by Dana Archer
“I’m not talking about sex.” Kade waved his hand to encompass Rafe’s body. “You’re tense. You watched her bedroom window all night and left me to prowl the grounds.”
He’d done more than that. While Kade had shifted and explored the area, Rafe had made his way to the house. He’d stood below Jasmine’s window simply to hear her breathing.
“And?” Rafe leaned against a tree, one leg stretched in front of him and the other bent. The relaxed pose was for Kade’s benefit. He didn’t need to know how edgy thoughts of Jasmine had left Rafe. “That’s part of surveillance. We’ve spent many nights dealing with humans who were in this exact situation. We confirm the kids are safe, then assess the situation before deciding the best way to retrieve them so as not to frighten them.”
“True. That’s standard practice. And exactly what I said we’d do.” Kade leaned forward. “Getting involved physically with their human guardians isn’t. That’s asking for trouble.”
Rafe couldn’t deny that. “I didn’t know she was the guardian of shifter cubs when I met her.”
“No. You just thought she was involved either in shifter trafficking or romantically with another Royal. Or two.”
“What better way to get her to trust me then to get her in bed?”
“You’re using her.” Kade smirked. “Is that what you’re trying to feed me?”
Rafe glanced away. He couldn’t look his brother in the face and lie. Kade knew him too well. “We still need to find out how she came to be the guardian of shifters. I intend to learn her secrets. If that means getting close to her to gain the knowledge, then that’s what I’ll do.”
“Look me in the eye and tell me that.”
“No.” Rafe glanced at him. “I have nothing to prove to you.”
“Then I’m calling you a liar. You want to get close to the woman because she’s caught your cats’ attentions.” Kade dropped a hand to the ground and leaned forward. “You’re sitting here wondering if your cats sense something about her you don’t. That maybe she’s your true mate.”
“She triggered my instincts. I’ll admit to that, but it’s because she smelled of other males. I wanted to steal her away. Simple as that.”
“Yeah, she smelled of her cubs.”
Rafe shrugged. “Again, I didn’t know it at the time. You can’t tell a shifter’s age by scent alone.”
“All right. I can buy that excuse as the reason you first got her naked, but—”
“She wasn’t naked.” He would’ve been happy if she had been, though. He could’ve licked her head to toe before joining their bodies.
“—but what’s your excuse for the way you’re acting now?”
“What did the fire chief say when you talked to him?” Rafe was done with Kade’s interrogation. Rafe didn’t want to analyze why he couldn’t stop thinking about Jasmine.
Kade sighed and shook his head, obviously guessing at the reason behind the change in subject. “Not much. I got the usual—I can’t share information associated with an active investigation—so I dropped Colonel Malory’s name.”
The older human had been instrumental in expanding the Shifter Affairs department by hiring shifters as agents. Many in the human government hated him because of it. Acknowledging the laws their forefathers had signed was one thing. Enforcing them when the exploitation of shifters had become a profitable business was another.
“And?” Rafe prompted.
“And I was told Colonel Malory had no jurisdiction in West Virginia. Any information about the fire would be shared once the investigation was completed.”
“Did you call Shifter Affairs? Maybe they can find out more.”
“There is no agency office in West Virginia. Supposedly there’s one in the works, but the details haven’t been finalized yet. I did leave a message with our contact at the Virginia office. All we can do is wait.”
The lack of information didn’t ease Rafe. “I don’t like it. Something’s not right about the timing of the fire and Megan’s discovery.”
“So you’ve said, but without any signs of trouble and no scents of other shifters, we can’t assume anything. We’ll watch over the cubs and assess the situation exactly as we’d planned.”
Rafe propped his elbow on his bent knee and leaned forward. “The lack of scents doesn’t necessarily mean a shifter wasn’t involved.”
Royals had the option of masking their scent with a drug supplied to them by the human government. Rafe rarely used it, nor did most of their males. Their women and children often did, however. For them, the discovery of the drug had been a godsend. They were easy targets for those who were looking to tap into the strength of the heavens.
