The Beast in Him (13 page)

But when her body slammed up against his, everything but the wolf in him was wiped clean. All that calm, cool, rational logic he’d spent years and years refining until he moved only as fast as he wanted or needed slipped away from him, leaving the raw, demanding animal behind.

Jessie stared up at him, her hands slapping against his chest, trying to push him off. Too late for that, and he could tell by the way her eyes widened and her breath left her body in one rush that she realized it too.

His grip tightened on her neck and he lifted until she stood on her toes.

“Smitty, wait—”

He didn’t. He cut off her next words by slamming his mouth down on hers, his tongue sliding into her already open mouth, and kissing her hard. He sensed her claws unleash, coming for his face or his chest, so he released her neck and grabbed her wrists, before turning them both and forcing Jessie up against the wall. Using his hold on her wrists, he pulled Jessie’s arms above her head and pinned them in place.

She struggled against him, her knee trying to move so she could take out his nuts. Again, the rational voice in his head that he always listened to told him to let her go. Told him “nice Southern gentlemen” didn’t do this sort of thing to sweet, innocent, wild dogs.

Then Jessie Ann groaned. It slid up the back of her throat, easing into his mouth, setting his nerve endings on fire. In that moment, his rational voice got shut down for the beast who ruled his heart.

And this... this right here was why he didn’t kiss her that night all those years ago. If it had caused even a tenth of the lust pouring through his body this very second, his poor little eighteen-year-old brain would have crumpled from the pressure, and the two of them would still be stuck in Smithtown up to their armpits in Smith sons.

He didn’t have to worry about that now, though. They were both adults with an excellent grasp of birth control. They could keep this simple and friendly and still have the time of their lives. Because he had to have her. Now. This very second.

Damn. Poorly planned, Smith. He didn’t think to bring a condom with him. Unfortunate, since he’d love nothing more than to take her right here, right now, and right up against this wall. Then again with such weak drywall probably not a good idea. Of course, the floor had looked pretty clean...

“Hey, Aunt Jess, Mom’s wondering if you guys are hun—Whoa!”

Jessie shoved so hard Smitty stumbled back from her. He knew Kristan stood in the doorway, but at the moment he couldn’t really turn around. She was way too young for that visual.

Horrified. Of all the people in the world to catch her it had to be “Big Mouth, I have no filters” Kristan.

“I am so telling Mom!” she squealed.

The evil brat took off, laughing the whole way, and Jess shoved past the bastard wolf standing in front of her and went after her niece.

Kristan threw open the door and skidded into the main office. “You guys are not going to believe what I—”

Jess slapped her hand around Kristan’s mouth and dragged her back into the hallway.

“Excuse us,” Jess said to the room full of shifters staring at them.

Jess carried the pink-clad brat into the storage closet and slammed the door.

“Not a word!”

“Oh, come on! You can’t expect me to keep this to myself. You making out with a wolf. I could sell this to Sixty Minutes!”

“I’m ordering you to keep your mouth shut.”

Kristan snorted and Jess stepped up to her.

“You’re sixteen. Almost an adult. It’s time you learn how it works when you have an Alpha.”

“Yeah, right.”

Jess bared her fangs and took two dramatic steps forward. Frightened, Kristan stumbled back, slamming into the wall behind her. Jess moved in close and rested her cheek against Kristan’s forehead, her snarls low and dangerous, her fangs brushing against the girl’s skin.

“Okay, okay!”

“Are we clear?”

“Yes!”

Jess stepped back. “Not a word. Understand?”

Kristan nodded but wouldn’t look Jess in the eye. Good. She was learning.

“Now get Johnny and you two go home.”

The girl nodded her head again and took off running.

Jess gave herself a very brief moment to get her breath back and wipe shaky fingers over her bruised lips and through her hair, trying to get it back under control before following after Kristan since she wasn’t entirely ready to trust the girl would keep her mouth shut.

But as she opened the door she practically collided with Smitty.

“Jessie Ann—”

“Don’t.”

“But—”

She walked away from him and into the main room. She forced a smile since everyone was still standing around looking confused. “The kids are going home. But I’m starving. What are we ordering for dinner?”

