Chapter Ten
Patrick pulled up in front of the mansion to find Max waiting as well. He turned off his vehicle and started up the steps.
“The doors are locked,” said Max.
“Really?” He started to the ballroom doors.
“I wouldn’t do that either. I learned where my bride got her backbone. Her mother threatened bodily harm if I didn’t leave them alone until she was done with the girls.”
“I’d like to see her take you on.” Patrick walked to his side and leaned against the hummer beside him. “What is her mom’s name anyway?”
“Angela. Her husband is Bob.”
“Thanks. I’ll probably stick with Mr. and Mrs. Braswell for now.”
The men straightened when the door opened and the two women they were waiting for came out.
“I’m sorry,” said Alicia as she pressed a kiss against Max’s cheek. “Mom is a bit of a dictator when it comes to planning a wedding. In order for her to get this done in the time allotted she needed us to get to a certain point and I fear it’s going to be like that for a while.”
“I noticed her no nonsense attitude when she wouldn’t let me in.”
“Yeah, sorry about that too. I know that doesn’t happen often.”
“Ever,” said Patrick as he wrapped an arm around Stacey and led her to his car.
Alicia laughed as she climbed into Max’s hummer.
“So how was it?” asked Patrick.
“Oh my gosh! Her mom knew exactly how to keep her on point. I wish I had been trained by Angela before I started working with Alicia. Instead I had to learn through trial and error.”
“I meant this whole wedding thing?”
“It’s a lot of fun. I have to pick a dress first. I’m not real sure why, since my dress will be actually created for me, but I guess they want to see what styles I like.” She snapped her seat belt then turned to look at him. “I never pretended to be a bride when I was a child. We don’t normally marry the way a human does, but I can see why little girls do it.”
“Good.” Patrick put the car in drive. “Look in the glove box.”
“Oh?” She popped the handle and saw a small velvet box sitting inside.
“It’s for you.”
“Okay.” But she didn’t touch it.
“Is there something wrong?”
“Um, no.” She picked the box up but didn’t open it. “No one has ever given me a gift like this before.”
“Then I want to change that right now. Go ahead and open it.”
She cracked the lid and peeked inside. When she saw what it was she opened the lid all the way. “A diamond ring?”
“An engagement ring,” he corrected.
“Right. I guess I need one of those, don’t I?”
“I’m thinking you do.” He laughed.
“It’s stunning, but I’m afraid it’s bigger than Alicia’s.” She brushed her fingers across the top of the large diamond.
“I promise it isn’t. I made sure by going to the same jeweler. It will hold its own but not outshine hers.”
“Has Max seen it?” She looked at him.
“In person? No. I wanted you to see it first, but he helped me through the process and has approved it.” Patrick pulled out into traffic.
“We just got engaged.”
“I’m a fast worker.”
***
Patrick pulled up in front of his apartment complex.
“Where are we?” asked Stacey.
“This is my apartment. Since we’re mates it only makes sense for you to see my place. That way we can chose, your place, my place or a new one we both like.”
“I thought you lived in the mansion.”
“Not me.” He turned the car off and climbed out then walked around and opened her door for her. “I do spend time there, but I need to be close to Max, so this is my main residence. My sister stays at the mansion when she’s not teaching, but her apartment is near the college while classes are in session. The house is rented out for a lot of functions so it’s better we’re not there most of the time.”
“And that doesn’t bother you?”
“That we don’t live in the mansion?” he offered her his hand. “Hell no. I couldn’t live in that monstrosity. My grandfather built that place when he first mated my grandmother. Unlike the house Max’s dad built, which was small and added to as needed, my dad took into consideration the size of my family and what would be needed if the pack came to America.”
“Was your dad Max’s dad’s second?”
“Yep.” He led her to the main door and nodded at the doorman before they entered the building. “He was exceptionally good too, but that’s why I’m good at my job. I watched him when he was at his best and at his worst. It taught me well.”
“I hate these damn things.” She followed him onto the elevator.
“I don’t know too many of us who like them. Overwhelming scents. The space is too small then you add bodies to it…” He shivered. “This is the only one I ride because it is the only one that goes to my apartment on the top floor.”
“Don’t want to climb eight flights of stairs?”
“Not really.” He turned to her and grinned. The doors of the elevator opened right then. “And this sucker is really fast.”