“Why would a Royal kill an innocent human?” Kade shook his head. “No. I don’t see it happening. I can’t see Megan’s situation affecting any of our kind enough to go to that length. Honestly, most wouldn’t care if she lived or died. She’s just a single shifter.”
What Kade said was true. Most Royals avoided humans and single shifters. They’d been exploited by both enough times.
“I suppose.”
“Go on your date tonight and get the woman out of your system.” Kade stood. “In the meantime, we’ll watch and wait.”
With the order given, Kade undressed, then carefully stashed his clothes under a nearby bush. He walked deeper into the woods. Within one step and the next, he shifted into his jaguar form and slipped into the shadows.
Rafe turned his attention on the house and allowed Kade’s words to replay in his head. Kade was right. Jasmine had crawled into Rafe’s mind and taken up residence there, not something he had planned on or wanted, but he couldn’t walk away.
And it was taking everything he had not to think about why.
Chapter 10
Jazz stood in front of her bedroom mirror and groaned. Nothing looked right. She yanked off the cute baby-doll shirt and tugged on the halter top. Similar to the one she’d worn the previous night, the lacy neckline showed plenty of cleavage and the loose waist offered enough room for Rafe to slip his hand under the hem. She shook her head at the naughty thoughts filling her mind, but it didn’t stop her from choosing a short skirt either.
Underneath the outfit she’d chosen with Rafe in mind, she wore simple black panties and a strapless bra. She’d debated over running into town and picking up something sexier but didn’t have time. Besides, she hadn’t decided if Rafe would be getting her completely naked. Just because she wanted to have sex with him didn’t mean it had to happen tonight.
She glanced at the clock. Five minutes to six. She grabbed a brush and ran it through her hair one last time. The doorbell rang. She jumped. With shaky hands, she placed the hairbrush on the dresser and hurried down the stairs to the living room.
A date.
She was actually going on a date, her first in three long years. There was no reason to feel nervous, but her heart raced. Sweat dampened her palms. She scrubbed them against her skirt, took a calming breath, and opened the door.
Rafe stood on the other side with his legs slightly spread and his head dipped so a lock of hair fell over his eyes. The lopsided smile he flashed her did crazy things to her heart. She held perfectly still while he swept his gaze over her body, from her feet to her face. Heat spread in the wake of his lazy perusal.
“You’re beautiful. So incredibly beautiful.”
He tugged her close and covered her mouth with his before she could say anything. The hungered, raw kiss he delivered stole her breath and replaced it with his. With a slight tug on her hair, he tipped her head back and devoured her. The sweeping thrusts of his tongue quickened, and his hold on her body tightened.
Still kissing her, he backed her into the living room. The door slammed closed behind them. She turned her head, and his lips brushed over her cheek.
“Wait.”
“Why? Aren’t we alone?”
They were. She’d driven the boys over to Mr. Wilkins’ house an hour ago, but no way would she invite Rafe into her bedr
oom. She’d given their date a lot of thought. Rafe wasn’t from the area. If they ended up having sex tonight, she didn’t want the memory of it here, where she’d remember exactly how it felt to be with him.
“We are, but you promised me dinner. I’m hungry.”
Rafe nibbled along her jaw to her mouth. He kissed her, slowly with rolling thrusts of his tongue that left her weakened. She grabbed his shoulders and held on while he explored her as completely as he had the day before.
Ugh, she had no self-control around him. She pushed away.
“Dinner. A date. I never promised I’d have sex with you.”
He brought his fingers to his mouth. With slow swipes of his tongue, he licked her each one. She swayed closer to him. He wrapped his arms around her waist and drew her against him. “A date then. Where shall we go?”
“The Black Widow.”
