Kellen's Tempting Mate (7 page)

Rubbing the side of his nose with his middle finger, Kellen helped Laikyn into the passenger side, before rounding the front. He raised his head as he felt a swell of power. The sun hadn’t set, yet an unholy presence was waking. “Let’s roll,” he said forcefully, tapping the top of the XV before sliding in.

As he left the underground garage, the niggling in the back of his mind didn’t abate until they hit the highway heading north. He assumed the Cordell brothers were checking up on them to make sure they made it out. He made a mental note to give them a call. The fact there were others as they called themselves meant he needed to find out more. Kellen wanted his pack to be prepared for any situation. Like Rowan had mentioned before, not everyone lived within the club. Many going off to college and finding homes away from the pack itself. Forewarned is forearmed, was his motto.

“You’re awfully quiet.” Laikyn’s elegant hand reached for his.

“Could you tell anything was different about your coworkers?” He asked, taking his eyes off the road.

Laikyn took the hair band out, sifting her fingers through the red length. He watched her mull over his words before answering. “Honestly, no. I mean they always wore so much cologne. Which clearly was to mask their shifter side. But even now, knowing they are vampires, I have no clue how we would know.”

He entwined their fingers. “I could feel a swell of power. I don’t know if I could teach you and the others how to search for it. I am going to call them and ask for their help. Surely they wouldn’t have offered if they didn’t mean it.”

“Even though I didn’t want to be the cream to their sandwich, they were great guys. I mean like the walk the little old ladies across the street, toss their jackets over puddles sort. I would almost bet my last nickel they were sincere.” She ran her thumb over his.

He didn’t smell one bit of lust for the Cordell brothers rolling off of her. “We’ll talk about it tomorrow or the next day. You tired?”

“No. You?”

Kellen could go days without a full night’s sleep. Now that Laikyn was with him, he didn’t plan to fully rest until he had her settled in his bed. Preferably after he buried himself deep within her a few times. His dick twitched in agreement.

“Not in the least,” he said.

****

L
aikyn enjoyed the easy banter she and Kellen shared on the long ride back to South Dakota. Oh, she knew once they were back on his home turf, he’d become the big bad alpha she accused him of. The anticipation zinging through her veins was a slow simmer.

They stopped in the middle of Nebraska in the city of Omaha. Laikyn got out, stretching her legs. She looked back at Syn and swore the other woman wasn’t the same as the one who’d driven her up the day before. The big dark blond man paced away from the group, his phone to his ear as he murmured to someone on the other end.

“What’s going on with them?” She pointed to Kellen’s sister Syn.

Kellen shrugged, his gaze trained on Bodhi. “He can’t get his head out of his ass.”

“Sounds like someone I know,” she murmured to herself.

She watched as the man she loved stomped over to his sister. Laikyn leaned against the side of his vehicle and waited, her legs enjoying the comfort of standing upright. A breeze blew a lock of her hair across her face, tickling her nose. Using both hands she pulled the heavy mass of hair back into a loose ponytail at the back of her head.

The feeling of being watched made her look around, but other than a few men who looked more interested in Kellen’s XV than her, she didn’t notice anyone staring at her. Marking it down as left over paranoia, she waited for the rest of the crew.

Minutes later Syn strolled up to where she stood. “I swear, my brother is going to be the reason I leave the Iron Wolves for good.”

Laikyn watched the younger woman’s lazy walk as she entered the truck stop. She wanted to eat a real meal, and not something they heated up in a microwave, but she also wanted to get back to Kellen’s place and finish what they’d started. Syn didn’t seem to feel the same way, bypassing the frozen foods, and headed into the restaurant attached.

“I swear that girl is gonna give me grey hair.” Kellen pulled Laikyn into his arms.

Looking over her shoulder, she smiled. “You’d look sexy with a little hint of silver at the temples.”

Kellen pressed his hips against her ass. “I’ll show you sexy when I get you alone. Come on, let’s see what kind of trouble my sis is trying to get into.”

Rowan and Lyric walked next to them, but she noticed Bodhi hadn’t come back to the vehicle. “Where’s Bodhi?”

