24: Bested

**Lucien**

There were three things I promised never to do to Tristan unless I was absolutely certain I was in love with her and not Jasmine- kiss her, mate her and, most importantly, mark her. However, the second she mentioned the possibility of having feelings for my brother, all hopes of keeping my behaviour according to my promises was completely shattered. I would make her *mine*. And the reason was simple. It had nothing to do with me loving the woman, Goddess knew I was only now beginning to take a certain liking to her. Instead, it hung on the fact that Damon had already taken something I loved, and I didn't intend on letting Tristan become another person he snatched away from me. Instead, I'd keep her as mine.

I half expected Tristan to resist as she always had. It was always quite exciting when she did. Both of us knew she was more than capable of overpowering me if she truly tried, but she kept herself hidden, almost as though she didn't want to use that dormant and mysterious, she-wolf part of herself. Perhaps it was because I was (obviously) the world's Greatest Seducer. Perhaps it was because we were mates. Or perhaps, it was something else...

Nonetheless, I found myself about to sink my teeth into her throbbing neck. My mouth salivated hungrily, and my fingers shook in anticipation within me. The beast within wouldn't be tamed... at least, that was what I thought. The whole ordeal was put to a sudden halt when the door to my office burst open, revealing a not-so-impressed Damon who had his arms folded and his nostrils flaring. He hardly seemed surprised at the situation before him. Instead, he seemed rather enraged. Quite frankly I was ready to carry on, to sink my teeth into her and mark her. But of course, Tristan did not pride herself on having any fun and so she roughly pushed at my shoulders and managed to get my warm body off of her heated and flustered one.

She stared up at Damon, horrified out of her wits. I assumed it was because she had feelings for him and being caught in the act with me was devastating beyond anything. In my mind I thought, "Huh, serves you right!" This was, after all, her fault.

"Mr Michaels..." She whispered out, trying to gain some form of composure.

"I have been waiting ten minutes for the flash drive I asked you so nicely to bring to my office. Ten. Fucking. Minutes. And what do I find you doing instead of bringing my precious flash drive? Messing around with my brother. Should I have you fired?"

Of course, I could have let the little demon get fired. She deserved it after what she had said, but the enraged look on her face and her clear irritation as well as that red blush only I could seem to bring to her face made me rethink it. Work without Tristan would be all the blander. Besides, I wasn't done punishing her for what she'd done to me. And so, as always, I stepped in to save the poor devil from losing her job.

"It was my fault. She was just about to give you your flash drive when I interrupted her, practically dragging her here. It's not her fault, brother. I am sorry."

Damon looked taken aback for a moment. If it had been anyone else, he would have been infuriated... downright beyond hellishly enraged. But it was I, his beloved baby brother. And so, he bit back his anger and instead opted to brutally insult me- because he was Damon, after all.

"I asked you to come to work because I thought you'd be *useful*. Yet all you do is seem to stir up trouble and prevent my P.A. from doing her work. Honestly I should have fired you the moment you started working."

"That is true. But it is also true that I managed to gain you five more clients in the span of a week and a half."

Damon grunted, before shifting his eyes towards Tristan and raising his brows expectantly. "The flash drive."

Her face had returned to its normal emotionless state with nothing gracing it except a stern, serious look. She dug in her breast pocket and from it, retrieved the beloved flash drive and then handed it to my brother. I watched her behaviour closely, inspecting her reactions as she neared my brother, listening to her heartrate, calculating the angle of her brows. But I found nothing out of the ordinary. No blush, no fallen brows, not even slight increase of her heartrate which normally occurred as soon as my skin was against her. Not even when her hand grazed against his as she placed the flash drive into his.

And so, I came up with the only viable and logical conclusion I could possibly deduce. Little lovely Tristan had tried to make me jealous. Tricky, tricky little fox. It seemed there was more to her than just purely delightful sexual reactions and a feisty little fire burning within. She was crafty too.

Although I respected and adored the fact that she'd tricked me, I couldn't allow myself to be outwitted by the little flower. I had a reputation to uphold, of course. How prestigious would the King of Seduction be if he let his mate walk all over him like this? No, it wouldn't do. And so, when Damon left, rather angry still -he'd get over it soon enough- I began plotting.

"You know you really are a piece of work." Tristan said, turning towards me.

I flashed a grin, letting my fangs protrude quickly before letting rip a low growl. "I could say the same about you, Love. You really know how to *turn me on*."

She gasped slightly, taken aback by my words and took a step back as her eyes met my glowing red ones. Of course, I could only *imagine* where her mind was going now. My lips against her skin, my fingers between her thighs, my chest pressed tightly against hers. Even I couldn't deny the excitement that coursed through me at this very moment. But I was nothing, if not calculating in my approach to revenge, and so I'd suffer a little control if it meant besting Tristan Creed.

I took slow, careful steps towards her and she took quick, long strides towards the door. But I was faster yet, allowing my wolf abilities to get me to the door before she even managed to open the damn thing. I had her body pressed right up against it. Her skin heated the moment it touched mine sending soft, pleasurable sparks against the surface of mine. How I managed not to just completely ravage her every single time was purely mind-boggling. Every single inch of me wanted her more than I'd ever wanted anyone in my entire life.

"L-Lucien..." She stuttered. She only did that with me, and I prided myself on that. I wanted her to be flustered with me. I wanted her to be shivering and desperate like the good girl she was... *my* good girl.

And so, I leaned forward, mouth open, tongue out and ready to bite at her neck. I gently licked at the surface of her sweet neck and the shivers were absolutely delectable rippling up and down her spine. I could already smell her sweet lust in the air, pooling from between her thighs. Just the little hint of it made my mouth salivate.*Goddess, keep me from taking this absolutely enchanting woman right here and right now.*

I was just about to "bite" her when suddenly I heard it. A low, deep growl erupted from her chest, and she swiftly pushed me away. In fact, the force of her palms on my shoulder were so intense that I crashed into my desk, shattering it completely. She was... *very* strong.

I looked up at her, but to my disappointment was met with her shut eyelids and heavy panting as she tried to compose herself.

I was just about to say something, to ask why she was hiding her werewolf self from me when her eyes finally opened again, now back to her original green colour.

"I-" She began. She then took another breath and folded her arms, wearing a classic look of nonchalance before continuing, "I lied. I was only trying to get you jealous. I have no feelings for your brother."

Bested. I had just bested Tristan Creed, and although I was curious to death regarding her sudden surge of unsurmountable strength, the fact that I'd won had me childishly prideful. This, however, would not be the last time I bested her. That, I was certain of.