Bodyguard's Bite

by Silvia Violet

  I knew he wasn’t ready to tell his family, and now that Emerson had been taken on my watch, I was no longer sure King would easily accept our mating. He might be willing to see me cared for, but would he ever really trust me again?

  I wasn’t sure how Storm and I would hide our relationship with all his bothers around, but we’d have to find a way. After what we’d been through, I didn’t care how much my leg still hurt or how many stitches I had from various cuts—I needed to be inside my mate, to feel him come apart with pleasure.

  Claim him, my wolf demanded. Bite. Mark. Take.

  Suddenly, I caught Storm’s scent. Was that my imagination or—

  The door opened, and Storm slipped in.

  “Jax.” The relief in his voice sent flutters through my chest. I held out my arms.

  “Come here, baby!”

  Storm pushed the door shut and ran to me. I hugged him tightly, ignoring the protest of my sore muscles. His tears dampened my t-shirt as he pressed his face into my chest. “I could have lost you.”

  “You went after the lions with your brothers. I could have lost you too.”

  “I wasn’t going to risk Emerson or let them get away with hurting you.”

  I took a deep breath, letting his scent calm me. “I love you so much.”

  “I love you too. I’m so glad you’re mine.”

  “Yes. Need you.” I couldn’t keep the growl out of my voice.

  Storm pulled back and looked at me, his expression serious. “I’m ready to tell my family. I don’t want to hide anymore. If we’d been bonded, I would’ve known where you were when they took you to the hospital, and if King and Emerson had been, we would’ve found Emerson much more quickly. I can’t risk needing that link again and not having it.”

  I squeezed my eyes shut. I wanted all of that too. “Are King and Emerson okay now?”

  Storm frowned, obviously expecting a different response. “I think so.”

  “That’s good. I… I know I said we should tell him and the rest of your brothers, but I failed to protect King’s mate. Do you really think—”

  “Emerson is fine.”

  “That doesn’t change the fact that the lions took him when I was supposed to be keeping him safe.”

  “Jax, no one blames you, and King feels horrible about what happened to you and Denny.”

  “But does he want me to be his brother’s mate?”

  Storm growled. “It makes no difference what he wants. Fate has decided that you’re my mate.”

  I felt a bond with him, I knew I did, but after waking up in the hospital unsure what had happened, not knowing where Storm was and then not being able to see him when I wasn’t out of my mind with painkillers, I’d started to doubt everything. “Are we sure?”

  Storm frowned at me, anger, fear, and determination mixed in his eyes. “Are you telling me you don’t feel this?”

  He gripped my hands. Heat shot through me, a comforting warmth as well as sexual heat. I didn’t just feel him where he touched me. I felt him inside, like he was speaking to my wolf.

  Fool. My wolf said. He’s ours.

  Why was I trying to deny that? “I’m sorry. I…”

  “Did you hit your head in the crash? Because this doesn’t sound like you. You don’t doubt yourself.”

  “You’re so wrong. I doubt myself every day, every mission, but I keep going anyway and never let it show.”

  Storm gave me a soft smile. “You always seem so together.”

  “I’ve trained myself to, but when it comes to you… I can’t hold my mask in place.”

  Storm slid his fingers into my hair and massaged my head. I closed my eyes and let myself enjoy his soothing touch. “King is going to have to accept this eventually. You’re mine, and nothing is changing that.”

  I knew that. We were fated mates. I wasn’t really questioning that, especially considering how I felt right then with him in my arms, but I didn’t want Storm to have to fight his family. “You wanted to wait before. Maybe you were right.”

  “No, I wasn’t. I thought we should wait until things settled down with the lions, but now there’s the shit with Trent and the escorts. Corbin could call any day, and once that’s settled, there will be something else.” When he pulled away from me and stood, I shivered, suddenly cold from the loss of him.

  “Storm, I know things won’t ever fully settle down, but I’m just not sure now is the right time.”

  “I can’t wait any longer to be mated to you. My wolf needs you. I need you, but you don’t want to claim me until my brothers know.”

