Shadow of the Wolf(28)

He watched her sway to the music, her escort keeping a respectful distance between their bodies.

The lavender, high waist dress brought out the dark depths of her eyes,  the material flowing around her legs. He caught a glimpse of her toes  through her shoes, the nails painted a bright red.

"If you drool any more you'll be panting."

Chris tore his eyes away from Lana long enough to glare at Gareth. "What are you doing in here?"

"Eating. Nice spread. Remind me to kiss the bride later." Gareth popped  one of the canapés into his mouth. "Damn crystal hung straight down. It  didn't even move when I took corners. If he's here then he's blocking  even that simple a divination."                       
       
           



       

"Either that or he's not a threat to me right now."

Gareth paused, another canapé halfway to his lips. "Well. Fuck."



"Here." He took a second crystal, this one made of chocolate quartz, and handed it to his brother.

He'd asked Grammy to make it after Lana had gone to bed, tired from her  own spellcasting. "Do another check. This one's tuned to Lana."

"On it." Gareth left, but not before swiping one more canapé off of Chris's plate.

He turned his attention back towards Lana. She was laughing up at her  escort, her head thrown back, her amazing breasts threatening to spill  out of the top of her dress.

Chris was in front of the other man before he'd even realized he'd moved. "Mind if I cut in?"

The man backed away, a look of amusement on his face, his hands in the air. "She's all yours. Later, Lana."

Chris turned and pulled Lana into his arms, his eyes roaming to where he  knew his shadow mark now rested on her neck. The knowledge that she'd  finally acknowledged their mating raced through him, filling him with  happiness beyond any he'd ever known.

He pulled Lana into his arms, much tighter than the other man had held her, and began dancing.

"Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?"

"Not yet." She cupped her ear and tilted her head to the side, her expression waiting.

"You look beautiful tonight."

Her arm went around her neck. "Thank you. You don't look half bad yourself."

"I wore the Armani just for you."

Her stunned expression quickly turned to horrified laughter. "Oh no you didn't."

"What, you didn't recognize it?"

"Chris!"

"I smell your skin every time I move." She gulped, her cheeks heating.  He placed a soft kiss on her neck, loving the way her head moved just  enough to accommodate him. "I might never have it cleaned again."

"You are so bad." She leaned back, her smile soft and sultry and just a tad indulgent.

It was a look that had his heart soaring. He loved her so much he could barely breathe. "But you like me that way."

"Mmm. True." She didn't protest when his hand slid down her back to rest at the curve of her ass.

"What am I going to do with you?"

Love me. Please love me. "What would you like to do with me?"

"Could I do anything I wanted?"

He blinked. "Anything is such a broad term."

She giggled. "Could I  …  convince you to get a tattoo?"

One eyebrow rose. "A tattoo."

Her head tilted. "Yup. A tattoo."

"How many champagnes have you had?"

"Not that many. C'mon. Could I?"

"Like tattoos, do you?"

"Maybe," she drawled, drawing her finger up and down his shoulder.

He narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. If the thought of a tattoo on him  brought that kind of a flush to her cheeks, he'd definitely have to get  inked. "I suppose I could accommodate you. What would you like to see?"

"Wow. You gave in easily for a man with no ink on him."

He waited for the answer to his question.

She threw her head back. "Fine. A witch would be nice. Maybe Wendy from Casper?"

No fucking way. "A witch, yes. Wendy, no." No way was he walking around  with a cartoon witch on his  …  anything. "If I get a witch tattooed on  me, you bet your sweet ass it will be the real deal."

He already had an idea, something that would please them both and mark him unmistakably as hers.

She studied him thoughtfully. "Why do I get the feeling you might have something in mind already?"

"Because you're a very smart woman who is beginning to know me too well?"

"Good answer." Her expression turned serious. "How's the search for Cole going?"

"Nothing so far. Gareth's trying a different tack. I don't know whether  to hope we actually find the bastard or go home empty-handed."

She patted the hand that had a firm hold on her butt. "Not completely empty-handed."

