When Lust Rules (2 page)

A group of the younger wolves chose to join Luken when he
left. He took on most of the bachelors of Konrad’s pack, which gave him a good
start on having enough solider wolves to defend his territory. Javin had since
become his second in command. The smart-ass wolf could get on his nerves at
times, but Luken knew he was loyal to the core.

As things began to slow down, Luken found his thoughts
returning more and more to Julie. She filled his dreams and more than once he’d
awoken hard and aching to fill her. There were times he’d typed her number into
his cell and let his finger hover over the call button. He’d never been with a
human before. In fact, his kind avoided them as much as possible. Humans had a
tendency to freak out if they ever discovered what his kind was capable of. And
then there was the whole need to hold back his nature. He liked who he was and
didn’t relish the thought of having to tame his beast. But he never thought a
human female would tempt him like this. A few weeks ago when he saw her in town
walking along the sidewalk of a strip mall, he was fully ensnared once again by
her beauty. Which was how he found himself standing outside the club tonight
when she’d come out the back door.

For an hour he’d debated entering the establishment—had all
but turned around to head back to his truck when he saw her step outside. Her
sadness had laced her scent, along with her fury. The sweet lilac aroma turned
bitter, coating his tongue until he’d grimaced. Protectiveness swelled inside
him and he couldn’t stop his progress toward her.

When she’d found his form in the shadowy backdrop of the
building his own lust ramped up. Her scent changed abruptly, the bitterness
fading as a honeyed spice replaced it. She desired him.

A low growl escaped him and rumbled into the cold night air.
The bartender had interrupted them. He could tell by the look in the man’s eyes
that he thought he had some claim over Julie. Had she dated him before? Surely
she wasn’t currently involved with the burly human male. Otherwise things would
have gone down differently. Maybe it was best he’d interrupted them. Something
gave Luken the feeling one taste of Julie would never be enough. And he
shouldn’t be thinking about tasting her at all.

He pulled open the door of his truck and climbed inside. The
engine revved to life and he pulled away from the shoulder, shifting his
attention to the black asphalt. Jaw locked tight, he tried not to think of the
little blonde temptress, but memories of her stiff nipples and sensual curves
refused to leave him. It would be a long night. He reached down and adjusted
his erection in his pants. A very long night.

Luken’s office door swung open and he lifted his head to see
Javin striding inside. His dirty blond hair stuck up more than usual—a good
sign he’d been running his hand through it repeatedly. Great. Another piece of
bad news would be delivered in four…three…two…

“We have a problem. This time it’s the teens.”

Luken tossed his pen on his dark wooden desk. It skated
across the polished surface with a light scrape, landing near a pile of papers.
“What the hell have they done now?” He swore those young wolves thrived to
drive him completely insane before the year ended. He knew it was normal to
test the boundaries of their new alpha, but damn if this bunch wasn’t spirited.
At least they didn’t believe in doing anything by half.

“They got into it with another pack. Some boys of similar
age. It was over a female from the other pack.”

“Seriously? I thought you told them no chasing tail in
another den until they came of age?”

Javin cast him a duh look. “Yeah. Covered that one. But
Kendall swears the girl’s his mate.”

Luken laid his forehead on the desk. Yes, Kendall was
eighteen and while it wasn’t common for a mate bond to happen this soon, it
wasn’t unheard of. Most didn’t even find their mates ’til later in life, but
even the early ones were at least in their mid-twenties. He lifted his head and
looked at Javin. The last week had been filled with problem after problem. From
plumbing and flooding to fighting. Normally it wouldn’t bother him this much,
but he hadn’t slept in days. Every time he lay down he couldn’t keep his damn
thoughts away from Julie. It’d been a week since he’d last seen her. A week
since he’d been a breath away from tasting her sensual lips. He let loose a
growl. He could only imagine how the teen felt. This human had damn near driven
him nuts. Kendall finding his mate with all those extra teen hormones on board?
No wonder he’d gotten into a fight.

“Oh don’t start growling yet. You haven’t even heard the
best part.” Javin’s lips separated, exposing his white teeth in a smile
chock-full of sarcasm.

“Do I want to know?”

Javin plopped down in the green leather chair in front of
the desk. “Oh yeah. So the boys were in town buying supplies for a school group
project, and as they were coming home, they thought it would be such a grand
idea to walk along the border of Brock’s land.”

Luken’s jaw tightened as he thought of the other alpha. That
wolf was perpetually in a bad mood. Of course the teens would pick that wolf to
piss off. Can’t make shit easy. “And?”

“Well, to hear Kendall tell it, the world stopped and his
heart only beat for the girl who stepped out of the woods.”

Luken couldn’t stop the smile tugging at his lips as he
watched Javin grip his hands in front of his chest as he imitated a boyish
swoon. “And the fighting part comes in where?”

