Jake (The Clan Legacy)

by J. S. Striker

  What was he saying?

  She clawed at her mind. She tried breaking through the barrier within herself, wanting to find out what this man was saying to her. The beast was starting to trust him that much was clear, even if the beast was still very careful about it.

  But time was kind and kept being kind to them, and Jake was the most patient when it came to time.

  The words started up again, twirling in her mind along with his deep, soothing voice. The barrier she kept clawing at finally gave way to a tiny bit of clearance, and the words stopped blurring all over each other.

  I’m in love with you.

  The beast stilled. Gabby soared, feeling her heart grow light.

  It lasted only for a while as a dark presence entered the premises. Then her human side saw Olivia, and her beast pushed her back and immediately went into defense. But Jake was talking again, and Olivia was talking along with him, and the beast didn’t block the words out anymore as they formed crystal clear for Gabby to understand.

  There was a bargain involved, with Olivia asking for Gabby’s body and blood in exchange for their chance to live. Jake kept asking Olivia questions instead of driving her away, and the beast began to grow more agitated as it sensed danger in the form of power, as it sensed that Olivia wasn’t some weakling that could easily be subdued.

  Said beast recognized that Olivia had been killed before. What happened?

  Jake stepped out of the perimeter, leaving Gabby and the beast alone inside. The beast tried to step out, too, but the lock didn’t allow her to, and she found herself now staring as a battle ensued outside, with lots of sparks and magic flying and Jake getting thrown to the ground repeatedly.

  The beast screamed. Gabby screamed along with it, and she began to fight it. The beast fought back, wanting dominance, wanting to make her black out again—but she was so sick and tired of it and so hungry to be let out that she fought tooth and nail without pause.

  The beast recognized her dominance now, even within the darkness. Gabby pulled at that darkness, slowly reeling it in like an invisible string and cajoling that inside was better. The darkness was sly and evaded her moves, but she kept on, feeling sweat pouring down her back at the effort it took. Slowly, the darkness slid in and formed into a ball, curling in on itself until it settled like a blanket and slept inside her. Just as slowly, her shifter side came out, the beast retreating and the wolf-fox scenting blood the moment it came out.

  Jake’s blood.

  Her vision zoned in on him, and her paws stepped forward, intent on removing Olivia’s magic on him. He was gritting his teeth and holding on to his head, and rage flew at her as she vowed to destroy the woman.

  But before she could, something else happened.

  A blur came at Olivia’s right, too fast to comprehend. Then the woman was yanked to the ground and dragged halfway through before Gabby finally recognized what—or who—was pulling her.

  It was Henrietta.

  Gabby shifted to her human form, then hurriedly unlocked the complicated perimeter with her human fingers. She sprinted to Jake’s side, feeling for his pulse and finding it unsteady. His eyes fluttered open, piercing her with warmth and relief. She helped him sit up, cradled his injured body in her naked form.

  Then she turned her attention to her mother, who was just finishing up with Olivia like no one else’s business.

  Henrietta didn’t exactly tear the other woman to pieces, but she might as well have with how she used her teeth—and she’d only half-shifted, leaving her human body and her tailored clothes intact. As a last-minute thought, just as Olivia grew unconscious, Henrietta took out a bottle of glowing pink from her pocket, pouring it on the woman. It made Olivia’s body convulse once before she fell into a deep sleep, one that had the older woman finally standing up and wrinkling her nose.

  “I’ve been observing her for about four days now while she stalked your practice session,” Henrietta murmured, her voice perfectly calm—almost like she was explaining her tea preference. “She’s been giving me such a headache, really. Not very bright, either. I mean, who doesn’t have a guard in a large home like this? Obviously, I got rid of them.”

  Gabby’s eyes widened.

  “Mr. Kismet, can you kindly call Dylan Masters and tell him we have someone we need imprisoned?”

  Jake, who was also staring in shock, nodded his head mutely. Henrietta nodded back, satisfied. Then she turned to Gabby and nodded again.

  “I told you, my dear. I’ll do my best to protect you. Now get some rest.”

  And with those parting words, Henrietta went inside, her heels clicking on the patio tiles as she slid in the door and left them behind.

  Gabby could only stare at her back, then at Olivia. Then, at Jake. Feeling like her life was going crazy and this was only the beginning, she could only laugh.

  A few seconds later, Jake laughed along with her.

  *****

  The witch was taken by Dylan, and the ultimate shifter leader promised them that the witch would be taken to a facility where she would never bother anyone again. There was also some promise that the men working with the witch would be dealt with. Jake said something about a witch named Robin, but the conversation was quick as Dylan was out of there right away, with Henrietta tagging along with the insistence of having a business lunch. Before leaving, she instructed Gabby to cook for herself as she had dismissed the staff, too, in her hopes of catching Olivia.

  Which meant that Jake and Gabby were all alone.

  Awareness grew inside Gabby, but she ignored it like the stubborn person she was and took a shower first—to cleanse her mind, she insisted. But she scrubbed her body until she was squeaky clean, and she lavished herself with her favorite after-shower lotion that made her smell like milky, creamy dessert. She then put on her favorite dress, a white little number that showed off her body and its curves. Lastly, she let her hair loose, long curls that drifted down her back and flowed as freely as she felt.

