* * *
The brew pub had a pretty decent take-out pizza business going so he ordered two different kinds of loaded combos and asked them to set aside a few bottles of the Diablo Lake Porter.
He jumped in the shower, changed and before he ran up the road to get the pies, he checked in on JJ to have a little chat with him about offering discounts and such to Katie Faith.
It was just his grandmother in the kitchen though, when he came through.
“Alice called over here a while back,” she told him as he bent to kiss her cheek.
He grunted. “Is Grandpa around?”
“He’ll be around when he wants to be. And he doesn’t just now.”
Jace withheld the sigh he knew she’d be annoyed by. “I’m sure he knows I’m looking for him. I’ll check again soon but I need to grab my dinner just now.”
“No one thinks you’re Darrell.”
He did sigh then. “Hard to think otherwise when half the town thinks I’m going to get Katie Faith in a family way and then dump her. I’m not him either.”
She flinched slightly, getting his point about his dad. “He wasn’t all bad, but he was weak. Some people, no matter how much they were loved and raised right, are broken.”
Jace didn’t say aloud that he’d spent his whole damned life trying to prove to people who should know better, that he was better than that. Better than the male Jace had no memories of.
But he was eternally sick and tired of carrying Josiah Dooley’s bullshit around.
“You don’t have to be stoic every minute you know.” She pointed to a chair at the table and he obeyed.
“I have a pizza order waiting,” he said to her, trying to be patient.
“Use that thing to tell one of your brothers to go get it then. I have some things to say and I won’t take no backseat to pepperoni.” She pointed at his phone.
Knowing there was no way around it, Jace texted Major, who said he was on his way to the pub anyway and would drop the food by when it was ready.
“Everything would be so much easier if you all just obeyed me like this the first time.” With a sigh, she sat across from him. “I sometimes forget that Josiah’s mistakes weigh on other people’s shoulders too.” At Jace’s surprised look she waved a hand. “What? That’s the bullseye, ain’t it?”
He really didn’t want to have this conversation. He had pleasant things to look forward to, like pizza, beer and his woman. Talking about his father was only going to make his life less pleasant and it wouldn’t change the past in any case.
“We loved Josiah. Same as we did the rest. He never seemed to settle or be still. Nothing satisfied him. You’re a Prime. He never was. Not even potentially.” She shrugged.
“Why’s everyone in my business then? A bunch of aunties show up at practice to give me stink eye and make me cart sodas to ‘em?”
“Pack business is their business.” She lowered her voice. “If you were truly like him, or like Darrell for that matter, you’d be surprised by the fact that your kiss this afternoon was as good as you getting down on one knee. But you know what you’re doing. You do everything with a reason. That’s why you’re Prime. Why you’ll be Patron soon enough. Katie Faith and that kiss mean things will change now. For everyone in this town. The question isn’t are you a womanizer layabout like Josiah. It just isn’t an issue with you.”
“Am I worthy? Is that it?” he burst out.
“I think that’s part of the question, and you and I both know it’s more important to you than anyone else. The answer for your family is that they took a long look and liked what they saw. A man ready to lead. A man ready to dig deeper roots and a stronger foundation for the future. What is it you see?” his grandmother asked him.
That was a hell of a question, wasn’t it?
“It was a point needed making,” he said, avoiding the other question. He’d wanted everyone to know Katie Faith was his. That they were together. Wanted to extend his protection to her in a way she’d accept and one that meant something to them both.
“Okay then. Since she hasn’t burned the place down, I take it she’s all right with you making your point on her lips in front of her mom and daddy?”
He cracked a smile then. “No one hit me or used magic to toss me in the street on my butt. I guess so.”
“You’re worthy, Jace. You’ve been ready and now you have someone to be ready for and with. But it’s going to be rocky awhile. I expect you know that too.”
He nodded. “Things are already unstable. It’ll come to a head, some bones will be broken, some blood will be spilled and we’ll move on. It’s how things work here and we sure aren’t moving down to Chattanooga.”
“Show some respect for your elders. Don’t make it a big deal if she sleeps over or if you sleep over there.” She gave him the stink eye.
“It’s respect for Katie Faith too.”
His grandmother beamed. “I taught you right. Okay, go. I heard your brother pull up. Katie Faith just got home too.”
She had a good ear still. The same hearing that always caught Damon sneaking out. Though never Jace because he wasn’t a dumbass like his brother.
He hugged her tight. “Thank you for the pep talk.”
She kissed his cheek and smoothed his hair back the same way she had since he could remember. “I’m your grandmamma, that’s my job.”
“I’m still looking to have a word with Grandpa so when he’s ready to be found, send him my way, please.”
“He’s eighty-four years old. He does what he wants. Go on now.” She waved him out.
He followed his nose as pepperoni and sausage guided him to his door, where Major stood, chatting with Katie Faith.
“Hi!” She turned a goofy smile his way. “Gabe made out with Lacey and then he didn’t even give her a corsage. Can you believe that guy?”
