Chapter 18 Seduction
Seduction
When I woke, sunlight flooded the room. I was back in bed, tucked against Luca. He must have woken up and carried me back to bed.
Despite my strange dreams, I felt oddly hopeful. Maybe it was the mate bond, but the idea of Cade was enticing. I could imagine him stretched out on Luca’s other side, or maybe sandwiching me in the middle between them.
Smiling, I nestled down into the blankets, ignoring the hungry grumble my stomach made. Luca wasn’t kidding when he said his bed was better. It was so comfortable, I could cry. Now if it just had two wolf boys instead of one. Hopefully, soon it would.
Luca was not a morning person. He grumped as he rolled out of the bed and grabbed clothing.
“Do we have to get up?” I asked.
He scowled at me. “Your stomach was growling. It’s time for breakfast.”
“Can’t we eat in bed? I liked that.”
His eyebrow arched. “We can eat in bed but it won’t be food.”
“Luca!” I tossed his pillow at him, and he grabbed it, giving me a brilliant grin. He tossed the pillow aside and set about pulling on clothes.
I ignored him and tried to go back to sleep.
“Summer, it’s time to get dressed. Here, put these on.” He tossed a cropped t-shirt at me along with a pair of shorts that seemed way too short.
“Seriously?” I said, holding the clothes up.
“Yup! That’s what you get for being a lazy bum and not getting up to get your own clothes. I’ll gladly pick your outfits,” he said, smirking.
“Ridiculous werewolf,” I grumbled, pulling the shorts on. The pack wasn't big on underwear, and the inseam on these was so short, I was in danger of flashing my vagina if I sat with my legs spread.
“Come on, you look so gorgeous, I just want to see more of you,” he said, biting his lip. My body heated under his gaze. Shaking my head, I tugged the cut-off t-shirt on, smoothing my hands over my exposed stomach. The hollows under my ribs had begun to fill in, and I felt new muscles forming.
“I look like I don’t own clothes that fit,” I complained.
“You look incredible,” Luca said without hesitation. He caught me around the waist as I climbed off the bed, dragging me against his muscled stomach.
Feeling playful, I struggled against him, thrashing a bit until he tightened his grip. It felt incredible to be smashed up against him.
“Easy, wildcat,” Luca said as if I was a feral animal, leaning down until he could nip my earlobe. Squeaking, I twisted in his hold and narrowed my eyes at him.
“Keep looking at me like that, and I’ll decide we should just make you orgasm until Cade feels too good to be mad about anything,” he growled.
For a split second, I considered it. I wanted so much more of him. But my body felt the pull to Cade keenly, and I desperately wanted to see him too.
“Let’s go to breakfast,” I said, clearing my throat. Luca’s tongue dragged over his lip ring, his tell that he was anxious.
“You ready to see Cade?” he asked.
“Honestly, I’ve been thinking. And yeah, he’s an asshole, but I trust you. And I see how he treats you. So I’m going to give him a chance to come around.”
The biggest grin spread across his face. He buried his face against my neck, sucking at my throat. I couldn’t help but laugh. He popped up, eyes sparkling.
“Look, I know we can get him. He just has to get over himself, and I have a few ideas of how to help.”
I hesitated. “Okay. You know him better than I do.”
That grin was devastating. “Oh yeah, I do.”
Sighing, I headed into the bathroom. It took twenty minutes to do five minutes worth of teeth and hair brushing because Luca kept helping, which involved leaving hickeys on my neck and stomach where everyone would see them.
Finally, we headed downstairs. Elowen sat at the table and Archer stood in the kitchen, filling plates with waffles. Holt stood at the stove, tending the bacon sizzling in the pan.
“Perfect timing,” Elowen said, waving me over.
I squeezed Luca’s hand and let him go, joining my friend. He joined Archer in the kitchen and prepared me a plate while Elowen chatted about nothing.
Finn and Jem joined us later, and the seven of us ate together, polishing off two dozen waffles, several pounds of strawberries, and more bacon than I could count.
As the table was cleared, I leaned into Luca and asked, “No Cade?”
He shook his head. “I think he’s in his office. Do you sense anything? I’m getting nothing.”
My eyes fluttered closed and I tuned into that bond. It felt like it was burning brighter, the nearer I was to him.
“He’s stressed, worried, maybe mad. It’s hard to tell.”
“Those are all the same with him,” Luca laughed. “But he’s got to be hungry. How about we bring him some breakfast.”
With a devious smirk, Luca grabbed my hand and led me to Cade's office. I pulled back, glancing toward the kitchen. “Breakfast?”
