Jax flipped back to his feet and looked at her mirroring her motions, but then turned and took off. Kass followed him and nipped at his tail when she caught up with him. He led her to the stream and bent down to take a drink before laying down, his massive head on his paws. Kass walked over and took a few drinks before curling up next to him. He nuzzled her head and then dragged his tongue from her nose to the top of her head. She shook her head, jumped up and ran into the woods again, with him close on her tail.
She looked up at the sunrise as she crested the top of the hill. She sat and waited for Jax, once he came close she shifted. Her human form swallowed the panther without resisting, leaving her naked and staring at the beautiful colors painted across the clouds. Jax shifted next to her and then pulled her into the curve of his body. “We should go back inside.”
“And miss this?” She motioned to the sun. “I don’t think so. I rarely get a night of freedom. I don’t care if I’m sitting naked. I’m warm from the run, and the sun will warm the air soon enough. Lucius is fast asleep and I don’t feel like hurrying back to captivity.”
Jaxon laid his head on hers and sighed. “All fair points. What did you do to earn tonight?”
She paused, having to think about it and then looked away. “I killed someone.”
“So he wasn’t exaggerating, you are his killer.”
She swallowed. “I’m not his only killer, but I’m the best. Because of the control he strips from me my human emotions don’t get in the panther’s way. It’s rare that he grants me a night like tonight where my panther and I work together.”
“Who are you killing?”
“I can’t answer that.” She pushed away from him, the good mood she had fading at the questions. “I really can’t. I shouldn’t be sitting here next to you.” She stood, but he pulled her back down to his lap.
He nuzzled and kissed her neck. “Okay, I’m sorry, I won’t push.”
She relaxed and let him hold her as the sun continued to rise. Once the sun was up and the clouds no longer held their glow they made their way back. Kass donned her clothes when they came across them and started to the back door of the mansion. She had expected that he would disappear, but he stayed behind her every step of the way. “You can’t come in.”
He grinned. “Oh yes I can, Lucius has granted me free passage for right now.”
“What? Why?” Her heart skipped a beat. “Truly?”
“Yep, don’t know why, but I want to take the chance and get to know you.” He laughed, but she thought she sensed hesitation in his voice. “Other than your family woes and the fact that you have a birthday coming.”
She unlocked the door, let him in and then slammed it closed. “Like what?”
“Your hobbies, your likes, your dislikes, what you like in movies, what you like for music, anything and everything.” He smiled at her. “But that all sounds cheesy. I’d ask for a date, but we’re not humans in a regular situation and panthers don’t date. So I’m really not exactly sure how to go about this.”
Kass laughed. “Come on, before someone sees your naked ass.” She grabbed his hand and led him to her room.
He looked around and frowned. “Nothing here to tell you anything about you.”
“Nothing here but a mattress, some claw marks and a bathroom.” She shrugged. “I don’t need any reminders of my past around, and I don’t really have any hobbies or interests to speak of.”
“And why is that?” Jax asked, batting his eyes at her.
She laughed and shoved him away with little force. “Because if I had spent time trying to enjoy my life, I’d be dead.”
“Why?”
“Because, my family was trying to kill me.” She sat on the bed and looked up at him.
Chapter Seven
“Not the answer you were expecting?” She asked.
Jax blinked at her a couple times, and she held her breath, hoping that he wouldn’t run. “No.”
The look she gave him made him sigh. “I didn’t mean to ruin your good mood.” He squatted in front of her and brushed her cheek with his hand. He smoothed his thumb over the crease between her eyes. “Hey, I’m sorry. I won’t push anymore.”
Kass gave him a small, fake smile and shrugged. “Don’t worry about. You just wanted to get to know me.” She paused and leaned back on her hands. “Something happened out in the woods.”
He paused, and she heard his heart skipping a beat. “Oh?”
“Something about my panther, it became apparent to me when we were playing.” She held on to a hope that he felt it too.
“It was a connection between our beasts, it means that we’re meant to be, they understand that.” His eyes widened and he smiled.
“Such ill fate.” She laughed and shook her head.
He sighed. “It’s not ill fate, we can be together Kass. Neither of us belong to a clan so we don’t need approval from the leaders.”
“We need approval from Lucius.” She grumbled and gazed down.
He crawled on to the thing she used as a bed so that they were nose to nose. “We’ll work on him. He’s already letting me stay here.” She thought she heard his heart stutter, but pushed it off as nerves.
“This is true.”
He captured her lips, pushing her back against the wall as he slid his tongue into her mouth. Her lips parted to allow him easy access. Leaning into him, she placed her hands on his shoulders for balance.
“Just give in.” He whispered against her cheek, “even if it’s one night together it’ll be worth it.”
She closed her eyes and leaned her head against his. Would it be worth it? A few moments of happiness for her and peace for her beast against risking Lucius’ anger? “You’re right.” She felt the beast in her leap with joy at those words.
He grinned and moved his hands down her sides. Curling his fingers under the edge of her shirt, he waited for her permission. She nodded and he pulling it off of her in one swift motion. No comment came at the purple bra this time. With nimble fingers he unbuttoned and pulled the zipper down on her blue jeans. He tucked a finger into her waistband and gave a little tug. “Help a guy out?”
