Bonds of Fire: The Bellum Sisters 2 (paranormal erotic romance) (17 page)

Willow met his satisfied gaze and smiled. He leaned close and pulled her into her arms; she had no energy to protest let alone move a muscle, so she let him. He was warm and smelled delicious.

He kissed her on the mouth then simply held her.

Chapter 17

“Where is she?”

The young bartender recognized him immediately and nodded towards the back of the room. Thane followed his gaze until he found the one he was looking for.

He didn’t bother to say thanks, but set after her. What the hell was she thinking? They had a job to do and here he was pulling her drunken ass out of a club. Fucking woman.

Thane stopped some distance away. He told himself it was so he could judge her condition, but he knew it was more than that. Ever since they were young, he and Jackie had something different between them. He didn’t know what to call it or even knew if it had a name, but every time he was around the strong redhead she pushed something inside him.

He’d never been quick to anger with anyone before, unless it was an enemy. Yet the moment she opened her mouth he wanted to shake her, push her away, and kiss the hell out of her all at the same time. Yeah, not a good idea. He’d lose his position in the pack faster than Jackie could slap him. And that would be the least of his problems.

Thane growled and pushed himself away from the wall. What the fuck was she doing here alone and drinking anyways? He went to her table and slid into the seat across from her.

Judging by the empty beer bottles, shot glasses, and mugs on the table, she was deep into her cups. Yup, he thought, as she slowly dragged her hazy gaze up to meet his. She squinted at him as if she’d forgotten her glasses—which she didn’t wear—then gave a nasty sigh.

“What are you doing here?”

“Someone had to come get your drunken ass. What the fuck are you doing here, Jackie?” She reached for a shot glass filled with amber liquid and downed it like water; she didn’t even cringe. In fact she sighed as if it was soothing.

“What does it look like I’m doing, genius?” She let out an unfeminine burp and Thane covered his laughter with his hand. Her eyes were lined with red from the alcohol, cheeks flushed, eyes glossy, lips wet.... Thane’s thoughts derailed instantly.

“Quit staring at my lips!”

Thane sat up straight, jerked his gaze away. “I wasn’t. You’re just drunk.” She waved a finger at him over the table like she was casting a spell.

“Ha! I saw that look. You give that hungry look to all the free bitches in the pack. Don’t think I haven’t seen it before.” In a high-pitched, girly voice she said, “Oh Thane, you’re sooo strong. Oh Thane, you’re soo hooot!” She shoved a finger down her throat and made a gagging noise. Thane couldn’t help it, he grinned.

“Spying on me now or just jealous of the tail I get?” Her eyes flashed with anger, her beast lurking at the edge. Damn that alcohol, if she wasn’t careful she’d end up shifting right here in the club—a club half-filled with humans. Wouldn’t that just make this night even better?

“It’s hardly spying when I go to the gym to get a little workout and you’re boning some princess behind the door.” Thane gritted his teeth. God this always pissed him off. He shouldn’t give a fuck what she thought, but he cared. Why? Because she was his partner, dammit.

“Yeah, well she was a little hands-on if you know what I mean. Besides I didn’t fuck her.”

Jackie’s mouth dropped open in mock surprise and then she rolled her eyes in the back of her head. “Riiiiiight. Listen Thane-o, why don’t you do me a favor and, oh, I dunno, leave. I don’t need you here. I came here to be alone.” Jackie lifted a slender beer bottle and chugged the contents in big gulps.

Dammit, he couldn’t watch this. It was bad enough knowing she was doing this, but seeing it was another torture entirely. Thane snatched the bottle from her and slammed it on his side of the table. Her eyes and mouth slowly widened at him. He would have laughed if seeing her like this didn’t bother him so much.

“Listen, I’m your partner. I’m the one you come to when you’re troubled.”

She tossed back her head and laughed so loud that people turned to stare. Thane tossed them a glare that sent them back around, and damn if the lights didn’t catch her red hair in golden streams. He wasn’t lying when he told her he liked it. Hell, if only she knew what he dreamt of at night.