  Jake was in the kitchen, having offered to cook for them. He looked fresh just like her, but so much more rugged in his pants and gray sweater. His orange hair stuck out in all directions. The smell of chicken soup permeated the air, and Gabby watched him for a few seconds as he stirred in contentment.

  I’m in love with you, his words filled her mind again.

  “I love you, too,” she blurted out.

  Her cheeks turned hot when Jake’s hand stilled. Then his gaze snapped up to meet hers, and she found her own words stumbling all over the place.

  “I heard you. When we were practicing. I mean, it was all jumbled up at first, but it all made sense in the end. You were saying lots of other things, and I couldn’t hear them anymore—and then Olivia arrived and ruined everything when I’d have wanted to listen more, and—”

  Her words stopped in a gasp when she felt his hands—his big, large hands—on her waist, backing her into the kitchen counter.

  “I want all of you,” he said. “That’s what I said.”

  Gabby blinked, his scent drifting in her senses and making her tingle. “Oh.” She tilted her head. “We can take it slow. Yes. Okay. We can…”

  Her words trailed off into a moan when he began to kiss her neck. Her hands went to his hair to pull him up, but he was just as stubborn as she was.

  “Yes, we can…” he rasped. “You’re my mate. We have all the time in the world.”

  Her eyes widened at the declaration, and her heart did a little somersault. Then his fingers were under her dress, sliding her panties down and plunging inside her core with no warning—but no warning was needed because she was already wet and aching for him.

  Only him.

  “You look great in this dress,” he breathed out, finally coming up to kiss her hungrily on the mouth.

  She bit his bottom lip and sucked on it, reveling in his groan. “Thank you.”

  “I want it off you,” he demanded.

  Gabby laughed, but soon the laughter turned to moans as he di
d his own request and began to almost tear her dress off before tossing it on the floor. Not about to be one-upped, she did the same, actually tearing his shirt before tugging his pants down and giddily wrapping her fingers around his pulsing shaft.

  The sneaky man wore no underwear.

  And she loved it.

  She rubbed her thumb against his pre-cum, spreading it, then stilled and bucked as he pressed on her clit with his own thumb and had her shooting up in pleasure right on the spot. She cried out, then cried out his name.

  The fiend.

  Laughing, moaning, Gabby vowed to do the same.

  They did it on the kitchen counter. They did it on the floor. They finally transferred to her bedroom, where he ordered her to drop on her hands and knees so he could take her from behind. Her moans turned to cries, and her cries turned to screams as he pleasured her like there was no tomorrow, even while his words told her that yes, there was going to be a tomorrow for them—and many more days to come after that.

  After their third round, they crashed on the rug of her bedroom floor, where she rubbed her fingers on his belly and took in their combined scents.

  “I’d like to introduce you to my mother,” she said.

  “Sure,” Jake replied without missing a beat. “She’s one hell of a woman.”

  “Can I introduce you as my future mate?”

  “Future and present mate,” Jake corrected. His teeth shifted into fangs, and he rolled her onto her back.

  Gabby laughed again, happiness filling her. They proceeded to mate right then and there and didn’t stop until their fifth round.

  The darkness inside her remained buried deep inside her for a long time after that.

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  CHAPTER ONE

  Valley Joy was the kind of sleepy town that didn’t really bring much excitement about, considering its main hobbies involved the following: too little population where everyone knew everyone, gossiping between neighbors being a common thing, and no fun places to go to at night.

  Erik O’Riley wasn’t a fan of the first, because he couldn’t be as invisible as he wanted to be. Cities and crowds were much better for the likes of him, where he could move without too much detection.

  He didn’t really like the second, because what if one of the neighbors found out his true nature by accident? It would be all over town in less than a day, and they’d probably hold pitchforks while demanding to burn him at the stake.

  He definitely wasn’t a fan of the last because…well, where were you supposed to drink and pick up women willing to heat up the sheets with you?

  But Erik had a job to do—and unfortunately, that job included going to Valley Joy.

  It was late afternoon by the time he arrived in town, and he headed straight to the police station and looked for the town sheriff right off. Erik waited in the station’s tiny waiting room, trying to ignore the young blonde secretary gawking at him. He’d give it five hours, tops. He was pretty sure his appearance would be described a couple times over as gossip was passed around regarding the new neighbor.

  Ten minutes later, he was ushered into the sheriff’s room and finally met the man.

  John Malone was as robust as the day Erik had met him ten years ago in the city—but the man looked somewhat happier now, he had lost that sour expression he wore all the time. They exchanged pleasantries for a bit, with Erik politely asking about John’s family and kids. He didn’t miss the way the sheriff’s face lit up when he answered.

  Then John got right down to business. Without preamble, he pulled out a folder and slid it on the desk towards Erik, who picked it up without a word and began reading. There were pictures along with the files of victims and the nature in which they died—each eerily similar, each more violent than the last.

