Jax (Immortals of New Orleans Book 7) (32 page)

“Just tell me,” Jax pressed.

“After we killed Chaz, you know Logan sent me out there. It was a mess.”

“Challenges?”

“Yeah, it’s not like they threw me a parade. How would you feel if some strange wolf you didn’t know came in and beat the shit out of every male in the pack and declared himself king of the kingdom? They didn’t know me. And I didn’t know them either. But hey,” he exhaled and shrugged, “it didn’t matter. I had a job to do. I know what it’s like to follow orders, Jax. When you’re in the military, you do what you’re told. Sure, you may give leeway here and there, but you don’t argue. You’re an Alpha. You tell your wolves what to do and they’d better damn well do it.”

“And you left because?” Jax left the question hanging.

“I left because I needed to help your sorry ass. Granted, things weren’t exactly under control when you got home but Finn and I did our best.”

“What about San Diego?”

“What about it? I chose a person who seemed decent enough to run the pack and I left.” Jake sighed. “Okay, what’s with all this cryptic shit? Why does it matter why I left? I’m an Acadian wolf. Always have been, always will be.”

“That’s true, but you know, sometimes our nature guides us outside our pack. Before you say another word,” Jax held up a silencing hand, “just hear me out. I’ve been Alpha for a long time. Longer than any of the other Alphas you’ve known. Unlike Marcel, Tristan and Logan, you didn’t know me, so our first meeting was a little rough, but,” he laughed, “it’s to be expected, given the situation. Look, Jake, under different circumstances, I’d keep quiet, let you navigate this by yourself, because I believe you truly will work things out. But given this situation with Kat…”

“What does she have to do with anything?” he interrupted.

“The fact of the matter is that you went to San Diego because you were sent there. That’s all well and true. But once you got there you fought. By virtue of that, you became Alpha. Not just an assigned Alpha.”

“That’s different…”

“No, Jake. It’s not. You may have been sent to do a job but you did it in a way that earned you that rank. I suspect that when Logan sent you, he knew what I knew.” Jax glanced to his alluring mate and back to Jake. “You’ve always had the capability to be an Alpha. We’re born that way. Programmed to lead. And if we get the opportunity, we snatch the brass ring.”

“I belong here,” Jake insisted, his jaw tensed.

“Maybe. Maybe not. Hey, I’m not telling you what to do. I’m just explaining the reality of the situation. You can joke all you want but it doesn’t negate what happened in San Diego.”

“Yeah, well, you’re right about one thing. It’s not your decision what I do.”

“But when it comes to Kat…”

“Wait a second. Does this have something to do with what that damn warlock said?” Jake closed his eyes and blinked them open, registering where the conversation was going. “What we did yesterday in the kitchen, that was fun and all but I’m not going to get in your way. I know you guys are mated. I just want to see her be happy.”

“I appreciate that.” Jax locked his eyes on Jake’s. “Yeah. Yesterday was cool. And it’s part of the reason why I think we can take things further, help Kat.”

“Take things further? As in you, me…Kat?”

“Here’s the deal. Even though you left your pack, the power you have inside you, that raw energy that only an Alpha possesses, it’s there. Do I believe every word Mick is telling me? Hell, fucking no. There’s something that rubs me the wrong way about him. But I do believe that if we work together,” Jax’s focus went to Kat and he smiled at her, “I think we might be able to seal up whatever magick gets in and out of her. Tomorrow, we all have to go back and face these things. She needs to be as strong as possible.”

“And you really think that if we do this, it’ll help her?”

“I know it will. It’s not going to change the fact that they messed with her. Hell, she may go the whole rest of her life affected by the witchcraft, for all I know. But I don’t give a shit. As long as she can shift, she’s going to be okay.”

“You sure about this? The three of us? You know I’ve always loved Kat. Well, not love love, but you know what I mean,” Jake explained, his voice strained.

“Calm down, Jake. Yeah, I’m as sure as I’m going to get. In the end, it’s up to Kat though.”

