He scrubbed a hand over his face. “Didn’t think I could have you. Figured you’d hate me if you ever found out.”
“I never imagined you could love me that way. You always had a girlfriend.” Her eyes squeezed shut. “Always, Eddie. I assumed I was the last person you could imagine being with.”
His fingers delved into her hair as he brought her closer. His lips covered hers in soft, heated kiss. “Always you,” he whispered. “Was terrified we couldn’t be.”
She swallowed hard, looking into his eyes. “We can’t take this public yet. Kim’s father. Stefano. Shit, we have to deal with all of this before telling anyone.”
“I won’t say a word,” Brent vowed.
“Neither will I,” Eddie agreed. “And we don’t have to take this any faster than you want. Knowing you feel the same is plenty for now.”
“Didn’t say we can’t be close here, but with so much going on, I don’t want anyone jumping down your throat when they see us together. They might come to the wrong conclusions.”
He nodded. “Shit, with Zhi around, that’s probably wise.” He turned back to Brent. “What about Jackie’s new magic? What exactly does her being a siren mean?”
Brent brought each of them a mug full of a fragrant concoction. “Siren can enthrall someone with their voice, or their bodies. That’s why things have been so crazy, but only because you already wanted her. Ever since Jared started the awakening, her magic has been leaking out, unchecked. That’s why I set up the photoshoot with Mathis and Paavo, hoping they would finish the process and she could finally get a handle on her abilities. Didn’t expect Kim’s death, or you two to wind up in bed. I would have forced the conversation sooner.”
“Jackie is stubborn,” Eddie offered.
“So are you.” Brent added.
Eddie turned to Jackie. “I’m dealing with a similar discovery process. Tomorrow, I shift for the first time.”
“I’ll be there for you, Eddie,” Jackie promised.
Brent nodded. “So will I.”
Eddie squeezed her hand. “Thank you, both of you.”
“Drink up. This should settle your hormones enough to allow you both to get some rest.” Brent gave Jackie a sad smile. “I’m sorry I didn’t better protect you. Never imagined Stefano was so lost in his past.”
“Not your fault, and he didn’t hurt me.”
“Not yet, but he’s not going to let you walk away. You will have to tell him, and soon. Make him understand you aren’t his. That may be harder than you think.”
“I can worry about that later, right?”
“Yeah. You’ll be busy for the next couple days. After that, you’re going to have to sit him down and explain.”
She dreaded that conversation. “Bottoms up.” Jackie gulped down the brew.
Eddie laughed before he drank his, then gave a sour face. “This should work. Shittier the taste, the better the outcome.”
“A warning, Jackie,” Brent started, then waited for her to turn toward him. “Stefano is part Shadowstalker, and he hasn’t had Other blood since the beginning, more than two hundred years ago. Your blood is a drug, to any vampire, the same way mine or Eddie’s is. However, he’s already obsessed with you. You don’t want to be alone with him for any reason. Please tell me you understand—that you won’t play brave and go out on your own after dark.”
“Yeah, I got that. Besides, there are still the other two Shadowstalkers who munched on me first.” Her eyes squeezed shut.
Eddie put his arm around her. “Does this mean you aren’t going to complain when I hang out at the café with you?”
She shook her head, leaning against him. “No, I won’t go doing anything rash. We aren’t dealing with a stupid mortal, or even one vampire. I’m not taking any chances.”
Relief shone in his eyes. “I can ask the guys at Ward Tower Security to beef up the protection here. Lonny offered before, but I told him it wasn’t necessary. Now they’ll insist.”
“I won’t turn down an offer like that.”
Brent added, “Remember how I keep asking about your mother? I promised her I’d watch over you, Jackie.”
Her brow wrinkled. “My mother?”
He nodded. “She didn’t die when you were two weeks old, though I can’t swear she’s alive now. She was abducted by Saressa, and brought back to Faerie to pay for her supposed crimes. Your mother sent me to you, but I haven’t heard from her since. She may not be alive.”
