Wicked Surrender

The Kategan Alphas 3

By

T. A. Grey

Chapter One

Vera wanted nothing more than to be back on her couch with a book.

The atmosphere at the Kategan’s house was happy and bustling with excitement. Vane grilled on the outdoor barbeque while his pregnant mate Sarina sat nearby chatting with her best friend Alison. Rome, the youngest of the brothers, sipped a beer and talked over the grill to Vane.

The scene was nice, almost perfect, but Vera Kategan felt a grueling pain in her stomach. It wasn’t from anything physical though but something far deeper and emotional. Something that she didn’t want to think about but her mind wouldn’t let her forget.

Two of her three brothers were mated and disgustingly happy, but she wasn’t happy. Happy for them, yes. She could honestly say that. While she was concerned for her older brother Darien, she knew better than to be overly worried. If there was any man who could take care of himself, even in the worse of situations, it was Darien. He wasn’t just a rock, but a solid boulder of stability. His stomach probably wouldn’t get sick at the sight of Sarina’s rounded belly.

It was petty and stupid; she was petty. Why she couldn’t just be happy and content with her life was the agonizing question that had been driving her lonely nights. But now that was all going to change.

Vera shimmied her way into a lawn chair and crossed one leg over the other. “Big bro, we need to chat business.”

All conversation stymied to a stop. It was hard, but she barely managed to maintain her aloof smile. Vane flipped the burgers over before answering.

“What business is that?”

“The treaty with the vampire clan is coming up soon. With Sarina pregnant, I think it’d be a smart choice to send me so that you can stay here with her.” If she thought the atmosphere was still before she was wrong. It was absolutely suffocating now, and all those unnerving eyes were focused on her.

“Actually, I was just going to take Sarina with me.” Vera shot a quick glance to Sarina as if searching for confirmation that his mate was indeed very pregnant. Judging by the big round belly she had, going on she was pretty sure she was.

“Wait, wait. Are you telling me, Master Alpha, that you’re willing, and happy, to take your near—to-bursting-pregnant mate into possible enemy territory.” Her brother’s vicious growl was accompanied by the spatula in his hand snapping in half.

Vera shrugged and leaned back in her seat. “I prove my point. You can’t go. You’ll be beating every vamp’s face that even looks in her direction let alone raises a voice during the negotiations.” Sarina nodded at her with a smile. At least she had one person on her side; Sarina didn’t look like she enjoyed the idea of going either.

“She’s right Vane. Maybe you should let her go. Just send Darien with her,” Rome said and took a sip of his brew.

Vane’s shoulders stiffened. He was practically growling when he answered, “I can’t send Darien with her. He’s gone on a journey. Why don’t you go with her, Roman?”

Everyone started speaking at once. Vera’s half-shout was the only one to get through it all. “What the hell do you mean he’s gone on a journey? You’ve got to be kidding me. I just saw him back at Rome and Alison’s mating ceremony. He looked fine.”

Vane’s lips pressed flat. “Yeah, well apparently he’s not fine. And he needs time to himself. He told me he was leaving two weeks ago.”

“Mother fuck,” Rome cursed, “he’s been gone that long, and you haven’t even told us?” Alison stood and rushed over to her mate to wrap her body around his. The tension in his body relaxed instantly. Vera felt that hard pain in her gut again. Not again, dammit.

“He told me not to say anything if I didn’t have to. So I didn’t. I respected his wishes. Now get over it. All of you. Lumara, do you need anything?”

It was shocking how soft and sweet his voice got when he spoke to his mate. Her cheeks were high with color when she shook her head no at him.

The crunch of footsteps on gravel brought all conversation to a halt. Vera didn’t think this could get any harder, but at the sight of Jackson Marsh, she knew there was no hope of turning tonight into a good one.

“What the fuck is he doing here?” The dark threat coming from Rome was true enough that Vera went to stand between her brother and the human.

Though why she should even give a shit, she wasn’t sure. It was only because she didn’t want the cops called.

She watched Jackson’s jaw clench so hard she was surprised it didn’t snap. “I was invited.”

Rome couldn’t hide his surprised reaction. “By who?”

Jackson looked behind Rome and nodded to a pink-faced Alison. Rome looked down at his mate and back at Jackson before finally, stubbornly nodding. He turned towards his mate and grabbed her by the shoulders as if he wasn’t sure he wanted to pull her close or shake the hell out of her.

“Why did you bring him here? You know how I feel about this.”

“Baby, I asked him to come because this is a family barbeque and no matter how unhappy you are with him he still means a lot to you. I know it, and I think you do too. I don’t blame him for what happened, and you shouldn’t either. Sandra was put there to set him up; it was on purpose. It was Conlin’s fault, baby. He planned it all.”

Rome shook his head and pointed a hard finger at Jackson. “He should have known better. He does know better than to let some pussy sway him. He was a fucking soldier for Christ’s sake. He fought in a war, but couldn’t do his duty and protect my mate when she was in danger.”

“Fuck this—” Jackson muttered and spun around to leave.

“No, wait!” Vane’s hard voice broke through the atmosphere like a true leader, an Alpha. When he spoke all eyes and ears turned to him. “He stays. This fight between you and him has to stop sometime. Listen to your mate, Rome.”

Sarina stepped forward and held out her hand to Jackson who shook it, reluctantly. He looked like he was greatly regretting his decision to come here, and judging by the withering glare he sent Alison, he’d probably been misinformed about his welcome.

“Come on, take a seat, grab a beer,” Sarina said. Jackson nodded, but his eyes swung not to the beer but to her.

Her stomach clenched with an all new feeling now. Damn. She hated this man. She didn’t even know what it was. They’d hardly ever spoken and yet the man ground on her nerves like a pain in the ass. He grabbed a beer and took the seat closet to hers then scooted it another few inches closer.

He was seriously trying her patience.

The man had to be a mind reader, because he knew all the moves to piss her off. Purposely crossing her leg away from him, she turned away and pretended that the big, hunky human wasn’t sitting next to her. Hunky? Oh, God, she’d actually just thought that. Shoot me now, God, please.

“Vane, about what we were discussing, I really think I’d make the perfect liaison. I’ve gone with you all the times in the past; I know the treaty like I do my own handwriting. Plus it’s safer sending just me than risking your own mate.” She knew she’d hit the right mark when he sucked in a deep breath.

“Fine, you can go as ambassador but Rome will go with you.” Vera was saved from protesting by Rome.

“I can’t go. Alison and I have tickets for Italy. Remember, I told you about this? It’s our honeymoon, and I’m not going to have her miss out on it when I know Vera is more than capable of doing this.” Vera sent her brother a thank-you smile and he winked back at her.

Vane flipped off the grill, started plating the burgers, and grilled corn. The smells were good enough to have her stomach growling. Vane set the plates down and crossed his big arms as he turned to her. Uh oh. She knew that face. Whatever he had to say wasn’t going to bode well for her.

“All right. You can go but under my conditions.”

He seemed to be waiting for an answer so she hesitantly said, “Mmmkay, what?”

“You will go, but you will go with a guardian.” Vera’s bubble of laughter had him glaring at her harder.

“Vane, I’m twenty-seven, not a child. I don’t need a parent to chaperone me to the dance.” The corner of his lips fought to hide a smile.

“No, but you’re going into what could potentially be enemy territory. I’m not sending my sister alone. You’ll have a guardian.”

She laughed loud and hard. “Who? Not you, not Rome. A sentry? You’d risk losing territory protection for this, this little negotiation.”

“You know it’s not a little negotiation, Vera. No, you’ll go and he will be your guardian.”

Vera followed the direction he was pointing at even knowing where it was going, but hoping that if she followed its path, she’d find the Cookie Monster, Hannibal Lector, hell, anybody, there besides Jackson. But as soon as her gaze landed on him, her stomach did a little flip, and her mouth fell open. No, no, no. She couldn’t go with Jackson.

“Absolutely not,” she said briskly. She was not going to negotiate a treaty with vampires when this stupid human didn’t even know they existed, well, probably anyways.

“Hear me out, Vera. This could be a prime opportunity for Jackson to prove the error of his ways in the past. This could be a chance for him to salvage his relationship with Rome.”

Oh, no. Rome was nodding gravely as if he’d already jumped on the let’s-torture-Vera bandwagon.

Rome met Jackson face to face. To give the human credit, he didn’t back down but actually looked strong and sturdy as if he’d stand a chance in a fight against a lykaen. Stupid human.

Sexy human too. He was tall with short, buzzed hair and a short growth of hair on his face. Vera felt her body growing hot and quickly staunched the flow of desire before she did something stupid like drool.

“Jacks, I know I’ve been pissed, but what do you think of this. You help my sister—” Vera snorted and didn’t bother to hide it. Rome and Jackson sent her a quick look before continuing their evil plan. “You take care of her and protect her on this trip, and I will forgive you of all past transgressions. It will be forgotten.”

The air grew absolutely silent. Everyone held their breath looking from one man to the other. Vera’s grip tightened on the lawn chair. Please say no, please say no.

Jackson nodded slowly as if coming to a realization. He stuck out his hand and it was met with a hard, vigorous shake, and then Rome clasped him into a hard, brutal hug. Vera was surprised the human’s ribs didn’t snap from the pressure. Rome must be going easy on him.

When they broke apart, they both were full of grins. The tension dissipated like it never happened. Vera grumbled and lounged back in her seat.

“I’d be happy and honored to take care of your sister. Anything for you, brother. Semper Fi.” Rome smiled and clapped him hard on the back. “Semper Fi,” Rome said.

“Just what is it I have to do? Where am I taking her? You mentioned an ambassador position. Is this lykaen politics with the government or something?”

Vera stiffened in her seat and waited to see Jackson’s reaction. Rome cleared his throat, then took a swallow of his beer, then when that wasn’t good enough he chugged the last half the bottle and tossed it away.

“Yeah, well, you’ll be Vera’s guardian when she goes to negotiate the Kategan’s peace treaty with the vampires.”

Jackson quirked his head to the side. “The Vam whos?” Vera was biting her lip so hard that she had to look away and cover her face to keep from showing her laughter.

“The vampires.”

“Please tell me that’s not what I think it is.”

Rome grinned from ear to ear. “Oh, it’s exactly what you think it is, brother.”

Chapter Two

This was all some joke. It had to be. It was payback organized by Rome, and this whole charade would end with a camera crew jumping out at him say “aha!” Yeah, that was closer to reality than vampires were.

Fuck, his head throbbed like a disco club, any harder and Vera would hear it in the seat next to him and start dancing. Nah, she didn’t look like the dancing type. Even in her soft, floral dress that teased her knees, he knew she wouldn’t be some hardcore clubber type. Ballroom, waltzing, spinning around on the tips of her little feet, that’s where she’d be, and she’d looked just as elegant and posed as she did driving.

Jackson rubbed a hand over his face. There had to be something wrong with him. Since when did he go comparing women’s clothing and dance styles? Yeah, never was the fucking answer. There must have been something in that barbeque. Damn if there wasn’t something about Vera Kategan that just tweaked his ass. The woman had the uncanny ability to make him feel like nothing more than scum on the bottom of her strappy little heels.

He really didn’t like that feeling. It was the same feeling he’d had when he’d first entered the military when he hit eighteen. The drill sergeant shouted in his face spraying spit with ever “sir” and “at attention” he said. He’d stood up to him, stared him back in the eyes, and screamed his part right back. He’d shown his drill sergeant he did indeed have a pair of balls—big ones in fact. Even as he stood up his in sergeant’s face, he’d felt the cruel stabs of insecurity. Could he get through this? What if he wasn’t strong enough? What if he tripped over his fucking feet while doing PT and sent the whole line tumbling down the fucking hill?

Christ that woman had barely said ten words to him since they arrived in St. Louis and already he was anxious as a busybody old lady. He should be happy, hell, thrilled even. He wasn’t one for idle conversation. But dammit, women talked to him, loved talking to him, even if it was only to pull his cock out eventually. He used to hate it. His face was square and hard, his body strong and lithe. He had to keep it that way for his job.

When he was younger, he hated that he didn’t have to work to get laid. It was too easy. He almost felt like a cad taking it when it was offered.

Shit, he wasn’t any better now. He’d almost fucked Rome’s ex Sandra when he should have been on guard. God did he fuck up. He strove for perfection in his job. The instance with Sandra was the fuck up of his career. He still couldn’t believe he did that. Just thinking about it didn’t make sense; it must have been someone else who betrayed his friend to try to get some quick tail.

And what defense did he have? A pathetic one, that’s for sure. He hadn’t known Sandra was his ex fling, and he sure as shit didn’t know she was working with Conlin, and even if he had, it was no excuse. He never should have left his post. He’d fucked up royally, but he was 100% on board with fixing Rome and his’ relationship. The man had helped him when he’d still been in the darkest part of his life.

“God dammit, will you say something already?” Wow, smooth move Jacks. She glared at him, but whatever. It was basically her fault anyways. “Well?” he prompted, when she remained quiet.

“I didn’t have anything to talk about before, and I still don’t. Unless that is you want to talk about how much of a jerk you are.”

Jacks didn’t even try to hide it, he grinned big. Why the thought of pissing her off made him happy, he didn’t know, but that must be a very bad sign. “Why am I jerk?”

She looked at him, astonished. “Seriously? ‘God dammit, blah blah blah blah.’ You don’t remember just saying that to me. It was a borderline growl and shout, by the way.”

He turned to look out the window so she wouldn’t see the laugh he was fighting. If only she wasn’t her then maybe he could stand her. But all it took was one look at her fancy dress, shiny shoes, and pearl necklace to know she was so not for him. He needed a woman who could comfortably eat at a burger shack, not five-star dining. She'd probably eat five filet mignons in one night and clean him out of the bank in a week.

“Oh come on, saying that one line automatically makes me a dick?” A heavy, soft sigh followed his question. It made him wonder, no, no, couldn’t think about that.

“I didn’t say you were a dick, just a jerk, and yes, growling at me does automatically make you a jerk. Besides, I’ve been around you enough to know that you are in fact nothing but a jerk—and that’s putting it lightly. You should be thankful.” She didn’t quite mutter the words, but it was close.

“And what in your prissy little book has qualified me as a jerk exactly? It’s not like we’ve had deep conversations. I’ve seen you all of a handful of times, and lady, you’ve had your panties in a twist each time.” Her fingers dug so hard into the steering wheel he was surprised it didn’t bend.

She worked her jaw side to side before answering in a measured, quiet voice. “First off, you have no right to say something like that. I do not have my panties in a twist, and if they were then it’s none of your business—ever. Secondly, I know enough about you to know you’re a jerk. My God, you left my sister-in-law helpless to a crazy psychopath while you went and fucked my brother’s ex-girlfriend! How’s that not being a jerk?” Her words rose and rose until she was nearly shouting in the small confines of the car.

Vera shot a look at him to see his face completely shut down. The grin and bright eyes were gone, replaced instead by a cold mask that ate at her. She’d done that and she wanted to rip it off and put the stupid smile back on. Damn this man, why did he have to make everything difficult?

“I’m sorry, I didn’t—”

She was cut off with sharp shake of his head. They drove the rest of the way in silence. Vera hated to admit it, but she missed hearing him talk.

# # #

The vampire’s mansion lived up to its name The Royal One. It had massive towering windows in the front adorned at the top by intricate arches pointing to the sky. Two black gargoyles coiled menacingly over the front door, taunting those who dared to enter.

For Vera, the house was a reminder, a reminder of the past she sorely didn’t want to dredge up.

As the massive front doors parted and out stepped a beautiful, hauntingly familiar face, Vera wished she’d given this trip a second thought. How had she thought this wouldn’t be hard? Seeing Dmetri Demidov was anything but easy.

A stodgy valet with a thick head of brown hair slicked back from his face waited for her to pull to a stop.

“Who is he?”

Vera set the car in park and sighed, telling herself that she was the one who’d wanted to come here and do this, to get away from her happy brothers.

“That’s Henry. I don’t know his last name. He’s been the valet here for years.”

“No. Who’s that?” Uh oh. Jacks had just noticed Dmetri—her ex lover.

“That is...Dmetri.”

He shot a cutting look to her that spoke more than words. The look said he wasn’t an idiot. “He an old friend or what?”

“Um—” Vera sighed in relief when the Valet opened her door with a sweeping bow. She hurried out of the car. Jacks cursed and got out after her.

“You’re not getting out of this,” he said when he reached her; his voice was a lethal growl.

The fact that she shivered at the sound of his voice didn’t escape his notice. Eyes darkened to a seductive light; he watched her response like a predator catching whiff of prey. Vera’s breath caught in her throat and she had to remind herself that she was the predator.

He’s only human.

“I shall park your car, my lady. Master Demidov will escort you to your room. I hope you have an enjoyable stay.”

She didn’t recall telling herself to say thank you to the valet but knew somewhere in the back of her mind that she did. Seeing Dmetri striding towards her sent her mind buzzing in a whirl.

Flashes of memory came back as if she’d been hiding them deep inside her the whole time. Their sweat-slicked bodies writhing against each other in the throes of passion, lips hanging together in a soft, teasing press. Their time together had been brief and so memorable that when she stared long enough at his mouth, she could practically remember their taste again.

His voice was just as she remembered, dark and accented with his Slavic decent. “Vera, it’s so good to see you.” Even the way he said the words hinted of past times, a time when he’d whispered her name into her ear as he shuddered over her. Yet strangely, seeing him, remembering their past brought not even a lick of warmth to her. Instead, it left her feeling cold. He was a reminder. A reminder of pain and heartache.

“Dmetri, it’s been a long time.” He kissed her on first one cheek then the other, lingering longer than customary. Jackson tensed and growled under his breath. It was soft but she was certain both she and Dmetri’s keen hearing picked up the sound.

“And who’s this...human,” he asked brushing a thick lock of his long blonde hair over his shoulder.

“I’m her guardian, Jackson Marsh.” He thrust out his hand and shook her ex lover’s hand hard enough that Dmetri’s hand was red when he pulled away.

Dmetri’s smirk showed that he hadn’t missed a thing. “Vane called and said he wouldn’t be able to make it this year. How unfortunate. He did say he was sending a guardian but I assumed it was Roman or Darien.” He lifted one thick eyebrow and smirked.

Vera had dated him long enough to know what that smirk meant—he thought this was a joke. She suddenly had the urge to slap him and tell him that Jacks was a strong fighter and capable of being her guardian.

“It’s getting late. Why don’t you just show us to our rooms?” Dmetri nodded, still with that smug look, and led them through the front doors of the Demidov House.

Vera glanced over at Jacks and nearly stumbled into Dmetri as she did so. Jacks wasn’t floored with the interior of the mansion as she had been when she first saw the luxurious home. Magnificent had been her first thought.

The interior of the mansion opened up into a great space as tall as it was wide. A sweeping, grand staircase went up then parted on either side to lead to the next floor. A rich, ancient rug in red and gold swirls tiled the deep staircase.

The staircase had made her gasp when she first saw it, made her want one of her own. But now, years later, she no longer drooled over the wood paneled walls with exquisite paintings of the Demidov family nor of the adjoining waist—tall vases that lined the bottom stair. The mansion reeked of arrogance and wealth, something she no longer wanted.

Yet, Jacks appeared completely oblivious to his surroundings as Dmetri led them up the staircase and down a series of hallways. His eyes didn’t stay arrested for even a moment on the expensive, pure gold chalices that sat upon a side-serving table or even on the grand chandelier that hung high above the mahogany staircase.

She realized with surprise that instead, his eyes strayed towards each set of windows and their locks as if categorizing them by priority. His eyes swept up the staircase and to the other side of the hallway where the door to the outside balcony was. It was as if he was assessing the house for exits and risks. And he probably was.

For the first time since they started this trip, she realized that Jackson Marsh might be more dangerous than she thought. Rome did trust him or used to anyways. She cringed to think how badly Jacks had fucked up. He strayed from his duty when his friend needed him the most. Everyone messed up, it was impossible not to in life. That was one lesson she’d learned a long time ago, but to mess up on such a serious scale—the torture of his friend’s mate—was catastrophic especially to a lykaen.

“Here you are. You’ll be staying in the Diana Sascha Suite.” She was familiar with the suite so aptly named after his father’s nickname for Dmetri’s mother. It was also where they’d first made love. Christ, as if she really needed the reminder? He was just doing it on purpose. She’d been done with Dmetri for years. She had the urge to tell him that to his face but bit her tongue.

“If you need anything at all just ring for me or Henry. Our numbers are the same.” He caught Vera’s arm as she started into the room. “I’d like to have a word with you.” Vera stifled a sigh; she so didn’t want one with him. Seeing that past flung right back in her face wasn’t something she enjoyed.

Turning towards him, she plastered a cool smile on her face. “I’m tired, Dmetri. Let’s talk tomorrow, okay?”

His brow furrowed but he nodded—thank God for small favors. She oh so politely shut the door in his face. Hey, a woman had to do what she had to do.

When she turned back around Jacks was there invading her space with his big body. The man was lean, cut with muscle, and tall. He easily had to weigh three of her...or maybe ten? She mentally shrugged; she was never good with math. But did he have to tower over her like that? If he wrapped his arms around her, she’d probably lose herself inside him.

She nibbled on her lip and pondered what his chest would feel like under her palms. Hard with the crisp coils of dark hair over his pecks, or would his abs be ripped into hard rolls of muscle, or maybe he was completely smooth of hair leaving only tan skin to lick. Her cheeks heated and she looked away quickly.

“You gonna tell me what all that was about?” Taking a deep breath, she squared her shoulders and shook her head at him.

When she tried to side step him, he only crowded her further. She had only two choices then. Let his body rub over her—and she didn’t think the a/c was on high enough for that—or scoot back against the door like a coward.

She scooted back against the door.

I’m not a coward. I’m not a coward.

When his hand reached to cup the nape of her neck, Vera struggled to breath, fought not to let her eyes flutter shut. The man’s touch was like pure warm electricity burning a through her blood. It warmed her, made her forget all about this room and Dmetri.

“Tell me what’s with you and Dmetri.” He sneered the name with a grimace as if just saying it disgusted him. “Something’s obviously there and I need to know about it.” The angles of his face were drawn into a savage frown.

“Nothing, nothing at all...and it’s not any of your business.”

There, good, she’d added on that last part. Her bravado was quickly slipping though, and when his blue eyes darkened to a color so dark they were almost black, she knew he was going kiss her. Or strangle her.

Surprisingly she was hoping for the first.

He didn’t kiss her.

And he didn’t strangle her.

She was still telling herself she wasn’t disappointed the next morning.

Chapter Three

Jacks slept like shit.

Vera barely looked at him and if she did she would plaster on this perfect, polite little smile that made him want to yank her against his body and kiss her until she went soft and warm.

He’d spent most of the night tossing and turning with his dick ranging from rock hard to hard as titanium. He gladly slept on a pallet of covers on the floor but that wasn’t far away enough for him. He could still smell her, could see her asleep up on the bed if he just lifted his head.

But damn if she didn’t act like nothing sparked between them yesterday. The thought of just pulling her close and taking what he wanted was getting better by the second.

His cock stirred to life at the idea, stating that it thought it was a brilliant plan. However, his mind argued that sitting in the middle of a war room surrounded by vampires and one ornery lykaen female was not the ideal place to boast a hard on. Jesus, with his behavior lately it would be no wonder if Vera thought he was some kind of manwhore.

The day he killed his friendship with Rome as surely as though he’d tortured Alison himself, Jacks died a little inside. He never made mistakes like that. He’d been kicking himself over it ever since, but it didn’t matter. No matter what he said or what he did, he couldn’t change the past. Nothing he could do could put him back on his post outside Prince Conlin’s house where he should have been.

He kept his eyes on the war room. There were two vampires and though none of them looked older than he was, he could feel the age in the strange beings. It sounded stupid to say, but it was true.

