“I thought you weren’t getting involved with him.”
“That was before we were attacked. I told you I overreacted.”
Josh’s brows rose. “Did you?” He held up a hand. “Look, I’m not saying Rafe and his friends mean the kids harm but I’m concerned about us.”
“What do you mean? Rafe has done nothing but protect us and so have his friends. Remember, it was Devin who chased off that lion.”
Josh glanced down the hallway toward where Mira and the kids were. He shifted his gaze to her and bent closer so his breath warmed her cheek. “Rafe came in here earlier asking all sorts of questions about Tony and the lawyer he used to get Megan. He said it wasn’t the first time a shifter child had been sold through a private adoption, and that those who stole their kids should be punished. I told him what I knew because I agree, but then he started asking about you.”
When Josh didn’t say anything else, she prompted, “What about me?”
“He thinks you’re lying about finding them. He’s convinced you knew the mother and wants to know how it is you ended up with her babies. According to Rafe, no female shifter would willingly part with her children. They’d kill for them, take on a whole damn pride.” Josh leveled a hard look her way. “And after he went into graphic detail about what he’d do to the lawyer when he found him, I couldn’t help but worry about what he’d do to you if he learned you stole Seth and Levi.”
She shook her head. “Rafe wouldn’t hurt me.”
“I hope not. But are you willing to bet your life on it?”
She pushed away from him and crossed her arms. “I didn’t steal them.”
“I know that but you better hope the truth is something he’ll accept. We don’t know them or understand their ways.” He pointed toward the yard. “That little display out there proved it. Beloved human? Fucking load of crap is what I say. It’s ownership. I don’t give a shit how they label it.”
He pressed his mouth to her ear. “Is that what you want, Jazz? To be owned by a shifter, even if he is one you’re fucking?”
He squeezed her hand once more. Without waiting for an answer, he walked toward the living room.
She watched him leave then dropped her head into her hands. She didn’t fear Rafe but Josh’s words mirrored Xander’s warning. Their cultures were different. Josh was right. The little display in the yard proved it. While beloved human made her feel special, it was ownership, no matter how they spun it.
And there was the way the other shifters treated Mira. It worried her. Rafe had said their females were precious and they were protective of them, but would his possessiveness of her grow to the point where she couldn’t even talk to another man? If it did, she wasn’t positive being Rafe’s anything was a good idea.
Chapter Sixteen
Rafe ran the perimeter of Jasmine’s property and marked the land as his. Twice he’d had to lay low while hikers trampled through the woods. The land might be secluded but humans still crawled around. It posed a risk to Rafe and his family and a danger to any unfortunate human who might stumble over Calum. Tony’s death proved he had no problem killing the locals.
He watched the last pair cross the small creek and disappear over the hill before shifting. He pulled his clothes out from under a bush were he’d stashed them and dressed before jogging the last few feet to the open yard. Kade met him halfway.
“What did you find?” Kade asked.
“No scent marking, but I did find paw prints. He’s been here but doesn’t appear to be now.” Rafe glanced in the direction the hikers had gone. “There are humans in the woods though. I’m worried for them.”
Kade grunted. “Bastard should be dead.”
Rafe clenched his fists. The betrayal was still sharp and so was the regret. “I trusted him. How was I supposed to know he was crazy?”
“You couldn’t have.” Kade rolled his shoulders and hissed out a rough breath. “We’ll get him, Rafe. He won’t get away this time.”
“You’re damn right about that,” he said and walked toward the house.
Rafe followed Jasmine’s scent to the kitchen and found her standing at the counter with Mira. They had their heads bent close together and were giggling over something. Jasmine turned with a smile on her face but the grin drooped before she forced it back in place. Still wide and as welcoming as when she’d first turned around, he wouldn’t have known it was fake if he didn’t smell the bitter trace of fear tainting her lovely fragrance. The reaction drove home the fact that he had a long way to go in earning her trust.
He leaned over the counter separating them and ran a hand down her arm. “Hey, baby. I missed you.”
