CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Okay, baby, break.”

Harley lined up the cue stick to the white ball, aimed, and took her shot. The cue ball hit the triangle of fifteen balls hard. One of the striped ones rolled into a pocket, and she smiled. “The solids are yours.”

Striped, solids—Jesse didn’t care which balls he’d be hitting. Not when his mate was wearing only a white thong and a matching lacy babydoll that hid absolutely nothing. He’d wanted them to play pool naked, but she’d insisted on half naked, which was why Jesse was still in his jeans. He’d expected Harley to simply yank off her top; he definitely hadn’t expected her to stroll down the stairs wearing a scrap of lace that was as hot as it was torture.

He inwardly groaned as she bent over the table to take another shot, making her breasts almost spill out of the cups. His cock was hard and heavy, needing release. Uncomfortable, he tore open the buttons of his fly. Her eyes snapped to him and roamed down to his cock. She swallowed and went right back to the game. And missed her shot. He smiled. “My turn.”

Harley backed away from the table, taking a good look at his ass as he moved around. When she’d come downstairs and watched his eyes flare with need, she’d expected to have the upper hand. As she’d walked around the pool table, his heated gaze had been locked on her with the same focus that a predator watched its prey. Yeah, she’d had the upper hand. That had lasted right up until he’d unbuttoned his fly. His long, thick cock had brought her off more times than she could count. She couldn’t look at it without wanting it inside her.

Watching as he pocketed two balls, she silently swore. Both Harley and her cat hated to lose. Clearly she’d have to up her game a little. As he lined up his next shot, she flicked one of the straps off her shoulder and danced her fingers along the edge of the table as she slowly rounded it. Opposite him, she stopped. He stilled as he noticed the fallen strap, which flashed him a little more of her breast.

“You trying to distract me, sweetheart?” he asked, voice husky.

She faked offense. “Would I do that?”

“Oh yeah.”

Leaning over the table, she used her arms to squash her breasts together. “You know me so well. Are you going to take your shot or not?” Harley smiled at his narrow-eyed look. He lined up the cue, aimed, hit . . . and the ball rolled right into the pocket. Bastard.

Smug, Jesse said, “No need to hiss, baby.” She’d been distracting him since he was a juvenile; he was used to it at this point. Eyes holding his, she propped her cue on the floor. Her hand curled around the top of the stick, and then she was stroking that hand up and down; making him remember how soft it felt as it skillfully pumped his cock. “Tricky little cat, aren’t you?”

Harley flashed him a smile full of feminine challenge. She knew how determined he was to win. They’d made up their own set of rules for the game, and they had agreed that the winner would have control during the fucking session that would immediately follow. He had a big thing for control, and she had never once given him full control in bed.

“Admit it; you wish it was your cock in my hand, don’t you? If I’m all yours, this is your hand. There’s only one thing it should be pumping like this.”

Jesse had to smile. “Oh, you’re good.” She was not only putting visuals in his head, she was playing on his extreme possessiveness. “But it’s not going to work.” That proved to be wishful thinking on his part, because he missed his next shot. Looking very pleased with herself, his mate then stepped forward. She sank one ball. And another. And looked ready to pocket yet another. He couldn’t have that. “When this is over, I’m going to fuck you so hard it’ll hurt.” And the white ball missed the striped one and went rolling into the pocket.

Harley swore. “You’re a total asshole.”

He prowled toward her. “You sank the white ball, baby. You know what that means.” They’d agreed beforehand that if either of them did that or pocketed each other’s ball, a little sexual punishment would follow. Crowding her against the table, he put both their cue sticks aside and then sat her on the edge of the table. Standing between her thighs, he said, “Remember: you can’t come . . . unless you want to lose the entire game.”

Harley gasped as he bit her nipple right through the lace. “Remember: you only have two minutes.”

“Don’t worry; I’ll make them count.” He tugged down the babydoll, propping up her breasts, and latched on tight to a nipple. Knowing what she liked, he sucked and licked and grazed the hard bud with his teeth. The scent of her need rose and flooded his lungs, making his cock jerk. Her hands sifted in his hair, claws scraping his scalp—he fucking loved that.

As a hand delved under her babydoll and cupped her, Harley bit her lip. Her thong went with a snap, and then his finger skimmed through her slick folds. Feeling his hot mouth on her nipple, his finger teasing her folds, and the heel of his hand brushing over her clit . . . It was too much. Her pussy quivered, but she fought the orgasm that began to build.