Fucking vampires, who knew? It was hard to find it too strange when his best friend, or ex best friend, was a lykaen. He’d seen Rome do amazing things. Shit no human could do. His strength, his speed, it was incomparable.

That didn’t mean he couldn’t kick his ass every now and then. He just had to be smarter, anticipate where Rome was going to move and beat him to it with a deflection or a jab.

Vera and the Elders sat at a round stone table together with a bunch of papers in front of them. They were going over land, taxes, and a handful of other boring shit. Vera’s teeth dug and worried her lip until it shone red and a little swollen. His cock pulsed again as he imagined licking that sweet mouth and tasting her. Somehow he just knew it’d be sweet.

She had the kind of mouth a man wanted to dive into and never let up for air. Her hair was short, curving around her chin and moving with each turn of her head, and her straight bangs swept over her forehead, which somehow highlighted brown of her eyes. The color of her hair reminded him of strong, dark coffee. It looked thick and soft. He’d bet it’d feel good around his fist.

Stay focused, man.

Jesus Christ, if he kept this shit up then he’d be right back where he started—fucking up. Instead of watching her, he dragged his gaze away to study the vampires. A deep scowl drew over him as he took note of her ex.

She might not have been able to spill it last night, but he knew enough about women to know that this was an ex. And judging by the devouring way Dmetri, what the fuck kind of name was that anyway, stared at her he knew his guess was spot on. Vera either didn’t notice or pretended not to.

Next was the most imposing man at the table. Something about him radiated strength and power. The man looked like an old warrior, the kind of man who’d felt real chainmail and metal armor over his body as he rode on horseback with a heavy sword. His face carried scars and the wrinkles not of age but of one who lived a hard life. His hair fell shaggily below his ears and was a coppery brown that matched the color of his goatee.

He instantly liked the man; he looked like he could give a shit about his appearance unlike Dmetri whose hair looked practically silky. What the hell kind of a man did that? One without any hair on his balls, he was sure.

Then on the opposite side of the table from Vera was a gorgeous blond woman. Her lips were red, eyes a bright green, and she wore an elaborate dress that fell all the way to the floor. If this is what she wore to go over some papers, what the hell did she wear to go out? A freakin’ ballroom gown?

All three were vampires; he could feel the difference in them. Their presence felt different than being around Vera and the other Kategan’s, and certainly different from humans. He didn’t feel the need to be constantly on guard and carrying a weapon around humans. Well usually anyways.

Being around the vampires felt unnatural, like being face to face with a dangerous predator. Jacks was prepared though. Under his clothes were enough weapons to defend Vera and him if he had to.

Vane and Rome both went over the details of how to kill a vampire in case things got dishy. Vane summed it up in just a few words: aim for the heart. No bullets, just something sharp.

He also learned that vampires could go out into the daylight, and that they had only received the myth of being nocturnal because in the olden days they preferred to feed at night—less chance of being caught.

The only other vampire in the room was a bodyguard like him. He stood back behind the blond vampire everyone referred to as Ariss. Another silly name.

The man was slender and taller than his six foot three by at least three inches. He was a regular day Frankenstein monster minus the bulk. Yet Jacks knew this man was easily one of the most dangerous beings in the room. His eyes weren’t just cold—they were dead. This man had killed— a lot. A man who’d lost all humanity.

His chest suddenly tightened as a memory flashed over him. He’d seen that look before. From his fellow soldiers coming back from war. Not the first timers who were just experiencing the shock of it all, but the fighters who had accepted their plot, embraced it, became it, and then lost themselves in the process. It was a heart wrenching sight to see.

The meeting adjourned, and they all shook hands. First day, first meeting done.

He caught up with Vera as they headed out of the war room. “How long do these meetings usually last?” She looked up at him with haunted eyes, but a second later the look was gone and in place was a curvy smile.

“A few hours at most.”

“That’s not what I meant. How many days?” The teasing twinkle in her eye made him want to bend her over and spank her rounded ass. His cock applauded the idea. God dammit, no!

“Usually the negotiations go on for a week. No more than five days. Why are you getting bored already?”

“Not at all. Actually I—”

“Hey, wait up!”

Jacks and Vera turned to see Ariss hurrying towards them. Jacks stifled the urge to inform her that she could move quicker if she didn’t wear ridiculous dresses and heels. Shit, by time she reached them it would have been faster to go to her.

He thought Ariss was gorgeous before, but she was absolutely stunning up close. Her face was a picture of perfection. Her nose was thin and straight, her eyebrows were thin and rounded, her face small and pert, which filled out to a slender body. Yet she didn’t even make his cock salute. It was a shame too because her eyes were eating him up like a starved woman wanting a snack.

“I’m sorry to keep you, but I’m afraid I didn’t get to meet you earlier. I always make a point to meet a man as good looking as you.”

Jacks frowned. Normally he loved his women fast and easy, but his cock didn’t agree this time. As he glanced down at Vera, he knew why. Vera outshined this fake golden goddess without all the glamorous clothes and makeup. Not only that, but something about Vera made him want to hold her down and give her a hard pounding to loosen her up.

“I’m Ariss, Ariss Luvina. It’s so good to meet you...”

“Jackson Marsh. Everyone just calls me Jacks though,” he said gruffly and shook her hand harder than necessary. Her eyes twinkled at him as she sent him another perfect smile.

“If you’re not busy later I would love to have dinner with you. You seem like such an interesting man.” Jacks refrained from snorting but Vera didn’t. She arched a shapely brow at Ariss like she was nuts. Well wasn’t that a little interesting. The urge to grin at her obvious dislike of Ariss was strong.

“Sorry but no thanks. We’ve got to go,” Jacks said.

“By all means, go out with her. I’m sure she’d love to have her hands on you,” Vera said and spun away on quick steps. Jacks growled in his throat and went to go after her but a soft, iron strong hand on his chest stopped him. He glared down at Ariss.

“She’s right you know. If not tonight, then you should come by room...anytime. I promise we’ll burn the sheets up together.”

Jacks sighed with and tossed her hand off his chest while touching her as little as possible. Then he stalked after Vera.

What the hell was it about her? She drove him nuts. Tied him up inside and dammit he hadn’t stopped thinking about kissing her since he met her. And that was months ago.

Making up his mind, he knew what he had to do and followed her to the bedroom.

Chapter Four

Vera slammed the bedroom door shut. Let the bastard have Ariss. Like she cared. She didn’t.

She just didn’t like perfectly beautiful women flirting with her guardian. That’s all.

The bastard burst into the bedroom and slammed the door shut behind him. That poor door was getting beat up for no reason.

She opened her mouth to yell at him—about what she wasn’t sure yet, anything at this point would work. But then he twisted the lock in the door and all words faded from her mind.

His eyes were dark again, smoldering with molten heat. His scent grew thick and luscious; it was male, sex, and something uniquely him all rolled together. The lykaen and woman in her wanted to roll around in that scent, nuzzle it, and hold it close.

Closer and closer he came until finally his body pressed lightly against hers. Her breaths came quicker and her nipples puckered against his chest. She licked her lips and looked up, up at him. His lips were pulled into a hard line. He looked like a man on edge. A man ready to explode.

Her mind was shutting down, her defenses deflating as quickly as a popped balloon. Where was the fire in her? The shield she’d erected around her body and her heart to keep something like this from happening. Was she forever doomed to face the same fate again and again? She couldn’t lose control. She had to be in control.

So she did the only thing she thought of in that chaotic moment and wrapped her arms around his neck, leaned into his strong body, and kissed him.

The world spun, the earth moved, shattering under her feet. He froze for half a second, and then slanted his head and took over the kiss with such skill, such force, that she had no choice but to succumb to it.

His lips were full, warm, and pliant against hers. His tongue slid into her mouth searching, plundering. She clung to him like a leaf to a tree in a storm. His hands stroked her back, reached down to cup her ass, then pressed her hard against him. Never had she felt this strong flush of desire.

She couldn’t get enough of his lips. How were they so soft? Why did he taste so good?

Groaning, she held him tighter uncaring of the soft, needy noises leaving her throat, or that her hips arched anxiously into his. The earth moved again as his tongue glided hot and wet into her mouth. The wet touch triggered and answering dampness inside her.

His tongue was raspy; it reminded her of sandpaper but not nearly so abrasive. Then there was a hard wall against her back.

He tore his mouth from hers and buried his face in her neck. “God you’re so beautiful. You drive me mad, Vera.”

She had the urge to tell him flattery wasn’t necessary that her body was fully on board with whatever he could dish out. But the reprieve from his kiss gave her a moment to think. As his mouth worked delicious magic against the soft skin of her throat, Vera thought frantically.

Jacks pulled away to glare down at her “Dammit, what’s wrong? I can feel the change.” He pressed his hips against her and let her feel the steel hard press of his cock. His touch burned her, fueled a wild fire inside her.

For a human he was observant. Did the man have to unnerve her so? She broke eye contact with him to stare at a point across the room.

“I just...don’t know where this is going. Don’t know if I want it to go there or anywhere. I don’t even think I like you.” Because you scare me deep inside. So much more than Dmetri ever did.

His hands gentled on her body and turned soft and caressing over her shoulders, arms, and back. If her body grew anymore soft, she’d be pudding on the floor.

“I may not be able to answer those first two questions, sugar, but I can answer the last. If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a soldier, it’s to trust your instincts. And both of ours are singing in perfect tune together.” He drew his lips up her neck and she arched to give him more room as she struggled to breathe.

“You like me, Vera. Your body likes me, wants me. I can feel the damp heat of your pussy through your tight little jeans as easily as if they were a clump on the floor.”

Her heart was pounding in her chest, her ears. When had she become baby to him? She’d be lying if she said she didn’t love the sound of it.

Fingers curling into his back, she clung tight as his tongue laved at her lips then claimed them. His kiss was hard, demanding. He cornered her body against the wall, and his tongue shot into her mouth mimicking a primitive action that she wanted inside her where she was wet and painfully empty.

Somehow she managed to drag her mouth from his to rain kisses along his hard jaw and neck. His pulse leapt under her lips and she smiled faintly. The predator inside her relished his heat, his scent, his blood. She licked his pulse then bit over his skin. He growled a deep, pleasured sound and tightened his grip on her ass.

She continued her torture on the other side of his neck. God, he smelled so good. She licked at him like a kitten with milk as she ran her hands over the strong muscles of his back. This man was everything that was strong and masculine in the world, and her beast was whimpering inside.

Cool air on her ass brought her mind swerving hard back to reality. He’d managed to unbutton her pants and shove them down to her thighs, and she hadn’t even realized it. Now he groaned deep in his throat as he cupped, squeezed, and massaged the rounded globes of her ass.

“Ahh, baby. You’re fucking perfect.”

The first skin on skin contact was too much. She moaned high in her throat and panted as her mind tried to process all the sensations at once. He took advantage of her situation and dove down to clasp on her hard nipple through her shirt. His clever lips tugged and pulled on her, creating an answering lick of heat between her legs.

It was too good. Way too good.

His fingers curled around the bottom of her cheeks and teased the wet cream of her through her panties.

“Jacks,” she pleaded.

“I know baby, I know. I’ll take care of it.”

Those words sent her common sense slamming back into her. Control. She couldn’t lose control.

Growling with the beast in her throat, she grabbed him by the hair and yanked him back from her breast. When he looked up at her with startled passion on his face, she kicked out one of his legs and fell with him as they tumbled to the ground.

She didn’t waste any time but climbed over him, resting her aching core over the hard length of his cock. They both groaned and fought for each other like wild animals. If she wasn’t absolutely certain she’d bet he was a lykaen. No human had passion like this, could make her beast whimper for him.

Their mouths caught and fought against each other with tongues and teeth as she caught the hem of his shirt and started to tear it up. She had to know what he looked like finally.

Was he smooth, coiled with muscle, or hard and hairy? Her stomach clenched and she yanked up his shirt, pulled her mouth away to see a patch of dark skin dusted lightly with black hair.

A loud banging shattered her lust like an explosion. She pulled back so quickly from him she fell on her ass and skidded away, jerking up her pants and frantically looking down at her shirt where a wet spot was formed over her nipple. She looked from him, disheveled and sexy as hell on the floor--his cock tenting his cargos, his shirt rucked up to his tight stomach, his cheeks flushed with pleasure, back to the door in a double take.

Vera winced at the nasty snarl on Jackson’s face.

“I’m coming,” she hollered. She didn’t have time to find a new shirt so she was sure to keep her breast hidden behind the door before she opened it. As she turned the door handle, she heard Jacks mutter behind her, yeah, you would have been coming too. Her body tightened at the sound of his gruff, sex-laced voice. Checking herself one more time, she took a deep breath and opened the door.

Dmetri scowled at her. Oh, shit. His nostrils flared and she knew he smelled everything in that moment--the lust, her body’s response, Jackson’s desire. There was no hiding it. So she licked her lips and plastered on a false smile, something she was always good at.

“May I help you, Dmetri?” His eyes held such anger, such raw emotion that she had to bite her cheek to keep from smacking him. Or of at least screaming in his face that he was the one that broke up with her. Well, all you got was one shot, buddy.

“I just came to bring you this. Your favorite, if I recall.” Vera saw the bottle of wine in his hand wrapped with a red ribbon tied into a bow around the neck of it. It was her favorite wine.

“Yes, um, thank you.” She took the bottle and was about to close the door when he spoke.

He sniffed the air again and tilted his head to the side. “Are you...breeding?” Her jaw clenched so hard and fast it was wonder she didn’t snap a damn muscle.

“No, I’m not breeding.” He pulled back and scowled.

“So then you’re willing...with the human?” Her mouth opened and closed. She wasn’t sure what the hell was going on with her and the human, but there was nothing wrong with him.

Leaning forward, she let her eyes drop to a flirty mask. “Oh yeah, he makes me feel...” She bit her lip, fluttered her hand over her neck and down her stomach, and then stopped with her hand a scant inch above her still aching pussy. “Wild and delicious.”

He took a step back and scowled. She whispered a goodbye and shut the door.

# # #

When she spun around the silly smile on her face faltered to a stop. Jacks was standing much closer than she realized. His arms were crossed across his big chest, and she knew he was angry about something, yet all she could seem to focus on was how big his biceps were when he did that.

“Are you ready to tell me about the two of you yet?”

She licked her lips and slowly brought her eyes back up to his face. A good-looking face too with dark, rounded eyebrows and lashes framed a pair of beautiful— albeit angry — blue eyes.

“Nope,” she said and skirted around him to grab a glass off the side table. She unscrewed the bottle of wine and sniffed the contents. Her favorite expensive goodness—she signed heavily and downed the first glass. She was glad for Dmetri’s interruption; it was a sign for sure.

“Better take it easy with that stuff,” Jacks warned.

Rolling her eyes, Vera pressed her fingers to her lips to keep from laughing and poured another glass. The dark red liquid was her favorite color and it tasted like sweet cherries and earth. She tossed back another two glasses and was finally starting to feel warm again.

“Why don’t you tell me about yourself,” Vera asked and perched herself, and her bottle of wine, in the windowsill. She’d always wanted a window like this. It was big enough for her to curl up in and look outside. She once thought she’d be living here and using this very same window to read and gaze out at the night. Bitter memories. Old thoughts. She took another swig, this time straight from the bottle.

“I don’t have anything to say.” She lolled her heavy head to the side to look at him.

“Of course you do, we all do,” she said in a duh voice. She lifted the bottle, waved it towards him, and nearly spilled some.

Jacks shook his head at her and took a seat in a high-backed chair across the room. Vera pouted at the distance. She almost laughed at how out of place he looked. He looked so uncomfortable, and he glanced at the bedroom door as if wishing for an escape. How cute the human was.

“Tell me about your family.” She didn’t think it was possible, but his body stiffened even further.

“No,” he said curtly. O-kay.

“Tell me about how you met my brother.” He sighed and looked at her, then her bottle of half-empty wine and shook his head miserably.

“I joined the marines when I was 18. Couldn’t wait to get the hell out of there. It was better at first then at home but not for long. I met Rome my second year in. I was in a hurry and already pissed off because I’d had a fight with my bunkmate earlier. We had a confrontation, and when it was done...well, you know the rest.”

Vera nibbled on her lip and stared at him with soft eyes. He stared off in the distance as if he was reliving that moment right now. He was so big for a human—and strong too. She wanted to curl up to him and let him pet her until she fell asleep. She wanted to ask him if he would, but a frown marred his hard face.

Vera gasped as a flash of pleasure surged through her. Oh, yes. The ache in her from before was flooding back in with obstinate force. Must be the wine, she thought. Her breasts ached heavily, needed to be squeezed to relieve the pain, and her core was growing wet. Her hand started to creep down her stomach to do just that, but she stopped just short.

“Rome.” Her whisper was so husky that she barely recognized it. His eyes snapped to hers and she watched as his eyes widened then narrowed on her. A predator. No, no, he’s only human.

He unwrapped his body from that chair, making the act look sexy as hell, and strode to her with his long-legged steps. He snatched the bottle of wine out of her hands, sniffed it with a grimace, then set it aside.

“I don’t know how your brothers ever tolerated you. You don’t even listen to the basic of advice.” Vera’s headed slid back to stare up at him. Her lips formed into a wide smile. She was trying to go for sexy, but was afraid she was coming off more as a loose, drunken slut. Hmm, maybe he was into loose-drunken sluts though.

“I’ve never been good at taking advice. It drives my brothers wild,” she whispered loudly. “Do me a favor and take me to bed.” He looked relieved and bent down to scoop her into her arms.

He was so strong, lifting her effortlessly. This close his scent and heat were irresistible. He set her on the bed, and when he went to pull away, she leaned forward and licked a hot path up his neck. He groaned, and she felt his neck spasm under her tongue.

Moaning, she wrapped her arms around his neck and brought his mouth down to hers. He hesitated the barest of moments before crashing his delectable human mouth against hers.

She moaned at his taste; it was heady, masculine, and sexy. She licked his tongue and sucked on its thick length like she wanted to his cock.

“Christ,” he muttered tearing his mouth away. “You’re drunk. I can’t do this, Vera.”

She made a mewling sound and grabbed him by the shirt. Didn’t he understand that her body was on fire for him? She hadn’t had a man in so very long.

“I’m not drunk, just relaxed,” she argued. She grabbed handfuls of his shirt and pulled him back down to her. He came but with a glower. She had a feeling that even with her lykaen strength, she couldn’t force him to do what she wanted.

“Baby, you drank at least half a bottle of wine in under an hour. You’re completely foxed.” Vera wiggled her hips, trying to get his attention where she needed him. When that didn’t work, tried maneuvering herself under his chest.

“I’m not nearly as drunk as you think I am. Okay maybe I am drunk but I’m fully aware of what I’m doing and what I want. Look at me and see the truth.” He looked away and she could tell that he was probably counting to ten before he looked back down at her. He studied her as if one would assess a painting or scrutinize cells under a microscope.

“Kiss me.” He was shaking his head, but he let her pull him back down to her.

“Baby, I don’t think this is a good idea.” Since when had he started calling her baby? She liked the sound of it—no, she loved it.

“No, it’s a wonderful idea,” she said then she kissed him. This time they both moaned as their lips met. She held back none of her need but gave him every burning bite of pleasure in that kiss.

His hands curled into her hair and tilted her head further into the kiss. The man consumed her; kissed as if he would die if he didn’t kiss her now. She had no choice but to hold on to him for the ride.

His heat was intoxicating and soon she needed more. She tore her mouth away to press kisses along that sexy stubble he had and down his thick neck.

“Christ woman,” he growled. Vera almost cried out at his voice. Her pussy was wet and needy, and it wanted him. She laid back and shimmied out of her shirt, baring her freed breasts to him. His eyes darkened, and then he was touching her. Mouth to nipple, tongue to breast, his hands covered them, molded them, and shaped them to his liking. Vera clawed at his back, wracking his shirt up so she could feel the hot heat of his skin beneath her fingers. So good.

His hand tightened in her hair and pulled her neck to the side, opening her to him. The gesture was so dominating--so wonderful--that it brought her back to reality.

“Jacks,” she breathed, then wrapped her legs around his waist and flipped him all the way onto the bed. She quickly rolled on top of him and started pushing his shirt up. Too many clothes. Needed skin.

“Help me,” she growled when he only stared at her bobbing breasts above him. He shook his head as if to clear it then took his shirt off. He licked his lips and settled his hands softly over her breasts, tracing lines down to her belly button then back up.

“Oh, God,” she moaned and arched into his touch. His touch grew bolder, stronger, cupping her breasts and pulling her nipples.

She wiggled her hips and fit herself against his cock. Her head fell back and she gasped as the hard, hot press of him against her sex.

That’s it; she was gone.

She scooted down to sit on his massive, powerful thighs and deftly unbuttoned and zipped his black cargo pants. She had them down to his knees before he started to protest.

Vera moaned as his cock popped free; it was hard and thick, it’s tip leaking white semen and pointing at a hard curve. Vera’s beast surfaced, consumed her, and she knew in that moment that her eyes glowed amber. With only one thought in her mind, she tore her clothes from her body and threw them across the room. The fire burned hard inside her, driving her.

She climbed up his big body, running her hands up his chest. He was perfect. Hard, flat stomach with a dusting of dark hair that started at his stomach and stopped at his chest.

Moaning she climbed over his cock and pressed him to her center.

“No, baby. God, we shouldn’t do this. You’re drunk.” Vera threw back her head and laughed, the sound dark and husky and not all human.

“Jacks, your cock is so hard you could come in a few hard strokes. Don’t tell me we shouldn’t do this.” Jacks grabbed her hips in a hard grip, fingers biting into her soft flesh. Vera loved the strength in him, her beast relished in his power.

Human, he’s only human. She gulped and tried to ease herself down, but his grip kept her from moving an inch. Her wet, hot core teased the head of his cock like feathery touch, slipping along him.

“More please.” Short, gasping words from her arched throat. Fingers dug into his hard-muscled chest, clenching and releasing like claws.

He held her tighter, his arms faintly trembling with the effort to hold her. Vera looked down at him, saw the pained expression on his face, and softened. Leaning down to him, she gently kissed his mouth, his chin, his neck.

“I want you, Jackson.” She ran her hand through his short, coffee-colored hair. She didn’t know where it came from, but the next words out of her mouth weren’t a game or pretense but came from her heart. “I’ve never wanted anything so badly. You drive me wild.”

Jacks groaned, a deep rumble from his chest, and then slowly, steadily, inch-by-inch lowered her onto his cock. Vera gasped at the hot, wide press of him, and grabbed hard onto his shoulders as he entered her. Another inch, than another, squeezing hard past her unused muscles, until finally with a hard shove, he filled her completely.

“Fuck. You feel so good, baby,” he said deliriously. His hands reached to cup her bottom.

“Jacks, Jacks,” she chanted, and then they were both moving together. Slow at first, then faster she bobbed on top of him, her pussy swallowing his hard cock again and again. He stretched her so far, filled her so full, it was unlike anything she’d ever felt.

She was going to fall apart. He pushed inside, shoved her closer and closer to release. She panted into his ear, licked around the shell of it until he was driving into her faster, harder.

The bed shook and slammed into the wall with his driving thrusts. His gripped returned to her hips to push her into him in perfect harmony. His thigh muscles clenched and released under hers, working so hard to please her.

“Come, baby. I need to feel it,” he grunted hot breaths panting against her cheek.

Her cries escalated as her inner walls rippled, milking his cock. Her hips spasmed, thighs quaking and seizing as she fell over into the abyss.

“Oh, God, that’s it baby. Come hard. Oh fuck.” His cock felt like it was being milked and sucked at the same time. He drove himself into her, letting her orgasm flex over his cock. Oh, damn, but he was gone. Couldn’t believe he’d lasted this long inside her. Perfect didn’t begin to describe her.

He fucked her tightening muscles harder, faster, and then slammed in one last time as his balls drew up and his seed blasted from his cock like a rocket. He wrapped his arms around her waist, trapping her to him as he emptied his balls into her.

