Jax (Immortals of New Orleans Book 7) (15 page)

Jax sensed the second Katrina entered the room, but it was the growl that drew his attention. The small white wolf bared her teeth. With her hackles raised, she gave no doubt as to her intention to attack London.

“Get off me right now. Easy now.” Jax lifted her by the waist and tossed her onto the sofa. He held up his hands defensively, aware that Katrina had gone feral. “Nothing’s going on here, Kat. London’s just confused. She’s missing Nick.”

“What the hell is wrong with her?” London backed into the corner of the couch, pulling her knees to her chest. “Really? She wants a challenge? I’m not shifting right now.”

“No one is shifting. Get your things off the table and slowly walk out of the house.”

London moved to collect her tablet and Katrina stalked toward her, continuing to growl.

“Kat. This is not what it seems. You need to trust me.” A rush of satisfaction filled his chest, observing his mate possessively claim him. But he couldn’t let her kill London. “You need to back off. Let her leave. She’s got to get back to the office.”

“I can’t believe you let her in here,” London lamented.

“Let her go,” Jax commanded.

Katrina whined. Her fangs exposed, she settled to the floor. Although she hadn’t ceased her aggression, it would have to be sufficient. Jax’s gaze moved to London, who’d already begun to stand. “Move slowly and get out now. Keep moving. And not a word to the pack, London.”

“Seriously?” London asked.

“I’ll be back in a few days and if I hear you’ve been talking, your employment will be in jeopardy. Leave here and go back to the office. Go now!”

Jax towered above the petite wolf, breathing a sigh of relief as London slammed the door behind her. He looked to Katrina, who continued to show the whites of her teeth.

“What you just saw here,” Jax held his palms upward and swiveled, looking around the condo, “this was nothing. A misunderstanding. My pack…they don’t know about you, baby.”

Katrina transformed into her human form. Standing bare, she glared at Jax.

“This thing between us…you know we both have pasts. You can’t go around trying to kill every woman I ever dated.” Jax laughed. “You haven’t even marked me yet. Your wolf, she’s not going to be very happy until she gets what she wants.”

“Who is she?”

“No one. We work together.”

“You fucked her?”

“No, but I did kiss her. Jesus, why am I even explaining myself to you? You know what, Kat? You’re going to have to learn how to trust me.”

“Really? You do realize you just had a woman straddling you, right?”

“And you need to learn how to listen.” Jax drank in the sight of his mate standing nude before him. From her fierce eyes to her full breasts down to her cream-colored painted toenails, she exuded sexuality. She brushed her long blonde mane behind her ears, and licked her lips. The defiance caused his dick to thicken.

“Are you kidding me?” she continued. “You were the one with a female in your lap.”

“And you,” Jax approached her within two broad steps and gave her a devious grin, “are the one who continues to challenge me.”

He wasn’t sure whether it was the tip of her pink tongue brushing over her swollen lip or the way she crossed her legs, attempting to conceal her own arousal, but he lost control. Katrina squealed as he placed his fingers on her waist and hoisted her over his shoulder.

“What the hell are you doing? Put me down.”

“My dear, dear, Katrina.” Jax ran a strong palm over the back of her thigh. “I realize we don’t know each other very well yet, but you, my lovely mate, you must learn to trust me.”

“I do trust you.” Katrina didn’t fight as he lifted her and set her in front of the back of the sofa.

“Really? Because on more than one occasion I’ve given an order and you not only ignored it, you fought me. And this,” Jax smiled as he turned her around, her bottom brushing over the front of his thighs, “is the perfect opportunity for us to have this discussion.”

His cock lengthened as he ran through the scenario he planned. He’d always enjoyed a little bondage. Today, he’d test Katrina’s limits. The defiant little wolf needed a lesson and she’d learn why he was Alpha.

Katrina yelped as Jax bent her over the sofa. He spread her legs wide open, the cool air rushing over her pussy. She reached to balance herself, her palms flat on the soft leather.

“What do you think you’re doing?” she asked, her emotions vacillating between pissed as hell and aroused. A smooth palm cupped her ass and she sighed, deciding on the latter. “Just because my body responds to you, that doesn’t mean I’m forgetting that bitch you let in here.”

“Trust,” he began.