Kass lifted up her hips and he slid the pants off. After discarding them on the floor next to the shirt, he reached behind her and unhooked the lace bra. Her luscious breasts fell free and he dropped the bra on the ground. He trailed his soft hands over her back to her front. Cupping her breasts with his hands, he brushed his thumbs over her nipples. Kass gasped as they tightened and puckered under his caress.
He lowered his head to her chest, brushing his lips over her skin before capturing a nipple with his teeth and rolling it until it hardened for him. His hand slid down to cup her sex and stroked the already wet core. Moaning at his touch, her body arched and the pleasure started to rise in her as his fingers moved. Her beast paced and cried out in her as it enjoyed the well-deserved attention.
Kassity gasped as he entered her with one finger. He swirled it with an agonizing slow pace only to withdraw it and put two in her. Finding a rhythm with his fingers, he kissed up her stomach and between her breasts. He pressed his lips to hers. “Roll over.” His words barely a breath against her lips, but she heard him.
“What?”
“Trust me.”
She complied and wiggled her ass for him in a playful manner. Sloping her back, she held her weight on her elbows and looked over her shoulder. He grinned and put his hands on her hips. With a quick thrust he plunged himself into her. Her breath caught as the size of him stretched and filled her. She angled her back to adjust to the feeling of him inside her and let out a deep moan as the union became perfect.
Moaning, she pushed against him, forcing him deeper and letting his cock rub against her sweet spot. He pulled out and pounded in again. The biting of his finger nails in her skin only added to the moment. Pleasure built in her belly and ran through her body as he found a steady rhythm. She rocked her hips with him as his hands snaked around her body and palmed he
r breasts. His fingers teased at her nipples, sending a shock through her body with every touch. She craned her neck back to ensnare him in another kiss as their bodies moved together.
She could feel her body writhe as he continued his caresses. The muscles in her core clenched to coax him in deeper. The pleasure grew and her body jerked against Jax. Starbursts exploded in her vision when the pressure became too much. She felt his body tense against her with the last few thrusts and his seed spilled out into her, leaving them both shaking. Her chest rose and fell with the heaving of her breath as she tried to clear her mind. Tingles ran through her limbs as her orgasm faded and took all logical thought with it.
Jax collapsed next to her, and traced the marks that his nails had left against her skin. “Hope that didn’t hurt.”
“Didn’t feel it.” She promised. Snuggling up against him, both her and her cat content. A crash brought both her and Jax’s attention to the door where Lucius stood, arms crossed and eyes black.
Jax cursed as Kass shot up her eyes wide as she scooted back, pressing against the wall, holding the blankets to her chest. Jax jumped up and got between the two, but Lucius shoved him out of the way. Grabbing her wrist Lucius pulled her from the bed and to her feet as the blankets fell to the floor.
Kass shoved at him. “Back off.”
Lucius laughed and slammed her face first against the wall to his left. He skimmed his hands over her body as if looking for something and then flipped her around to repeat the motions.
Jaxon’s beast rose in him at the thought of Lucius touching her. “Don’t!” He wrapped his hand around Lucius’ arm and pulled him away from Kass.
Lucius turned around and snarled at him. “I’m not going to hurt her, I’m just…waiting for something. Now back off unless you want me to kill you, kitty. I don’t need your services anymore so it won’t be any skin off my back if you die.” Jax froze at the words, knowing he had blown his chances and gotten fired. He met Kass’ eyes over Lucius shoulder and she gave him a little nod. He backed off a couple feet and Kass reached for the blanket.
“As you can see, nothing is happening, now get out.” She growled.
Lucius shook his head and ripped the blanket from her again. “You just fucked him. I told you not to get anywhere near him, and I find you in bed together.” His eyes wandered over her body and he forced her to flip around again grabbing her wrist. Finally she pushed back at him. “Stop. I get that you can control me, you don’t have to show it off.”
Lucius raised a brow at her. “Suddenly you want to push at me, being with him makes you feel the need to go against me?” He threw the blanket at her and glared back at Jax.
“I think it’s best that I leave.” Jax took a step towards the door, staying wide to avoid Lucius.
Kass held the covers to her chest and glared at the vampire in front of her. “Yes, I think that would be for the best.” She would deal with Jax lying to her later.
Lucius watched as Jax left the room, giving Kass one last look before closing the door. Lucius turned back to her. “You just like to go against orders don’t you?” He moved towards her, but she clenched her fists and stood her ground.
“He calms my beast.” She glared up at him. “And what the hell was searching my body all about?”
“Don’t ask, because I didn’t find what I was looking for. I don’t care if he calms your cat, you are my killer and I do not want him near you.” Lucius growled and towered over her when he closed in.
“And if I leave you?” Her voice shook a tiny bit, but she held strong against him.