“Well, like I said, that was according to Kendall. Greg
filled in the blanks. The girl was walking hand in hand with another male from
her pack, who also had his buddies and a few of their teeny-bopper girlfriends
in tow.”

The smile slid from Luken’s face. “Fucking hell.”

“Yep.”

Kendall attacked them. Of course if the mate bond had formed
he wouldn’t have been able to control himself. Not when he was still so young
and had the raging hormones to boot.

Javin held his hand out. “No. Wait, it gets better.”

“I have a feeling your version of better is not the same as
mine,” Luken grumbled.

“The girl is Brock’s niece.”

“Shit.”

Javin laughed a sound that held more delirium than mirth.
“There’s more.”

“Oh hell, just get it out then.”

“The kid she was holding hands with—her so-called boyfriend—he’s
the son of Brock’s second.”

Luken shook his head in wonder. How in the hell could these
kids have landed in such a big pile of shit? “You’re kidding, right?”

Javin’s brow furrowed as he rolled his eyes. “Would I do
that? About something like this? I love how much credit you give me, but not
even I can come up with a shit storm of this magnitude. Oh. And the girl is all
of seventeen.”

Luken sighed as he leaned back in his chair. Double fuck. He
sure as hell didn’t look forward to the meeting he knew would occur. “How bad
was the damage on both sides?”

Javin lifted one arched brow. “Our boys did well.”

Luken knew that would make the meeting even rougher, but he
couldn’t help but smile in pride. His young had more than held their own.

“According to Greg, Kendall handed that boy his ass. But
then the girl ran screaming from Kendall.”

“Did Kendall give chase?” Sometimes the bond would hit the
male before the female. If he’d chased her down it could have frightened her in
a bad way. Female wolves could be touchy. Especially at that age. If her wolf
felt threatened enough it could block her susceptibility to the bond.

“No. But don’t get me wrong, he wanted to. But soldiers
showed up and things turned ugly for a few minutes.”

Luken stood abruptly. “They better not have gone after our
juveniles.” His lips pulled back as the fierce protectiveness of his wolf rose
to the front.

“Not bad. Just enough to back them off Brock’s land.”

Luken blew a frustrated breath and pushed his hand through
his hair. “Schedule a meeting with Brock. It’ll be me, you and Scott. See where
Brock prefers to meet. We can go to his den if he feels the need for us to,
although I really don’t like that idea. But since our pack trespassed we shall
concede to his wishes on the place.”

Javin stood. “On it. And if you don’t mind me asking, what
in the hell has put you in such a bad mood?”

Luken growled. “I don’t know. Maybe it has something to do
with every time I see your face there’s the highest likelihood you will be
spouting more problems.”

Javin laughed. “No. I don’t think that’s it. When was the
last time you got laid?”

“Get out.”

Javin laughed harder. “Yep. That’s it. Do you need me to
find you a woman?”

“Javin, get the fuck outta here. I don’t need your help
getting laid. Good thing too since you have to work twice as hard as most
wolves to get that way yourself.”

“Hello. There’s my shit-talkin’ friend.”

Luken gave him the finger and Javin exited the office with a
shit-eating grin on his face. But damn if his second hadn’t come close to the
real issue. Luken definitely wanted someone in a sexual way. But having Julie
in all the ways he’d imagined wasn’t any closer to a reality.

Should he seek her out again? He could most likely find her
at the bar. Damn. A few of his friends had been with a human female before.
Could he? Should he? It could get messy. No way would she be able to know what
he was. He sighed. Which was totally unfair to her and very selfish of him.
Nothing would come of their coupling except the burning lust. He wouldn’t
change her. No doubt she had a family and friends she would have to leave
behind. He wouldn’t ask that of someone.

But what if she didn’t? What if she was alone in the world
like Tyra had been? “Damn,” he whispered. Only one way to find out.

* * * * *

Julie pulled on Luken’s coat and exited the bar. His scent
still lingered on the material. She closed her eyes briefly as she inhaled. She
knew it was pathetic to still be wearing it—seeing how he hadn’t reappeared in
a week—but it made her smile when she remembered the night he’d given it to
her. It also made her horny as hell. She had vowed to herself the next time he
reappeared she wouldn’t let him escape so easily. Screw proceeding with
caution. She wanted him. And if things hadn’t been so crazy the other night she
might have gotten around to telling him.

Hell, the whole week had been crazy since she’s last seen
Luken, but thank God things were slower tonight. Good thing Rachel seemed to be
getting better at waiting tables too. She was still a klutz, but at least she functioned
for the most part.

Mark and Rachel stepped out behind her and Mark turned to
lock up. It wasn’t often they all got to leave together at closing time, but
tonight was one of those nights. She waved to them and started toward her car
as she dug inside her purse for the keys. Mark had volunteered to give Rachel a
ride home and Julie heard both doors of his truck slam with a metallic clink as
she pulled her keys from her bag. She wasn’t sure, but she was beginning to
wonder if something wasn’t going on between the two of them. She’d caught Mark
staring Rachel’s way a few times and had also seen Rachel send him a few shy
smiles.

