The front door opened. Devin walked in with two older humans before Rafe could admit he didn’t know. Josh rushed toward them and embraced first his mother and then his father. Jasmine jumped off his lap and went to them too, hugging and kissing them both.
“Mom, Dad,” she cried.
Rafe tensed and looked at the humans. He’d suspected Jasmine and Josh had been lovers at some point in the past but this suggested more. A shared history that would’ve continued if Jasmine hadn’t been entrusted with Rafe’s nephews.
“My god, how? What happened?” Josh asked.
“That neighbor kid with the obnoxious car radio is what happened. He came driving down the street with some thumping rap song playing and the lion took off,” the older male said.
“And this young man showed up and brought us here,” the female added.
The humans continued their joyous reunion and he slipped to the edge of the room where Kade stood vibrating with anger. The tips of claws bit through the ends of his fingers and feline eyes took in the scene.
“You heard?” Rafe asked.
Kade nodded. “I am sorry I eavesdropped, brother.”
“Saves me from explaining.” Rafe turned and watched Seth, Levi and Megan run down the stairs. They too jumped into the merry family group. His jealousy grew.
“You can’t expect anything different,” Kade said with a jerk of his head in the humans’ direction. “They filled the role we should have. It’s only natural.”
“I know that, but it doesn’t ease me.” He motioned toward where Josh and Jasmine had their heads bent close together and were talking to Megan. “They’ve been lovers. Probably would’ve gotten married if Jasmine hadn’t fallen into our world.”
“And?” Kade shook his head. “Do you think she existed in a vacuum before you walked into her life? Of course she loved other males, but she’s in your bed now. Make sure she stays there.”
“As soon as Calum pays for his sins, I will.”
Kade stepped in front of him, blocking the humans from his sight. “Are you sure that’s wise? If you have Jasmine’s agreement, do it now.”
He didn’t have it yet and he wasn’t willing to admit that. “I want Calum’s blood and if I start the mate bond, I won’t want to leave her side until she wakes. That’s days where Calum will be wandering this area. We can’t risk any more innocent lives. We’ve been lucky so far, but I won’t chance it.”
“You don’t have to be the one who kills him, Rafe.”
“Yes I do. He’s threatening my female. I won’t sit by and allow you or one of the others to take my kill.” He turned his back on the humans to hide his emerging feline traits and growled, “Calum had her. He fucking had his hands on her. The same damn male who raped our sister and took our nieces.”
“Don’t allow revenge to ruin your future. Nina wouldn’t want you to lose your mate because of her.”
Kade walked away but his words played over and over in Rafe’s head. No. This time, he’d get Calum, make him pay for what he did to Nina.
Rafe strode across the room and pulled Jasmine away from Josh. She looked at him with questioning eyes. “I need you, woman.”
A blush stained her cheeks. She stared at him open-mouthed. He held his hand out to her. She took it without hesitation. The comfort of his female’s touch eased the chill in his heart that came from thinking about Nina. He pulled her close and buried his face in her hair. Her scent, the unique fragrance that was purely Jasmine, filled his lungs, calming him.
His chest rumbled with a purr and Jasmine jumped. She met his eyes. “You’re purring.”
Rafe glanced at their audience and tugged Jasmine toward the steps without answering. With the door to their bedroom shut behind them, he yanked her into his arms and demanded, “Touch me, baby.”
She smirked and crossed her arms over her chest. “Tell me about your purring and I will.”
He ran a hand over the back of his neck. “When I’m happy or content, I purr. It’s not a big deal.”
Her grin widened. “Like a real cat then?”
He shrugged. Why deny it? “I do shift into them and my cats like to purr, especially my tiger. I’ve resisted the urge but my cats are demanding. They want your attention too.”
“They do?”
He nodded. “They’ve been patient, knew you were still unsure of them but they’re tired of waiting. They want to meet you.”
She drew her bottom lip through her teeth and blurted, “Shift for me. Please?”
“Are you sure?”
