Her Billionaire Werewolf Stepbrother (9 page)

“I’ll do it again in a heartbeat.
She was human and so was her date. I’m not afraid of a human.”

“What did you say to her? I saw you
say something to her.” He’s cutting his meat now, trying to saw through the
table. Sometimes Jake is a caveman.

“I told her if she came near my
house or my man again that I would make her suffer for days before I ended her
life.” Jake closes his eyes and takes a breath. “I meant it.” I hear a growl in
my voice and I’m glad that we’re alone.

“You can’t do that Jane. You aren’t
in the sticks anymore. Things are handled differently here. You can’t go wolf.”
He whispers the last word. I feel my eyes go amber. I smile sweetly then and I
see him inhale.

“Then I’ll drive her to the sticks
first, get permission from the Alpha and take care of our problem.” Jake drags
a hand down his face. “Problem solved.” I take another bite of steak. I won’t
be able to finish this, it’s too much. I want to but I can’t. I hope they have
a ‘to go’ box. Jake doesn’t say anything else to me. He eats quietly and
methodically. A bite of steak, a bite of potato, sip of wine, repeat. He’s mad.
Crap. He’s gone to silent mode, the precursor to uncontrollable sometimes. He’s
thinking of a way to convince me that he’s right but whatever he comes up with
won’t matter if I see her near my house again.

The waiter is at our table now and
he’s brought us a pastry thing. I say ‘thing’ because I don’t know what it is.
I stick the spoon into it and warm chocolate oozes out of it. I taste it and
it’s warm and delicate on my tongue. There’s a hint of orange in the chocolate.
Where am I supposed to put this? I’m so full. If I’d remembered that this was
coming, I would’ve saved room. I spoon more chocolate into my mouth. It’s the
most heavenly thing I have ever tasted. It’s amazing. He puts his fork down and
pushes his plate away.

“Jane.” He sounds exasperated. I
quirk my mouth and I already know I am going to lose this argument. “My job as
your mate is to protect you, keep you safe, happy and satisfied.” Now he sounds
like Dad. He’s thinking of what to say next so I jump in.

“That’s my job too.” I stick more
chocolate in my mouth. I am going to pop. It will be a delicious death because
I’ve never had a better meal. “Jake you have to understand that I want to
protect you too. I wanted her to know that I will protect what’s mine. If I
depend on the security guys and they fail…what if something happens to you
because I was waiting on them? If we have pups like you want, should I rely on
the security team to protect them? They will be my pups and if you think for a
minute that I am not going to protect them then you don’t know me as well as
you thought.” I hiss. I’m mad too. I want him to understand that I am not going
to sit by and rely on some paid guy to save me. I will kill her if she gets
near what’s mine. He’s smiling at me. Sometimes, Jake is stupid. “What?” 

“I like it that you called it mine
and that you’re thinking about our pups. Would you like to start right away?”
He’s teasing me and I sigh. “Fine, but I still liked it. Okay, how about this,
if she gets into the house, you kill her. Only if she gets past the team and
into the house.” I think about it and nod sharply.

“How was dinner partner?” Doug is
suddenly there at my side.

“Wonderful.” He slides a card across
the table in front of me.

“For you. Did you like your
dessert?” I nod like a bobble head and he smiles broadly. He has one of those
smiles that lights up a room. I decide that I like him. “Now for you.” He
slides a dinner check in front of Jake. “You can’t go running like a wild thing
through my restaurant knocking people about willy-nilly.” I look across at the
check and gasp.

“I offered to pay for that table’s
meal when I dumped it all over the floor. They just happened to be a party of
ten.”

“He paid for the meal on the floor
as well and yours of course.” I shrugged. Jake pulled out his credit card and
handed it to Doug. He smiled and handed it back. “Your money is no good here my
friend. I hope you enjoyed your meal and that you will return often.” He patted
my shoulder then shook Jake’s hand.