Someone’d had a few. Jace kept that to himself as he took the pies from his brother and opened his door.
“I invited him to eat pizza with us but he’s going back to the pub. Lots of women out tonight I noticed on the walk back from Aimee’s.”
“I’ll see y’all later.” Major hugged Katie Faith and ducked out.
“It was very nice of him to pick up our pizza. Is everything all right?” She tossed her bag on the floor next to his couch.
“I just got caught up in a conversation with my grandmother and rather than run out on it, I asked Major if he could grab the pizza when it was done. He was supposed to call me to see if I’d finished, but he clearly didn’t bother to wait for that.”
Jace put the pizza down and then pulled her close. “Evening, Katie Faith,” he murmured into her hair.
“Hi.” She seemed to melt against his body. This was coming home.
“Who’s Gabe?”
She laughed and told him about some reality dating show thing she watched with Aimee as they plated up the pizza, grabbed beer and he took her out his bedroom window to the roof where he’d put a blanket earlier.
“From here we can see the stars but no one but the stars can see us.”
“Sneaky. I like it.”
“How was practice?” Katie Faith asked. She didn’t go for nonchalance because she’d gotten a call from her mom telling her how many aunties showed up at practice that night and also how many single folks sniffed around too.
She figured it was better to just get it out of the way before they had sex. Because she had plans for that and they didn’t include any deep conversations about nosy elders.
His expression was adorable though. Panicked and annoyed all at once. She was going to hell for that too probably, but she loved to poke at him. Ruffle him up and make him laugh.
He had so much on his shoulders she craved easing that when she could. Also, he needed someone not to take
him so damned seriously as Jace Prime Alpha Wolf. Grr.
“I should have known you’d hear about it. I figured tomorrow first thing, but apparently this relationship of ours is the most weighty topic in the whole fucking town’s mind.”
Katie Faith snorted. “Stop. I hear you had a legion of lady fans who fed you cookies after you hauled sodas for them.”
“Carmen made her oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.”
She nodded, totally understanding. “I don’t suppose you saved me one.” He ducked his head and she gave in to her desire to give him a quick hug. “I’m joking.”
“I have a dump cake. Aunt Alice sent it home with me after practice.”
“Another reason to keep you around. You have excellent connections for baked goods on the regular.”
“The kiss this afternoon got everyone riled up,” he said.
“Like you knew it would.”
“I knew you’d figure it out soon enough,” he muttered. “You said you hated that people kept asking you. Now they won’t have to.”
He was even more handsome when he jutted his chin out defiantly. Ridiculous.
“So, you did it for me?”
“I can’t tell if I should be scared or if you actually get it.”
“You should always be scared, Jace. I’m not mad that you kissed me. If I was, I’d have told you right then instead of locking lips and hugging up on you.”
“So what’s the problem then? Everyone knows we’re together so they don’t need to talk about it all the damned time.”
“It’s cute when you’re so clueless. But right now you know exactly what’s going on.”
He nibbled on her fingertips a moment before grabbing another slice of pizza. “By kissing you today I told everyone you were mine. Is that what you mean?”
Warmth burst through her. “That’s a start. A really good one, but don’t let it go to your head. You got all riled up about the whole offer of free movie tickets. From a boy I babysat, by the way.” She rolled her eyes.
“Boy’s got taste, I’ll give him that.” He gave her a pirate’s grin. “Like all the others have been boys. Let’s get that straight.”
She shifted closer to him so she could nibble on his earlobe. He exhaled, a little shaky.
“I don’t have anything confused so there’s nothing to get straight, buster.” She grabbed his bottom lip between her teeth and tugged slowly until he moaned, relaxing, giving in to that essential need to be touched shifters came with.
“I warned you. Back in the early days, what it would be like with me.”
He got up quickly, gracefully, and hustled her back inside, closing the window once they’d brought food in.
“Better?” he asked.
“Huh?”
He was on her in two steps, sliding his body against hers as he then embraced her, rubbing his hands all over her upper body.
As if that was going to make her more coherent? She fell into his touch, the strength of his hands as he touched her.
“I saw you shiver outside. Getting cooler at night. Now that there’s a witch in my life I need to remember things like getting cold.”
“I like it when you pet me,” she confessed. “And I like it that you got jealous. I mean, you didn’t do anything I absolutely wasn’t on board with. Enthusiastically so. Now. You were reminding me of some sort of warning you gave me?”
He tugged her to his gigantic recliner, tucking her against his body. He gave off enough warmth that her muscles relaxed and she snuggled in.
“I’m not a boy. I’m not even a man. I’m a Prime. Other wolves bringing you flowers and thinking they can sniff around? For what? They don’t know you like I do. Don’t see every beautiful, wonderful, weird as hell thing about you like I do. And I don’t like it one damn bit. Not only because you’re mine so they can all fuck right off.”
She snickered as she patted his chest a few times. “I don’t like it either. But it’s not going to make any difference in the choices I make. In the one I made when I let a gorgeous werewolf I’ve been half in love with since I was seventeen kiss me and touch my boobs.”