  Someone knocked on the door. Storm moved to the chair by the bed before calling, “Come in.”

  I braced myself. What if it was King, and he’d heard our argument? But when the door opened, it was Emerson. He looked from me to Storm. “I’m sorry. Am I interrupting something?”

  “No, I was just checking on our patients,” Storm said, his voice chilly. He rose from the bed, and I grabbed his arm.

  “Stay. I think we have more to talk about.” I needed him there. I needed to assess the risk he wanted us to take and make a plan, but he was right—we couldn’t wait any longer to be fully bonded.

  Emerson gave Storm a knowing smile, but I didn’t let that bother me. If he told King, we’d deal with it. Anything was better than the anguish I felt through our mate bond.

  Storm sank back into the chair by my bed, and thankfully, Emerson didn’t question us further. Instead, he turned back to me and said, “I needed to see for myself that you were okay. Did you hear that I’m going to be a permanent resident here, so you’ll get to follow me around some more?”

  I forced myself to smile. “I’m just glad I’m still here to do the following.”

  “So am I. I’m so sorry that—”

  He was sorry? “No, it’s me who should be sorry. I should’ve known the Crowns would make a move.”

  Emerson frowned. “If King didn’t know, why should you? I don’t blame any of you. When they dragged me from the car, and you were lying there unconscious, I thought… I wasn’t sure I’d ever see you again. I’m really glad you’re all right.”

  “Me too,” Storm said, reaching for my hand once again. The tightness in my chest loosened. Things were going to be okay between us. I squeezed his hand and laced our fingers together as the three of us discussed King’s stubbornness and how things had finally been smoothed over between him and Emerson.

  “Is he waiting for you now?” I asked after we’d all had a laugh at King’s expense.

  “No, but he’ll be here soon.” Emerson got a goofy, smitten smile on his face. Did I look like that when I was thinking of Storm? If I did, it was a miracle everyone in the household hadn’t figured out we were mates.

  When Emerson left, I turned to Storm. “I’m sorry. I —”

  “We can wait a little longer to tell King,” he said before I finished. “I know he doesn’t blame you, but he needs some time to finish getting his shit together with Emerson. As soon as you’re healed enough, though, you’re claiming me with your bite.”

  I frowned. There was something Storm wasn’t saying. I’d learned to read him fairly well, and he was trying to gloss over details. “You said we can wait for King. What about the rest of your brothers?”

  Color rose in Storm’s cheeks. “Bryce and Shadow already know.”

  “You told them?”

  “Not exactly.”

  I stared at him. He wasn’t getting out of explaining this to me. “Shadow just knew, and there was no point in trying to deny it. Bryce could tell something was up with me. He’s always been the brother I confided in, so I knew he’d keep our secret. I asked him if Garrett suspected too, but he doesn’t know.”

  “And Emerson?”

  Storm glanced toward the door where Emerson had just exited. “I’m guessing he probably knows now.”

  “Will he tell King?”

  Storm shook his head. “He has better sense than that.”

  “What a
bout the others? Will they let it slip?”

  Storm shrugged. “It’s possible. King will likely dismiss it if they do. He often assumes we don’t know what we’re talking about.”

  I took his hand and pulled him toward me until he was forced to sit on the bed. If King truly forgave me, then we would tell him soon. I didn’t like that the others knew, but ultimately I was more relieved than disturbed by it. With Bryce and Shadow on our side, things would be all right. Storm, together with the two of them, could likely convince King of anything. Garrett was a wildcard, but if the others accepted me, he eventually would. And from everything I’d heard about what had happened with the Crowns, he had his own issues to deal with, so he wouldn’t be able to invest a lot of time in arguing with Storm.

  My mate wanted my bite, and I was going to give it to him.

  Yes! my wolf cried. Now.

  I cupped Storm’s face and held his gaze. “You said you wanted me to claim you as soon as I was healed enough.”

  He nodded slowly. “I do.”

