Legacy: Alexandra's Legacy Part 4

"It all happened so quickly." She sniffed, surrept.i.tiously wiping her eyes on his black T-shirt.

"I know it did, honey."

No man had called her by an endearment before, besides her father, and that didn't count. They'd called her plenty of unflattering names when she shot down their clumsy s.e.xual advances, but this was something new and unexpected.

She tried not to read too much into it. He needed her to cooperate with him so maybe he was just humoring her. She didn't think so though. It had been more of an automatic thing. Who knows, maybe he called every woman he met "honey". All she knew was it made her feel warm inside.

They stood there for a long time. Alex was content to just be in his arms, but she knew they had to leave. Reluctantly, she pushed away. The movement brushed her nipples over his chest. She bit her lip to keep from moaning aloud. What she wanted to do was strip off her sweatshirt and bra and rub her b.r.e.a.s.t.s over the hard planes of his chest.

"You okay now?" He pushed a lock of her bangs back out of her face. She'd been due to get a trim and her hair was a little unruly.

"I'm fine."

"Good." He barely had the word out when he lowered his head toward her. Her lips parted automatically and she went up on her toes to meet him. His mouth was warm as it pressed against hers. It was the lightest of touches, but it ricocheted throughout her entire body, bringing it to life.

Alex trembled, but this time it felt different. Her skin was alive with sensation. She craved more of his touch. Her body needed it. Demanded it.

Joshua, however, seemed to be in no particular hurry. He nibbled at her bottom lip, tugging at it with his teeth and then stroking it with his tongue.

Her breathing was getting quicker, shallower. Her sweatshirt and jeans were confining, uncomfortably rough against her sensitive skin. The throbbing ache began low in her belly again. She felt empty, needy. For the first time in her life, she truly wanted a man.

Not just any man, but Joshua Striker. Werewolf.

The thought frightened her even as it turned her on. She didn't know herself anymore. She was drawn to his strength, his scent, the tender way he was kissing her.

"Stop thinking," he demanded as he dropped soft b.u.t.terfly kisses on her cheeks, forehead and nose. "Just feel." His tongue slipped past her lips and into her mouth, tasting it, exploring it, mapping it. There wasn't a single spot that he didn't touch. When he stroked her tongue with his, she swayed. Gripping his shoulders for support, she shook off the sensual stupor swamping her and returned his kiss.

Their tongues tangled and entwined. Alex couldn't get enough of him. He tasted like forbidden fruit, hot and male and dangerous. Like thick, dark coffee, strong and potent. It was addictive. She stroked her hands up his thick neck, threading her fingers through his s.h.a.ggy black hair. The strands flowed over her hands like dark silk. She wanted to feel it brushing over her b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

The ache building between her thighs was too great to ignore. Hooking one leg over his thigh, she tilted her pelvis forward, not surprised when she felt a substantial bulge in the front of his jeans. Moaning, she rubbed her mound over the hard ridge, searching for relief. Cream flowed from her core, soaking her panties. The seam of her jeans pressed against her c.l.i.toris, giving her some relief. But it wasn't enough. Not nearly enough. Alex wanted his hands on her, touching her.

"Joshua," she cried as she tore her mouth away from his.

"f.u.c.k, yes," he muttered. Pushing her away from him, he reached down, grabbed the hem of her sweatshirt and tore it over her head. With a low growl, he nuzzled his way down her neck toward her b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

Alex grabbed the edge of the sink with both hands, holding on for dear life. Joshua cupped one of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, molding it in his hand. His tongue followed the edge of her bra where it sloped over the curve of her breast to the front closure. He traced his thumb over her cotton-covered nipple before covering it with his mouth and sucking hard.

She released her desperate grip on the sink and clutched his head to her chest, feeling the moist heat of his mouth through the fabric of her bra. "More," she pleaded.

The front closure of her bra popped open. Joshua removed his mouth long enough to push the fabric aside. She looked down, wanting to watch him, wanting to see everything he did. Her nipples were puckered and tight, practically begging him to taste them.

