Chapter 10
10
A manda’s grandmother had always told her that there was a fine line between being a lady versus being a vixen and that a true woman knew how to play both parts when it came to getting and keeping a man.
If she was Jackson’s fated, getting him and keeping him shouldn’t be hard at all.
Then again, she was new to this whole fated mate thing.
Jackson lifted her shirt over her head, tossing it to the floor. He sprinkled her chest with soft, affectionate kisses as he unhooked her bra, cupping her breast while he drew a hard nipple into his mouth, swirling his tongue over the sensitive nub.
Most of the lovers she’d had before greedily took her in a haze of wild abandonment. She enjoyed sex the most when it was wild and raw. Only with Jackson, the way he took his time with her, caressing her with his hands, mouth, and gaze, made her want something different.
Something dangerous.
Love and marriage were ideals she hadn’t craved. Maybe someday in the future, but not now. All she cared about was her career and making her mark in the film industry. It wasn’t about fame and fortune but doing what she felt most passionate about, which had nothing to do with being born into the royal family. Acting gave her a sense of accomplishment she didn’t get anywhere else.
She threaded her fingers through his thick hair, which curled just before his shoulders. Her head tilted back, and her eyes closed.
It was hard to believe she was bound to him for all eternity. She certainly didn’t want to think about it, much less talk about it. But she knew in her soul that her heart belonged to Jackson and even if it didn’t, at this point, she’d freely give it to him. The bond she shared with him tinged her body from her fingertips to her toes like warm shower water, dousing her body with her favorite soap bubbling across her skin.
His kisses moved down her stomach, making it twitch. His fingers curled inside her leggings, rolling them over her hips, looping his index finger into her string panties, and he gently pulled her clothing to her ankles.
Kneeling in front of her, he kissed the inside of her thigh, his hands digging into the soft flesh of her ass.
She stared at him while his lips touched her everywhere except the one place that screamed for his attention. She wanted to guide his head to her, demand he take her womanhood. It wasn’t nerves that stopped her. She’d never been afraid to ask for what she needed in bed from a man. With Jackson, it was as if her body were a grand piano, and he was mastering a piece of fine music, key by glorious key.
She wanted him to explore and find the right combination that made them cry out their pleasures. It was an odd thought to have in the heat of the moment. However, she knew it was exactly what they both needed.
He slipped his fingers across her hard nub. She gasped, grabbing his shoulders. His lips brushed hers, barely putting any pressure on them. Staring into her eyes, his finger continued to glide across her, back and forth and then in a circular motion before dipping just inside, gathering her moist heat, and repeating the sensitive touch, each time rubbing a little harder and entering her a little deeper.
The muscles in her legs tensed. She couldn’t tear her gaze away from his as he brought her the most exquisite pleasure. There was no desperation in his controlled movements nor in her body’s response.
Clutching his neck as a guttural moan vibrated her throat, filling the room with the sounds of pure decadence, her hips rolled against his hand.
He smiled, kissing the side of her mouth, a couple of fingers thrusting deep, lifting her up on tiptoe. His touch was no longer light as a feather, and her body responded earnestly.
“Yes,” she moaned, tossing her head back, knowing it was pointless to try to stop the orgasm building in her stomach, making her muscles quiver.
Without any warning, he pushed back onto the bed, tossing her legs over his shoulders and driving his tongue inside.
“Oh my…” She fisted the sheets as both his hands kneaded her breasts, and his mouth made love to her like no other man had ever done before. It was soft and tender, yet wild and aggressive. He brought her so close by clamping his mouth around her. Then, just as her stomach tightened again, he lifted his mouth from her, lapping at her gently, avoiding the spot that would drive her over the edge.
He kissed the inside of her thigh as his thumb fanned over her swollen sex. With his other hand, he began to remove his clothing.
She tried to wiggle to a sitting position, but he kept pushing her back to the bed, so she gave up and watched while she caught her breath. When he lowered his pants, she gasped as his erection jaunted forward. He draped her legs over his shoulders one more time.