  John didn’t interrupt, waiting patiently and as still as a cat. It gave away his true nature, though no ordinary man would have figured it out.

  When Erik was done, he looked John in the eye.

  “So these happened in other towns?”

  John nodded. “Neighboring towns. Started further away near the border and steadily drew closer. The last few victims were in the town nearest to ours, a week ago. Then it stopped.”

  “Hmm. Did someone warn you? Gave you these reports?”

  “The sheriff in the neighboring town did. We all look out for each other.”

  Erik looked at the file again, his attention riveted on the bite marks of whatever was left of the victims. They were a combination of violet and black, with yellowish bubbles forming at the sides. Odd.

  “Any clues as to what we’re after here?”

  John shook his head. “It’s not a shifter. I can’t identify the marks.”

  “Doesn’t look vampire, either,” Erik murmured.

  “No. Can you stop this from happening in Valley Joy?”

  “I’m the man for the job.”

  “Great,” John said with a sigh. “I could help, but I want to keep up my human appearances and not disappear when we get victims. I need to reassure the townspeople with my presence.”

  Erik nodded, opting not to say that a cat shifter wouldn’t be much help, anyway—not when the victims were torn apart like this. John went on to explain that the attackers didn’t stay in the same town for too long—either they got tired of staying in once place easily, or just didn’t want to draw too much attention.

  When they were done discussing, they both stood up and shook hands.

  “I’ll take care of this problem for you, Sheriff.”

  That was, after all, what he came here for. Shifters like his kind were meant to protect—with the right incentive and motive.

  “Great. Let me show you where you’ll live in the meantime. There is plenty of food and honey in stock.”

  Wonderful. A sheriff after Erik’s heart.

  The sheriff led the way out of his office. With one last glance at the folder, Erik followed.

  *****

  He hadn’t been lounging in his new house—a one-story suburban style place with a bedroom and the basic appliances needed—for more than an hour when he saw lights turn on at the house next door, and voices carrying through. He was standing in the kitchen, eating a juicy steak and contemplating dessert when his sensitive ears picked up the male and female tones.

  Quietly, Erik moved towards the living room, not turning any of his own lights on. Through the window, he saw the man—an affable looking fellow who seemed to be trying his hardest to make the woman laugh. Erik noted that his tone was verging on desperate, and wondered how long until the woman cracked.

  Erik couldn’t see the woman with the way the porch arch was blocking her from sight, but it was obvious from her tone that she was being painfully polite…and putting him in the friend zone. Erik couldn’t help his grin when the persistent date finally got the picture as she didn’t invite him inside for coffee and practically slammed the door in his face.

  “Call me when you can!” the man shouted hopefully before dejectedly shuffling away.

  Erik chuckled, then shook his head. He went back to the kitchen to take care of the dishes, the neighbor forgotten as he got lost in his own thoughts. It was too early to shift and scout the area, especially with someone his size—he would need to do that later when everyone was asleep. Valley Joy had lots of forest areas, but it would be best to start securing the houses nearby first before venturing there. In this case, he only had two neighbors in this particularly area, so that was going to be a cinch.

  He placed the dishes in the dishwasher, then decided that dessert would be a good idea right now. A light turned on in front of the kitchen window beside his sink. Erik looked up.

  He froze.

  The polite woman from earlier was now in his field of vision—clearly so. She’d turned on the lights in her kitchen, where a wide
window gave him a view of her going to the fridge to pour herself a glass of white wine.

  But that wasn’t the only thing she was doing.

  Erik watched as the woman drank the wine in one huge gulp, then took out the bottle again and started drinking from there. Two gulps, before she placed it back.

  He watched as she began removing her dress, right there in plain view, shimmying it down until he was treated to the sight of creamy skin, a perky butt and a handful of breasts encased in tight, tight underwear. Her hands went to remove her hair from its chignon, and brown hair cascaded down her slender shoulders. He could see her face—not gorgeous, but arresting enough to catch his attention as he took in her long lashes and dark-colored eyes.

  Pink lips made for kissing.

  Then the woman turned around and bent over to pick up something she’d dropped.

  And what had been passing interest for Erik suddenly shifted to full blown desire.

  He imagined that ass on his hands, where he molded them as he pressed his front against her back and kissed that soft-looking spot at the nape of her neck. Then he imagined sucking on it before he turned her around to face him and kissed her mouth instead, her soft moan urging him on as he began sliding her underwear off. Then his fingers would be there, slipping inside her. Then his fingers would be replaced by his cock as he thrust inside her wet heat…

  The fantasy was so vivid, Erik had to take a physical step back as he felt his blood pound and his erection strain against his pants. Then he reined in his control, telling himself to get a grip. This wasn’t the time to be a horny bastard, not when he had a job to do.

  But Jesus, it had been a few months since he’d last slept with a woman.

  Still, this was wrong. He shouldn’t be peeping on an innocent woman, because that just made him an asshole.

  He glanced through her kitchen once more, and to his relief, she was no longer there. But where were her curtains? Why were her windows all open?