Smitty sat back and watched them stand around a menu for a local Chinese restaurant and place their orders. Jessie acted like butter wouldn’t melt. Cold, indifferent, and trying to pretend like it didn’t mean anything to her.

But it had meant a hell of a lot to the woman he had pinned up against that wall. And if Jessie Ann really thought it would be that easy to shake him, she had so very much to learn.

CHAPTER 10

Jess sat at her desk, staring out the big office window, her feet up and resting on the small ledge. She had no idea how long she’d been sitting there. How long she’d let herself waste precious business hours by thinking about the disaster that was her life. But she couldn’t stop herself. She couldn’t stop thinking about that goddamn kiss and the goddamn wolf who’d done this to her. She really should hate the man. If she had any sense, she’d keep as far away from him as humanly possible. But something told her it wouldn’t be that easy. Smitty wouldn’t let it be. Not because he cared about her or wanted her for his very own, but because his ego wouldn’t allow for anything else. He had something to prove, and he seemed intent on proving it with her.

She knew she couldn’t let that happen. She knew she couldn’t let her heart take over here. Bobby Ray Smith was and always would be the one man who could break Jess’s heart. He’d done it once; she wouldn’t let him do it again.

“Jessica!”

Jess blinked and looked away from the window. She had no idea how long May had been standing there calling her name, probably a while. “Hey, hon. What’s up? Are you okay?”

It had not been an easy night for May either, but Danny had taken care of her. Like he always had. The two of them fit together so perfectly Jess found herself happy for them and sometimes bitterly jealous. After all these years and five kids, they still meant the world to each other. Jess, however, had a very healthy relationship with the Pack’s pet dogs. They were very good snugglers.

“I’m fine. You scared my daughter to death, though.”

Jess winced. “Sorry about that. I just... I just couldn’t have her yelling what she saw across the room in front of all those people.”

May dropped onto a chair. “What did you do?”

“The ol’ snarl and snap. It’s still quite effective.”

“That it is.”

“Sorry about that. Is she okay?”

May waved her concerns away. “Don’t apologize. Y’all have spoiled her. She needed a good snarl and snap. Of course my question now is what exactly did my baby see... and should we get her therapy?”

Jess cringed and looked down at her desk.

“That bad, huh?”

“Nothing she’ll end up on Jerry Springer for, but... ” Jess’s eyes crossed.

May rested her elbows on the desk and her chin on her fist. “Can I make a suggestion?”

“Does it require me to humiliate myself any more than I already have?”

“Jessica Ann—we’re dogs! Tolerating humiliation is what we do.”

And Jess knew May was only joking... a little.

“Do you think I’m pretty?”

Smitty glanced away from the computer screen he’d been staring at for the last three hours, looked at his sister, and shook his head. “No.”

“What do ya mean no?”

“You asked. Sorry if you didn’t like the answer. I always thought you were funny lookin’. Asked momma, ‘What is that thing laying in your bed?’ And she said, ‘I found it hiding under a car, you be nice to it now.’”

“Bobby Ray Smith! What is wrong with you? You’re as mean as a cat.”

“Is there a reason you’re here, Sissy Mae? I thought we sent you out on a job.”

He wasn’t in a good mood. He’d been up all night thinking about Jessie. Worrying about her and what she might be hiding from him. And worst of all, thinking about that goddamn kiss. Not surprisingly, thoughts of that kiss led to all sorts of other thoughts about Jessie Ann and what she could do with that mouth of hers.

His sister stretched across his desk, heedless of the file folders under her, and reached into the Navy mug he had filled with Hershey’s Kisses. “That job’s boring. I want something more interesting than checking out some company’s safety.”

“That’s our bread and butter. So stop whining and do your job.”

“I did. It took me no time. And I’m bored. How come you don’t give me anything more interesting?”

Smitty sighed and leaned back in his chair. “You don’t want to have this conversation, Sissy Mae.”

“Yes, I do. Spit it out. I can handle most of this bullshit better than you and Mace. So what’s your problem?”

With a shrug, he answered, “You are.”

“Me?”

“Yeah, you. I’ve never known anyone who could start shit faster than you do.”

“That’s not fair, Bobby Ray.”

