“Can you manage from here? I can help you if you’d like, but I don’t want to invade your privacy.”
She nodded again. Forming words took too much effort. She’d take a shower and then see how she was after.
“So… I’ll be out there,” he said, pointing at the door to the bathroom, “if you need anything.”
She looked at him in return. He got the message and left, closing the door behind him. It was a blur between Hildy undressing and finding herself sobbing uncontrollably beneath the waterfall showerhead. It wasn’t until she felt familiar arms encircle and hold her, that she came back to herself. It was him, standing there in his briefs, holding her in comfort.
Unable to resist, she laid her head on his chest, as rivulets of water streamed down both their bodies. He began to soap her body and washed her with the most masculine-smelling soap she’d experienced. Still she couldn’t bring herself to say anything about it. He wisely opted to not tackle her mass of hair. The water would run cold if he attempted to wash, remove all the soap and detangle it.
When finished, he wrapped her in a huge bath sheet and set her in front of the sink. She stared at the mirror, taking in how raw, pained and open her reflection looked. The water of the shower continued to run. In the corner of the mirror, she noticed he’d turned his back and took a shower now. Hildy had to snap out of it. She was strong, independent and able to take care of herself. So what if they saw her freak flag wave? It hadn’t killed her.
Here she was, naked except for a towel, while Jax was completely naked taking a shower only a few feet behind her. That he’d washed her and seen her completely nude hadn’t mattered. If felt as natural as her next breath. Deciding to give him some privacy, she walked out of the bathroom to see a set of sweats, top and bottoms, laid out on the foot of the bed for her. They looked comfortable, but not enough to put them on. She was tired and just wanted to sleep now.
Pulling the towel up to sop up the remaining dampness from her hair, Hildy twisted it and made a turban. The bed looked to be a California king. Spying the other side that looked unused, she crawled across the bed and got in. It was comfortable and smelled like Jax. Turning herself away from the bathroom door to block out the direct light, she closed her eyes and fell into a light sleep. Her body stayed on alert, listening for Jax to emerge from the bathroom, when he did, she turned over to catch his attention. He still wore the towel from the bathroom as he approached the foot of the bed.
“Jax,” her voice, thready from disuse, searched for a way to say what had to be said. “I apologize for everything. You know, for coming on to you like I did. Thank you for not telling them about it and helping me. And… thank you for helping me now. I’m usually tired after I shift, but tonight was ten times worse. I didn’t mean to zone out on you like that. If you allow me to get a few hours’ sleep, I’ll be up and out of your hair as soon as I can. I’m just so tired.” The yawn that took over was real and not staged. “Excuse me, I didn’t do that for emphasis, it just came out. Promise.”
He looked at her for the longest moment. Hildy prepared to take the towel and fashion it as not to flash him when she left, when he spoke.
“You’re something else, you know that?”
“Huh?”
“Look at you. It’s like everything I’ve ever wanted staring me back in the face. You’re beautiful, Hildy, and I’m honored you allowed me the opportunity to serve you.”
“What? I don’t understand. I said nothing when Lucien and Greg tore into you. I let them think you made me upset.”
“I did and they only did that because they care about both of us.”
“Why didn’t you speak up and tell them the truth?”
“Because they already know.”
A fresh wave of fear washed over her. “But how, is there a camera on the roof?”
“Yes, but I’m pretty sure they weren’t looking at it. Hildy, tomorrow when you’re not so tired, we need to finish our talk. There’s more to this that you need to know and take into consideration. For now, get some rest and I’ll see you in the morning.”
Her mouth was glued shut. A million reasons why she wanted him to stay rammed hard against the insides of her mouth, determined to spill out. Still Hildy couldn’t bring herself to say anything. Once he’d grabbed another pair of sweats from a bureau, Jax started to leave the room.
“Jax—don’t go.” He turned to look at her. Hildy sat up in bed, keeping the cover high enough to cover her chest. “I can’t explain it, but I feel like if you leave I’ll go nuts. I know I shouldn’t have kissed you like that and again I apologize, but would you do me this one favor?”