He led her down the hall to a door at the end.
“Is this the only apartment on the floor?”
“Um, yeah. The building belongs to my family. It used to be our factory with our headquarters on the upper floors but when we outgrew this place it sat empty. When the city started renovating this area, I converted the building to apartments, keeping the top floor for myself.” He opened the door and stepped aside so she could enter first.
“Then the elevator is for you only. I noticed that it only had two buttons.”
“True. I knew running up and down the stairs would draw attention, so I put in my own elevator. The rest of the tenants use the main elevators.”
“Ever get an uninvited visitor?”
“The door man is good at his job.” He shrugged. “I like my privacy and the people renting respect it.”
She stopped and gawked at the panoramic view. It was beautiful. The skyline filled it. Although not fully visible you could even see the stadium from the window.
“What do you think?”
“The view? Beautiful. Your apartment? Not what I expected.”
“Really? What did you expect?”
“I don’t know. A bachelor pad? Dark colors, unkept rooms? Not this clean bright space.” She walked around the large loft great room. To her right was a large kitchen with a dining area beside it that led into the living area. “I didn’t expect a gourmet kitchen. I thought I’d open your refrigerator and find a bunch of take out boxes.”
“Open my fridge.”
She looked at him for a moment before she walked to the double doors and pulled them open. She busted up laughing when she saw a bunch of plastic containers on the shelves. “Care to explain?”
“My sister is afraid I’ll starve so comes by and loads my fridge once a week.”
“Do you eat all of this?”
“Most of it. I do freeze some so it will last and you’re right, I do eat out frequently. You also know I eat at Max and Alicia’s when I can.”
He wasn’t sure what to do next, Stacey hadn’t said a lot.
“Would you like to see the rest?”
“Sure.”
He showed her the guest rooms he had before he showed her his master bedroom. Patrick wasn’t sure how she’d react to it. If she expected some sort of man-cave this was the one place she could see it.
“Wow.”
Wow indeed. Gone was his overstuffed reclining leather chair that he spent more time sleeping in than his bed. Instead there was an inviting love seat with one of the beautiful throws his company was well known for. The old comforter was gone too. In its place was a pretty flowery thing he never would have picked out, but he knew who did. “Catherine.”
“Your sister?”
“I told her you were coming over today and I think she wanted to make you feel comfortable. She also wants to meet you. The whole family does.”
“My family feels the same way.” She walked around the room. “Did you ever think you’d mate?”
“I had hoped when I was a kid, but I hadn’t met you.” He watched her as she looked around. “Why?”
“I’ve had the shadow of Dom hanging over me all my life. I never thought I’d find someone else who would want me because of him.” She turned to face him. “Then you came into my life. I always knew when you were around.”
“I know. I could smell your interest.” He took a step toward her. “That made me notice you. How beautiful you were even though you hid behind those big baggy suits and Alicia. You were so scared you wouldn’t look us in the eyes. Max and I thought you had been abused by your father or an older brother until we did some research.”
Stacey wrapped her arms around herself.
“Your father was a loving pack leader and went out of his way to help everyone. Money, time, it didn’t matter.”
“He felt guilty.”
“For taking people away from danger?” Patrick shook his head. “I think he’s a hero. He told us about Dominic and how he manipulated things so he could kill his own father. But he’s not what I want to talk about.”
She nodded as she hugged herself tighter.
“You know who else is a hero?” He took another step toward her. Patrick was now close enough to touch her. She shook her head, watching him as he reached to brush a few strands of hair out of her face. “You.”
“Me? Oh no. I’m not a hero.”
“You knew that man was after you yet when you were asked you didn’t think twice and became Alicia’s assistant to protect her.”
“I couldn’t turn my back on her. She was ‘the legend’ and we knew if the wrong person found her first we would all be in trouble.”
“And how did you know Max was the right person?”
“We did our research too. Max’s rise to power didn’t go unnoticed. My father knew his father and yours. He noticed the family resemblance. My dad knew Max was part of the legend. How, he never told me, but I know he had been researching it for years.”
“That makes sense.” He took her hand and brought her to the bed and urged her to sit down. “And you could’ve walked away once he showed up, but you didn’t.”
“Of course not. She was still in danger.”
“Spoken like a true hero.”
“I’m not a hero,” she countered.
