Mate Not Wanted (2 page)

Pierce scented fear in the air. His patience began to run thin. His tiger wanted to shift and chase Matt until he met a bloody end. Rather than lose a good assistant, Pierce moved around in his seat and focused on Matt’s words.

“What happened to my donation last month? What issues are they having?” He took a deep breath and ordered his tiger to calm down. He focused on his breathing, but his blood pressure started to rise as another stress was added to his burden. As much as he wanted to help out the hospital, he didn’t want to have to do it with some crazy costumes or by allowing women to paw at him. No price was worth that. He would just make a private donation.

Privacy was important to Pierce McKinney. Nobody knew he was a shifter. Publicly, he was just an eccentric billionaire who funded a lot of projects and gave boatloads of money to charity. The fact that he was single was a source of much gossip. Was he gay? Bi? Straight but picky? Nobody knew, and he wasn’t saying a damn thing. No one deserved to know his business but him.

Matt adjusted his glasses, took a step forward, and began to speak, still not looking at Pierce. “They invested in research that went bust. It was for the Freedman Stem Cell Cancer Project. Not enough money was sunk into the project, and then there were issues with trying to get to the trial stage. By the time they realized it, all the money that had been donated was gone and they’re not even close to getting the results they want.”

Matt sighed and shook his head. Finally, he met Pierce’s gaze, and his big brown eyes were filled with sadness and hesitation. The silent question of whether Pierce would fall on his sword, put on a penguin suit, and allow himself to be pawed at swirled in the coffee-colored depths.

“Why didn’t they tell me this when I wrote the check? I’d have given them more if it would have helped.” Pierce tried not to feel disappointed that they hadn’t trusted him. Ever since he’d moved to the town of Pines Ville, he’d strived to build a rapport with the community. He’d also made a point of putting his money into worthy charitable endeavors. He didn’t prop up pet causes. His money would go to things people truly believed in. He didn’t give to charity to get a write-off during tax season. When it came to kids, his heart melted and tiger purred.

He didn’t like the idea of the kids of the Children’s Hospital not having access to medical advancements they needed. His stomach became tight as anger surged in his heart over all the red tape in this area of medical research. Pierce himself was getting tax breaks because millionaires and billionaires had pushed for them, but kids with cancer had to go without? Irritation burned in his chest at the unfairness, threatening to bring up his lunch. He took a few large gulps of air, but it didn’t help. The burn grew to the point where his tiger wanted to rip something apart.

“They didn’t want to push their luck. You know how hesitant people have become about giving to anything charity oriented. Plus scams have been popping up using the hospital’s name. People just don’t have the money and those who do are clinging to it, so they decided to try this route.”

Matt gave a helpless shrug before he broke his gaze and looked down at his tablet. His fingers floated over the screen of his iPad as if his life depended on it.

Pierce shook his head, his disgust turning to resignation. “What do I need to do? And please tell me that it doesn’t involve me getting pawed to death.”

“Wear a tux and let the bidding begin, sir.” Matt looked up and gave him a small smile but also took another step back. “Just remember it’s for the kids, sir. I’ll even volunteer.”

Pierce appreciated the gesture, but the ladies didn’t want a rabbit shifter. They wanted a tiger in bed and they would do anything to get it. At least now they’d have to pay for it.

“Laugh all you want, but it’s for the kids—remember that.” Pierce exhaled heavily. “Fine, I’ll do it. Who else has agreed? Do we know?”

“No finalized list yet. They’re looking for more victims.” Matt gave another small, mischievous smile. “Shall I put together a list of single players?”

An evil thought occurred to Pierce. He grinned. “Yes! I’m all for helping and it’s for a good cause. Tell them I’ll have a list for them by tomorrow. Lei is definitely going to be doing this. If I have to be humiliated then my friends will have to go through it too. My poker club as well. Comb the rugby lists. See who’s available. I can’t keep track of their love lives and I really don’t want to.”

Pierce planned to go home before the game to change into jeans and a sweater. Screw the dress code. He was an owner and founder, after all. Thunder rumbled overhead and a particularly loud crack had the lights dim.

