The Mating (Black on Black, #1)

by BJ Cunningham

  “Can’t say.”

  “Can’t or won’t?”

  “Take your pick.” Caleb shrugged. “Whichever one leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy inside.”

  “How about why?”

  “Didn’t ask. Why do you care?” Caleb’s smirk was back.

  “Who said I do?” Edge’s eyes narrowed. The past had been lesson enough not to over share with a Seven demon. They just twisted shit to work toward their own agenda. The question was, what was Caleb’s?

  “Asking a lot of questions if you don’t. Just saying.” Shifting the cat, Caleb waved his hand, and the blood and gore disappeared. “Gimme a call if you want to grab a drink and rehash old times.”

  “Yeah, I’ll do that.” He had no intention of doing any such thing.

  “Catch you on the flip side.” Caleb double tapped his fist against his chest and brought two fingers to his lips before holding them out in a V. “Peace.” He faded out.

  Edge scoffed. Peace, his leather wearing ass. What the fuck had Little Miss Kitty gotten herself into and how could he stop it from blowing up in Jared’s face?

  “Where is your mom at?” Jared asked as he laid the twins in the crib and pulled a blanket over them, grinning as they rolled together into a heap the same way they had before they turned human. His head turned when he heard the shower in his room turn on. “I think she’s home,” he purred and leaned down to kiss each of their heads. Theo was already snoring softly, and Justice was sucking her brother’s thumb, blinking sleepily as she lost the battle to stay awake. Smiling to himself, Jared backed out of the room, flipped the light off and closed the door.

  Ghosting a couple of cold bottles of beer, he followed the sound of running water through the master bedroom and into their bathroom. His head tilted at the pile of clothes on the floor and the scent of fresh blood under that of soap and shampoo. “Baby?” He opened the frosted glass door and peered inside. Serra stood under the spray, her head bowed, and hands braced against the tiled walls with the water running down the curtain of hair around her face. It was the long gashes on her back that made his gut lurch. “You okay?”

  Serra lifted her head, her body too tired to jump at the unexpected voice. Pushing the wet hair back, she looked over her shoulder. “Yeah,” she smiled at her mate. “I’m good.” She turned off the water and wrapped her hair around her hands, squeezing out the excess water. Turning around, she reached past him for the towel she’d draped over the door. She hated the tightness and worry on his face. “Really, Jared. I’m fine.” She stretched up and kissed his cheek.

  “You don’t look fine.” He cupped her face, stopping her with a kiss.

  Purring, she leaned into him and wrapped her arms around his waist, forgetting about the towel and being wet.

  “What happened to your back?” His hand on the back of her neck held her to him, tucking her head under his chin.

  “Catfight,” she grinned and pressed her lips to his neck.

  He snorted and pulled back to look down at her upturned face, arching an amused brow. “Do I want to know?” He kissed her forehead and led her to their bed. Pulling her into his lap after he leaned back on the pillows, he offered her one of the bottles and stroked her bare shoulder with his thumb.

  Serra shrugged. “Probably not. It was a family honor thing.” She sipped the beer and snuggled into him.

  “How so?”

  “You know how it is, being Panther. No one says shit or gets to screw with my family. Not on my watch.”

  “Who was stupid enough to piss off my mate?” He chuckled.

  “No one important, and they won’t be doing it again.” Serra yawned against his chest. “Sorry.”

  He arched a brow at the certainty in her voice. “You know that you have me to take care of that for you, now. Right?” He had no issue with knocking a few heads together for his family.

  “I do.” She kissed his neck and covered another yawn with the back of her hand. “But then it sends the message that the Mangus’ are week and need the Morgans to take care of our business. I can’t do that Baby. Not to Pops or the rest of them. We can’t afford to be seen as week, ever.”

  Jared nodded. He understood that, but that didn’t mean he liked it. And week was not a word that he would use to describe his mate. Although her words made him wonder how much of Damion’s Boogeyman persona was based on that way of thinking. “Hate to break it to you Serra, but you’re a Morgan now too. The wedding is just a formality.”

  She nipped his jaw. “Yeah?” Her smile grew with his nod. “Pops is a tribunal member, that comes with an extra dose of shit, for all of us. You ready for that when you marry into the family?”