"Pretty." His voice was a seductive purr as he lapped at first one peak and then the other. Digging her fingers into his scalp, she dragged his head to one breast and tugged him close. She could feel his lips forming a smile, but she didn't care. She didn't care what he did as long as he eased the overwhelming ache inside her.

"Yes," she hissed, tilting her head back when he took her nipple into his mouth and sucked hard. She'd never felt anything like this before. Had no idea that a man sucking on her b.r.e.a.s.t.s could give her such overwhelming pleasure. As he drew on her breast, she felt an echoing pulse low in her p.u.s.s.y. It just kept growing and growing. Alex didn't know how much more she could take.

He glided his hands down her sides, following the indent of her waist before flaring over her hips. He slid them to the front and yanked at the snap of her jeans. It made a loud pop. Gripping the zipper with his fingers, he pulled the tab downward.

She thought he would touch her then and held her breath in antic.i.p.ation. Instead, he shoved her jeans down around her knees. His fingers left goose b.u.mps on her thighs as he trailed them back up to her waist. His thumbs hooked into the sides of her cotton bikini underwear, but he didn't tug them down. Instead, he teased her skin with his thumbs.

"Joshua." She sounded petulant, but she didn't care. She wanted him to ease the ache inside her.

He gave her nipple one final suck before releasing it. "What?" His tone was so incredibly gentle and caring it brought tears to her eyes.

"Do something?" she wailed.

"Anything in particular?" he teased. His eyes, so brown they were almost black, were filled with l.u.s.t, but beneath it she saw tenderness as well.

"Touch me."

"Where?"

She grabbed his hand and shoved it down the front of her panties. "Here," she gasped as his finger grazed her c.l.i.toris. "Oh, yeah," she groaned, sliding her hips forward and back so that his finger rubbed against the hard nub.

Joshua laughed as he went down on one knee in front of her. He grasped her panties in one hand, tugging them downward until they caught on her jeans. She couldn't open her legs very wide with her clothing around her knees, but it was enough.

He leaned forward, inhaling as he nuzzled her pubic hair. "Your scent is intoxicating, Alex. Like honey and spice. And you're not even in full heat yet." She could hear the wonder in his voice.

She still didn't like the whole idea of being in heat, but at this moment, she didn't care. All she wanted was to reach for the o.r.g.a.s.m that was growing inside her. She'd given them to herself, but she'd never had one that involved a man. She knew it would be different somehow. Richer. Fuller.

Alex leaned back against the sink for support, the porcelain cold against her bottom. Her fingers dug into the rim for support as she spread her legs as far as they could go.

His finger dipped just inside her slit and he withdrew it, bringing it to his mouth. His tongue darted out to lick the moisture from the tip. "Sweet." His eyes seemed to burn with some inner fire. "Your p.u.s.s.y is hot and wet and it's all for me, isn't it, Alex?"

"Yes." Of course it was for him. Did he see anyone else here?

He spread the lips of her s.e.x wide with his thumbs and dragged his tongue over her c.l.i.toris. She cried out, unable to stop herself. She could smell her own arousal wafting in the air around her and it made her hotter. She felt sensual and ripe, ready for whatever lay ahead.

The rasp of his tongue was heavenly and she pumped her hips back and forth, absorbing every single sensation. Her b.r.e.a.s.t.s swayed with every movement. The tips were still moist from his earlier attention and the cool air of the room drifted over them. The sensation of the colder air on her nipples and the heat between her legs was incredibly arousing. Her scalp tingled, her skin felt stretched tight over her frame. Every inch of her was ready, screaming for completion.

He shifted one of his hands, sliding it further down her moist, plump lips. There was no hesitation as he pressed two thick fingers into her core. He was barely inside her when she felt her inner muscles clamp down hard. Her entire body convulsed. She released her hold on the sink and grabbed Joshua instead, clinging to him for support. Fluid gushed from between her legs and she cried out at the incredible sense of release. It seemed to go on forever, but she knew it was probably less than a minute. When her legs seemed to crumple from beneath her, he caught her, holding her easily upright in his arms.

