Primal Law

by Tyler, J. D.

  “Sariel says I’m blotchy.” She sniffed.

  “Yeah? What does he know? You’re always beautiful.” He kissed her head, and would’ve growled if he had the energy. “I can smell him on you.”

  At least he could scent again. A bonus.

  “He was comforting me because I thought you were going to die.” Another sniff. “Get over it.”

  He snorted a laugh, but it hurt and he sucked in a breath, waiting for the pain to subside. Apparently his healing powers weren’t at full speed yet.

  “Doc?”

  Melina moved into his line of vision, angled face filled with concern. “Yes?”

  “Is this, you know, temporary?”

  “The boost you’re feeling now?”

  “Yeah.”

  She sighed, showing more emotion than he’d witnessed in months. “I’m afraid so. Kira’s blood has strengthened you because it contains the properties you require to be a healthy wolf shifter male. But you aren’t mated. In short, this is a stopgap measure to get you strong enough to finish the process.”

  He frowned. “But if I take her blood when I bite her, what’s the difference? Why can’t I take it through the cut in her wrist or something?”

  “Good question. I think the answer lies in your saliva, in the chemical change that occurs when mates bond during sex. I could be wrong.” She shrugged. “Only two ways to find out.”

  “Two?”

  “First, we’ll let you take blood from Kira’s wrist—provided she agrees.” Kira nodded, so Melina continued. “Then we give you a few hours, see if the bond forms between you and you’re completely well. If it hasn’t worked, you’ll feel progressively worse in a relatively short time.”

  “And then?”

  “We give you more blood, and release you to do as wolves do in the wild.” She actually smirked at this.

  Jax looked to Kira, who was blinking rapidly, cheeks turning pink. “Not unless that’s what Kira wants.”

  Melina was silent for a moment. “Are you saying you’d rather die than force Kira into mating you?”

  As much as it broke his heart, he had to let her go if that’s what she wanted. “That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

  Big blue eyes fixed to his. “Jax,” she breathed. “You don’t mean that.”

  “Every word.”

  “I’m not going to let it happen,” she whispered.

  “Then stop me.”

  “Oh, I intend to.”

  “I’ll give you two some privacy,” Melina said with a grin. “I’ll be back.”

  Neither of them noticed when the doc left. They just stared into each other’s eyes, and Jax wondered where to go next. What to say.

  All that came out was, “Thank you.” Which was completely inadequate. He wasn’t a man prone to long, mushy soliloquies, hearts and flowers. He’d rather show a woman what she meant to him, and he sure couldn’t do that laid up in the infirmary. Damn it.

  An impish smile curved her lips. “You’re welcome. Though I had sort of a selfish motive for saving your bacon.”

  “Really?” His hand sought hers, clasped their fingers together on top of his stomach.

  “Sure. A take-charge wolf man with woo-woo powers and a smokin’ hot bod? And I might get to be a wolf, too. Where else am I going to find all that?”

  He laughed, and immediately regretted it. Sharp pain blasted through his shoulder and he gasped, riding it out. As the sick waves subsided, he noted that her teasing mood had disappeared and tears swam in her pretty eyes. “Hey, none of that. I’m going to be fine.”

  “What if you’re not? I can’t help but feel this is my fault,” she said, voice breaking. “If I had—”

  “No. This is most definitely not your fault, or mine. Nature isn’t fair, that’s all.” Studying her expression, he thought it only fair he give her one more out.

  “Kira, I want you to know I meant what I said. You’re under no obligation to mate with me. If you don’t want to do it, I’ll let you go. You can’t leave here until it’s safe, but I can. I could ask Nick to assign me in the field for a while, and this mating fever, or whatever it’s called, might pass.”

  And the mere thought broke his heart. Made him want to tear the room apart, shred the furniture. When had she burrowed so far under his skin?

  To his amazement, her expression turned fierce. A little bit pissed. His angel got right in his face. “Listen to me, Jaxon Law. There’s something really good here, between you and me, and I’m sticking around to take it all the way. So stuff the self-sacrificing crap and get out of this bed so we can get our animal goin’ on.”