* * *
Josh’s bar was packed. It always had a decent crowd, but on a Friday night, even more so. Jazz leaned against Rafe and listened to the familiar sounds—music, laughter, and the drone of voices. She didn’t go out often, but when she did, she usually came here.
At the moment, she regretted her choice. Everyone watched them. The waitresses stared openly at Rafe, not that she could blame them, but after ogling him, their curious gazes landed on her. She saw the questions in their eyes. And the accusations.
Everyone assumed she’d eventually get back together with Josh. They’d dated on and off through high school and college, but after a couple of months working her first full-time job, they’d parted ways for good. It had been her doing.
She hadn’t known how else to handle the situation with Seth and Levi. She certainly couldn’t have let Josh think the boys were his. So, she’d made up a lie—the first of many—about how she’d gotten pregnant by a guy she’d been seeing behind Josh’s back.
Josh had been angry. The things he’d said had made her cry, but the moment he laid eyes on her kids, he swore they’d eventually get back together. In fact, she’d heard she was the excuse he gave to his dates as the reason he didn’t date.
And…here she was with Rafe, a delicious specimen of a man who held her against his chest and nuzzled her neck.
One of the waitresses walked by, looked them up and down, and huffed.
Jazz inwardly cringed. “Let’s get a table on the upper deck.” Where less people would see them.
“Okay. It’s a nice—”
His phone rang. He glanced at the screen, and his features hardened.
“I’ve got to take this. You go on up. I’ll meet you in a few minutes.” He kissed her cheek and slipped out the door.
She frowned at his abrupt departure, but he had been texting on and off since he’d picked her up. He’d said it was business. They were working a security detail in town. He had to tie up some loose ends.
Her heart skipped a beat. Once he finished his job, he’d leave. Just because he’d said plans could change and he might stay longer didn’t guarantee he would.
No. Tonight. She’d keep her focus on the present. They were on a date. She planned on enjoying it.
She blew out a breath and made her way across the bar to the stairs. They were narrow, no bigger than the ones in her house. Not surprising. The bar had started out as somebody’s home back when neighborhoods had a pub on every corner.
Halfway up, she ran into a man rushing down. She gasped and teetered backward, but he wrapped his arms around her waist and tugged her against him.
A whiff of cigars and cologne filled her lungs. She choked on the stench and coughed into her shoulder. “I’m sorry. I didn’t see you.”
Bright-brown eyes focused on her, and a grin spread over his face. In the dim light she couldn’t see many other details, but the tiny hairs on her arms stood up. Fear slithered into her belly and churned it. He set her aside before the sick feeling spread.
“No problem, sweet thing. I’ll keep an eye out for you from now on.” He rushed down the stairs.
She watched him until the bend in the staircase blocked him from view, then slumped against the wall. The rushing blood in her veins echoed in her head. She stood there and trembled but didn’t know why. The guy had saved her from falling. He hadn’t done a single thing to make her afraid. She shook off the weird sensation and hurried up the stairs in case he came back.
Chapter 11
Rafe leaned against the light post in an alley alongside the bar. Besides his SUV, the alley was the most private spot he’d get. Since it was closer, he retreated to the shadows and dialed Devin.
“Talk to me,” Rafe demanded as soon as the call connected.
“The fire chief stopped by Josh’s parents.”
Rafe tensed. “Were you able to hear anything he said?”
“Every single word. Josh’s mother ushered the man onto the back porch so as not to disturb Megan.”
“And?”
“Seems Tony died from a broken neck, not smoke inhalation.”
Rafe cursed. “He was murdered?”
“The fire chief didn’t think so. In fact, he was calling it a tragic accident. Apparently, Tony was found lying at the bottom of the stairs with a fire extinguisher near his hand. The conclusion is he was rushing down the stairs and fell.”
“Why would he be running downstairs?” Most people kept a fire extinguisher in the kitchen. At least they did in the large home he shared with Kade.