Julie grinned at the thought. She kind of hoped they did.
Mark was a good guy and he deserved to be happy. From what she’d known of
Rachel she seemed really nice too.

Julie inserted her key into the door lock and shivered as an
eerie tingle ran down her spine. She turned, looking over her shoulder into the
dense foliage that lined the hill behind the bar. In the distance she heard
Mark’s truck rev and tires slinging tiny rocks as he left the parking lot. No
movement other than the slight breeze dancing through the trees. But damn if it
didn’t feel as if someone was watching her.

“Julie?”

She jumped, releasing a yelp as she scattered away from the
car. Strong hands caught her waist before she fell and she found herself
pressed against a warm firm body. Spicy summer nights. She focused on his face.
“Luken, you scared the crap outta me.”

He loosened his hold but kept his hands on her hips. “I’m
sorry. What were you looking at?” His gaze shifted over her head and into the
thick trees.

She glanced in the same direction, but she didn’t spot
anything wrong. She turned to face him. “Nothing…I guess I’ve watched one too
many thriller movies.”

He smiled down at her and she couldn’t stop the buzz of
awareness that raced through her belly and settled between her legs. Her
fingers flexed against the muscles of his chest. His pecs tensed and released
beneath her palm. She met his gaze.

“I see you’re wearing my jacket still.”

She pushed back slightly and unzipped it. “Is that why you
came here? Do you need it back?”

His hands went inside the jacket and he gripped her waist,
bringing her body back flush against his. “No. I came here for you.”

Her breasts pressed against his chest and immediately her
nipples hardened into tight buds, begging for his attention. It really had been
too long since she was intimate with someone. “So are things less complicated?”

His head lowered and he nipped her bottom lip. She gasped at
the erotic slide of his teeth against her sensitive skin. Her tongue traced the
slightly abused flesh, hoping he would put his lips on hers.

“No. But that doesn’t make me want you any less.”

“You really don’t know anything about me.”

He gave a sexy half laugh. “Nor do you know anything about
me, but I can tell your body doesn’t give a damn about the small details
either.”

She released a shaky breath. Her instinct was to deny his
words, but instead she took a tiny step toward him, bringing her pelvis against
his. A sigh escaped her lips as she pressed tighter to the evidence of his
body’s response. Apparently they were in accord. People had casual sex all the
time. Why couldn’t she? “This probably isn’t a good idea.”

His head lowered more and he breathed his response across
her mouth. “Terrible idea.”

Julie couldn’t hold back the moan of pleasure as his lips
met hers. His hot tongue traced the seam of her lips and she opened, allowing
him to caress the depths of her mouth. The sensual slide had her growing wet as
she gripped the back of his neck and held on tight.

Damn he could kiss. He moved quickly, spinning them until
her back met the door of her car. Teeth traced an erotic path of nibbles down
the side of her neck as he pressed his body firmly against hers. Erratic
breaths burst from her lips as his hand slid up her side and cupped her breast.
There were a million reasons she should stop him—stop this between them. Never
had she given control to her own basic needs. He squeezed her nipple and rolled
it between his finger and thumb. Sensation shot through her breast and traveled
through her body, stopping in her core with a pulsating pleasure. Selfish need
won out though. She turned her head on a whimper and sought his sensual mouth.

Her fingers speared through his long hair and he deepened
the kiss, plundering her mouth with fierce erotic strokes of his tongue. Her
panties grew wet and she ground her hips against his, wanting more.

He released her lips and rested his forehead against hers.
“Damn, Julie. I want you so bad right now. But I refuse to take you up against
a car like this. You deserve better.”

Hell, she didn’t care if it was a little animalistic to go
at it right there. Her body burned and her pussy throbbed, aching to be filled.
This should have sent up another red flag, but instead she moved in close and
grazed her teeth across his neck as he’d done to her before. His chest rumbled
as he released a low growl. The sound made her cream.

Luken nuzzled her neck as he gripped her thighs, picking her
up. She wrapped her legs around his waist and moved up and down against his
erection. Even through their jeans his large cock provided stimulus where she
wanted it. She moaned and he nipped her neck.

“Fuck. Julie, you have to stop that, or I swear I’ll fuck
you hard right here. I’m trying to do the right thing, but you are driving me
mad.” Luken pressed his nose against her neck and inhaled a deep breath.

She released a shuddering sigh as she licked his earlobe.
“Then take me to your place.”

He froze and lifted his head, turning his gaze toward the
thick cluster of trees. Julie blinked, wondering what had him throwing on the
brakes. He released his hold on her and her legs slid down the outside of his
thighs until her feet touched the pavement. The muscles wobbled slightly as she
tried to remain standing as he turned to look into the wilderness.