“My mother pissed off the bitch queen who was obsessed with Scotty?” Jackie asked.
He nodded. “Don’t hate me, but there’s more.”
“What?”
“I’m not just a friend, I’m family. Your cousin.”
A short laugh escaped her lips. Her brow arched. “And you couldn’t tell me until I learned exactly what my mother was?”
“You aren’t mad?”
Frowning, she shook her head. “I sort of figured it out that night. Didn’t totally accept it until a moment ago, but sometime during the awakening, who you were clicked.”
“Tomorrow, I’ll explain how to access the memories. While Eddie hunts, we’ll have a long conversation.”
“As long as I can sip on Jack, I’ll listen.”
“You mean chug? And I expect that.” Brent chuckled. “Come to me when you have questions, and we’ll get you through this.”
“You’re a sorcerer with bits of everything. Anything else you want to tell me?”
Brent leaned against the counter. “That I’ll do better to keep you safe. I should never have taken Tiana at her word.”
Jackie shook her head. “Stop. How were you supposed to know?”
Eddie spoke up. “I agree. Not your fault, dude.”
Brent drummed his fingers on the counter. “Where’s the necklace?”
She lifted the cord over her head and handed it to him with a wince. “Shit, it’s black.”
“Sidra and Clive tried to immobilize you, and probably Stefano too, who may or may not be immune to their powers.”
“I fought, then froze that bitch.” Jackie shuddered.
“They used enough magic, you should have been paralyzed, even with the protection. You’ve gained your mother’s immunity against all forms of mind control. Probably always had it. That’s a relief.”
She shifted in her seat. Maybe it was time to convince Gwen to train her. If they came back, she wanted to be ready for a fight. And there was Stefano to consider. She’d feel better having a few tricks to use against a pushy vampire.
“You two stay out of trouble.” Brent winked as he headed to the door. “I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon.”
“Night, Brent.” Jackie smiled.
Eddie followed him to the door. “Thanks for not letting her drink from him.”
“She may be immune to even that. There’s no way to know for sure without testing, but it’s not worth the risk.”
“Agreed. See you tomorrow afternoon.”
Brent stepped outside and shut the door.
Eddie locked it and turned back to Jackie.
Jackie moved to him and took his hands. She looked up into his eyes with a soft smile. “Will you sleep in my bed? I don’t want to be alone.”
“And if I can’t keep my hands to myself?” he asked with a raised brow.
She shrugged. “Then things get heated. But I’m tired, freaked out, and don’t want to be alone.”
He closed the distance and wound his arms around her. “I do miss Kim, but my heart always circles back to you.”
“Hold me like you do when everything falls apart. I need the comfort I only find in your arms.”
“Same here, Jackie.”
* * * *
Stefano made it back to Tiana’s, and now paced the living room in the home above the bookstore. Jacqueline was terrified of him.
“Well, this is certainly interesting.” Tiana’s head cocked to the side, watching him closely.
“What?” he snapped.
“You met her friends, and she’s met your enemies.”
“She’s in love with her best friend.”
Tiana shrugged. “Does it matter? They both believe their love is forbidden.”
“You didn’t see them together. When I left, she turned in his arms and clung to him, crying. At best, she’s terrified of me.”
She patted him on the shoulder. “Stef, she grew up in his home, as part of the family. She was six when her father died and they took her in. There are hints of more, but it’s a familial love.”
He shook his head. “Eddie wanted to kill me. He only held off because he was more concerned with taking care of Jacqueline.”
“Don’t give up yet.” Her lips quirked in a smirk. “He lost his girlfriend, the woman he planned to propose to. They’ve always clung to each other in hard times. Give it a chance. You deserve to be happy. She could make you very happy.”
He shook his head. “Sidra and Clive both drank from her. Brent is no longer on my side. He barely tolerated me there to heal her, and I believe to test my intentions.”