  “Can’t wait.” He kissed the top of her head and squeezed her against him, feeling her stiffen and her breath catch. “Does it hurt, Baby?”

  Serra nodded and yawned again. “I need to sleep so that I can heal.”

  He took her beer and set it on the table beside the bed. Ghosting a blanket over her, he slid further down on the bed. “Then sleep, Baby. I’ve got you.”

  “I love you,” she whispered as her eyes drifted shut and she shifted into Panther form with her paw over his heart.

  He stroked her fur, feeling her muscles relax as she fell asleep. Closing his eyes, he concentrated on closing her wounds. His bloodline originated with one of the first Shaman and with that came the power to heal. The ability had mocked him for most of his life. He could heal others, but not himself. Not many people knew about it because not many were important enough for him to use it for them. “I love you too Serra,” he breathed, feeling her pain drain away under his hand.

  Jared growled at the pins and needles sensation of Edge returning to him, drifting under his skin and settling as a tramp stamp on his lower back where he twitched. ‘Something bothering you?’ He mindlinked the demon.

  ‘Aye.’

  ‘Do you want to talk about it?’

  ‘No. Now zip it. I’m trying to rest.’ There was more grumbling about chatty ass Panthers with bad timing.

  Jared chuckled and held Serra while she slept.

  Jared dropped a shit ton of bridal and other wedding magazines on the bar, fanning them out. “Holy fuck, Batman. They’ve got a mag for everything other than how to coop for the groom. I guess that’s why groom rhymes with doom!” He sat down at the bar.

  Sliding her hands into her back pockets, Serra turned away from the stage where the Violent Offenders were still setting up, replacing broken strings, tuning guitars and tightening the heads of drums. Sighing happily, she weaved her way through the people towards the bar. Dropping her head against Jared’s back, she slid her arms around him from behind, before reaching around him for her beer on the bar. “Hey Baby. How’s it going tonight?”

  Jared purred when he felt her against him. “Not too bad. I had this hot blonde on me, so I’m all good.” He picked up his beer and sipped it.

  Serra laughed and slid around him, leaning her head against his chest. “Anyone I know or a random chick who needs her ass kicked?” She teased and stretched up to nip his throat. Sipping her beer, she turned her head toward the door and eyeballed the demons who entered, rolling her eyes that they had the nerve to come here.

  He purred louder at her nip. “I don’t know. Can you kick that high?” He teased and followed her gaze. Seeing the demons, his powers surged and his eyes flashed. Drinking his beer, Jared tried to ignore them.

  "Short jokes? Really?" Turning back to the bar, Serra’s brows shrugged together as she reached toward the pile of magazines on the bartop, pulling one out, with the tips of her fingers and looking up at Jared with surprise. “What’s this?”

  He spread the magazines out more. “Well, I thought I would get a jump start on the wedding. Help you a bit. I can’t wait to see the bridezilla in you come out.” He teased her.

  Raising a brow and flipping through the pages, she glanced up through her hair and laughed. “You sound hopeful. That ain't right.” She shook her head. Sip
ping her beer, she smiled before stretching up to kiss him. “Thank you for helping. It’s very sweet of you.”

  He smiled at her. “I am. I can’t wait for you to start making Damion’s life hell with the ‘Daddy, I want’ fits.” Jared laughed and picked up one of the mags. “If I find any dresses that double as a sex thing, can I get them for you?” He teased her. “Mostly, I’ve got a weird interest in this stuff. My last two weddings...” He stopped, not clearly remembering Emma and his wedding. Heather’s and his, he had nothing to do with. “My last ones I was just told to be there. This time, I wanna see how it works.”

  Serra was overwhelmed by the pile of options. Grimacing and pulling a different magazine over, she tapped the cover and wiggled her brows. “That could be fun for play. I’ll take all the help I can get, Baby. I’ve never done this before either. How big are you thinking?”

  “Whatever you want. I have no preference on the number of people.”

  “I don’t know. Not huge, because I don’t like that many people.” She smirked and bumped her shoulder against his playfully. “Family and friends, I guess. Where do we want to do it?”