“Oh Jazz, it must be love. Rafe never used that tone on me when we were lovers.” Mira gasped and covered her mouth. “Gods, I’m sorry. I didn’t…I mean, we’re not…”
Jasmine’s muscles tensed under his hand. Rafe turned his head and bared his fangs. “Get out, Mira. Now.”
Mira hurried out of the room, the scent of her shame drifting behind her.
Jasmine yanked her arm away and turned to the stove. She stirred a pot of chili with quick flicks of her wrist. “Any sign of Tony’s murderer?”
She wasn’t going to ask about Mira? Rafe took in her stiff back and inhaled. Too many different emotions flavored her scent for him to judge her mood. He walked around the counter separating them, took her hand and carefully pulled back her fingers from the ladle. He turned the heat off on the stove and dragged her unyielding body against his.
“This is not the kind of jealousy I like, Jasmine.”
“I’m not jealous.”
Like hell she wasn’t. He kissed her shoulder, her neck, and licked the spot below her ear that made her shiver. She did but pressed her lips together. No breathy sigh.
“Liar.” He laved her skin until a soft moan escaped. Much better. He nibbled along the length of her throat then soothed his nips with his tongue. “There’s no reason to be jealous of Mira. She’s a friend, always has been, even when she graced my bed.”
“Friend with benefits, huh?”
He’d heard the human expression before but Mira had never quite fit that role either. She had only ever come to him when she needed love, reassurance or when the loneliness had gotten to be too much. He had never sought her out.
“In a way, but we have not been intimate in many years.” He turned her in his arms and ran a hand up the length of her spine. “Nor will we ever be again. I don’t want another female. Only you.”
She rolled her eyes but not before he saw the warmth in them. “More with the sweet words, Rafe? Please. Compared to Mira, I’m plain.”
“You’re beautiful. Not plain.” He pressed his lips to hers to stop her denial. “And mine. Mira never captured my attention. You have.”
She slid her fingers into his hair and toyed with the strands. “Is that true?”
The soft brush of her lips sensitized his mouth. Before he could answer her, she kissed him slowly, explored him and filled him with her contented sighs. She massaged his scalp and her gentle touches aroused him quicker than he’d thought possible. He pulled her closer, forced her to lean back in order to continue her drugging seduction.
He swept his hands over her back, caressed her rounded cheeks and reached lower. The loose knit shorts she wore offered him access to her sex and he took advantage of it. With just the tips of his fingers under the edge of her panties, he traced her lips. Slick, warm and inviting. He couldn’t resist the invitation and dipped a finger inside her opening. The angle didn’t offer him the opportunity to stimulate her the way he’d like but the small invasion drew more cream forth. He added a second finger and she fucked herself. The movement of her mouth on his quickened and low, appreciative sounds crawled up her throat.
Needing more, he tugged the material guarding her sex out of his way and plunged his fingers inside. Her groan rewarded him. Wasn’t enough.
“Let’s go upstairs.” The husky sound of her chuckle wrapped arou
nd him, made him hungry for her. “I don’t think I can wait until bedtime.”
“And whose bed will you be warming tonight, Rafe? I didn’t invite you into mine.”
She might’ve kissed him but she hadn’t let go of her jealousy. He grinned and pressed his fingers as deep as this position would allow. He spread them, stretching her, then twisted his wrist so his fingers rolled. Her breath escaped in a rush. He swallowed it and kissed her. He moved his fingers back and forth in a scissoring motion until her pants and the writhing of her hips grew fevered before pulling them out. He laid the wet digits against her swollen lips.
“But you’ll accept me when I come to you. Won’t you, my female?”
“You play dirty. I don’t like it.”
“Yes you do.” He withdrew his hand and brought his glistening fingers to his lips. He sucked each one in. Slowly. Savoring her flavor. “I have the evidence of your approval right here.”
Half-lidded eyes met his. A small smile graced her face, but it was the wry kind, not one of pleasure. He tensed and waited for her words, knowing they wouldn’t be ones he’d want to hear. The satisfaction in her eyes was bittersweet.
