Obsession (17 page)

A few stray pine needles stirred at her feet, driven by the rising wind. The tangy smell of decaying leaves, pine and the loamy ground enveloped her, but cutting through all that was Raphael’s powerful citrus and spices scent. Alpha. Dominating. Demanding.

Jessica shrugged, wishing she could hide the pounding of her heart. “You’ve investigated me thoroughly. You know what color panties I prefer. How can there be anything left for me to hide?”

“That’s your answer?”

The wind billowed her hair and made her shiver. But she held her ground. Jessica folded her arms and stared at him in mute defiance.

“Very well. I will find out and you may not enjoy my methods.” He gave her body a visual caress that made her shiver. “Or perhaps you may. But I will coax out the truth from you. Consider yourself warned.”

Then he shifted back into wolf, fur rippling in the wind. Senses scrambled, she reached for her magick. Stunned, she found the shift to wolf easier this time as if she’d tapped into a source of strength.

The reminder of the pack bounded into the clearing, led by J.J. and Alexa, with Daniel running between them. The alpha lifted his head and howled, signaling the pack to return to the ranch.

Embarrassed at the wanton carnality of what she’d allowed Raphael to do, Jessica was glad for the cover of wolf. Wolves didn’t blush.

She wasn’t certain if she could handle her burning need for Raphael.

As she loped beside them, she kept glancing backward at Raphael, running behind her.

His eyes gleamed wickedly in the moonlight, with a promise of his own burning need.

You will be mine.

Chapter 11

Last night’s orgasm had rattled her composure. Drawn to his primal and powerful sexuality, she’d almost given herself to Raphael. Every single female instinct urged her to lie with him, let him take her.

And she’d totally forgotten her goal and underestimated Raphael’s determination.

Not again. Not ever.
I will find my brother, I don’t care what it takes. Raphael can’t stop me and he won’t find out.

When she’d returned to the main house, she’d asked Alexa for the laptop J.J. promised. Then she’d taken the computer, and programmed her cell phone to use as an internet hot spot. But the signal wasn’t strong enough and she didn’t dare log onto J.J.’s wireless. She’d shut off the machine and climbed into bed, vowing to try again.

Today the Double B hosted the Wilder Western Rodeo. Over breakfast on the lanai, Alexa told her J.J. had planned for 5,000 attendees. The males had already left for the rodeo grounds, and Alexa’s parents were helping as well. Alexa’s siblings were setting up game booths to keep the other Lupine children distracted. The official opening ceremony wasn’t until 6 p.m., but there were festivities and the barbecue starting at 3.

“Half the guests are Lupine, and that means extra security, with all those packs intermingling,” Alexa said. “Raphael’s in charge of security. He’s teaming with Dale, Aiden Mitchell’s security guy.”

Jessica finished the sausage on her plate and licked her lips. “How many from Aiden’s pack?”

“Forty of our guys. The others were needed back at the ranch.”

Jessica looked up at the speaker and saw a tall, pretty woman standing at the door. Clad in a white Western shirt and blue jeans, she had long, dark hair. “Mind if I join you? I’m restless as a cat in a room filled with German Shepherds.”

Alexa waved. “Grab some coffee, Beth. Jess, this is Beth, Dale’s mate.”

Beth joined them at the table and sighed. “Dale’s in charge of security for our pack. He’s got his hands full with all these wild Lupines itching to blow off steam. We all ran last night and they’re fine now, but every day it seems to get worse. Uncle Aiden says they need mates. Last week wouldn’t be soon enough. Any female coming into her heat isn’t safe within five miles.”

Uh oh.
Jessica sipped her coffee. Alexa glanced at her. “You okay? You look flushed.”

Fine. I’ll be fine soon as I stop thinking about last night and get to work on finding my brother.

Two more Lupines entered the lanai. Alexa introduced them as Samantha, mate to Darius of the Mitchell pack, and Arianna, mated to Kyle of the same pack. Lexie, another Lupine from the Mitchell pack, would have joined them, except she was barrel racing.