It took her a few minutes to come back to herself. She felt tired, but strangely energized at the same time. She smiled at him and he surged to his feet, planting a hard, hot kiss on her lips before releasing her. She swayed slightly as he tugged her underwear and jeans back into place and pulled the cups of her bra back over her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, hooking the front closure.

He was finished, she suddenly realized. "What about you?" Her voice was deeper than usual and she could hear the invitation in it. She wanted to see his erection, touch it and take it into her body. As if in agreement, her core tightened and released, making her moan.

He reached down and adjusted the front of his pants. "Not now. If and when I take you it will be in a safer place. I'll need hours to f.u.c.k you the way I want to, not just a few minutes."

Alex took her sweatshirt when he handed it to her, automatically pulling it on and pushing up the sleeves. "I don't understand."

He brushed his fingers through her hair. "I know, Alex. For now all you need to know is that I wanted to do that for you. You needed the release to help ease the emotional turmoil of all you'd been through." He stepped away. "Besides, you haven't met any of the eligible males from the Wolf Creek pack. You might decide you want one of them instead."

The warm glow that had enveloped her quickly dissipated to be replaced by icy anger. "Let me get this straight. You just brought me to a screaming o.r.g.a.s.m in, of all places, a public restroom, and you think I may want another guy to go to bed with me. What kind of woman do you think I am? No." She held up her hand. "Don't answer that. I think it's obvious what you think of me. In my neighborhood that kind of woman has a very unflattering name." She drew in a deep breath and picked up her leather jacket. "From now on don't do me any favors, okay?"

Not giving him time to answer, she strode toward the door, flicked the lock and yanked it open. "Are you coming?"

"I wish," he muttered under his breath.

The only indication she gave that she'd heard him was to tilt her nose in the air. Hah. He shouldn't hold his breath.

"Yeah, I'm coming." He looked as if he had plenty more to say, but she didn't care to listen.

Turning her back to him, she hurried down the hall toward the front door of the diner. She couldn't believe what she'd just done. She'd given herself body and soul to a man who'd only touched her because he thought she needed the physical release. She was absolutely mortified and embarra.s.sed, not to mention incredibly hurt. She blinked hard to rid herself of the tears that threatened. She'd shed more than enough tears this morning. He wasn't worth them.

No wonder it hadn't been a big deal to him if he f.u.c.ked her or not. He'd kept himself detached from the situation, not emotionally involved at all. She must have imagined the caring she'd seen in his eyes.

Chalk it up to experience on his part and lack thereof on hers. From now on, she'd keep her hormones contained and her s.e.xual urges to herself. There was no way she'd allow Joshua Striker another chance to humiliate her.

Chapter Five.

James downshifted, his hands smooth and steady on the gears as he brought the vintage sports car to a halt behind a bus and a truck, both of which were stopped at a traffic light. He glanced in the rearview mirror, satisfied that no one was on his tail. He tried not to think about Alex. He had to a.s.sume that Joshua would keep her safe.

He shook his head as the traffic began to move once again. Deep down in his gut he'd known that their time in Chicago was growing short. As much as he wanted to believe that his daughter was more human than wolf, he'd known that wasn't likely. He didn't like to admit that part of him was fiercely proud and glad that she was like him. That she was a werewolf.

It wouldn't be easy on her though. James was under no misconceptions about that. Even though she was being sought out as a mate, he knew that many others of his kind would look down on her, disdain her for her tainted blood. A low growl rumbled from deep in his chest. If they thought they could hurt her in any way they were in for a huge awakening. She was his daughter and he would protect her against any and all threats.

Even if that meant sending her away with another wolf.

He'd been shocked to hear of his old friend's death and to find young Joshua in his place. Well, he guessed that Joshua wasn't quite so young anymore. He'd always a.s.sumed that Joshua's older brother, Isaiah, would take his father's place, but it seemed that the younger brother had taken over that honor and burden.

His fingers tightened around the steering wheel. He couldn't regret the choices he'd made in his life. Because of them, he'd gotten Alexandra, and since the day she was born she'd been his life and his joy.