  “You’re already mine. You have been since our first night together, but it’s time for us to make it official.”

  His eyes widened. “You mean now?”

  “I thought you didn’t want to wait.”

  “But your leg… you’re not healed all the way, and—”

  “It’s a lot better today. I’ve got a spot picked out for us, near where we were that night by the guesthouse.” Shifters always preferred to bond with one another outside.

  “That’s too far for you to—”

  “I have crutches, but I can walk on my leg if I need to. It’s getting stiff from me lying here in bed anyway.”

  Storm narrowed his eyes. “When did the doctor say you should put weight on your leg?”

  I waved off his question. “She said I should shift every day to help it heal, so we’ll shift and let our wolves have time together after I claim you.”

  “Jax, I don’t think—”

  “I’m fine. We’ve waited long enough. We’re doing this now.” I let my wolf come out in my voice, and my commanding tone made Storm shudder.

  “I should tell you no. You’re supposed to be resting.”

  “Wrong. You should be an obedient mate and gather the things we need.”

  Storm huffed, but he didn’t protest. “What do we need?”

  “Get a blanket and lube. I’ll take care of the rest.”

  “The rest? What are you planning? You really can’t strain on your leg.”

  “Stop fussing and trust me.” I gripped his wrist again, letting my claws emerge so he felt them prick his vulnerable skin. “From now until this is done, I’m in control, not you. Unless you say ‘red,’ I expect you to do exactly as I say.”

  Storm’s tongue snuck out and wet his lips before he spoke. “You’re really going to bite me now? Today?”

  I let my eyes shift so my wolf looked out at him. “Yes. It’s past time we did this. I’m going to take you to a secluded spot, and I’m going to make you one hundred percent mine. After today, you’ll bear my mate mark always. You’re sure that’s what you want?”

  “I’ve never wanted anything more.”

  “Then go get the things we need, and tell whoever needs to know that you’ll be unreachable for the next few hours.”

  “Hours?”

  “Haven’t I always taken my time with you?”

  “Yes,” he squeaked.

  “Get moving.” He stood, and I looked him up and down. He was gorgeous in his dark gray suit, but it wouldn’t do for what I had in mind. “Before you come back, change into something easier to get on and off.”

  20

  Storm

  When I rushed from Jax’s room, I was so excited I didn’t pay attention to where I was going and ran smack into Shadow. For once, he was in human form and fully dressed.

  “Whoa,” he said. “What’s wrong?”

  “Jax agreed to perform the mating ceremony with me.”

  Shadow’s eyes widened. “Now?”

  “Yes. I was going to find you or Bryce and let you know so you could make sure King doesn’t come looking for us.”

  “Emerson’s waiting for him in his room, so I’m fairly sure that is not going to happen.”

  “Garrett could come home. I don’t want him asking questions either.”

  Shadow laid a hand on my shoulder. “I’ll take care of everything. Just trust me.”

  This time, I didn’t hesitate to leave him in charge. He was just as capable as me, and it was time we all started to acknowledge that. “I do. Thank you.”

  He pulled me into a tight hug. “Congratulations. You deserve this. And King will accept Jax, so quit worrying.”

  “How did you know we were worried about—”

  The are-you-kidding-me look he gave me stopped my words. “You always worry too much about what King thinks. Now get going.”

  I raced down the hall to my room and quickly changed into athletic pants and a t-shirt. Garrett rolled his eyes every time he saw it, but I had a feeling Jax would get a kick out of it. I grabbed a tube of lube from my en suite bathroom and a blanket from the linen closet there and stuffed both into a tote bag before heading back to see Jax.

  I got lucky and made it to Jax’s room without running into anyone else. When I slipped inside, he was doing some standing stretches. “Are you sure you’re up to this?”

  The only answer I received was a growl.

  “I’ll take that as a yes.” I paused and added a sassy, “Sir.”

  He raised his brows. “Are you asking to be whipped again?”

  “Maaaybe.”

  He winced as he straightened.

  “But it can wait until you’re fully healed. You can keep track of my offenses and punish me really hard.”