Katrina gasped as his warm breath teased her bottom. His fingers dug into her hips.

“Even animals born without the magick to shift understand that trust is essential to life. You should know better. There’s structure within our lives that protects all of us. Without it, there is chaos. So this is why our wolves value order. Challenges to my position aren’t tolerated.” Jax slid his grip over her smooth ass and squeezed gently. “Disobedience…”

“I know full well what it’s like to live within a pack, but this situation isn’t life and death.” Katrina’s pussy ached as his soft fingers traced a line down between her legs, grazing over the outside of her labia. Growing wet, she shifted her position, attempting to move. Her action was rewarded with a firm slap to her bottom, the sting leaving her skin tingling. “Hey…”

“As I was saying, disobedience is not tolerated. Wolves, they choose willingly to submit to their Alpha, accepting their position within the pack. Because they know…” He paused and smacked his palm against her other cheek.

“You can’t just spank me,” she protested. Guilt rose as arousal flooded between her legs. She’d never allowed a man to spank her, yet the twinge on her skin left her wanting more.

“The pack knows,” he continued, ignoring her statement. He trailed a finger through her wet slit, eliciting a moan, “that by giving their submission, they’re protected. As a whole, we are stronger than individuals. We cannot do that without collaboration. This is what unites us.”

“I don’t know what you want from me,” she sighed. Her aching clit swelled as he brushed over it. Katrina pushed up on her toes, but was unable to move, as his hands held her firmly in place.

“You’re not going anywhere.” The Alpha bit gently at his mate.

“What do you want from me? Ah…” Katrina sucked a breath as his teeth nipped at her flesh, leaving her quivering with pleasure and pain. “You could die if we…Jax…”

“What do I want?” he growled. His warm breath teased her skin. “I want everything. You. Us. This.”

“I can’t…” Soft lips brushed over her bottom, silencing her. Painfully aroused, she knew it’d be minutes before she was begging him to fuck her.

“You can feel it, can’t you?” He cupped her mound, tapping his fingers over its smooth surface. “Your Alpha knows you better than you know yourself. That is part of my responsibility. To care for you…to protect you.”

“Jax, please…” Katrina tilted her hips, seeking relief.

“That’s much better, my sweet little wolf. I love to hear you beg.” Jax rose, nestling his erection into the crevice of her ass. Sliding a hand down her back, he fisted her hair and tilted her head up until her gaze met his. “I’ve got a little surprise for you.”

“But…oh Jesus, you can’t leave me here like this.” Katrina’s heart pounded against her ribs. Whatever he was planning couldn’t be good and with her body already on fire, she breathed through her unmet need. She considered running, escaping the dominant Alpha, but the truth was that she couldn’t resist his challenge. Whatever erotic game he planned, she’d play, but true submission wasn’t a prize she was willing to give just yet. Her wolf paced, urging her to mark him, and she shook her head, refusing the demand. The desire to protect her mate outweighed the possessive need to claim him as her own.

A rush of cold air caressed her skin, making her aware he’d left her.

“Don’t move,” he warned, his voice low and commanding. A shiver of anticipation ran over her body.

“What are you doing?”

“I want you exposed and open to me. You don’t seem to listen very well and I can tell you’re thinking of challenging me right now.”

“How do you know what I’m thinking?”

“No lies.” He arched an eyebrow at her in warning. “Wolves…we choose our Alpha. Our pack. We choose to submit for the greater good. Even the strongest wolves, they do not challenge for the sake of challenging. This brings discord. It puts us all in danger. Last night…”

“We needed to get the information. He was going after Jake,” she began, but went silent as he settled pillows underneath her torso, supporting her weight.

“It was dangerous. You didn’t know what Quintus would do. I happen to know him very well. He’s an old friend.”

“But you didn’t tell me that. How was I supposed to know?” Katrina hugged the cushions, unsure whether she wanted to let Jax proceed. Her heart raced as she caught sight of the black cuffs and dangling brass chain.

“Trust, Kat. Because I’m your mate and Alpha. You can always be assured that I will protect you and do what is in the best interest of this pack.” Jax gave her a devious smile as he reached for her wrist and began to fasten the soft leather. “You understand I would never hurt you?”

