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  Driven by an escalating impulse, she released his neck and pushed away, sliding down his body. When her feet hit the ground she shrugged her shoulders, allowing her coat to fall to the ground as she slowly sank to her knees. She didn’t look away, meeting Jackson’s gaze as she peppered kisses down his chest. Lust hit her like a blowtorch to the stomach. She’d do anything and be anything he wanted if he continued staring at her exactly like that.

  “You’re so fucking hot,” he rasped, twining his fingers in her hair. “You have no idea what you do to me.”

  Actually, she did. If his expression hadn’t given him away, his harsh inhalations and the tremor that shot through his body were all the evidence she needed. Bold and eager, she nipped at his abdomen, holding back a grin when she felt his muscles flex through his shirt. A surge of power flowed over her.

  She did this to him. In this position he was at her mercy.

  His grip on her hair intensified, pulling the strands taut. The sharp sting along her scalp sent a spasm through her pussy, drenching her panties.

  “That’s right. Show me what you like. Get me ready. I love the way you smell when you’re turned-on. It gets me so hard I want to flip you over and fuck you senseless.”

  She worked his jeans open and his hard, swollen cock sprang free. He growled when she wound her fingers around the base, squeezed, and a bead of pre-cum escaped. Leaning forward, she flicked her tongue over the tip, collecting the crystalline drop. His taste burst on her tongue, salty and bitter. His groan drove her onward. She rotated her tongue along the crown, lapping at the heated flesh that pulsed against her palm.

  “Take it,” he snarled, thrusting his hips, trying to breach her lips. “Take it all.”

  He was too thick and long to take completely, the tip lodging in the back of her throat despite the hand at the root. She relaxed the muscles in her throat, breathing through her nose. Recalling his earlier instruction, she swallowed when her gag reflex kicked in.

  “Shit,” Jackson grated through clenched teeth. He brought a hand down and pulled her fingers from the base of his erection. Then he wrapped both of his hands in her hair. “Stay just like that. I want to take those pretty lips for a ride.”

  Then he moved, making shallow passes. She hollowed her cheeks and sucked, keeping her tongue flush against the base, enhancing his pleasure. Their eyes met, gazes locking. The eroticism of the act made her tremble, the walls of her pussy clasping with each pass.

  “More,” he demanded, thrusting harder. “I want you to swallow me down, baby. Then it’s your turn. I’m going to lick you up like candy, Chloe.”

  Talk about the ultimate incentive.

  She doubled her efforts, sucking until her jaws ached. More of his semen coated her tongue, giving her another taste of the man she couldn’t get enough of. She wanted to give him this because she wanted it too. The desire to feel him come, to watch the ecstasy on his face she was responsible for. She moaned when he shifted his legs and his thigh caressed her breast, making the nipple pucker.

  Her scalp burned as his hands formed into fists in her hair. “Oh fuck,” he groaned, pistoning his hips. “That’s it, baby. Don’t stop. Fuck. Don’t stop.”

  Moaning harder, she took the hard thrusts to her face, aware he was nearing climax. She watched as his jaw tensed and his brows came together. He looked harsh and wild, his hair loose at his shoulders, a few random pieces caught in the stubble along his chin. His irises were fully gold now, his dark, dilated pupils prominent.

  God he was beautiful. And more importantly, he was hers. His words returned to her as a hot flow of semen flowed into her mouth.

  I’m all yours.

  He threw his head back with a muffled “fuck” and thrust the head of his cock into her throat. She swallowed each jet of the hot, salty fluid, drinking him down, entranced by the way his body shook and his muscles rippled.

  Once the last spasm had passed his fingers loosened in her hair and he lowered his head. “I’m the luckiest fucking bastard in the world,” he breathed, chest heaving. “It’s my turn.”

  She yelped when he yanked her up and tossed her over his shoulder. His hand drifted up her thigh, hovered between her legs for a moment and stopped on the curve of her ass. Her hair swept over her face, making it difficult to see. She made out random patches of the floor as he carried her up the stairs to the loft.