Gasping, his mind reeling, his body still spinning somewhere high in the sky, Vera pushed him aside and slid to a stand. It took him several blinks to realize that she was leaving him so quickly after sex and was already getting dressed.

He opened his mouth to order her back to bed, but then he caught a glimpse of her guarded eyes and stopped himself. She looked haunted, sad even. How could she manage to feel like that after such amazing sex?

Whatever was going on in her head, one thing Jacks knew for sure, he was going to find out what it was.

Chapter Five

Her brother Darien used to tell her to never begin a new day with yesterday’s shit. Vera snorted as she pulled on her shoes. While Darien may not always be eloquent, he was usually right--even in his own strange philosophical way.

Slipping on a denim skirt, some flats, and a black top, Vera frowned. Darien hadn’t talked to her since the accident with his woman. Even now he was on a Journey, could be in danger, and none of them would know about it. She’d do anything to ease her brother’s suffering, if only she knew how. She’d face the loss of a loved one too, but in a different way than Darien. Her love didn’t die, just didn’t want her anymore.

She took a deep, calming breath and shoved that thought aside since the love in question was in this very house.

A new day equals new shit. So today she was strapping back on her usual grin and was going to act like an adult around Jacks. She couldn’t ignore the fact that she’d had sex with him yesterday, and she couldn’t ignore that she desperately wanted to do it again, so much so that her body was already preparing itself for him, softening.

Bodies were so unreliable.

In the heat of the moment when you needed strength, it eluded you. When you wanted to resist something, it taunts you, and when you don’t want to love someone--it says fuck you, and does it anyways. Then it shoves you with the rest of your bleeding heart in a torn package while wearing nasty smile.

Happy thoughts, new day. Going to act like a mature adult.

Speaking of sexy, err, mature adults, Vera peaked under her lashes and saw the dark figure of her thoughts staring out the window. Whatever was on the outside that he was glaring at she felt sorry for it. His arms were crossed over his big, hard chest, stretching his white t-shirt until she could see his tan skin through it. He wore jeans instead of his usual cargos and they hung slow and tight on his hips.

She tried to look at him and not remember last night, but it was like being hit with a car and sitting in the hospital room the next day…while in a full body cast swearing it never happened. She wasn’t that crazy. The sex between them had been intense, boiling hot, and her body was ready for a repeat experiment.

Not gonna happen, she told it. Her sex pouted in disappointment.

If there was one thing she couldn’t lie about though it was that she’d never had sex that felt like that. She’d been so hungry for him; it reminded her of her breeding cycle. Except she wasn’t breeding. Yet she’d wanted him with the same desperation as if she were. She still wanted him with a fervor that sent a flicker of unease skirting through her.

No, no, it couldn’t be.

Quickly burying the thought, she headed to the door and called out, “I want to go for a walk before the next meeting. You coming or--” Her words trailed off to a whisper as he turned to look at her. Her mouth dried up at the searing heat in his gaze. His blue eyes were darker than the sky at midnight--the same color they’d been when he was deep inside her last night. His arms fell to his sides; big hands that curled into even bigger fists.

She swallowed twice before her eyes fell down over his hard chest, remembering the hard, firm feel of him under her hands was sweet punishment. Then her eyes trailed down to his jeans where his cock filled out hard beneath his zipper.

“Do you see something you like?”

Hell yes.

Clearing her dirt dry throat she croaked, “Not really. I just really want to go for a walk.” She sounded desperate, even to her own ears.

He strode towards her with the hard, long steps of a general marching on the war front. She tried to side step him, but he grabbed her hips, thrust her into the wall, and crowded her with his body. Her body flushed with warm, delicious heat, softening just for him. His cock was a blatant reminder against her stomach.

Lips, kissing the corner of her mouth, across her flushed cheek, to the corner of her ear. Then he whispered dark and dangerous, “I think you like me, baby. I think you like me a lot. Your body’s on fire for me, I can feel. I can see it.”

She was shaking her head no, a ridiculous denial. Why she was denying it, she wasn’t sure. Except that what she’d done with him last night was a mistake. Yet that incredible passion she felt then, she still felt. Her mind might be in a tug-o-war match over whether it was a mistake, or a huge mistake, but her body was practically fist pumping the air at his attention.

“No, eh?” He bent his knees and rubbed his cock along her pussy. Even through their clothes, it made Vera’s breath catch, her sex throb like a pulse. He pulled back to look down at her. This man was a soldier, a man who didn’t miss a thing. He caught her hooded eyes, her rapid pulse, her hard nipples in a split second.

His eyes fell on her lips like a predator assessing its prey. Her tongue darted out at his hungry expression.

His shoulders fell as if he just lost some great battle, then he growled a dark curse and took her mouth.

She was ready for his kiss, born ready, but it still didn’t make the impact of it any less devastating. He claimed her lips hard with slick tongue and fiery lips. Hands roaming down her curvy backside, cupped her bottom, possessing her with his mere touch.

All thoughts of why this wasn’t a good idea, of keeping the hard shield erected around her wilted away like a dying flower in winter. He consumed her with a dizzying passion that bordered on madness. Vera clung to him and exchanged every ounce of passionate energy with him. Her thighs scissored in need, ached to be wrapped around his hard hips.

The door shuddered beneath her back and Jacks pulled back on an ugly curse.

“You’ve got be fucking kidding me. This place is fucking rigged,” he growled and tore away from her.

Her hand shook as she opened the door to whoever was knocking. Dmetri was standing there with a feral scowl on his face. With his sense of smell and hearing, he hadn’t missed her and Jacks’ exchange. She grinned, well good. It was more than he deserved really.

“Can I help you...again, Dmetri? The meeting isn’t for another two hours.”

“Yes, I know. I wanted to see if you’d take a walk with me.” He sent a withering glare to Jacks who seemed completely unaffected by it.

Vera snorted. “You don’t go for walks, Dmetri. What do you really want?” He shifted on his feet, a subtle tell, but one she was familiar with. He was getting uncomfortable.

She looked up into his handsome face, and for a moment, she almost wanted to cry. To break down and let it all out without a care for who saw her. This man had broken her heart into a million irreparable pieces.

“I wanted to talk.”

Vera’s smile faltered. Her heart felt like an anvil was sitting on it and her eyes watered. She quickly looked down and discreetly blinked them away, hoping like hell that he didn’t see that. She really needed to take a good sniff, but couldn’t with these two men around her--her old lover and her new one.

When she had her tears under control, she finally lifted her head—and knew from the tightening around his eyes that he’d noticed it.

In a cheery voice, she said, “Fine, I was going out anyways,” and stepped past him.

She couldn’t get out of there fast enough. She walked and didn’t stop until there was grass under her feet. Dmetri came up beside her, his long blonde hair reaching towards her in the breeze. The sunlight bounced off his pale skin giving him a faint, creamy glow.

A sudden thought had her snickering. “What?” Dmetri asked, looking at her.

“I was just thinking it’s funny that your skin doesn’t glitter in the sunlight.”

He looked at her as if she’d just escaped the nuthouse. “Why on earth would I glitter in the sunlight?”

After she had her laughter under control, she said with all seriousness, “Because you’re a vampire. Edward Cullen glitters in the sunlight, like a diamond twinkling in the light.”

“I don’t know who Edward Cullen is but vampires do not...twinkle.” He said the word with such disdain that she broke into a fit of laughter. His eyes softened as he looked down at her and her laughter quickly turned into hard coughs.

She knew he was there because she could smell his distinct scent but she looked behind her anyway to see Jacks trailing them. He looked every bit the bodyguard with his eyes alert on the environment—on Dmetri. Her heart leaped in her chest, stomach fluttered and danced as she looked at him. When she turned back to look at Dmetri, she didn’t miss the fact that she felt none of that for him.

“What did you want to talk about?”

“You, me, us.”

“There hasn’t been an ‘us’ for a long time, and there isn’t going to be.”

“God dammit, Vera, just give me a chance. I fucked up badly. I know that now and I want to fix it.” Some things were either too broken to fix or too old to bother with. She wasn’t sure which category they belonged it, but it was probably the former.

“You don’t really want me, Dmetri.” He started to argue but she held out a hand. “No wait, listen to me. You don’t. We were together for a whole year. A year that I spent loving you and you spent not loving me. You didn’t love me then and you don’t love me now. That’s why you ended things.”

Calm and cool, Vera took a deep breath and nearly smiled. She was doing good at this. Shock couldn’t begin to describe what she was feeling. More like her mind was in a blender and someone hit frappe. But neither she nor her beast was interested in his offer, which surprised her most of all.

“Dammit, I’m sorry about that Vera. I’ve been sorry about it ever since I said it, ever since I let you go. And why does love matter so much to you anyways? We didn’t need love then and we don’t need it now. We were good together, Vera. We both know it.”

Vera’s hands curled into fists. She may not be as strong as a vampire, but with the rage of her lykaen beast, she was certain she could get in a few, very gratifying shots before he could react. Something in her snapped. Coming to a hard stop, she shoved him hard in the chest.

“You’ve been sorry about it? What the hell does that mean. No, don’t answer that. I know what it means. It means you realized you fucked up and now you miss me. Well do you know what I have to say about that,” she looked left then right, then got up in his face and yelled, “too fucking bad!”

It felt good to be telling him how she felt. Hell, she’d been living with it for years. And now that she’d started, she couldn’t stop. She paced before him and ranted.

“You don’t know what love has to do with it? What are you Tina Turner? Love has everything to do with it. I loved you, Dmetri. I wanted to marry you and spend my life with you in that ridiculously huge castle you call a home.” She was shouting now but she didn’t care.

“We might have been ‘good’ together, but dammit I can do better. I can be great with someone, if I’m lucky we might even be perfect. And you know what, Dmetri? I’m glad you broke up with me. I’m ecstatic because it was the right thing to do. You didn’t love me, and that’s not what I want. I want a man who can actually say the words and mean them. A man who actually needs to hear that I love him too.”

Her voice lowered to a husky, shaking whisper. Unshed tears were shiny droplets hanging in her eyes, her body a shaking mass of wired flesh.

“And you don’t deserve this either. You don’t deserve a half a relationship. You deserve a woman you can love and a woman who loves you. You may not realize it yet, but it’s true.”

And with her words still lingering in the air, she turned and walked away, her old pain a fleeting memory.

# # #

Vera had to walk, couldn’t stop moving even as she pushed into the trees and felt her feet sinking into the soft, muddy soil. She looked up through the canopy of trees to see gray light filtering in like flashlight beams from heaven. A storm was moving in, it darkened the sky with dark puffy clouds as it rumbled and growled its way overhead.

She couldn’t catch her breath and her stupid heart was panicking in her chest.

What had she done?

Elation turned to excitement and buzzed in her veins like a drug, but regret and doubt clouded her mind with worry, making her climb her way over fallen trees and rocks with steely determination.

A hand touched her shoulder and she screeched, spinning around with her hands held out. She blinked then cocked her head to the side. God, how had she forgotten he was here? This was so not what she needed. That last thing she wanted to think about was the newest complication in her life.

She squared off to face him. “What are you doing here?” Jacks narrowed his gaze on her.

“I’m here to protect you.”

“Oh yeah,” she said, throwing out her arms and spinning in an unsteady circle. “I really need your protection all the way out here in the middle of nowhere. Why don’t you do me a favor and meet me back at the house, okay?” There, she could be calm and reasonable.

“I can’t do that.” Vera didn’t know if she wanted to laugh or cry, but when she stopped spinning and faced him she realized he was much closer to her than before. Or maybe her mind was just out of it. God dammit, she really didn’t need this now. So she did the only thing she could do and plastered on her trademark cocky smile.

“Yes, you can do that. See it’s not very difficult. You just turn around and start walking.” She mimicked the motion with her two fingers. “See? Easy.”

Too late, she realized she’d said the wrong thing. His body seemed to grow bigger, stronger as he came towards her. Blue eyes darkened to the color of midnight and never left hers.

She could have backed up, but dammit, her legs were traitorous bastards and stayed frozen in place. She let him brush against her, wrap his arms around her, and when his mouth captured hers, the worry in her left like a fleeting wind. Leaving only a different kind of exhilaration. He lifted his lips and whispered her name—a haunted, husky ache of sound.

Thoughts fled her mind except one.

Jacks, Jacks.

She grabbed on to his shoulders and vaulted her legs around his hips, grinding her swelling sex against the hard cock that awaited her beneath his jeans.

Movement processed somewhere in her mind and she realized he was walking, and then hard bark was pressing into her back. She sunk her hand into his short, spiky hair and kissed him to keep from moaning. God, he tasted so good. Her tongue licked his, passed over his teeth and inner cheek, she couldn’t get enough of him. And when he groaned and squeezed her breast through her shirt, she knew he was just as gone as she was.

“I need you,” he growled, pushing her shirt up past her bra so he could see her breasts. His breaths deepened as he took in her heavy breasts, and he didn’t hesitate to pull them out of her bra cups. A part of her couldn’t help but like the way he took charge. He touched her possessively, like a man sampling goods before buying; his touch was rough and just a little bit hard as he plumped and massaged her breasts.

He didn’t need to touch her anymore. Her body was more than ready. His head bent down to take in a hard nipple and she gasped, her hands latching on to his back to hold on as pleasure shot through her.

“Jacks,” she whispered roughly. How had she never felt anything like this? She wanted to curl around him on the earthen floor and be taken by him in every way imaginable. She had to be careful. It would be so easy to lose herself in him, forget about all those reasons she needed to be in control. This was just like before but with some key difference she couldn’t wrap her foggy mind around.

Control. Had to stay in control. The unbearable pain of losing it wasn’t something she could afford to try twice.

Vera grabbed Jacks hair, pulled until he growled at her and pulled away from her breast. He reminded her of a beast snapping at her because she took away his toy.

Dropping her legs back to the ground, she used her lykaen strength to shove him hard. He still only moved back a foot, when he should have gone several, but she used the advantage she had and tripped his ankle so he went sprawling back to the earth.

She climbed up his body, her eyes ravishing his hard, muscular body. His thighs were like solid tree trunks that she wanted to kiss and worship with her fingertips and tongue. She laid down over him, rested her cheek against the hard bulge in his jeans.

“Jesus Christ, Vera. Get the fuck up here now. If you don’t want your panties ripped off, you better take them off now.” Moaning, she ignored him and continued to rub her cheek back and forth across his zipper. She licked the denim, her hips undulating in a subtle plea. “You better take my cock out and do something about it before I take over, baby.”

Vera heard the threat in his voice and smiled. She felt like a cat in heat--as if she was in her breeding cycle and craved only one thing. Only usually it didn’t matter who gave her what she needed so long as she got it. But this was different. It was only this man, this human man that she wanted.

She reached to unbutton his pants, her fingers tracing the edge of his low-slung jeans, dipping inside to feel the blazing heat of his skin.

“Fuck,” he growled, and then his hands were there, unzipping his jeans and pulling out his cock.

Vera moaned and couldn’t stop her tongue from flicking out and tasting the side of his cock. She moaned again at his heady, masculine taste. His cock was so soft but hard underneath. The head was a dark shade of red and weeping at the tip.

“Vera,” he warned, his hand fisting in her hair. Vera knew what he wanted, what she wanted to give him, but couldn’t resist teasing him even as her pussy throbbed and creamed.

Using only her tongue, she traced the sides of his cock, ignoring the tip that so desperately wanted her. Finally, after it was all wet, she used her lips and tongue to kiss the long, hard length. The hand in her hair started to shake. When she looked up, she saw his chest working hard, his lips pulled back into a pained grimace, and a dark warning in his eyes.

That was all the warning she had before his hand tightened in her hair and he thrust his cock past her lips and into her mouth. She watched as his eyes rolled back and his head fell heavily down to the ground. After he got into her mouth, he couldn’t stop. His hips pumped his cock between her plump lips, against her wet tongue, with only one thought in mind--pleasure.

Vera moaned and tightened her hands on his hard hips and knew she’d leave fingernail marks there. But then she pushed him down hard and pulled her mouth away. This was about control, her control. How did he manage to keep turning this on her?

She flicked her tongue over the tip of him then started climbing up his body. He watched her like a hurt animal. She had no idea what he was thinking, but she sensed he was on the edge. And she desperately wanted to push him over.

She leaned down over his flushed face and pressed a soft kiss to his hard mouth. When he didn’t kiss her back, she repeated the process again and again. Finally, on the third kiss, he snapped.

With a maddening shout, he grabbed her and flipped her over. It became a fight. She struggled against him, fighting him limb for limb as he turned her onto her stomach then spread her knees wide.

“No, dammit!”

“I’ve had enough of your games,” came his dark threat.

But she fought against the hands pushing her chest into the ground, her hips back and up. She would not be taken like a dog. She would not lose this fight. Snarling, she kicked her legs at him, but he tightened his grip and brought his hips flush to her ass.

She couldn’t catch her breath or think quickly enough as he grabbed her hands in one of his and held them to the ground in front of her. His other hand was pushing up her skirt to her waist. Cool air breezed over her ass and she growled, the sound filled with her beast. She tried to pull her hands away, he would not take her like this, but somehow he was stronger. Impossible!

“No!” But he ignored her shout and ripped her panties off.

“I warned you baby,” was all he said and then plunged his cock deep inside her. Vera yelled but this time for an entirely different reason.

Deep, blossoming pleasure engulfed her like a tidal wave. He stretched her muscles wide, filled her to the brink and then some. And he didn’t stay still but pounded into her with the fervor of a man gone too long without sex.

Her fingers curled into the dirt underneath his strong hand and the only sound she could form past her lips was “ooooh!”

Her hips curled back against him, her back arched until her hard nipples brushed against the dirt below. His free hand grabbed her hair and pulled and she snapped her teeth at him in warning. But then he relaxed his grip and grabbed her shoulder, pushing her down into the dirt. It was the most dominant of positions and Vera shouldn’t want it--couldn’t want it--yet her body was building quickly to a release that surely the entire world would feel.

He rocked within her tight channel that gripped his cock like a vice and groaned. He couldn’t stop. If someone pointed a gun at his head, he still didn’t know if he’d be able to stop. She felt too good, was making delicious sexy sounds that made his balls throb. He knew he was being too rough, had never been so hard on a woman before, but for some reason he couldn’t stop himself anymore than he could stop breathing. Somehow, he sensed that this was necessary. That she needed this as much as he did.

“So beautiful,” he said between clenched teeth. His fingers curled into her shoulder, holding her in place as he pounded harder into her tight gripping pussy.

Her moan started low then grew higher and higher until finally she was shouting his name in one long, drawn-out song. Jacks felt her pussy quiver and tighten over his cock as she started coming. Jesus Christ, it was unlike anything he’d ever felt. It was like her pussy was trying to milk his semen from him.

And as she screamed her release and trembled hard with pleasure beneath him, Jacks tightened his grip and bore down on her, burying his cock deep inside her. He exploded, his come filling her in long, hard spurts.

He was trembling like a fucking leaf. Carefully he pulled out of her and fell next to her in the grass. Regret had him burying his face in his hand. She was so small, filled with luscious curves meant for a man’s gentle touch, not the brutal pounding he’d just given her. Damned he’d never taken a woman like that. Had never even wanted to. Yet he hadn’t been able to stop himself. Hadn’t wanted to stop. Shit, he’d royally screwed up this time. It was her fault; she was like a drug.

He heard a soft moan, a ruffling of movement, then felt the soft press of her body against his. Wearily he moved his hand away from his face to see her cuddling up against him. She laid her arm across his chest and rested her cheek against his side as her leg curled over his.

She closed her eyes with a small smile on her face and Jacks felt something hard tug in his chest. Well at least she wasn’t mad. He curled his arm around her and held her close as he stared up at the canopy of trees.

Something was happening to him. She felt...good in his arms. For the second time that day, Jacks did something he’d never done, and fell asleep with a woman in his arms.

Chapter Six

Ariss wore her golden blond hair free and flowing down her shoulders today. Though what she just said detracted Vera’s opinion of her and her beauty by a lot.

“What do you mean you own a part of Kategan land?”

Her smile was that of a cat about to drink a saucer of cream. “My master, Claude Phelans, recently found these documents locked away in a safe at the manor. Deeds, in fact, that clearly shows that one thousand, eighty four acres of your land is actually ours.”

Vera’s mouth refused to shut. “Impossible. That’s been Kategan land—our land—for over a hundred years now.”

“Well it seems that we know differently now.”

This couldn’t be happening. “No way. And your Master Claude just happened to find these deeds now? What was he cleaning out the attic? Never mind, I want to see the deeds.”

Ariss smiled and shook her head sympathetically. “Here they are.”

Vera read over them with a sickening feeling filling her stomach. The deed was much longer than it was wide. It was the color of parchment and felt rough beneath her fingertips.

She read the yellow document twice trying to look for any flaw. It all looked legit, but didn’t they have lawyers for this kind of thing? She barely kept her hand from shaking as she passed the deed to Dmetri who read it with a scowl then passed it to a big man sitting to the right of him.

His name was Brayden, and he was the lead judge in all matters, and the lead counsel to the Justicars; his was say was final in all judicial matters whether vampire or lykaen. The future of the Kategan pack was no in his hands--literally.

“We’ll have to verify this, of course,” Brayden said. He had the voice of a man who was used to leading armies into battle. “Our Justicars will be able to trace the legitimacy of the document. Let’s not make any rulings on this yet, not until we have sufficient proof back. From there we will discuss how much land the Kategan’s have right to.”

Vera heard herself reply but numbness fogged over her mind and body. She watched everything happen around her as if from outside her own body. The meeting adjourned and Jacks slipped up beside her like some white knight and rescued her back to the bedroom where the fog finally drifted away and she returned to her body.

“She’s going to take our land.”

Jacks crossed his arms in a way that meant he was all business. His eyes grew so serious that lines bracketed his eyes and mouth. He had to be only in his early thirties yet he held such character in his hard face. What had put that there? War, the military, or something else?

“How many acres do you own?”

“One thousand two hundred acres. If she steals our land will leave us with only one hundred and sixteen. It’ll ruin us.”

She buried her face in her hands and fought the wave of hot tears that wanted to escape. A million thoughts whirled in her mind. How was she going to tell her family? How was the pack going to deal with this? It was impossible, there simply wasn’t enough space.

“Is her deed real?” asked Jacks.

“I wouldn’t think so. I mean, the Kategan’s have been there since the 1800s. How can they just now come out and say this?”

Jacks contemplated that. “What happens if the deed proves true and you refuse to give up your land?”

“We go to war with the vampires.”

“Then you need to call Vane.”

She stood and started pacing. “Not yet. His mate is pregnant. They don’t need this now. Besides, he’ll freak out and with his attitude, he might just start the war. No, no. This situation needs to be finessed. God, why does this room have to be so small?”

She paced from one side to the other muttering curses under her breath. Burning liquid still hadn’t dissipated from her eyes and if she didn’t get out of here soon then she was going to explode. Why had she wanted to come here? She must be insane. Her next home was definitely going to have the word asylum in it.

Frustration driving her hard, she rounded on Jacks. “Okay, listen to me, human. I need to walk this off before I take someone’s head off and considering the proximity, it will probably be yours. No phone calls to the Kategan’s, no telling anyone about this until I have a plan, okay? If shit gets too dire then I’ll call, but until then no.”

His hand reached out to cup her cheek in a touch so achingly gentle; she fumbled over her next words. Much softer she said, “I need to walk, okay. By myself. Just give me thirty minutes and I’ll be right back, but I really can’t be around you right now.” Her voice broke and one tear escaped, then another. She looked down at her feet as she wiped away the stupid things. Could she be any lamer?

