Second Chance Mates (14 page)

"Ditto that skirt."

"Deal. And those sad eyes of
yours...well, you'll be happy again, is all."

"You're the first person who's been
normal with me all evening," Clara said, turning her fingers into
bunny ears around 'normal'. Who would have thought Jessica would be
more fun to talk to than Robyn? Maybe it was time she revised her
opinion of the woman, of both women, just as she was revising her
opinion of what was right with Cade and Luke.

Jessica shrugged. "People are weird.
Mean, too. You've probably heard the things they—and yes, I mean
your friend Robyn—say about me just because I like to dance and
flirt and I don't much care if a guy’s a guy. Why should we
segregate and stand opposite sides of the room like we're in middle
school?"

"I guess. And I don't think Robyn is
much of a friend." Clara decided not to expand on why. It was
better to just let it go.

Jessica spun around and leaned against
the vanity unit. "I have some old photos of Colton, if you want
them? I was just cleaning a bunch of things out last week and I
found them."

Clara smiled, warmly. "Thank you, I'd
love them."

"Super awesome. I'll bring them over to
you when I get a chance. You still have the farm, right? You're
turning into a place where we can all run and just be
free?"

"That's right."

Jessica linked her arm through Clara's.
"Let's go find those cute guys of yours. Do you think Luke has any
cute friends?"

"I have no idea."

"Find out already, then call me. Here,
take my number." Jessica scribbled her number onto a slip of paper
and handed it to Clara. "Use it or lose it, baby."

Cade and Luke both lingered by the
bathrooms. Though they talked as quietly as they could given the
music that boomed through the bar, concern was etched on both their
faces. It didn't take a genius to guess that Cade had filled Luke
in on what Robyn said.

"Been great chatting to you, Clara.
I'll bring those photos over soon, promise." Jessica waved and
punched Luke playfully on the shoulder then disappeared into the
crowd, waving to someone else, seemingly oblivious as her long legs
were eyed as she passed a group of men.

To her shame, Clara had believed a lot
of gossip in her formative years, even joined in, but it was time
for a new leaf. It was funny. Despite all the gossip, or maybe
because of it, Jessica had been pretty decent and Clara could only
hope she would drop by as she offered. Maybe she would even make
some new friends. It was a time for new beginnings, after
all.

"Let's go home," said Luke, taking her
hand and she nodded, relieved. The only person she waved goodbye to
was Jessica and that was just fine.

Chapter Eleven

Luke was in a steaming fury. If it
wasn't for Clara curled up next time, her head sleepily lolling
against his arm as they drove, he'd probably burst out of his skin,
race back to The Mill as his tiger self and give that simpering
bitch Robyn a terrifying scare that she could really think
about.

"That look on your face is going to
scare her when she wakes up," murmured Cade. "I'm kind of worried
for the local wildlife too."

"I'm pissed."

"You don't say." Cade paused. "Which
bit are you pissed about? Me kissing her, or...?"

"The Robyn bit. I thought they were
supposed to be friends."

"Yeah, well... Look, Robyn comes first
to Robyn. Colton said she even took a crack at him once, right
before he told her to back the heck off."

Luke gave him an appalled look. "She
dared step on a mating bond?"

"No, they hadn't bonded then, but it
was obvious to everyone they were going to." Cade slowed and turned
the truck, the tires crunching on the driveway. "I wouldn't trust
Robyn as far as I could throw her."

"Are you serious?" whispered Clara.
Luke started and looked down. He hadn't realized she'd
awoken.

"Shit, sorry, sweetheart. I didn't mean
you to hear that." Cade shot an anguished look at Luke and pulled a
hand off the wheel to run through his hair. He looked like he’d
gladly pull a chunk out if he could swallow his words.

Clara yawned and stretched her legs
out, which coincided with her arm shooting around his waist. Before
she could think to move it, Luke tightened his arm around her and
held her in place. It just felt right to have her curled up against
him. Cade shot them a look but didn't say anything. Instead of
trying to move away, she relaxed into him and sighed. "What a
bitch," she said. And laughed.

Luke frowned down at her as Cade pulled
the truck to a stop in front of the house. "You okay
there?"

"Sleepy otherwise I'd be more pissed
off."

"Let's get you inside,
baby."

"Good plan. I can tell the big cat is
thinking about going furry and tearing a piece out of
Robyn."

He was surprised she’d read him so
right. "I can think of better chew toys." Luke cocked an eyebrow
and she stifled another laugh that turned into a yawn. "Not like
that."

He popped the door open and jumped out,
turning back to her. "Don't know what you mean," she said, as he
scooped her into his arms. Instead of protesting, she snuggled
against him. Well, things were looking up all right, he decided. He
held her closer, resisted the urge to sniff her hair and followed
Cade into the house.

Against his chest, Clara mumbled
something about going to bed, kicking her heels off in the hallway
as the door shut behind them.

"I'm getting another beer.
Luke?"

"Sure, grab me one," answered Luke,
hardly able to tear his eyes away from the woman in his arms. “I’ll
be right back.” He carried her upstairs, making his way to her room
easily, as if it was a path he regularly travelled. Laying her on
the bed, he was paralyzed by a moment of indecision.
Shit, why
was he trying to think through this?
There was only one thing
he wanted.

Kneeling by the bed, he brushed the
lock of hair that slipped from her ponytail away and bent his head
to hers, giving her enough time to pull away. Not that he wanted
her to. God, it would kill him if she did that.

She didn’t. Instead, when he moved
back, she pulled him back to her. Then his lips were on her and he
was kissing her hard.

