I tug down the hem of Jackson's sweatshirt. "I'm, uh, Kylie." I offer hoping to get an introduction back."Sam" Somehow I get the feeling he doesn't like me.Fuck. Is Jackson gay? "Are you and Jackson..?"His cold demeanor cracks with a flicker of a smile. "He's my brother." I gape. Clearly not a blood brother. They look nothing alike. "Looks like you were, um, out in the rain, too."The young man doesn't answer."I see you've met Sam." Jackson's deep voice sends tremors through my body, like after quakes from my climax. Climaxes. Plural. Because he was certainly responsible for both.I look from Jackson's huge mountain man frame and dark hair to the lean muscled fair man, and I'm not convinced they're not lovers. Especially because Sam shoots Jackson a. What the fuck? look.Why does that make me desperate to stake my claim on Jackson? But it's not my right. I am in big trouble with my employer and my blackmailers, and we need to make a game plan."Do you want to see what's on the thu
Without the lens of pack dynamics, she'll see him exactly as the Whipping boy she described in the Elevator. To make it worse, Sam flicks me a condemning look before he obeys. He pulls out a package of cold cuts, bread, and condiments and start making sandwich without asking what she likes. It annoys me more than it should, but Kylie's stomach complain again, and she looks appreciatively at the food, so figure it's okay."I'm going to take you home. You're going to come to work tomorrow, like nothing happened. Let me know if they make contact you again," I tell her as Sam makes the sandwich. She lets out an impatient puff of air, but lowers her chin."Yes, sir."My cock goes rock hard. Hearing those words, the same ones that normally annoy the hell out of me coming from kisses employees, feels like a total win. The time I picture her on her knees at my feet, gazing up with those beautiful, gold flecked eyes, waiting for my command.Sam slides the plate across the counter to Kylie.
He says nothing, and the space between us stretches like an invitation, a pool of real I could jump into if I only dared. Can I? Be real with someone who isn't a family member? No. My father's death proved that you can't trust anyone but family. But my lips move anyway. "I got stuck in a tight space once. There was no one around to help, and it took me hours to get out." I'm gripping the door handle so hard I might tear it off. Jackson reaches over and squeeze my hand. "I'm sorry that happened to you. You're safe now. You have your own exit. I'll pull over at a moment notice if you needed to bail. Okay?"Something tightens in my solar plexus as the torment of that particular trauma tries to come out. I suck in deep breaths. No fucking way I'm going to start bawling in Jackson King's car. Damn him dragging this out of me. "Hey." He releases my hand and contorts his arm to push on my solar plexus, the way he did in the Elevator. "You're okay." He starts to pull over, and I shake my
KYLIE POV:The lights are on in the little house we rented near the university. I chose that locale because it's chip and there are plenty of restaurants and shop within walking distance. I always pick places where it's easy to blend in. "Mémé?" I push open the door and then stop. Something feels off. Hairs prickling on the back of my neck, I step in, trying to identify what's different. Nothing seems out of place. "Mémé?" It comes out sharp, and I hope she's not in bed already.I look around the kitchen and see unpacked grocery bags on the floor. Alarm bells go off full force.My phone rings. I dig it out of my pocket and stare at the words number blocked. Normally, I would never answer, but somethings not right, so I swipe the screen and put the phone to my ear. "Hello?""You did not follow our instructions." The voice is computer generated. A surge of anger rips through me. "Fuck your instructions.""We're fucking your grandmother. You should have d
I flash my brightest smile as I head into Jackson's office. "Your coffee, sir." I walk around to his side of the desk and stand too close as I lean over like a sex kitten to deliver it. His secretary gapes in the doorway."Watch it, kitten or I'll punish you here, too," he growls in an undertone. "What?" I ask innocently. "Cancel all my appointments and close the door, Vanessa. We have a situation to deal with here," he says to his secretary as he opens his desk and pulls out a wooden ruler. He lays it on the desk between us, shooting me a meaningful look. Despite it all- Despite the lack of sleep and worrying sick over Mémé, Despite my daunting task of getting the thumb drive, a charge of pure sexual desire runs through me.Hell, yes, he can spank me again.He's going to want to do far worse when he realizes what I'm going to do. And that through sobers the lust right out of me.I hold out my palm. "Thumb drive.?"I'm really not sure he's going to hand it to me, but, after a momen
I work to get through the firewall and the infosec code. I do not allow myself to think of what will happen if Jackson come back before I've succeeded. Or if I can't get in. Or if they don't let Mémé go. I only see the characters on a screen. A puzzle to solve. Sixteen minutes later, I'm in.No time to celebrate. I grab the thumb drive and insert it into his port. "I'm sorry, Jackson. I'm so fucking sorry. It auto-launches, code unfolding before my eyes with lightning speed.I get up from his chair, pick up my things, and walk swiftly out. I don't acknowledge his secretary. I travel down the hall, like I'm headed for the bathroom, and slip into the stairwell. Eight stories then a parking lot, and I'll be in my car. Except I already know I've been had. They're not letting Mémé go. How could they frame me if an old lady is telling a story about being kidnapping?So I just committed another felony act and destroy the old company I've ever admired for nothing. Worse I've destroyed whateve
KYLIE POV:I make it to my car and peel out of the parking lot. I head in the direction of downtown, but I have no idea where to go. It's time to bail I've done this at least twenty times.I know how to erase my existence and put up a new on in another city. Another country even, But I'll be dammed if I'll leave Tucson without Mémé. So I just need somewhere to lie low. To wait for the blackmailers phone call that fear isn't coming. I drive to Bank of America, where I have a safety deposit box. Maybe I can get in before the FBI puts an alert on anything to do with my present social security number.I walk briskly into the bank, tugging the hem of my T-shirt down, wishing I'd worn the heels today.I withdraw all my saving in cash, give them my ID, and ask to have my safety deposit box. They send me to an office to wait. Three minutes go by five.Please let this one thing go right for me.The overweight manager with a nineties hairstyle return with the box.