“Oh, but you are.” He kissed her temple.
A low growl filled the air.
“Are you growling because you’re happy to be with me or because you know what I say is true?” He kissed her cheek. “I know having you here in my bedroom makes me want to growl with desire.”
“I was just doing what I was told.”
He leaned toward her, forcing her to lean back if she wanted to maintain eye contact. Patrick braced his hands on either side of her once she had lowered herself enough to feel the bed on her back. “Which makes you a hero. At least to me.”
Stacey looked up at him. “I’m not a hero. I’m a frightened woman who’s putting her trust in her mate to protect her.”
“That I promise to do.” He captured her lips with his.
***
Stacey felt the kiss deep inside. The thought of Patrick fighting Dom scared the life out of her. She knew what the man was capable of. She had been on the receiving end several times. Her thoughts scattered as he started to undress her. His touch always made her body sing. A brush of his fingers against her flesh, the heat of his mouth against her breast. She shook in anticipation as she waited. She worked on the buttons of his shirt then pulled his shirt out of his pants.
The feel of his skin against the palms of her hands thrilled her. He felt so good.
A sigh escaped her when she felt his mouth close over her nipple. His tongue brushed against the tip, making her squirm a little. She arched up, wanting more. His fingers brushed against the inside of her thighs then slipped into her folds. Gentle strokes made her breath hitch.
“Patrick, please.” She could feel him moving but had no idea what he was up to until he released her nipple and climbed back up her body.
He drove into her and a soft howl escaped her. He filled her completely. She wrapped her legs around him, making sure he wasn’t going to go anywhere. She felt his chuckle against her neck.
“Oh, baby, I’m not going anywhere.”
“God, I hope not. This feels too good for you to stop.”
“Even though I can’t seem to give you enough foreplay before I have to feel your body take me in?”
“When that’s all I want right now? Who needs foreplay?” She brushed his hair out of his eyes. “Make my body sing.”
Patrick started moving, setting a pace that they both liked. Stacey kept up with him, meeting him thrust for thrust. Need zinged through her blood. Her muscles tightened, drawing a moan from Patrick. They raced together toward their releases and they hit them close to the same time. Stacey felt her world explode as she howled her happiness. Only her mate could make her feel this way.
***
“So what have you learned?”
“There’s a wedding being planned.”
“A wedding?” He frowned. “Whose? There are no humans working for Santos.”
“We don’t know,” the voice at the other end of the call said. “All any of us could learn was that a wedding planner has been hired.”
“Perhaps Santos is giving his little human mate a wedding.” It made perfect sense.
“Why? He already has her as a mate.”
“True but what does she tell her family? Keep digging. This could all be a ruse.”
***
Stacey stood on the two-inch platform. This was going to be her first dress fitting. It took her and Alicia hours to find two dresses that complemented each other, looked elegant and fit the wearer.
“The designer doesn’t have a lot of time so you’ll be working with his assistants at first. Please remember that this is your first fitting. The dress isn’t done. And remember there are about a thousand pins in it so try not to move too much or you’ll get stuck,” said Alicia’s mom.
Stacey could only nod.
“Oh, come on, Mom. I remember how this goes. How many fittings did I go on with you? A dozen? Two?”
“I was also telling Stacey who hasn’t been through this,” Angela said.
Alicia looked over at her friend and winked. She was standing on a platform as well.
“Why are we standing on these things?” Stacey asked quietly.
“It allows the dress to lay right. The dress hasn’t been hemmed yet,” replied Alicia.
Two women came out carrying a pile of crinoline. They stopped in front of Alicia and helped her into it. Then she watched as they left then came back with a pile for her. They slipped the dress on and left the room. Next came a woman and a man, the woman worked with her as she pulled at the material on her.
“My goodness you’re thin. I’ll need to take this in more.” She took pins and slid them into different sections of the bodice. The dress was formfitting to her thighs where the crinoline started. It puffed out, starting small where her knees were and puffing further out as it went to her feet. It was beautiful but she wasn’t sure if she could move in it. “Um, how am I to function in this?”
“Oh it’s easy to move in. I promise. Once I alter it to fit better you’ll see.” The young woman spoke as the gentleman moved around her slowly.