“Come, baby,” he rumbled. “You know you want to.”

“Not gonna happen,” she rasped. Glancing at the wall clock, she smiled. “Two minutes are up.”

“You’re right,” he said, biting her nipple one last time before stepping back. Jesse sucked his finger clean, groaning. He wanted more of that taste on his tongue. Not yet.

Thighs trembling, Harley slid off the table. Her pussy throbbed and burned. Why the hell had she agreed to this? Because he’d wanted to play, which was a super rare thing for her mate. Jesse was a very serious wolf. Not in the sense that he didn’t smile or find amusement in things. It was that he had such a serious approach to life that, unlike other wolves, he didn’t play or joke much. Still . . . “Your rules are cruel.”

Jesse chuckled. “My wolf’s pissed at me too. He wants to watch you come and hear you scream. That’ll come later.”

“Cocky motherfucker.”

“Always so cranky when you’re horny.” He grabbed his cue stick. “My turn again.”

Harley knew exactly how to wipe that smug look off his face. As he sent another ball rolling into a pocket, she grabbed one of the dining chairs and turned it to face him. “My legs are a little shaky.” Sinking into the chair, she kept her legs open, giving him a very nice view of what she knew he wanted.

Jesse swallowed. “You truly are a little bitch.” He prepared to take his next shot, but he couldn’t take his eyes away from her swollen, glistening pussy. His mouth watered. Fisting his painfully hard cock, he gave himself a quick stroke.

“I’m sorry, am I distracting you again?” she asked sweetly. Then she closed her legs.

Jesse growled. “Open them.” That pussy was his. His to look at and taste and sink into whenever he wanted. “Do it, Harley. Show me what’s mine.”

“If you insist.” She very slowly spread her legs, leaning her head back slightly to expose her throat. He persistently asked her to give him her throat; sometimes she did, sometimes she didn’t. She sensed that—in some weird way—he got off a little on not knowing whether or not she’d refuse him. “Time is ticking, Jesse. Of course, you can just end the game now . . . but that would make me the winner.”

Rolling back his shoulders, Jesse said, “I won’t lose this, Harley, no matter what you do.” And then he missed his damn shot. Smiling like . . . well, a cat who got the cream, his mate rose from the chair and sort of slinked her way to the table. Maybe it was because she was so utterly confident she had the upper hand, but she proceeded to effortlessly pocket three more balls.

“Just one ball left,” she taunted Jesse. “Then all I have to do is sink the black . . . and I win.”

As she lined up to take the next shot, he asked, “You ever been fucked in the ass, Harley?” And her ball almost sailed off the table.

She whirled on him. “Oh my God, I will kill you!”

He chuckled. “So close to winning . . . and yet you won’t.” He proved that by pocketing three balls in quick succession. All he had to do now was pocket the black. And he might have done just that if she hadn’t chosen that moment to once more sit on the chair, legs spread, and begin to play with her clit. “Harley, we agreed—”

“That we wouldn’t touch each other. We didn’t say we wouldn’t touch ourselves. You fisted your cock earlier and I never said anything.”

“I’ll bet money that you didn’t say anything about it because you planned to do this.”

She grinned, rubbing her clit. “You’d win that bet. But you won’t win this game. Nu-uh.”

“A demon. You’re a fucking demon.”

Harley laughed. “Take your shot so you can miss and I can end this game.” She slipped a finger inside her. “We both know that’s what will happen.”

He’d be damned if he let her win this. He bent over, aimed, and stupidly sank her freaking ball. That not only helped her, it earned him a punishment. Shit. Jesse cracked one side of his neck. “Well?”

“Come here.”

Fuck, just hearing her say the word “come” made his cock twitch. He was still so damn hard that it hurt to walk, but he stalked to where she sat on the dining chair. “Two minutes,” he reminded her, knowing it would be two minutes of utter torture. But he would not come.

She crooked her finger. “Bend over a little. I want a kiss.” His mouth paused mere inches from hers, and she licked at the seam until he opened. Then she thrust her wet finger into his mouth.

As her taste burst on his tongue, Jesse growled. He should have remembered how cunning and devious his mate could be. He wanted to ring her pretty little neck, but then she fisted the base of his cock and pumped once, twice.