The hairs on the back of my neck stand up as I walk to the Range Rover in the solar panel-coverd parking. I lift nose the air and snift, but all I smell is the cool spring air of the desert.The moon beckons me, makes me itchy to shift and hunt for Kylie. I reach the vehicle and stop.A dark head is visible in the passenger seat of my car. I know immediately it's her.My body surges into emergency mode, the shift upon me. I don't know what to think someone's murdered her and put her in there. Or that she's waiting to kill me. Or she's committed suicide and left her body for me to find it.I know its Kylie, and getting to her is a goddamn emergency, I rip open the door.She's not dead. She's not even hurt. And she's not holding a gun.All I find is a pale, tear-streaked face punctuated by huge, miserable eyes.Relief and fury simultaneously flood my viens. I haul her out of the car by her wrist and slam the door. I don't smell fear on her, but she's docile like she knows she deserves m
ONE MONTH LATER KYLIE POV:"PULL that skirt up, baby. Let me see what's waiting for me when we get home." My mate hasn't grown any less bossy since marking me. Our drive home from work together has become just one of the many pleasures of working for Jackson King. Shared lunch breaks are another one. And getting to help him with his new code. He stares over at me like a starving man. Like he hadn't already fucked me over his desk after using a rule on my ass during lunch. Like he doesn’t have full access to me every night at home."Now, kitten. Every second you make me wait will earn you a stroke with my belt."I already reached for the hem of my tight fitted skirt, but I stop now, flashing a naughty grin. "Is that so?"Now that I've switched on my shifter DNA, my body heals almost instantaneously, which means Jackson can employ any form of punishment he desires and the pain is only fleeting. It's a bit sad, really. Because now I can never get enough. Ja
JACKSON POV:THE first rays of light come up over the mountains as Sam pulls into my garage. On my orders, he stopped to pick up Jacqueline. I knew how worried her grandmother had been, and vice versa. I want Kylie to have all the support she needs, especially considering it's her first shift. While the shift was necessary for her survival, she may not know to shift back when the time comes.I carry her in. Sam tries to carry Jacqueline, but the old cat insists on walking on her own, leaning heavily on Sam. We install them both in the upstairs guest bedroom. Jacqueline shifts and curls her body up beside Kylie's, lending her purring vibrations for her granddaughter's healing.I sit beside the bed, my heart rammed up behind my chin, my fingers moving over Kylie's sleek black fur.She's fucking magnificent. A huge black Panther with golden eyes. Truly awe-inducing. It's the first time in my life anything's made sense. Of course my wolf chose this incredible
BRITISH accent yanks my hair again. "Help him."I allow my anger to show. "Okay asshole. Do you know anything about hacking? No one ever knows the way in. It's about experimentation. You just keep trying things until you make some headway. If I'm going to help Stu, I need my own computer and my fingers. Me looking over his shoulders just slows us both down.British accent–I'll call him BA, looks at Stu, who shrugs. "She's right." It's too much to hope they'll give me my computer, but he does slide the tape off my wrist and shove another laptop in my face. Despite the fact that I'm still wearing the mini skirt from days before, I prop one ankle on my knee to make a desk and flip open the laptop. I've been in Jackson's system all week through his computer, but I left an open door for myself, which is how I transferred the funds back today. I don't go in through the door, now. I go at the firewall, same as Stu."Is she doing it?" BA demands.Stu looks over my shoulder. "Yeah."I ignore
"MAY I SPEAK TO JACQUELINE?""Ah. She's been waiting for your call." He says nothing more, but Mémé voice come on. "Minette! Dieu merci. Is it safe to take?""Yes. Where are you?""I am with Tucson wolf pack. Downtown."For a moment, I simply reply her words as my brain struggles to catch up. "Did you say wolf pack?""Oui. I'm sorry, I never told you, Minette. I am a shifter–cat. Your mother too."I've had too many surprises today to take it all in. My hand drops limp at my side. "Wh-what?""Where are you, Minette?"Minette. The French word for puss. She's always called me little cat because... she's a cat. My mind topples ass over tea kettle down a slope of dawning. "My mom?" I croak."Yes, your maman, too. This is why, this wolf is attracted to you. Where are you, my sweet?""Not far from downtown. Are you hurt? What happened?""I was hurt, but I will be better soon."My engines finally start firing. "We need to leave town right away." I stand and pick my leather backpack purse."