“You can’t. One, you were a gift from Josh to me for his safety.” He smirked as she stiffened, another lie revealed to her. Her breath caught at the idea of Josh using her. “Didn’t know that?” When she shook her head he continued. “Two, you step out of my protection I can promise you that your father will kill you.”
She digested the new information and glared at him. “I deserve some happiness, I shouldn’t be kept as a pet.” She snarled. “Work with me here.”
“He’s not the type of mate that you want.”
“What do you mean?”
Lucius closed his eyes for a moment and Kass imagined him counting in his head. “He’s a mercenary and I’m sure you have something to do with one of his assignments. You don’t want to draw attention to yourself, than stay away from him.”
A mercenary and she was only a job. She didn’t want to believe it and her cat didn’t care. “It doesn’t matter.”
“You like him that much? He affects you and the beast to the point that you’re willing to risk your safety and your secret with him.”
“Yes,” she said without hesitating.
Lucius’ face went blank. “You remain my killer and help me hunt down this stone and I will let you mate.”
“I’ll still be under your control, that’s not much of a deal.” She pulled the blanket tighter around her.
He laughed. “Yes, and no, remember the more willing you are to work with me the more control you gain back with your beast. That’s the only way I’m going to let you two be together. I can’t free you without putting you in danger and I’ve already vested too much into you to let you be killed.”
She searched his face and eyes. He was blank, focused, blank, betraying nothing of his thoughts. He wasn’t giving her anything to go on. Fear that she was making a mistake curled in the pit of her stomach. “How do I find this stone?”
“I don’t know, all we know so far is that Tegan sent it away.”
“Oh that’s a lot to go off of.” She rolled her eyes and sat on the floor. “Do we know who would want to send the stone away? Hell, what’s in the stone?”
He sighed. “It’s a soul, a vampire soul.”
“You guys don’t have souls.” She raised a brow. “Besides that who would want to have a vampire soul?”
Lucius narrowed his eyes at her. “It’s a soul of one of the Original Vampires. The one blessed by the gods. And in order to wake him he must have his soul.”
“Oh shit.” The stories of the Original Vampires floated around the supernatural world and told of horrors no one wanted to face and how their powers could devastate the world, driving it back to the time before the humans were the majority. “So who would actually want to revive this guy?”
“Someone who wants to go against the Circle’s wishes. Tegan’s brother was the protector of the stone, but he slipped into slumber like many of his generation. Hibernation was the only way to survive, he passed the stone to Tegan and I to keep safe. The vampire that it belongs to ruled with cruelty-“ He paused when Kass pegged him with narrow eyes. “Oh no, kitty, much more cruel than I’ve ever been.”
“I’ll see what I can do about the stone.” She said as she stood. “Now please, can I get dressed and go talk to Jaxon?”
He snorted. “It’s not like I haven’t seen you naked before.”
“Not to mention you freaking mauled me when you got in here. Care to explain that one?” She tried again, but he just shook his head.
“Get to work.” He snapped as he walked out.
When the door clicked, Kass dropped the blanket and went to find her clothes. As she pulled the pieces on she wondered what the hell she was getting herself into.
Chapter Eight
Jax pushed off the wall when Lucius walked out of Kass’ room. “Oh, just you.” He leaned back against the wall and crossed his arms. His gaze traveled back to the door. The fact that he disobeyed Lucius and no longer worked for him felt irrelevant to the thought he had gotten Kass in trouble. That hadn’t been his intention. No, he though it would be easier to get her to leave Lucius; until he realized they were mates.
“You and I need to talk.” The vampire snarled and motioned for Jax to follow. “And don’t even think about arguing, because I will force your beast out.” He started down the hallway, expecting him to follow.
Despite his naked state he swallowed his pride and followed the vampire down the hal
l. He glanced back at the door hoping Kass would walk out to join him. When Lucius turned into a different room Jax realized that Kass wasn’t going to be able to smooth this over. “What do you want to talk to me about. You made it clear that you don’t need my services any longer.”
“Who are you working for?”
Jax’s heart skipped a beat. “What?”
“Who are you working for, and don’t lie saying you don’t have a job, I know that you’ve been sneaking around my territories.”
“A couple clients here and there, nothing that would be damaging to you.” Especially now that he knew the truth about Kass’ family. He wouldn’t put her in jeopardy and risk his mate.
“What clan are you from Jax? I normally don’t question my employees, but you being a panther risks Kassity’s safety.”
“I don’t belong to a clan.” They already covered this, but Lucius pressed on.
“Bullshit. There is only one clan in the U.S. left and that is the one that Kass came from. So do not fucking lie.”
Jax closed his eyes and counted to ten. “You’re a vampire you can tell if I’m lying. I do not come from the Black Moon clan. I’m a rogue and have been for a long time. I told you that my clan overseas had been wiped out.”
Lucius froze. “Did Kass tell you the name of the clan?”
“It’s known, their history is known.” Jax kept his voice even and watched as Lucius paced the small room. “You knew this.”
“I hadn’t considered that you could have came from Kass’ clan. You’re not their type and I thought you were an immortal.” He pegged Jax with a sharp glare. “But now that I’ve seen you naked, I know you’re not.”
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