Her Billionaire Werewolf Stepbrother (6 page)

“Jane, I run the company, I’ve had
a death in the family and I’m newly mated. I can miss a few days. Besides, I’m
only a call away from a very efficient staff. It will be fine. If I went in to
work today all I would want to do is fuck you anyway so it’s probably best I’m
here and not there.” My face heats. Why does he have to talk that way? Jakes
never sugar coated anything but his blunt talk about our bedroom is new and it
embarrasses me. He grins over at me as he stops at a traffic light. “What’s
wrong?” I shake my head. “Jane, I don’t want to spend the rest of my life
asking you each question three or four times. Just answer me, you know you will
eventually and I shouldn’t have to beg. Just spit it out.”

“Okay.” I steel myself. “I don’t
like it when you say fuck you. It’s crude and it belittles what we have. It’s
okay in the bedroom but…” Jake nods. “Sorry.” I mutter.

“No, don’t be. As well as we know
each other, we are still learning about each other. I will endeavor to keep our
sex life private and in the bedroom.”

“That’s not the point.” I say.

“What is?” He eases away from the
intersection continuing straight toward the outskirts of town and luckily in
the opposite direction of rush hour.

“It’s not what you said, just how
you said it.”

“Okay. How would you have preferred
to hear what I said?”

“I would’ve only thought of being
with you all day anyway.” I say, pleased with myself for making his crude words
sound nicer. He nods and we both stick to our own thoughts for a while. I watch
the landscape. There are less buildings now and only the scattered house here
and there. Jake turns into a gravel road. We bounce along for a mile or so then
he stops at a cabin. There’s a man sitting on the porch whittling. Who still
does that? The man is old and I think I recognize him but I don’t know from
where.

“Do you remember my uncle Hector?”
I tilt my head studying the man on the porch. He’s watching me too. His eyes
are nearly yellow, not a dark amber like mine or Jakes. Then I remember. He
came to the house once. He and Dad had words then I never saw him again.

“Yes. He fought with Dad but I
don’t know what about.”

“He thought Dad was mating too soon
after my mother died.” I look over at Jake.

“How long was it?”

“Almost three years.” That’s not a
short time. “My mother had been dying for a long time. She fought the cancer
for as long as she could. He hadn’t really had a mate for over five years, a
year that he spent saying goodbye. He begged her to hold on. Thinking back it
was selfish but at the time, I wished for the same. She held on for as long as
she could but I remember her making him promise to mate again. She didn’t want
him to grieve himself to death and ultimately leave me alone. I wasn’t a child
but I still needed him sometimes and she knew that. I was hardly full grown
yet.” I reach over and squeeze his hand. “Poured myself into school and did my
best to make them both proud.”

“You did. Even my mother was proud
of you.” I smile at him and he gives me a weak smile back. His face clears
suddenly.

“Anyway. Let’s go. Ever since
Hector and Dad fought, Hector has been on his own. He left the pack and
wandered the country some. A few months after I bought this, I ran into him and
offered him a permanent place to live. He’s on his own and a little crazy but
he’s safe.”

“You built this house?” Jake shakes
his head.

“No. It belonged to the previous
owner. When he died his kids wanted a fast sale, I paid cash sight unseen. You
just don’t come across this much acreage so close to the city and it backs to a
state park. I knew I would need to run sometimes and I didn’t want to risk
public exposure. I also knew I couldn’t drive all the way home every time. It’s
too far for a quick run. This was a great opportunity. The house was just a…”

“Bonus.” I say and smile then turn
to open the door. Hector is standing outside of it and I scream a little,
startled. Jake laughs. “He’s your dad’s brother isn’t he?” I assumed he was
hers when Jake said he took issue with the mating but I can see the resemblance
now that he’s up close.

“Yes, but he always loved my
mother.” The door opens then and I see him scent me.

“Sandy’s pup.” I nod.

“My mate Hector.” Jake says across
the vehicle. Hector nods and offers me a hand to help me down from my seat. I
take it and hop down. He wraps me in a warm hug.

“I’m sorry about your ma.” I nod as
tears spring to my eyes. He doesn’t let me go until Jake comes around the car.
“I only met her once but Jake says she was tops so she’s okay in my book.” I
give him a watery smile. “It’ll be okay girl. Give yourself some time.” He
claps my shoulder then wraps Jake just as warmly. This man should be a
professional hugger. I feel better and lighter after he releases me. “You guys
come in for coffee.”

