Game on

Aurora

"Well, well."

A shiver raced down my spine at his voice, but I forced my composure—arms crossing over my chest, chin tilting high. "If it isn't my dear savior."

As I looked at him, I couldn't help but think—if he had changed his manage. His dad did seem to have enough space—would it be comfortable fucking in the backseat?

His eyes darkened, that dangerous glint flickering like a warning. "Don't get ideas, Poppet. Your dad asked me to pick you up—so get in. I've got work to do."

God! So much work left to do yet. But I'd get him eventually.

I circled to the other side and slid into the car. The scent hit me immediately—aftershave, beer, and something purely Jaxon.

It was intoxicating. Delicious. Dangerous. Made me want to dart my tongue out and taste the air around him. But no—not now.

I had to keep my shit together in order to make him lose his mind.

"You're here on vacation, yet you have work?" I muttered, fumbling with the seatbelt. Before I could stop him, he leaned in—close enough that his breath brushed my neck—and clicked it into place.

My heartbeat went wild. I was sure he could hear it. His proximity left behind smoke, cedar, and temptation.

Fuck.

I'd never been this desperate. And the worst part? He wasn't even trying.

"Alphas are never off duty," he said, voice low as the engine roared to life. "Vacation or not."

"Or maybe," I countered, arching a brow, "you're just headed to some lonely widow's house for a good fuck."

His jaw ticked. "What if I was? Doesn't seem appropriate by your standards?"

"I'm not sure I'm the right person to talk about 'appropriate.'"

I leaned in, my lips brushing close to his ear. I felt him go still. "Considering my intentions are to make you lose that infuriating calm and fuck me senseless. But you know..." I smiled, letting my voice drop, "I might have a tighter cunt than your other women. Try me and see for yourself."

His grip on the steering wheel tightened.

He didn't have to say it—I knew I'd gotten under his skin.

"You still haven't recovered, huh?" he said at last, eyes fixed on the road.

Was that asshole calling me crazy?

Well... maybe I didn't mind crazy. Or assholes. Assholes had their own kind of appeal.

"Fuck me and find out," I teased, laughing softly as I leaned back. My hand brushed against a beer bottle near him, and I reached for it—only for his fingers to wrap around my wrist, stopping me cold.

Electricity shot up my arm.

He felt it too; I saw it in his expression.

"First of all," he said, taking the bottle from my hand, "I'm not going to fuck you. Second—" he tossed the bottle out the open window "—you're not allowed to drink."

Did he just—

"How could you?!"

"It's my beer anyways."

"God, you're insufferable," I groaned. "Why didn't you give me the beer? Jaxon."

"I said no," he snapped. "You're not allowed."

"Are you crazy? I wanted that!"

"And it was mine," he shot back, "and I chose not to give it to you."

"You won't fuck me and now you won't even let me drink?"

"Exactly."

"Fuck you, Alpha!" I spat, frustration curling through my veins.

I didn't know what I wanted more—the beer... or him.

"That's exactly what you can't do."

A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he took the turn, driving like he owned the night.

Okay. He really was an ass.

"So you think I can't convince you to fuck me?" My voice dropped lower as I unclicked the seatbelt.

The sound made his gaze cut to me. "What the hell are you doing, Aurora? Put the belt on—it's—"

He didn't get to finish. I moved, slowly, deliberately, straddling his lap. The car had just enough space for it—too much, really. I wondered who else had been here before me.

The thought burned through me, sharp and sour. I wasn't the jealous type, but when it came to him? I wasn't sure anymore. Just a few hours of his arrival and he was already making me question myself and every decision of my life.

"Aurora," he growled, jaw tight. "What the fuck are—"

Again, I silenced him, pressing a soft kiss to his jaw. My hips pressed against his, and I felt his entire body go rigid. His grip on the steering wheel was so tight I heard the faint crack of the leather.

I wasn't patient.

Never had been.

And he shouldn't have challenged me.

Not until I proved my point.

I caught his jaw, my fingertips grazing the rough stubble that made my body ache in ways no man's touch ever had. Even Ryan's cock hadn't made me feel this alive.

"I'm not some naive fifteen-year-old who used to touch herself thinking about you," I whispered. His lips parted; his eyes widened. Poor man—he'd only come here for a vacation, and I was already turning it into his hell.

"I'm twenty-five now, Jaxon. I've learned things you can't imagine. How to suck cock. How to fuck. How to take what I want."

My lips brushed his ear, my voice a promise and a threat all at once.

"And what I want right now is you. So if I can't make you lose control—maybe your cock's too old to function properly."

That did it.

I saw the flicker of fury in his eyes. Men like Jaxon—wolves born from power and sin—didn't take well to being told they couldn't fuck. Especially not an Alpha who'd been told all his life that women would die just to have him.

His hand shot out, gripping the back of my neck, forcing me to meet his gaze.

"You'd better learn how to keep that mouth in check, Poppet," he said, voice rough and dark as sin. His grip tightened just enough to remind me that he could snap my neck in half if he wanted to. Some twisted part of me thrilled at the thought.

"You might be Christopher's daughter, but if my mercy runs short—you'll end up in a mess you can't handle. I'm not the gentleman I look like. I know how to discipline a woman."

"You can discipline me, but not fuck me?" I teased, smirking. "Sounds like a serious medical condition—"

His hand slid into my hair, and the car surged faster beneath us.

If he lost control for even a second, we'd die.

But fear never touched me—and Jaxon Blackwood had never feared death either.

"Careful, Poppet," he murmured, leaning close enough for his breath to burn against my neck. "I'm one step away from ruining you."

"Then do it," I whispered, my eyes locking on his. "Ruin me."

And suddenly, the car halted.

The engine growled once, then went silent.

"We're here," he said, pulling back with that damned smirk.

This son of a—

"You—" I started, raising a finger to point at him.

"Two can play the same game, can't they?" he cut in, smiling wickedly. He leaned forward, lips barely brushing mine, so close my breath hitched. His grin deepened at my reaction.

"If you want to make this difficult, Poppet, then I'll make it hell. You're twenty-five now, right? Let's deal with it like adults."

As he leaned back, waiting for me to get out, I clenched my jaw so tight it hurt.

How could this bastard stay so calm while I was losing my goddamn mind?

"Fine," I said, clearing my throat. "Let's play. But mark my words—you'll lose in the end, Alpha."

"I'll see about that, little wolf." He winked.

I opened the door, stepping out with my bag. My legs were shaky, my body throbbing with unspent heat.

Damn him.

I walked toward the house with a wet, aching need and a mind in chaos—all because of Alpha Jaxon Blackwood.

If seducing him wasn't enough, I'd have to raise the stakes.

And I already knew exactly how.