“Make sure the generators are up and running. Howell’s gonna pitch a bitch fit if they don’t work. And if the boys tear up his pitch too badly then he’s going to charge me double for reseeding things. Shite, make sure that this storm isn’t going to endanger us. If we have to postpone, we will. How are last-minute ticket sales?”

Pierce started to undo his tie and slide it across his neck, savoring the heat of the silk against his skin. He shivered. If he was getting pleasure from the simple glide of silk against his skin he really needed to get laid
.
Just for a moment, his thoughts strayed back to his problem with Madison.

“We’ve sold out, sir.” Matt grinned. “Every last seat, including the box seats. I’ve had the owner’s box set up for you with all the junk food you wanted. The chefs are irritated. They wanted to prepare healthy things.”

Pierce waved away the complaint. “Let them have their way. Junk food and healthy snacks. It’s a fucking stadium not a restaurant.”

Matt grinned. “Yes, sir.”

Pierce felt his spirits lifting. He grinned as a stroke of inspiration came to him. “The owner of the Snibston Sharks, Eddy Davis, is going to be here to discuss the Elemental Rugby League schedule. Submit team captain Mack Grant and Eddy Davis for the auction.”

Mack would kill him when he found out, but Pierce knew he would be secretly pleased to be treated like a piece of meat. Eddy, on the other hand, was hard to read.

“And make sure that we have some Stella or vodka for Mack. You know how he gets. He wants to have fun and get pissed at games, especially since he’s not playing. Poor man will be bitching about not being able to be in on the action. What does Eddy like? I’ve only had dinner with the man and all I know is he likes his steaks bloody.”

Matt pulled out his iPhone. “I’ll look it up, see what I can find. You go on home, sir. Everything will be in place when you return. Oh, Mr. Weston will be here. That’s why the chefs wanted the healthy snacks. His heart attack and all.”

Pierce perked up. “Weston? Will he be bringing his daughter with him?”

A smile tugged at Pierce’s lips at the thought of interacting with Madison. His heart contracted. Warmth filled his stomach and spread through his body. He could see her features—those dark brown eyes filled with fire and defiance. The last time they had been together, she had left the room in a huff, refusing to talk to him. Her father had suggested for the umpteenth time a possible marriage contract between her and Pierce.

A chuckle started in Pierce’s chest but he squelched it. Even when they spoke, that smooth, rich, velvety voice of hers tied him up in knots and left him hard and aching to sink into her.

Her dark-brown hair was always in a bun or held back from her face, with only tendrils framing her features. Her plump lips left him speechless while she again rebuked him or tried to argue with him about some innocuous point he’d made.

Fire always sparked when they argued. Her intelligence set his passions ablaze. He had no use for stupid, witless women. Her nostrils would flare as anger spiced the air along with a brief hint of arousal. She resisted him at every turn.

He had no use for a marriage contract. He wanted Madison to come to him willingly or not at all.

He longed to lay her bare and explore every inch of her curvy figure. She moved with confidence, without a hint of self-consciousness. She wore corsets and cinchers to show off her trim waist. Her bust was always on full display with a hint of cleavage to tantalize his imagination. He longed to spend a day with her shapely legs wrapped around his waist or taking her from behind while spanking her rounded ass. Madison was a goddess come to life, and yet she challenged him, evaded him, and made his inner predator want to chase her down—own her, claim her, fuck her senseless, and do it all over again until neither one of them could move.

Pierce loved everything about Madison. No other woman compared with her. He prayed that Frank Weston would step aside and let things unfold the way they should. As much as he would love for her to come to him because her father told her to, he doubted the victory would taste as sweet. He wanted her fire and her affection.

At her core, Madison was a fierce competitor. She was determined, intelligent, sexy without being overly aware of it, confident, and comfortable in her own skin. But beyond that she was also a caring individual. Who else would drop everything to help take care of her father when he fell ill? Who would move back home without murmuring a single complaint about how exhausting it was to take care of one’s parent? Not once had Pierce heard her say anything against it, even though he knew it was wearing on her. He had begun to notice hints of tiredness that clung to her like a scent. But still she continued living in her parents’ guest home, devoted to their care.