“The fire started in Megan’s room. There was some indication Tony had tried to put it out. The fire chief is speculating Tony ran when the flames grew too intense and fell. The smoke would’ve been thick so it would make sense he missed a step or tripped.”
Rafe had rushed to save humans from burning buildings a few times over his long life. He knew firsthand how quickly a fire could spread. He dropped his head against the pole. “No other suspicious signs?”
“Not that the fire chief mentioned, but Josh’s mother had been crying by that point. The human gave his card to her and left.”
“I guess that ends our worry then.”
“I guess.”
The careful tone Devin used tensed Rafe’s muscles. “Has anything else happened that would make us think otherwise?”
“No.”
“Then what’s wrong?”
“Nothing. It’s just that…”
“Just what?”
Devin blew out a rough breath. “Megan. She acts strangely for a five-year-old.”
“How so?”
“She’s normal enough when Josh or his parents are around, but when she’s alone, she talks to herself.”
“Maybe she’s talking to her cat.” Rafe had remembered doing so as a child before he realized they couldn’t exactly understand him.
“She’s a single shifter. At five, her cat wouldn’t be strong enough to assert its will on her yet, and considering she’s been living with humans, she shouldn’t even be able to separate its emotions from hers, let alone talk to it.”
Devin would know. He’d devoted many hours to helping rescued shifter children adjust to the world. He knew where they were coming from. His childhood internment in a shifter prison had all but shattered his mind, leaving him a breath away from being crazed. Only his love and responsibility to his twin, Mira, kept him together.
“Do you think Megan’s unstable?” Rafe asked the obvious question.
Devin grunted. “We won’t know until we interact with her. She’s very clingy, though, especially with Josh. Whenever he’s in the room, she keeps him in her line of sight.”
“Or she’s protective of him. Being a white lioness, she’ll likely be a dominant when she grows up.”
“Could be.”
“Are the humans good with her?”
“Yeah. She seems comfortable. Not exactly happy, but you can’t really blame her.”
No. Rafe couldn’t. He sighed. “Thanks for letting me know about the fire chief. Call if anything else happens.”
“Will do, but I shouldn’t expect a
quick answer, right? You might be… occupied.”
Rafe grinned. “I hope I’m occupied. All night long.”
“I hear she might be the one.”
Rafe gripped his phone tighter. “The one, huh? Did Kade tell you that? Because I don’t know what the—”
“Relax. Kade told me about the woman and your interest in her. I put two and two together. If I was wrong, I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize. I shouldn’t have snapped, but Kade was giving me a hard time about it. I’m a little defensive.”
“Finding your true mate is a blessing. If Jasmine is yours, you should be thanking the goddesses for bringing the two of you together.”
“Unless she can miraculously bridge me and my cats, it’s just lust.”
“Could be.”
Rafe licked his upper lip. He swore he could still taste her. “Once I have sex with her, I might lose interest.”
“True.”
“And even if I’m still drawn to her, there’s still the little issue of her being human.”
“Can’t argue that.”
Rafe paced from the lamppost to the edge of the building and back. “If she’s not my true mate and I try to mate her, my cats will reject her and she’ll die. That’s assuming she’ll even risk her life for me. I wouldn’t blame her if she didn’t. Who wants to roll the dice with death just for a chance to be stuck with me for eternity?”
“Your true mate would.”
Rafe ran a hand through his hair. “I’d have to take her to the point of death. Hurt my true mate. What kind of male does that?”
“One who’s found the woman who can heal him. Give him peace. If Jasmine’s that female, you’d be a fool not to tie her to your soul.” Devin snorted. “I know I’d move heaven and hell if some woman could bring me even a little bit of comfort.”
Rafe squeezed the bridge of his nose. Guilt rushed over him. Devin had often talked about how he’d love to have a family, but he knew it wasn’t in the cards for him. He was too broken. Nobody would be able to fix him.
“She’d be a lucky woman, Devin. You’d treat her like a queen.”