It was his stupid gentle touch. Why did he have to do that? She heard movement, and then she was wrapped in his arms. This was not the aggressive, hard touch she’d felt earlier in the woods, or the urgent hands she felt last night in bed. No, this time he simply held her. Even with her arms down at her sides in tight fists, it felt good. His warm chest heated her cold skin and in a spark of irony made her feel like things were going to be fine.

She pulled back and kept her face down, too afraid to his face. “I’ll be back soon,” she said and escaped from him.

She had no idea if he’d follow her or not, so she waited at the end of the hall for a minute. When he didn’t come, she sighed and kept going. She walked down the main staircase and headed to the library. It was always a place she’d found refuge in while she lived here. The halls of the mansion were as familiar to her as the much less luxurious ones in her own small house.

She sighed in relief to find the library empty. Not a bit had changed in it either. The lush red carpet flowed all the way to the wide wooden staircase, which spiraled once to the second floor balcony. The balcony was always her favorite, and she found herself moving towards it. Books lined the walls of the balcony in massive mahogany bookcases and above them sat tall glass windows that displayed the thunderstorm brewing outside.

Lightning cracked and struck through the sky as Vera took her old seat at the one windowsill in the corner. It was the only space without a bookshelf and the window sat low enough for her to see out of it. She used to pick up a book and come read here until Dmetri would come find her.

Her heart gave a leap but it didn’t hurt as much as before. Was this what it took to get over him? To come here and talk to him? She’d avoided the yearly treaty meetings since things had ended between them. Until Jacks, she hadn’t had sex except with her breeding cycle partner. A single, male friend of hers who was always willing to help her out during her cycle.

Curling her feet under her, her mind strayed to the handsome human. Never in a million years would she have pictured herself liking a human, and there was no kidding herself, she did like him. She liked the way he stood in a room and drew all the faces to him without saying a word. She liked the way he watched the surroundings wherever he was. He’d done it even when she first met him back Rome’s place. He made her feel safe, protected. And when he touched her...it was like fireworks exploding inside her.

She tried to control herself around him, especially her heart, but the damned thing had a mind of its own. She’d given herself openly, freely to Dmetri and he’d broken her heart into little unfixable pieces. The wall she’d erected around her heart was there for her own protection. Yet every minute with Jacks was beating at that wall with a sledgehammer.

The scent in the air changed. Vera cocked her head to the side, a flare of silly hope filling her. Then she caught the scent of it: cold blood. Dmetri came up the stairs with the stride of a confident man and the limber grace of a cat. Her blossoming heart withered at the sight of his pale long hair.

She was already up and walking away, when he stopped her.

“Dammit Vera, wait. I need to talk to you.” Whatever it was she didn’t want to hear it. He caught her gently by the arm and turned her. His eyes tracked over her eyes, nose, then mouth before his lips curled into a frown. “You were crying.”

Shit, she’d forgotten about that. Why did the body have to be so revealing in times of pain? “Just a little. What do you want?” She yanked her arm out of his touch.

“I wanted to tell you that the situation with Ariss smells bad.”

“That’s probably just her perfume,” she said before she could stop herself.

He burst out laughing, and Vera wished she hadn’t said anything. The only redeeming quality she had was that his laughter no longer affected her like it used to. It used to light up her day when she did that, now she felt no stirring, just indifference. It was...nice.

“No, you know that’s not what I mean. Something’s really wrong with this. There’s no way her clan or Master Claude have owned a significant part of your land all this time. I’m going to call my friend at the Justicar’s office and make sure that all the right people get their hands on the deed.”

Vera pulled back. “Wait now, I don’t want anything illegal happening with the Kategan name anywhere near it. That’s just stomping out one pile of shit for another.”

He shook his head. “No, that’s not what I meant. I’m making sure the people I trust looks at the deed and verify it. Just in case they have someone working there.”

“Oh, well, thank you. I appreciate that.”

“I know this must be really hard for you.” Vera barely refrained from rolling her eyes. She wished she hadn’t decided to leave the bedroom after all.

“Yeah, well, thanks.” He didn’t miss her inattention or the fact that she was edging her way back to the staircase.

“Listen, I can see the way you watch the human. It’s...odd to be sure, but I’m not going to pursue you anymore. You were right. I had my chance and I messed up, but neither one of us deserve that kind of relationship.”

Uncomfortable, Vera crossed her arms and started down the stairs. “Thanks for that.”

“Hold on, there was...something else I needed to tell you.”

Don’t grind your teeth, it’s bad for them, she thought and turned around. “What?” She didn’t quite snap at him, but it was close.

She saw him fight a grin, but then he turned serious. Oh, shit, this must be bad. He came and stopped in front of her. Vera wanted to smile, because his presence did absolutely nothing to her. A year ago, she probably would have begged him to take her back, or slapped him for dumping her. But now, all she felt was...freedom. For a second, she heard Mel Gibson in Braveheart yelling freedom!

“It’s about when I brought you that bottle of wine.”

“What about it?” She stiffened. As if she could forget the first night she’d lain with Jacks.

She saw him hesitate and look away. He rubbed his hand over the back of his neck then finally muttered, “I laced it with blood.”

Vera arm swung out before she could stop it. The crack of her hand on his skin echoed in the library. His eye twitched but he did nothing.

Hands curling into fists, her arms shook with the suppressed need to hit him again. “Let me get this straight. You put vampire’s blood in my wine. The same wine that I drank half a bottle of in one night.”

His eyes widened with alarm, and his Russian accent thickened until his consonants were running together. “Shit, you drank that much of it. Vera, after I heard you with the human—”

“Jacks,” she interrupted. “His name is Jacks, not human.” He looked at her for a moment then nodded.

“When I heard you with him I was upset, but I was still hoping that you’d come drink it with me.”

Her arm shut out again, striking his opposite cheek. Her nostrils flared as she watched the spot of red bloom on his pale cheek to match the other one. It was the least of what he deserved. She also knew he could have stopped her if he wanted to, but he let her hit him.

A drop of vampire blood was an aphrodisiac, coupled with the effects of the alcohol and it was nearly a sure killer to get laid. A part of her knew he hadn’t meant it to be sinister—that in fact, they used to drink the very same thing together, and then make love all night, but they weren’t together now.

“I wanted to see if you’d come back to me.”

“Well I didn’t want to then and I don’t now.” With stunning clarity, she realized she meant that. If he’d asked her back, even with the wine and old memories, she’d have told him no. “Why did you even tell me this, Dmetri?”

He looked away. “Because I felt bad. I wasn’t going to give you the bottle after you said you didn’t want to walk with me, but you took it from my damn hand. I didn’t know what to do. I sure as hell didn’t want to tell you what was in there. Your human, I mean Jacks, might have had a fit.”

Vera smiled at the thought of Jacks going after Dmetri for her honor, and he would have. Feeling better for the first time since the meeting, she waved goodbye and went to find Jacks.

Chapter Seven

Jacks had already finished cleaning his Glock and was sharpening his KA-BAR knife when Vera returned. Not following her had been one of the hardest challenges in his life and he didn’t know what to make of it.

She looked better, the tears had dried up from her face, and color had returned to her cheeks. God she was beautiful. It hurt him just to look at her. She wasn’t model beautiful either. Well, maybe she was but he didn’t know jack shit about that. He knew that the more he looked at her, the more beautiful she became.

He liked the way her coffee-colored hair fell just to her chin and how her bangs stopped just above her eyebrows. It made her look sophisticated and out of his league all at the same time. He felt a tic form under his right eye and silently he cursed himself.

What the fuck was happening to him? His gut felt tight and unsure like he’d eaten something bad, and his heartbeat faster every time she was around him. He was probably just getting old, a fucking heart attack waiting to happen.

It didn’t that she was still wearing one of those damn dresses she seemed to like so much. His dick pulsed in his jeans and he kicked a leg out to ease the pressure. There was something about her he hadn’t figured out. There was much about her he had. Like that she’d loved that vampire Dmetri, hell anyone could see that. She’d worn it in her hurt eyes so easily.

But now he could see it was gone. He’d seen the change in her this afternoon as she’d yelled at the blond vampire. He’d been so proud of her, he’d wanted to pull her into his arms and kiss her good and long. Course, he got to do more than that later.

More tightening pressure in his groin and he was forced to kick out his other leg or risk cutting off all blood to his cock.

Shit, maybe that’s what he needed. That or a swim in the Arctic Ocean.

He also knew that she was alone. She looked so sad all the time, but the second someone started talking to her she plastered on a sarcastic smile and fake personality. Why’d she do it? Those were questions he burned to get an answer for, but first there was something driving him.

He watched her pour a glass of water and settle into a chair in front of the empty fireplace; Jacks crossed to her and took the seat next to her. She glanced at him for the first time since returning and Jacks didn’t miss the nervous darting of her eyes.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

Her thing eyebrows lifted past her bangs and her blue eyes peeked quickly at him then fluttered away. “Nothing’s wrong. Except the whole Kategan losing their land thing.” She shrugged as if to say ‘no biggie.’ Jacks relaxed in the chair, kicking his legs out in front of him to relieve that damned bulge in his crotch. Fucking dick never listened. If it had, he wouldn’t be in this situation to begin with and Rome’s mate wouldn’t have been cut up like Zorro went at her.

He didn’t miss the fact that Vera watched his legs then trailed up them to stop at his cock that was trying to push its way out of his zipper. Her cheeks flushed and he would have given a tooth to know what she was thinking at that moment. He knew what he was thinking: her sweet little tongue sucking his cock, right now with her between his legs.

“I know that’s bothering you, but that’s not what I meant. Something else happened while you were gone.”

She glanced away from him and scoffed. “And you guessed that because you spent some time working with Ms. Cleo and some of her psychic abilities rubbed off on you?”

“No, because when you came back the tears were dried up, but your back was so rigid it was a wonder your spine didn’t snap.” She turned and glared at him. This man had a knack for details that drove her past frustration and into gonna-start-slapping mode.

“Well aren’t you a regular Sherlock Holmes.” He didn’t even crack a smile, just stared at her, waiting. Sighing heavily, she shook her head and said, “If you must know then Dmetri and I had a little talk.”

She must be evil because a delicious feminine thrill flared inside her when his eyes darkened with anger, and his hands curled into loose fists. She could easily envision him wielding that big knife she’d seen him sharpening and carrying that shiny black gun on the table with intimate familiarity.

“About what,” he said between clenched teeth. She smiled at him, actually smiled. Not that fake one either, but a beautiful, thrilled smile that made his heart feel weird in his chest.

“About how he drugged that wine he gave me with an aphrodisiac.” He nearly threw himself out of the chair, but then she was on top of him in the blink of an eye.

Her eyes were glowing, not brightly, but a dim glow that reminded him of catching a deer in the headlights. He caught her hips in his hands as she crawled over his body, wrapping her arms around his neck and rubbing her cheek across his stubble like a cat. She’s lykaen not human. It was a little too late to have reservations about that now, dipshit.

“God damn,” he said, his throat so dry it was a croak. She rubbed her hands through his short hair and it took every ounce of his will not to roll his eyes into the back of his head. She was trying to distract him. Fuck that.

“What was in the aphrodisiac?”

“Vampire blood.”

His arms looped around her waist and brought her flush against his big chest. She gave a soft little sigh and snuggled into him. Damn she smelled good, felt good. He wanted to lift up her dress and feel all the glorious skin that he knew was baby soft, but he needed to know something first. Something that had been driving him crazy all day.

“Why didn’t you want me to take you from behind today?” She stiffened so quickly against him; it took a second for his mind to register the change. The soft woman he’d been holding now felt like a block of ice. She started to pull away so he snatched her wrists to keep her there, locking his arm tight around her. And she fought him, he could feel her using her strength to push against him...testing him. When she finally lifted her gaze to his it was hard—all the heat of the moment gone like a blown-out match.

“That’s none of your business.”

“Yes it is. I’m here to protect you, which makes it my business. There’s something between us, which also makes it my business. And I want to be inside you right now, which really makes it my business. I swear I’m not going to leave you alone about this until you tell me.”

She looked away, rolling her eyes. “There’s nothing between us right now but your ego.”

“Bullshit,” he said holding her closer, forcing her down into his arms. “Don’t lie to me, Vera. I don’t know what this is, I’ve never felt this before, and I’ve felt a lot in my life. Fear, horror, pain, shock, but this...I know you feel it too. Tell why you didn’t want me to.”

It was an order if she’d ever heard one. And she didn’t know what it was. It could have been his order, his persistence, her worry over the Kategan land, or some evil fairy sitting on her shoulder goading her, but she looked away and told the truth.

“Dmetri used to be aggressive in bed. I loved it. I think...I craved it.” His whole body clenched beneath hers and she rushed to finish. He was so much like an Alpha that she to keep reminding herself he was only human. “Now I know it wasn’t him. I loved him. I let myself go with him completely, gave him everything I had, and it wasn’t enough. He didn’t want me anymore and...” Somehow, she kept her voice soft and low.

“Since him I’ve never let a man dominate me in bed or anywhere else. It was in bed that I lost a piece of myself to him.” She laughed, the sound unsteady and high. “I used to always be so afraid to let myself go, completely, sexually. With Dmetri, I got to do that, I got to give the reigns of control over to him. I guess a part of me is afraid that if I lose that control again, it will just happen all over again. I really don’t think I could survive two broken hearts.”

This time when she pulled away, he let her go.

She went to the window and watched the night sky rain. It beat against the window, filling the room with dull tings.

Jacks’ mind was processing her words at the rate of a dialup connection. His heart was heavy in his chest yet beating fast like he’d been running. He wished like hell there was a training manual on what to do in this situation. He was left with no choice but to listen to his instincts. He strode to the window, spun her around, and caught her against him.

It was as if she’d been waiting for him this whole time. She wrapped her arms around his neck like he was her lifeline. He’d always been an honest man; it was something his mom had taught him from a young age.

So when he cupped her cheek, tilted her lips towards his, and said, “You can trust me. I don’t know how or why yet, but I know that I’m not going to leave you alone. There’s something about you that’s captured me. I don’t know what it is, but I’m going to find it, figure it out, and along the way I’m going to learn every inch of your body.”

Vera shook her head in desperation. “No, no, no.” She was still repeating the word when he bent down and captured her lips in a hard, dizzying kiss.

He let up for air, pushing her back against the wall. His big, rough hand found the edge of her dress and was lifting it, then he was touching her bare bottom with a greedy, hungry touch. The ache inside her deepened and bloomed.

“Yes, baby. Yes. You know this is something, right here between us, don’t deny it.” He leaned down to her ear and in a ragged voice said, “I hate liars, baby.” She couldn’t think with him touching her. His hands were on both off her ass cheeks, squeezing and keeping her close with his possessive touch.

The tip of his finger slid between her cheeks and only the strap of her thong saved her from his intimate, brandishing touch.

“You are all about control, aren’t you baby? I see it in everything you do. Hell, it’s even in the perfect way you make the bed every day all crisp and fucking neat. You could have been a good soldier baby. But this right here,” he said against the speeding pulse at her neck, “Tell me, did Dmetri claim this part of you too?” He stroked a finger over her tight anus and she gasped, clinging tight to his shoulders.

She tried to find words, but sensations were ricocheting through her body, and her mind was receiving dirty images of Jacks’ cock sliding in her ass. Her pussy clamped tight and her nipples formed into little hard pebbles.

He groaned, and rubbed her tender opening back and forth, soft but demanding. “I take your silence as answer.” He found her mouth again, his single finger still possessing her with his teasing caress. He thrust his tongue inside her, claiming her. She kissed him back with a hungry sound.

When he finally pulled back from her wet lips, his finger was still there, rubbing a little harder.

“I’m going to take you here, Vera. I’m going to make you feel something you’ve never felt. You’re going to love it, too. You’re going to come with my cock in your ass, and then I’m going to fill you full.”

His husky, dark words ended with the sound of zipper being pulled down. Vera didn’t know which of them did it, didn’t care so long as his cock was free. Her thong was shoved to the side as he wrapped one slender thigh around his waist, and then his cock nudged her wet, soft pussy and stabbed inside.

Mutual groans filled the room as ecstasy made a home in their bodies. Cursing, his hand wrapped in her hair, hold her still for his kiss as he shoved into her with a brutal rhythm that slammed her back and butt into the wall with each thrust. She loved the rough way he took her, the way his cock spread her open and filled her deep.

“So you’re wet and soft. Never felt anything like it.” His cock stoked the fire inside her, moved her towards a peak so high she was afraid she’d never get there or never come back down.

A new pressure below registered through her muddied mind. His thick finger, still in the cleft of her cheeks, teased her bare opening, then pushed a fraction inside. Vera gasped as his finger retreated then pushed back in just a little farther. It was a filling, sexy touch, and the new sensation sent her soaring towards her release.

Vera’s body froze for one slow, endless moment of time, and then her hips rocked and shook, sending his finger deep, his cock deeper inside. Her pussy clamped down on his hard cock, milking, sucking as her orgasm shattered through her body until she could feel it from her head down to her curling toes.

When it was done, she realized he wasn’t finished. He was moving again, even harder than before, spurred on by her creamy orgasm. His hand moved from her hair down to the base of her neck to cup her possessively, like an Alpha. Then his lips found the delicate skin of her throat and nipped at her as his cock tunneled through her soft, tight pussy with eager, quick thrusts.

She could feel his approaching orgasm by the swelling of his cock inside her. She relished the thought of him shooting deep inside her. The finger down below retreated, circled around her own cream seeping out from her pussy, and he used that soft wetness to push his finger inside her anus and didn’t stop until his finger was all the way in.

Vera moaned high, panicked, feeling completely consumed as his cock and finger filled her so deep and wide. Oh God, she’d never even thought about this. Had never known it could feel so good. She panted as he slowly pulled that finger in and out, in and out. She knew what was happening, what he was doing to her, even as it stunned her.

Her breathing grew fast and shallow, and her eyes closed so that the only thing she had left to do was feel his cock shoving through her tight pussy and his finger moving faster, faster. Her hips jerked hard as an orgasm ripped through her. She bit her lip to keep from crying out, and he growled against her throat, greedily pressing more of those delicious licks and nips there.

Intense pleasure bubbled through her, spilled out of her and around him. His rhythm grew rougher, faster, his finger moving smooth and quicker inside her, and then he pushed in hard, bit down and shouted on her shoulder as his cock spurted endless, long, hot spurts of cum inside her.

They stayed that way for awhile, until Jacks found enough strength to retract his finger and cock from her body, and kiss the teeth marks he’d put in her perfect skin. Being this close to her, feeling her in his arms made him feel...lighter, good. He’d never had that before and he didn’t know what to make of it.

When he looked into her soft, foggy eyes, he knew that she didn’t either.

Chapter Eight

Vera awoke to wonderful, sexy sensations. She blinked her eyes and barely had time to register that Jacks was sucking her nipple into his mouth, when he growled, jerked her thighs open, then shoved into her.

Vera gasped at his rough passion, her hands flew to his shoulders, but he caught them with his own and held them above her as his hips slapped hard against her.

She was still warm and wet from the night before, from his semen still inside her. She gasped as tight pleasure built inside her with each quick shove. His eyes were foggy with sleep, his breaths fast and loud.

She tried to move her arms, but he growled at her, his teeth nipping at her shoulder. Something hot pooled inside her. She had no choice but to take what he was giving her. It must be her sleep-addled mind because she closed her eyes, let him hold her down, and take her body.

He moved quicker inside her, balls slapping against her, and then his quick pace grew jerky, his breathing heavy. She was so close, just a little more and she would...

He licked her pulse and bit down over her throat. Vera cried out as her orgasm spun out of control. Pleasure consumed her, so hard and intense that it bordered on pain. He held her down by her arms, her hands, and whipped his hips through her milking pussy until finally landing deep. He jerked against her, his hips twitching as his cock filled her with a deluge of cum.

When he was done, he extracted himself and sidled next to her. His hands came up to cup her cheek, gently caressing. She blinked and looked at him. His expression was unreadable. A mask that she yearned to yank off and see what he was really feeling.

He started to roll away, but she stopped him by rolling on top of him. He didn’t hesitate but wrapped his arms around her. Something was happening between them, and it may be one sided, but Vera recognized it as clearly as when it happened the first time. She was falling in love.

“Tell me about your family.” She rested her cheek on his shoulder and watched the emotions flicker across his face. Grimace, frustration, anger. Finally he looked down at her and seemed to come to some kind of conclusion.

“I was born and raised in northern Texas.”

“Ooh a cowboy at heart.”

He smirked. “Not so much. Not everyone who lives in Texas wears Stetson’s, owns a ranch, and rides horses. Nah, my dad was a cop and my mom a homemaker.”

“Are you an only child then?” He nodded, his eyes glazing over into a faraway look.

“Are your parents still together?” That faraway look died and became lethal.

“My dad died.”

“Oh my God, I’m so sorry. I had no idea. I didn’t mean to-”

His hand slid into her hair and cupped her head; he shook his head no. “There’s nothing to be sorry for. The day he croaked was a blessing.”

Heavy silence filled the room.

Vera’s fingers curled into his chest. She’d never seen him look so uncaring about something that must be painful.

“Feel free to tell me to shut up and mind my own business, but may I ask what happened?” Vera held her breath. She was so stupid. Falling for a human who made her heart race every time he was near was utterly stupid. It was even stupider though to try to learn more about him. She was digging her own painful grave and she knew it.

His eyes found hers and softened. “No, it’s fine. I know about your parents anyways. It’s only fair. Dad was a cop. His father before him and his before him was all cops. He wanted me to be a cop too, but there was no way I was going to be like him.” He laughed the sound cold as ice and bitter. She saw raw pain and anger on his face and wanted to soothe it all away.

“Monday through Friday was always the same. He’d come home from the job and start into the beer. By time we ate dinner, he was stumbling around the house. When the dishes were put away, he was angry. Same shit every day. Some nights were fine, you learned to be around him, to tip toe around conversations and say only the right things. Some nights weren’t so easy.

“One wrong word later and Mom was trying to deflect blows. I’d call the cops when I was young, but they were his friends. Hell some of them probably had the same problem, fuck if I know. When I was twelve, I started goading him to get him off my Mom. God, she’s so small you know. Kind of like you, and my dad was a big man. Anyways, when I turned fifteen we started exchanging blows. Sometimes it turned out good for me, sometimes not. When I was eighteen though, I left.”

Vera’s heart was crying in her chest, and hot tears pooled at her eyes. God she was turning into a weepy bitch. “You joined the military.” He nodded absently.

“I hated myself more for going.”

“Why? I would have gone away too.”

He was shaking his head, his eyes stark. “I left her there. Just left her with him.” There was no hiding the pain on his face. Vera couldn’t stop herself but climbed completely over him and held him tight, pressing kisses to his cheeks, his chin, his lips. She wanted desperately to wipe the look from his face. The look of a hurt young man, blaming himself for trying to find a way out. He didn’t touch her, his hands lying dead on the bed.

“He died the year I turned twenty-three. I left her with him for four years.”

“Oh baby.” Vera held him tighter, could feel his heart pounding over her own.

“I need to get up.” Vera let go and watched him leave the bed, feeling as though a piece of her just left too.

“I’m so sorry I brought it up. I didn’t mean...I didn’t mean for any of this. I just wanted to know about you. I-I’m sorry, Jacks.” He turned to face her, the look on his face passive and cold.

“Now you know why I’ve never gotten close to a woman. Because I’ll be just like him, and no woman deserves that, especially you, Vera.”

Vera’s heart turned cold. She heard the words leaving her mouth and a part of her couldn’t recall saying them. “But last night you said that...you said—”

“I said what, Vera? That I was angry that a vampire tried to use some kind of date rape sounding drug on you?”

This was all turning around way too quickly. She rushed on, feeling desperate. “No, that’s not what I meant. It’s just that you asked me about myself. I told you something I’ve never told anyone. I thought that...meant something. You said there was something between us, lumara.” He started jerking clothes. He didn’t look at her but she caught a glimpse of his face. It was the same hard face she’d seen when she first met him. Hard, unfeeling, alert.