“Where was I?” he whispered. His hot breath was heavy on her sex, making it throb. His tongue lapped at her before diving deep.
She rolled her hips, now desperate for release. He’d teased her to the point she wasn’t beyond begging. Her legs opened wider before closing, her thighs pushing against the side of his face. Tossing her head from side to side, she moaned his name over and over, but once again, he stopped just short of bringing her to climax.
“Jackson,” she ground out, lifting her head, gasping as his fingers dove inside. He kissed her stomach, then her breasts, sucking each nipple into his mouth, letting it pop out.
Spreading her legs, he nestled his body between them, his hard shaft pressing against the very thing that made her a woman.
“Jackson, please,” she said, desperately grinding against him.
He held himself over her, his elbows on either side of her face, smiling as he lifted his hips and found home.
Home.
It was an odd thought and one that made her pause.
He cocked his head back, staring at her.
Wrapping her legs around him, digging her heels into his ass, she lifted her hips slightly. “Stop teasing me.”
“Is that what I was doing?” he said, slowly sending his hardness deep into her body. He repeated the motion, each time going faster.
And harder.
Until he pounded her, rocking their bodies on the bed. He never tore his gaze away. His chest hurled into hers as he fisted her hair, groaning against her lips.
“Oh God.” She arched her back, her climax spilling out over him. “Jackson,” she whispered, her fingernails digging into his back, drawing him in as deep as he could go.
He thrust in hard, short strokes, swelling inside her. Burying his face in her neck, he moaned out her name, and he rammed himself deep, holding himself there, throbbing inside her as another orgasm shook her body.
Allowing all his weight on top of her, he eased his motions, nibbling on her earlobe. “Amanda,” he whispered. “It’s never been like this before. You are my mate. My fated. There will never be another. I dedicate myself to you. Only you.”
She opened her mouth, but no words came out. She wasn’t even sure of what she would have said anyway. He’d made love to her like no other man had. It wasn’t just a powerful orgasm that made this experience different from the others. She knew he claimed her as his own, but even harder to take, she’d done the same thing.
He rolled off her, pulling her next to his body. She sighed, resting her head in the crook of his shoulder, her leg draped over his thighs.
“That was amazing,” she whispered.
“It certainly was.” He kissed her temple.
Gently, she ran her fingers across the center of his chest. “If that’s what fated sex is all about, sign me up for some more.”
He chuckled. “I won’t say no,” he whispered. “Only, I have a question and it might change everything.”
“What’s that?”
She tilted her head.
“Are you taking birth control?” He pressed his finger over her lips. “The thing with a wolf and claiming a mate is we tend to forget all about condoms.”
She groaned, dropping her head to his chest. “That might be a problem.”
“I was afraid of that.” He tilted her chin. “I’m sorry. And to be honest, you’ll have to shove them under my nose because for whatever reason, once we’ve mated, using them is like asking us to lower the toilet seat.”
She gasped, covering her mouth, staring at a double moon hanging low, casing a shadow in the darkness. Each moon was bright white, and it glowed in the night sky as if to show the world something new and exciting was coming.
“Are you that worried?”
“No. Well, yes. But only because of those.” She pointed toward the sliders. “They can’t mean what I think they mean?”
Jackson ripped back the covers and pressed his nose against her belly. He sniffed. “I can’t smell anything yet.”
“Excuse me?” She gave him a good shove. “I have no idea what I think about that, but don’t ever sniff me like that again.”
“First, you smell amazing. Second. If there’s a baby in there.” He pointed toward her belly. “I’ll smell it by morning. It’s a wolf thing.”
“I don’t like some wolf things and I especially don’t like that.”
“Do you want me to keep what I learn to myself?” He reached across her body and snagged his buzzing phone.
“I’ll let you know in the morning,” she mumbled.
“A missed call from Chaz. One from Trask. And even one from your father.” He waved his cell.