Samantha grabbed a mug and filled it with coffee and joined them. “Lexie is a champion barrel racer. Jackson, her mate, is bull riding.”

“Kyle is helping Dale with security. Lots of cranked up males today. No magick. Wouldn’t want anyone shifting in front of Skins,” Arianna said.

“Or riding a bull as a wolf,” Beth chimed in.

Samantha nibbled on a pastry. “Those bulls look awfully mean. I don’t know how the guys will deal with them. If they get tossed and their frail egos maimed…yikes.”

“Raphael can handle it. He’s an expert in bull,” Jessica put in.

Alexa frowned. “He’s J.J.’s business manager.”

“Oh yeah? I bet Raphael deals with a lot more bull as a business manager than any Mitchell Ranch cowboy,” Jessica joked.

Everyone laughed. Tension fled her. Here, among these Lupines, she felt normal. Accepted.

She was actually looking forward to the rodeo.

And then later, when everyone else was occupied with the barbecue and the festivities, she’d sneak away and do a little hacking.

Late that afternoon, thirty minutes after the rodeo began, she sat in on a bottom stadium seat near the arena. Dressed in her best black jeans, a purple long-sleeved shirt and cowboy boots Alexa had loaned her (Alexa even loaned her a truck so she could drive herself as Alexa had to be at the rodeo earlier), Jessica watched the action. The crowd cheered as a man came out of the chute on a bucking horse, and sighed in disappointment as he got kicked off. Smells of beer, popcorn and fried dough enveloped her senses.

The action in the arena was interesting, but she was more interested in the Lupine who patrolled the grounds, looking for possible trouble. Every nerve ending tingled as she thought of him, and her body grew tight with longing.

Raphael.

In tight, black jeans, polished Western boots, a black Stetson and a crisp white shirt, he looked like a sexy, badass cowboy. Jessica leaned forward, staring.

Gone was the black beard and mustache. The clean-shaven look accented the angles and planes of his aristocratic, handsome face. It should have made him look younger and boyish. Instead, it only made him look more dangerous.

Because now you could see he was a hard male beneath all that facial fur. Her nipples grew hard and arousal filled her as she watched Raphael lean against the red railing encircling the arena, one boot resting on the bottom rail. So handsome. What would he be like in bed? Her first lover. Would he be fast and hard, or gentle and slow?

Possibilities filled her mind as she studied him. The traditional Lupine sex drive had never been this strong in her, until now.

As hosts of the rodeo, Alexa and J.J. were in the grandstand. Jessica had opted to stay away and join the crowd. Easier to slip away unnoticed. With everyone at the rodeo, she could sneak back to the house and try hacking into the system again.

A tall, handsome cowboy with a lazy stride and a wide grin saw her and sat beside her. He stuck out a palm. “Hey there. You must be Jess. I’ve heard all about you from Sam, Beth and Arianna. I’m Jackson, Lexie’s mate.”

Tearing her gaze away from Raphael, she smiled. “I watched you ride that bull. You did great.”

He gave a modest shrug. “Still in the finals. Bull riding is like being tossed about in a bucket, except the bucket has horns and an ornery streak. Mind if I sit? I’m waiting for my mate’s event and it’s not for another thirty minutes. Barrel racing.”

At her nod, he sat beside her.

“Shouldn’t you be with her?” Jessica asked.

“Naw. Lex likes meditating before she enters the arena.” He glanced down and his eyes widened. “Pretty belt. Very glittery.”

Jessica touched a crystal on her purple suede belt. “It was a gift. I didn’t have a Western shirt, so I thought I’d wear this to fit in.”

“Very pretty.” His voice deepened, almost to a growl.

Instinct prodded her to hide the belt. Jessica took the blanket she’d been sitting upon and tucked it against her waist. Jackson seemed to relax and they watched the rodeo.

Another contestant came out on a bucking bronc and was promptly tossed, hard. The crowd sighed with disappointment and then applauded. She winced. “Why do they do this?”