  Okay, his inner wolf liked the attitude. A whole helluva lot. The rest of him did, too, and made his desires known with throbbing intensity, injuries be damned.

  Reaching out, he traced a finger over her lips. “Yes, ma’am. You always so bossy?”

  “No, but I’m learning.”

  With that, she took his mouth, licked inside. Her flavor excited him as no woman’s ever had, and he wanted to pull her on top of him. Have his way right here. She must’ve felt the same, because she broke the kiss to nibble along his jaw.

  “You could bite me right now,” she murmured.

  “Baby, even if it would work, there’s no way I’m going to create the most important bond either of us will ever experience sitting in my oh so sexy hospital bed.” He arched a brow. “Give me a little romantic credit.”

  She brightened. “I’m glad to hear you say that.”

  “Why? Was that some sort of test and I passed?”

  “No! Well, maybe a little,” she teased. “I don’t want to do it here, either.”

  “Why do you want it at all?” His quiet question pierced the playful mood, but he had to know. His own change of heart concerning taking a mate wasn’t such a mystery. Kira, he wasn’t so sure about. “Why me? Have you made peace with the fact that I have an animal half who’s every bit a part of me as the man?”

  Her gaze slid from his and moved to his lap. “I keep telling you that wasn’t the problem.”

  “Then what—oh, right. You didn’t want nature to force your choice.” Taking her chin, he tilted it up so she’d meet his eyes. “I don’t want that, either. But for my part, I don’t have to worry anymore.”

  “What are you saying?” She bit her lip.

  “That I’m falling for you,” he said, smiling a little. “Because of you, not some souped-up version of my genetic code. This might sound stupid, but I knew you were all I wanted the second I saw Chup sleeping on your stomach.”

  “That doesn’t sound stupid at all.” Leaning in, she kissed the corner of his mouth. “In fact, that’s the greatest thing anyone’s ever said to me.”

  “What about you?” He attempted to keep the sudden strain out of his tone. “Do you still feel trapped?”

  “No,” she said, taking his hand. “I’m scared and a little overwhelmed, but not trapped. I think that’s because I’m not fully adjusted to this lifestyle yet. To the enormity of all of this—otherworldly beings, evil forces and soldiers who battle them. Plus there’s a big possibility I’ll be a shifter like you guys. But my feelings for you have become stronger than my fear of what I can’t control. Does that make sense?”

  “Perfectly.”

  She has feelings for me. Yes! It’s a place to begin. A terrific place. Still . . .

  “So you’re really okay with the idea of becoming a shifter?”

  After a pause, she nodded. “I’m nervous, but at the same time I can’t help but wonder what it will be like. You know, the process itself. Not to mention being stronger and faster, being able to defend myself with claws and really sharp teeth. It’s kind of cool, now that I’m getting used to the possibility. I think I’ll be disappointed if it doesn’t happen.”

  “It might not,” he said gently. “Melina didn’t change after she and Terry mated.”

  “I know. If it doesn’t, I’ll deal with it.” Lapsing into momentary silence, she played with
his hair. “It’s weird for me to think about being shifter, but at least I get a warning. I can only imagine what a shock it was for you guys.”

  “Damned right it was. Thought we were losing our minds at first.”

  She studied him, obviously chewing on something. “You told me that you, Zan, Aric, and Ryon were Navy SEALs. And you were all turned after you were ambushed on patrol. Right?”

  “Yes, plus Raven, who’s in Block R. Why?”

  “So is that when your Psy abilities manifested? You were all able to do cool stuff after you became shifters?”

  He frowned. “No, we had our abilities already. They just became much more powerful.”

  “Did any of the other men—the ones who were killed—did they have powers, too?”

  “I don’t know,” he said slowly. “It’s never occurred to me to ask.”

  “Did any of you know one another before you joined the Navy?”

  “No, we met in BUD/S training and were placed on our team together. What are you getting at?”

  “I’m not sure. It just seems strange that out of all the people in the military, a group of guys with Psy abilities ended up on the same team unbeknownst to one another, and all of you survived when so many others didn’t. Doesn’t that seem weird to you?”

