the ballroom before she made a fool of herself? Then a low growl filled the air.

She cast a glance over her shoulder to find him a few steps behind her. A delighted squeak escaped her and she doubled her speed until she was in a flat out sprint. But he was bigger, faster. Even before she felt his breath on the back of her neck, she knew there was no getting away from him, but that wasn’t the point. She didn’t want to get away. She wanted him to capture her. Wanted the fantasy of a man who would claim her, regardless of her status in the pack, or as Jacob McCauley’s sister. She wanted a man who wanted her for herself.

Hard hands closed on her arms, hauling her from her feet and against a solid male body as they tumbled backward, through a door to sprawl over the floor. She’d closed her eyes, waiting for the impact with the floor. It wouldn’t hurt for long, she healed fast. But the jarring shock of hitting the floor didn’t come. Instead, somehow, Jace twisted in the air so she landed on top of him, sprawled across his broad chest.

“Huh?” she looked up to see a small smile playing over his lips. He moved to kick the door shut behind them, and the smile broadened. “Welcome to my lair, princess. Now I’ve caught you, the rules of the chase say you’re mine to do with as I wish.”