“What are you my mom? You’re not a shoulder for me to cry on and you’re not someone I’d ever go to to talk.” She squirmed across the table, reaching for the bottle he’d stolen so Thane snatched it up and downed the contents.

“If I was troubled and came to you to talk would you listen?” he said.

She rolled her eyes. “Oh, please, Thane. As if that would ever happen. You’re too fabulously controlled to let that happen.”

Thane didn’t like that. Didn’t like that at all. “Just answer the question, Jackie. Would you?”

She rocked left and right in her seat as she thought about it. “Umm, yeah, I guess. Don’t matter though, 'cause it’d never happen.”

Thane grew serious and leaned forward in his seat. “Talk to me, Jackie. Tell me what’s going on so I can help.” Her mouth flattened into a disbelieving line then slowly pulled down into a disgusted frown.

“Fine I’ll tell you but after you’re outta here,” she said flinging her arm out in the opposite direction of the exit. Thane nodded though he had no intention of leaving her here.

She let out a long dramatic sigh then slumped back in her seat, her chin falling to her chest. She mumbled something.

“Huh?” Thane said loudly, a grin spreading across his face. She looked up at him and narrowed her eyes into points.

“I said I’m jealous.”

Oh.

Thane closed his gaping jaw. Well, if that didn’t surprise the shit out of him, and poof up his ego like a peacock.

“Of what?” God, he must be a sick bastard because he hoped like hell it was about him.

“The Alpha and his mate.” She looked away like she was ashamed. Thane’s mood deflated fast. Was he a selfish bastard to want to be in her thoughts like that—yes?

“What about them? And since when do you start referring to her as his mate. I recall the term future mate being prevalent in the situation.” She scoffed noisily and slammed her forehead into the table. When she came back up, misery was in her eyes. She looked haggard, alone. Thane wanted to crawl across the table, ask her what he could do to fix it, and solve all her problems. Course if she knew that, she’d skin his balls and wear it as a hat.

“Yesterday, she went to him. The way they held each other...I could just feel that something between them. I don’t doubt it now. She’ll be his, and they’ll be happy together.”

She looked far to the side and Thane saw her blinking fast, eyelashes wet. God dammit. With a low growl, he crossed to her and pulled her into his arms. She fought it but with her unhappy drunken state, she eventually gave in and let him hold her.

Thane hated the silence that followed. He’d never comforted a woman before that wasn’t his mom or sister. What the hell did he do? So he kept her close and rubbed her arms and back, while her head tucked up under his chin in a way that felt...nice.

“They will make a fine couple,” he said eventually.

“Yup, they sure will.” Bitterness coated her voice. She pulled back from him sharply and scooted to the other end of the booth. It only separated them a foot but to him it felt much further. He scooted up against her and she shot him a dirty look. Now she was backed up against the wall and had nowhere to go. His beast purred his approval.

“Why does that make you jealous?”

She looked surprised. “Why do you think, Thane? Do you think I like being unmated? Alone. No one chases my tail as you’ve crudely put it before.”

Thane winced. Yeah, he’d said that before but damn she’d made him mad. Guilt ate at him even more as he remembered he’d said that after she’d interrupted him with the princess in the gym. Even then he’d felt guilt and shame, something she’d always made him feel with a single look.

“You’ll find someone, Jackie. You’re strong and beautiful. Any man would be happy to have you.”

She laughed the sound hollow. “Apparently not, Thane-o. Listen why don’t you go now. I told you my stupid problem. Just leave me in peace.” She sounded so sad it broke his heart.

“No way. It’s time to get you back to the pack and into bed.” He stood and started pulling her out of the booth. She came but it was like pulling a limp noodle out of a bowl of water. He held her up to him so she wouldn’t fall.

“Whatever, anything to get me away from you.” Thane ignored her biting tone and wrapped an arm around her shoulder and waist. As he tugged her through the crowded club he couldn’t help but notice how soft her body felt against his, how small she was in comparison to him. Yet underneath that, she felt sturdy and strong. The contrasts spiked his senses and he realized he liked it.