“Some cowboys do it on a dare. Or to impress a lady. If they’re not alpha, it’s a way of getting noticed. Now alphas, they just take what they want.”

Tracking his pointing finger, she flushed as Raphael turned, saw her and studied her with an intent look. Then his radio crackled, and he talked into it, moving away. Jessica watched his butt move with each long-legged stride. The male even had a graceful walk, filled with purpose. Watching him made her very aware of herself as a female.

Jackson whistled. “I’d say that alpha knows what he wants. You. That wolf has his eye on you, Jess, and only you.”

“I’m not searching for a mate.”

He winked. “Sometimes nature takes over and searches for you. Can’t deny the Lupine drive to mate.”

Her body tightened with anticipation. Raphael wanted her. And he wouldn’t let anything, not impure bloodlines or another lusty male, stand in his way. He’d take her, claim her, and would make her scream out in ecstasy…

Jackson seemed to squirm in his seat. He removed his hat, fanned his face. Sweat trickled down his temples. “It’s hot here.”

She frowned. The cool autumn air made the weather perfect for the outdoor event. “You okay?”

Standing, he shook his head. “Don’t know what the hell’s wrong with me. I feel more restless than a randy stallion. Excuse me.”

Without a backward glance, he took off in the direction of the trailers. Worried, Jessica followed him. He looked dangerous and very Lupine, as if his wolf clawed to get out. Remembering Alexa’s edict against shifting, she hurried after him.

The crowd at the concession stands blocked her from reaching Jackson, but she finally pushed her way through. Jessica went toward the trailers. Moans and grunts came from behind one.

Oh dear. She hoped Jackson wasn’t shifting. Aiden, his alpha, would tear him apart and she liked Jackson. He seemed like a nice, friendly Lupine, laidback and easygoing.

Jessica rounded the corner of the RV and ground to a halt.

Holy…

The cowboy had a woman up against the trailer, her bare legs wrapped around his lean hips. Jeans pulled down to reveal his muscled butt, he ground into her hard and fast.

“C’mon Lexie, sweetheart, come for me,” Jackson rasped.

Lexie wrapped her arms around his neck and moaned as Jackson fucked her.

Jessica backed off, and quietly sped in the other direction.
Whoa.
Talk about needing a quickie. Maybe fucking was more relaxing than meditating.

Better than shifting into wolf. But odd. What had stirred Jackson up so much? Certainly not her.

Jessica squirmed, wishing she wasn’t coming into her heat. She felt cranked up and sexually aware, and needy. The scene she’d just witnessed didn’t help.

Focus.

After returning to her seat, she watched the rodeo. The events seemed to grow more violent. She glanced at her watch. Time to sneak back to the house, see if she could get some research done—without Raphael’s overbearing supervision. Racing back to the arena, she took a short cut and threaded past the row of booths where Lupines were playing games. Several males sitting at a picnic table drinking beer turned their heads and watched her.

Ignoring them, she climbed into the truck and sped away, leaving dust behind.

* * *

He’d finally spotted her.

From his position, he’d watched Jessica covertly, unable to tear his gaze away from her. She looked so damn lovely, hugging a blanket to her waist as if she were cold, the breeze lifting her long red hair, her expression lit up as she’d chatted with Jackson.

If the male hadn’t been utterly smitten with Lexie, his own mate, Raphael would have torn him apart.

Tension knotted his muscles. He felt lusty as a stallion, wanting her so badly he had to use all his control not to race to Jessica, pull down her pants, bend her over the seat and fuck her hard.

Control.

Sweat trickled down his backside. Damn, it was hot.

Another call to break up a fight crackled over his radio. Sighing, he headed over to the trailers. A male from J.J.’s pack was fighting a wiry male from the Mitchell pack.
Enough.
As one went to slug the other, Raphael body-slammed the male against the trailer. Then he decked the other Lupine, sending him staggering backward.

“You know the rules. No fighting. Aiden and J.J. will deal with you later. Go cool off,” he growled.

With their gazes aimed submissively at the ground, the males slunk off.