“We’re here to run. My mate needs
to let it loose.” Jake grins. I sniff the air. It’s rich and moist smelling
with all the trees around. The day is warming up and I would usually prefer to
run before sun up or after the sun was down. Today though it doesn’t matter, I
just need the release. Jake takes my hand and leads me into the woods away from
Hector. I suppose he’s protecting my modesty.

He could be protecting me in
general since Hector does not seem to have a mate. Rogue wolves are dangerous.
He lives in a cute little cabin but he’s still alone and without a pack. That
sometimes makes them think the rules do not apply to them. “Up here is where I
usually leave my things.”  I follow Jake and there is a picnic table and a
grill.

I look over my shoulder and I can
see the roof of the house through the trees. Why would anyone put this so far
from the house? It’s odd. “Sometimes I bring the truck up here and cook out. I
don’t want to bother Hector, he isn’t the most social of wolves.” He winks at
me. Jake starts pulling his clothes off and tosses them on the table.

I look back at the house again and
decide that it’s okay when I don’t see Hector anywhere. While nudity isn’t a
big deal for shifters, I have always been self-conscious. I’ve shifted in front
of others but not often and not without feeling weird about it.  I shed my
things quickly and shift. It feels good to let her out. She’s in control now
and she’s looking up at him. She stretches and sniffs the ground. Damp and
earthy, well it’s dirt so, it smells like dirt. Maybe the smell means more to
her than it does me. She seems content with it.

I let her take over completely and
settle back to enjoy the ride. Jake has shifted now after greeting her again.
It’s been a long time since our wolves were near each other and the first time
that they’ve ever run together. Jake never hung out with me or my wolf. Maybe
because he knew that I was his mate and he didn’t trust his wolf not to mark
me. Maybe it was because he was a shit when we were younger and too busy
teasing me. Whatever the reason, it didn’t happen.

He nips at her ear and she loves
it. She nuzzles his face with her own putting her scent on him. He trots away
and she follows. Huh. She’s never been much of a follower but she has no
problem with it now. He’s wandering along and I feel the energy surge, she
wants to sprint.

She takes off, passing him and
sprinting ahead. She’s running as fast as she can, her paws pounding over the
ground. The grass is soft in the sunshine and warm under her. He’s coming up
behind her, she hears him, hears his yip and she goes faster. She only wants
one thing and that’s to expel all of this pent up energy. She goes faster, her
lungs are efficiently huffing the air and her heart is pounding but she
continues. He’s still behind her until he tackles her. She rolls and bounces
back to her feet facing him. I feel her excitement at the prospect of play but
he’s not happy with her. She drops her head and lays down in the grass
submitting to him. He walks past her without looking at her. Jake’s wolf is
like Jake. Maybe he has more control than I do of her. I only know what it’s
like to be in here.

She gets up and follows him. I can
feel her regret and anguish. He’s not pleased and she feels guilty. He leads us
to the top of a hill and sits. You can see the city from here. I didn’t come
for the view, I came here to run. I shift and stand over him after I scent the
air for other people. I fold my arms over my chest. The wolf looks up at me
then back at the skyline.

“I didn’t come here to sight see
Jake. I want to run. If we aren’t going to run then take me home.” I know it
sounds bitchy but I can’t help the way that I feel. He shifts but stays down.
He pats the ground next to him. I sit and huff out a breath. “I mean it Jake.”

“I know.” He says without looking
at me. “Just enjoy the sun for a minute would you?” I watch him.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

“I like to hear the quiet.” I purse
my lips and shut up. He comes here for peace. Great.

“I’m going to run.” I say after a
few long minutes of silence. “It’s been a really long time and it’s safe here
right?” He nods. “Then I’m running. I won’t go far.”

“When you see signs turn back.” I
shift and sprint away from him. I run across the grass down the hill and up
another. I don’t see Jake anymore when I look back. She scents the air and
smells food. Her ears perk at the sound of voices.

“Oh look Amber isn’t it pretty?”
There is a woman with a child, then from behind a tree, a big man. The woman is
showing the little girl the big, bad wolf. She lifts her nose to twitch in the
air then let’s her tongue loll out.

“Stay away from it, it probably has
rabies.” What a jerk. She turns to go in the other direction and he claps his
hands at her. She’s startled. He’s trying to scare her. He’s on the other side
of the signs and she’s on her side. I don’t know what they say but I assume it
says private property. This is the line between Jake’s land and the park. It
must be because there are signs on posts about every ten feet.

