Mating Seduction-epub (8 page)

The next morning, Lexie woke before dawn to practice racing on Diamond, but Jackson was gone. He left a note for her on the kitchen counter, telling her breakfast was in the main lodge. Aiden had arranged for her to dine with the pack’s other females while he took Cora and her father on a tour of the ranch.

Lexie crumpled the note and threw it into the garbage can. After last night, her body tingled with pleasure. She’d dreamed erotic thoughts of Jackson making love to her. And now he wanted her dining with the pack?

He wanted to ease her into his life, getting to know his people, become familiar with their ways.

Her own people came first. No matter how many times Jackson made her come, she thought grimly, ignoring her growling stomach.

Lexie returned upstairs and retrieved her cell phone. She dialed Nikita’s private number. Her alpha answered on the first ring. “You ok?”

Just hearing her leader’s voice filled her with relief. “I’m doing good. Is everything all right there?”

“Don’t worry about us. You just take care of yourself. I’m handling everything fine.” But the evident strain in Nikita’s voice filled her with real fear. “Has Aiden said anything more about coming to our ranch to meet with me?”

“I haven’t seen him, but if he’s anything like Jackson, he won’t give up.” Lexie closed her eyes. “I’m worried, Nikita.”

“I can handle him. You worry about yourself, keep practicing for that race and don’t let Jackson distract you.” Her aunt sighed. “I hate asking this of you… it’s my fault you got into this…”

“Stop it. I want to help. I need to do this.”

Her alpha paused and said, “I packed a lot of protection in the suitcase I sent over. If the rumors are true, Jackson is like the rest of the Mitchell pack males and requires large.”

Protection? “Oh! Birth control.”

“You don’t want to risk pregnancy and Jackson trapping you into mating. But you’re smarter than that, Lexie. You’re going to get through this and race Diamond and win that purse. I have faith in you, and so does everyone else in the pack.”

Faith in her. No pressure. None at all. “Gotta run. I’ll see you in a few days.”

Thumbing off the phone, she set it down and covered her face with her sweating palms.

She had a pack already and could never join Jackson’s. Not while Nikita needed her so badly.

Jackson, with his smooth swagger, cocky charm and skillful hands, coaxing her to sinful pleasure. That wicked, knowing smile twined with such tenderness.

A lethal combination she couldn’t resist.

But for the first time since she’d joined them, her people needed her and not for being Lupine, but a talent the Skin world appreciated.

Jackson wanted her as Lupine, wanted her as his mate.

Nikita needed her as a barrel racing champion.

She knew how to be a rodeo queen, not a Lupine.

Eyes brimming, she threw the phone against the wall, wishing for once that she was neither.

Lexie was so lovely, Jackson mused.

The morning had dragged like frozen molasses. Boredom filled him as he’d ridden with the gushing Cora and her watchful father around the ranch’s sprawling pastures. Aiden had privately apologized for slapping him with the burden. Darius had left town on an “urgent personal matter.”

When Jackson finally returned to the lodge, he found out Lexie had never eaten with the pack. He’d curbed his disappointment and focused on his promise to let her race Diamond,  her favorite temptation.

Tonight he would show her a promise of another, more delicious temptation.

As he waited for Lexie to bring Diamond to the corral where he’d set up the barrels for racing later that afternoon, Jackson fingered the silver stopwatch in his right hand. Sunlight winked off the casing. The watch was a gift from a grateful rancher whose timid daughter he’d taught to ride. Sherry had been terrified of horses after a nasty spill that resulted in a broken leg. It took time, patience and lots of encouragement to coax the shy girl past her terror.

Now she was married to a horse breeder and they had a successful business.

He cherished the watch not because it was a gift, but it represented everything good and wholesome and hopeful in a world that proved uncertain and lonely.

“What the hell you grinning at, cowboy?”

Jackson whirled and saw lanky, tall Peter ambling up to the fence. “None of your business.”

“I’m here to make it my business.”

Oh shit, here we go again.
“Pick a fight with me, Peter, and you’ll be sorely disappointed. My fists are taking a rest this week.”

“Don’t want to fight. Aiden lowered the boom on me, too. I’m here to tell you to stay away from my gal.”

At Jackson’s puzzled look, Peter added in a low voice, “Cora. I’m staking my claim on her.”