“Right here.” He pointed to one spot where the young woman marked with a pin. “And here.” Another pin. He did that for the few minutes he stood there then he turned to Alicia and did the same thing to her dress.
Once he left she turned to Alicia. “What was that all about?”
“Have no idea. But you look stunning. Patrick will fall at your feet.”
“I don’t need him at my feet.” She shifted the dress so she could face Alicia. “I’m not sure I want to do this. It sure seems like a lot of work for a vow and a big party.”
“And if we tried to back out my mother would kill us. She’s probably been planning this since she found out she was having a girl.”
“You’re kidding.”
“Nope.” She shook her head.
Four ladies came back in and helped them undress.
“My goodness,” Stacey stared at Alicia. “That was a bit of a whirlwind.”
“I’m sure they have another appointment and need that room. I’ll make sure this won’t happen next time.”
“How do you plan on doing that?”
“Have them come to us.”
***
Max looked at the receipt that flashed across his phone. “Holy crap, what in God’s name did she buy?”
Alicia called right after that. “I just paid for the dresses.”
“I saw. That’s a small fortune.”
“I know.” He could hear the smile in her voice. “You said cost wasn’t a problem.”
“It isn’t but a little heads up the next time would be nice.”
“Wait until I pay for the food, flowers and the band.”
“You are enjoying this a little too much.”
“True, but you want to get his attention, throwing money around will do that for you.” Alicia paused for a moment. “Stacey and I are going back to the mill to have lunch. Would you and Patrick like to join us?”
“Why don’t you come to our headquarters? I’ll send the limo after you.”
“You mean the one I’ve been using for the last few hours?”
He had to laugh at that. She had thought of everything. The limo would catch attention and still keep them safe. “I’ll see you at the bistro.”
“We should be there in about twenty minutes.”
***
Alicia smiled when she spotted Max. The ever-dutiful mate was standing outside, waiting for her. She leaned up against him and offered her lips to him. “You know you don’t have to wait for me.”
He captured her mouth for a quick but heated kiss. “I know, but Patrick was delayed and if I go in there by myself my people will hover over me. You know how much I like that.”
“I do,” she laughed. Alicia turned to Stacey. “Max saw the bill.”
“The bill?”
“For our dresses.”
“Oh, I am sorry, sir. I can pay you back.”
“Stacey, please. Consider it a wedding present. Did you like the dress?”
“It’s perfect,” Alicia said. “Stacey is a bit shy about it. I guess she never dreamed of her wedding day.”
They were making small talk to wait for Patrick, but Alicia also did it in case someone was listening to them.
“Not something so extravagant.”
Alicia spotted Patrick’s car. Max placed a hand on her shoulder. “They should be ready for us. I’m going to check.”
She knew the owner knew they were there and had probably taken the few moments they stood outside to make sure they were ready for them.
“Well, looks like we’ll finish talking about the wedding a little later, then.”
Patrick walked up to them and slipped an arm around Stacey’s waist. “Miss me?”
“Very much.” She leaned into his strength. “Alicia made me try on wedding gowns today.”
“I thought women loved that.”
Max stepped back out and ushered his mate into the restaurant. Patrick and Stacey followed behind them. “Did you notice anyone hanging around?”
“Nope. The dress shop is pretty exclusive so we stepped out of the limo and into the building. If there was anyone hanging around they didn’t get to see much.”
“Not making it easy, are you?”
“If it was too easy he’d realize we’re baiting him.” The table they sat at gave them the vantage point of the door and the area outside. Alicia knew that was done on purpose. “So which one of you is going out there to talk to him.”
Max signaled the manager over and spoke to him softly. Once the manager left he spoke. “Since he is after Patrick’s mate I believe he should have the honors.”
Patrick smiled as he stood. “This should be fun.”
“What if he can pick up Stacey’s scent?”
“That’s the beauty of mating. It changes the scent of both of them. He could walk past Stacey and not know it right away because of how her scent has changed.”
“How much? No one has made any comment to me.”
“They’d have to be a werewolf to notice a difference. Humans don’t detect it.”
“Oh, he doesn’t look happy.” She watched Patrick and Dom get heated in their conversation.
“Then Patrick is having fun.”
***
Patrick stepped out the door into the warmth of the day. “Can I help you?”
“I don’t want to speak to you. Tell Max to come out here.”
“Not going to happen. I am his second and that is all you’re going to get.”