“I know better than anyone that she’s not going to go doing something she doesn’t want to do.” Jake gazed to Katrina, who had turned her attention to her phone. “Hey, man. Does Logan really know?”

“About you? I’m sure he does. But it’s like you pointed out. This is your choice. You’ve established yourself as an Alpha. I understand your reasons for leaving. Helping me and my pack was a convenient reason to leave San Diego. It made it easy. But I’m challenging you now…challenging you to consider what’s going to happen to the wolves you left behind. Maybe after this is all over you might want to take some time off to think about what you want to do. How will it feel as the years go by and your natural tendency to lead pushes Logan’s limits? Your own limits?”

Jake drifted into silent contemplation as he brought his drink to his lips. Jax set a hand onto his shoulder, and stood, giving him space. The Alpha respected the young wolf more than he knew. The night of Nick’s death, Jax had observed through blurred grief how Jake fought for his own life. Jake had battled valiantly to save his sister. Two wolves had almost died that night.

Jax set his attention on his mate, crossing the patio to the edge of the pool. As his eyes went to Katrina, he knew full well that the connection between him and Jake would intensify, not only by making love to her, but fighting once again, side by side, in battle. He considered that besides Finn, he hadn’t opened himself to another friend since the fateful night his beta died.

But as Katrina smiled up at him, his heart tightened and he knew he’d do anything for her. A war would come tomorrow. Losing Katrina or Jake wasn’t an outcome he could conceive of nor accept. He’d gladly die first before letting anything happen to either of them.

“You okay?” Katrina asked.

“I was just about to ask you the same thing.” Jax knelt down to her. His eyes drifted to her rosy tips. They jutted through the brightly lit water and quickly disappeared underneath.

“Swim with me?” She smiled.

“You know neither of us just answered that question.” A small smile formed on his lips. Droplets of water beaded on her chest, tempting him further.

“Maybe it’s because we already know the answer. We’re both doing pretty well as long as we have each other,” she replied. Her gaze darted to Jake and back to her mate. “Is he okay?”

“Yeah, I think he’ll be all right.” Jax settled onto the concrete, dipping his feet into the water. Her hands glided up his calves, and his arousal spiked. He laughed to himself, thinking that he hadn’t been this horny since he was a teenager. All she had to do was smile at him and his dick turned to stone.

“So we go back to New York tomorrow, huh?”

“Once we get back, we’ll go meet the pack out in the country. I’m thinking we’ll take the ATVs. Trek the rest. Some of us will go wolf.” Jax had already strategized the attack in his mind. “How about for the rest of tonight we just relax? Watching you here in the pool…you know you have me worked up.”

“Hmm…do I now?” she flirted. “You know, I really could use a lifeguard. Someone to give me mouth to mouth.”

“I’m highly trained.” He winked.

“Really?”

“Spent my summers at the Jersey shore.”

“Should I be jealous?” She smiled, her fingers traveling underneath the hem of his shorts.

“Never, baby.”

“So tell me, Mr. Lifeguard,” Katrina purred. She withdrew her fingers and reached for his waistband. Unbuttoning and unzipping him, she freed his erection into her waiting hands. “Do you always go commando? Because I kinda like that.”

“Yeah, ya never know when you gotta strip down and run.” Jax sucked a deep breath and edged toward her.

“Don’t you mean swim?”

“Run? Swim? Whatev… Kat,” he gasped as Katrina licked the tip of her tongue over his crown.

Jax leaned back onto his palms and took in the sight of his mate. Mesmerized, he froze as she swallowed him into her warm mouth. Her tongue caressed his cock, and his legs tensed as arousal threaded through his body. He closed his eyes, savoring the sensation and groaned when she sucked hard, a twinge of pain running up through his testicles.

Controlling him with only her mouth, she slid her hands around his hips. Jax sucked a breath as she stabbed her nails into his ass, leveraging herself so she could take his entire shaft down her throat. Her teeth teased his sensitive skin as she withdrew and then plunged him back through her lips. She moaned, humming and sucking him, and he arched up inside her.