He rumbled. A sound of contentment from deep inside his chest.
“They’re great boobs. I’m mighty glad you let me touch them.”
“Where did you hide this sense of humor back when we were teens? You just brooded all around like the hottest older boy crush ever. Frowning.”
He frowned just then and then deeper as he realized she’d seen.
“I’m well known for my wit, I’ll have you know.”
Truth was, he did have a really great, dry as a bone humor.
“You make me laugh more than anyone I’ve ever known.” He looked a little surprised at his admission, but recovered quickly. “I can’t for the life of me imagine what you and Darrell talked about. You dated him for a long time.”
Darrell had rarely laughed at her weird comments. She couldn’t poke fun at him or be lighthearted because he’d been really sensitive and who wanted to upset the person you thought you loved?
“I don’t really remember. A lot of time on what he wanted or thought. His opinions on all things, especially Darrell. Like any shifter boy I’ve ever known, he wants his parents to be proud of him. Why?”
“Just hard to imagine him being dumb enough to not see you for the treasure you are and smart enough to get your sense of humor.”
“I guess it takes a Prime to know what a goddamn national treasure I am.”
A surprised gale of laughter came from deep in his belly as he picked her up and carried her into his bedroom.
She loved the way it smelled in there. Totally him. Delicious and sexy Jace Dooley. Yes indeed.
“Get naked while I light some candles.” He set her on her feet with a kiss before turning to deal with candles he’d situated all around the room.
She whipped her sweater up and off before shucking her shoes, pants, tights and panties. The last thing, the flick that undid the snap between her breasts, she waited for his attention to land on her again.
Jace hissed as her breasts sprang free and she let the bra fall to her feet.
“You got candles for me? Or are these all purpose seduction sconces?”
“Seduction sconces? You’re not all the way right, Katie Faith. You know that.”
“Lucky you.”
He nodded slow. “Yeah. Really lucky.”
Jace had been about to get his clothes off and order her pretty little butt on the bed when she dropped to her knees and looked up at him through her lashes.
“Go on then,” he told her.
Within a few moments she’d gotten his pants opened and his cock out, licking around the crown.
He had to lock his knees to keep from falling over as a bolt of lust swept through him. His sweet, pretty, quirky witch there on her knees, her mouth wrapped around his cock as she looked up at him was the hottest thing he’d ever experienced in his entire life. He hadn’t even known it was possible to feel that sharp, dirty, dark sort of pleasure until right that moment.
He sifted her hair through his fingers before tugging her a little closer. She made a low sound, a ragged moan that seemed to wrap around his balls and squeeze slightly.
Unable to stop her, not wanting her to, he let her draw him closer and closer to climax until he was so very close he had to wrench himself away several steps.
“That wasn’t very nice. I wasn’t done.”
“Damn what you do to me when you make that face. So hungry for me.” He shoved the rest of his clothing off and was back against her, skin to skin, moments later. “I’ll always happily put my dick in that pretty mouth of yours. But right now I want to fuck you.”
He slid his hands all over her body, breathing her in, bending to kiss here and t
here, to taste or nibble.
Then he spun her so she faced the bed and using his body, bent her over. Her heart pounded so hard he easily heard. He scented her honey, knew it was all for him. Loved that.
He reared his upper body up, keeping his hips pressed to her, holding her in place. There were no words left, just sensation.
Her fingers flexed in the comforter as she thrust back against him, reminding him she was an alpha in her own right. Demanding his full attention.
He gave it to her, licking a trail down her neck and over her shoulder. Her contented sigh echoed through him.
She pressed back again. No mistaking the order to get inside her. He smiled against her neck as she reached between them to get him lined up.
He took that place where neck met shoulder, breathing her in, testing the tendon there with the edge of his teeth.
A delicate shiver passed over her as her pussy superheated around the head of his cock. One arch of his hips sent him deep as he bit, hard, holding her as he thrust hard, deep and fast.
Little earthquakes of sensation echoed through him as her inner walls clutched him. So damned hot he nearly lost his mind.
That feral part of him, the wolf, had been watching their witch, admiring her strength and ferocity. Now the wolf coveted her beauty. The earthy sensuality she emanated was irresistible.
She brought out that need to protect in both aspects of himself. The need to spoil and incite. The need to delight and satisfy. Pleasure that she was so perfect and strong.
His.
He reached around her hip, between her body and the mattress, finding her clit already slippery. At the first touch of his fingertips she gasped, body rippling around him.
She tightened impossibly more, heating, so wet and slick he was nothing but the movement of his muscles, the taste of her skin, the way her climax seemed to catch them both in a greedy fist.
He joined her, gasping as his muscles ached, as he came hard enough that he could only manage to lunge a little once they’d both gone still, dragging her along with him so they were mostly on the bed.
“Damn. You fucked me stupid,” she mumbled. “And I think you gave me a hickey.”