“Are you ready to go home?” I nod
and pick up my recipe card then stick it in my purse. “He didn’t bring the
quart that I asked for, let me chase him down before we go.” I grab his hand.

“It’s okay. We have the recipe.” I
give his bigger hand a squeeze. “Let’s go home.” I look back at my leftover
steak and Jake sees me.

“Stay here.” He ducks into a small
hallway and comes back with a Styrofoam box. He goes back to the table and
loads what’s left of my dinner into it. He knew I wanted it. I would’ve asked
the waiter if he’d come back but I guess since Doug brought us the check the
waiter didn’t bother. Jake left a fifty dollar bill on the table. My eyes
nearly popped out of my head. Our dinner was comped but wow that was a nice
tip. I should get a job in here waiting tables. I could do with that kind of
spending money. “It’s just a tip.”

“I know. I want to get a waiter job
in here. I can have shopping money.”

“If you want something just say.”

“It’s not the same.” I take the box
from him and start toward the door to leave. The SUV is at the curb. I’m going
toward it when a big man pops out of nowhere and blocks my path. I take a
breath. Human. I let my eyes wander up the tree of a man and see that he is
looking at Jake. He’s holding out his hand. Jake shakes it and they start
talking. I duck around him. I have no interest in this conversation, it’s tech
business. I go out the doors to the SUV and one of the guys is holding the door
open for me. He has a thing in his ear.

“Is there a game on?” I point to
his ear and he smiles.

“No ma’am. It’s a communication
unit so I can hear the rest of the team.” He’s tall and solidly built. He has
blonde hair that is cut short. I think he was the driver earlier.

“What are they saying?” I ask. I’m
still standing on the sidewalk and I see Jake heading this way. The man inside
is still talking to him but Jake is stalking. I fight a grin. He’s jealous.

“The building is secure, the
apartment is secure and there is no sign of the blonde within three blocks.”
Jake is beside me now.

“Good. Thank you for the update. If
that changes,” I see Jake’s brow raise. “Let Jake know.”

“Yes ma’am.” He says. He fighting a
smile too. Jokes on Jake. I climb inside the SUV and slide across. I don’t like
this truck. It’s too high up in the air and not made for dresses. I feel the
breeze on my backside. I know that nobody can see anything because Jake is
there and the skirt is long enough. This truck though was not made for ladies.
I get comfortable with my box in my lap and pull my seatbelt on.

“Don’t do that again.” Jake says.
His eyes are amber. I cock my head. I’m not sure what he’s talking about. The
blonde inside, the blonde outside, or leaving his side. “Don’t walk away from
me, it’s disrespectful. Stand beside me and smile like it’s the most
interesting conversation ever.” The driver is getting in and the other guy, the
panther is climbing in the passenger seat. I wonder what their names are but I
don’t ask because I’ve already shown too much interest. “Also, don’t flirt with
them.” He whispers this but I see the panther’s ears perk and he studies the
driver. They’re going to talk about me as soon as they are out of earshot.

I reach over and take Jake’s hand.
He lets me but he’s watching me. “I’ll try to be a good girl.” He seems to like
that and let’s go of my hand to wrap his arm around me. I sink into his side. I
love this. I feel safe here nestled into him. He feels like family when we’re
like this not like my mate or my stepbrother but family all the same. I feel
him kiss the top of my head and I let my eyes close. It’s only a few minutes to
the building but we stay inside the SUV while they check out the garage for
blondie. I hope she’s here and I hope she’s panther chow. I stifle a giggle.

“What’s funny?”

“Panther chow.” I look up at him.
“I was just thinking that the blonde would make good panther chow.” Jake
chuckles. “Let’s go. If she wants to mess with the biggest predators in the
garage, let her. I love to exercise after dinner.” I wink and open my door.
Jake grabs my arm.

“Shut it now.” He says and his
voice is so Alpha that I do and back up across the seat into him. What did he
see? I see them then. The panther has a man by the back of the neck. He’s
wearing jeans and a flannel. I know him.