These people are in the park. The
man is coming across the line now and stomping at her. There is no fence, only
the signs to keep him out. She skitters away and he laughs as he claps his
hands again. He says something about dumb animals.

She dances further away not
understanding why he is behaving this way. A big black streak flashes by her
and attacks the man. He knocks him to his back and growls down into his face.
The man wets himself and screams. I muse for a second over Jake making people
pee and I wonder how many there are other than me and that guy. If my wolf
could laugh. She would.  Jake trots away from the crying man and nips at her
muzzle. She follows him, he sprints away and she sprints after him. This was
what she wanted anyway. His protection and to run. This wolf is our mate. We
belong to this wolf. I can feel her thoughts.

Why does she run away from me like
that? I know she wanted to run but she has to understand that this is my
sanctuary, my peace.

She’s young, I know and she’s been
through a lot lately. She hasn’t pined away for me for the past seven years
like I have for her. I know it’s all new but I want her, mind body and soul.
All of her. I want every thought to be about me, about us. I’m impatient. I
can’t help it. I love her and more than that I need her. She’ll understand some
day. I thought I was going to lose her earlier when Dad called. How dare he
interrupt our first morning together! Did he think she was going to run back to
him? He can’t have her, she’s mine.

I’m following now, her scent. It’s
vibrant like wild flowers. It’s the same scent when she’s aroused. I want her.
I want her like this. I want to fill her with my pups but it’s too soon for
her. I don’t care if the world knows that our parents were mated. To them
though, the humans, they only lived together. They were never married, but to
outsiders that’s good enough to make me her stepbrother. I know it bothers her,
the things they will say about us, so I’ll wait. Someday, I will have her up on
that hill, I’ll have her wolf. I think she expects it. She’s close now.

There’s a human clapping at her and
stomping his feet. She’s shying away and I can sense her fear, her confusion. I
don’t think Jane is in control of her wolf. Her behavior is all wrong, it’s all
wolf. If Jane were in there piloting the plane so to speak he would already be
on his back soiling his pants. I snarl at the human but he doesn’t see me yet.

There’s a little girl nearby and I
don’t want to scare her but I do want to teach her something. I sprint straight
at the man. For a little I’d shift and really give them something to gawk at
but the kid is around six. No sense corrupting her for life.

I leap through the air and land all
four feet on his chest. He’s half my size when I’m human, I could destroy him.
I could rip out his throat and be done with his stupid life. I don’t. I snarl
down into his face then I scent urine. If my wolf could laugh, he would roll
over and have a good one. Instead, I get off and go over to Jane. I nip at her
muzzle and trot away. When I look back, she’s following me and the people are
walking back into the park. If he says anything to the authorities, I’ll swear
that I saw the whole thing. He was antagonizing the wild life.

He was on my land and what happens
on my land is my business. I’ve had signs posted every ten feet in three
languages. If they choose to ignore them, well, I can’t control the wild life.
I’ve made it clear that they are to never step foot onto my land, it is private
property. I have millions of dollars invested in a legal department to back
that up. Jane is still following and I speed up. She wanted to run. Let’s see
how quick she is on four feet.

I take off at a sprint and she
follows with a yip. Jane wants to play. I lead her up and down hills to the
back side of the property. There’s a stream there and I’m thirsty. She must be
too because she’s run more than I have. I ease myself over the steep drop to
get to it. I’ve been this way before but it’s a workout. She whimpers behind
me. I yip and continue. She isn’t following me. I look back and she’s pacing
back in a circle. Finally, she sits. She’s the most beautiful wolf I’ve ever
seen. She’s chestnut with a white chest. Sturdy legs, muscular haunches and a
full bushy tail. It’s tipped in white too.

I climb back up beside her and rub
my face on hers. I’ll find another way down. One that’s easier on the missus. I
trot along the ridge. The trees are growing out of the side of it and holding
this hillside up. The stream must’ve been really big at some point to have
eroded away this much dirt. The leaves are beginning to fall but there are
still plenty in the trees to provide shade. I see a gentle slope down to the
water and I wait for her to catch up. When she does she passes me and walks
down to the stream. She dips her tongue in and tastes it. I already know that
it’s good water. Jane laps at it. I stand beside her and do the same.

