Chapter 14 – Jamie
14
JAMIE
“Y ou’ll do no such thing,” I seethe, choosing to be pissed off, rather than admit his threat has my libido going into overdrive. My wolf is happy for him to punish us anytime he wants.
Dean steps in close and looms over me, those stormy eyes peering right into my soul as his mouth-watering scent erodes my self-control. Desperate to put some distance between us before I do something stupid, I start toward the door.
“Oh, I will. If you hurt my pack, I will.”
Heat blooms inside me, but I shove it away. These are threats he’s whispering, not sweet nothings. Not that you’d know it from the way my wolf swoons.
“If you lay a finger on me…” I trail off, remembering how unwise it is to threaten an alpha, especially one we really don’t know yet.
“You’ll do what?” he dares, his wolf flashing in his eyes as he dips down to look at me head on. I flush, hating that he has me so flustered.
“I’ll scream.”
Dean quirks a brow, giving me a sexy smirk, as he lowers his voice and whispers. “I bet you would. I think I’d like to hear that.”
All rational thought leaves my brain, replaced by a confusing mixture of anger and desire. I want to stab my fingers in his black hair and kiss that smug smile right off his handsome face.
Deciding against saying any more, knowing I’ll make things worse for myself, I storm out, blindly marching down the hall. I need to get away from Dean, his arrogant mouth and his suffocating presence.
“Damn cocky alpha,” I mutter. I’ve come across plenty of alphas in my time, but this guy takes the tall, dark and dangerous biscuit.
“We’re not done here,” he calls after me, but I ignore him and hurry away. Suddenly, an arm wraps around my waist from behind and lifts me from the ground with ease, mid stride. He spins me around so fast that it takes me a second to get my bearings. Before I know it, he has me sitting on a sideboard, his rock-solid arms keeping me trapped. With one palm planted firmly right beside my head, he leans down and growls close to my ear.
“I said, we’re not done, little rogue.”
Does he mean this conversation, or in general?
Chests heaving, we stare into each other’s eyes, both seething and refusing to back down, not even sure anymore what’s got us both so riled up. Dean’s still holding my waist with one hand and his grip tightens, and I lean into the pressure, tilting my hips forward. My pelvis brushes his, and he growls, making my core flood with heat.
Heaven help me, but I love his grumpy attitude and rough touch, while my wolf is going weak at the knees for his strength and bossy attitude.
She wants a man who can put her in her place when she needs it.
“Alpha? Is everything okay?” The timid, concerned voice behind Dean snaps us out of our stare down, and Dean straightens, his big body still between my legs but no longer pressing against my parted thighs.
Dean’s anger evaporates immediately. He turns to give the gang of young teenage girls a winning smile. He releases his hold on me and steps back to give me my personal space, body language now relaxed and easy rather than coiled tightly and barely clinging to control.
I watch the girls fidget and inch backward. They’re scared. Maybe this is a scene they’ve witnessed before, when Dean’s father would attack his family. Maybe even other pack members.
Whatever it is that has them so spooked, I can feel Dean’s devastation at the fear in their eyes.
In a split second, I make a plan, and hope he’ll run with it. I lift my hand to Dean’s arm and run it all the way down, sliding my fingers into his looser grip until we’re holding hands. Resting my other palm on his chest, I scratch lightly against the material with my nails and look up at Dean with my best flirty smile. Leaning into his hard body, I mould myself to him in a display of possessiveness.
Dean stares down at me, stunned and confused. He has no idea what’s going on. I tilt my head to the side, peering past his broad chest and give the girls a winning smile. “It’s okay girls, I was just trying to convince the alpha to take me for a dance.”
A line appears between Dean’s eyebrows. He still doesn’t understand.
“It would be rude to refuse, right alpha?” The girls’ gazes drop to where our bodies are pressed together, and at how Dean has slung his arm around my shoulder, holding me tight to him, without even realising he’s done it.
“You’re right. That would be rude.” Dean sighs and closes his eyes briefly, before plastering a cheery expression on his face. “Forgive me, Jamie. Would you still care for a spin around the dance floor?”