“That’s Tommy.” I say as I leap out
of the door and hurry across the garage. “Tommy are you okay? Let him go.” I
say to the panther. He doesn’t of course. “Tommy are you all right?” I pat his
face and look him over. Tommy is a boy from home. He’s always tried to protect
me but Tommy isn’t right in the head. He’s slow but he’s sweet. He’s like an
oversized five year old.

“I’m okay Jane. Stupid cat didn’t
hurt me.” He glared at panther man. Tommy shouldn’t be here. He doesn’t know
how to keep quiet and he has no filter.

“Why are you here Tom?” Jake asks. I’m
standing close still checking him for injuries.

“Hi Jake.” Tommy says and gives him
one of those huge endearing smiles. “You looking after Jane?”

“I am Tommy.” Jake says.

“Good. I got worried when the big
car drove off with her inside. She didn’t tell me bye and I thought they took
her.” Shit. I didn’t say goodbye to him. Whenever I head back to school, I
always tell Tommy where I’m going and that I will see him soon. He is
protective of me. His being here is my fault. “Dad said it’s okay but I can’t
let anyone hurt my Jane.” The panther is cutting the cable tie from Tommy’s
wrists and he rubs them then growls at the cat. “Dad said you’re with Jake but
I need to be sure.”

“I am with Jake. I’m okay. I’m
going to live here now.” He nods. No big deal that he’s driven all this way or
that he’s worried about me. That’s just how his mind works.

“Okay.” He turns to walk away.

“Tommy? How are you getting home?” I
call after him and he turns back.

“I got Dad’s truck.” He says as if
it happens every day. I’m not even sure that he has a driver’s license.

“Does he know that?” Jake asks and
Tommy shakes his head and smiles again. I laugh but Jake is already dialing Dad
on the cell.

“Bye Jane.” He says.

“Bye Tommy.” I give him a little
wave and shake my head.

“Come see me.” He’s jogging toward
the front of the building and calling over his shoulder.

“I will.” I say loud enough for him
to hear.

“Do you think he’ll make it back
without wrecking it?” I shrug. Tommy is a strange and mystical creature. I’ve
known him since I arrived at Jake’s pack.

I’d gotten out of the car when Mom
pulled into the parking area. A bunch of kids had him down and were beating him
up. They were all wolves but so is he. They were trying to weed out the
weakest. Tommy isn’t the weakest physically but he is mentally. They were
ganging up on him. There were five of them and none as big as him but five on
one was unfair.

I didn’t think about it or stand
and watch for a minute, I rushed in and threw them off one at a time. I was
fifteen, Tommy was sixteen, and the rest of them were around ten or so. I
helped him up and brushed him off. I knew before I helped him that he was
different. I remember screaming at them but not what I said. Mom took Tommy
inside our new house and cleaned him up then put elastic bandages on his cuts.
Tommy’s wolf so that was kind of pointless but he was a five year old trapped
in that big body. Five year olds love stickers.

Jake is ushering me inside the elevator
now. He hands me my box and the panther follows us inside. Jake pulls me closer
and I’m still wondering how Tommy found us. It’s not as if Dad’s truck has GPS.
Jake and I get off at our floor and there is another security man with a thing
in his ear waiting.

“All clear sir.” He says and gets
in the elevator with the panther once we step out. He wasn’t human and I wasn’t
sure what he was but he scented as animal. Jake leaned over and whispered.

“Grizzly.”

“You’re running a zoo.” I say and
head for the kitchen. I hear him laugh behind me. I put my box in the fridge
and turn to find him right behind me. I’m startled. Jake is much better at
stealth than I am.

“I’m king of the beasts, remember
that.” He rumbles. “Remember when you flipped me off at the restaurant?” Uh-oh.
I nod. “It’s later.” I pat him on the chest and skirt around him. He lets me
escape. I dart out of the kitchen and sprint down the hall. Wolves like to
chase and stalk their prey. I look over my shoulder and he’s coming. I can see
his teeth and I’m not sure if that’s a smile or a sneer.