When I’ve had my fill, I sit. She’s
still drinking. I’m ready to head back. I want to fuck her, shit. I want to be
with her. I have to remember she doesn’t like vulgarity. I want to take her on
that sunny hillside but she won’t let me. I know Jane, she’s too modest for
that. I didn’t think she would strip to shift when we got here. She kept
looking back at the cabin. Hector was indoors though, I heard the door slam
when he went inside. I wouldn’t let him look at her anyway. I’ll have to take
her back to the condo to have her. I hear her burp. I’d grin if I could. I get
up and lead her away from the stream. That’s enough running for today.

I shift and start pulling my
clothes on when we get back to the picnic table. Jane is still looking around
and scenting the air. I’ve already done that. We’re alone. I let her figure it
out. She stands up and grabs her panties. Those have got to go. I didn’t spend
a fortune on lingerie to see her in those cheap damn things. I want her in silk
and lace. The bra needs to go too. It’s old and it’s worn out. It doesn’t
support her properly either. Her sock has a hole in the toe and I crinkle my
nose. “What?” She asks. She looks happier than I’ve seen her but tired. I’ll
let her sleep on the way back.

“Those clothes go in the trash when
we get home.” That got her hackles up.

“No. There is nothing wrong with my
clothes.”

“Jane, your socks have holes, your
bra is stretched out of shape and there are beautiful things in the drawers,
wear them.”

“Your shopper girl didn’t buy me
play clothes. I don’t want to wear hundred dollar underwear to the woods to
lose.”

“I can afford to replace your
underwear if they get lost or ripped.” I grin at the little gasp she makes. “I
mean it, all of the old underthings go. I want you in the things that I bought
for you.” She makes a face but remains silent. I haven’t won this argument. She
has just decided to do what she wants without my permission. I’m no fool. I
know her well. She’ll do whatever she wants and to hell with what I think.
Since I know this, so will I. I will have the offensive underwear disposed of
and she’ll be lucky if I don’t trash the thrift store jeans and that stupid
shirt. Their pizza sucks, why would she advertise? “Where did you get that
shirt?” She looks down and shrugs.

“I think it was a giveaway at the
Christmas parade last year.” I nod. Consider it trashed. I’ll buy play clothes
without that nasty pizza on them. “Don’t even think about it.” My head jerks
up. “This is my shirt and you can’t have it.”

“I don’t want it.” I retort.

“You’re plotting Jake, I can see
it. Do not throw my clothes away.”

“I wasn’t going to.” I say innocently.
I’ll have Jocelyn do it.

“None of my clothes better
disappear Jake. I mean it.” She’s stepping down the hill carefully. “I’m not
kidding Jake.” She calls over her shoulder. Shit. I want her in fancy panties.
The thought of Jane in the ivory silk thong and bustier that I picked myself
makes my dick hard. Maybe there is more than one way to get rid of the crap
clothes she insists on keeping.

“Tell you what.” I say sneaking up
behind her. She jumps a little. I’ve always loved doing that to her. “If you’ll
wear something that I choose most of the time, I’ll let you keep your things
for playtime.” She mulls it over and shrugs. “Deal?” She’s reaching for the
door handle on the Jeep. I grab her from behind and press my erection into her
backside. “There is a silk set that’s ivory and embroidered in one of those
drawers Jane and just thinking about you in it has me…in a state.” I press into
her again and she moans. “I’d like for you to put it on when we get home.” She
nods.

I kiss her neck and feel her break
out in goose flesh. Her sweat is tempting me. I want to pull her jeans down and
pound into her right here but Hector is on the porch again. “I love you Jane.”
I nibble her ear lobe. “If we didn’t have an audience, I’d lick you head to toe
right now.” She whimpers and I kiss her cheek. “Ivory silk.” I say and head
around to the driver’s side. She hasn’t moved. Her eyes are closed. “Get in
Jane.” I say from the other side and she raises her eyes to mine. God I love
that look. It’s all lust and says fuck me right here. I grin and start the
vehicle.

Jane climbs in and fastens her
seatbelt. I raise a hand to Hector who gives me a nod then I turn around to go
home. She’s asleep within minutes. Jane is so beautiful it makes my heart ache.
She has no idea how beautiful she is. Jane thinks because she isn’t all skin
and muscle like the others that she isn’t great.

The fact that she is curvy and
different is what makes her beautiful. She thinks that because I brought those
kinds of women to my bed that they are the kind of women that I prefer. It’s
not. I prefer Jane and when I couldn’t have her. I made do but it was Jane’s
face that I saw when I buried myself inside them. On occasion, I called a few
of them Jane. One of them got nasty about it and neither of us finished. I
reach over and grab her hand. I twine my fingers with hers and hold it until I
have to let go to drive.