“I left mine out in the family room.” She tugged the covers over her body and folded her arms.
“Decker just texted. He wants me to meet him outside.” He took her chin with his thumb and forefinger. “I need to call Trask and then your dad. Do you want to come outside and check out the double moon and be part of those calls? Or do you want to stay in here?” He pressed his warm lips over her mouth.
She wanted to push him away. To resent him and everything that this represented. But she couldn’t. He was part of her skin. Part of her soul. And his heart belonged to her in a way that made them one. She couldn’t begin to understand how she’d grown to love him so deeply, but she did. “I’ll come with you,” she whispered, staring into his unwavering teal-green eyes. “How can you just accept this? Accept the two moons and what it probably means for us?” She cocked her head and narrowed her stare. “And if you say it’s a wolf thing, so help me God, I’ll make sure you don’t have sex for a month.”
“That would be horrible. For both of us.” He took her hand and placed it against the center of his chest. “I know you don’t want to hear this, but some of it is because I’m a wolf. It’s all part of my heritage. Of who I am. I feel the connection of our hearts with each beat of mine. It’s as if our souls have interlocked, layer by layer. I can’t deny that any more than you can deny that fairy dust is coming off your skin right now. Or that you’re a witch. Accepting our fates? Well, I do still struggle with the twisted way the universe has stuck us together. But I can’t fight it because doing that would mean I’d have to try to let you go and that would be worse than death.”
“Isn’t that a bit dramatic?”
“Close your eyes and picture your life without me in it. Visualize what your world might be like in a month if this hadn’t happened or even if you tried to forget me. Think about how you’d feel.”
“That’s a silly exercise.”
“Just do it.” He kissed her cheek. “No pretense. Don’t focus on fated mates or Fated Moons. Only what you thought your life might have been.”
“All right.” She rested her head on the pillow and let her lids flutter over her eyes. She thought about the movie and how that might have played out had none of this happened. Her heart squeezed and tightened. The fairy dust that flowed freely from her body turned cold, as if it staged a revolt. She did her best to ignore all that and moved into other thoughts that didn’t include Jackson.
A tear dribbled down her cheek.
She blinked open her eyes. “We shouldn’t keep my father waiting. He should be the first person we call.”
“Didn’t like how that made you feel, did you?” He eased from the bed, hiking up his jeans. Turning, he tossed her clothing on the bed. “I understand your instinct is to fight this, but I wish you wouldn’t fight me. It physically hurts my heart.”
She tugged her shirt over her head. “I’m not rejecting you. Or us. But I thought whoever I ended up with, there would be some romance involved. That we would date for months before moving in together. And definitely a long time before… I can’t even say it.”
“Yeah. I get it. I’m not sure I’m really ready for that one, either. All we can do is take this one day at a time.” He wrapped his arm around her and guided her toward the doors. He pushed them open and stepped out onto the patio.
A warm breeze kicked up, sending her hair across her face. “Wow,” she whispered. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many stars before.”
“And there’s the fact that there are two moons. That has never happened. Ever.”
“They are nothing short of spectacular.” She leaned into his strong body, resting her head on his shoulder. “If that means we’re having twins, I’m going to kill you.”
“Let’s hope it just symbolizes our union?”
“Hey, big brother,” Decker projected as he appeared in his wolf form about forty paces away. “We have company.”
“Who?” Jackson asked.
“Am I supposed to be able to hear this conversation?” Amanda asked.
“Interesting,” Decker said. “I opened the communication to her, but never expected it would work. But I’m glad it did. You should go back inside. I have chased off one photographer already. I’m sure there are more. I’m sorry I called you out here. It’s just those moons. I thought you might want a closer look.”
“Any idea who the photographer was?” Jackson asked.
“Not a clue.” Decker stuck his nose in the air and then turned. “There are two scents here that weren’t five minutes ago. One is a human, and one is…” Decker swung his head around and grunted.