“Make sure you remember not to come.” Harley lapped at the head of his cock, tasting the little pearl of pre-come. Then she swallowed him down, liking the growl that rumbled in his chest. Keeping her lips wrapped tight around him, she sucked on his cock like it was her job, taking more of him with each pass.

Hands clenched in her hair, Jesse watched as his mate drove him insane with her mouth. It was like having his cock buried in a fire of silk. Her tongue touched every sensitive spot he had, giving him absolutely no mercy. “Sweetheart, you have the best fucking mouth,” he growled. “I swear, if I could sleep with my cock in your mouth, I would. But no matter how perfect it is, I’m not going to come.”

Accepting that challenge, Harley sucked harder and faster, smiling inwardly as he bit out a harsh expletive. She dragged her claws down his thighs and purred around his cock. His hands tightened in her hair and his thighs started to shake—

“Time’s up.” He pulled out with total freaking relief.

She jumped to her feet. “Goddammit!”

“I never thought I’d ever be glad to get my cock out of your talented little mouth.”

Snatching up her cue stick, she snapped, “My turn.” She practically stomped over to the table, out of patience. The black ball was at an awkward angle. No matter what side she approached it, there was no way to take a decent shot. “Oh, come on!”

Shoulders shaking, Jesse said, “Something wrong?” The way she glared at him . . . he honestly thought she was going to hit him with the cue. Especially when her eyes flashed cat. Instead, she prepared to take her shot. Predictably, she missed. Even better, the white ball rolled to a stop at a position that gave him a perfect angle to pocket the black. “Ready to watch me win?”

Tapping her claws on the pool table, she hissed. “You’re such a dick.”

“Why? Because I’m going to win?”

“Yes.”

“Such a sore loser.” Bending to take his shot, he met her eyes. “Get ready to be ruthlessly fucked.” Then he smoothly sank the black. Swearing, she slung the cue on the table, glaring at him with eyes that dared him to act. Oh, he would. He had plans for his little cat. Anticipation and satisfaction coursed through him, making the excitement almost painful.

He growled when she went to move. “Stay where you were, hands on the table.”

Eyes narrowing, she followed his order. “You sure you want to risk coming close? My cat wants to rip your face off.”

Rounding the table, Jesse pressed himself up against her back. “I’ll take my chances.” Wanting total access to her skin, he peeled off the babydoll, careful not to tear it. Then he gripped her breasts and licked over her claiming mark. “Hold on.” Without any preamble, he slammed home.

Harley’s mouth opened in a silent scream as his long, thick cock forced its way past her swollen muscles and bumped her cervix. Biting her lip, she moaned. He filled and stretched her just right—enough to burn but not enough to truly hurt.

Knotting his hand in her hair, Jesse snatched her head back. “I win, so I have the control. That means you follow my rules. One, if I tell you to do something, you don’t question me. Two, you can’t come unless I give you permission. Three, if you want something you can have it . . . just as long as you ask nicely. And four, you have to answer my questions honestly.”

Questions? What questions?

“None of this means burying your dominance or being someone else, Harley. It means trusting me enough not to fight me. Trusting me to give you what you need. Trusting me not to do anything you won’t like. It means letting all the other shit go and giving yourself to me all the way. I know you’re strong enough to do that. And you will do it.”

Gripping her hips, Jesse backed them both up a little. “Now fuck yourself on me, Harley.”

The sheer power and dominance in that order pushed every defiant button she had. Bristling, her cat whipped her tail. Harley’s instinct was to fight him, but she had made him a deal. She might hate losing, but she never backed out on a promise. So she tightened her grip on the table and slammed her hips back into his, impaling herself on his cock over and over. She gasped as a wet finger began to push inside her ass. He often added a finger there when he fucked her, and she didn’t mind admitting that she liked it.

“Fuck me harder, sweetheart,” he rumbled. She powered her hips back to meet his. He groaned as her hot, slick pussy squeezed him tight. “You never answered me before. Has anyone ever had your ass, Harley?”

“No.”

He’d thought not. “Did anyone want it?”

“Can’t we talk later?” She was kind of busy here.

Curling an arm around her waist to still her movements, he growled into her ear, “Answer the fucking question.”

Never again would she agree to give the bossy bastard full control. “Yes,” she bit out. “The answer is yes.”

“Why didn’t you give it to them?” He pulled his finger almost all the way out of her ass and then roughly thrust it back in. “Don’t say you were saving it for your true mate.” It was something that most shifters did, but . . . “You had no intention of seeking him out and returning to the shifter world. So why didn’t you let anyone have your ass? Remember you have to answer me honestly.”