  When he tossed her on the bed the first thing she noticed were the rays of the moon. The curtains were pulled back, allowing the beams to shine through. They seemed to warm her skin, blanketing her in a glow of radiant white. Jackson started removing his clothing, studying her, his eyes luminous in the darkness of the room. When he finally made it to his pants and stripped them away she saw his cock was hard and stiff, reaching toward his bellybutton.

  He followed her gaze, bringing his hand to his straining erection. He stroked from the base to the tip, stopping when his fingers surrounded the head.

  “You want this, don’t you?”

  She shouldn’t have been turned on by his smug grin but she was. “Yes.”

  “Don’t worry. I’m going to give it to you.” He let go of his shaft, a devious gleam in his eyes. “Right now I want you to lie back, close your eyes and spread those pretty legs for me.”

  Warmth erupted in her cheeks but she plopped back on the freshly changed linens, aware of the clothing covering her body. Her bra felt abrasive, her panties uncomfortable. She squirmed when he tugged off her shoes and socks, biting her lip when he finally got to work on her jeans. He yanked them down her legs, taking her panties along for the ride. Restless, she brought her hands to her sweater and heaved it and her camisole over her head.

  “Impatient, are we?” Jackson chuckled. “Ditch the bra, baby. I want to watch you play with your nipples while I go down on you.”

  Oh God.

  Her fingers trembled as she accomplished the task, pulling the garment away from her torso. Brisk winter air cascaded over her skin, cooling the flush that swept over her.

  Jackson climbed onto the mattress, coming closer, and slid his hands under her ass. She made room for him, parting her thighs, shaking in anticipation. He rubbed his cheek along one thigh, then the other. A tremor shot down her spine when his heated breath made contact with the wet folds of her sex. She clawed at the comforter and arched her back, bringing his mouth and her pussy together.

  A low growl penetrated her ears but she couldn’t focus on that. All she could think about was the delicious, wet tongue that penetrated her vaginal lips, parting her slit in a firm, decisive lap. The wolf made her presence known then, clamoring for a place in line. Instead of denying the beast she let a portion of it slither beneath her skin. Sensations amplified, the moon becoming far more. The thing was like an entity, its call a hum that buzzed in her head.

  “Touch yourself, Chloe.”

  Bringing her hands up, she flicked her nipples with her fingers, mewling at how good it felt. The pleasure intensified when he slid two fingers inside her, moving them in and out, finding the sweet spot within her. She jerked when he stroked the sensitive inner tissue, waiting for him to do it again.

  “That’s right,” Jackson whispered. “Accept who you are. Embrace it. The two of us were made for each other. See how good it can be?”

  Before she could respond his lips surrounded her clit. One well-placed flick of his tongue combined with the hard press of his fingers and she shattered.

  Her cry was a combination of a snarl and scream, ripping from her throat, so loud it drowned out the sound of Jackson lapping at her pussy. The tips of her fingers burned, her gums tingling, the wolf howling in her head. Still the glorious grip of climax continued, wave after wave of fire rushing from her clit, cascading through her abdomen and limbs. Jackson’s tongue gentled when the last shudders passed, sliding over her labia in a light caress as he pulled his fingers from her moist depths.

  She reached for him as he moved up her body, raking her fingers over his muscular shoulders.
He took his time, peppering kisses along her navel, nipples and collarbone. Placing his hands on either side of her body, he lifted his weight from her. She almost argued about birth control, fearful of what would happen if Jackson had lied about his uncanny senses, but decided against it. He’d asked for her trust and she was going to give it to him.

  His cock pressed against the mouth of her sex and he entered her, advancing slowly. He peered down, watching as he joined their bodies.

  “Perfect,” he murmured and sank to the hilt, lodging his cock within her. Then he raised his head, gazing at her. “This time we’re taking things nice and slow.”