He laughed. “Yeah I said there was something between us, then I fucked you, and when I woke up I fucked you again. Do you need me to say it? There’s sex between us, Vera. That’s all. Good hard fucking. And here I thought you weren’t the sentimental type. I suppose I’ll have to be the one to tell you this, baby, but just because a guy asks you one thing about yourself does not mean he’s ready to marry you.” He turned and walked out of the bedroom.

Vera choked back a sob and ran for the bathroom. She turned on the shower and jumped in, only then did she let the tears spill. Everything happened so fast. If only she hadn’t brought it up. She replayed what happened a hundred times until the water ran colder and colder.

When the water was cold enough to break goosebumps across her skin, she realized something. It was so obvious now that she hadn’t seen it before because of the instantaneous pain that had bloomed.

She got out of the shower, feeling much stronger, her head clearer. She pulled on her clothes and applied a light touch of mascara.

When she was done, she smiled at herself because she knew several things. That Jackson Marsh was trying very hard to push her away. She’d made him realize something very ugly after all. She also knew that Jackson Marsh cared about her. She hadn’t imagined the panic she saw in his face, and she was no longer fooled about the way he dismissed their conversation last night or their time together this morning.

If the man thought he could throw some ugly words in her face and she’d run scurrying back under the covers, then he obviously was an idiot. She paused with her hand an inch from the doorknob. It was either that or she was the idiot for pursuing a human man who could easily drop her heart and shatter it into a million pieces. If there was anything she was it wasn’t a coward.

She pulled open the door and found him standing across the hall. He stared above her head at some indiscriminate part of the wall. Vera grinned and launched herself at him, catching him with her arms and legs.

He cut a sharp look to her and she knew she’d moved to fast for him to see. His hands moved to her waist, whether to touch her or push her away she didn’t know. She looped her arms around his neck and pressed kisses over the perpetual stubble that always shaded his cheek. She kissed his chin, across his nose, the corner of his mouth. Slowly, the hands on her waist loosened their tight grip, became gentle, caressing.

“You don’t know what you’re doing.” She kissed a path along his ear before answering. “Yes I do.” He smelled so good, like rugged man, and he tasted even better.

“I’m not going to apologize for what I said, because I was right. I’ve never been in a relationship, Vera. Never. Don’t you get that? I’m glad you asked me about my past, because I can’t escape it. I’m just like him.”

Vera kissed him to shut up him. He let loose a feral growl and kissed her back, hard and wet.

“You’re forgetting to add a few things to your equation, lumara. One, that it isn’t your past that defines you but the choices you make now. Two, you are nothing like your father in that regard; and three, you could never beat me in a fight.”

His brief, choked laughter was like music to her ears. He titled his head back and stared up at the ceiling, and she wondered whether he realized that his hands were trailing gently up and down her back.

“Don’t forget that I’m not human.” His laughter died slowly and he looked down at her with warmth and something else. Hope was it? Or maybe her own stupid was heart was making her see what she wanted to see.

“What does ‘lumara’ mean? I’ve never heard the word before.” Heat rushed to Vera’s face, she ducked before he could see it. She hopped down and started down the hallway.

“Come on, we have to go. The meeting will begin soon.” Masculine laughter teased her ears, and then she was backed up against a hard male body. His dark scent filled her nostrils and she arched back into him. One big hand spread over her stomach, trapping her.

“We’re not going anywhere until you tell me what it means, baby. Tell me or I’ll put you on your knees right here and make you suck my cock.”

Vera choked in surprise...and excitement as images of doing just that flashed through her mind, wetted her pussy. She licked her lips, rubbing back against him. She found the rock hard length of his cock and ground her ass against him. His sharp intake of breath was more music to her ears. His fingers moved down, lifted her shirt an inch, then teased the soft skin inside her jeans. Her stomach hollowed to make room for his hand to dive further, touch her where she was crying honey and swollen.

“That’s hardly a threat,” she gasped, her voice sounding like she’d spent all night at a concert screaming. His hand, slowly, achingly, moved down until one finger touch the top of her pussy. Vera moaned and lifted her arms up and around his neck, her breasts arching out like an offering as her ass thrust back against him.

“Tell me, baby, and I’ll fill your ass with my cock tonight. I’ll lick your creamy pussy until you gush all over my mouth, then I’ll lick it up and make you come again while I fuck your pussy.” The tip of his finger prodded her clit gently, a bare touch. His other hand found a breast and cupped her, shaping her mound. She struggled between two worlds. One of pleasure, the other logic. His finger didn’t move any further, was a clear reminder that he wouldn’t let her come right now.

“Okay, I’ll tell you.” It was the hardest thing to say, especially since his hands left her body and turned her to face him. But her body wanted his promises more. Her pussy wept at being unfulfilled, but the images of him licking her there made her heart race.

“Lumara is a lykaen term. It means my beloved.” She didn’t look at him as she said it. She honestly hadn’t realized she’d spoken it until he asked her about it, but now that he knew, she felt a wave of insecurity fill her. She hadn’t even called Dmetri by the name.

Gentle fingers lifted her chin until she looked at him. His eyes held that same strange look in them that she couldn’t recognize before. What was that? She’d guessed hope before, but now it didn’t fit. She wished she could ask him, but she couldn’t be so revealing. She always too honest anyways.

He bent his head and kissed her. All thoughts fled but of his lips on hers. His kiss was gentle, coaxing yet demanding all at the same time. Everything she’d ever wanted.

“You guys might want to get to the meeting now. We have news about that deed.” Vera and Jacks looked down the hall to see Dmetri. He looked unhappy. Vera couldn’t stop the sickening feeling that roiled in her stomach. This was going to be bad.

Chapter Nine

A frigid, silent air was in the meeting room that hadn’t been there before. Brayden sat with a hard, unreadable look on his face. Ariss wore a small smile on her red lips, her guardian stood close behind her. Dmetri and Vera took their seats and for once Vera wished she could touch Jacks while this happened. Since when she needed a man’s strength for simple tasks, she wasn’t sure.

She knew what was going to happen. The deed was real, and they were going to take away the Kategan’s land. If they didn’t move off the land, then the pack would go to war with Ariss’ vampire clan.

Several guards came in the room—all vampires. They wore vacant expressions that gave nothing away. There were six of them and they stood back against the walls, looking straight ahead. In all her years coming with Vane to negotiate the treaties, she’d never seen guards in the room. This couldn’t be good.

She stood a little straighter in her chair and held her chin up high. She would deal with this proudly, like a Kategan.

When the old vampire Brayden spoke, everyone turned to listen to him, not because he was the only one talking, but because there was power in his voice that commanded everyone’s presence. The voice of a leader that shouted orders on the chaotic warfront.

“There have been some disturbing developments with regard to the deed presented by Ariss and her clan yesterday claiming a significant portion of Kategan land.”

Vera held her breath and wished he’d get on it with it, but he paused, his finger tapping on the yellow deed in front of him.

“I sent the deed to the Justicars yesterday who did an extensive background check into the legitimacy of the document. What they found was quite shocking.” Vera fought to control her breathing.

“As you can see they have returned the deed and their analysis of it.” He turned his head and looked straight at Vera. She felt her stomach hit the floor. “I have called in the guards today because I don’t want any problems.”

Vera was lightheaded, her stomach woozy, and she would have fallen out of her chair, but then Jacks’ hand touched her shoulder and the lightheaded feeling vanished like fog clearing. She didn’t look up at him or acknowledge his touch, but inside she said a prayer of thanks. His touch steadied her like nothing else could.

Brayden’s piercing gray eyes left hers and swung to Ariss. “Ariss of Master Claude’s clan of the Midwest, the Justicars have reviewed your deed and found it to be invalid.”

“What? That’s impossible!” Her smile quickly vanished into shock. She glanced around the room, at the guards, then back at Vera.

“The Justicars have found the document to be fraudulent, a forgery.”

“That’s wrong. They must test it again. Someone did something wrong.”

Brayden showed no response to her demand. “Ariss, as the liaison for Master Claude’s clan, I must detain you and your guardian for further questioning until your Master comes for you. Both you and Master Claude are under arrest for forgery and attempting to claim land that isn’t yours. The penalty and justice will be found and delivered by the Justicars and not here in this room. Men please arrest Ms. Ariss and her guardian.”

The guards around the room moved at once towards Ariss. Vera saw only a flash of movement then Ariss pulled a dagger out from her dress and slashed at the nearest guard, gutting him across the stomach, and then slashing across his juggler in another fast slice.

Her guardian attacked the next guard with his own knife and stabbed the blade deep into the guard’s neck until he screamed garbled noises. He extracted his knife by kicking the guard away, then both Ariss and her guardian leaped out the window in an explosion of glass.

The guards jumped out of the window after them. Vera tried to go to the window to see what was happening, but Jacks grabbed her and held her behind him.

Dmetri turned to Brayden. “I’ll tell the Justicars and put out an alert for Ariss and her guardian. They just added murder to their list of charges.” He stalked to the door, stopping at the doorway to look at Vera. “You might want to call Vane now and tell him what’s happening. If Ariss’ Master devised this whole plan then it was for a reason--land. I doubt he’ll want be willing to drop the plan either.”

Brayden gathered the documents in front of him with an easiness that bordered on bored. He looked down at the dead guards with a hard scowl.

“They were good men,” he said. A dark look lingered in his eyes when he turned back to her. “Kategan land is your land. Considering what happened today, we’ll finish the rest of the negotiations tomorrow. We’ll meet earlier since we still have a lot to cover. Then you’ll be free to go.” He stood and walked out the door.

“Why couldn’t they catch her?” The drop alone from the window had to be a good forty feet, though that wouldn’t faze a vampire.

Brayden paused to look back at the dead guards on the floor, sorrow in his eyes. “Ariss is strong and old, and her guardian is very strong. The best warrior in Claude’s clan, that’s why he sent him with her.” The old vampire turned and left.

Vera let Jacks guide her back to their room. She saw the change instantly in the mansion. Already more guards were lining the halls, roaming. With a loose fugitive out, she wasn’t surprised. Yet it was unnerving as hell. She was no coward though. Right about now she’d like to go one on one with that vampire bitch. From the threat of stealing her land to the killing of innocent men—Ariss needed to be put down.

The bedroom door shut behind her and she jumped, startled at the sound. A violent shiver stole over her. God she was so cold, when had the room grown so cold? She was happy that this had happened, that Kategan land was no longer in danger, but then why was she shaking so cold?

Jacks’ arms came around her, and then she realized she was shivering like she was sitting naked in the middle of a snowstorm.

“Shh, shh. It’s okay baby. I’ve got you.” There were too many thoughts running through her head. Part of her didn’t know what was happening, the other was telling her that she’d never seen someone murdered before. The last time she’d been around a dead body was at her parent’s funeral.

She lost herself in Jack’s embrace. She didn’t know how much time passed, but when her mind finally slowed to a normal speed, she blinked and saw that they were sitting in the chair by the warm fireplace. She hadn’t even known he’d moved. She lifted her face from where it was buried in his neck and saw the evidence of her tears in the wet cotton of his shirt.

“I’m so sorry.”

He chuckled at her and pulled her back into his arms, pressing a gentle kiss to her cheek. “Feeling better?” With his hands running delicious warm strokes up and down her back, it was hard not to. She nodded against him. But when the grisly images of the guard’s throat and stomach popped into her mind, she said the first thing that popped into her mind to get rid of it.

“Do you still talk to your mom?” The hands stroking her paused, then continued on their comforting journey. Vera let go of the breath she’d been holding with a soft whoosh.

“Yeah, I talk to her on the phone about once a week. I see her twice a year and send her cards on all the right days.” Vera giggled, picturing him in a Hallmark store picking out a sweet Mother’s Day card. Somehow it was hard to picture the human marine, who so deftly was sharpening his knife with a whetstone earlier sending his mom a pink, frilly card. Another giggled escaped her, and he squeezed her in warning. “Hey now, none of that. I do what I gotta do.”

“Of course you do,” she said when she had control over herself again. A sudden thought hit her and she pulled back and lifted the sleeve of his right arm. “I almost forgot. I’d seen a glimpse of it when we were...you know, but haven’t taken the time to really study it. Rome has the same tattoo, tell me the story,” she said wistfully.

“Ah, no, come on. You don’t want to hear this. It’s lame.” Vera gave him a quick kiss and pouted, blinking doe eyes at him. He grumbled something about damned women under his breath.

“I met Rome my second year in. We bumped into each other and got into a little bit of a fight.”

“I remember him telling me about that. You know, I gotta say I’ve never befriended a girl I just had a cat fight with.” He smirked at her and grabbed her hand, inspected each fingernail with a sharp eye.

“Baby, I don’t think these pretty hands have ever hurt someone in anger.” She winked saucily at him, but her heart tightened that he could see something so easily about her.

“Okay, so when did you guys decide to get a matching tattoo?”

“Well I guess we’d been friends for about a year and as per our usual Saturday we went into town, got shitfaced, and next thing you know we’re getting matching tattoos.” Vera slapped him playfully on the arm.

“Come on now, I know you’re hiding something. Tell me it all.” The corner of his mouth kicked up making him look younger, more relaxed.

“Well, mind you we were young and stupid, but we got the matching tattoo because...ah shit,” he looked away, his cheeks burning. “We were trying to impress some girls,” he said lamely.

Vera’s head shot back as laughter erupted from her. She couldn’t control it, it just kept coming. When she finally calmed, she was down to hiccupping chuckles. When her eyes met his deadpanned, serious gaze, she couldn’t stop herself and broke into another fit of furious giggles.

“That’s it.” She squealed and held on tight as he lifted her and carried her over to the bed. Her breath caught, the giggles dying, as a hot and delicious thrill swept through her. God she couldn’t remember the last time she felt so light, so happy with someone.

As he threw her on to the bed and glared at her with laughter in his eyes, she knew she loved him. Stupid, stupid, fool. This was the very last thing she’d expected to happen to her while on this trip. Yet she wasn’t surprised that it was Jackson Marsh who pushed her heart open so easily. From the first moment she met him, she’d noticed him. The only other man she’d noticed like that was Dmetri, but even then it was different. Meeting Jacks had made her hackles rise, she’d thought stupidly at the time it was because he was a human--and she just plain didn’t like humans much. Now she knew it was something so much scarier, so much better. She liked him. She really liked him.

He crawled over her, his strong hand cupping her cheek and playing with the fringe of her bangs. “What’s wrong, you look sad?”

“Nothing, I was just thinking.” She reached up and trailed her hands over his short hair. The short cut looked good on him, fit the fact that he was a marine perfectly. She had a sudden thought of him wearing his dress uniform and she had to bite her lip to keep from moaning. Damn the man was sexy.

“Now you’re thinking wicked things. Do you know how I can tell?”

“How?”

He trailed a finger over her bottom lip, his gaze hot and possessive. “Because you gnaw on your bottom lip right here when you get turned on. You do it when I pinch your sweet nipples, too. And your cheeks flush a pretty red. When you come your chest flushes too, right here,” he said stroking from tops of her breasts to her neck. “It’s beautiful. I could watch you come every damn day.”

Suddenly he stopped, a tic pulsing at his right eye and Vera realized he’d said something he hadn’t wanted to. His words had her shaking, panting below him, desperate for more. She didn’t want the sweet moment to end so she kissed his mouth until it softened against her.

“Tell me more,” she whispered. His eyes darkened.

“How about I show you?” She was still shaking her head yes, when he started pulling her clothes off her.

She wanted to forget all about what she saw and just let the relief of the matter with Ariss pass. Jacks’ touch was the perfect way to escape that reality.

His touch was gentle but possessive. He took off her shirt but stopped to reverently stroke her stomach, the creamy skin of her breast. Her jeans came off and he slid his big hands up her inner thighs, lighting a fire inside her as his fingers teased the edge of her panties before pulling away. Strong, loving, demanding touches all over her until he finally worked her thong down her thighs and off her ankles.

He stood back and simply gazed at her naked body, with that smoldering, dark look in his eyes. Vera felt like a goddess.

This time was different between them, already she could tell. There wasn’t that rushed urgency that had driven them before. Though she still felt the same intense passion searing between them that had been there since day one.

Her legs scissored as he continued to watch her. Even now, he took in all the details. Her hardened nipples, the blush in her face, her hands fisted in the cover, the scent of her wet sex filling the air. He closed his eyes for a minute as if in pain, then reached at the back of his neck and pulled his shirt over his head. The expanse of his chest was breathtaking and sexy as hell. His chest was hard with a dusking of hair that disappeared into his jeans.

Nibbling her lip, Vera watched him reach for his fly and open it. His movements seemed slower as he unbuttoned his jeans them achingly slow pushed them down inch by inch. Vera held her breath until finally, his cock popped free. A flood of creamy, hot heat spilled out of her at the sight.

“Come here.” Vera pulled her eyes away from his turgid cock to meet his eyes. He stepped back a foot from the bed and pointed to the floor. More delicious heat swam through her. Was he testing her issues with being controlled? Because she had news for him, she was falling in love--if he asked her to suck on his toes, she’d do so with relish.

Vera climbed off the bed and knelt before him. His cock bobbed in her face and she smelled his warm, masculine scent. She licked the tip and opened her mouth to take him in, but his hand wrapped in her hair and jerked her back.

He tilted his head at her in warning, then cupped her chin with his other hand. She allowed him to part her lips. He slid the head of his cock over her lips and darted her tongue out to taste him. The hand in her hair pulled back in another warning--not hard enough to hurt, just enough to tell her no.

“Open for me and take me deep.” Vera relaxed her jaw with a sudden eagerness to please him. He slid in, over her tongue and touched the back of her mouth. He pulled back on a groan as his cock rubbed through her soft lips, over her wet tongue.

The hand in her hair tightened, and then his thrusts were no longer gentle. He fucked her mouth like he had her pussy. Vera moaned and grasped at his powerful thighs. The muscles bunched and flexed hard as he worked himself inside her. She’d never felt anything like it. It was as though he craved doing this, needed to take her this way. And her body was responding with soft, wet acceptance that was shocking.

He moaned above her, his breaths coming heavy and short. She tasted the salt of precum and then he was fucking her faster, rocking against her, and pushing the head of his cock until she swallowed over it.

He swelled in her mouth, grew hotter, the thighs under her hands shook it the power of his release, and then he shoved in deep and hot, creamy cum filled her tongue and mouth.

“Swallow it all,” he said hoarsely, watching her with glossy, possessive eyes.

She was thorough and cleaned off every last drop of seed . He popped free of her mouth, and then he grabbed her by the waist and threw her back onto the bed. She was a full of arousal, a hard empty ache that bore a dark hole inside her. She certain if he thrust once into her she’d fall apart in the greatest orgasm of her life.

He stood at the edge of the bed and ran his hands over her legs again and again. Each time he reached higher and higher. She didn’t know if it was his touch or the way his eyes claimed her that made her mad with lust.

His hands left her, only to be replaced by his mouth at her knee. Soft, wet kisses against the back of her knee, on the top of it, then up each side of her inner thighs. Closer and closer to where she wanted his mouth until her hips were rising and falling off the bed like a wave.

The first touch of his tongue against her was like pure ecstasy. But too quickly it was gone and he was back to kissing her thighs, stroking her legs. A feral growl rose up in her throat. Her beast was stalking around in its cage, its tail lashing out at the metal. When she looked down at him, she knew her eyes glowed.

He met her gaze, a sensual promise in his eyes. “Don’t worry baby, I’ll make you come. Then I’m going to have your ass.” # # #

Jackson wasn’t a man who took a job lightly. And Vera had never been so grateful for something in her life.

He settled between her legs, grabbed her thighs in a hard grip , and held her open befo re settling in on her pussy. His tongue licked, tasted, and learned each lip and fold like he was trying to memorize it. He skirted around her clit, and even after she clawed his head closer to her throbbing need, he still danced around her with lips and flicks.

Sweat formed over her body in a sheen. Her hips danced against his mouth over and over, yearning for his touch to be firmer . Her heart was beating so loud that the only thing she could hear was it and her choppy breathing.

“Jacks,” she moaned, her stomach quivering. He pulled back and blew a cool stream of air over her swollen, aching clit. Then he looked at her. The look hit her like an arrow in the heart. It was Alpha. The demanding, possessive look she’d only seen between Vane, Rome , and their mates. A look that said : This is mine.

Her body acted on its own. She was slave to it.

Vera threw back her head, lifting her body into an elegant arch, and spread her legs open. Giving herself to him, offering her obedience to her Alpha.

Jacks groaned, and then his tongue fell on her. Swift, excruciatingly intense pleasure that bordered on pain and brought liquid fire boiling in her blood swept through her in a pulse . She came in seconds, her pleasure pouring out from her mouth, her pussy in moans and waves of liquid heat.

She moaned as he pet her, murm ur ing husky words of approval of how beautiful she was, and then he turned her over gently. Vera’s body was so loose she couldn’t lif t her arm if she had to.

Strong fingers coaxed into the muscles around her spine. A soft sigh teased past her lips. She was more than content to let him massage the muscles of her back.

His touch was s trong and sure, almost reverent . The first touch of his lips to her spine sent chills through her body. He trailed kisses, nips, and licks down the length of her back until finally coming to rest at her buttocks . His hands boldly cupped and shaped the flesh , spreading the cheeks wide, then up.

Vera turned her cheek to the side and closed her eyes, simply feeling the pleasure of him touching her. She’d never felt anything like it , had never had a man worship her with his hands and mouth, and that’s exactly what he was doing. He was paying homage to her body like she was the most the beautiful woman in the world.

The first touch of his finger in the cleft of her cheeks was like lightning in her body. Wild, forbidden, exciting. She held her breath, squeez ed her eyes shut and let her body feel.

She felt the excitement in his hands to be touching her like this; they were gentler than usual but shook enough for her to feel it.

He reached between her legs and spread them open in a vee. Two fingers dove into her pussy eliciting a gasp of pleasure from her. He rocked his fingers insider her, curled them, spread them, then finally pulled them out. She heard a wet sound and opened her eyes to find him licking her cream away like it was forbidden fruit.

His eyes never met hers, were focused on her cleft and sex. He looked mesmerized. Predatorily . When his fingers returned, they rubbed over her clit, pushed back into her pussy then finally rubbed over her tight hole. The first touch sent her ass thrusting back at him.

He chuckled at her, the sound rasping. “Eager, aren’t you.” It wasn’t a question so she didn’t answer.

His finger circled her closed anus then pushed a fraction inside. Vera moaned at the sensation, so similar to being filled in her pussy, yet different all the same. The cream from her orgasm worked wonders as he pulled the finger out and back in, working only the tip inside.

While his finger worked a teased, her pussy tightened and cried out. She’d felt this before, when he’d first put his finger inside her when they’d been against the wall , but this was so different. Before his cock had been fucking her, and the sweet delicious friction of both lengths working inside her had been mind-blowing , stunningly wonderful.

This though was different. Her pussy wept cream with each tiny thrust of his fingers, jealous at the intrusion .

“Put your cock in me,” she said between clenched teeth.

His chuckle was one of supreme masculine satisfaction. “No can do baby, you’re not ready yet.”

She growled the sound no longer human. “I meant in my pussy.” He only laughed at her.

“Be patient baby and you’ll get something so much better.” Her hands fisted in the bedsheets .

“Why can’t I have both?”

“Another time,” he promised. “For now, just feel, relax. Aaah, that’s it.” He pulled his wet finger out and worked it in slowly until he couldn’t go in any further. From there he thrust his finger . The pleasure had her gasping. Vera could sense his patience waning.

“So fucking beautiful. I can barely wait.”

His finger left her and then the bed dipped and she heard footsteps. She turned her cheek to the other side to see him going to the bathroom.

“You better not leave me like this.” He came back with a bottle in his hand. “What is that?” Unease had her legs closing.

