Shadowed

Chapter 25

Brenna waved at her sister as she hustled into the main room of the lodge. “Garrett!” She scrambled around the sofa to grab the kid and hug him. “Thank God.”

He returned the hug with one hand, awkwardly patting her back. His other hand held a sandwich. “I’m fine, Aunt Brenna.”

“Good.” For the first time in days, she could finally breathe. She leaned back to study him. He’d been home for almost twenty-four hours and had been checked out head to toe by the doctors. His eyes were clear, and his body relaxed. He really was fine. She hugged him again.

He laughed.

Then she released him and wiped away a quick tear. Cara stood to her right, so she grabbed her in a hug.

Cara hugged back. “He’s really okay.”

“I know.” Brenna studied her friend. “Though you look fried.”

“It’s been a tough one.” Cara smiled over at her mate. “Talen can finally relax.”

Brenna grinned and spotted Jase over in the corner. A purple bruise lined his jaw, and dark circles cut under his eyes. She maneuvered around family to reach him. “Are you all right?”

“Yes.” He ran a hand down her arm, a small smile playing on his face as he watched Garrett. “Twenty-four hours of hypnotism with Kane is like getting hit with bricks for three days.”

“You let Kane hypnotize you for that length of time?”

“Yeah. That was the only way to reach the trigger implanted by the demons—they thought I’d kill family on command.” Jase lost the smile.

“You wouldn’t.” She slipped her fingers through his, even though she knew she shouldn’t. “Did Kane find the trigger?”

“We think so. It’s a simple matter of deprograming, and since he understood the Latin commands, he thinks he got them. Of course, he wants to double-check several times over the next week.” Jase shrugged and glanced down. “I’ve missed you. How are things?”

“Good.” She cleared her throat. “I, ah, actually need to talk to you.”

“Okay.” Giving a nod to his brother, Jase led her outside and into the darkening night. They walked along the ocean cliffs toward his house.

Deep shadows played across the sea, and Brenna took a moment to appreciate the tones. She hadn’t painted in much too long. “I’m going home tomorrow morning.”

He stopped. “No, you aren’t.”

“Yes.” She lifted her head and wandered her fingertips along his bruise.

He closed his eyes and held still, as if the gentle touch could somehow heal him. “We already discussed this.”

“No. I tried to discuss, and you just ordered.”

“I need you to stay.” He opened his eyes and slid his hand under her chin. Lowering his head, he brushed her mouth with his.

His lips were firm and so warm. Her heart breaking, she opened her mouth. He swept in, gentle and demanding. Need spiraled inside her, encompassing every nerve ending. She sighed deep in her throat.

He released her to place soft kisses along her jaw to nip her ear lobe. “We can work this out, Bren.”

“I need to be with the Coven Nine during the solstice tomorrow night.” She tilted her head back to allow for better access.

“You don’t need to harness the power because you’re going to block it,” he murmured, tracing the shell of her ear.

Desire slammed through her to pound in her sex. As a witch, she could block any power from entering her body by creating imaginary but absolute shields. Shielding was the easy part. Allowing fire inside and then controlling it? That was the hard part. “I want to harness the power.” Who wouldn’t?

He leaned back. “That’s too dangerous and you know it.”

She shrugged. “I want to take the risk.”

He slid his hands down to grip her ass and tug her against him. His cock pulsed through his jeans, and her thighs softened. “Then Moira, Conn, and I will help you to harness it.”

The fact that he hadn’t just ordered her to shield herself warmed her heart. “You think I should give it a try?”

“I would. We can try training later. But it’ll be difficult to duplicate the kind of power that’s likely to come from the comet.” He grinned, and the charming Jase she used to know finally showed up.

She returned the smile. “I used to have such a crush on you.”

He licked his lips. “Really, now?”

“Yes.” Her cheeks heated.

“What did you fantasize about?” Teasing, the man was downright dangerous.

She laughed. “You name it.”

“I will.” He swept her up and strode along the cliffs toward his home. “Have you noticed we haven’t properly christened the bed?”

She snuggled closer into his chest, her hand over his heart. Was it possible their mating could actually work out? “I have noticed that. But, well, we’ve slept in the bed.”

“Ah, baby. Our bed won’t be properly christened until you scream my name in it at least three times.” He leaned down and captured her mouth, his tongue sweeping inside.

She broke away. “Three times? Not sure you have that in you, vampire.”

He laughed, the sound freer than it had sounded since they’d mated. “That sounds like a challenge.”

“ ’Twas definitely a challenge.” She leaned up and bit his earlobe—not so gently.

He growled and made short work of the hallway to the bedroom. “You owe me a new living room.”

She shrugged. “For better or for worse—” Then she stopped. Blast it. They weren’t married. They were just mated. Of course, for vampires mating meant more than marriage. So much for silly dreams of walking down an aisle. She swallowed. “Get your own living room back into shape.”

“Our living room.” He set her on her feet, both hands threading through her hair. “You taste like hope and sunshine.” His mouth took hers again.

She pressed her palms against his hard abs, marveling at his strength. When he kissed her, she couldn’t think. Hell, she didn’t want to think. But sometimes reality needed to exist. She pushed away. “Jase, I’m not sure—”

He frowned and challenge lightened his eyes. “Not sure about what?”