  “You loved that the other night.” He gave me a heated once-over, and my cock swelled, tenting my sweats.

  “I did.” He’d known exactly the right balance of pain and pleasure to give me.

  He shifted his weight to his good leg and held out his hand. “Hand me the bag.”

  After he took it, he reached under the covers, pulled something out, and stuffed it in the bag so quickly I couldn’t see what it was.

  “I can carry that so you don’t have to worry about it and your crutches.”

  He studied me for a moment. “No peeking.”

  “I’ll be a good boy.”

  He huffed. “I’m not so sure of that.”

  “You like when I’m bad.”

  “I really fucking do.” His grin sent sparks racing over me.

  Jax grabbed only one of the crutches that were leaning against the wall by his bed. I wanted to question whether his doctor would approve of him not using both, but he was as stubborn as any of us Howlers, so he would just dismiss my concerns. I would make sure he rested after the mating ceremony was over, and even if he set his healing back a bit, he was healthy and strong, and I knew that he would be okay. Once our mate bond was fully established, I would be able to tell if he was downplaying the amount of pain he was in.

  “When did you pick out a place for our mating ceremony?” I asked as we walked across the back lawn. I could tell Jax was frustrated by our slow pace, and I wanted to distract him.

  “Right after that night you came to see me at the guesthouse and we both admitted that we thought we were fated for one another. I took a walk after I got off duty and found a small clearing. I knew it would be the perfect spot if—when I was ready to claim you.”

  “I love how prepared you always are.”

  He growled. “Then you need to show your appreciation better by waiting on me and trusting my plans.”

  I grinned at him. “I’m working on that.”

  When we reached the spot he’d chosen, I marveled at the way the sun filtered through the trees.

  “Strip,” Jax ordered before I could compliment his choice of location. His voice was low and rough as though his wolf was right at the surface.

&nbs
p; I pouted at him. “I was hoping I’d get to watch you strip this time.” He snarled, and it made me shiver.

  “You really are wanting me to tally up offenses, aren’t you?”

  I grinned at him. “I am.”

  “Do as I said. Now.”

  I yanked my t-shirt over my head and tossed it on the ground. Then I pushed my pants down, letting Jax see that I’d gone commando. He stared at me, eyes darkening.

  “Like what you see?”

  “You know I do. Now help me spread out the blanket.”

  I took hold of two corners. We stretched the blanket between us and placed it on the ground. After bending to smooth the wrinkles, I looked up at him through my lashes. “What would you like me to do now, Sir?”

  Lust burned in his eyes as he glared at me. “Are you always going to be this sassy?”

  “Probably.”

  Instead of the growly response I expected, he grinned. “I’m counting on it. Now kneel, clasp your hands behind your back, and keep your eyes on me.”

  I dropped to my knees in one fluid movement, ignoring how uncomfortable the uneven ground was. As I watched, Jax lifted his t-shirt, revealing his broad, hair-dusted chest. I wanted to rise to my feet, tease his nipples with my tongue, and run my fingers over his firm pecs and abs, but I stayed right where I was. I could obey when I wanted to.

  He pulled the shirt over his head, tossed it on top of my clothes, and then held my gaze as he pushed his pants and underwear down. I could tell that he was placing most of his weight on his good leg when he could, but he didn’t falter once or even seem to notice his injury as he removed his shoes and pulled his pants and briefs off.

  His eyes had shifted as he’d stripped, and I could feel his wolf pushing to take over. I wanted to feel the animal in Jax again like I had the other day. And I was thrilled that we’d have time to play and cuddle in wolf form once we were fully bonded. Jax wouldn’t be up for a run, but we could do that another night.

  My breath caught as Jax wrapped a hand around his shaft and pumped it up and down. Precum glistened at the slit, and I longed to lick it off. I drew in a deep breath, enjoying the strong scent of my mate’s arousal. It wasn’t enough. I needed to be able to taste him, his cum, his sweat, and the warmth of his delicious mouth.