“I am alpha and above you.”
“Max is the alpha and above you.”
“I’m going to take him down, then where will you be?”
“One, that will never happen. Two, you think that just because I am Max’s second I am not an alpha?” Patrick shook his head. “Why do you want to stick to the old ways? They destroy our people. Fighting to be alpha thins out our packs. It makes us weak. Max has found a way where alpha’s can still control their packs, their businesses, they just have to bow to Max. As long as they acknowledge that he is the main alpha he protects them, helps them succeed.”
“I don’t care.”
“Doesn’t surprise me. How big is your pack now? Ten, fifteen people?” Patrick watched as his eyes widened. “Oh, don’t act so surprised. You have to know we did our research, just like you did yours. Your pack has lost more than half of its members since you took over. We have acquired most of them.”
“How many does Max have in his pack.”
“Overall? A lot more than you’d expect.”
“Tell me.”
“Not my job.” Patrick turned from him. “But understand if you persist and cause harm to any of our members, I will personally make it my job to make you pay.”
***
Max sat in his office and watched Patrick pace. “You can sit down.”
“What?” He looked at Max. “Oh, sorry. That man really pissed me off. He just doesn’t get it, Max. I even explained how you keep alphas to make all packs stronger. I mean I sugar coated it but if he had a brain in his head he would have understood what I was trying to do.”
“We’ll wait and see.” Max pointed to a chair. “He could still come around.”
“He wasn’t happy to speak to me.” Patrick sat down, only to pop back up again.
“He wanted me.”
“Very much. He said I was beneath him.” Patrick growled out the last part.
“Which is not true.”
“I know that, but to hear him say that made my blood boil. I wanted to rip him apart.” He finally sat down in a chair. “I’ve never felt this way before.”
“You have a mate now and that man wants her. Not only that but he has insulted your pack and your alpha leader. He has hit a cord deep inside you. Before you took the slurs and slanders of other werewolves and ignored it but this time it’s much closer to home. You have this drive to protect what is yours.”
“I have fought at your side how many times?” Patrick gripped the arms of the chair. “Why is this one so different?”
“Stacey. You have a mate and that makes the alpha in you that much stronger.”
***
Stacey sat in the office she didn’t want, having thoughts she didn’t want. Dom was openly following them. Did he know she was part of their pack? Did he really care?
After Patrick came back from talking to Dom he had this strange light in his eyes. His touch was possessive. It frightened her and aroused her at the same time. She wasn’t sure what would happen when he walked in the door, but she did warn her secretary that they were not to be disturbed when Patrick arrived.
Stacey wasn’t sure what to do while she waited. She tried to work on a few files but found she couldn’t concentrate on anything. Her nerves were going haywire.
His step was light, but she knew he was coming. Something deep inside alerted her. His frame filled the doorway before he stepped in and closed the door.
“Are you all right?”
“Yes, no.” Patrick ran his fingers through his hair. “When I spoke to Dom, all I saw was red. His voice grated on my nerves. His scent disgusted me. One thing echoed in my ears. I wanted him dead.”
“Patrick.” She didn’t know how to do it, but she knew she wanted to calm him. “He isn’t worth your worry.”
“I don’t want him to touch you.”
“And he won’t. I’m your mate, he can’t harm me now.”
He grabbed her and pulled her body against his. It wasn’t rough, but it was a bit forceful. Stacey knew he needed to dominate and she would let him. Patrick didn’t speak as he backed her up to her desk. With gentle hands he turned her and bent her over the desk.
Stacey felt his hands on her skirt as he pulled it up to her hips. He leaned over her and whispered in her ear.
“I’m sorry, but I need to control this.”
“You are my mate and I will always submit to you. I know you won’t harm me.”
He drove inside her and started to pound into her.
Stacey knew what drove him to this but knowing he came to her instead of tracking Dom down proved to her that she was more important than taking Dom down a peg or two. She wasn’t sure what to do. Grabbing the desk she steadied herself. The friction she felt was arousing.
Patrick whispered in her ear giving her direction and each time she did what he told her to do it increased the friction. One move had him hitting the perfect spot. Her body shook and her breath hitched. Soon she felt the beginning of her orgasm fill her. It started in the pit of her stomach, racing through her blood and taking her breath away.
This just might be her favorite position.