She blew out a slow breath. “Yes. I want to meet them too.” She peeked at him through her lashes. “But maybe only one at a time.”
He reached deep within and touched each animal’s soul. He’d let them decide who got to meet Jasmine first. His tiger stepped up and bumped him. He yanked off his shorts and let the change sweep over him before his female changed her mind. Once he mated her, these would be her cats too. He wanted Jasmine to love them as much as he did.
Merged with his tiger, they were one and the same. He felt his tiger’s love for Jasmine. He stood before her on four legs and looked upon her with his animal’s sharpened vision. Still beautiful. Perfect. He waited until her thumping heart slowed before he padded up to her. He rubbed against her legs. She giggled.
“That tickles,” she cried.
He did it again and was rewarded with another happy sound. Her joy fed his and he purred, the sound deeper in his animal’s body. Jasmine knelt and tentatively reached for him. He lowered his head and silently urged her closer. Her hand rested against his flank for a long moment before she petted him. The fingers running through his fur trembled, but the strokes became surer the longer she stroked him.
“You’re much bigger than I thought you’d be,” she mumbled.
He let her pet him and her touch tamed his cats, but the man wasn’t content to only enjoy her loving caresses. He shifted and yanked her against him, crushing her breasts to his chest and kissing her with the desperation only she could stir. The short time they’d spent apart made his hunger grow.
He ate at her mouth, swallowing her flavor and passionate cries. With fevered hands, he undressed her, molded her body. Her breast, buttocks, thighs. Not an inch of her frame was left unexplored. His mouth followed the path he’d caressed. By the time he tumbled them to the bed, they were both panting.
Jasmine fisted his cock and stroked him. He dropped his head onto the pillow. Her steady tugs, the slide of her hand on his shaft and her nipping bites on his chest drew his balls up. He moved with her in a dance she controlled. It felt too good to stop but he wouldn’t make a habit of finding release without Jasmine. He grabbed her wrist and gently squeezed until she released him.
He gave her hip a small smack and demanded, “Roll over.”
She raised a brow but didn’t comment on the order or deny him. She moved to her hands and knees and wiggled her lush ass in the air. “Is this what you want?”
He laid a palm on one rounded cheek and massaged the flesh. She squirmed and the scent of her arousal filled the room, seeped into his lungs and became a part of him.
“It is, Jasmine. I love your ass.” He bent close and licked the small rose inked on her skin. “And I love your tattoos.”
He pressed his lips to the design at her lower spine. With small kisses, he worked his way up her back, pushing the strands of hair out of his way. At the base of her neck, he stopped his exploration to join their bodies. With his cheek against her shoulder, he rolled his hips, loosening her tight sheath to accept him. Fully seated, he closed his eyes and allowed the joy only Jasmine could bring to fill him.
“Before I make you my mate, I want my name tattooed right here.” He kissed the base of her neck. “So everyone will know who you belong to.”
“Only if you put mine on your body.”
He nipped the spot with his fangs and enjoyed the way her muscles tightened around him in response to the small sting. “Sorry, love, I don’t sc
ar. A tattoo would only last until my next shift.”
He thrust hard and the words she’d begun to utter turned into a long, low moan. With slow drives of his cock, he built the pleasure. He took her to the point where her muscles trembled, the release imminent, then stopped.
With his shaft buried to the hilt, he licked her shoulder. “When I mate you, my bite will be made here.” He waited for her reaction. Instead of fear, more cream bathed his cock. Her breathing quickened. “It’ll hurt, love, but it’s necessary.”
No response beyond the quivering of her sheath. She didn’t deny his declaration that he’d mate her nor did she seem surprised by the pain. Had she already sought answers from Mira? Jasmine had mentioned talking to her. Good. He wouldn’t have to discuss the scariest steps of the bonding with his female. It would be bad enough being the one to cut her human ties and take her to the point of death. He didn’t want to talk about it.
“You understand?”
“Yes,” she panted. “Fuck me, Rafe.”
