A Wolf's Desire (A BBW Paranormal Romance): The Holiday Ball (2 page)

“I’ll make it better, baby. Whatever it is.” His hand stroked along the top of her head and she had the uncontrollable urge to purr. But she couldn’t. Trouble was coming her way.

She made a motion with her hand, drawing his attention to the manager and waiter still in deep conversation by the kitchen door. “By now the waiter has told the manager who was responsible for the destroyed tray of crystal and china. Not that I wouldn’t want him to tell her, I was responsible after all. But I’m about to get fired. My paycheck for the evening will not begin to cover the cost of the damage.” She closed her eyes. Crap. Now she was going in the hole with this job.

“So you are not hurt?”

“No,” Daphne answered, a warmth stealing over her at the concern in his voice. Then, she couldn’t help herself—she snuggled closer. Another uncontrollable urge and she was sniffing him. His scent was a combination of the outdoors and his own spicy male scent.

“Tell me your name,” he commanded as he continued to stroke the top of her head. It took her a minute to realize her hair was now unbound and falling around her shoulders. “Tell me.”

“Daphne.”

“My name is Kade.”

And I’m your mate.

Of course, Kade couldn’t say those last four words out loud. It was too soon. It didn’t, however, prevent his body from reacting exactly as it should when his mate was near. His cock surged. Slowly, he cautioned his wolf, slowly. He shifted his legs, putting some much needed space between their lower bodies.

Kade’s wolf whined when the woman in his arms looked as if she wanted to start crying again. He cursed—then immediately thanked—the pixie who had been out to get Gunner and his new mate. As soon as he had touched the curvy waitress he had known she was his. He’d hated to leave her to chase down the troublesome pixie and turn her over to security. He’d helped the Barringers out more than once tonight and it went a long way in appeasing his soul.

On the other hand, maybe he still owed them a debt. For a different reason. If the jealous pixie had never stormed across the dance floor, he wouldn’t have followed and his curvy mate wouldn’t have slammed in to him.

“Everything will be alright, Daphne. You’ll see.”

Just then, the crowd let out a loud roar filled with catcalls and whistles. He turned so they could both see what was happening. He refused to let her out of his arms.

His wolf grinned as he caught sight of Gunner and his mate in the middle of the stage that held the small orchestra hired for the evening. Gunner was on bended knee holding out a blue velvet ring box. Even with his shifter hearing, Kade was still too far away to hear the exact words being said, but anyone looking knew what was happening. The scarred wolf was proposing and if Kade wasn’t mistaken, his mate was leaving him hanging. It also looked like the wolf was loving every minute and well on his way to being completely healed.

A burden lifted from Kade’s shoulders.

He watched as Hayden and his wife clapped along with half the people in the room as Gunner threw the pretty plump pixie over his shoulder and carried her from the room. She pounded on his back, demanding to be let down. Apparently, the peace pixie wasn’t so peaceful after all.

Well, he thought, if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. His wolf agreed. Just as he bent to lift his mate into his arms, a woman called out behind him.

“Daphne, I need to talk to you.”

“Oh, no.” His mate cried. “Here she comes.”

Kade turned to find a small woman almost upon them. “The manager, I take it?”

“Yes—”

“Daphne, sweetheart, Wes just told me what happened? Are you alright?”

“Uh.”

Kade could tell the woman’s words were nothing like what Daphne had been expecting to hear. She’d made the woman sound like the wicked witch from the west. The small woman coming at them was anything but. He narrowed his eyes, concentrating on her back. Yep, she had wings. And a tiny silver wand stuck in the front pocket of her uniform. In his book, wings and a wand added up to a fairy godmother. His mate’s?

From Daphne’s reaction, he wasn’t sure. She didn’t appear to know what the woman was. Unless the fairy had never made her presence known to Daphne before now. And if that was true, maybe she was here to help him win his mate’s heart. He had a feeling he could use all the help he could get.

“I’m fine, Ms. Marpal. I’m sorry about the damage I caused. I’ll reimburse you, of course.”