He did however regret that his friend had died while searching for him. James didn't know that he could have done anything differently. He'd been crushed after Leda's death. He'd lost all interest in pack life and the inevitable politics that went with it. All he'd wanted to do was to go off alone and lick his wounds in private. And he'd done just that.

He'd wandered for almost thirty years before he'd met Charlene. He'd been ready to move on when she'd told him she was pregnant. There had been no doubt in his mind that he was the father. While she'd been with him, she'd been faithful. He knew that for a fact. He'd have been able to smell the stench of any other male on her no matter how hard she might have tried to hide it. No, the child she'd carried was his and, from that moment forward, his life had had purpose for the first time in decades.

James followed the road to the downtown district. He was lucky that he'd just finished fixing the minor problem on the exhaust system of the Mustang this morning. Pulling into a parking garage next to an office complex, he drove to the top level and swung into an empty spot.

Turning off the ignition, he pocketed the keys and leaned back against the seat. It was hard to believe the life he'd built over the past two decades was now lost to him. He'd known that he wouldn't be able to stay here much longer, but he'd hoped for a bit more time, had wanted to leave on his own terms.

With Alex coming into her s.e.xual maturity, he'd known that he would have to return to the Wolf Creek pack in order for her to meet eligible males she might mate with. There really was no other choice. A female in heat needed a male wolf to satisfy her. She could have as many lovers as she wanted, but no human male could ever sate her s.e.xual hunger. They would bring her some relief, but she would always be left wanting, yearning for more.

It had been that way with him and Charlene. She'd filled a void in his life when he'd needed it. For that reason alone, not to mention the fact that she'd given him Alex, he would always have a soft spot for her in his heart. It didn't matter that she'd abandoned her daughter to go back to a life of drugs and prost.i.tution. Everyone had demons of their own to deal with. He was in no position to criticize.

Then there was the pesky little detail that he hadn't aged in twenty years. He couldn't have gotten away with that for much longer. Already people were beginning to talk. It was only a casual remark here and there, but it was enough for James to know that the time had come to pull up stakes and move on.

He'd allowed himself to become a bit too attached to the garage. All his memories from Alex's childhood were a.s.sociated with the place. He was sad to leave, but he better than anyone knew that life went on. He still had Alex and that was all that mattered.

Climbing out of the vehicle, he locked the door and strode away without a backward glance. When he reached street level, he ambled into the office building situated beside it.

James often wondered about people who could work in these places all day long, being told what to do by someone else. He didn't know how they did it. He couldn't imagine any other way of life except working for himself. But they were working for what they wanted, not expecting it to be handed to them for free. He could respect them for that.

He glanced at his reflection as he pulled open the large gla.s.s door. Faded jeans stained with grease and a T-shirt with a rip down the front didn't exactly help him look respectable. Ah well, he wasn't planning on staying long. His boots made no sound as he sauntered across the lobby to the security desk. The closer he got the more nervous the two men working behind the console became. He could smell their fear.

Plucking the keys out of his pocket, he laid them on the marble countertop. "These belong to Mr. Ashanti, of Ashanti Investments, tenth floor. Tell him his Mustang is running perfectly and that it's parked next door, top level, slot eight."

He didn't bother to wait for a reply, but turned and walked away. "Hey, mister," one of the guards yelled after him. James ignored him and kept going.

When he reached the street again, he took a deep breath, scenting the air. Turning left, he strolled down the sidewalk. It wasn't too busy this time of the morning. Most folks were already at work, but there were still enough people to make him uncomfortable. No matter how long he lived in the city he didn't think he'd ever get used to being surrounded by so many people. It made him edgy.

That was why he'd chosen it. Wolves didn't like crowds and cities. Too overwhelming to their highly developed senses. It was like being bombarded by sights, sounds and smells twenty-four hours a day. It was safer here for Alex so he'd learned to control his reaction to the city, reining in his ever-present desire to escape and leave it behind.

He longed to strip off his clothing and let the change wash over him. The wolf within him was restless, needing to run wild and free. He'd curtailed his wolf over the past few weeks, worried about being away from Alex for any extended period of time.