He came back to her and split her legs back open again . “It’s lube.”

She couldn’t stop from laughing. “And what, you just brought that with you on the trip? You know just in case.”

He laughed. “No, it was in a drawer in the bathroom. It’s meant for massages or...”

She heard the cap open and the sound sent chills down her arms. A heavy hand fell to her ass, plumped, and massaged the flesh with a possessive hand.

“God I love your ass.” The way he said it made her melt. The man was simply after her heart, there was no doubt about it.

She felt a finger stroking gently over her tight entry almost as if...seeking permission. Her body was thrummed so tight that if he sucked her nipple hard enough she was sure she’d come.

She nodded against the bed and then there was pressure and his finger worked back through her muscles. She sighed at the intrusion. He’d oiled his finger and now it slid in easily.

He pulled back and she couldn’t stop the pitiful groan that left her. Just as quickly, two fingers were pushing into her. She tightened against the much wider invasion feeling like she was splitting apart. It hurt at first but then pain left and only felt... incredible.

“Wow,” she said, having a hard time making her mouth work. She heard his grunt of approval , then he was working those two fingers in and out, the passage way was slick and so tight. She could feel everything about his fingers, the bump of his knuckles, the skin rubbing inside her.

His fingers pulled out of her and when they didn’t return, she turned to see what he was doing. His hand caught the back of her head and turned her back away. Alpha. The man reeked of dominance.

It was as though her confession about control h ad set something off inside him or maybe he just wanted to out do Dmetri, or maybe he just really loved her ass. Either way she was dying to know.

She heard the cap on the bottle again squeeze then snap shut. The bed dipped and his hands cupped her buttocks squeezing them firmly and moving them wide. She wanted to turn to see him but knew he wanted her to stay just like this. She felt like an offering. Except he was the human. God, he didn’t feel that way though.

A hard round nudge pushed at her tight entrance . It hurt and she naturally tightened her muscles . The hands on her cheeks grew softer, ran loving strokes up and down her back.

“Relax baby, trust me. You know you can trust me , right? I would never do anything to hurt you, Vera.”

She did know that. This man had spent his whole protecting people, especially women. She nodded her head and made her body relax.

He came back again and she was surprised how easily her body opened and gave around him. He kept just the head of him there and already her breathing was wild.

It was pain yet it didn’t hurt. She felt full yet he wasn’t inside. Her body was thrumming on the brink of something huge and he wasn’t even inside her. She didn’t know if she wanted to buck him away or have him plunge inside.

His hands came back, stroking softly through her hair, rubbing the tense muscles in her back, relaxing her, coaxing her body into softening. And she did. She pushed in further and couldn’t stop from crying out. It wasn’t a cry of pain though.

He didn’t miss it either. He pulled back to leave just his wide head inside her, then gently pushed back in a few inches, rocking so slowly inside her.

“I wish you could see how beautiful you look wrapped around me. To be the only man here. You’re mine, b aby. Do you hear me? All mine.”

She started to respond, but he stabbed all the way in. She keened below him, her hips rocking, fighting against him at being so fully taken. She clawed at the bedsheets like an animal and tried to pull herself away from him.

It was too much. Yet so damn good. She had no idea what to do, but her body was bucking wild at the big intrusion. Jacks hand fell between her shoulders blades and held her down. She tried to push against him but it was useless. There was no moving this man. As he held her down, he worked his cock out of her tight muscles, sliding with the lube he used, and there was a lot of it, she felt it dripping out of her, sliding between her thighs.

He worked his cock out to the tip then pushed in. Again and again as her body fought below. On the fourth stroke, it was like magic. Her wild cries turned soft and sexy. Moans filled her as the most incredible sensation rushed through her.

“Good baby, you’re doing real good.” His other hand stroked her back, her hips, and ass cheeks so softly compared to his thrusts that grew rough and wild.

She could feel his orgasm pulling up tight in him. His breathing changed, his grip tightened, and his hips jerked faster and faster, harder until the sound of his hips slapping loud against her ass echoed off the walls.

Vera screamed as her body seized up tight. Her orgasm exploded from her body like a rocket. Her ass and pussy clamped down hard as she fought to stay conscious and not fly off the bed with her orgasm.

Jacks slammed into her one last time, the muscles working him were too tight, too strong, and he lost himself. She felt the long, hot spurts of cum filling her as his cock pulsed again and again. Hot liquid filled her deep .

She’d never felt anything like it. She tightened her muscles and clamped down on him, wanting to keep him there forever.

He groaned above her and only after she wrung him dry did he pull out and fall next to her, pulling her into his arms.

“I think I’m in love,” he laughed, toying with a lock of her hair.

Vera’s breath caught and she was glad that she had her face buried in his neck so he couldn’t see the pain ed look on her face. Or worse, the hope that had lit up her eyes for a second before he laughed.

A horrible cold surrounded her heart. He would never love her. After they got back home, he’d say goodbye and that would be the end. It was almost too painful to think about.

Just like Dmetri. A very small part of her had been happy when he finally broke it off. The first time she’d told him she loved him, she was met with awkward silence—that was two months in to the relationship. She’d said it only three other times in the year they were together. Each time, he’d smile at her and kiss her, an uncomfortable glint in his eyes.

Vera relaxed into his strong arms and listened to the strong beat of his heart.

One thing was sure . There was no way she could continue to see Jacks. She’d tried that kind of relationship before, and she was worth more than that. She meant what she said to Dmetri, she deserved someone who actually loved her.

She would cherish every last moment together with him. Then she would spend the rest of her life picking up the pieces of her heart and try to put them back together.

Chapter Ten

“I think that covers everything for the Kategan treaty,” Brayden said. “I am sorry about the complications with Ariss; I assure you that she, her guardian, and Master Claude will be dealt with accordingly.”

“When you find her, you mean,” Jacks said, a lethal scowl on his face. Vera turned away from him before he could see just how much she liked the ferocity in him.

“We will find her. She and her guardian can’t stay hidden forever.”

“Thanks Brayden, maybe I’ll see you next year.” Vera smiled at the old vampire. The man looked anything but old, but she knew he’d been walking the earth for a very long time. Just a hint of a smile formed on his lips.

“Of course you will. Have a safe trip home.”

Vera waved and was almost to the door when Dmetri stopped her. Jacks took a step toward him but Vera put a hand on his arm to stay him. She couldn’t stop the spark of pleasure that came over her at seeing Jacks so protective of her. She was really setting herself up for a world of pain.

Last night had been something special for her, something she’d never shared with anyone. While her heart twisted knowing that he’d never fully give himself to her, she was ready to embrace what she could have with him. If only temporary.

“Yes, Dmetri?” she prompted. She stood between the two men feeling a little like a sexy sandwich. Just press closer, boys.

He glared at Jacks then said to her, “I wanted to say I’m sorry about the wine and everything.” He lifted a hand towards her cheek. Jacks bared his teeth and took another step forward, pushing his body into her back. Her heart fluttered painfully. He’d be perfect if he weren’t too scared to try a relationship. Hell, she’d said the same thing about him being human. At least she’d learned from that.

“Thank you for saying that Dmetri. I know you regret what happened. Listen, let’s just put it past us, okay? No harm no foul. I just want you to be happy. You’ve lived a long time and most of it has been alone. I hope that you can find someone to fulfill you. I just wasn’t that woman. For both our sakes, I’m glad I realized that.”

A deep sadness clouded his eyes, and then he nodded. “Yeah, thanks Vera. Have a safe trip.”

Vera and Jacks left the mansion and stepped out into the late evening air. Their bags were already packed and loaded into their rental. Jacks stepped past her and snatched the keys out of her hand.

“Hey! What do you think you’re doing?”

“I’m driving, baby,” he said and slid into the driver’s seat. Vera’s stomach did a cartwheel. The man used her weakness against her without even realizing what he was doing. She’d divulged her deepest secret of relinquishing control and now he used it in the bedroom and in normal activities like this. Did he even realize it? Probably not, the man oozed confidence from every pore on his body.

She slid into the seat next to him as he started the car. He barely waited for her to latch her seatbelt before he cupped the back of her neck and brought her face close for a toe-curling kiss. The kiss was gentle but demanding. It was a kiss of possession, and Vera kissed him back with every ounce of need in her, trying to say without words what she wanted, needed. He pulled back from her, breathing heavy. His eyes glittered with arousal as he tracked over her face and neck.

He nodded, satisfied with what he’d done, then pulled away from the gothic mansion. Vera watched the house receding in the side view mirror. When the car turned and she could no longer see the mansion, she smiled. Dmetri was gone from her life and for the first time in years, she was happy about it.

Vera settled her hand on Jacks’ thigh. He peered at her quickly then looked back at the road. The way he drove was precise and smooth, the kind of man who really knew what he was doing. Who knew such a simple thing could turn her on.

“Are you sore today?” His voice was gruff and filled with concern. Vera let her hand travel up his leg and back to his knee before answering.

“Only a little.” She bit her lip, an unconscious gesture, as she trailed her hand back up his thigh. He was so wide and strong there; his thighs like sold tree trunks of muscle. She’d always had thing for legs, and this man passed with flying colors.

“What are you doing?”

She didn’t think it possible, but his voice grew even huskier. Her pussy throbbed with arousal at the sound of it. He had the same voice when he was buried inside her. Her hand squeezed over his thigh and felt the muscle jump underneath.

“I love your legs. Some women prefer butts, chests, hands, or cocks, but me, I love legs. Strong, powerful, muscular legs. The kind of legs that show a girl you’re strong enough to give her a real good time.”

Jacks cut her another glittering stare. “You’re wet, aren’t you?” Vera controlled the flush that threatened to stray up to her cheeks and nodded. “So what if I am?”

She watched him take a deep, choppy breath then pop his neck. He kept sneaking short looks over at her as if he was studying her. Finally his gaze fell to her the bottom of her dress resting against the middle of her thighs.

“I’ve never know a woman to wear so many dresses and skirts.” He sounded angry about it.

“Is that a problem for you?”

He choked on a laugh. “Not at all. It just drives a man wild. Pull your dress up to your waist; let me see your legs.”

The abrupt change in topic had Vera’s stomach churning nervously while her pussy was threatening to spread her legs for her if she didn’t do it herself. Vera remembered that her time with him was limited, so she leaned back into the seat and slowly dragged the hem of her dress up her thighs, inch by inch.

He continued to cut quick glances at her. His nostrils flared when finally her panties were bared. Today she’d thrown on a pair of her black lace boy-short panties that sat low on her wide hips. He looked away and wiped a hand over his mouth.

“Pull your panties down and spread your legs. Show me your pussy.”

A nervous thrill going through her, Vera obeyed, pulling her panties down until they rested around her ankles, then spreading her knees wide. Her scent filled the air in the tight confines of the car. Jacks’ grip on the steering wheel tightened.

“Like this?” she asked sweetly and ran her hands up her bare thighs.

His cheeks flushed and she recognized the hot look that came into his eyes. She knew if she unzipped his jeans, she’d find his cock rock hard and leaking at the round head just for her.

“Lay down in my lap, baby.” Vera arched a delicate eyebrow then slid into his lap. She rubbed her cheek along the incredible erection pulsing against his zipper like a cat. Delicately she used her teeth and pressed a path along the ridge of his cock up and down. His hand came down in her hair to stay her.

“No, turn around.”

Vera pouted, but turned around so that she could look up at his face. She felt trapped between him and the steering wheel; her knees were bent and spread open at this angle, one on the floorboard, the other resting against the passenger seat.

His right hand shot out and flattened on her stomach. “Ohh,” she gasped.

Now she got it.

His hand bunched up the fabric of her dress that had slipped back down and pulled it up high to her waist. Then she felt the hot press of his hand on her bare stomach, low on her hips. His fingers spread wide, then his pinky passed over her thin strip of hair.

“Jacks,” she gasped and couldn’t keep still any longer. Her hands dipped under his t-shirt and ran up his chest. She felt his legs tighten under her back and an image flew through her head of mounting him while he drove.

“You are so beautiful. Soft and smooth. I just want to lick you all over.” Vera moaned when his hand boldly cupped her naked pussy. She heard his sound of approval at her wetness and wanted to preen in delight.

From that point on he controlled her body, told her body what to feel and how much to feel.

A thick finger slid inside her, pumping in and out like a cock. Vera’s hand clenched on his chest as hot pleasure bloomed inside her. He petted her pussy, stroked her deep, then circled her needy bud all the while talking to her in the deep, sexy voice.

“You have the prettiest pussy I’ve ever seen. You’re so tight and small you grip my finger like a little fist.” He thrust in with two fingers, pumping them in and out. “And your nipples, baby, shit. Fucking perfect dusky, hard-tipped nipples that I want to lick and nibble on like a damn baby.”

Vera’s head was spinning. She was a gasping, panting pile of lust at the mercy of his hands. Her hips arched into his touch with each downward thrust. All she needed was a little more and she was going to split apart.

“Jacks, Jacks.” He must have heard the urgency in her voice because he pulled his fingers from her tight channel and began circling them over her clitoris with her own cream. Vera felt like a bitch in heat with her skirt pulled up and his hand petting her so good. She wanted his cock in her, pumping deep and hard.

She shook her head side to side as unimaginable pleasure stayed just out of reach. He was rubbing her too softly. She needed him to press harder, but every time her hips rocked up, he let up on the pressure. She lazily opened her eyes and saw the lines of strain bracketing his mouth and eyes.

“Do it. I need you, Jacks.”

His nostrils flared, and then he looked down at her. “Not until you tell me you’re mine.” Vera’s pulse boomed in her ears as her body teetered on the brink of orgasm with his teasing, gentle rubs. Mine? He wanted her to claim she was his. If only he knew how true it was.

“I’m yours, lumara. I’m yours.”

Jacks finally, blissfully, rubbed her pussy in earnest. He gave her no leave, but sought only to wring every ounce of pleasure from her body with only his fingertips. Vera’s head kicked back, a wild moan leaving her as her body exploded apart. Her hips shot off the seat and bounced against his hand while she tried desperately to hold on to his chest for some kind of grip in reality.

Her body dissolved into a blissful puddle in his lap. She didn’t know how long she stayed there, she felt as though she drifted in and out of sleep. But when her eyes slowly slid open, she could feel the rigid press of his cock against the back of her head.

One hand steered the car while the other stroked her stomach in loving passes. She looked down to see he’d pulled her dress back down and covered her naked pussy. That little thought thrilled her more than it probably should.

It was completely dark outside now with only the occasional passing car lights lighting his face in bright sweeps of light. Vera’s heart tightened in her chest. She bit her lip to keep from saying the words she so desperately wanted to.

Suddenly his hand left her stomach to curl under her chin. He passed his thumb across her lip, giving her no choice but to stop biting it. She could smell her essence on his fingers and pride filled her. While he made her state her claim on him, she’d claimed him in the most basic of ways. Her scent was all over him.

“What’s wrong, baby?”

“I...nothing. Why do you ask?”

“You were biting your lip like it was a tasty steak. You only do that when you’re bothered with something.” Vera sputtered. Like hell, how did he know that? She didn’t even know that about herself.

“It was nothing; I was just thinking I guess.”

“About what?” About how I love you and you can’t even date me. About how when we get back to Chicago you’re going to kiss me goodbye and never see me again. About how certain she was, she’d never be the same. He was her mate. There was no doubt in her bones as to that.

When she’d asked Vane and Rome about it, they’d told her the same thing. That it was an unquestioning truth they’d realized; there was no doubt or hesitance, only pure understanding from their souls and their beast. Vera thought it sounded like a bunch of guys who just found love for the first time, but now she knew she’d been way wrong. It was true. Her lykaen, her heart wanted to keep this man at her side forever and ever.

“I was just thinking about how I owe you,” she said and wiggled against his hard erection. He bared his teeth in a pained grimace and was already shaking his head.

“Thanks, but we can’t baby. I can’t drive while you touch me. It was hard just touching you and focusing.”

Vera grinned and ignored all the nasty thoughts popping in on her by rolling over. She rubbed her cheek over his zipper like he was a genie’s lamp and she was ready to get her wish.

“Dammit woman did you not hear a word I just said? If you touch me there I might run this car off the fucking road.” A desperate urgency was inside her. She had to do this. It was the only connection he had to her. She released the button of his jeans and the hiss of the zipper sounded.

Already she could hear his breathing deepen. When a big hand curled in her hair, she knew she’d won. She pulled down his tight jeans until his cock popped free. She wanted to tease him like he’d done her but couldn’t bring herself to. Her emotions were too raw. And some evil part of her wanted him to remember her after he left her, to remember this moment for the rest of his life. For every woman he had yet to fuck and make smile.

She licked a path up the long length of his cock, then circled the head and took him into her mouth. She moaned at his flavor and licked the leaking semen away at the tip. He was so hot in her mouth and soft against her tongue. His taste was so unique. So masculine, heady, and delicious.

She brought her hand into the mix and began pumping him from the base of his cock. His cock pulsed and flexed in her hand like it had a mind of its own.

“Vera,” he said darkly. She didn’t know if it was a warning or a threat, so she ignored it and began sucking his cock in earnest.

She pumped her fist and took him deep, bobbing fast up and down his hard cock. She didn’t leave any place untouched but moved her hand so she could taste his entire length. He bumped the back of her throat and she swallowed convulsively around him. The hand in her hair tightened, then held her there as he let out a feral growl that echoed in the car.

She lifted her head then sucked him deep again and again. His cock was soaking wet from her mouth and she used her fist again to pump him hard and fast. She could hear his breath catch and it was like music to her ears. She sucked him in deep with a desperation bearing from deep inside her. He pressed her down and she tasted the subtle saltiness of precum, and then his legs twitched underneath her and she knew he was close.

Closer and closer he pushed her until she moved her hand away and his short groin hairs pressed to her lips. Then he shuddered hard, his cock swelling wider, and hot squirts erupted in her mouth, landing thickly in her throat, on her tongue. She swallowed over him and he groaned long and hard. He kept coming, filling her mouth up so that she had to swallow again.

Finally his hand eased up in her hair and she pulled away, tucking him back in his jeans and settling back into the cold passenger seat. She jerked her panties up her thighs and rebuckled her seatbelt.

He casted a jerked glance at her. “What’s wrong?” His voice sounded like it’d been run over with sandpaper.

“Nothing,” she said and plastered on a smile. His eyes narrowed on it and her smile faltered, then faded completely. The one man she desperately wanted to bluff right now and he could see through her fake smile like some kind of magician.

“The hell it’s nothing. I just felt a wave of cold from you that has my balls damn near shriveling in despair.”

Vera giggled. She couldn’t help it. Then she shot him an accusatory glare for making her laugh. His frown softened.

“Baby, tell me what’s wrong.”

Vera took a deep breath, trying to think quickly. She’d never been very good at making quick decisions. She thought about it then nodded, coming to a conclusion.

“Fine you asked for it.” She turned to face him in her seat. “I love you. I sure as hell never thought it’d happen with someone like you. A damn human. But obviously fate is a cruel bitch. Not only that but fate settled me with someone who has such big relationship issues that he’s never even been in one!” He didn’t say anything. It felt like hours passed before he finally did. Vera was sure her hair had turned gray by that point.

“You don’t understand. I can’t risk being in a relationship with a woman. What happens when I get mad? Do I have to make you and I learn the hard way whether or not I’m like my dad?” Vera closed her gaping mouth, her heart went out to him, wanting to comfort him, but she knew he’d reject her touch right now.

“Have you ever felt the urge to hit a woman you’ve been mad at?”

“Of course not, but it’s different when people are actually in a relationship. I tazered Sandra after I learned she was part of a hoax to get me away from the mansion that day at Conlin’s. If I was willing to do that in a split second, then I don’t know. I have no idea what I’ll be like. What if I can’t control myself?” He looked at her with such raw intensity that tears warmed her eyes. Oh, baby.

“But your father drank and you don’t. That was his catalyst. I’m sure you don’t have the same one. You hated what he was like; you are in control of yourself, not him and his actions.”

“No, I don’t drink much anymore, but I used to...a lot. The marines helped to straighten me out, and so did Rome, but don’t kid yourself Vera. It took a long time for that to happen. I was out every night I wasn’t working whether Monday or Saturday pounding them back until I was too shitfaced to see straight.”

Tears fell down her face and there was no stopping them.

“I got into fights with any and all motherfuckers who crossed me. Did Rome tell you that I was shitfaced when we first met? That’s why I was so pissed off he ran into me. I didn’t want to tell you before, but now you know. I was a fucking drunk, just like him. Drowning my bullshit problems. And you know what? My problems were still there when I came out of it. Mom was still left alone with him while I was passing out on the barroom floor.”

Vera choked back a sob and he turned to give her a disgusted glance. All the passion and sweetness was completely wiped from his face and all was left was raw pain that had been festering for far too long. Years too long.

“I’m weak, Vera. Susceptible just like he is. I’d hate myself if I ever hit a woman like that.” Vera wiped futilely at her tears, desperately feeling like she was quickly losing him.

“But I’m not weak. I wouldn’t let you hit me if it ever came to that. Don’t you see, I’d be the perfect woman to try to see how you are? And you don’t drink. Did you ever have the urge to fight when you weren’t drinking?”

Jacks cut her an angry glare. “Do you hear yourself woman? Are fucking crazy or just stupid? Sure you’re strong, so maybe you’d have a fighting chance, but I got one off on your brother when I was drunk. He didn’t let me hit him, I was that fast. If I can get him, then I can sure as fuck hit you. And what is wrong with you? You want to sign up to be my girl and test out if I’d fucking blow my shit and hit you?

“I do drink on occasion, a beer here or there. What happens when I finally lose control and go on a bender? Then I come home to you and I get mad at you because you not sitting straight enough or you didn’t laugh at my joke. What will you do then, Vera?

Will you leave me or will you just stay with me year after year as it gets worse and worse.” He was close to shouting in the car, his words ringing off the windows. Vera cried silently, shaking like a leaf in the wind, trying to get warmth back into her body.

“You’re not your father, and I’m not your mother.” Her teeth were chattering hard. It took focus, but she calmed it enough to speak. “You would never hit me, Jackson. You’re not like your father, and I am not your mother. You wouldn’t hit me for not laughing like your dad did to her. I can’t explain it, but I know in my heart it’s true. I’m just so, so sorry you can’t see it.”

She turned away and dried her tears on her shoulder. He said her name softly, but she didn’t turn to look at him. She obviously couldn’t help him to solve his demons—only he could do that.

Vera rested her sweaty temple against the cold pane of the window, watching as rain started pouring down. She almost sighed at the sound of it beating hard against the car. The silence was killing her, but this gave her something to focus on.

A yellow blur came out from the tree line. Jackson cursed and slammed on his breaks as the car barreled into something hard. The crunch and bend of metal was piercing in the night air.

The car lurched forward, then whipped around hard in a circle. They spun once more then landed off the shoulder of the highway. Vera had only a moment to see the deep ditch below her window, and then they were plummeting towards it.

Chapter Eleven

Vera opened her eyes just so the incessant voice nagging her would shut up.

“Fuck off,” she said and settled deeper into her seat.

“God dammit, I said get up now!” Vera’s eyes popped open one by one at the urgency in her mate’s voice. She looked left and right but then the world spun hard. Her head felt like a small explosion had gone off in there and her face felt scratchy. She saw the white air bag exploded in front of her and sent a silent prayer up to heaven.

Suddenly she sat up in her seat, quickly removed the belt, and leaned over to Jacks who was grimacing as he tried to undo his seatbelt. Blood was on his forehead and his bottom lip.

“Baby, oh my God, what happened?” She crawled towards him and the car screeched and dropped another foot. Vera yelled and clung to her seat.

“It’s fine. Are you okay?”

“Mmhmm,” she said, nodding a little too fast.

“Listen, we’re at the bottom of the ditch. We can climb up no problem. And we won’t drop any further, what you just heard was the car settling in to the divot. Look at me baby, look at me, Vera.”