“This.” Her knees were flush against the bed. How could she explain that he’d break her heart if she let him?

“We’re mated.”

“I know.” Even though her brain was telling her to run, her body moved closer into his heat.

“You don’t want me?” His eyebrow rose.

“Of course I want you.” She rolled her eyes. The man could probably scent her arousal. “But, well, I want more.” There. She’d said it.

“So do I,” he said softly, gripping her chin with his thumb and forefinger.

Her heart slammed against her ribs. Her childhood crush was actually coming true. “You do?”

“Sure.” He kissed her again. “Give me a chance. I could make you happy.”

“I want love.” Sometimes a girl just had to spell things out for a vampire.

He nodded. “I know. So do I. All I can promise is that I’m open to anything and everything we could make. I have strong feelings for you, Brenna, trust me.”

She did trust him. Could strong feelings become love? They’d only been mated less than a week. But she loved him—regardless of the time line. “I need to think.”

“Hell no. No thinking.” He dove in again, all passion, all determined male. Somehow her shirt hit the floor. “Let me show you.” His talented mouth wandered down her neck to lick her collarbone. “Your skin is like marble. So smooth, but the right friction warms it right up.”

One of her fantasies had been Jase seducing her. As if he knew, his thumbs brushed across her nipples through the bra. Electricity zipped to her sex. She bit back a whimper. “So responsive.” He unsnapped the bra and slid the straps off her arms. “With the prettiest pink nipples.”

Dipping his mouth, his abrasive tongue scraped across one nipple.

She gasped, clutching his head. “Jase—”

“The way you say my name—it’s so sexy.” He slipped his hand inside her jeans to run along her hip. Her skin bunched, and her abdominal muscles contracted.

He released her and stepped back.

Cold air made her clench.

The heat in his eyes made her shiver.

“Take off your jeans, Brenna.”

Her hands trembled on the top snap. “I thought you were seducing me.”

“Seduction is about control.” His chin lifted. “Now lose the jeans.”

She unbuttoned the pants and shoved them down her legs. “Take off yours.”

“No. You take them off.”

Intrigue leapt through her on the heels of lust. Seduction was about control? He was turning it over to her. The thought blasted her. Feeling powerful, feeling feminine, she unsnapped his jeans.

His jaw twitched.

Aye. His cock pressed hard against his zipper, straining the teeth. She smiled and slowly released him.

He blew breath through his tight lips.

Sliding gracefully to her knees, she tugged his jeans and briefs to his ankles. He groaned low in his chest as his cock sprang free. A deep purple bruise marred his right thigh.

She leaned in and kissed the wound.

His thigh muscle clenched beneath her mouth. She smiled and licked her way up. His hand dropped to her head.

She shook it off. “Don’t bug me.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said, widening his stance.

Just how long could he maintain control? She gripped the base of his cock, once again marveling that they fit together somehow. The vampire gods had been very generous with the youngest Kayrs brother.

Taking her time, she licked from the base to the tip.

His hand dropped to her head again. “Brenna—” A warning. Without question, a warning.

Feminine power flushed through her. Humming softly, she took the tip in her mouth. Her jaw protested, so she breathed deep and tried to relax. He was so damn big.

The fingers in her hair clenched, sending erotic tingles down her spine.

She took him deeper, gripping him tighter.

He made a sound between a growl and a moan. Sexy and male.

So she did it again.

The room tilted as he drew back and yanked her up. His mouth found hers the same time he tossed her on the bed. Stretching out on top of her, he held her face still, kissing her hard.

She kissed him back, wrapping her legs around his hips.

He broke away. “No.” Reaching back, he unhooked her legs. One hand slid beneath her, and he flipped her over onto her stomach.

She protested and moved to sit up.

A hard slap to her butt halted her motion.

“Hold still.” He rubbed the abused area.

Fire and need crashed right to her sex, which throbbed. She tried to slide her knees beneath her to get some leverage.

The second slap echoed around the room.

She cried out, sensations bombarding her.

“I said to hold still.” He bent down and bit her left buttock, right above the marking.

An orgasm bore down on her, and only the third slap to her butt kept ecstasy at bay. She shifted against the bedspread, her body on fire.

He licked up her spine, his cock brushing her thighs. Rolling her to her side, her rear to him, he lifted her thigh and plunged inside her with one hard stroke.

She gasped and pressed back against him.

The sensations were more erotic than she could’ve dreamed. He slid his arm under her waist and flattened his palm against her chest. He pushed down as he thrust up, the powerful muscles in his chest shifting against her shoulder blades.

Going on instinct, she dug her fingernails into his thigh.

He stilled. Tension spiraled through the room. The second his control snapped, freedom rushed through her.

He plunged out and back in, thrusting with incredible strength. Holding her tight, he pounded harder, until her entire body flared into exquisite need.

Sharp fangs embedded in her neck, and she exploded.

She cried out his name, her eyes sightless on the far wall, her fingers clutching the sheets. Waves roared through her. His hold tightened as he came.

Slowly, the fangs retracted and he withdrew. Turning her over, he covered her. He tangled his fingers in her hair and placed a soft kiss on her nose. “Everything will work out, Bren. Trust me.”