“It would have felt like I was letting them claim me.”

“That night at the hotel . . . would you have given me your ass if I’d asked for it?”

No. Maybe. Probably. “Yes.”

Satisfied, Jesse said into her ear, “Because you knew even then that this ass was only ever going to be mine.” He rotated his hips, hitting a spot deep inside her pussy that made her gasp. “I’m not going to fuck your ass now.” He needed to come too badly to patiently prepare her ass and fuck it nice and easy. “But I’ll have it soon.” His free hand slid up to close possessively around her breast. “Very soon.” And then he was ruthlessly pounding into her pussy, taking what was his.

Fuck, she was gonna come. How could she hold out when his teeth were raking over her claiming mark, his hand was clutching her breast, his finger was fucking her ass, and his cock was driving so deep inside her it actually hurt? It was a good hurt, a pain that amplified the pleasure. “Jesse . . .”

“I know. You need to come.” He bit her earlobe. “You know the rules, Harley.”

He wanted her to “ask nicely,” she realized. Harley hissed, which earned her a slap on the ass. “I. Don’t. Be—” Her breath caught in her throat as an orgasm threatened to tear through her.

Feeling her pussy flutter around him, Jesse stilled. “No, no, no.” She made a sound that was close to a sob. Stroking her stomach, he soothed, “Shush, you can fight it. Breathe through it. Fight it for me. That’s it.” After a few moments, her pussy stopped quaking. “That’s my good girl.”

A moan slipped out of Harley as he gave her a slow, shallow thrust. Her pussy clamped down on him, but she didn’t start to come. Still, she knew it wouldn’t be long before her orgasm came barreling toward her again. “I won’t last.”

“I know.” He gave her another agonizingly slow thrust. And another. And another.

“I need it harder.”

“I know you do.”

But she’d have to ask for it. Begging wasn’t her style, though. Never had been. Still, there was no way she could keep fighting off orgasms, so she relented. “Please fuck me harder.”

“Anything you want.” Jesse fucked in and out of her with brutal, territorial thrusts, knowing she could take it, knowing it was what she needed. Feeling her pussy tighten, he said, “Don’t come yet.” Ignoring her hiss, he said, “Wait.” He kept on thrusting hard and deep, both dominating and claiming her. “Wait.” He fucked her even faster, sucking on his brand. Her pussy fluttered, but she held back. “Good girl.” He added another finger in her ass and thrust them both hard. “Now come.”

Tumbling into a vicious orgasm, Harley threw her head back as her body arched like a bow and a scream tore out of her throat. She felt his cock swelling inside her, stretching her even more, and then he drove deep and exploded. Little aftershocks racked them both, and she would have collapsed to the floor if his arm weren’t wrapped around her.

Licking over his brand, Jesse smiled as she began to purr. He’d grown to love that sound. “Does your cat still want to claw my face off?”

“The orgasm soothed her bruised ego a little.”

“We could always have a rematch, give you a chance to win. We can change the rules, shake things up a little, make the prize something else.” She glanced at him over her shoulder, and he frowned at the soft yet odd look on her face as he asked, “What?”

“You played. And you want to play again.” It was nice. It also meant he let his guard down with her, which she loved.

“You’re fun to play with . . . even though you’re the sorest loser ever.” In fact, that was part of the fun. “Shower. Then bed.” He’d wake sometime in the night and reach for her, like he always did. Although she was moody when she was tired, she never complained that he woke her by sliding his cock inside her or by eating her out. She was right there with him every step of the way, accepting and taking him. She was as much his match in bed as she was out of it. Smiling at that thought, he carried her upstairs.

“You have visitors.”

At Zander’s words, Jesse halted near a tree, hand clenched around his cell phone. “My parents?”

“Yep,” confirmed the enforcer. “As you’ve probably guessed, they’re not happy. Bracken let them pass; they’re waiting for you at the main lodge.”

Sighing, Jesse changed course and stalked through the forest, heading for the main lodge. “Harley’s not there, is she?” He didn’t want blood getting spilled.

“No.”

Relieved, Jesse said, “Good.” She was no doubt still relaxing in the reading alcove, where he’d reluctantly left her hours ago so he could begin patrol duty. “I’ll be there soon.”