  Suddenly, Aric’s earlier declaration returned.

  Which would mean our high-up government friends—the assholes who’re supposed to be on our side—lied to us. Ain’t like that’s never happened before.

  A chill gripped his heart. What could it all mean? Were they played from the beginning, set up, used? The strong turned into paranormal soldiers, the weak discarded like broken toys?

  That would be abominable. And it could be true.

  “When you put it like that, it does,” he said. “I don’t know what to make of what’s going on with NewLife and these experiments, disappearing Alpha Pack team members, dead bodies, what the government does or doesn’t have a hand in, none of it. What I do know is I want out of this bed.”

  Mischief sparked in her blue eyes and she leaned over, nibbling his neck. “My poor wolf pup,” she teased. “Feeling a bit anxious? Cooped up?” Her hand slid under the covers.

  “Kira.” His intended warning became a plea as her fingers sought their prize, rooting under his gown to find his lengthening shaft. “God.”

  “Let me help you get rid of some of that tension.” Her hand began stroke him, sending shivers of delight through his burgeoning erection, up his spine. “I’ll make a mess,” he gasped. “The doc will know what we’ve been up to.”

  “There won’t be a mess,” she promised him with a wink. “Sit back and enjoy, and I’ll take care of everything.”

  When she flipped back the covers and exposed him, bent over his throbbing flesh, his dazed brain grasped her meaning. All half-formed thoughts of protest died on his lips and he groaned, arching his hips.

  Her mouth surrounded him, took him in, hot and sweet. The sensation fired his blood, not to mention the sight of her blond head bobbing over his lap, his cock disappearing between her lips. Just the idea that she planned to swallow his essence nearly made him lose it way too soon.

  “God, Kira!”

  She hummed in apparent pleasure, small fingers squeezing, manipulating his balls as she sucked. The dual stimulation was challenging enough in holding off his orgasm, but when the hand slid down his perineum, ventured into his cleft to massage the forbidden pucker there . . . Jax almost came totally undone.

  “Baby, I can’t last,” he rasped. “Please . . .”

  Please stop? Or please eat him alive? He wasn’t sure. His world had been reduced to a whorl of intense, mindless pleasure. Nothing existed but what she was doing to him, how unbelievably incredible it felt to surrender to her.

  Mine!

  Unable to hold back any longer, he erupted with a shout. On and on his cock pulsed as she drank him down, not missing a drop. After what seemed forever, his spasms finally stopped and she pulled off him, wiping the corner of her mouth.

  “Oh, my God,” he breathed, the words a reverent praise of her talents.

  She gave him a self-satisfied grin. “Did that help?”

  “Did it ever! I think my bones melted.”

  “Good, that was the plan.” Kissing his cheek, she arranged his gown over his lap once more and fixed the covers. “Can you rest some now? You look tired.”

  “Not sure. Maybe I could take a nap,” he mumbled, suddenly drowsy.

  “Go ahead.” She took his hand. “I’ll be right here.”

  Worn out from the naughty interlude, Jax fell into an exhausted, sated sleep. When he woke again, hands were shaking him, urgent voices calling from far away. He tried to ignore them but they were persistent, and he finally managed to crack open his eyes, blinking against the sunlight that shone around the edges of the blinds.

  “You’re awake! Thank God.” Kira smiled down at him, eyes shadowed.

  “Did I sleep all night?”

  “Yep.” Melina beamed a penlight into his eyes. “It’s a quarter past eight.”

  “Jesus,” he muttered, jerking his head from the light. “That’s my brain you’re skewering.”

  “At least you still have one. Do you remember me bringing in a cot for your lady to sleep on? Us giving you more blood?” She slipped the wretched device into her coat.

  He thought. “No. Must’ve been out of it.”

  “You were, but I thought you might’ve had some awareness. The fact that you didn’t is telling, Jax.”

  “My body is failing.” God.