***

Luke's lips brushed hers and when Clara
didn't push him away, kissed her again, this time harder, his lips
working hers open, his tongue darting inside, finding hers to join
with. She couldn't help it, she moaned into his mouth as his arms
tightened around her and their kisses deepened.

She wanted this. She wanted him. She
wanted to feel his body crushing hers, his hands roaming her body.
She wanted to feel his mouth closing over her nipples, sucking
before sliding lower to her already damp sex. And judging by the
growing hardness pressing into her belly as he leaned over her, he
wanted it as much as she did.

She allowed him to pull her up, all
thoughts of sleep driven from her mind as his fingers nimbly worked
the buttons of her shirt, undoing it and pushing the cloth to the
sides before laying her down. In a flash, his chest pulled up, his
groin pushed against hers, and he ripped his t-shirt over his head.
Without thinking, she drew her legs up to tighten about him, the
added benefit being to draw him closer to her. When he looked down
at her through heavy-lids, his eyes burned amber.

"You're so beautiful," he murmured,
brushing the blonde curls away from her face. "And you have no idea
how much I want you."

"I know," she said, resting her palms
against his stubbled jaw, drawing his mouth back to hers. "And I
want you, too." Hell, she wanted them both so badly but nestled in
Luke's arms as he carried her from the truck to her bedroom was all
the spark she needed. Sending him away didn't even bear think
about.

What if Cade had followed him up? No, a
quick glance to the door confirmed they were alone. The two beers
she'd drunk were partly responsible for her forwardness, but it
wasn't just that. She'd been horny the moment they'd appeared on
her doorstep. And she’d already decided she was ready to take the
next step.

"Don't stop," she murmured.

The kisses resumed with the same
urgency, only this time there was little between them but the silk
of her bra and their jeans and all it would take would be a few
seconds to remedy that problem. As if he was thinking the same
thing, Luke's hands drifted down her back and flicked open the
catch. A moment later, the bra was history and he stared down at
her naked breasts, the fire growing in his eyes. Slowly, he rocked
his groin into her, the pressure, the not so subtle hint of what
was to come igniting her wolf who panted at the very idea of mating
with the larger male.

Luke dipped his head and took one pink
nipple into his mouth, sucking it into a hard peak, his tongue
hotly swirling around her areola sending electric shocks shooting
straight to her pussy where moisture pooled ready to invite him
in.

"Luke," she whispered as he released
her. "I need you."

"Oh, baby," he murmured, kissing his
way from one breast to the other, repeating the action until both
her nipples stood proudly erect.

He slid down her body, kissing his way
over her taut stomach, pausing to kiss the soft indent of her belly
button as his hands fiddled with her zipper before tugging her
jeans down. His fingers slid under the waistband of her panties,
raking the soft curls below. A second later and the matching silk
was gone, too. With a hand on each ankle, he pushed her legs
upwards then outwards, resting her heels on the bed, exposing her
pussy to his smoldering gaze.

She shuddered as he ran one finger
through her curls, then down, over her lips, rising again to find
her clit which he rolled between thumb and forefinger until she
arched her back. Bending his head to her, he took a long, languid
lick that sent fire ricocheting through her spine.

"You taste so good," Luke groaned, his
fingers working to part her lips, giving him access to the
cream-soaked core he craved.

She writhed against him as he licked
relentlessly, every so often nibbling her lips while he worked her
clit with his fingers. She couldn't resist cupping her own breasts,
teasing her own nipples as her body flooded with
arousal.

"Oh baby, keep doing that," Luke
murmured. A finger slipped into her wet sex, turning and rubbing
against her inner walls, then joined by another. She arched against
him as his mouth returned to her lips, blowing and sucking as his
fingers drove her wild.

A movement in the doorway caught her
attention and with a shuddering gasp, that Luke clearly took to be
a reaction to his naughty fingers given the way he pumped them
harder, she realized the shape in the shadows was a man.
Cade.
As if he knew her eyes were upon him, Cade stepped
forward, his hand rubbing his cock through his jeans as he watched
them. Biting her lip, she stared at him, wondering how long he'd
been there, how much he'd seen already. Her eyes drifted to his
cock again, clearly straining against the fabric.

The hand not rubbing himself gripped
the door jamb as he watched his friend's head bob between her
legs.

Clearly he'd been there for some
time...and he was enjoying the view.

For all her fears about letting herself
want again, there was something about Cade watching them, knowing
how aroused it made him that turned her on. As if her body had a
life of its own, she squeezed her nipples and ground her hips
against Luke's face as she dropped her head back and moaned her
pleasure. She even had the irrational urge to nudge Luke with her
toe, or grab his shoulders, and demand more when his tongue and
fingers both suddenly disappeared and he stood, rising above her.
For a moment she thought he was going to leave, then, as she
watched, he unsnapped the buttons of his jeans and slid them down
his legs, his boxers following until he stood naked before her. His
cock, long and thick, jutted towards her.

He didn't make any move to look over
his shoulder; she wasn't even certain he knew Cade watched their
foreplay.

"Do you want me?" Luke asked, his voice
thick with desire.

She couldn't take her eyes off the
large cock pointing at her. He would fill her endlessly. She bit
her lip. "Yes."

"I want to claim you," he told her. "If
not tonight, then another night. I will claim you."

"I know," she whispered softly, her
legs dropping as she held her arms out to receive him. "Fuck me,
Luke. Please. Fuck me now. I need you."

Luke knelt at the edge of the bed and
pulled her legs around him, until she perched just on the lip of
the mattress. The fat tip of his cock butted against her, sliding
upwards at first as he coated himself in her slick juices, then his
hips pulled back as he positioned himself at the apex of her sex.
He held her gaze in his as he rammed himself home in one smooth
move, stretching and filling her deliciously.