“What! Why would you do that?” Her face scrunched up into a frown. “Oh, yes, you usually work for my sister Hazel, don’t you? She’s such a coldhearted, well, you know how she is, dear. But no, you aren’t responsible for any costs, Daphne. In fact, if anyone were to be responsible, it would be this big wolf’s fault, right Mr. Townsend?” She gave Kade a quick wink.

“Absolutely. My fault entirely.”

“But—” Daphne exchanged a glance with Kade, wordlessly asking if he thought this was a weird conversation. He lifted his shoulder in response.

“Now, now, not another word. You give me that apron and I want you to go get a bite to eat and then head on home. Unless, of course, you’d like to take care of her yourself, Kade?” She turned to Kade with a twinkle in her eye.

“It would be my pleasure.”

Kade bowed at the waist and took the older woman’s hand in his, kissing the knuckles. The woman twittered and Daphne couldn’t blame her. Kade was a magnificent flirt.

And that was exactly why she needed to walk away as fast as her shiny new shoes would carry her.

The woman pulled her hand away from Kade’s grip and Daphne thought she saw red sparkles flutter from her fingertips and float in the air before disappearing.

“So, that takes care of that.” The woman smiled at both of them and started to walk away before turning back to Daphne. “By the way, dear, how are those shoes working out for you?”

“I, umm—” This night had apparently taken away Daphne’s ability to form coherent sentences.

With a wink and puff of white smoke, the older woman was gone.

Daphne wondered if she’d somehow wandered into some stress-induced, alternate fairy-tale-ridden reality.

The music that had stopped while the proposal had taken place on the stage, started back. It turned awkward very quickly, standing there with such a handsome man staring down at her. Daphne pulled at the hem of her blouse, refusing to look into the wolf’s eyes. “I guess, I, better be going then.”

When he didn’t offer to move, she made to step around him. He stopped her by wrapping his hand around her upper arm. God, his hands were big. What would they feel like sliding across her skin? Daphne didn’t find herself attracted to men very often. Most made her feel like her curves were something she needed to get rid of. She’d learn to accept her curves. And the way this man was looking at her, maybe he didn’t think her curves were such a bad thing either.

“I don’t think so. I believe your fairy godmother just told me to take care of you.”

“What?” Daphne’s head snapped up at his words. “There’s no such thing as a fairy godmother.”

“Just like there’s no such thing as a big, bad wolf?”

His smile made Daphne shiver and her pussy moisten all at the same time. He moved closer.

“You do know I’m a wolf, don’t you Daphne?”

She licked her lips, almost tasting the masculine scent emanating from his body. “Yes. But a fairy godmother? That’s a bit of a stretch, don’t you think?”

“Nope. Didn’t you see her wings?”

“What? She had wings?” Daphne narrowed her eyes, trying to tell if he was lying. “You’re pulling my leg. She didn’t have wings, did she?”

Kade nodded, a smile on his face.

“Well, if she’s my fairy godmother, she’s been conspicuously absent from my life.”

“Fairy godmothers only show up when they’re needed.”

“Oh, and why was she needed tonight? So I wouldn’t get a tray of drinks dumped on my head?”

“No, so you’d meet your one true love.” They stared at each other and Daphne’s heart started to pound.

“Now, let’s go get you something to eat.”

Her apparent knight in shining armor took Daphne’s elbow and guided her to the side door leading to the kitchen. She knew he wasn’t one of the wolves hosting the party. She’d met the Barringers earlier in the evening when they’d come into the kitchen to thank everyone for working so hard. They had been a handsome set of men. Her escort did, however, seem to know his way around the house more so than the average guest.

“Hello, Mr. Townsend. What can I do for you?”

The Barringer’s cook looked up as they entered, a wide, welcoming smile on his face. Not everything being served tonight had been catered. The cook had contributed many of the hors d’oeuvre and buffet items.