Vera’s panicked eyes swept to the rain pounding on the windows, then to their headlights shining off into the trees, and finally settled on his.

“I already tried to open the door and it won’t open. So I’m going to go out the window, and you’re going to follow me on my side, okay? I don’t want to take any chances of you slipping over there and the car moving on top of you.” He gave her a quick kiss then started to roll down the windows.

Vera said a silent thank you that the windows were manual. He turned back to her looking every bit in charge. Vera trusted him completely. He would get her out of here and everything would be okay. He rolled down the window, then anchored his hands on the edge.

Two hands latched on to Jacks’ shoulders and pulled him from the car like a sack of potatoes. Vera cried out and reached for him when suddenly her door was torn off the edges with a nasty metallic sound. She had only a moment to see the Ariss when she was grabbed and ripped out from the car.

Vera was flying through the air, and then landed hard on her stomach in the middle of the street. The front of her dress was soaked with dirty water and her knees and hands skidded hard on the black road.

Her beast rose to the surface and broke free. She hopped to her feet and scanned the area. Jacks was fighting Ariss’ guardian only twenty feet away. She started to run to him; he could never defeat a vampire, but Ariss appeared in front her. Ariss spun and landed a hard kick to Vera’s stomach, knocking the air out of her and sending her flying far down the street.

Vera landed and was already standing back on her feet when Ariss came flying at her again. Vera was quicker this time, her lykaen strength guiding her. She grabbed Ariss’ flying leg by the ankle, turned, and threw her down to the ground. Her face hit the ground with a hard crack, but just as quickly she was back on her feet. The side of her face wet and blooded.

Vera growled a feral deadly warning from a predator. Ariss hissed and moved in with a flurry of punches and elbows. Vera dodged and blocked them. She didn’t have anywhere near the speed that Ariss had but she did have strength and she used that to her advantage. She swiped Ariss’ fist away then slammed her own into Ariss’ face. She heard the crack of bones and felt a thrill rush through her.

She heard the grunts and pained sounds coming from Jacks and Ariss’ guardian but couldn’t afford to take her eyes off the Ariss.

“Why are you doing this?”

“Consider this a declaration of war from my Master. He’s going to get your land one way or another.”

Vera slammed into Ariss and took her hard to the ground, anything to keep her from using her speed. Her wet hair plastered to her cheeks and her bangs dipped low over her eyes blocking her vision. She was never going to wear bangs again, she vowed.

The power struggle shifted until they were both struggling to choke each other out. Vera gasped as her air was pinched from her throat by a hard, tight grip. Her vision was blacking out and she tightened her neck muscles and sucked in air through her nose. Ariss struggled beneath her, her eyes bulging, legs kicking as she kept her pinned to the wet ground.

She was stronger though and squeezed her hands tighter around Ariss’ throat. It wouldn’t kill her, but it would knock her out. Her arms shook, the muscles burned from her wrists to her biceps with the effort. Blood pooled in her hands making them feel like they were on fire.

Then finally Ariss’ legs stopped kicking. One by one, her hands dropped from her throat and slid boneless to the ground.

Vera stood and wobbled away from her, sucking in huge gasps of air. A bright light flooded the street and Vera turned towards it, palpable relief overwhelming her as a car came towards them, slowing down steadily.

Jacks.

Vera turned and all the blood left her face. Jacks was on the ground, and the guardian was drinking greedily from his neck. Vera launched herself at him, but he sped away too quickly for her to see. Vera cried out and knelt by Jacks, his eyes were closed, his face pale. She looked down the road and watched the Ariss' guardian pick her up and sprint into the woods.

She faintly heard the car pool up and someone rushed at her asking questions. She couldn’t make out what the man said though. She put her fingers against Jacks’ throat but her fingers kept slipping against his skin because of the rain and something red and thick.

The side of his throat was bloody and raw with pieces of skin torn up and chewed on. Vera swallowed back the bile that rose in her throat and put her head to his chest. Tears slid down her face alongside the rain. She choked back a sob when she heard the boom boom of his heart. Her hands curled into his shirt. His heart sounded so faint. Not like before. He was dying.

The thought sent her into a mode she’d never felt before. The human next to her was busy talking excitedly into his cell phone, waving his arm at their car in the ditch and Jacks.

Vera curled her arms under Jackson’s back and waist. A terrifying growl left her throat, and then she was lifting with all her strength as she stood.

She walked to the man’s car carrying her lumara in her arms. She didn’t feel his weight at all. Felt only a slight pressure in her arms. The wide-eyed human came and opened the back door and then she gently placed him inside.

She still couldn’t hear the words he was saying into the phone. She turned towards him and murmured a thank you, and then she got into the driver’s seat and gunned the engine.

The car whipped around in a tight U-turn, and then she was driving fast.

# # #

The drive back to the mansion took half as long to get there than it should have. Vera had no idea how fast she went and didn’t give a shit.

She slammed on the breaks as she pulled up to the mansion. She ran out of the car screaming at the top of her lungs.

“Dmetri! Dmetri, please!”

Her hands shook so bad it took her four tries to open the back door. She laid her hand over Jacks’ heart and felt the dull thud against her palm. It was so faint. Fainter than before. She didn’t have much time.

“Dmetri!” she screamed at the top of her lungs. The rain was pouring hard, drowning out the sound and she wanted to drop to her knees and cry. But something stopped her from doing so, recognized that every second was precious.

A whoosh of movement alerted her. She spun around expecting to find Ariss or her guardian, but it was Dmetri. He was wearing only a silk pair of pants and his hair was a mess like he’d been sleeping. Tears started again down her face and she started blubbering to him.

“He’s hurt. Help him please. Ariss attacked us and her g-guardian bit him. Help me.”

Dmetri’s eyes went alert. He reached into the car and pulled Jacks onto the ground. He inspected the wound at his neck and laid a hand over his heart. When he looked back up at her, his expression said so much more than words. Vera’s knees shook until she dropped down hard to the ground. She was rocking and shaking and couldn’t stop her hands from roaming everywhere.

“He’s dying, Vera. His heart is going to stop any moment now. Why did you bring him here?”

“T-to help him. He’s my mate. I don’t want him to die.”

“Vera, do you want me to turn him?” She nodded quickly, her wet hair slapping against her cheeks.

“What will you do when he wakes up and is angry about this? What if this isn’t something he wants?”

Vera blinked, wide eyed. “Then I’ll kill him myself. Do it, Dmetri.”

Dmetri cursed so loudly, that Vera knew Jacks’ heart had stopped.

Vera watched what happened next as if from outside her own body. She flinched as Dmetri tore his teeth into his wrist. He wasn’t gentle about it, but moved in jerky movements. He held Jacks’ mouth opened with his thumb and let his blood flow heavily down his throat.

“Vera, look at me.” She heard the words vaguely. He said it again before she looked at him. He kept moving side to side, but she knew that was just her own shaking body doing that. “Are you listening to me, Vera?” She nodded jerkily.

“He might not make it, Vera. His heart has already stopped, this might not work. I need you to prepare yourself for that, okay?” Vera sobbed and choked as her heart protested the idea. Jacks’ hand was limp in hers and she wildly wondered how the hell one prepared themselves to lose a loved one? It was impossible. There was no way.

Dmetri pulled his wrist away after several minutes and laid his hand back over Jacks’ heart. Vera watched and waited for a miracle.

Only minutes passed but it felt like hours. Bum. Vera sucked in a breath and squeezed her eyes shut, not sure if what she heard was thunder or...

Bum. Bum. Bum.

Gasping, her eyes shot open to search Jacks’ face. Dmetri looked at her and gave a short nod and suddenly she had the urge to cry all over again. Jacks’ lips twitched, his eyes fluttered beneath his closed lids, then his entire body was shaking in a seizure.

“This is normal, Vera. Don’t panic. He’s going to be okay. Well okay as a man can be when he wakes up to find out what happened.”

Vera helped Dmetri hold him down. The seizure didn’t last long. When it stopped, his entire body went so still she looked to Dmetri in question. He gave her a reassuring smile that bordered on a grimace and nodded towards Jacks’ neck.

Vera’s eyes widened as she watched the torn skin heal and repair itself. She’d known vampires could heal rapidly but she’d never actually seen it. The skin wove itself back together like little stitches and when it was done, his skin was only covered in blood that the rain washed off. Underneath the blood his skin was pink and new. It looked thinner than normal skin.

Jacks’ eyes fluttered then shot open wide and panicked. His eyes found hers and then he was sitting up and taking her hard into his arms. Nothing had ever felt so good in her life.

Vera cried out in relief and held him as if she’d let go he’d fade away and never come back. His hands passed over her hair, her back, and her arms.

He pulled back and looked around as if assessing for threats. He spotted Dmetri and Vera watched as confusion settled in.

“What happened?” His voice was gruff and sounded in desperate need of water.

Vera opened her mouth to tell him, then closed it. How did she tell him that he died and was turned into a vampire by her former lover?

She started to open her mouth but Dmetri saved her. “You were attacked by Ariss and her guardian. Vera brought you here.” Dmetri looked at her pointedly and she took a deep breath of courage.

“I stole some man’s car and drove you here, and then your heart stopped. So, um, so I had Dmetri turn you into a vampire.” She said the last on a squeak. She’d never had to deliver news like this.

Jacks threw back his head and laughed. Well that wasn’t quite the response she was expecting.

“Yeah right,” he said, then he pulled her close and kissed her. Feeling his mouth alive against hers made her wild. She kissed him harder like she was trying to get into his mouth. When he pulled back, he looked at her curiously. Then he slid a look to Dmetri and touched a finger to his neck.

“I remember the accident, then fighting with that strong son of a bitch. I’ve never seen anyone move that fast. Not even Rome. I felt so useless and angry...I couldn’t protect you and I wanted to scream.” He looked into her eyes and kissed her again. Vera kissed him back with every ounce of love in her body.

“We need to talk about this,” Dmetri said calmly.

Jacks jerked his head towards him. “About what?”

A blond eyebrow arched high. “About you being a vampire now.”

An unsure laugh. “You’re serious about that?”

“How else do you explain how you died and I brought you back. My blood brought you back, actually. Vera asked me to. I owe her that much,” he said softly.

Jacks sent a wild look to Vera. She quickly said, “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know what to do. I love you so much and I couldn’t bear it if you died. I asked him to. I would have asked you what you wanted but...” she shrugged and looked helplessly at him. “Dmetri offered to kill you again if you don’t want to stay alive,” she added quickly, giving him a bright smile. Dmetri cut her a quick glare.

Suddenly Jacks doubled over, holding his stomach, gasping in wretched breaths.

“He’s going to be very hungry,” Dmetri said matter of factly.

# # #

Jacks and fingered the sore spots in his mouth. He knew what the soreness in his gums was before he even touched it. Yet that didn’t make finding the two hard points any easier. He winced as he touched them even as he felt a wave of pleasure sear through him. Dmetri was right. His stomach growled, and his mouth tasted dirt dry.

His gaze fell over to Vera’s neck. He licked his lips and felt his fangs throb. He was moving before he even realized it. He grabbed her head in both hands and tipped her head to the side, her short hair parting easily, baring her rain-soaked neck.

He licked his lips, feeling drugged and woozy. Then Dmetri was beside him, his arm around his shoulders. For some reason he didn’t mind the touch. Vera was looking at him with such love and trust in her eyes.

He listened to Dmetri’s soft words of guidance. Then he licked a path of Vera’s neck, nuzzling her soft skin with his lips. She panted and he could hear everything gasp she took, even the quick beat of her heart. Hell, he could smell her arousal. She wanted this.

He followed Dmetri’s order and bit gently into her neck. She twitched against him and let out a soft, sexy cry. Christ his cock was so hard she could stroke him and he’d come.

Her skin broke beneath his teeth, no fangs, and then her blood pooled warm and delicious in his mouth. He sucked and licked at it, feeling the most dizzying sensation rush through his body. She was in his body. With each pull from her body, he felt her essence enter his.

He was claiming her, suck by suck. He listened as her heart quickened, her breath catching again and again. He knew she was wet in her panties. He sucked on her neck one last time and then she was sucking in air, gripping his back hard as she came.

Jacks had never felt anything so good. He heard Dmetri’s words, but ignored them and continued to suck and pull. He wanted all of her inside him. To never be separated from her again. He heard her heart stutter in her chest, and then he was ripping himself away from her with wide, wild eyes.

Holy fuck he almost killed her. Even now she slumped back against the car, her eyes hooded, a lazy smile on her face. His mark was on her neck—a dark bruise with two holes inside. Shame followed by anger filled him, had him standing over her.

She popped her eyes open and smiled big at him. A real, beautiful smile that was all Vera. It tugged at his chest, but he ignored it.

“I don’t ever want to see you again. Do you understand me, Vera? Never.” Vera’s smile died, she rushed to her feet reaching for him, but he stepped away.

“But I don’t understand. Why? You just— I thought—” she fumbled for words as pure agony fired through her heart. She knew he was going to leave her anyways, someday, but not now. She wasn’t ready for it now. Not after what they’d been through.

“Don’t worry I’ll make it easy on you. I won’t be coming on Kategan land again. Ever.” He turned from her and started towards the mansion.

“But I love you.” Her whisper barely made it over the sound of the rain. She expected him to turn back and say something, even something cruel, but he didn’t. He kept walking—and that was worse of all.

Dmetri was there though, pulling her into his arms. “I am so sorry, moya labyuff.” The old Russian endearment, my love, used to be something he called her when he knew she was in pain. Now it did nothing for her. “He is just upset right now, confused. His life has just made a huge change and he isn’t accepting it well. Don’t worry Vera, I will guide him into the new ways, and then he’ll be back for you.”

She shook her head against his chest. “No he won’t.” Shallow words so at odds to the heavy weight in her chest.

“Trust me, Vera.”

She laughed a nasty, awful sound. “The last time I did that, I got my heartbroken.” He frowned down at her looking as if he wanted to say something, but then he only nodded.

“Take my car and go home. I’ll call you with any news. I’ll send my guard with you. I won’t leave you unprotected now that we know what Ariss is up to. You won’t be safe until we capture her.”

Vera didn’t recall getting into the car, nor of pulling away from the mansion for the second time that night. She drove with robotic movements, her mind completely numb. A vampire guard sat in her back seat and a car of more guards followed her.

She drove for a solid twenty minutes before she finally pulled over to the side of the road. She was thankful when the guard in the car didn’t say anything.

Choked sobs left her raw throat, but no tears would come. She stared out at the night, at the rain. She was dried out on the inside.

Still it rained outside, the night crying for her.

Chapter Twelve

Four weeks did not a wound heal. Or so Vera had learned. In fact, a month had never felt so long.

As if the fates hadn’t punished her enough, they continued to point their fingers and laugh. Vera had had enough of it. She was ready to break the bitch’s fingers and shove them down their throats.

Vera stumbled into her kitchen and winced at the smell. The dishes of food were piled up in the sink and littered across the counter. Every morning she told herself to clean them, to put them away, but who was she kidding, she didn’t give a shit about dishes—not even on a good day. She’d easily put on several pounds with the amount of junk food she’d been eating which only added to her sour mood these last few weeks.

She couldn’t help it. She’d always been an eater when she was depressed. No, depressed didn’t cover what she felt. She’d found and lost her mate. She laughed the sound hollow and cold. She watched her mate die then get turned into a vampire. No that wasn’t quite accurate either. She’d found her mate, but he didn’t want her. That about summed it up.

“Because I have problems,” she mocked in a wimpy male voice. Vera stared at the dishes, lips pursed. She looked down at herself and felt her shoulders sag.

She was wearing a baggy t-shirt with stains and sweatpants. She hadn’t even known she owned sweatpants. The man was ruining her life. She was surprised she didn’t feel angrier about it. It wasn't like when Dmetri dumped her to the curb. No, this felt entirely different. Like half of her soul was dead. It was so, so much worse.

She wanted to go back to bed where she could spend all day sleeping, but even now, sleep wouldn’t come. How cruel was life when all she wanted was to sleep and make it all go away but she could barely sleep more than two hours a night?

Fucking cruel bitches.

Vera didn’t know if it was seeing her baggy sweatpants or the culmination of smelly dishes that pushed her. But finally, something in her snapped. Weeks of painful tears and a bleeding heart set her in motion. She attacked the dishes. The water was too hot and burned her hands, but she bit her lip and continued.

When she finished one side of the sink, she realized she felt...better. Anger was driving her now, and it felt so much better than self-pitying sadness. She scrubbed the dishes until they shined and glinted in the kitchen light.

When she finished all of them, her strainer was full and she had to lay a towel out to put the rest of the dishes out to dry.

What was he doing right now?

Fucking? Sleeping, flirting with some skank, drinking some other woman’s blood? She had no idea. Hell, she didn’t want to know. That’s right. Mate or not, she was done. Done hurting. A month of pain was a month too long.

She trudged up the stairs to her bedroom and her legs burned with the effort. She felt nothing but disgust at herself at how far she’d let herself go. She pulled off her baggy shirt and sweats and stepped into the shower. Turning the water all the way up, she scrubbed herself clean until she was pink.

Miraculously, she actually felt better, lighter, as if she’d washed away some of her problems. She laughed knowing that was a lie. Just like how Jackson used to drink away his problems only to sober up to them, she was no different.

She wished his father were still alive so that she could show him a thing or two about picking on someone his own size. Okay maybe she wasn’t his size, but damn if she wouldn’t like to wail on that motherfucker.

She was just finishing applying her mascara when a knock sounded at the front door. Vera froze, her heart faltering a step in her chest at the sound. She returned the mascara wand and closed it with surprisingly calm hands.

She’d only spoken to Vane a couple of times since she got back. She told him about Ariss, her guardian, and her Master trying to take Kategan land and after he roared loud enough to crack a window, she admitted that they were attacked again later. She winced guiltily, though she may have left out a few other pertinent details...like that Rome’s old best friend was now a vampire, and he was her mate. Stuff like that.

The knocked sounded again and she flinched. Somehow she made her arms work and put a robe on. What, she thought defensively. If Jackson wants people to know he’s a bloodsucker, nightwalker, shadow dweller, thing of the night, then it wasn’t her responsibility to tell people. She was just thinking of him really.

But Vane always called when he wanted to talk. He didn’t come over, and Rome and Alison were still out of town. A month long freaking honeymoon? Geez, Alison wasn’t going to be able to walk when they got back.

Vera told her stupid heart not to beat so freaking fast, not to get too excited. It wasn’t him. Please be him.

She reached the door and flung it open.

“What the hell took you so long?” Vera’s heart did not weep in disappointment. She did not want to run back upstairs and cry her eyes out. She did not.

Plastering on a smile she said, “Sarina how good to see you. Come on in.”

“Sorry for the attitude, I just was starting to feel like a cop banging on that door.” Vera motioned for her to take a seat and then took the one opposite hers.

“No problem. What can I do you for?” She hadn’t talked to Vane’s mate one on one...ever.

Sarina shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “Okay, well, see I wanted to talk to you. But I know it’s not really my place, yet I’m just kind of nosey enough to push that aside and come over here late at night.”

Vera’s mouth pulled into a real smile this time, though a flicker of unease rolled through her. “I understand that and I respect your tenacity. I give you leave to say what you want,” she said grandly.

Sarina’s looked as if a wish had just been granted. “Thank you so much for that you don’t know how much I appreciate that. Okay, so first, I know you’re sad and I want you to know that if you need to talk to someone, I’m here. Also, I would love to get to know you more so I wanted to ask you over for dinner sometime. And lastly, I am dying to know what’s going on between you and Jackson Marsh.” Her eyes twinkled so brightly, it was a wonder they didn’t sparkle.

Vera cleared her throat—twice. She ran through everything Sarina said twice before she could figure out what to say.

“Um, well, thank you. I assure you I’m not sad, and I would love to come over for dinner sometime just give me a ring.” Nice, sweet smile, there. She ignored the question about Jackson Marsh, she was not going to talk about him, wasn’t even sure if she could without crying.

Sarina was stronger and smarter than she originally gave her credit for because she didn’t stand up to leave. Instead, she leaned back her chair and gave her a saucy smile. “Would you perhaps be interested to know that I saw Jackson Marsh today?”

Vera flung herself into a sitting position, her ass nearly falling out of the chair as she tried to get closer to Sarina. “What, what do you mean? He was here. On Kategan land?” Panic, shock, hope, and excitement spun through her all at once. Stupid girl don’t get your hopes up.

Sarina leaned forward like she was about to divulge the juiciest of gossip. In a loud whisper she said, “He came by Vane’s today, or should I say tonight. He asked where Rome was and so on and so on, and then he asked about you.” She tossed her head back and pretended to fan away the heat from her face. “The man’s eyes were so hot when he talked about you I swear I had to crack a window. The man smoldered.”

Vera absorbed her words with a mixture of denial and stupid hope.

Sarina cocked an eyebrow and pretended to study her nails. “So would you like to know what else he asked about?”

Vera could only nod dumbly.

Sarina grinned from ear to ear. “He wanted to know where you lived. Said he needed to talk to you. Vane wouldn’t tell him either. Oh my god, you should have been there. It was awesome. I thought there was going to be a fight. Jackson got all angry-eyed and dark, even his scent smelled...different. Vane only told him after he fessed up about being changed into a vampire. Then there was this other thing that he promised me and Vane not to tell anyone about.”

Vera grabbed her by the shoulders and gave her a little shake. “What promise? Tell me, please!” She didn’t hide the desperation in her voice. Her hands were shaking when she finally pulled them back.

Sarina cocked her head and smiled softly. “You love him, don’t you?”

Vera slumped in her seat with defeat and said miserably, “So much. He is my mate.” Sarina nodded, her eyes gentle and understanding.

“He cares about you, you know. I may not have any right telling you this, but I think that’s why he came here today. For you.”

Vera nodded mutely, her mind buzzing with a thousand thoughts, doubts, fears, and hopes.

“Well I’ll leave you alone now, but I just wanted to tell you that you have a friend close by if you want to talk, go shopping, trash the male sex, or get drunk and watch Twilight.” Vera laughed for the first time in four weeks.

She went to Sarina and hugged her tight. “Thank you,” she said softly. Sarina squeezed her back.

“Anytime darling.” She gave a girly wave then left out the front door.

He came back. Well of course he came back, he lives around here, but he came asking about her. Did he still want her? She didn’t have so much pride or attitude that she would deny him if he came back groveling—okay if he came back at all. She would take him back in a second.

She walked back upstairs in a daze. When she got to her bedroom, she just stopped. She had no idea what to do. After doing the dishes she’d felt energized into doing something—namely going out and getting drunk. But now she couldn’t. The bathroom light drew her attention and like a moth, she went to it. Her makeup was scattered across the sink so she methodically started picking it up.

He asked about her. What was the promise? Did he want her back? It had to be something good, right? Or else Sarina wouldn’t have looked so evilly happy. Maybe he was going to apologize. Hope had her eyes widening and a small smile twitching on her face.

Don’t be stupid, Vera. She slammed her hand against the wall, her teeth grinding together. He had a month to call, to write, to come see her. He wasn’t coming back with a bouquet of roses and an “I love you.” A fuck, that’s all he would want.

She switched off the bathroom light, and then there was a knock at the front door.

# # #

Jackson cursed himself again and the silly package sitting in the passenger seat next to him. He stared at it hard, then turned back towards the road, his hands screwing against the steering wheel.

God he’d never felt this before, and it fucking sucked.

She wouldn’t even like it. Hell, she wasn’t even going to let him in the door, he just knew it. He banged his head against the steering wheel for the twelfth time and followed Vane’s directions to her house.

He didn’t know what kind of mystical powers were at work but he did know that he was in love with a woman who was not human, and he didn’t even know if she had a job. Not that he blamed her for that. He never asked. Was too busy staring at her, grumbling at her like some kind of caveman. Real smooth, Jacks.