“So I shouldn’t be jealous of Mira because she’s from your past?” She waited until he nodded. “And when I see the two of you together I shouldn’t imagine what you looked like naked and tangled in passion. Is that what you’re telling me? Because it’s over. The past.”
“Yes. Mira and I are over.”
Jasmine slid one hand to mold his cock and one down the back of his shorts. He held completely still while she drew a finger down the crack between his ass cheeks. His breath lodged in his chest and he waited to see what she’d do. Lower, she moved it while she stroked the ridge of his erection. Her exploration stopped at the puckered opening. She pushed.
She toyed with his backside and his front—the sensations doubly assaulted him.
“Jasmine.”
“Yes, Rafe?” she purred.
“What are you doing?”
She squeezed his cock. “Just giving you a visual.”
“Of what?”
Josh’s scent drifted to him followed by the sound of the male clearing his throat, but he couldn’t tear his gaze from Jasmine, his little siren. She winked at him, pulled her hands away and turned to the sink. He watched her wash her hands and tried to assimilate the tight, untried sheath he’d filled last night with the woman who had just insinuated that her sexual experience was more varied than he would’ve thought.
Jasmine draped the towel over a shoulder and turned to face Josh. Her smile was wide and real, not the fake one she’d given him. He glanced between the two humans and his earlier thoughts took hold. Had they been lovers? Sex could be shared in many ways. His fangs punched out. He fought the release of his claws. He didn’t want to do anything to encourage Jasmine to seek out Josh, and scaring her might send her right into his arms.
“Hey, Josh. I dug out the old photo albums. Found some great pictures of when we went to the prom and all those dances. Thought maybe we could sit out on the swing after dinner and look at them.” She licked her upper lip and dropped her gaze to skim the length of the human’s body. “You know, remember old times.”
It was too much. Rafe growled and reached for her but she ducked and scrambled away. She had the audacity to waggle her finger at him. “Now, now, Rafe. I don’t have time for any of that. Dinner is almost ready then Josh and I are going to reconnect.” She flashed another grin, this one as real as the one she’d given Josh. “If you want my attentions, you’ll just have to get in line.”
She was teasing him, purposely trying to make him jealous. Rafe stepped up to her, yanked her to him and kissed her. He ate at her mouth, showing her the lust she’d stirred, warning her of the fire she’d have to put out. He pulled back and enjoyed the drowsy look in her eyes. He swiped his tongue across her lips. “Tonight I want your door unlocked and you naked and waiting for me. Do not disappoint me.”
He released her and she swayed. The aroused flush to her cheeks tempted him to sweep her into his arms and carry her upstairs but he wanted her achy, desperate for his possession. And he had the rest of the evening to ensure he got exactly what he wanted.
Chapter Seventeen
Jazz couldn’t tear her gaze from Rafe. After an initial awkward moment where Seth and Levi had stared wide-eyed at Rafe when he’d taken his bowl of chili and sat down on the floor with them, they’d settled into a discussion about their favorite superheroes. Then they’d looked through the boys’ comic book collection and played a board game. It didn’t take much to imagine Rafe stretched out on the floor watching Saturday morning cartoons or him playing ball in the yard. And seeing him in this light brought a smile to her lips.
The clock on the wall chimed. “Okay, kids. Say good night to Rafe. It’s time for bed.”
“Can Rafe read us a story?” Levi asked.
“Please,” Seth added.
She glanced between her kids and a grinning Rafe. He winked at her and she smiled. “Sure. Hugs from me first.”
She watched them leave and shook her head. He’d won them over. And her.
“Rafe is very good with kids,” Mira said in a low voice.
Jazz tore her gaze from the stairs and glared at the other woman. She wasn’t exactly jealous anymore. From the way Rafe worked her body, she’d known he was experienced. It’d be ignorant to think he didn’t have tons of ex-lovers around but she’d rather not talk to one of them, especially about Rafe.