Holy fuck, I’m going to come.
“No, no, no…Kat. I want to be in you.” Jax took a deep breath, stemming the explosion that teetered so close to climax. He gave a small laugh as she released him and licked her lips like a kitten with milk. “Enjoying yourself?”

“Hmm…yes.” She fisted his shaft and continued to deliver deliberate slow strokes.

“You’re trouble.” Jax leaned forward. Reaching underneath her arms, he lifted her up out of the pool and shoved to his feet. “The best kind.”

She giggled, wrapping her legs around him. Jax kicked off his shorts and crushed his lips onto hers. The cool water soaked through his shirt, her hands tugging at the fabric. Their desperate kiss was interrupted as they heard the sound of a chair grate against the patio.

With his mouth on hers, he gave a sideways glance to Jake, who stopped briefly to give him a small smile. Katrina’s line of vision followed his until their lips slowly separated.

“It’s up to you,” he whispered in her ear.

Sharing Katrina would not come without consequence nor would it come without a price. He’d considered the implications. Over the past week, he’d opened his heart to not only Katrina but Jake as well. His mate gave him a renewed strength, and his budding friendship with the wolf reminded him of the bond he’d had with Nick. Caring for both of them energized his soul, yet it also introduced a new level of vulnerability. If anything happened to either of them, he doubted he’d recover.

His focus went to Katrina, whose expression registered a common understanding. Both excitement and arousal coursed through his veins, and he gave her a small nod in acknowledgement. Bonded with his mate, he knew the power of another Alpha would help protect her in battle.

As Katrina extended her palm to Jake, Jax’s cock thickened. Jake never made a move, his eyes locked on hers.

“Come,” she called, her voice soft and husky.

“Be good to her,” Jax warned.

Aware that Jake would never touch her without his permission, Jax gestured for him to join them. He’d invite Jake to infuse Katrina with the power of an Alpha, but he knew they’d only go so far, that he wouldn’t share all of her with him. He planned to carefully control their sensual play, directing their erotic interlude.

Without waiting, he carried Katrina to the cabana and laid her on the bed. She smiled up at him and her happiness resonated deep within his chest. Water droplets glistened across her slick skin. His palms wet from touching her, he stroked his cock. Sensing Jake’s presence, he turned to the wolf.

“You sure you guys are okay with this?” Jake asked.

“Isn’t my mate beautiful?” the Alpha responded, ignoring his question. Jax wasn’t sure if he could honestly answer yes, but his wolf didn’t protest. His sole concern was Katrina and Katrina alone.

“She’s amazing,” Jake replied.

“Come to me, my Alpha,” Katrina whispered, reaching for Jax. “So close to the full moon. My wolf, she yearns to run free. I need you.”

“We can’t exactly run in the city but we can make love in the moonlight,” he responded.

Jax climbed atop the mattress, and smiled at her. He settled between her legs, spreading her thighs wide. Her chest rose and fell in anticipation of his touch, and he scented her desire.

In his peripheral vision he caught a glimpse of Jake tugging his shirt over his head. The sight of his bare chest surged his excitement; the anticipation of watching Katrina explore her secret fantasies within the safety of their bond spiked his arousal. He suspected Katrina would enjoy being with two wolves far more than she’d ever expected.

“Come,” he told Jake, a devilish flare in his eyes. Positioned between her thighs, Jax pressed his lips to her stomach.

Jake’s legs brushed his shoulder as he went to lie next to Katrina. Although the wolf’s erection jutted at her hip, Jax sensed his apprehension.

“Touch her,” the Alpha directed. Katrina sighed as Jake caressed her with his hand. Taking a ripe tip between his fingers, he rolled the swollen peak. “Yes, just like that. Her breasts…they’re so soft. You like that, baby, don’t you?”

“Hmm…yes.” Katrina arched into Jake’s touch, tilting her hips toward Jax. Jake kept his eyes locked on the Alpha, seeking guidance.

“Tell him what you want, Kat,” Jax instructed, his lips peppering kisses over her hip.

“Kiss me,” she breathed, her eyes set on Jax’s. “Ah…”