A true woman—giving, strong, and capable—that was his Madison.

“Sir, are you OK?” Matt asked.

Pierce shook his head. “Um, yeah. Weston. Is he bringing Madison with him?”

Matt checked his details and shook his head. “No, he’s not. Sorry, sir. Should I put in a call? Maybe snag some extra tickets for her and her friends?”

Pierce sighed and tried to fight back some disappointment. It would have been too lucky if she’d shown up with her father. Then again, she would have spent more time trying to keep the old man away from the fried food than paying Pierce any attention.

“Fine, make sure the box is stocked with everything Frank needs. I’m leaving. I’ll be back in an hour but I’m stopping by the pub to check in on business there. Everything needs to be ready when I return. Oh, and e-mail details about the dress code for the auction. I have to see if I have anything in my closet that will suit or if Sergio can make something up on the fly.”

Pierce checked on the pitch before he left the stadium. Despite the storm, everything seemed to be settled. They’d closed the stadium dome to keep out the rain, much to his disappointment, and turned on the floodlights to deal with the darkness. The teams were already practicing on opposite ends of the field. He spotted Mack in the stands with a bottle of water, watching everything, feet up against the back of the chair in front of him. Pierce laughed. He’d have a chance to see what Mack thought of the competition and get to needle him about putting him up for the auction. He approached and sank down in the seat next to him.

“Well?”

Mack ran a hand through his shoulder-length brown hair, tiny braids jangling with the movement. “Don’t know. Potential but not rugby.” He gave Pierce a teasing smile. “Too many skinny blokes running around. Bunch of ponces if you ask me.”

Pierce didn’t rise to the bait. “They knuckle down. Besides, the rugby schedule hasn’t been set. How’s your team? Good enough?”

Mack stroked the bit of stubble that stained his cheeks. “They’re all right. Hard workers. Talk a lot of bollocks but they move their arses when they’re told. They’ll do. If not, I’ll chuck the lot and start over.” He chortled at his joke.

Pierce couldn’t help but smile. “You always say that. Teammates and girlfriends. If you’re not careful they might take you seriously. I know it’s your way of pushing the team but it might not always work.”

Hopefully the warning would sink in. Last thing Pierce needed was complaints against Mack and his methods. Mack was just a captain, but coaches and owners alike listened to him. He was the son of the great god of rugby, Graham Grant. You didn’t ignore advice from the son of Graham Grant. He knew his stuff. Plus, during the off-season Mack coached the kiddies’ league for his nephew.

Then there was Mack’s mother, daughter of another rugby great. All her brothers played and became coaches, and she even managed a rugby team herself. The game ran in Mack’s blood. If only Pierce had more coaches and investors like him around for this football league, they’d have more capital to play with and less bitching from the press.

“Where’s Eddy? Is he joining you?” Pierce looked around for the mysterious coach. He wanted to get a read on the mystery man, especially about the auction.

“He’ll be here soon enough. Gotta deal with some family trouble. No worries. So this auction…Matt sent me the details. You could have called me and asked, mate. If it’s for the kiddies, of course I’d do it. So what kind of women attend these events?”

A wolfish smile curved on the werewolf’s face, showing off his bright teeth and the prominent chip in one of his canines. Heat burned in his eyes, and the faintest scent of musky arousal drifted between them.

Pierce rolled his eyes and tried not to retch. “Always on the prowl. When you get a mate I’d like to be there to watch her rip your balls off.”

Mack held up his hands. “Me, stray?” He placed a hand over his heart and tried to look hurt. “I can be loyal. I just need the right bird.”

Mack fingered the silver necklace around his throat. How could he stand to have silver so close to his skin? Even Pierce had to shudder when he thought about silver—and he was a feline shifter, born and bred.

“Look, we’ll talk about it later. I gotta go change and deal with some things. I’ll see you in a bit.” He pointed at his friend. “Stay out of trouble. I mean it. No taunting the footballers.”

Mack held up his hands again. “Me, taunt? Never.” A competitive spark lit up his eyes turning them amber in the florescent light of the stadium. “I’ll just watch and think of all the ways they fail and use that information to run
my
league properly.”