Walking into the lodge a few minutes later, Jesse wasn’t surprised by the tension thickening the air. His pack may once have had their doubts about Harley, but they now all considered her one of their own. As such, they were staring dubiously at the visitors who they knew disapproved of her.

His father, who Jesse bore a strong resemblance to, smiled wanly as he patted him on the back. “You look well, son,” said Julian. They’d always gotten along, though Jesse couldn’t help but lose some respect for the male when he folded under his mother’s dominance. Still, he and his wolf would be pleased to see him under other circumstances.

His mother was dainty and thin, but she had a forceful presence that made her seem bigger than she actually was. It was that presence which kept her family in line, but Jesse had never been interested in falling in line for her or anyone else. They got along, but they would always bump heads from time to time.

Fern stared at Jesse with a pinched, wounded expression. “How could you, Jesse?”

He sighed. “Mom—”

“You knew what pain this would cause your family, but you didn’t care.” She took a step toward him. “Do you know how hard it was to hear this from someone else?”

“Would it have felt any better hearing about it from me?”

Her mouth snapped shut. But it unfortunately opened again. “You didn’t even discuss it with us.”

“Why would I? Even if I did feel the need to have your opinion, I wouldn’t have needed to talk to you; I already know how you feel about Harley.”

“And yet you claimed her. Claimed her. You could have had Kim.”

Ah, so she’d gone straight to his parents when she got home—probably told them terrible tales about his mate. Bracken must have come to the same conclusion, because he groaned.

Jesse told Fern, “I don’t want Kim or anyone else. Harley’s who I want.”

“How could you do this to Mia?”

“I’m not doing anything to her or because of her or to spite her—it has nothing to do with Mia or you.”

Julian sighed tiredly. “Son, I know Harley isn’t responsible for Mia’s addiction. So does your mother, deep down.” He glanced at her cold expression and amended, “Deep, deep, deep down.”

Jesse wouldn’t be too sure of that.

Fern waved a hand. “We’re not here about her anyway.”

Jesse narrowed his eyes. “What’s happened?”

“Someone desecrated Mia’s memorial stone,” replied Fern.

For a moment, Jesse had no words. Rage rushed through him like a tidal wave, tightening his muscles and clouding his vision. “Someone did what?”

His mother’s eyes flickered nervously. “It was someone in the pack. We don’t know who . . . but we suspect it was Spencer.” Torrie’s brother. “We think he wants to get back at you for taking another female as a mate.”

Motherfucker. Jesse’s breathing sped up and there was a strange pounding in the ears. He’d kill the little shit. Kill him and enjoy it.

“Jesse should have spent his life alone because Torrie died?” snarled Shaya. His wolf snarled right along with her.

“Of course not,” said Julian. “I don’t think her family would have reacted so badly if the female Jesse had claimed wasn’t Harley.”

“You mean all because she’s a Vincent?” asked Nick, disgusted.

Julian shook his head. “It’s not that. It would make them feel better to believe that Torrie was really his one and only, that another female would just be second best. That’s not something they can do with Harley. Jesse never hid his attraction to her as well as he’d thought. Everyone saw it. Everyone watched him come alive and knew who was responsible for that. They were grateful, but they also resented Harley for being able to do it. They can’t kid themselves into thinking Harley is second best.”

Shaya planted her hands on her hips. “So you know that he’s wanted her for a long time, and yet you still begrudge him the happiness you know she brings him? Seriously?”

Any other time, Jesse might have responded just as bitterly as Shaya had, but he was too enraged to speak right then as his mother’s news rang in his ears again and again. It didn’t matter that he’d never been close to Mia; she was still his baby sister, and he’d like to think she’d finally found whatever peace she’d been unable to find here. But the son of a bitch had desecrated his sister’s memorial stone. And now he’d pay for it. Jesse strode out of the living area and into the kitchen, heading right for the back door.

“Jesse, no! Wait, dammit.” Zander slipped in front of him. “You’re not thinking right now.”

“The fucker’s not getting away with this.” His voice cracked with anger.

“No, he’s not. But charging down there won’t help. He’s trying to draw you there. He was always sneaky like that.”

True, but Jesse didn’t care. “Zander, move out of my fucking way.”

But the enforcer didn’t. Worse, Bracken moved to Zander’s side to further block Jesse’s path. Jesse growled. “Both of you move.”