“Don’t be a dick. Go deal with whatever damn human is on my property,” Jackson projected. “I deal with everything else.”
“You got it.” Decker took off running.
“What else did he smell?” Amanda tilted her chin and stared at the double moon.
“Nothing. He’s just being an asshole about the Legend of the Fated Moons.” He lifted his phone, tapping at the screen. “I’m calling your dad, even though I really need to speak with Trask, but it’s getting late.” He took her by the hand and guided her back inside.
She hadn’t wanted to leave the moons or the blanket of stars, but she didn’t want her picture taken by some asshole reporter. She climbed back into Jackson’s bed, tucking her legs under the comforter.
“Hi, Prince Albert,” Jackson said. “Oh. Yes. I can put the call on speaker.” He snuggled in next to her, setting the cell on his thigh. “Your daughter is here.”
“Hey, Dad.” She fluffed the pillow.
“Excellent interview tonight, darling,” her father said. “Even if that wacko focused on the wrong things.”
“Thanks, Daddy. Jackson thought the same thing.” Without second-guessing what she was doing, she ripped off her shirt and tossed it across the room.
Jackson groaned, covering her with the sheet.
As if her father could see.
“Jackson, would you mind giving me a moment alone with my daughter?”
“Sure. Not a problem.” Jackson pressed his lips to her temple. “I’ll be right in ? —”
“I don’t want you to leave.” She pressed her finger to her lips. “Go ahead, Dad. We’re alone.”
“Sweetheart,” her dad said. “Are you okay? I saw the Fated Moons. I know what that means. I just wanted to check on you.”
Jackson closed his eyes and stuffed his face in the pillow. “I don’t want to listen to this.”
“Too bad. I need you here.” She poked his arm, shoving him to the side and curling up in his arm. “Do you believe in the Legend of the Fated Moons?” she asked her father. “And that Jackson and I are the first pairing?”
“I do,” her father said. “Which means your sisters are the next three and their wolf mates have already imprinted on them. And what worries me about that is the same witch could have cast a spell on those wolves and we have no idea who or even where they are.”
“Tell him that most likely ? —”
“Tell him yourself.” She arched a brow. “Dad, Jackson wants to tell you something.”
“He never left the room, did he?” Her father chuckled. “What is it, son?”
Jackson cleared his throat. “If your other three daughters are part of this legend, their mates would have crossed paths with them during childhood. All of this is a ripple effect. I don’t think Amanda and I are in the clear until the witch who cast a spell on me has been apprehended. Once that happens, the next phase of the coming of the witch and wizard fairies will begin.”
“And that’s what scares me, son. You, Amanda, and my grandchild won’t be safe until all four pairings are complete.”
“Oh my God. I can’t sit here and listen to people talking about me being pregnant when we literally just had?—”
“Don’t say it, young lady,” her father interrupted.
“You brought it up.” She huffed, folding her arms across her chest, which shifted the sheet, reminding her she was naked. She tugged the covers to her chin.
Jackson groaned. “It’s late. We need to call Trask. Maybe he’ll have some insight.”
“Why don’t you let me do that,” her dad said. “Instead, you take care of my daughter.”
“Okay. I will.” Jackson tapped the screen, setting the phone aside. “Well, that was fun. Not.”
“Can you really tell if I’m with child just by smelling me?”
Jackson nodded. “Only, it’s too soon. In the morning, I’ll know.” He shimmied out of his jeans and snuggled in close.
“Being pregnant might make it difficult to make that movie,” she whispered.
“The film is the least of my concerns.”
“It was your big comeback and my shot at a breakout.”
“There will be other opportunities.” He kissed her temple. “Don’t ever forget that I’ll always be there for you. Whatever your hopes and dreams, they’re mine now too. Whatever it is you want, it’s my responsibility to help make it happen. Now close your eyes and try to get some sleep.”
She let out a long breath. “What about your dreams?”
“Babe, they belong to you now.”