I back the Jeep into its space when
I get to the building. I’m going to give this to Jane or a new one like it.
When she looked at it the first time, she lit up. Joy poured off of her. I
don’t know why but she likes it. I like it too, but it doesn’t do that to me.
There’s a Porsche, a Ferrari, and an Audi sitting no more than a space away but
she loves this. This one is navy blue and has the word Rubicon down the side of
the hood. I think Jane’s should be white with tan leather and a hard top. I
want her safe. I should put her in a tank. She stirs and makes the cutest
little sound. I smile and run my knuckle under her jaw bone. Her eyes slide open
and she looks around. “We’re here already?” I grin at her. I see my security
detail at the elevator. They’re anxious. Something is going on.

“Jane, do you remember the code?”
She gives me the ‘you’re the stupidest man on the planet look’. “I have to speak
to my guys, so I’d like you to go up and shower then put on the ivory silk set
that I told you about.” She nods. “Top floor.” Jane rolls her eyes. “That’s
rude you know.” She giggles. “You’ll have to learn how to control that in the
office. You can’t be disrespectful.” She nods and unfastens her seat belt then
climbs out.

The team watches her and Michael
gives her a nod. Jane goes to the elevator and taps in the code. When the door
slides closed Dan starts. “There was an attempt to break into the penthouse.” I
wait. “It was a woman and she got away.”

“From who?” His look doesn’t
change, his face remains neutral and passive. “From who?” I say again.

“Marlowe.”

“Replace him. Did you ID the
woman?” He shakes his head.

“I wasn’t in yet. Michael was in
the can, Marlowe on the cameras. He didn’t see her until she was inside. She
scared Jocelyn.” I give them a stiff nod and push the code into the panel for
the keys. I hang them and close it.

“Is she okay?” I ask quietly.

“A bit shaken but yes, she is
okay.” I’ve sent Jane up ahead. I pull out my phone and dial Jocelyn.

“Yes sir?” She says sweetly.

“Are you okay?” I don’t coddle her
but I want to make sure she hasn’t freaked out.

“I’m fine sir.” She sounds normal.

“Jane is on her way up. I don’t
want her to scare you again.”

“Yes sir. You said that she would
be here.” I suddenly wonder why Jocelyn is there. She was supposed to be off.
“I hear the elevator now sir. She’s arrived.”

“I’ll be up in a few minutes.” I
end the call.

“Why is Jocelyn in the apartment?”
I turn to the team and ask. “She’s off this weekend, I said no entry.” Dan
looks nervous but stares at me then at Michael who is inspecting his shoes. Dan
answers finally.

“I don’t know sir. Michael?”

“She went in after you left this
morning. She ran the vacuum and changed out the linens. I’m not sure why she
would do that if she was not supposed to go in. I just assumed that she cleared
it with you.” The elevator opens and I stride in with them following.

“How can I continue your employment
if you don’t follow orders?” I ask Michael quietly. His jaw ticks, Dan’s face
is as hard as granite. “I told all of you that I had company and that I didn’t
want any intrusions.”

“Did you tell her that?” Michael
asks. I nod. “So shouldn’t your complaint be with her?” Michael asks softly.

“If I say no intrusions and you are
guarding the door what does that mean?” Michael nods.

“I’ll pack my things and be out by
end of day, if that’s what you want.” I think about it a moment.

“Last chance. Fuck up again and
you’re done.”

“Thank you sir.” He says when we
stop at his floor. The door opens and they get off. I continue up to the
penthouse. Jocelyn is waiting and Jane is nowhere to be seen.

“Why are you here?” I ask and she
drags a deep breath in.

“I know you said that you wanted
the apartment to yourself. I apologize. I saw you leave this morning and I
tried to catch you but couldn’t. I need to go to see my sister, she’s had a
heart attack.”

“That doesn’t explain it.”

“Sir, I will be gone for a week or
more because she doesn’t have anyone else. I figured if you were gone, I could
clean up before I left and stock the fridge. I hope to be back before too long
but…” I put my hand up.

“Thank you Jocelyn for looking out
for us. Why haven’t you left yet?”

“My plane doesn’t take off until
seven tonight.”

“Get your bags and meet Michael in
the garage.”

“But…”

“Just do as I say.” She nods and
hurries to the elevator. I pull out my cell and call Michael. “Jocelyn, where
does your sister live?”