“Whatever you need, it’s yours.”
“Thanks. Would you stay here with me?” She patted the bed next to her.
“In the bed with you?”
“Yes, I promise I won’t try anything. I’ll behave and stay on my side,” she offered, hating how much she sounded like she was begging.
Hazel eyes caught hers as he considered her. In the softest whisper, he said, “Never feel like you have to promise to behave where I’m concerned. I’d be honored to stay with you tonight.”
Her hands trembled ever so slightly as Hildy reached out to pull the covers back from his side. “Are you tired yet?” she asked, not knowing if that was the best way to convey she wanted him to get in and hold her.
Looking at the clock next to his side of the bed, Jax said, “I think I could sleep, it’s after eleven now.” Hildy smiled, too emotionally spent to say anything else. “First, let me throw on some pajama bottoms and then I’ll join you.”
“Is that how you normally sleep?” she asked, shocked at herself for being so brazen.
“No, I usually sleep in the nude.”
“So do I. Please, I’m not trying to set you up. I’ll turn around and sleep with my back to you to seal the deal. You’re doing me a favor and I don’t want to put you out more than necessary. Do we have a deal?”
Jax looked around, at what she wasn’t sure, and then he agreed. “Sure, um, okay then.”
He sat on the edge of the bed and fiddled with the charger for his cell phone, finally plugging it in.
“Shoot! My cell phone. I forgot to bring a charger for it.”
“Where is it?” he asked, not turning to look at her.
“I left it downstairs in my purse by the food.”
“No worries, I’ll get one of the guys to bring it up.”
“No! I can wait. I don’t want them to bother or see me like this.”
This time he did turn around. “Hildy, it’s no worry. I’m sending Matt a text now. He’ll drop it off in the other room and I’ll fish out another charger from my desk in there. See—it’s no worry.” As if on cue, his phone beeped. “And that’s him. He’s on his way up.”
No need to panic. She’d treat this like it was her first sleepover. There was nothing strange about her being in the bed naked with Jax. All that talk about her being an adult was on the line. Hildy had to act mature, keep it together and not freak out. It wasn’t every day she got a chance to spend the night with her crush.
The knock on the door was loud, startling her.
Jax got up, still holding the towel around his trim waist. Hildy did manage to notice how cut he was. Definite fighter—the physique was there. He went into the other room, closing the door behind him. Hildy strained to hear what they said, but it was no use. They must have been in on her ability, because their voices were too low to decipher anything. Giving up and into the pull of sleep again, she turned her back to the door and fell asleep.
Sometime in the night, she woke enough to know she was freezing and spread eagle without any covers. They must have turned the heat down, because it was colder than a witch’s tit and her teeth started to chatter. The bed was large enough for her to have enough room and not bother or touch Jax. Still everything in her wanted to cuddle up next to him. His back was to her and he slept, taking in deep even breaths. There was also a steady flow
of heat pumping out of him as well. That would be her excuse if he woke and pushed her away. She was indeed freezing and he was a natural furnace. Getting back under the covers and sliding over to his side of the bed, Hildy put her back to his and got into her normal fetal position on her side.
His heat began to do the trick. She felt the pull of slumber come for her again, but not before Jax turned over and grabbed her into him, spooning her. What a way to fall asleep! Hildy smiled and then prayed he wouldn’t wake up before her to find out she’d snuck over to his side of the bed.
17
Jax... 3rd floor, His suite of rooms, The Dragofin Clan Lair, Earlier, as Hildy slept
Matt’s eyes bugged out seeing him clad in only a towel.
“Please tell me you didn’t,” Matt said, eyeing his towel.
“Shh, lower your voice, she’s in there,” he said pointing to his bedroom. “And you can’t be serious? Matt, you weren’t there to see how much I frightened her.”
“Yeah, Greg told me she spontaneously shifted. What did you do to make her get that scared?”