The arm around her tightened for a second. “His phone seems to be blowing up, which in turn is making Syn madder than hell. Fuck, I wish he’d tell me what is going on, but all I get is ‘not your problem’, which is not like him at all.” Kellen and Rowan made sure she and Lyric were sandwiched between them at all times, making her get a warm feeling in all the right places.

“He’ll tell you when he’s ready.” Laikyn tried to reassure him. They found Syn seated at a large table, a drink in front of her.

“Syn, we want to get home sooner, rather than later.” Kellen glared.

Taking a drink before answering, Syn motioned to the spaces around her. “Let’s eat. I’m famished, and if I have to ride with that asshat, I need food.”

“You can ride with Lake and me,” Kellen growled.

“Of course I can,” Syn agreed.

Laikyn could see the storm was brewing and decided to sit down before they started an argument. Lyric clearly knowing her best friend was sliding in beside her first. The half-moon booth gave them plenty of room. Once they ordered breakfast an awkward silence descended. One that was marked by the absence of Bodhi.

The cheery waitress brought over the plates, which everyone dug into, but that eerie feeling of eyes on her had Laikyn whipping her head around.

“What’s wrong, Mon Chaton?” Kellen reached for her hand.

Cold clammy tendrils snaked through her. “I feel as though someone, or something is watching me.”

Kellen raised his head and breathed deeply.

Their plates were mostly empty, but she couldn’t eat another bite if she wanted to.

“I smell nothing aside from the food, diesel fuel, humans, and gasoline. Let’s pay the bill and get back on the road. You’ll feel better once we’re home.” He raised his hand for the check.

Laikyn thought the little twenty something looked a little too eager to touch him as she reached for his card, making her wolf want to bite. He let out a gruff laugh, his hand smoothing over her thigh under the table, tracing up the inside of her leg. Just as the waitress was coming back, Kellen turned so his back was to everyone except Laikyn.

“Mon Chaton, I can’t wait to slide my dick into your pussy. I’ve been hard as steel just thinking of the perfection that is you.” His lips covered hers, silencing any words she might have said. His fingers reached their destination at the apex of her thighs making her moan.

“If you could sign this please,” the waitress said loudly.

And just like that, her wolf calmed. Kellen didn’t look at the cute little blonde as he signed the check. His blue stare fixed directly on her, letting Laikyn know he meant every delicious word.

“Yeah, like I plan to ride in the vehicle with all that. Can I order a taxi back, or hop a plane. Hell, I bet there’s a trucker going North,” Syn muttered.

“You will ride with me, or Rowan in your vehicle. Your childish antics are over, Syn. You need to grow up and stop running away from them.” Kellen slid from the booth, holding his hand out for Laikyn.

She watched Rowan do the same for Lyric, feeling sorry for Syn. Bodhi was keeping something from all of them. Laikyn knew it had to hurt, knowing the man you wanted wasn’t being upfront with all that was going on in his life.

“Come on, Syn. You can ride with us. I’ll even ride in the back so you and your brother can sit up front and do sibling stuff.” Laikyn weaved her arm through Syn’s with one of hers, keeping Kellen connected on her other side. He’d stiffened for a brief moment, but relaxed in the next.

“You are too sweet, and way too delusional. Rowan and Lyric are at least somewhat calmed down from the mating lust after their time together. You two on the other hand, are just getting started. Nope, I’ll just go torment Bo.” Syn stood on her tiptoes and kissed her on the cheek. “Thank you for the offer, though.”

Laikyn nodded. “We only have a few more hours and then we’re home.”

Syn gave them a false smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

Bodhi reclined against Syn’s truck, a paper bag gripped in his hand. The scents of microwaved burritos wafted from the package.

“How was your snack?” Syn asked with a glare.

“I thought y’all were coming right back?” Bodhi looked at each of them.

Kellen shrugged. “We decided to eat in. Why didn’t you come inside?”

The big man stomped over to the trash and tossed his garbage away. “I didn’t realize you weren’t coming back until after I’d bought that junk and eaten a couple. Thanks for letting me know.” He swung up into the vehicle without another word.

Rowan looked from Kellen to Bodhi and back. “You didn’t do your mind talking thing with him?”

Kellen raised his middle finger. “Let’s roll. I want to be home by sunrise. My skin itches.”