  He smiled and bumped back. “Well I guess some place that is special to you.”

  Flashing a cheesy grin, she put down the drink and picked up a magazine. “If I say wherever you are, is special, I might make myself hurl.” She made a face and shuddered for effect. “The only place I’ve ever spent a lot of time is The Asylum.” She shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  He laughed. “Well, we can have it there. Is there somewhere you’ve always wanted to visit? Paris? London?”

  Leaning her head against his shoulder, she dog-eared a page with a dress that didn’t make her think of a frilly cake. “I haven’t made it to Rome yet. What about you? Where is special to you or do you want to visit? It’s our wedding and it’s going to be your last one.” She looked up and nipped his arm as she teased. “It should be what we both want.”

  “Rome. Haven’t been in a long, long time.” He purred and looked at what she was looking at.

  She tilted the magazine so he had a better view and raised a questioning brow. “It’s not awful.” She tapped the page he had open with a grin. “I like that and we could use it for sex after. So maybe Rome. Spring? I’m sorry, I suck at this stuff.” Sighing, she puffed out her bottom lip in a pout.

  “Works for me.” He kissed her neck.

  Closing her eyes, she purred and leaned closer, sliding her arms around his waist. “You’re easy.”

  “Yes, I am. Not much I won’t do for a Klondike bar!” He laughed at her expression.

  “Really?” Serra purred with a wicked grin, leaning her head back to look up at him. “I am so adding them to the grocery list from now on.” Rolling up into her toes she kissed him softly. “I love you Jared. I can’t believe how lucky I am.”

  He kissed her and purred. “I love you too, Serra. We’ll see how you feel in a few years.”

  “Not going to change.” She shrugged. “You’re stuck with me.”

  Jared hugged her, hoping that was true.

  She dropped her head against his chest. “So what ridiculous things should I ask Pops for?” The more she thought about it, the more fun it sounded to torture Damion a little, especially after the time that he’d set Jared on fire.

  “A hundred black swans and some weird food.”

  Serra shuddered before the image of birds attacking everyone made her laugh. “Not a bird fan, but I’m in. Was thinking elephants surrounded by works of DE Vinci.” Nodding, she grinned up at him.

  Jared laughed with her and kissed her forehead.

  “We can have fun with this.” Grinning she nipped at his chin.

  “No doubt, my love.”

  “Are you sure you really want to do this? You don’t have to.”

  He growled at her.

  Biting her lower lip, she cringed slightly before hitting him with a smile. “Just asking. A lot was going on when you asked.” She shrugged.

  “I asked you, didn’t I?”

  She nodded, cupped his face between her hands and kissed him, purring against his lips. “Yes, you did.”

  “So there you go.”

  “Fine. You win. I’ll stop.”

  Jared smirked. “So, have you spoken to Damion yet about the wedding?” He took her hand and moved them to a table.

  Groaning at the mention of Pops, she laced her fingers with Jared’s and followed, scooping up the magazines. “I haven’t seen him to tell him yet.” Lowering her beer to the table she sat beside him and pushed the hair back from her face. “I think he’s avoiding me. But I will soon, even if I have to do it by text. Promise.”

  “Well, I’m going to see him tomorrow, so don’t worry. I’ve got it.”

  She snorted. “You and Pops in the same room and you tell me not to worry? Because that is going to happen.” She shook her head as the many ways that could go wrong shot through her mind in a rapid-fire pattern. Maybe they’d surprise her and it would be okay. She sighed. It could happen.

  He flagged down Kara for a bucket of beer. “Baby, do you want fries? I don’t think we ate dinner yet. I know that all I had today was some chips while I was running out of the house.”

  Poking him playfully in the ribs when he admitted to not eating, she smiled up at Kara. “Yes to the fries, and that amazing truffle ketchup Brenton makes, please.” Sipping her beer, she looked at her mate with a grin. “You know you need more than that. So what are you seeing Pops about?”

  He ordered a burger with the fries after she poked him. “I wanted to talk to him about some things.”