“Do you trust me, wildcat?” Luca murmured. I nodded. “And you want to get him to accept the bond and not be such an asshole?”
“Yeah,” I said, lines forming around my eyes as I frowned at him.
“Just do what I say. I’ve got a plan.” He sounded a little too smug for my comfort, but I nodded again and allowed him to pull me into the office.
The door was cracked, and Luca pushed it open. Cade sat at his desk with his legs stretched out. His head was tipped back, showing the sharp line of his jaw under his short beard. I wanted to lick along that line and nibble at the tender skin until he lost control.
I blinked, shocked at myself. This fated mate bond was no joke.
His head rose and his brows furrowed as we stepped in and Luca closed the door behind us. Those golden brown irises flashed gold before he folded his arms over his stomach and clenched his jaw.
“You missed breakfast,” Luca said, drawing out his words obnoxiously.
Cade’s jaw ticked. “Sorry, I was busy.”
I felt Luca’s eyes on me, so I cleared my throat. “I can feel you’re stressed, through our bond.” I cringed. “Sorry.”
With a dramatic sigh, Cade’s head dropped back.
Luca’s hands gripped my waist, and he urged me closer to the desk. “There’s no hiding it. I can feel it too now. So we are here to help.”
Cade scrubbed his hand over his face. “Not necessary. Just planning a dangerous mission, no big deal.”
“Well, as your mates, we want to help you relax,” Luca said.
Cade’s eyebrows shot up and his eyes widened. “My mates?”
Luca narrowed his eyes, challenging him with a bold stare. “Yes, me and Summer. You can’t deny it. Ignoring the bond isn’t helping you.”
For a moment, Cade’s lip curled and a wave of distrust rolled through our bond, but then our connection dulled and he looked away.
When he spoke, his voice was hoarse. “Not interested. I’ve got way too much to handle right now. I don’t need a second mate.”
“Oh, you don’t?” Luca asked, cocking his head. “You don’t want to have a beautiful fated mate and your chosen mate to support you?”
Cade growled. “There’s too much at stake right now, and I still don’t trust her.” He waved a hand at me.
I tensed, ready to defend myself, but Luca stopped me with a squeeze on my hip. “I think we both know that isn’t true. You can tell she’s being honest through the bond. So now you’re just being stubborn.”
“Why are you pushing this?” Cade said, and I felt his irritation surging.
Luca stayed cool and collected. “Because you need this. You need me and you need her. That’s how fate works.”
Cade shook his head. “I’m serious, you two can enjoy yourselves, whatever. I’m not a part of it.”
Instead of arguing further, Luca slipped his fingers under the edge of my waistband, playing with the edge of the fabric.
“Alright, we will have our relationship, and when you’re ready to stop denying the mate bond, you can join in.” Luca’s voice was velvet, sending my pulse skittering.
“What are you doing?” I asked softly, turning to face him.
“Remember what I did to you earlier with my mouth?” He bushed my hair back and stroked my cheek. “Do you want to do that to me?”
My breathing stuttered. An eager heat curled through me, sending tingles between my legs. “Um, yeah,” I said, licking my lips.
“Right here, right now?” Luca whispered.
My fingers clutched his arms to steady myself. “In this room?” I didn’t say, In front of Cade? But that was obvious.
“Yes,” he growled. “He should see what he’s missing.”
My logical brain balked, but the mate bond buzzed happily. I found myself answering on impulse. “Okay, tell me what to do.”
Cade resolutely ignored us as Luca crossed the room and grabbed one edge of the sofa and tugged it forward a couple of feet, nearer to Cade’s seat. The legs dragging across the floor made a horrible scraping noise and an awkward giggle escaped me.
My fated mate ground his teeth, glaring at his laptop screen.
Luca straightened, brushing his palms together. “Come here, wildcat,” he said.
He led me to the sofa, where I knelt on the middle cushion. His hands urged me to my hands and knees, my shoulder resting against the back cushion of the sofa. My ass stuck up in the air, only a couple of feet from where Cade worked.
Luca reached around and ran his fingers over the inseam of my shorts, feeling how exposed I was. The fabric offered next to no coverage, and I knew my bare pussy was on display for my fated mate. The soft graze of Luca’s fingers had my head drop down.
He moved to the other side of the sofa, his hands gripping my chin gently and raising my attention to his soft expression.
“Good?” he asked softly. I nodded and licked my lips, eager for what would come next. He shook his head wryly, chuckling as black curls fell over his brow.
With a smirk, Luca sank on to the seat beside me, placing my face over his crotch. He angled his body toward me, spreading his legs and leaning back. The languorous pose sent heat curling through me. I wanted to make him feel good, and I could almost forget about Cade behind me.