She sighed. “Very likely. Brent’s learned about Eloise. He’s rightfully worried about your intentions toward his cousin.”
“Cousin?”
She nodded. “Cousin. Jackie is half-siren. She’s been having an issue with magic flares since messing around with a halfling who wasn’t fae enough to finish her awakening. She’s been through it now, but hasn’t learned control yet.”
“Don’t tell me that.”
“Tell you what? What exactly happened?” she asked cautiously.
“That my attraction to her could be magic. I kissed her, and wanted her so badly that if Sidra and Clive hadn’t interrupted, I may have made love to her in the middle of the damned park.”
Her eyes rounded in surprise. “Oh.”
“And then I drank from her after Sidra impaled me on her long blade. I came in my pants like a boy. She ran from me. Shut me out. She’s terrified of me.”
“All fears you can ease with some patience and charm. Her blood would be potent for any vampire. She looks like Eloise. The question is, Stefano, what do you really feel for Jackie? Are you drawn by the resemblance to your wife? Or do you crave the woman herself?”
“She captivates me. Her spirit is different. Yes, her appearance drew me in, but Jacqueline’s personality is what I crave.”
“Then don’t give up. Now, tell me exactly what happened.”
He told her everything, not skipping a single detail.
She nodded. “You have a chance. Call her.”
He ran upstairs to his room, dialing her number as he went.
It rang once before a sleepy yawn greeted him. “Hi, Stefano.”
“Hello yourself.” He closed his eyes, imagining her curled up under the covers.
“Thanks for coming to my rescue.”
“Anytime, and you came to mine. We’re even.”
“I guess we are.” There was another yawn. “I’ll talk with you Monday. Thanks for calling.”
“Sweet dreams,” he murmured.
“You too.” She hung up and he leaned against the wall.
Tiana squeezed his shoulder. “You are falling for her. It’s about time you found yourself a new love.”
Chapter 13
Jackie murmured in her sleep, pressing her ass against his aching cock. Eddie groaned, his hand spreading on her belly to pull her tighter before curling around her breast.
It took all his will to not slip his hand under the thin tank top, or better yet, shift the edge of her shorts down to slide his fingers through her heat.
Her scent intensified as she rocked her hips, seeking his hard length. His name left her lips on a whispered plea.
He trailed his palm down her torso, slipping under her shorts to tease her pearl. Slick, hot, perfection. As he pressed into her core, she turned her head, searching for his mouth.
Obliging, Eddie caressed her lips with his. She opened and his tongue danced with hers. Her arm slipped between them, her fingers sliding under his waistband. Gripping him tight, she pumped slowly.
“Jackie, tell me you want this half as bad as I do.”
“More. So bad.”
The phone rang, and she froze, her eyes wide as she panted for breath.
“Shit,” he whispered, releasing her to reach for the cell. She took her hand away.
“This is Eddie,” he answered, without looking at the phone.
“Morning, Eddie,” Mr. Xhangxi greeted, sending a swift kick of guilt as his dick deflated. “Kim’s funeral is tomorrow at three, the O’Brien Funeral Home.”
“I’ll be there. I’m sorry for all you’re going through.”
“I wish we could have met under better circumstances. You were a good match for my daughter.”
“I miss her terribly.”
“Until tomorrow.” Kim’s father hung up and he rolled to his back, staring at the ceiling.
Jackie turned toward him with the saddest look on her beautiful face. “I’m sorry. You love Kim. She’s barely gone and I’m begging you to make love to me. I’m the worst friend.”
“No. Shit, I want you as bad as you want me.” He scrubbed a hand over his face. “None of this is your fault.”
Jackie laid her head on his shoulder, curling closer. “Doesn’t mean this is easy for you. I didn’t lose the woman I was going to marry.”
He took a deep breath and rolled to his side, looking into her aquamarine eyes. “I wanted to propose, but I don’t think I could have. You were in my heart, eclipsing what I felt for Kim. Part of me thought, if I could get the words out, I could move on with Kim, and you would finally fade away. Now, I realize letting you go was never a possibility.”