“Maybe not, but we both know it’s accurate. I love you, baby sister. But you are trouble. I need people who can defuse situations and get everyone out safely. You, however, are an instigator. You turn complicated situations into national news.”

“That was not my fault!”

“Whose fault was it?”

She didn’t answer the question and instead said, “And I got everyone out safely.”

“Yes, you did. After you got S.W.A.T. involved.”

“Well, I—”

“And I really hope that wasn’t so you’d be able to widen your dating pool. How many of those guys did you finally go out with? Four? Or was it five?”

“You act like I went out with them all at the same time.”

Smitty held his hand up. “This conversation is over. What Mace and I have going here is too important for me and the Pack to let you screw it up by being yourself.”

“That was just mean, Bobby Ray.”

“Check with Mindy. She’s got an assignment for you since you’re finished with this last one.”

“Yeah, yeah. She already gave it to me.”

Mace walked by the open door and glanced in. He scowled. “Get off his desk. I’ve got an important client coming in to see your hick ass, Smitty, and I don’t need this to look like we’re at a local hoedown.”

Sissy Mae slid off the desk before Smitty could push her off. “Okay, okay. Calm yourself,” she said before she proceeded to eat his Hershey’s Kisses.

Mace walked off, and Sissy Mae asked, “Who’s this important client?”

“I have no idea. And would you like a shovel for the rest of that chocolate?”

“Why you mean old—” Sissy Mae stopped talking abruptly, her nose lifting in the air. “Hey. Does that smell familiar to you?”

It sure did. And Smitty felt his body come alive, images of Jessie pinned up against that wall ravaging his sleep-deprived brain. And exactly who taught her to kiss like that? Wait. Bad question. He didn’t want to know. He never wanted to know.

His gaze rose from his desk and he watched Jessie Ann and Mace walk into view. She stopped in front of his office.

“Someone’s here to see you,” Mace announced.

Jessie gave a small smile. “Hiya.”

“Hey.” He stood. “Come on in.”

“I’m sorry to bug you at the office,” she said, stepping into the room, “but do you think you and I could—” She stopped abruptly, finally seeing Sissy Mae.

Sissy Mae’s face lit up. “Well, Jessie Ann Ward. As I live and breathe.”

Jessie stared at Sissy Mae for a good thirty seconds, a completely blank expression on her face.

He didn’t know how to read that look, but he sensed flashbacks, and the last thing he needed was to have to track Jessie Ann down under the bleachers at Yankee Stadium. So quickly moving around his desk, Smitty reached for her, but his sweet, innocent, “can’t survive without her Pack” Jessie Ann went and coldcocked his sister like a heavy-weight champ. Her small fist slammed into Sissy Mae’s jaw and sent his sister flying over his desk, her body crashing into the wall behind him.

“Holy shit,” Mace said softly in the silence that followed.

Jessie blinked, her hands covering her mouth. She’d shocked herself more than she’d shocked him or Mace.

“Oh, God. Oh... uh... ”

Smitty motioned to Mace. “Take her to your office.”

Mace gently took Jessie by the shoulders and led her out. Smitty knelt by his sister, grabbing a half-empty water bottle from his desk. He dumped the contents over her head and she woke up sputtering.

“Wha... what? Where... ?”

“You all right?”

She blinked up at him. “Yeah. Sure. I’m fine.”

Smitty raised his hand and lifted three fingers. “How many fingers you see?”

Sissy Mae stared thoughtfully. “Eighty thousand.”

Sighing, “Great.”

Mace crouched down next to Jess’s chair and handed her a bottle of water. “Here. Drink this.”

Jess gripped the water bottle, feeling like it might be her only anchor at the moment. Good God, had she actually done that? Did she actually just hit someone who hadn’t been threatening her or her pups or... something?

“I can’t believe I did that,” she finally managed, feeling like she had to say something with that lion crouching next to her and those scary gold eyes watching her.

“It’s okay, Jessica.”

“No, it’s not. I should have more control than that.” She looked at him. “But suddenly I was sixteen again, only this time... ”

“You weren’t afraid of her.”

Jess shrugged. “She was Pack-less. So I attacked accordingly.”

“If it’s any comfort, my sisters would be quite impressed.”

“Isn’t it nice to hear that cats would be impressed by my violent actions? That gives me much ease.”