As Jesse ranted at his friends, Nick turned to his mate. “Shaya, call Harley. We need her.” Jesse was trembling with rage and Nick was sure that their best chance of calming the enforcer was to bring Harley to him.

Fern bristled. “This is family business.”

Nick leaned into the bitch, looming over her. “Look at him; he’s lost it. You did that by blurting out that shit instead of telling him gently.” She’d known it would hurt him, and that was exactly why the bitter bitch had done it. “Harley’s the only one who has a chance at calming him down, so deal with it.”

Fern swallowed. “Jesse doesn’t lose control.”

“He does; it’s just very rare,” said Derren. “Nick’s right; we’re going to need Harley, and we’re going to need her now.”

Shaya, phone to her ear, said, “Already on it.”

Standing beside the bed, Harley paused her bow midstroke as her cell began to chime. Placing the bow and violin on the bed, she grabbed the phone from the beside cabinet, swiped her thumb over the screen, and said sweetly, “Sherwood Forest, this is Maid Marian.”

“You need to come to the main lodge.”

Harley frowned at the urgency in Shaya’s voice. Her cat sat up, instantly alert. “Why?” she asked, dashing downstairs and making a beeline for the front door.

“Jesse’s parents are here. He was already wound up about his mother whining that he’d claimed you against her approval, so when she abruptly and insensitively dropped the news that Mia’s memorial stone was desecrated by Torrie’s brother, Jesse just snapped. He wants to beat the living shit out of him. You need to calm him down.”

“On my way.” With her cat going crazy, Harley sprinted to the lodge and barged inside. Her pack mates turned to her, all looking helpless, as they listened to Jesse raging. Harley ignored Fern’s hostile stare. The bitch wasn’t important. Her cat sneered at her, though.

Following Jesse’s scent, Harley found him in the kitchen. Zander and Bracken were blocking his route to the door, trying to talk him down. “Jesse?” she said. He froze, stopping midrant, but he didn’t respond. Casually, she said, “Sorry to interrupt; I was just wondering who I need to kill.”

That had him slowly turning to face her, blinking in surprise. “What?” The word was guttural.

“Someone’s obviously aimed to piss you off, and it has clearly worked like a charm. Who was it and where do I find them?” Yes, she was pointing out that he was giving the asshole what they wanted by reacting this way. She moved toward him, but he raised a hand to ward her off. Her cat snarled, not wanting distance between them.

“I need you to stay back,” he clipped. “I’m not in control.”

“You wouldn’t hurt me.”

“Don’t,” he bit out, but she slowly walked to him.

“You’re hurting. Don’t expect me to ignore that. I can’t. I won’t.” She gently pushed aside the hand warding her off, but she didn’t invade his personal space. That would just make him and his wolf feel crowded and trapped. She needed him to calm down enough to come to her. “Shaya told me what happened. I’m sorry.”

“I can’t let the fucker get away with this.”

“He won’t,” she promised him.

“He did it to get at me.”

“He did it because he has no respect for the dead and he’s as cold as fucking ice,” she corrected. “Come here.”

Fists clenched, Jesse growled. “I have to see what he did.”

“Why, Jesse, why put yourself through that, huh? He wants that. He wants to hurt you. Don’t give him what he wants.”

“Harley . . .”

“I know. I do. Michael’s headstone has been ruined by graffiti more times than I can count. I know it’s painful that the one place they have left to rest is disrespected that way, but I will not allow you to show that bastard your pain.” She softened her voice as she added, “Come here.”

And then he was holding her, his face buried in her neck, and squeezing her so tight it hurt. She didn’t struggle. She held on to him and let him take what comfort he needed. Everyone melted away, leaving them alone. Sifting her fingers through his hair, she whispered soothing words in his ear. Her cat pushed up against Harley’s skin, offering him the same comfort.

Finally, the tremors stopped and his grip began to loosen. But he still didn’t release her. “We should probably take this to another room,” said Harley, “because I think Kathy wants to make lunch for the pack now.”

“In a minute,” he said against her neck.

Harley heard footsteps, but she didn’t turn. She didn’t need to. She recognized the scents of the two people approaching. For fuck’s sake.

“You all right, son?” Julian asked, cautious.

Jesse lifted his head. “Fine.”

Julian nodded at Harley. “Thank you for helping him,” he said sincerely and with a little warmth. The civility was an olive branch, and it pissed off Fern.

“Helping?” repeated Fern. “She talked of killing Spencer. How was that supposed to calm him?”