Over the years, he'd made do running in the city parks. Sometimes, he'd driven just outside the city limits where he'd allowed his wolf to take over and roam the night. The once-a-month trips beyond the city had been enough to keep the beast at bay. Barely. The thought that he wouldn't have to control that aspect of himself for much longer was one of the only good things to come out of this mess.

He sauntered down the street, ignoring the people who quickly got out of his way. He found what he was looking for a few blocks away. Pulling open the door, he stepped into the small thrift shop. An older woman with graying hair was manning the place. He nodded at her as he scanned the room.

"Can I help you find anything?" Her voice was raspy. Too many years of cigarettes if his nose was correct.

"T-shirts." He nodded again when she pointed to a rack near the back. He kept one eye on the door as he flipped through the clothing on the rack. Pulling out a chocolate brown shirt in his size, he headed back to the front of the shop. He stopped by another rack long enough to grab a faded denim shirt. Depositing them both on the counter, he waited while she rang up the total. Digging into his pocket, he pulled out enough money to cover it. The whole transaction had taken about two minutes and he was back on the street again, bag in hand.

He resumed his stroll down the sidewalk, not walking too fast or too slow, but melding with the flow of foot traffic around him. His eyes were never still, always scanning. A smile touched his lips when he found exactly what he was looking for.

Stepping into a busy restaurant, James took a deep breath. Coffee. The half of a m.u.f.fin he'd eaten this morning seemed like it was days ago. He was starving. First things first, though. He kept his head down as he headed toward the restrooms at the back.

Once inside, he took his new clothing out of the bag and laid it on the edge of the sink. He stripped off his ripped shirt and stuffed it deep into the garbage before shaking out his new T-shirt and pulling it on. Then he tugged the denim shirt on over it. He reached around to the small of his back and withdrew the gun he'd secreted there. Checking it, he returned it to its place. The metal was warm and rea.s.suring. He was just grateful that his original shirt had been baggy enough to hide the slight bulge at his back. The denim shirt gave him better coverage.

He stuffed the bag into the garbage and left the restroom. Ambling back out to the dining area, he found a quiet table in the corner. He was barely seated when a waitress hurried up with a pot of coffee in one hand and a menu in the other. He scanned the menu and ordered while she filled his mug. When she left he allowed himself to close his eyes for a moment.

Alex. Where was she? He had no idea where his little girl was. He could only hope that her own skills combined with young Striker would be enough to get them both out of the city safe and alive. His job was to get out of the city undetected and meet them at Wolf Creek. He wanted to get there ahead of them so that he could be beside Alex when she met the rest of the pack.

But first he had to clean up the mess back at the garage and get some transportation. He opened the menu, scanned it and quickly made his choice. He'd have breakfast first. Hopefully by that time their pursuers would have abandoned the area, believing they'd all run.

If there were any of them left waiting. Well, that was too bad for them. He wasn't feeling real tolerant this morning. They'd have to take their chances. He could feel his entire body start to vibrate and took a deep breath to calm himself, conjuring up what he hoped pa.s.sed for a smile when the waitress returned to take his order.

Chapter Six.

Joshua felt like driving his fist through the nearest wall. He still wasn't quite certain where things had gone wrong. One minute Alex had been soft and warm in his arms, the scent of her release filling his nostrils and making his head spin, the next she'd been angry and, if he wasn't mistaken, hurt. He normally didn't care about other people's feelings. His position as Striker didn't allow for such things. But everything was different with Alex.

Her shoulders were rigid as she marched ahead of him. She pushed open the door of the restaurant and stepped out onto the sidewalk. He followed close behind. Just because she was upset with him didn't mean he'd allow her to take chances with her safety. They couldn't forget for even a second that they were being hunted. They'd gotten lucky the first time around. Next time their pursuers would probably be more skilled.

She didn't even look back to see if he was following her. His lips twitched in spite of his worry. She certainly was a sight when she was worked up over something. Her silvery gray eyes had practically singed his skin when she'd glared at him back in the restroom. Right now he was admiring the sway of her lush bottom as she strode down the sidewalk. It was a perfect handful.