I giggle and dart into the bedroom
kicking off my shoes as I go. I cross to the bed and hop up into the middle of
it. I am going to make him chase me. He’s tearing off his tie when he comes in
and tosses it to a chair. “Come here.” I grin wickedly and shake my head. He
goes around to his side and I hop off the other.

Jake circles and I get back on and
bounce across. He follows and I bounce off his side. I’m laughing and shrieking
when he almost catches me. I run but he blocks the door to the hall so I scurry
into the closet. Oops. No way out. He fills the door and I crouch under the
suits. “Nowhere to go sweetness.” I whimper and he comes to squat in front of
me. “If you don’t want to…” I throw myself into his arms and he catches me.

Jake strips the purple dress over
my head and tosses it. I’m left in nothing but the fancy panties. He growls and
I giggle. He snaps the bra and snatches it away. I reach for his shirt and he
lets me unfasten one button before he tears it from his shoulders. Tiny buttons
fly everywhere and before they land, he is yanking his pants off. He’s going to
take me right here in the closet. I’m glad that the carpet is thick and soft
under me. Jake fists my underwear and they disintegrate. I have a passing
thought that they were expensive and he shouldn’t waste money. My thoughts
disintegrate next when he buries his thick erection inside me. I groan and he
thrusts ball deep inside me.

“Mine.” He growls. I moan in
answer. He’s moving and thrusting. His need is urgent. I’ve done this to him.
Jake can’t control himself when he’s had to hunt me. Good to know.

My fingernails are digging into his
shoulders and my legs wrap themselves around his waist tightly. He feels huge
inside of me and I love it. I love him. I feel Jakes hand under my waist.
“Bed.” He grunts and lifts me off the floor still in his arms, still connected
at the waist. He stops moving. My back is pressed to the cool wall and he is
still filling me, still grunting with the effort. He can’t stop. We’re moving
again but my eyes are squeezed shut and I don’t care where we’re going. I feel
the bed under me now and Jake pulls out. I cry out but he flips me over and
pulls me up to all four then slams into me again.

“God yes!” The words tumble from my
lips. “Please more!”

“I’ll give you more.” He doesn’t
stop thrusting. I think this is the hardest that he’s done this yet. He’s been
gentle up until now I realize. I like this, I like it this way with him half
crazed and pounding into me. “I’ll give you more than you’ll ever need Jane.”
I’m not sure if he means sex or everything. I don’t really care right now.

My body is covered in a sheen of
sweat with the exertion and with the climax that I feel coming. It’s right
there but I can’t seem to reach it until Jake’s fingers sink into my folds and
pinch my clitoris. I come unglued. I see white pin pricks of light as the ball
of tension in my center bursts and my womb contracts.

“Fuck yes!” Jake roars. “Just like
that Jane, strangle my cock!” He grunts again loudly and falls on top of me as
I slide forward. His legs have to be hanging off the bed but I’m too exhausted
to look. Jake moves me a little while later. I’m half asleep but I know that my
head is on the pillow now and I’m covered. I slip away again and let the sleep
take me.

I wake and the room is dark. I’m
alone. I find my robe at the foot of the bed and pull it on. I wonder what Jake
is doing this late. After a stop at the bathroom, I pad down the hall to his
office. The light is on inside and I hear voices. I hear a woman. I push the
door open and Jake looks up. There is a woman in his office. She is sitting in
the chair across from him in a navy blue suit. She has tidy golden brown hair
pinned into a bun and she turns to look at me. Her eyes flash. She-wolf. I
don’t like this. At all. “Jane?” Jake says and I realize that my brow has
lifted with disapproval.

“Ma’am.” The she-wolf stands. Her
voice is light but commanding and very southern. I tip my head to study her.
“I’m Lucinda. I’m to be your personal body guard until the perpetrator is
caught.”