He clamped his mouth over her shoulder and gave her what she asked for. A rough, hard fuck that took her to the edge and kept her there, not allowing her to tumble over. Her cries sharpened until only a breathless gasp escaped with each thrust. His balls smacked against her body and her arousal coated their thighs.
Wet, warm and tight—she fit him so damn well. Soon he’d have her forever, just like this. A sheath custom made to him, a sex drive that matched his and a body made for loving whenever the mood struck. Perfect. His Jasmine.
Her sweet bottom cushioned him each time he entered her. She accepted the pounding drives, widening her legs to take him in as far as this position would allow. With a tilt of his hips, he shortened the entry, quickened the pace. Not as deep but the strokes ran over and over the most sensitive part of her sheath. She sucked in a rough gasp and he knew he’d found the spot that drove her wild. He changed the depth so his cock rubbed that special spot over and over.
Too soon, her orgasm hit. A vise grip clamped down on his cock and Jasmine buried her face in her arm to muffle a cry. He bit her shoulder until the first taste of blood teased his senses. Turning his head away, he focused on the waves rippling over his shaft instead of how it felt to have his female’s tender flesh in his mouth. Soon. He wouldn’t be able to wait too long. His cats might take the choice out of his hands.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Jazz stood at the bedroom window and looked at the sky. Gray clouds hung over them, threatening to ruin yet another day. For three days they’d been inundated with drenching downpours. It was great for the dry spell the area suffered from. The weatherman claimed they were no longer in a drought warning. He’d delivered the week’s weather forecast with a smile while every single person staying under her roof—shifter and human alike—grumbled.
Her house was too small for the number of people calling it home. Josh’s parents were sleeping on an air mattress in the dining room because they couldn’t climb the steps. Mira was bunking with the kids. Josh and surprisingly Devin had the spare bedroom next to hers. And the tiny room smack-dab in the middle became Kade and Xander’s when they weren’t out in the rain patrolling the grounds. The other shifters—and she hated to admit she couldn’t remember all their names—had confiscated the living room.
The place smelled perpetually like a wet dog and tempers were flying. So many fistfights had broken out that even Josh’s mom didn’t bat an eye anymore. Everyone was miserable—except for her and Rafe. They’d loved each other more times than she could count. Their nights consisted of hot and sweaty sex, sleep, gentle loving that brought tears to her eyes then more sleep. Throw in a good dose of oral sex and she was sated, achy and happier than she’d thought possible.
She loved him. No doubt. No questions. After only a few days, she shouldn’t feel so sure, so confident in her choice but she was. Rafe was the man she wanted to spend her life with…her immortal life. That she’d learned over the course of the last few days but the actual mating process was still a gray area.
She was hesitant to ask about it. Mira had said the bite would hurt. So had Rafe. And yes, she was willing to suffer a little pain if it meant keeping Rafe forever, but she wasn’t thrilled about it. She also didn’t want to think about it. She viewed it the same way as ripping off a bandage. Just do it. If you took it slow, thought about it and tried to ease the sting, it hurt worse.
Her decision was made. She was mating Rafe. Whenever he asked, she’d say yes. It would be fine. And if she kept repeating that she might just believe it but the conversation she’d walked in on this morning made her doubts flare. Not about Rafe or her love for him but in her ability to deal with the pain.
Xander had come right out and asked Rafe if he thought she was strong enough to handle it. And Rafe had only grunted. Not the vote of confidence she’d been hoping for.
Jesus, how bad was the bite?
The door clicked behind her, announcing Rafe’s presence, but she didn’t hear him approach. He shared many of the same traits his animal spirits did. Stealth and stubbornness being the biggest ones. Both had helped him capture her. He hadn’t given up until he’d gotten exactly what he wanted. Not that she minded, at least not anymore.
He linked his arms around her waist and pressed the body she knew better than her own against her back. He nuzzled her neck, pressing kisses to the spot the dreaded bite would be made. She relaxed into his arms, let him take her weight and support her.
“My Jasmine, I missed you,” he purred.