Laikyn’s did too, but she didn’t think it was from lack of moisturizer. Again, she felt like someone, or something was watching her. However, she looked around the parking lot, but saw nothing out of place. The truck drivers all seemed normal. Families filled up the vehicles, or couples were busy doing the same. Still, the lingering sense that she was being followed didn’t abate until she hopped up into Kellen’s vehicle. She buckled in, and manually locked the door.

“Hey, you’re safe with me, Mon Chaton. I will kill anyone or anything that tried to harm a hair on your delectable body.” He ran a palm over her head, freeing her hair from the tie. “I love your hair down. It’s like the color of the setting sun with all its reds shining. I can’t wait to see it fanned out on my pillows.”

“You say these things just to get me to blush. Don’t you?” She bit her bottom lip.

He leaned over, taking her bottom lip into his mouth. “Well, you do it so beautifully. I just can’t help myself.”

A loud horn interrupted them.

“I seriously am going to have to kick that man’s ass,” Kellen said starting his vehicle and backing out.

––––––––

K
ellen truly did like Rowan. He was sure the other man was born a shifter, he just needed to be bitten to become one. He had absolutely no fear, or respect for him as alpha, which Kellen sort of respected. While they drove along, he reached out to Bodhi through their link, making sure he kept the others from overhearing. “
Yo, Bodhi. What’s going on?”

“Nothing, man. I just got some shit I need to deal with. I’m gonna need to scat for a couple weeks when we get back. I’ll keep in touch, but there’s some things I need to take care of.”

“Speak to me. Tell me what it is and I’ll help. You know pack is always here for one another.”

The silence that stretched was deafening.

“
It’s not pack, and I’m just gonna leave it at that.”
Bodhi’s deep growl came through the link as did his worry.

Kellen decided not to push at the moment.

“Bodhi’s gonna break your sister’s heart.” Laikyn’s observation startled him.

He wasn’t sure if she had read his thoughts, or if she was thinking out loud, or if Syn and she had talked while they’d been together. The first option disturbed him, making his next words come out harsher than he’d planned. “What do you know about it?”

Laikyn jerked as if he’d slapped her. “I know how it feels to have a man reject you.”

Seeing her cross her arms, the move one of defense, like she worried he’d reach over and grab her made his wolf howl inside him. Neither of them liked seeing their mate upset, especially when she was putting up a wall between them. Kellen wouldn’t allow her to shut down on them, even if it was his fault. He reached for one of her hands, the cold fingers startling to him.

“I’m sorry, Mon Chaton. I didn’t mean to snap at you. When I asked how you knew about Bodhi and Syn, I meant to ask if she’d talked about them. I wasn’t trying to be an ass.” He rubbed his thumb back and forth, enjoying the softness of her skin. Damn, he could just imagine what it would feel like having her palm rubbing along his shaft.

Laikyn eyed him warily. “You are an ass, though.” Her eyes lost some of their sadness.

Kellen brought their linked hands to his mouth, placing a kiss against her knuckles. “You keep talking like that, and I’ll have to punish you. You do know how I like to punish little girls, don’t you?”

Carnal heat suffused the vehicle. He could see she no longer thought of cutting him in half, but was still unsure of them. He’d have to convince her he wasn’t the big asshole she thought he was. Of course, he was the alpha, and as such his word was law. But, Kellen liked to believe he did make exceptions to every rule, and that included how he ran the pack. That didn’t mean he’d allow anyone to talk back to him without some form of punishment. He’d just make Laikyn’s a little more pleasure than pain. Something they’d both take great enjoyment from. His dick jerked in agreement.

“I haven’t been little for a long time.” She smiled, her eyes daring him.

His body wanted to show her who was in charge in the worst way possible. The only thing stopping him from pulling over, was the fact they had a vehicle with four members of his pack following behind. Otherwise, Kellen was sure he’d already have his dick buried somewhere inside Laikyn.

“Next to me you’re tiny. Now, behave or I’ll have to pull over and show you just how little you are.” He placed their entwined hands on his upper thigh, not quite touching the erection straining to get out.

The stunning creature wiggled her fingers until they were lying flat, inching her way up higher until she was touching the bulge he couldn’t hide. “Why, I do declare, Mr. Styles. Is that a pickle in your pocket? Or are you glad to see me?”