My gaze shifts from her face to
Jakes. He’s watching me. What is up with him? We have great sex then instead of
holding me while I sleep, he goes out in the middle of the night and hires a
body guard. I realize she is holding her hand out for me to shake. I take it
then quickly drop it. I look at Jake again.

Lucinda is smaller than I am and
weaker than me. In fact, she has no business being in this business. I feel
less safe with her than with the human guard that rode with us earlier. I
narrow my eyes on Jake and mouth the word ‘No’, then I go to the kitchen for a
drink. Lucinda follows me. Oh for shit’s sake!

“Don’t do that.” I say over my
shoulder. “I don’t need an escort to get a glass of milk.” I hear her stop but
she’s lurking outside of the kitchen. I get a glass and pour some milk. I gulp
it down. Jake is beside me a minute later. I growl and he grins. “I do not need
a body guard Jake.”

“You do. The blonde came into the
building again.” He pulls out his phone and taps the screen then holds it where
I can see it. She comes into the picture. I don’t know where this is but it
isn’t the lobby. She holds up a white poster board sign. It says ‘I’m coming
for you.’  Humph. That little bitch wants a fight. Her eyes flash then. What
the hell? She scented human at the restaurant. She ran like a human. How did
she scent human if she’s not? Something didn’t add up. How was this possible?

“How many doors are there into this
apartment?” I ask and Jake studies me.

“Elevator and the emergency
stairwell.”

“Where is the stairwell?” I ask and
he points toward the back of the kitchen. “Good to know. I’m going to bed now.
Get rid of your new friend and join me.” I put my glass in the sink and stop
when I hear an unfamiliar noise coming from the direction of the door that I
didn’t know about a minute ago. I start toward it. Jake grabs my hand.

“It’s one of the security guys. I
have one parked outside of the door. Your guard will be sitting in the foyer.”

“Well there goes foyer sex.” I say
and sashay out of the kitchen. I hear him scoff. Good. Think about that Jake. I
happened to like sex in the foyer but not enough to perform for an audience.

I’m still stewing when he finally
comes to the bedroom. I’ve decided I’m not happy about her being in my house.
He comes in and he’s surprised that I’m still up. I’m sitting with my arms
crossed in the center of the bed. “Jane, before you fly off the handle…” I
interrupt him.

“I don’t want her here.” He quirks
a brow. “I do not want another she-wolf in my house.”

“She’s for your protection.” I wait
and so does he.

“Fine.” I say evenly. “Let me put
this in a way you will understand. “If she spends one night in my house, I will
go back to Dad’s.”

“Jane, I have no interest in her.”
I shake my head. “Really.” He comes to sit across from me and cups my jaw. “I
love you. You are my mate.” I shake my chin loose from his hand.

“Not good enough Jake. I want her
out. She goes or I go.” His eyes go amber. “I don’t want a she-wolf in my
house.” I feel my eyes moisten and swallow. I will not cry, I tell myself. I
don’t really mean that I would leave him over this but I do want her out. I
don’t like it that she’s here. We’ve just mated. It’s too new for other females
to be in the middle of and I can’t help how I feel. Any woman, wolf or human
would agree.

“If it were one of the guys would
you feel better about it?” I think about that. No, I don’t think that I would.
I don’t want anyone in here with us. I feel like I’m stifled, like I can’t be
myself. I shake my head.

“I don’t want them in our private
space Jake. I already have to tip toe around cameras. I want to be free to be
with you and I don’t feel like I can with them here.” Jake thumbs a tear off my
cheek. He gives me a sharp nod and climbs off the bed. He doesn’t say another
word, he just leaves me sitting there. Now what? I’m not sure where he’s going
or what he’s doing. I understand that the threat is real, but if I give up my
privacy doesn’t she win anyway? I mean this is a terrorist act. She’s taken my
freedom away. I feel my head getting heavy and I lie down. I can’t stay awake
much longer. My thoughts slip away.