  He rewarded her whimper of agreement with a soft kiss, his lips hovering over hers. He retreated and returned, doing as he promised, taking her with care. She gasped into his mouth as he thrust in and out, leaving her only to return once again, lifting her hips. The light from the moon covered his broad shoulders, creating a halo around his body.

  She closed her eyes, wanting to create a snapshot in her mind she would always remember. His lips brushed over her closed lids and feathered over her lashes. The sweetness of the act—something so simple yet so profound—took the moment beyond sex.

  Drawing him close, she placed her nose to his chest and breathed him in.

  He might have said he was all hers but in that moment he owned her.

  Mind, body and soul.

  Chapter Ten

  A soft knock roused Jackson from a deep slumber. He opened his eyes, focusing on the ceiling. Chloe stirred, moaning softly into his chest. She shifted closer to his side. Contentedness swept over him. His female not only met his expectations, she exceeded them. Tonight they’d officially announce their mating. Everyone would know she belonged to him. He’d protect, watch over and love her for the rest of his life.

  The soft rapping came again—from the front door.

  With a muffled curse he moved away from his mate, taking care to rest her head on the pillows. As he hoped, she didn’t wake. Her chest rose and fell, a quiet sigh passing her lips. He climbed off the bed, retrieved his jeans and jerked them on. He didn’t bother with his shirt, shoes or socks. Only one person knew where he was and had the balls to interrupt him this early in the morning.

  Whatever Declan had to say had better be fucking important.

  He descended the stairs, moving as quietly as possible, and strode to the door. As he expected, Declan was waiting for him on the other side. What he didn’t anticipate was how haggard the Beta appeared. He hadn’t showered or shaved, wearing the same clothing from the evening before. His hair was mussed and his T-shirt was wrinkled. There was a glimmer in his eyes that Jackson couldn’t put his finger on.

  “We need to talk,” Declan said and started to walk inside.

  Jackson stopped the man with a hand on his chest. “Outside. Chloe’s resting.”

  Instead of bestowing a smart remark or rebuff, Declan pivoted and returned to the porch. Jackson frowned, wondering what had the Beta riled up. Certainly his mating had shaken things up but thus far Declan had taken everything in stride. Something must have happened to make him like this. In fact, Jackson wouldn’t recall a time that his Beta had seemed so stressed.

  Shaking off the chilly morning air as he closed the door, Jackson asked, “What crawled up your ass and died?”

  “Fucking fate, that’s what,” Declan responded, though he sounded tired not angry. Looking Jackson in the eye, he explained, “Apparently I’m mated to a human—your mate’s fucking best friend.”

  His ears had to be deceiving him. Declan did not just say he was mated to Chloe’s childhood friend. The idea alone screamed clusterfuck of epic proportions.

  “Say again?”

  The Beta’s eyes turned gold. “You heard me.”

  “You met a couple of days ago and you didn’t mention anything about it.” As soon as Jackson spoke, he realized Declan hadn’t said anything either way. Perhaps he had known but hadn’t felt inclined to share. “Why’s that?”

  “Because I didn’t think it was possible,” Declan grumbled. “I was wrong.”

  The vague response created more questions than answers. “Care to explain?”

  “I was attracted to the female but I assumed there was nothing more to it. Since I haven’t exactly had time to get laid, I blew it off as pent-up steam. We know how rare it is for a wolf to mate with a human.”

  More than rare. The occurrence was almost unheard of. It was the primary reason Jackson hadn’t considered Chloe might be part human before they met in the flesh. Mating with humans came with all sorts of problems.

  “Are you certain?”

  “I’m positive. We paid each other a visit in our dreams last night.”

  Well hell. No wonder Declan looked like shit. Dreamsharing could be intense, especially the first time. Jackson summoned up the memory of the female who’d looked like she wanted to bust his balls when Chloe had introduced them.

  “You’re sure it’s Rachel?”

  “I’m sure.” Declan ran his fingers through his hair. “Since we’ve met and a connection was established, I was able to see her face.”