When he hits me with a huge smile, his fan club literally clutch onto each other and squeal, nodding excitedly. Melting teenagers aside, I turn back to face Dean, my attention split between what’s going on and the rippling abs and bulging pecs under my palm.
“You dance?” I whisper.
He nods.
Shit.
“You can dance well ?” I clarify, not wanting to end up with broken toes. I have a competition tomorrow.
“Don’t sound so shocked. I am an alpha after all.”
Dean makes a show of entwining our hands and brings my knuckles up to his lips for the barest of kisses. Our audience awaits, swooning at their alpha’s display of affection. It’s all for show, I remind myself. He wasn’t like this two minutes ago. Don’t let yourself get carried away.
“You don’t have to pretend to be romantic, I can’t imagine it’s your style.”
He doesn’t respond, just gives me a nonchalant shrug and steps back, extending a hand for me to hold while I slide my backside down off the sideboard onto my own two feet again. He stands in front of me, my hand still in his and bows ever so slightly, before slipping my hand through the crook in his elbow. My wolf rolls over on her belly, not able to get enough of this man.
It’s embarrassing how little self-respect she has.
Unlike her, I’m determined not to be taken in by his cliché moves, even if they have my heart pounding and my legs turning to jelly.
“I guess I’m about to find out.” I muse, as Dean leads me back into the ballroom which has been transformed from dinner venue to dance hall.
Dean excuses us and leads me to the now full floor, the party really having kicked off in our absence. Stunned faces and sharp tongues follow us as Dean glides through the parting crowd, his hand over mine making sure I don’t run.
“You wanted a dance; at least pretend you’re looking forward to it.” Dean taunts, bundling me up tightly in his arms as a new song begins. “Or is it the company you have a problem with?”
“I didn’t want to dance.” I argue. “I was only trying to help…”
He shuts me up with one devastatingly stern look, right before he spins me away from him with practised ease, and then back into his chest, my shoulder blades pressing to his body.
“Are you telling me you don’t enjoy my company?” His voice is husky and rough behind my ear, and I feel a slick of juices gathering between my thighs. “Strange for a wolf who’s been asking so many questions about me and my pack.”
The girls watch on, adoring him for just breathing. They have no idea the havoc he’s playing with my nerves.
“May I cut in?” A woman in a daring black dress with a cut out waist eyes Dean with undisguised lust, licking her lips as she looks him up and down. Dean continues with our dance without responding. When it’s clear he’s not going to swap me for another partner, she moves on, crestfallen at his rejection.
“Rude,” I mutter. “But no surprise there.”
Dean catches my chin and lifts my face to his.
“No ruder than interrupting me while I’m doing something important. And right now, I can’t think of anything more important than dancing with you.”
Struggling to swallow past the lump in my throat, I look away and blink hard. He doesn’t think I’m important. Nobody does. What’s important to Dean is showing the girls he’s not a psychopath like his father. That’s what he means.
“Okay, you can stop now,” I say, staring at the floor, watching our feet moving in perfect rhythm. “You don’t have to dance with me anymore. The girls are gone.”
Dean’s hold on me tightens, and instead of letting me go, he wraps one arm around my waist and tips me back, his fingers grazing my collarbone and lightly tracing a line from the base of my neck down to the top of my cleavage.
“I wouldn’t be dancing with you if I didn’t want to,” he says. His eyes flash silver and his lips part, showing a hint of long fangs. My stomach flips as I wait, no idea how this is going to play out. Finally, he sets me back on my feet, blinking hard until his eyes return to their normal smoky grey.
“It’s never a good idea to threaten an alpha, Jamie. And my beast isn’t as domesticated as most. If you push him, he’ll push back, and he’ll take what he desires. Neither of us want that.”
His warm breath caresses my cheek, and my eyes fall shut, a needy whimper passing my lips.
What is wrong with me? Everyone is watching.
It’s just a dance, my wolf argues. Except, it’s not. My soft curves press against his body, and I can feel all of him vibrating with the same need I feel. His wolf rumbles in his chest, low and full of dangerous promise, sending a zing of excitement straight between my thighs.