Katrina had never let anyone restrain her, but found herself nodding as he asked the question. Jax had never given her reason not to trust him. It wasn’t as if Katrina didn’t understand his argument. She’d never directly challenged Tristan, but her brother didn’t push her the way Jax did. Katrina had lived for decades independently of pack politics and did what she pleased.

As he fastened the leather to her wrists, his eyes never left hers.
I must be crazy
, she thought.
Why on earth am I letting him do this?
Deep within her soul she yearned for what he demanded. Although the Alpha drove her wolf wild, it was the woman who couldn’t resist his test.

“The point of this is that you are making a decision to listen to me.” Jax eyed the legs of the heavy marble coffee table and deftly wrapped the cord around the base and secured the clasp.

“Is this really necessary?” She laid her cheek onto the soft pillow, resting her head.

“Yes, because this is your choice. We both know full well that you could shift and escape if you wanted.” He ran his finger over her cheek, his lips hovering over hers. “You are choosing to stay here, because you want this.”

Katrina’s heart caught. His mouth crushed onto hers, and she tugged on her restraints. Her sensitive nipples grazed over the chenille fabric as she wriggled against it. Katrina moaned as his tongue gently swept against hers. His hand stroked over her hair, and she blinked up at him, objecting when he tore his lips away. She heaved for breath, her body igniting with desire.

“Do you have any idea how much I’ve wanted you? How much my wolf needs you?” he asked.

“Oh Goddess…” Katrina’s thoughts spun, regretting how much time she’d lost with her mate. She knew damn well how hard it had been for her to not only leave Jax, but to force herself to date other people, to escape all the way to New Orleans. A slow form of torture, she’d unsuccessfully attempted to put him out of her mind. No matter how many times she told herself she was protecting him, her heart ached to see him again.

Under his touch, she could no longer deny the raw emotion, the chemistry that churned with every word he spoke. Her Alpha commanded her, she knew. Admitting his victory, however, would be difficult. It meant she’d agreed to the mating, that she’d given in to her wolf’s desire to claim him as her own. If she lost control, she feared she’d do more than mark him. Her fangs ached, yearning to slice through his skin, allowing the magick of his blood to flow into her, solidifying the bond.

The soft brush of the head of his cock against her bottom broke her contemplation. Her skin pricked in awareness as he slid it down the cleft, teasing her entrance.

“This,” he slapped her cheek again, and Katrina cried aloud, “will be mine, and do you know why?”

“No, Jax…don’t say it.” As he spanked her again, her pussy tightened. “I can’t…”

“You’re a difficult one. But look how responsive you are to this.” The sound of a crack rang out in the room as he delivered another blow. “Tell me why…why will you be mine?”

“Because,” she whispered. She’d give her soul to surrender to the mating, but refused to hurt him.

“Ah…” Fingers slid between her folds, brushing over her clitoris.

“You fight your own happiness.” Jax pressed a finger inside her slippery core and she clenched down on him.

“I can’t do this…”

“Fuck, you’re beautiful.” Jax reached around her neck, sliding his thumb over her bottom lip. “So stubborn. But do you want me to stop, Katrina?”

“No, no, no,” she told him as he plunged in and out of her heated channel. She parted her lips, sucking a breath.

“This moment. Look at you. You choose submission. You display your trust. Why do you deny me otherwise?”

“You know why,” she breathed, her lips wet with saliva. As he added another finger inside her, she quivered around him. “Don’t stop.”

“Don’t you dare come,” he warned, withdrawing his hand. “Why do you submit to me here?”

Katrina’s body shivered as he retreated. Her wolf howled, begging her to claim him, to say the words. In her heart, she knew she couldn’t go without him another day.

“Because…” As he slammed his fingers back inside her pussy, applying pressure to her clit, she came apart. “You’re my mate. Please Jax…I don’t want to ever hurt you, but fuck…ah yes, don’t stop…you’re my mate.”

“Your Alpha.” Jax removed his fingers and slammed his cock into Katrina.

“Yes, yes, yes,” she cried, as his shaft entered her from behind.

All Katrina could smell, feel, and see was Jax. As he stretched her wide, she dug her fingers into the couch, bracing herself as he pounded into her tight channel. She shuddered as his fingers found her swollen nub.

“You are everything I need, Katrina. Do you hear me?” he told her.