“It’s not something I can share. It’s personal between us, okay?”
“Okay, but quit dicking everyone around. You need to get her up to speed fast or else have Luc do an impartation.”
“Don’t rush me. And Luc isn’t going anywhere near her if he wants to invade her mind. I’m already pissed he did a little of it tonight. Hildy hasn’t had a normal life. It’s going to take a little more effort to get her up to speed. She’s upset that all of you know she’s a virgin.”
“Really? I don’t see why. She’s got virgin written all over her, or at least she did the last time I saw her,” Matt said looking back down at Jax’s towel.
“I told you, nothing went down. I got her to take a shower, and she’s just now settling down. I haven’t gotten the chance to tell her anything other than the part about being a Harpy. Although, I’ll admit she’s very keen to know what a mate and consummation entails. It seems she wants to find out if she’s a Siren just as much as we do.”
“What? Then why are you dragging ass on this? All the fellas agree with you. It’s clear she’s your mate. And as soon as you get this ball rolling, all our lives will be better.”
“Now who’s being unreal? Matt, there’s no guarantee she has that power.”
“No? Then why did your brother, who likes no one who isn’t related or oath pledged to him, offer to help her? You and I both know Luc is set in his ways. Even he has a tiny bit of hope that the Goddess is correct.”
Jax had to calm everyone down. It was doubtful his brother believed but still, he didn’t want Hildy to sense any expectations on her part. What he wanted was to attempt to court her, like a normal couple. Hopefully, she’d relax enough to let some of her guards down.
“Tell everyone to remain calm. I don’t want any of you scaring her away. She’s more like a frightened bird than any of you know. If you give me a little more time, I believe I can get her to trust me enough to accept me as her mate.”
Matt was on edge. Jax could tell by the way his jaw clenched and unclenched.
“Look, man, we have days, maybe a week or two before we have to go through the cleansing process again. I, for one, don’t want to have to make that trip when I could have my own mate show up right here.”
“Don’t tell me you believe that crap too.”
“Uh, how do you explain Hildy’s presence? Is she not in your bed at this very moment?”
“Yes, but nothing’s going to happen between us. She’s probably already asleep by now.”
Matt eyed him, unbelief evident with every hard breath he took. “Why is that? Goddess help us. Of all of us, it had to be you to have your mate show up first.”
“Yes, so deal with it. I’m not going to rush her so you can hope to trigger some ancient prophecy about your mates being pulled here.”
“If the shoe were on the other foot, you’d be the main one in my business using signs and bullhorns to hurry things along.” Matt came closer and whispered, “It’s been too long, and I for one am tired of only having ritually cleansing sex with a priestess in another realm. I need to touch the real thing, my own mate. We all do. It’s getting harder and harder to go into battle without having that bond between mates. So, have a little mercy and speed things up for all of us, would you, man?”
Of all his brothers and cousin gryphons, Matt was his favorite. Easy going and able to turn any situation into light-hearted fun, Matt was his rock. Jax didn’t like seeing him, of all people, like this. How could he tell him that Hildy was so fragile, that one wrong move and she could literally fly the coop, never to return? He still needed to find out more about her, like where she lived and her cell number, before trying to consummate anything.
Remembering the phone, he asked, “Where’s her phone?”
Matt passed him her phone and bag. “Right there. It was dead, but before you asked, Nolan was still able to pull her contact information down from it. Got her address, phone number and most frequently received calls. It’s a number that belongs to a shell corporation by the way. He thinks that might be this handler she keeps referring to. There are only a few calls here and there besides that one.”
“Thanks, man,” Jax said, springing a hug on Matt.
“You’re welcome. Now back up off me. I don’t want you swinging that thing near me,” he said motioning to his towel again. “Honestly, I’d like for you to put on some clothes before you go to bed if you’re not going to consummate anything tonight. You might just scare her off for real if you don’t watch it.”
There was no way Jax was going to give in to Matt’s baiting for more information. He’d gotten the phone and had a way to keep tabs on Hildy; it was time for Matt to leave.