Harley had intended to take Jesse off guard and snap him out of his enraged zone. It had worked. Of course, he probably wouldn’t have been in any such zone if it weren’t for Fern, who was now glaring at her; trying to pressure her into lowering her gaze. Harley didn’t. She released Jesse and turned to fully face the witch. Fern just kept on glaring. “Are we done trying to outstare each other, because I’m getting bored.”

“I want to speak to my son in private.”

“Tough. Shit. You didn’t come here in peace and break the news to him gently. You used it to hurt him, didn’t you?” Her eyelids flickered. “You don’t approve of his choice of mate so you punished him for acting without your approval.”

Fern’s jaw tightened. “I’d never hurt my son.”

“You just did.” Whipping her tail, her cat hissed. She wanted out. Wanted to avenge her mate.

Fern’s lips pulled back, baring her teeth. “You don’t deserve him.”

Possibly not, but that wasn’t the issue here. “You don’t have to like me. In fact, you probably wouldn’t, even if it wasn’t for Mia. I’m not a likeable person. I’m rude. Stubborn. Sarcastic. Snarky. I only have respect for the people who’ve earned it—you haven’t. My cat, who has no patience for anyone other than Jesse and would protect him against even his own pack mates, would sure like to claw open your gut and watch you bleed. It’s actually hard to hold her back. And, to be honest, I don’t particularly want to.”

“I wouldn’t object if your cat did,” Shaya muttered.

“So if you’re determined to dislike me, Fern, fine—I can’t say I care if you do or you don’t. But get the idea out of your head that Jesse has to justify his decisions to you. He’s a grown male who doesn’t need or require your approval. If you push him on this, you’ll push him away. He lost one mate because fate can be a cruel bitch. If you make him lose another, you’ll be the cruel bitch. I know you love your son, so I can’t imagine you want to hurt him more than he’s already been hurt. But maybe I’m misjudging you just as much as you’re misjudging me.”

Fern’s mouth flattened as she returned Harley’s glare. “My daughter—”

“You don’t get to play the Mia card, Fern. Your daughter was a junkie before I met her and she continued to be a junkie after I left her life. Like you, I tried to help her. Like you, I failed. But we didn’t fail her; she failed herself. Keep blaming me for that if you want, but you don’t get to use her to drive a wedge between me and Jesse. You don’t get to play on his feelings for Mia to make him feel bad. It’s not fair to him, and it’s not fair to her. She’d hate you for it.”

Something Harley couldn’t quite identify flashed in Fern’s eyes. She tried to pass Harley and get to Jesse, but Harley blocked her path and hissed. “No. I don’t trust you around him.”

“I’m his mother!”

“Then damn well act like it!”

Scratching his head, Julian came forward. “I’m glad to see you’re so protective of my son, Harley. That’s how it should be.” Words seemed to fail him, and he sighed. Maybe someone else would have felt sorry for the guy and taken pity on him. Harley wasn’t the merciful type.

Fern’s eyes, blazing in outrage, sliced to Jesse. “Are you going to let her stand between you and your own parents?” she demanded.

Jesse didn’t even need to think about it. “Yeah. In her position, I’d do the same.”

Fern sneered. “Her parents are worthless—”

“They both accepted the mating,” he said. “Even Lily, despite her love of drama, didn’t cause this much of a scene.” His mother flinched, but he didn’t back down. “When you’re prepared to accept my choice and, more importantly, accept Harley, come back and we’ll talk. Until then, stay away.”

Fern moved toward him. “Jesse—”

Again Harley blocked her path. “Nu-uh. You heard what he said.”

Sighing, Julian put a hand on his mate’s shoulder. “Fern, this conversation has been unpleasant enough. Let’s go before something is said that can’t be taken back.”

For once in a long time, Fern listened to him. They left the main lodge without a word to anyone, though his father did give both Jesse and Harley a weak smile. Jesse let out a heavy sigh as he heard their car drive away. That was when his mate grabbed his arm.

“Come on.”

Jesse didn’t ask where they were going, sensing that she was not in a chatty mood right now. Neither was he; rage still simmered beneath his skin, making him edgy. He wordlessly followed her outside and to their lodge.

Inside, she guided him to the sofa. “Sit down.”

“Why?”

“Just do it.”