There was no way she’d take him back. Even if he groveled, which he planned to do a lot of. He was a vampire now, as in, needs blood every day to survive. Sure, she won’t mind. Riiiiight.

He cursed the passing streetlights. They shone beams into the car and glinted the shiny red paper of the package back at him. A cruel reminder. Warm heat flared over his cheeks and he tried to pretend it wasn’t there.

He was one stupid son of a bitch. He’d fucked the greatest thing in his life up. Now he had to try to get it back, because living without it, he was only a shell of himself. Physically he was a wreck, mentally, a borderline monster.

He had Dmetri to thank for a lot though. The man had helped him, taught him so much shit he’d never even contemplated in his life. Like making sure he always had a supply of blood nearby so he didn’t get “hunger pangs.” Hunger pangs in a hungry vampire equals death to humans or animals alike.

Jackson slowed as Orchard Drive came into focus. He turned down it and found her house, pulling to a stop in front of it. His gut was bending and twisting with nerves, a sheen of sweat covered his forehead, and his fangs threatened to drop at the thought of seeing her again.

Would she be happy to see him? He’d thought of this moment a thousand different times since he’d fucked up with her. He was determined to make it up to her. He just hoped like hell that she didn’t hold a grudge. He lifted the box out of the passenger seat and got out of the car.

Lights were on in her house—a cabin just like Rome and Vane’s. The Kategan’s definitely had a thing for cabins. Her house was recessed back in the woods with the trees giving her house ample amount of shade and privacy from the main road he’d just come off from.

He parked some distance away because...shit. Because he was scared. Always know the exits; always have an escape route. Basic survival rule number one.

He walked silently over the gravel to her cabin, a beacon in the dark night. A shadow moved inside the house and his heart picked up speed. He was actually going to see her, after all this time.

The wind picked up and gently passed over him, ruffling the hair that he hadn’t been cut in weeks. Jacks inhaled that wind and had only a second to react before a blur of movement leaped out from the trees.

# # #

Vera flung open the door, her heart in her eyes.

A vast greatness of nothing greeted her. She stepped outside and looked left, right, up to the main road. She opened her senses and smelled nothing. Was Sarina playing a joke on her?

“Sarina?” Insects chirped and frogs bellowed in return. She put one foot back in the house and smelled it—vampire. She almost smiled. He came back!

“Jackson?” she called out, not caring how excited she sounded.

An evil laugh came from behind her. Vera spun around to find Ariss standing in her living room. She didn’t question it, just let her beast roar through her with a feral growl and launched herself at the vampire bitch.

She caught Ariss around the middle and tackled her hard to the ground. She had a second to hold her and then Ariss twisted her arm free and slammed her palm into her nose. Vera sputtered as blood and pain lanced through her.

Ariss caught her by the hair and yanked her back, wrapping her legs around her waist and flipping them over. Vera made a wide arc with her arm, hand fisted tight, and slammed it with all her strength into Ariss’ face. The vampire nearly slid completely off of her.

“Fucking bitch,” Ariss hissed. Using her hair as leverage, she lifted Vera’s head and slammed back down to the floor.

Dizziness danced through her mind like she was on a merry go-round. “What do you want?” she bit out between clenched teeth. Ariss slammed her back again, and then slammed a fist into her face.

She bit down hard on her tongue with the next hit to the face. Roaring, Vera lifted her legs and hips off the floor and wrapped her ankles around Ariss’ neck. It became a battle as Ariss was determined to yank out every strand of Vera’s hair for leverage.

Finally, a sharp pull of hair ripped out of her head. Vera didn’t feel it; she used her legs to slam Ariss down to the ground. Ariss’ head lolled around, her eyes fluttering.

Vera didn’t hesitate to sit on her chest and introduce her fist to her face a dozen times. She was panting when she was done and Ariss lips were busted, bloodied, and her eyes were going to be black in the morning.

She grabbed her by the hair and yanked her neck to the side. “I said what do you want with me?” She sharpened her pull in warning.

Ariss gasped in pain and struggled beneath her. “My Master’s going to kill me unless I kill you. This is my last chance, and I will not fail.”

“Well it looks like you did, bitch.” Ariss laughed a cruel scratch of a sound.

“Or so you think. Conner is going to kill your mate.”

Vera froze. “Who’s Conner?”

Ariss laughed and shook her head side to side. With the hand gripping her hair, she could barely move an inch.

Vera had never before felt the ugliness of rage that filled her then. She pulled back her fist and hammered it into Ariss until her breathing slowed and she slumped lazily against the floor. Only then did she stop.

Breathing heavily, Vera asked again. “Who is Conner?” Ariss’ eyes fluttered closed. Vera slapped her hard across the face, the sound a sharp crack in the room. “Answer me!” she screamed in her face.

Ariss opened her eyes and smiled, her fangs spotted red. “My guardian. He went after your mate. He’s going to kill him.”

# # #

Jackson rolled with the hit, dropping Vera’s present to the ground, and went tumbling to the ground with a roll. Ariss’ guardian hissed and Jackson could have smiled. He’d wanted to get back at this motherfucker for weeks.

The guardian was fast, but Jackson was trained to fight—to kill.

He didn’t stop rolling until the guardian was beneath him. He pulled back his head and snapped it forward, bumping their heads together with a resounding crack.

The guardian bared his fangs and struggled to get a grip on him. Jacks was faster, he grabbed an arm and held it tight as he pulled it out of socket with a hard, nasty snap. The guardian roared and launched his hips off the ground, throwing Jacks off.

“You guys never quit do you?” he said and casted a quick glance over at Vera’s cabin. Ariss had to be there. I have to get to her. Jacks blocked a flurry of kicks and punches that came his way. The guardian moved so quickly, if he’d still been a human he wouldn’t have made out any of the moves, but now his eyes tracked each one. The guardian didn’t have use of his arm, it hung dangled at his side.

But then Jacks made a mistake. He didn’t see the guardian pull a blade out. The guardian faked left then thrust in with the blade glinting in the moonlight. His knife slid hot and quick into Jackson’s stomach.

He hissed in pain and grabbed the guardian’s wrist, snapping it back until it too popped. The guardian screamed in agony and dropped to his knees. Jacks squeezed tight to his wrist then slammed a kick to his chest. His other arm popped out of socket and he went limp against the ground writhing and crying out in pain.

Jacks grabbed the fallen blade off the ground just as Vera’s growl sounded from the cabin. Panic set in, adrenaline floored through him. He dropped down quick and stabbed the vampire in the heart, then slit his throat for good measure. He watched the vampire’s struggles stop as his last breath left him.

Then he sprinted for the cabin.

The door was open and dread filled him. He crashed into the house, his quick sight taking in everything at once. Vera sat on top of Ariss with a hard, burning anger in her eyes.

She grabbed Ariss by the head and slammed it with a resounding crack into the ground. The vampire’s head lolled to the side like a puppet.

“Vera.”

Her eyes shot up and a second later, she was in his arms, her legs wrapped tight around him. He didn’t even feel the burning cut in his stomach.

She was shaking so hard, felt so unbelievably good in his arms; he held her tight whispering soft words in her ear.

She pulled back jerkily, her eyes shooting outside then to Ariss on the floor. “It’s not safe. We need to get out of here now. Her guardian is here.”

“Baby, I know. He’s dead.” She seemed to have trouble digesting that bit of information. She looked back at him, her eyes getting wider and wider.

“Are you okay? Did he hurt you?” She ran her hands over his back and he had to sigh at how good it felt. Then her hands ran over his front and he winced. “Oh my God! You are hurt. Come here.”

She dropped down and dragged him into the bathroom. She pushed him onto the toilet seat and started rummaging through the medicine cabinet. Things were dropping out and spilling left and right. Her hands were shaking so bad he could see it. Finally he grabbed her hands and just pulled her close.

A sob broke out of from her, breaking his heart, and then she curled up against him. She didn’t make a single sound but he felt the warm liquid covering his shoulder.

“It’s okay baby. They’re not going to hurt you anymore.” She pulled back from him with a lykaen growl. Then she slapped him across the cheek. Jacks had only a second to be surprised because then she did it again.

Growling, his fangs threatening to lower at being so close to her he said, “What are you doing?”

Her hands bunched into his shoulders and when she looked at him, he saw anger and pain there—a lot of it.

“You were hurt.” She slapped his shoulder. “You hurt me.” She slapped his other shoulder. “Why are you here, because I swear if it isn’t to beg me for forgiveness then I’m going to kill you myself?”

Jacks waited a second and when she didn’t slap him again, he grabbed her face in his hands and kissed her to shut her the hell up.

God, he’d almost forgotten what she tasted like. Delicious, sexy woman—his woman. Vera.

The kiss was anything but gentle. Teeth clanged against each other and lips bit and sucked on tongues. They each fought for possession, their breaths mingling roughly with each other.

Jacks broke away first and pressed his forehead to hers. “This wasn’t how I envisioned seeing you again.” She choked on a laugh. He smiled at the sound, his heart feeling lighter than it had in weeks.

“I need to call Vane and Brayden about this, okay? And then you and I have a lot to talk about.”

She glared at him and damn if it didn’t feel good. “I’m sorry, I said that wrong. I meant I have a lot of begging to do because I was a son of a bitch, and I’ve never been sorrier for anything.” She tugged her lip between her teeth looking so unsure he hated himself for putting that look there.

When she finally relaxed and gave him a tumultuous smile, he felt the vice that had been around his heart let go.

Chapter Thirteen

The Justicars arrived within the hour. They took her and Jacks’ statements and wrapped up Conner’s body. Ariss was still alive and Vera didn’t feel sorry for her as they locked her up and stuffed her in the back of a black van. She would get her day in court right next to her Master Claude whom the Justicars said they captured earlier that day.

As the last of the cars drove away, Vane hugged her tight. He’d looked so scared when he came running up and Vera hated that look. It was the same panicked look he had when they found out their parents had died. She sent him and a wide-eyed Sarina back home with hugs and smiles—this time genuine ones.

Quiet crept back over her cabin. The chirp of crickets ascended now that the danger was gone. Vera kept her head down as she walked back to the cabin, passing Jacks. Now that it was over, she couldn’t stop the feeling of unease that settled in her.

The floorboards creaked as he walked away from the cabin, she almost cried out for him to stop as panic clutched her. He went over towards the trees and picked something up—a red box. He came back, his eyes not meeting hers, his steps silent on the gravel.

“Here,” he said gruffly, thrusting the box at her.

Vera gulped hard at the knot in her throat. She took the box, holding it like the most precious thing in the world. A hot liquid pressed against her eyes.

“Why don’t you open it inside,” he suggested when she just stood there.

She nodded faintly and went inside to plop down on the couch. She fingered the paper for a moment, then carefully tore at the sides on the left then on the right. Gently, she tore the paper across the bottom then slid the paper off. It was an ugly cardboard box underneath the paper, she smirked at it. He would wrap a present in a cardboard box.

She felt the couch dip next to her as he took a seat. She used her fingernail to tear open the tape and, like she was receiving her very first present, she opened one side of the cardboard box, then the other.

White tissue paper stared back at her, crinkled under her fingers as she spread it wide. Her eyebrow puckered as she looked at what lay beneath—a white dress. Vera fingered the soft material and lifted it out of the box. It was long, sleeveless, and utterly beautiful. It had elaborate beading on the front and an elegant, big bow at the back.

“You...bought me a dress?” She looked over at him but he was staring hard at the wood floor, as if he was trying to decipher what kind of wood it was.

“Yeah,” he said gruffly. “There’s more underneath it.” Vera closed her mouth and gently laid the dress over her lap. The material of the dress, judging by the look of it—was expensive. It felt like satin at her fingertips, and she was pretty damn sure it was a wedding gown.

Even though he’d said there was more in the box, it was still a surprise to find a pair of matching opal colored high heels. She read the label and bit her lip from giggling like a, well, girl. They were her favorite brand. Strappy, pretty, and with a little point at the end.

“I know you like your shoes.” She stared at him like she’d never seen him before.

“How do you know that?”

“Vera you don’t have to tell me everything for me to figure it out. You’re always wearing nice expensive-looking shoes, and damn near a different pair for each day.” The man truly was after her heart. “Do you like it?”

“I...I love it.” And you.

“See the reason why I wanted to give that to you is because,” he slid to the ground in front of her on both knees and reached into his pocket, pulling out a small black box. He held the box up like an offering and Vera quickly shoved the cardboard box away.

“I, um, I wanted to know if you’d marry...me.” He flipped the box open with his thumb and a sparkling diamond ring with a gold band winked up at her. The warm liquid that had been swimming in her eyes was trying to get out, but no way was she going to blur this image with tears.

When she could only stare, a smile pulled at the corner of his mouth. He took the ring out and gently picked up her hand. His touch warmed her, felt so perfect. He settled the thin band around her fingernail and held it there.

“I know you lykaens have a different tradition, and I may be an undead, half-dead, whatever you want to call it vampire thing, but I’m still a human at heart. And in the world where I grew up in, when there’s a brilliant woman you love more than anything, you marry her. So Vera Kategan, will you marry me? Before you answer,” he said quickly when she opened her mouth, “know that I am not a perfect son of a bitch, but I promise to love you and no other until the end of my days. And I promise to never, ever lay a hand on you in anger. I am not my father. I won’t have a single drop of alcohol, ever. I vow it.”

A frown tugged at Vera’s lips as she struggled not to cry.

“Ah baby, don’t cry. You don’t have to marry me if you don’t want to, but that doesn’t mean I’ll leave you alone, because I can’t. I can’t live without you, baby. The past four weeks were harder on me than the years I spent in the military, drinking away my father’s memory, my fucking problems. I was mad for a while, that you made me feel worse than that. But I went and saw my mom. Yeah, I did. She made me realize how stupid I was.

Go figure she could do that. She wants to meet you, said she’ll make you your favorite pie.” He swallowed hard. “Just say yes, say you still love me and we can work through anything. I’m prepared to fight for you for as long as it takes because I love you so damned much.”

Vera slid to her knees in front of him, her finger catching on the ring. It slid perfectly up her finger.

She wrapped her arms around him, slanted her mouth across his, and showed him without words her answer.

Groans filled the air as bodies strained to get closer; lips tasted and learned each other. Vera pulled his tongue into her mouth and sucked on it. With a growl, he pulled back, breathing hard.

“Tell me that was one helluva yes, baby.”

Vera laughed and hugged him hard. “That’s a yes, lumara.” He laughed with her, the sound rich, music to add to her symphony.

“Thank God,” he said so seriously that she broke into a fit of laughter, raining kisses along his hard jaw and neck. “Baby, I have a question for you.”

“Mmmm,” she said curiously, as her mouth teased his ear.

“Tell me you’re naked under that robe.” Vera pulled back and looked down at herself. So much had happened in the last few hours, she’d completely forgotten she was wearing the white terry cloth robe from when she got out of the shower. Licking her lips, she gave him a coy stare and said, “What are you going to do about it if I am?”

Her body was already on liquid fire for him. His eyes left hers to trail over the thick robe. His eyes darkened, hot and wild, as if he could see her clearly through the material.

When he spoke, his voice was a hoarse croak, “I need you, and I can’t go easy. If you can’t take it, then I want you to get up and leave the room right now, because otherwise I’m going to be on you and in you in under a minute.”

“But your hurt.”

He shook his head and lifted his shirt showing her a cut that already looked like it’d healed a week. “Dmetri told me that not all vampires can heal fast, but he can, and since I have his blood now I can too.”

Shivering, Vera untied the rope around her waist and shrugged out of the robe. It hissed and slithered down to the floor around her.

“Last chance,” he warned. His gaze scorched over her naked body. His eyes widened, nostrils flared, and then his mouth was on hers, his tongue thrusting in her mouth, owning her, possessing her.

Hot, rough hands searched over her body—not with gentle romantic sweeps but with urgent, eager grasps. Plumping her ass cheeks, rubbing her back, pinching her nipples, and squeezing her breasts until finally she let her head fall back.

His mouth replaced his hands and licked her nipples deep, flicking and sucking them until an answering pleasure throbbed from between her legs. She was wet as if she’d been having foreplay for hours, not mere seconds. Being so long without him had her starved.

“Jacks.” Her voice was laden with arousal.

“Can’t wait anymore.” She watched languidly as he ripped open his pants, spread her knees wide, and thrust at her entrance. He slid in like he was made to.

He didn’t stop. His thrusts were that of a starved man. A man hungry for his mate. His hips slapped against hers as his thrusts pushed her against the couch, her ass bouncing off of it.

With them both on their knees, he wasn’t hitting her as deep as she wanted it, but he was moving so fast through her wet pussy—pushing her towards something beautiful and earth shattering.

His hands cupped her bottom and spread her cheeks wide, reminding her of the delicious time he’d taken her in that special way. His mouth came down on hers and nothing could stop the bubbling pleasure that burst forth from her. She turned her head away and screamed as an intense, hard orgasm ripped through her trembling body.

Before she could float back down to earth, he was right there with her, thrusting jerkily then exploding in hot surges inside her.

“Vera, baby.” His voice held wonder in it.

He wrapped her in his arms and fell back to the floor with her. Vera didn’t know how long they lay like that, but their bodies turned cold, their breathing returned to normal. She tried to think of a time when she’d enjoyed something as much as she did this, but for the life of her, she couldn’t.

He held her, his fingers tracing small patterns on her back. Vera had a sudden, wicked thought and propped herself up on an elbow to look down at him.

“Baby?” He seemed to have a hard time opening his eyes, but finally he did and looked at her with a cocked eyebrow. “Are you hungry?”

All at once, his soft cock hardened against her thigh like a steel pipe. His eyes darkened and his lips parted. Jackpot.

“I shouldn’t. I don’t want to hurt you.” She could hear the regret in his voice so she kissed him wetly on the mouth for it.

“But I’d love to feed you,” she whispered huskily and rolled her hips so his cock rested at the entrance to her pussy.

Several things happened at once and she didn’t know which happened first. A hand cupped her neck, tilting her head to the side. And then sharp pressure at her neck like sharp teeth. Thick, hard pressure and then his cock was inside her.

A fleeting pain and her soft skin broke under the pressure of his bite.

Instantly she was bombarded with sharp, incredible sensations throughout her body. The sensation at her neck was so intense that she lazily lifted herself up and down on his cock. Her eyes closed, his name a whisper from her lips, she held him within her body as he took her life essence into his body.

Each draw wrought a sharp sensation from deep inside her. Her body warmed and pulsed, her pussy tightening and releasing with each kiss at her neck. His tongue licked at her torn skin reverently, his lips pulled tight against her neck as he sucked and pulled.

It was too much, he completely overwhelmed her. He must have known it too because he thrust up inside her, filling her hard and completely, as he drank from her neck. The orgasm that ripped through her was blinding.

Her screams blasted off the cabin walls, and she was certain her body would have trembled away had he not held on to her so tightly.

He pulled away from her neck with a lingering lick, then settled down against the floor just holding her, letting her catch her breath.

When she could talk without gasping, she kissed his cheek and said, “Why did you stop?” She lifted her hips in question and his hard cock slipped almost out of her before she pushed back down and shoved him deep. His harsh groan turned into a hiss at the movement.

“Because I want to take you to the bedroom.” He wrapped her arms around his neck and stood with a strength and ease that even she found impressive.

“Tell me how you lifted me so easily. Is it your amazing vampire strength or could you lift me like that as a human? Don’t lie now.”

He laughed and started up the stairs. “I’d never lie to you, Vera. I think you overestimate how much you weigh. Yeah, I could have held you before. You’re nothing to hold, baby.” She inhaled his rich, masculine scent and smiled.

He reached the threshold of her bedroom and suddenly stopped. Vera felt the tension tighten in his shoulders.

“What is it?”

He opened his mouth to say something, but then clamped it closed hard. He strode into the bedroom and tossed her onto the bed. Vera flopped around on the bed like ragdoll and sputtered, “Hey, what the hell, vampire?”

“Do you always resort to name calling when you’re mad?”

“I don’t know.” He leaned nonchalantly against her doorframe and looked around her bedroom with assessing eyes. When his eyes finally landed on hers, it was like electricity passing between them.

“We need to discuss a few things.”

Vera’s stomach dropped through the floor. “Is that just another way of saying ‘we need to talk’?” His rich laughter made her relax, somewhat. He crossed his arms loosely around his chest. She tried not to stare at the way his muscles thickened and bulged, but it was hard.

“Don’t worry baby, it’s nothing bad. I just need to know if you’ll,” his face darkened and he looked wildly around the room before finding her again, “mate with me.” Vera’s mouth opened and closed several times as a rushing sensation swept through her. God she loved this man. What he was asking for was so much more than a marriage. It was a soul-gripping union between two mates.

“Of course I will. I love you so much, Jackson Marsh.” The look on his face was raw love. She could see the young man who’d endured through an abusive father, could see the older man struggling with a past that ate at him, and now the man standing here before her accepting and ready for something new.

He went to her, wrapping her in his arms as he spread her legs and thrust inside her. “I love you, Vera.” He moved hard and fast inside of her, feeling her muscles clench and squeeze his cock.

Vera had no choice but to hold onto him, her fingernails curling into his strong back as his hips whipped back and forth over her. He pulled back, his fangs white in the darkened room, and bit down into his wrist.

Suddenly his thrusts slowed to a lazy but intense rhythm that had her heart fluttering and her blood pounding loudly in her ears. Blood flowed out in rivulets from his wrist but he merely looked at her, a question in his eyes.

She nodded and parted her lips.

His heartfelt grown had her thighs tightening around his. Then he put his wrist against her lips and she drank from him.

His taste was rich like wine, dark like him, and everything she could ever want. Their eyes stayed locked together for endless moments as together their life forces were exchanged. His pulse beat rapidly against her lips, his eyes darkened to black, his pupils widened. She could have stayed like that forever. Just him and her.

When he pushed down on her chin and pulled his wrist away, it was the most natural thing in the world to kiss him with his blood still fresh on her tongue, her lips.

He licked himself off her, kissing her deep and long. He withdrew his cock to the tip then slammed back in as if to remind her he was still there. She moaned loud, wildly as he pulled back again and drove in. Faster, harder he thrust. Until finally he was hammering into her, stabbing at her until she was hovering over the border and about to pop.

His hand curled into her hair, holding her as his lips found hers, kissing her again and again. She was so close. She was stuck. Each thrust hit her perfectly, almost pushing her over but keeping her on the border and not letting her go over.

With a feral growl, he tore himself away from her mouth and pulled her hair to the side. “You’re going to come on my cock, mate. Or I’m going to keep fucking your pussy until you do.” His words in that rough, eager voice shoved her the last bit she needed and she convulsed, her pussy milking and clenching.

“Yeah, that’s it baby. Feel my cock owning you. I’m going to do this every single day for the rest of your life. You belong to me now.” He pounded into her quivering pussy muscles again and again, and amazingly, his words sent her over again, sent her into a quivering, moaning mass of sensations until her hips were rocking tight and wildly against his.

“Ahhh, that’s it,” he groaned, slamming into her so fast. “Going to come,” he warned and then he shoved in deep, the spray of his cum so hot and deep inside her. He twitched and jerked against her as he emptied himself deep into her.

“I love you, lumara,” she whispered with a smile.

“And I love you, mate.”

He kissed her again, a promise of a future together.

About the Author

T. A. Grey lives in Missouri where she spends her days writing and reading heart pounding stories in the comfort of her home. She has two wild cats that never leave her alone and a loving fiancé who surprises her with gifts of cherry taffy. She has a weakness for feeding stray cats, old music, and trying out new recipes. After graduating with her Bachelor of Science in Professional Writing, she has since spent her days filling up pages with sexy and imaginative stories. You can learn more about her books at www.tagrey.com.

Content

Wicked Surrender
The Kategan Alphas 3
By
T. A. Grey

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

About the Author