She laughed softly. “How did you ever survive? You haven’t seen me for what…ten minutes?”
“Fifteen. Too long, baby.” He nipped her shoulder then licked the sting away. “My cats were beginning to whine. They don’t like going so long without hearing your voice. They worry because they’re not close enough to protect you.”
She stroked the arms holding her and savored those words. They supported what Mira had said about shifter males needing to be close to their mates.
“The minute I met you, I knew you were a sweet-talker. You always know exactly what to say to make me feel special.”
Rafe growled but it didn’t frighten her. The primitive sounds aroused her. She loved him a little wild, especially when they fucked.
“You are special. No other female can take your place.”
He hadn’t told her he loved her but she hadn’t said the words either. She felt them, though, and hoped he understood her. Those three words sat on the tip of her tongue. There was no reason not to say them, but she held them close. She wanted the declaration to be as special as he made her feel. When they mated, she’d tell him.
They stood in silence for a few minutes but there was a subtle tensing in his muscles that worried her. She waited for him to say whatever it was bothering him. He didn’t.
“What’s wrong?” she finally asked.
“Devin found evidence of where we think Calum has been staying.”
She turned in his arms and took in the careful mask he wore. “That’s good. Isn’t it?”
“Yes. Considering he hasn’t investigated any of the times we used your blood to bait him, this might be our best chance to grab him. I’m going out there with Devin and Xander. We’ll wait for Calum to return, then take him out once and for all.”
Something about the situation bothered her but she couldn’t figure out what. Dread landed hard in her belly. “But why do you have to go? Send Kade.”
Rafe snapped his teeth together and ground out, “He touched you, threatened you. I won’t let that insult go.”
She sighed. It was the response she expected. Since learning that Calum had not only kidnapped his sister but mated her, Rafe’s hatred had grown. But after hearing about how Calum had touched her in the hotel, Rafe had been determined to be the one to kill him. She regretted telling him about Calum’s groping, but Rafe had asked what he’d said to her and she hadn’t wanted to lie to him.
Rafe strode to their room, kicked off his shoes
and yanked off his shirt. He picked up the syringe from the nightstand, the one filled with the chemical to mask his scent, and jabbed it into his arm, depressing the plunger. He put the cap back on and tossed it in the wastebasket.
“Rafe, wait,” she said. He stopped with his hand on the button of his jeans. “Are you going out now?”
“Of course. Why wait?”
He unzipped his jeans, pulled them off and walked naked back out into the hallway. She followed him. “What if it’s a trap?”
He shrugged. “It probably is, but if he wants to play, I’m game.”
She snapped her teeth together. “Dammit, I know you’re immortal but—”
He glanced over his shoulder and leveled her with a hard look. “This is not up for discussion, Jasmine. I’m going and you will stay here where Kade can keep an eye on you.”
She stared at him wide-eyed. “Excuse me?” His mouth parted slightly on an inhale. She glared at him. “You don’t need to scent my emotions, Rafe. I’m pissed. That shouldn’t be too hard to figure out.”
Head tilted to the side, he studied her with feline eyes. “Why? Because Calum is likely baiting me?” He nodded as if he’d pinpointed the trigger for her bad mood. “I told you—”
“Exactly. You told me.” Her temper flared, heating her skin and speeding her pulse. She fisted her hands to hide the slight tremble in them. “Don’t my concerns matter? Or aren’t women allowed to have opinions in your world?”
He released a shuddered breath. “Of course your opinion matters. I’m sorry.” He opened his arms to her. “Please come here and tell me what’s bothering you.”
She stepped back into his embrace. “I’m worried about you, Rafe. If Calum hates you as much as you say he does, this might be a way to kill you. Behead you like he did Nina. He’s obviously not stable. Why else kill his own mate, sell his kids? Please can’t you let—”
Rafe silenced her protest with a scorching kiss. He wrapped his arms tighter around her. “Thank you for worrying about me, but I’ll be fine. Have a little faith in your male.”
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