He frowned as she stomped upstairs, muttering to herself. Curious about where this was going—and hoping that just maybe it would involve the babydoll—he sank into the sofa and waited. Moments later, she was descending the stairs . . . fully dressed. That might have been disappointing if she weren’t carrying something that lifted his heart.

“You’re going to play for me, sweetheart?” he asked, surprised.

Violin in one hand and bow in the other, she said, “I don’t like giving private performances. It makes me self-conscious. But you’re rightfully upset and ready to snap. Maybe this will help you calm.”

Jesse watched as, like that time at the club, she stood with her feet shoulder width apart and her left foot slightly forward. Positioning the electric violin on her left collarbone, she propped the left side of her jaw on the chin rest. Bow in hand, she then began to play.

This tune was different from the one she played at the club, not rushed and hectic. In the beginning, the notes were soft. Mellow. Lilting. Almost ghostly. Soon, they became resonant, dark, and sensuous as they increased in power and intensity. One minute he was feeling calm, like he was floating; the next he was feeling invigorated, like the rhythm was recharging him.

The entire time, he was totally riveted and mesmerized by his mate, by her grace and confidence. Pride flooded every part of him. She was so damn talented. And she was his to dote on, care for, guard, and possess.

She moved fluidly from one note to the next, each one layered with emotion. There was so much soul and fire in her. Both drove her as she played, and the notes seemed to thunder toward the crescendo, becoming loud and vibrant. And then they began to wane and taper off, becoming once again soft and warm . . . until she stopped and looked up at him.

Throat thick, he swallowed. “Flawless.” His voice cracked with emotion. He patted his thighs. “Come here.” She carefully put down the violin and bow before coming to straddle him. Framing her face with his hands, he kissed her. “That really was amazing, baby. Thank you. If I didn’t already love you, I would have fallen hard for you right then.”

Feeling uncharacteristically shy, she said, “Stop being sweet.”

“Not being sweet. Just honest.”

“So you feel better now?”

“Much.” His limbs felt loose and his pulse was now steady. He kissed her again. “I’m sorry about my mother.” It was a surprise that he could mention the woman without wanting to explode. The rage had disintegrated like mist. Maybe it would be back. For now, he was free of it.

“She hurt you more than she hurt me.”

“And then you made her regret it. That was hot, by the way. My wolf likes it when you get all protective like that.” He smoothed his hands up and down her back. “My mother will respect your strength, even though she won’t want to.”

“She’ll never fully accept me, Jesse.” He needed to be prepared for that.

“She will if she wants grandkids.”

Harley cocked her head, surprised. “You want kids?” He’d never struck her as a fatherly person, though he was gentle with Willow and Cassidy.

“Sure, I want kids one day. Little girls with gold eyes.”

“Or little boys with dark eyes.”

“Whatever. I don’t care if they’re girls, boys, pups, or cubs as long as they’re happy and healthy.”

Well, he could change his mind on that. “Quick warning: margay cubs are totally demonic.” He laughed. “I’m serious. They climb before they can walk. You find them in the strangest places. Cabinets. Cupboards. On top of refrigerators. And they hide food everywhere.”

Smiling, he shrugged. “That’s okay.”

“They can also shift before puberty.”

“Really?” Theoretically, any shifter could do so. However, wolves generally didn’t shift until after puberty.

“Most shift for the first time at the age of six.”

“I don’t care what they are, when they can shift, or how much trouble they’ll be. I’ll love them, just like I love you. Just like you love me. Don’t you?”

“Yes. Can we stop acting like girls now?”

“You are a girl,” he chuckled. His girl. And yet . . . they still hadn’t fully imprinted.

“What’s wrong?”

He blinked. “What makes you think there’s anything wrong?”

“I sensed your mood plummet.”

Jesse twined a lock of her hair around his finger. “You often ask yourself why we haven’t bonded? I don’t get it, Harley. We’re totally open with one another. We don’t have any walls up. Our animals want the bond as much as we do.”

“I was told imprinting can sometimes be a slow process. It’ll happen. I can feel the potential of it. Have patience.”

“I don’t have patience when it comes to this. I want you bonded to me. I want our scents to mix; I want to feel what you’re feeling; I want to know I can bolster your strength if you need me to.”

“It’ll happen. Until then . . .” Her nose wrinkled. “I’m hungry.”

Sensing that she was trying to lighten his mood, he went with it. “Yeah, me too. Any Danishes?”

“Cinnamon buns okay for you?”