  “Did she know the dream was being shared?” Chloe hadn’t had time to discuss important details about their mating—at least he didn’t think she had—with her friend. “Do you think she understands what it means?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  “You didn’t think about discussing the topic with her? Jesus, Declan. Tell me you didn’t let your dick cloud your judgment. The first experience with your female can make or break a mating. If you started things off on the wrong foot, you’re fucked.”

  “Thanks for the vote of confidence,” the Beta snarled, flashing his pointed canines. “She wouldn’t let me get anywhere near her, since you’re so goddamn curious. Each time I got close she’d skip to another place in her mind. It was like she could change her dreams at will. I spent the majority of the night trying to keep up.” Declan lowered his hand, shaking his head. “I need your permission to initiate her into the pack.”

  “Shit.”

  If he gave his blessing as Alpha, Declan would have full rights to Rachel. No one could interfere—including Chloe. His female would kill him if he allowed a werewolf male to stake a claim to and change her friend—especially if Rachel wasn’t given a choice. It wasn’t unheard of for a male to bite a woman when she denied a mating bond. Once his saliva entered her bloodstream, the change would start. The connection a human made with their wolven half was absolute.

  Even if Rachel hated Declan, the wolf inside her wouldn’t turn him away.

  “Are you sure that’s what you want to do?” It wasn’t the best way to establish a mating. If his Beta wasn’t careful he could end up with a mate who hated him. “Have you considered doing this the human way?”

  Declan’s eyes narrowed. “Would I be here if I wasn’t?”

  Answering questions with questions always annoyed him but he was willing to let his pack mate slide. “Chloe won’t be happy.”

  Declan snorted. “Neither will Just Rachel. I shouldn’t have given you shit about having your hands full with your mate.”

  “Just Rachel?”

  “Long story. Don’t worry about it.” Declan lifted his shoulders, standing straight. “Do I have your permission? I can proceed without it, but I’d rather not.”

  There was the bitch of it. Declan could proceed without asking. If necessary he could leave the pack, claim and change his female and spread the word that he was searching for a place to call home. The Beta had a solid reputation as both a man and a wolf. He wouldn’t have a problem finding another pack. Human police wouldn’t get involved, not in matters like these. It was too dangerous—too personal. Although they liked to believe they were in control, when it came to pack matters they stayed the fuck out of Dodge.

  “I’ll agree, but there are conditions.” After Declan nodded Jackson said, “You’ll need to take a leave of absence during Rachel’s first moon. I don’t want to fi
ght with my mate about what you’ve done or what it means for her friend. I expect our involvement to be minimal.”

  Declan considered the words and slowly nodded. “What else?”

  “You need to prepare a pack member to take your place while you’re gone.”

  “I can do that.”

  Releasing a deep breath, Jackson finished, “And I’d like to ask that you try to do this properly, without changing her. Give Rachel a chance to accept you as she is. I owe Chloe that much.”

  “How long?”

  “A month.”

  If Rachel didn’t accept his advances within a month, Declan’s bite to get the process started would ensure she had thirty days to deal with the changes in her body before her first full moon. He hoped to hell that it didn’t come down to that. Chloe would be pissed, Rachel would be out for blood and Jackson would be smack dab in the fucking middle.

  “Starting today?” Declan clarified.

  Time to put a nail in the coffin. “Starting today.”

  “Done.”

  Declan extended his hand and Jackson accepted it.

  A firm shake sealed the deal.

  There was no going back.

  Normally Jackson wouldn’t have felt bad about a human who found him or herself mated to a werewolf. Circumstances had changed his reasoning. Rachel—from what he gathered—had a few issues to sort through. The woman hadn’t been friendly, bordering on hostile. Chloe had done her best to alleviate the tension but he’d known Rachel had complied only to appease her friend, not because she’d wanted to.

  Jackson let go and took a step back. “Don’t breathe a word of this to the pack. When you arrange a replacement, you can say you’re doing some work out of state. No one needs details. If Chloe finds out what you’re up to she’ll tell Rachel. I won’t come between them.”