  “Faster than I expected. This is it—do or die. You’re going to drink from your mate’s wrist, gain some strength, and then I’m releasing you. Go where you like, but if you don’t come back mated, there’s no coming back,” she said bluntly.

  Kira winced, and he wanted to snap at Melina to use some sensitivity, but it wouldn’t do any good. The doc didn’t believe in candy-coating the facts.

  “Remember what I said about what could happen to your abilities after mating. Now, I’ll leave you two alone. As soon as you feel strong enough to get up, do it.” Then she was gone.

  Kira watched her go. “That woman is so hard to like. But for some reason, I do.”

  “Because she’s a good person, just shit on by life. Now, give me your hand.”

  She did, and he nuzzled the delicate flesh inside her wrist. Flicked out a tongue and tasted. His senses might be shot, but her sweet vanilla and citrus came through, making him dizzy. He needed her so much.

  Resisting the urge to bite, he grazed the skin with one canine, making the small cut so fast she barely felt it. Little drops beaded in the slice and he captured them, soothed the area with his tongue. As before, the flavor was so strong and heady, he couldn’t wait to learn how it would feel to be truly joined.

  Strength seeped into his bones, that soothing warmth returning. Along with a more insistent heat in his groin. He wasn’t going to get any stronger without the mating. Now was the time.

  “My clothes?”

  “Here.” She handed him a pile of freshly laundered jeans, a green shirt, socks, and shoes. “Zan brought them. Everyone’s worried about you.”

  “They won’t have reason to be, soon.”

  She blushed. “They’re all going to know.”

  “And be jealous as hell.” Sitting up, he swung his legs over the side of the bed. “If any of those dipsticks give you a hard time, remember that’s just their way of showing you how much they like you. If they ignored you, then you’d have to worry.”

  “I suppose so.”

  He dressed quickly, glad that he felt pretty good. One a scale of one to ten? About a seven at the moment. He’d work with it.

  “What do you say we go for a walk?” he asked with a grin.

  “To your favorite spot by the stream?”

  “Unless you’d rather drive into Cody. I can book us into a nice room, order some bubbly and—”

  “I think the st
ream is the perfect spot. And you’re the only high I need,” she said, almost shyly.

  “And I think that’s the greatest thing anyone’s ever said to me.” Chest swelling, he stood and held out a hand. “Shall we?”

  “Let’s go.”

  Putting her hand in his, she allowed him to walk her outside, into the new day. She trusted him to take care of her, now and always.

  He’d do anything not to break that trust.

  Anything.

  Staring out the window, Nick watched them go, with a heart heavy.

  So little time left, and they didn’t know. How short life is. How unfair.

  Turning away from the glass, he clenched his fists. “This isn’t a gift, it’s a curse. Take it back,” he whispered.

  But no one listened, or answered. No one ever had.

  Not once, from the day he was born.

  As they walked, fingers linked, Kira’s nerves started to get the best of her. Because the truth was, Jax was every fantasy come to life.

  As he tugged her along, walking slightly ahead, she ogled his ass hugged just right in the well-loved jeans. His broad back flexing under his T-shirt, his trim waist. The scrolled tattoo winding lazily from under the right sleeve to trail down his arm. She couldn’t wait to see the rest of it again, lick it. Taste his skin.

  “What are you thinking about so hard?” Turning his head, he looked back at her, lips curving into a sensual smile.

  For a second, her brain fritzed, totally short-circuited by his sheer beauty. Not the pretty kind, but dangerous. All raw, sexual male. She’d never been one to prefer any sort of facial hair, but his goatee was the perfect complement to his masculine face and bad-boy, motorcycleriding image.

  “Earth to Kira.”

  She shook herself out of the drools. “Sorry. Too much on my mind, I guess.”

  “I’ll fix that by blowing all those pesky thoughts to dust.” He grinned at her, his meaning clear.

  “I’m sure you will.” His words reminded her of something. “What did Dr. Mallory mean when she told you to remember what can happen to your abilities when we mate? Can something go wrong?” The idea of anything happening to him scared her.

  “Not wrong, exactly.” He paused. “She told me the bonding could negate my powers for a while.”