Relieved laughter spilled from him. “That bitch? You can have her.”

Snarling, the other cowhand fisted his hands. “Don’t you dare insult her.”

“Sorry,” he said, meaning it, amazed at the other Lupine’s fierce protectiveness. “You’re serious about her?”

Peter’s face relaxed into a dreamy smile. “She’s so pretty and spirited, like a filly who needs a hard hand taming her. But she’s all soft inside, and when she gives that little sigh, it makes me wild.”

The Lupine had fallen head over boot heels. Jackson stuck out a palm. “Congratulations, Peter. Best of luck.”

They shook hands. “Sorry about breaking your jaw,” Jackson added.

“Sorry about the shiner.” Peter grinned and walked off, whistling.

And then Jackson forgot all about his rival as Lexie rode up on Diamond. His silly grin grew wider. Dark curls tumbled down the slope of her back, bouncing as she cantered on her mount. Her hands were graceful, the fingers long and elegant. He adored the way she held herself, so tall and straight, filled with confidence as she walked to her horse before competition.

A wide-brimmed black cowboy hat with a turquoise band sat on her head. Lexie wore a plain turquoise shirt with white cuffs. No rhinestones or sparkling sequins for this Lupine. Her jeans were faded and her boots polished and worn.

He’d never seen a more beautiful female.

He itched to run with her wolf beneath the full moon.

Lexie walked Diamond through the gate Peter held open. The other Lupine gave her a speculative look, glanced at Jackson and then closed the gate and walked off.

She patted the mare, leaning over to whisper into the horse’s ear.

Jackson clicked the stopwatch. “Go!”

Pride filled him as he watched her race. So assured and in control, she guided Diamond through the pattern, her smile wide as the Montana plains.

How he wished she’d smile like that for him.

One day. Maybe.

On a horse, Lexie was a rodeo queen. Jackson wanted her to feel the same off her mount. He’d do everything in his power to show her exactly how special she was.

He clicked the stopwatch. “Seventeen point seven seconds. You beat your own time.”

As she slid off Diamond, beaming, he added, “Maybe last night motivated you.”

He enjoyed the pink blush spreading over her sweet cheeks. His blood surged, thick and hot, as he remembered her flushed with passion, her gaze languid, her pouty lips parted in sexual satisfaction.

That was nothing, darling. Just wait until later.

“Again. But this time, don’t use the stop watch. I want to practice leaning into the turns to make them tighter.”

“You practiced this morning, after I left the cabin. I saw you at dawn going into the stables.” He watched her cheeks color. “It’s okay, Lex. I figured you wanted to see Diamond, so I left the west door open for you.”

“Thanks,” she said softly.

I’d do more for you, if you let me
, he thought, his chest suddenly tight.
I’d do anything for you for the rest of our lives, if you agreed to be my mate.

Sitting on the corral’s railing as she started racing around the barrels once more, he watched intently and scented a flood of heavy perfume wafting through the air.

“Hi, Cora,” he said, not bothering to turn around.

“How did you know it was me?” She climbed onto the railing and joined him.

Could smell you several hundred feet away
. “I have good senses.”

“And many other assets,” she said in a sultry voice.

Jackson fell silent, studying Lexie’s moves.

As they watched her lean into the turns, Cora gave a little sniff. “She’s not bad.”

“Lexie’s the best,” he said quietly. “She knows she’s good, but never brags about it.”

Another noxious smell slammed into his nostrils. Bart Baker rode up on a ranch golf cart and stopped close to the fence.

“Cora, stop lazing about and get to work.”

“I’m not lazing around, Daddy. I’m watching my rival and then I’m going to practice my timing to beat her.” She pouted. “Jackson says she’s the best.”

Bart left the golf cart and stood by the railing, watching Lexie race.

“She’s good,” he admitted. “You teach her everything she knows, Jackson? Everything you’ve been teaching my Cora?”

Sensing where this was headed, he hesitated. Last thing he wanted was Bart thinking that Jackson favored Lexie. The rancher would find an excuse to raise Big Boy’s stud fee and Aiden would be furious. He thought fast.

“Not everything. Some stuff she learned on her own. Lexie’s got a natural seat with that horse. That’s why she’s skilled.”

Cora sniffed. “She’s lucky, that’s all.”