They came through the front door and her steps became heavier and heavier. With a sigh, he bent down and lifted her into his arms. She slapped her fists against his shoulders.

“Put me down dammit, I can walk.”

“No you can’t,” he said easily. He had to park a good block and a half down the street so he made his steps fast. After a minute, she finally gave up her fight and relaxed, letting her head rest against his shoulder.

“I’m too heavy,” she whined. This side of her was brand new to him, if only it wasn’t alcohol that made her show her true colors.

He laughed at her. “Not even close. You weigh nothing, sweetheart.” She scoffed at him and wrapped her arms around his neck. His mind told himself it was just so she could hold on, but his body didn’t take it that way. It flared up, heated with sexual anticipation. Even his cock hardened.

God was she playing with his hair? She’s drunk, his logical mind screamed at him; it didn’t mean anything. Didn’t mean it didn’t feel good as hell though.

“Where are you taking me?” she said wistfully. Thane swallowed before he could answer. His hands curled over her thigh and back and he could feel the heat of her and the soft pliancy of her lithe muscles. He closed his eyes for a moment and reminded himself that he preferred curvy women that wore makeup and perfume. Not natural women like Jackie.

“To the jeep, it’s not too far.” Damn, even his voice was aware of the woman in his arms, having gone deep like he was about to take her back to his place and not put her drunken ass in bed where she belonged.

He raced to his jeep when he spotted it. He set her down, gently lounged her against it while he opened the passenger door. As soon as he let go of her she started sliding off to the side.

“Whoa there.” He caught her and she fell against him, her hands catching his thick sweater at the shoulders. Then she looked up at him and he lost himself in her eyes. Baby blues, bright and red rimmed from alcohol and still she took his breath away.

And scared the shit out of him.

She looked at him with innocent eyes, not the seductive ones like the women he usually went with. She wasn’t coy or playful but damn if it didn’t arouse him more than all those other women combined. What kind of animal was he to be turned on by a drunken innocent woman? Hell, his partner.

Her eyes fell to his mouth and Thane watched her expression change. He would have bet her to be an actress but he knew she wasn’t playing any games, not Jackie. She was straightforward to a punch. So when her eyes traced his lips and grew soft and low-lidded, Thane knew he was a goner. Was he an ass for taking advantage while she was drunk—yes. Did he care the least bit—hell no.

No longer capable of being gentle, he grabbed her hips and pushed her against the jeep. Her soft gasp brought even hotter thoughts flying through his mind. How would she sound when his head was between her legs? Would she wrap her legs around his shoulders or fall open and soft for him?

Cupping her head in his hand, he tilted her to the side, and slowly brought his lips to hers. A second before their lips met, her hands tightened in his shirt, eyes wide and panicked.

“What are you doing?” she whispered hoarsely.

Thane paused for a moment, struggling to think over the need roaring through him. His mind blanked for a moment and all he could do was answer honestly.

“Kissing you.”

And then he pressed his lips against hers and lost himself in a way he never thought possible.

* * *

Draven stopped outside their door. God what was with him and doing this? He’d been blaming Chloe for this whole disaster but really, that was a lie. Not that he’d alleviate her guilt and tell her that. No, it was his fault. He never should have asked Lucinda to be his
frimar
. Fuck.

If he were using his old ways, he’d already have blood coursing through his veins and be on his way to bed. But what the fuck was he doing? Pacing outside his
frimar
’s bedroom, their shared bedroom. As if it wasn’t bad enough having to babysit one of the Bellum sisters, at least that was a temporary situation. But Lucinda? Temporary?

Vampires signed on with
frimar
s for a long-term arrangement. If he were to release her now, she’d be forced to find another. Draven’s hand curled into white-knuckled fists. God dammit. Every time he so much as thought about another man’s mouth on her neck, her wrists, her thighs, he shook with rage.