“Hello, Nick.” Kade took the other man’s hand without moving the one from the small of her back. Heavens, was there anything more sexy feeling than having a man’s hand spread across your lower back?

Maybe cupping your pussy?

Naughty, naughty, Daphne she thought to herself.

“My mate is hungry.”

Nick nodded once before walking away.

“What the heck are you doing?” Daphne whispered.

“Feeding you.”

She stood in front of Kade, mouth curved down in a pretty frown. Her manner reeked of defiance. A defiant mate. Man and wolf grinned together. There was nothing more exciting than bringing a sassy mate to heel.

He was experienced enough and smart enough to realize he needed to start the campaign of winning his mate’s heart and obedience, in bed at least, with a little pleasure.

Daphne opened her mouth to yell at the grinning wolf again, but before she could speak, his lips captured hers. She gasped, but that only seemed to encourage him further. His tongue delved into her mouth.

Soft…his lips were so damned soft. She lifted her hands to clasp his face. Oh, she knew she should be protesting, should be shoving at his shoulders to push him away. But what was she doing? Creaming her panties, that’s what. All she could think of was this man, the rough feel of the stubble on his jaw beneath her fingers, the alluring earthy taste of him on her tongue, and his clean, outdoor scent sneaking into her senses. Without really understanding what she was doing, just knowing she needed to do it or die, she kissed him back. Her lips moved under his, her hands curled into his hair, sifting through the dark silk. Just when it felt as if she would explode, his lips released hers, and she inhaled a shaky breath. And another lungful of his scent that went straight to her womb, making it clench in need.

Kade Townsend was an irresistible force that she had to resist. It was a supreme test of will to keep from pressing closer to his body. It was torturous bliss, wanting this kiss yet knowing she shouldn’t. He laughed softly, as if he knew what was happening to her. His mouth meandered down her throat to the sensitive skin where the slope of her shoulder dipped. Nudging her neck, he moved her head to the side and attacked the area, his tongue lapping as if he were preparing her for something.

His nose nuzzled her ear, whispering to her, “Soon. Soon you’ll be wearing my mark here for all the world to see.” He growled into her ear, the sound vibrating throughout her body. Then he latched his lips onto her throat and suckled—and she swore she came just a little. Head falling back, she heard herself groan. Her body surrendering to his.

What the heck was she doing?

“Stop, stop!” Her hands were still tangled in the black locks of his hair and she pulled hard, yanking him away.

He lifted his mouth from her neck, his dark eyes smoky with want.

“Not likely, mate.”

“I am not your mate, you crazy wolf!”

He just grinned down at her and her insides twisted with…hurt? Was he playing with her? Toying with her, seeing if he could make the fat girl melt? “Look, everyone knows that wolves mate with witches. Or pixies. They do not mate with humans.”

He arched a dark brow.

“They do not,” she reiterated. “Especially not a plain, chubby one—”

His hand clamped over her mouth, stopping her flow of words. “Do not finish that sentence.” His gaze burned into hers and for the first time that night, Daphne shivered with something other than full-blown lust. The look was dark and formidable. Looking down the length of his big body, she realized he wasn’t as unaffected as she’d thought by the kisses. The front of his tuxedo pants had ballooned with the strength of his desire.

Daphne didn’t know what would have happened if the cook hadn’t chosen that moment to return. She had a feeling she might have found herself bent over his knee. He’d looked that furious.

“Here you go, Mr. Townsend. I hope you find everything satisfactory.” The man handed Kade a white whicker basket.

“Thank you, Nick.”

He turned her toward the door, but Daphne stopped walking. This had gone on long enough. She was filled with lust for this man, wolf, whatever the hell he was. All she knew was the she wanted him inside—and that would never happen.

“I don’t know what you think you’re doing. But I am not hungry. I am not your mate, and I sure as hell am not going to fall into bed with you just because you’re showing me a little kindness. Go find someone else to play your wolfie games with.” Her impassioned speech might have been a little more convincing if her stomach hadn’t chosen that moment to growl and her panties weren’t wet.