He threw his head back and laughed, squeezing her ass cheek a little tighter. "Nope, not empty-handed at all."



*

"So, who's studlicious?" Kerry was grinning at her, champagne in one  hand and her hair clip in the other. Her hair had tumbled down during a  particularly enthusiastic dance with one of Kerry's young cousins, not  that Kerry seemed to mind. Now the carefully crafted curls tumbled  wildly about her face. She looked like a demented debutante.  "Studlicious, as you put it, is Chris Beckett." Lana's eyes were drawn  to Chris. He was standing in the corner of the room, talking to one of  the groomsmen, his gaze constantly tracking around the room. When he  found her, he smiled, hefting his glass to her before turning back to  his companion.                       
       
           



       

"New boyfriend?" Lana turned to find Kerry checking Chris out. "Mommy approves. What does he do for a living?"

"He's a graphics artist for Black Wolf."

"That's nice. The Armani says he makes good money. Is he packing?"

"Kerry!"

Kerry turned back to her. "What?" She glanced back at Chris, her  expression wicked. "I'd hate to think a sundae that yummy didn't have a  cherry on top."

"Let me put it to you this way, baby bear. He's juuust right."

"Really?" Kerry's head tilted to the side. "Does he have any brothers?"

She sipped from her champagne before answering. "Three."

Kerry batted her lashes. "Invite me to the next family barbeque? Please?"

"Kerry-"

"I'll pay for your next pedicure."

"Done." She wondered how the Beckett brothers would react to her brash,  outspoken friend. It would be fun finding out. Kerry was her best  friend, so they'd better get used to her.

An arm snaked around her waist. "Hey, sweetheart. Having a good time?"



Chris's deep voice washed over her. She shivered, her body heating up at  the feel of his warm body curling around hers. "Yup. You?"

A kiss landed on her neck. "It's a lot better now."

"He's good." Kerry held out her hand with a laugh. "Kerry Andrews."

"Christopher Beckett. Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too." She turned her head. "They're getting ready to throw the bouquet!" She grabbed Lana's arm. "C'mon!"

Lana allowed herself to be dragged along behind Kerry, laughing at  Kerry's enthusiasm. They took their place in line with the other single  women, eagerly waiting for Kelly to toss her bouquet. She ignored the  glare Chris was sending her way, stretching her arms up and screeching  with the other girls when the flowers flew overhead.

They landed in Lana's arms with a thump. She clutched them to her chest,  startled; she'd intended to direct them Kerry's way. Oops.

"Darn it." Kerry pouted briefly before grinning. "Looks like Chris might  be the one after all, you lucky, lucky girl." Kerry rubbed her hands  together and backed away from the dance floor. "Let's see who gets the  garter."



*

Christopher stood in line with the other single men, determined that not  one of them would claim the prize and touch Lana's sweet flesh. He had  every intention of using maiming tactics if he had to. From the smirk on  Annabelle's face he had a pretty good idea how Lana had gotten the  bouquet so easily. If anyone could manipulate thrown flowers without  causing a ripple in the magical stream, it would be Annabelle.

He figured she planned on making sure he got the garter. He was all for helping her along on that plan.

The garter was tossed, and Christopher jumped, snagging it in midair.  From the shocked look on everyone's faces he might have been a smidge  too enthusiastic, but what the hell.

He led Lana over to the seat and slid her shoe off, stroking her instep  with his finger. She wiggled and jerked, glaring at him, daring him to  do it again.

Mm. Ticklish spot. I'll have to remember that for later.

Ignoring the raucous calls of the crowd and the sexy teasing of the DJ,  he placed her foot on his knee. Sliding the garter slowly up her leg,  savoring the soft feel of her skin, he watched her, his gaze tangling  with hers, keeping her focused only on him and what his hands were  doing. Her face flushed darker and darker the farther up her leg he got.  He slid it up to mid-thigh and stopped. Her breathing hitched, and she  gulped. His fingers flexed on her soft skin, reminding her of what his  touch could do to her.