“Thanks, man, but I’ve got this. How about you get going, so I can go to bed too?” Matt cocked an eyebrow. “That’s enough with the looks at my towel. Out, see you in the morning.”
“Uh-huh and I’ll be watching to see how both of you slept. I’m out,” Matt said, closing the door behind him.
Jax opened the door to the bedroom to see Hildy was indeed asleep. He found a charger, and plugged in her phone, placing it on the night table next to his. The face of the phone lit up, showing nine missed calls from a Mr. Scott.
Instead of moving to the center of the bed like normal, he stayed on that side and turned his back to Hildy. She slept, huddled in a little ball at the edge of the other side of the bed. Everything in him wanted to pull her into him and feel her skin against his. Hopefully, there’d be time for that soon.
Before he concentrated on falling asleep, he whispered into the room, “Merry Christmas, Hildy.”
Always a light sleeper, he felt her toss and turn, but remained still, not daring to turn over. He didn’t do it when the covers hit him in the face after she’d kicked them off either. Jax knew it would be a short amount of time before she got back under.
Luc always turned the heat down to nothing at night. Most of them had no need for extra heat anyway. It was used mostly on the rare times when authorized visitors from the portal would come to the surface and visit the gym. Jax, all his brothers, and his cousins—the gryphons were natural heat producers, due to their other natures.
Hearing Hildy’s slight sighs and whimpers while she slept, brought a smile to him. Laying there in the dark with his naked mate-to-be sleeping in his bed, he allowed himself to process the last few days. As soon as they’d fought at that supercenter over that stupid pie, Jax knew she was destined to be his. Funny thing is, he was only getting the pie to let Matt try it out, before placing an order with Miss Connie.
His little Hildy was a warrior to be proud of and feared. She fought him without remorse. When she’d punched him tonight, he’d gotten turned on. Truth be told, every time she did anything violent toward him, it turned him on. He liked a strong, feisty woman and that was his Hildy in spades.
Replaying tonight on the roof, he ran the events through his mi
nd, looking for a way to handle it better when next he spoke with her. Pushing her away when she’d worked up the nerve to kiss him first had been the wrong way to handle it. Sure, if he hadn’t he would have ended up fucking her on the roof, but there had to be a better way to go about it.
His mind was made up. He’d apologize to her in the morning and do everything he could to show how much he liked and wanted her around. He never wanted to send her mixed signals. She was the most important person in his life, his gift from the Goddess, and he’d honor her like the treasure she was. Holding on to that plan, he relaxed.
Hildy wrestled with the covers again, sending another smile through him. Then she was wedged up against him with her back. She trembled, her skin a little chilled. Jax waited a little while to give her time to heat up and fall back asleep. When her breathing returned to a rhythmic sleeping one, he turned over and captured her into him, cuddling her. Everything about her felt right as he snuggled close to her. To his great relief, she stayed there, in his arms for the rest of the night.
18
“Did you have a good day yesterday?” Mr. Scott asked.
“Yes, I did, no thanks to you. Nine calls? That’s a little excessive even for you,” Hildy said, not liking that he wouldn’t give her a moment’s rest. “I told you, I’m on vacation until after the new year. This is my last time calling you back before then. If you need something, find someone else to handle it. Else, it can wait until after I finish my vacation. This is the first one I’ve taken since starting to work and I’m going to enjoy it. So back off!”
The other side of the line was quiet for a moment. Any longer and Hildy would have no qualms disconnecting the call.
“Hildy, I have to ask, where were you yesterday?”
The familiar warning tingle ran up Hildy’s spine. She stared at the phone as if it was infected with a virus. What was he getting at? Sensing her need to be clever about this, Hildy responded.
Ajax's Harpy Holiday: Dragofin Mated: Book 1 (A Dragon-Gyphon Shifter Curvy Paranormal-Fantasy-Scifi Romance Series) (Dragonfin Clan Mated) Page 10