“Sometimes it does take luck to win,” he agreed.

“You need some damn luck, Cora, then you wouldn’t be so slow. Hate paying for lessons only to see you move slower than a cow in winter,” her father said.

A wounded look crossed Cora’s face, but it vanished quickly. Feeling sorry for his pupil, Jackson aimed a look at her father. “Cora’s doing fine. She just needs a little more practice.”

Cora pouted. “Hard to find time to do that while working for Daddy”

“Lexie gets up at the crack of dawn to practice.”

“You don’t lock the stable?” Cora looked at him, frowning. “The main stable, that’s where you’re stabling Big Boy, with Diamond and the other mares not in season. And you let anyone walk in during the night?”

“Lexie’s not anyone. We keep the stable doors locked at night.” Jackson curbed his irritation. “I get up earlier than she does, and leave the west door open just for her. Your stud is perfectly safe. He’s secure, in a stall  where no one can touch him.”

Bart grunted. “Stop your caterwauling, Cora. Big Boy’s fine, and you’re trying to find excuses for yourself. You’ll practice later, and practice until you get it right. No one’s beats a Baker.  Right now I need you to work on the spreadsheets.”

As Bart walked back to the golf cart, Cora aimed Jackson a coy look. “Want to share a drink when I’m done?”

“No, thanks.” He’d rather swig back straight hemlock than drink with Cora. “Need to work a little more with Lexie.”

She lowered her voice to a vicious whisper. “That gimpy cowgirl is nothing but clumsy when she gets off her horse. I don’t understand why you like her.”

Anger tightened his chest. “I have a lot of things in common with Lexie.”

“What?”

She’s a wolf, not a she-devil like you
, he was tempted to say. Instead, he attempted diplomacy. “Why are you so interested in who I like anyway? I heard Peter is crazy about you.”

Her expression softened. “He’s very cute. And talented. He likes woodworking. He promised to make me a statue of a horse. Peter is very good with his hands.”

“Not as good as me.” Grinning, Jackson flexed his right fist.

The sullen look sure did make Cora look unattractive. She joined her father in the golf cart. Jackson didn’t turn around to wave as they drove off. There went one seasoned bitch. He wondered if she’d end up sinking her claws into Peter soon.

Jackson only wanted one female sinking her claws into his back. Lexie. And if she shifted and they mated as wolves, well, that would be fine. Mighty fine.

He grinned, wondering what Cora would think if she saw that sight.

Lexie fell from Diamond while riding back to the stables.

It wasn’t a hard fall, but the saddle slipped violently, spilling her to the ground. Lexie had fallen enough that she knew how to take a tumble.

Rubbing her bottom as she stood, she examined the saddle. A chill rushed down her spine.

Only thin threads of leather held both cinches together. She’d checked the saddle, as always, before saddling Diamond. Lexie saw faint, clean cuts near the buckles on the cinches.

Someone had sawed through the leather, just enough to cause a break after a session of rough riding.

If she’d fallen while barrel racing instead of walking Diamond back,  she would have been badly hurt. And maybe Diamond would have taken a spill as well.

Inside the barn, she stabled her horse and stowed the saddle away. Lexie was brushing down Diamond as Jackson strolled down the wide aisle.

“Want to go riding? I’d like to show you the ranch,” he asked.

“Sure. I’ll need another mount, though.” Lexie put away the brush. “By the way, I’ll have to borrow one of the ranch’s saddles.”

He nodded. “What’s wrong with yours?”

Lexie hesitated. She didn’t want to voice her suspicions. Not yet. “Cinches are a little worn.”

Jackson found her a gelding to ride and they saddled up. They cut through the south pasture, tall meadow grass bending in the cool breeze sweeping across the plains. The sun shone in the sharp blue sky as he pointed out the quiet vistas of meadow, the jagged mountains and the majestic peaks.

“There’s no place like it on earth, Lex. I’m hoping you’ll share it with me,” he told her in a quiet, assured voice.

Nikita’s warning kept pricking her conscience. How could she desert her own pack when they needed her so desperately? She couldn’t trust her feelings for Jackson.

“I can’t,” she told him.

“Just like that.” His jaw turned to granite.

“I have my reasons. Just like you need to make a contribution to your pack, I have to make one to mine. I owe them, Jackson. ”