AND ho-boy-kylie's grandmother is a cat shifter? Is Kylie? She can't be. Her fear when I partially shifted was genuine. But how would she have a shifter for a grandmother and know nothing about werewolves?Another thought creeps in, full of heat and tingles. Kylie has shifter blood. No wonder my wolf wanted to mate her. And it means she probably would have survived it.But that is water under the bridge. Kylie just met with Stu, proving she was in cahoots with him the whole time. Except, now that this new information has knocked me out of my stupor, doubts creeps in. Could there be another explanation for her meeting with Stu?I pull up in front of Garrett's apartment and get out, walking swiftly in and onto elevator. I stop on Garrett's floor and get off. The scent of shifters-both wolf and yes, this distinctly feline smell as well, hist me. I knock on the door and one of Garrett's housemates answers it steps deferentially aside to let me in. The old woman is on the sofa, pale and we
PAIN pushes through my heart like a nail in a coffin. Punctures straight through to the other side and leaves me wheezing for breath.Betrayed.She's been working with Stu all along? A great roaring starts up in my ears, deafens me. My body goes numb, freezing cold as it all clicks into place. She and Stu are working together on this. I was so stupid to believe all her lies. A known thief, a known hacker, I actually saw her install the malware into my system, and I didn't realize I was being played? She took me by the balls.What in the hell is wrong with me? I was thinking with my dick, not my brain, that's what. I let a pair of sexy legs and Batgirl tits lead me around by the nose. What a fucking idiot.I watch, like a dead man, as she pulls off her helmet and dismounts from the bike. She leans back against it, folding her arms across the same breasts I worshipped only last night.I can't tell what they're saying. Even if my wolf hearing could detect their voice through the window,
MY breath stutters, but I part my legs. He cups my mons. "You remember who belongs to?"I flush."It's mine. And If I was too rough with it, you'd be within your rights to pout a little, kitten. Makes me kiss it better when I get home tonight."The thought has my Nipples tightening, pussy clenching. The image of us some kind of 1950s married couple floats through my mind. I'm the sex-kitten wife, waiting for him to come home from a hard day at work. Offer him a drink and loosen his tie before I pout and make him lick my pussy as compensation for pounding me too hard the night before. Okay, I'm getting way too excited. And there's work to be done. Serious work.He pulls into his garage and insist on carrying me inside. "Your ankle is sore, and you're not wearing panties." I laugh. "So those are the two criteria for getting carried?""That's right. Now, watch the sass or I'll have to see to that pretty little ass of yours before I go. Is it sore, too?"I reach back and run my hand over
I go still, and she stiffens, seeming to realize what slipped out. "I mean...""Shhh... Don't you dare take it back," I warn. I cradle her face in my palm and turn it to look into her warm brown eyes."I love you." I don't say I love you too, because I don't want it sound less serious than her admission. I utter it like a vow. I don't know how the fuck I'm going to make things work with a human, especially if every full moon is like this, but I sure as hell have to try. I'm not giving her up for anything. And that means I need to eliminate all the threats to my female. "Kylie, I need to know what happened at the Louvre."She blinks in surprise and tries to pull away. I literally can see her emotional retreat before my eyes."Don't run," I command. "Look at me. I need to know.""Why?""You've been in hiding since then. And now you've been outed. Are you in danger?"She shakes her head. "Not for the next seven years.""Tell me.""It was my father's partner in the heist. A double- cross
"THERE are consequences for disobeying your alpha." He pushes the head of his cock against my anus and waits. I tighten against his touch, but a moment later, the muscles give. As soon as they loosen, Jackson pushes forward penetrating my tigh hole.I let out a keening cry.He stills, stretching me wide, waiting for me to calm down. The care he takes reassures me that he's in control, and I yield, willing my pelvic floor to relax. He pushes in farther and the stretch becomes more intense, then eases."There. That's the head. I'm in, baby. Now, take the rest of me."I whimper but let all my muscles go slack, arch ny back a little, and wait."Good girl," he rumbles, one hand coasting up my side, stroking my skin.The praise sends curls of warmth through me, and I arch some more."That's it, baby. Take it like a good girl, and I'll kiss that ripe pussy when I'm through." He eases in and out, giving me a tremendous senses of urgency each time he fills me.My ass is stuffed full of his c