  “Should I worry or is this a ‘none of my business’ kind of thing?” Emptying her beer, she slid the amber bottle across the table and pulled another from the bucket. Folding one leg under her on the seat, she glanced around the room, smiling as sound check began. Bumping his shoulder with hers she kissed his cheek with a purr. “If I haven’t said it today, I love you Babe.”

  “I love you too. And it’s just about the wedding. Also I wanted make a trip to a few of the other clubs in the area while I’m there.” He finished off his beer and got another one. “Don’t worry too much about it. Okay?”

  She nodded and twisted the cap off the beer she’d been worrying around in a slow circle with the tips of her fingers. “I’ll try.” She glanced up through her hair with a smile. “Are we still thinking Rome or have you thought of something else?” She watched him over the bottle as she sipped.

  Jared shook his head no. “Rome it is. I can’t wait for us to be married.” He gave her a smile and kissed her neck a bit before kissing her jaw and nuzzling her.

  Serra purred and melted against him. “Me either, but I thought it might just be me.” Smiling wide, she scraped her teeth over his jaw playfully. Damn, loving him this much wasn’t smart or safe but she wouldn’t change it for anything. “Still, I can’t shake the feeling that something’s got to go wrong, because I’m feeling too damned good.” She laughed softly trying to make light of it.

  He ran his hand up her thigh and whispered in her ear. “I won’t let it go wrong. And speaking of feeling too damn good...” He let his hand drift a little too close to her core and winked at her. Jared looked up as their food arrived and removed his hand so he could eat. “I have faith in us and in the fact that if anyone tries to fuck our wedding up, they’ll be so very sorry.”

  She smiled and shivered at the warmth of his breath against her ear and growled softly when he pulled his hand away. Glancing up into his hazel eyes. “Always the tease.” She smirked, snagging a fry and dipping it into the ketchup. “Yeah they will, but thanks for saying it.”

  Nodding, he ate his burger. ‘Later, I may find a dark corner of this packed bar and put it to you slow and hard. See how many tables we can break.’ He mindlinked her and smirked.

  She coughed and almost choked on her fries, arching a brow. Growling low in her throat, she reached for her beer, sipped and smiled at his smirk. She rais
ed her bottle and flashed him a smirk of her own

  . “I’m ready when you are. Brax will lose his shit if we break many though.”

  Jared laughed hard at the thought.

  Serra perked up as the house lights dimmed and the stage was lit. She couldn’t help noticing all of the dark corners with new interest, laughing at the way her face warmed. “Completely worth it, if you ask me.” She smirked and dabbed another fry in the ketchup.

  Jared purred and ate. ‘Table or booth?’

  Serra surveyed the bar while chewing and then washing it down with a swig of beer. She nodded decisively. ‘Booth. We’d just get tangled up in the chairs.’

  He nuzzled her when he finished his food and chugged his beer. ‘How about next to someone?’

  Purring, she slid her leg over his, and rubbed his thigh. ‘Definitely. Maybe a full booth?’ Grinning, she sipped her beer.

  “I love your style.”

  She laughed hard. “Thanks and ditto, Babe.”

  Kissing her slow, he cupped her face as her nails sank into his thigh.

  Serra purred against his lips. “Or here could work, if you’re not feeling shy.” She glanced around, biting her bottom lip.

  “Be my guest, Baby.”

  Arching a brow, she turned back to face him. Still biting her lower lip, her smile grew as she looked around and ghosted on a skirt to replace her jeans. Sliding onto his lap, she nipped his lip giving a low growl. “If you’re sure.” Smirking she dropped her head to nuzzle his neck.

  Heat rushed through his body. Growling, he nodded as his hands roamed her body.

  Dragging her teeth over his skin she nipped, bit and licked at his neck, growling as her breath stuttered and her skin flushed and tingled. Pulling his jacket around them, she kissed him slow and deep while her hands slid between them to undo his pants, reaching inside to stroke him.

  He growled softly and felt his length thicken in her hand. “God, I love you.” He cupped her ass to make sure she wasn't going to slip off his lap.

  Serra purred and pinched his earlobe between her teeth, tugging before sucking the bitten skin into her mouth to slide her tongue over the dimpled skin. “And I love you,” she growled into his ear pulling his hand under her skirt and hissing softly when he touched her.