“I should have said something, told you how I felt, anything. But every time I was ready to admit my love, you had a new girlfriend.”
“That’s why no one ever lasts long with you?”
She chewed her lip. “Maybe. You’d get a girlfriend, and I’d try to find someone who could push you from my heart, but they only confirmed what I already knew. You were always the one, and no one else was enough.”
His brow arched, his smile soured. “What about Jared, Mathis and Paavo, not to mention Stefano.”
She grimaced. “Jared was a desperate attempt to push you out of my head. Mathis and Paavo, um—” her brow scrunched as she fiddled with the hem of her shorts, “I was horny, and we were drinking, and then we went there.” She sat up, looking out the window. “And Stefano, another desperate attempt to get over you. You kept saying you were going to propose. I thought it was too late, and best to let you go.”
He moved to wrap his arms around her. “Make you a deal,” Eddie whispered.
“What’s that?”
“No more lies, no more hiding. Always tell me what you want, what you feel, even when I piss you off and you want nothing to do with me.”
“I want you even then,” she admitted with a laugh. “Even when I’m angry, I love you. I have since we were kids. But I couldn’t have you because you always had a girlfriend.”
“You have me. Soon, I’ll prove it with every ounce of my love.”
“Eddie, we have all the time in the world. I don’t want to be a distraction.” She winced. “Not that I think that’s what this is. At least, not all of it.”
He nodded against her shoulder. “You aren’t. When I finally make love to you, you’ll have my full attention.”
“Until the phone call, I did have it all.”
“You did,” he admitted. “Soon, you’ll have it again.”
She laid her head back on his shoulder and looked into his eyes. “Eddie, there’s no rush.”
Having Jackie in his arms eased the sadness. The guilt paled. The woman he’d loved forever, but thought was forbidden, held tight.
Before allowing himself to get choked up, Eddie asked, “What do you have planned for today?”
“I want to talk to Mike about something. Then I have a few errands t
o run before tonight.”
“Really think you should be out alone?”
Groaning, she stood and turned toward him with her arms crossed over her chest. “I’ll be fine. When are Toryn and the guys coming? Will you be here?”
He grabbed his phone to check texts. “Sometime around noon. I’ll be here.”
Dropping her arms, she offered a smile. “I promise to keep a Silver Council Enforcer with me, maybe two. Fair enough?”
He reached out, capturing her hands. “Yeah. I worry, Jackie. I always have. And after last night, it’s worse. Probably will be for a while.”
Jackie stepped between his legs, pressing a kiss to his forehead. “And you’ll never stop, but I’m capable of taking care of myself.”
“You are,” he admitted, letting her go as she backed toward the door.
* * * *
Jackie dialed Mike, hoping he would answer, and wasn’t too busy to take her to Edenton. She’d been to the bookstore out there a handful of times. A Good Book had a magical atmosphere. Partly because it was run by mages, but also the books held power that seeped into the air, the wood, the building.
After last night, she didn’t want to be alone. And she wanted to prevent rumors her and Eddie had hooked up the second Kim died. Especially with Mr. Xhangxi in town.
Jackie didn’t care about her reputation. She’d already done enough to make Eddie second guess himself. No matter how she looked at the situation, losing Kim had to be hard on him. If she knew a way to make grieving easier, she would do everything in her power in a heartbeat.
Mike answered on the first ring. “Hey, Jackie.”
“Hi, Mike. You busy today?”
“Not until later. I have some news for you. Planned to wait until a bit later to call.”
“Oh, well, I was hoping you’d take me to Edenton. There’s some shit going on, and Eddie doesn’t want me alone. For the first time ever, I agree with him.”
“About damn time. The man has good sense.”
“And… I’ll tell you a secret if you give me a ride.”
“I’ll pick you up in ten. What I found in the park last night scared the fuck out of me. You’d better tell me exactly what happened.”
Coming Together Page 9