Page 32 of Elusive Mate

“Yes, and your point is?”

“You are, when you are so inclined, a very charming and seductive bastard. Besides, you haven’t asked me what happens when she fails.”

“Enlighten me,” Lucian ordered.

“God, you really do love her. You’re the surliest sonofabitch when anyone even hints you might have to live your life without her.”

“Zaiden,” he snarled.

“Right. Surly and impatient. When she succumbs to your obvious charms, she will agree to marry you and submit to your claiming.”

“She agreed to that?” Lucian said, a primal smile lifting the corners of his mouth.

“She did. She didn’t seem to think it would be an issue. As I said, given the way she responds to you and your ability to entice her, I think you’re home free. Basically, if you can finagle Zenya into some kind of compromising position where I or someone else can see you, she’ll be honor bound to her promise to become your mate.”

“And you call me deceitful and conniving?”

“Only imitating the master.”

“By the way, whatever I pay you, it isn’t enough.”

“I need you to remember that. When she finds out, she will be none too pleased with either of us, and you need to promise to protect me from her. The men that we had watching her all said she earned a black belt in krav maga and given that if I laid a hand on her, you’d kill me, I’m going to need all the protection I can get.”

“I promise this will never come back on you. Besides, once the bonding link is formed, she will have no choice but to admit she loves me, too, and she won’t care how we got there. Plus, it will be a great story to tell our children and our grandchildren.”

Zaiden looked at Lucian, a man he had known all his life—a man he would lay down his life for—the toughest, most ruthless man he’d ever known—and he laughed. Lucian arched his eyebrow at his beta.

“Who’d have thought the tough Navy SEAL, the man who challenged an alpha still in his prime and ended his life to claim one of the great white tiger clans, would be waxing rhapsodic about a future with children and grandchildren.”

“I’m expecting you to provide cousins for those kids."

“Let’s get you bonded, then we’ll worry about me. But trust me, it’ll be a race to see who becomes a father first. First one buys the other one a really expensive bottle of scotch.”

Zaiden stuck his hand out to his alpha. Lucian took it, grinning at him and saying “Done.”

They began to walk back down to the house. Zaiden elbowed Lucian. “So, what are you planning?”

“Nothing too elaborate. I’ll just stalk her relentlessly and seize the opportunity to seduce her and get her into our bed. By the time anyone knows anything compromising happened, I’ll have her marked and claimed. She’ll be putty in my hands and purring at me like an alley cat in heat.”

“Okay, how about you never say those words to me in that tone again. I have to say, I almost feel sorry for her.”

“Don’t. Remember, your sister is my fated mate, and I love her. I will take care of her, and she will be fine.”

Later that evening, dinner was served. Lucian had asked the cook to prepare something special—something he knew Zenya would enjoy. She was especially fond of Copper River salmon, and they were running. He’d sent several men to wait for the boats that would be bringing them in. There was also a choice of a parmesan risotto or scalloped potatoes, and a variety of vegetables with hummingbird cake or key lime pie for dessert.

Figuring there was no time like the present, Lucian began to implement his planned seduction. Zaiden should feel sorry for his sister. Her chances at resisting Lucian were slim to none. He laid his hand on her thigh, squeezing it lightly until he felt her shiver, arousal rolling down the link to him, the scent of it sweeter than any food they were enjoying.

They had eaten dinner and with each course he had stepped up his seduction—touches, alternating soothing purrs and deeper, more sensual rumbles down the link, whispering in her ear, nuzzling her neck. Each time, he could detect an uptick in her arousal with each gesture, word or sound. Time to up the ante.

Zenya had chosen the hummingbird cake—a dreadful name for a delicious treat. Lucian knew that she adored key lime pie. It had always been a favorite of hers. He used his fork to cut a piece of the back from the pie. Zenya’s favorite bite was the one with the most crust and whipped cream along with the key lime curd. He picked it up with one hand as the other slid from the top of her thigh to the inside, trailing up towards her sex.

Leaning in, he poked the bite of key lime pie between her lips as he whispered in a voice so low only she could hear: “I can’t wait until I can watch my cock slip between those luscious lips… both those on your face and those that even now are swelling and softening for me.”

It did not have the effect he had hoped for. Zenya bit down hard and he jerked his hand back. She pushed back from the table, standing up and toppling the chair. She took the pie plate containing the rest of the pie and turned it over his head.

“I’d rather suck the dick of a dragon than get anywhere near yours. I hate you.” She turned and addressed the room. “I hate you all and someday I will be able to turn my back on this place and on this clan and walk away—never, ever to return.”

She spun away from him and rushed out of the room.

---