“Appears that way.”
Mira laid a hand on hers and Jazz jerked away. Mira crossed her arms in front of her. “I’m sorry, Jazz. I’m not used to interacting with humans. Your beliefs are so different than mine.”
She’d noticed and that’s what churned her belly. She didn’t understand their culture, how they’d react to things. Without looking at the other men still lingering in the room, she made her way to the kitchen. Mira followed her.
Jazz turned and blurted, “Just get away from me, Mira. I don’t want to see or talk to you. Not now.”
Mira flinched. “I see.” She swallowed hard and dropped her gaze to the floor. “When Devin gets back from patrolling the woods, I’ll have him drive me home.”
She watched Mira turn and place a hand on the kitchen door. Regret rose. “Mira, wait.” She did but didn’t look at her. “I don’t understand your culture either. I’m struggling too.”
Slowly, Mira turned. “I truly didn’t think anything of my relationship with Rafe. Sex doesn’t always mean attraction or love. Sometimes it’s just an escape. Something to chase away the loneliness.”
Jazz thought back to how Mira had stood apart from everyone, the way she’d been so happy to talk to her. “You’re not seeing anyone?” Mira’s brow pinched and a frown formed. Jazz sighed and explained, “A boyfriend? Lover?”
“No lover. I haven’t been with anyone in a long time. I’m afraid to risk it.”
Jazz’s thoughts drifted back to her earlier worry about shifter possessiveness and she couldn’t help asking, “Will Devin or one of the other men hurt you if you take a lover?”
Mira laughed and Jazz’s tension eased. “Gods no. My family would never hurt me. Actually, Devin would be happy if I decided to take another mate. Then he wouldn’t have to watch out for me anymore.”
Mate. Jazz tried the word out. It sounded primitive and reminded her that the man she’d been sleeping with wasn’t really a man. He was from a different species with different customs. She cleared her throat.
“So it’s common to have more than one mate?” It was for wild cats, at least.
Mira pushed away from the door with a grin on her face. “See? This is what I mean. Our cultural differences can cause a misunderstanding.”
Jazz looked at the other woman and thought about what she’d just said about sex not necessarily being about love or affection. What did Rafe view their relationship as? Mira might just be her best source of information. She did seem
eager to talk to her.
“Will you explain it to me?” Jazz asked.
Mira nodded and walked closer. “You can only have one mate. It’s a physical and mystical bond, Jazz.” She hopped up on the counter and continued, “Physically your tie is through a mate bite. Mystically is a little harder to explain and different for human mates than it is for shifters.”
Mira scrunched her nose and pursed her lips. Finally, she nodded. “For shifters, it’s an emotional tie, a deep longing to be with your mate. For humans, your soul will literally be tied to his.”
“Like soul-mates?” The idea made her belly flutter. She’d always loved the idea that there was one person in the world she was meant to be with. She blamed it on reading too many romance novels, but it was the kind of thing fantasies were built on.
Mira gave a half-shrug. “I suppose.”
Her hand reached up to the spot on her neck that had tingled when she woke up after having sex with Rafe. “And this mate bite. What does it look like?”
Mira covered her shoulder and took a deep shuddering breath, releasing it through clenched teeth. She pushed the long fall of her hair over the shoulder and tugged her shirt enough to expose a scar. Jazz rose on her tiptoes to get a better view. Four raised puncture wounds marred the spot where her shoulder met her neck.
Jazz cringed. “I bet that hurt.”
“A little,” Mira mumbled.
The hitch in her voice caught Jazz’s attention. She studied her saddened expression. “Did he die?”
A wicked smile spread over Mira’s face. Jazz stepped back and held her breath.
“Yes, Edmund…died.”
And Mira looked quite happy about his death. Jazz didn’t like to pry into people’s personal lives but she couldn’t help asking, “So a widowed mate can take another?”
Mira tugged the shirt back into place and slid off the counter. “Yes, but I was never mated, not completely. Poor Edmund got his throat ripped out before he could finish the act.”
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