“Unless that is what you want.” Dean’s lips graze my jaw as he speaks, his head, oh so close to mine. “Is that what you’re here for, little rogue? To find a new alpha and a new home.”
His fingers trace a delicate pattern across my shoulder, where my mate mark would go, and up my neck. Dean’s eyes burn into my skin, and I feel his body reacting to mine. It’s too much, the feel of his hand resting gently at the small of my back, combined with the way his big body wraps around mine. I’ve never felt so lost to someone.
The music ends, and I stare up at Dean, heart pounding. I’m frozen to the spot when he dips his head down, his cheek brushing mine.
“Thank you for the dance, Jamie. And… I’m sorry.” He holds me tighter for just a split second before stepping back and bending at the waist in an exaggerated bow.
When he releases me, instead of feeling relieved, I feel bereft. I enjoyed that too much. I’m a rogue. I’ve never been to a dance, not since I was a young teen, and then, all I did was giggle in the corner and gossip about which of the boys might turn out to be ours.
This was something else entirely.
Dean walks backward before turning to weave his way through the crowd and escape once more.
The girls from earlier have their heads huddled together, whispering in delight in a far corner. But there are others, far less happy, muttering about how disgraceful it is for an alpha to be dancing with a rogue, and throwing poisonous looks my way.
“He’s so dreamy, isn’t he?” Ava muses, suddenly appearing at my side. I rest my hand on her arm to steady myself and give my head a little shake to clear the fog. “I’ve never seen him enjoy himself like that before. Maybe the games will be good for him.”
I stare after him as he disappears through the door without looking back. I’m struggling to get a handle on Dean, the only thing I can say for certain is that he’s not what I expected. I just can’t tell whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing yet.
“I've seen it all now.” Someone hisses behind me, and I’m brought back to reality with a bang. I’m a rogue. He’s an alpha. One dance doesn’t change anything.
“Does she think spreading her legs will get her through?”
Fuck, is that what everyone’s going to think? That I got in by sleeping with the event organiser. Bristling at the notion, I ball my hands into fists and make for the exit. I don’t need to be on anyone else’s radar, I just need to get through the first round.
He’ll take what he wants.
Was that a threat or a promise? I should be scared after having a dangerous alpha warn me like that. What he could take, with ease, is my life.
I should be eternally grateful to still be free, let alone be able to compete tomorrow, but I’m not. Frankly, my wolf enjoyed that way too much. She didn’t want it to end.
He’s not this nice guy, I remind myself. He’s simply trusting the qualification round tomorrow to do his dirty work for him. That way, he doesn’t look like an asshole for kicking me out. Well, he better be prepared to be seriously disappointed, because he’s not getting rid of me that easily.
Humiliation burns within me as I feel the dampness between my thighs as I walk. I’m in danger of making a fool of myself, and of losing sight of why I’m here. As I edge through the crowds gathered around the dance floor, I can hear the whispers following me.
Why is Dean dancing with her?
Who does she think she is trying to bag an alpha?
Huffing out a shaky breath, I convince myself that my reaction is obviously brought on by having the hands of any handsome man on my body, not specifically him . Not him. It’s just been too long. I’m starved of affection and reading too much into it.
On unsteady feet, I walk back into the hallway, my body jittery from adrenaline dumping into me mere minutes ago. I come to a stop outside his office, replaying what happened earlier. It takes me a moment to realise that he’s left the door open.
This feels like a trap. It’s too good to be true. I hold my breath and listen for the sound of his footsteps, but there’s nothing. Not wanting to push my luck and get caught being up to no good twice in one evening, I quickly scan the room for anything easily accessible or promising. I need clues, ones that I can preferably get without having to leave my scent all over his things. Lifting papers with a letter opener left on the edge of his table, all I see are registration forms for the event. There’s nothing here that wouldn’t belong in any office.
Groaning in disappointment, I tap my nails on the desktop and drop into Dean’s chair, before it dawns on me what’s wrong. It’s stiff and barely smells like the man himself. Without him here to flood the room with his scent, this place doesn’t carry his scent at all.
Because this isn’t really his study.
Which means he has a secret office somewhere else. And I need to find it.