by Crissy Smith
“You doing okay?” he asked quietly.
“Yeah, sure. Did everything go all right?”
He nodded before relaxing his hold, although he kept an arm around her waist. “The doorway of our hotel room isn’t the best place to discuss it.”
Laughing, she tugged him forward. While he had a point, it wasn’t really her fault. She just enjoyed having Jace touch her.
Mitch followed them inside, grinning and making sure to close and lock the door behind him. “I was wondering if we would have a repeat of earlier.”
Blushing, she reached back to smack him. So they’d gotten a little loud. Making love with Jace was always fantastic but had never been quite so intense as before.
Bobby was sitting on the bed that hadn’t been disturbed, cross-legged and anxious. “Did it go all right? Did you find out anything?”
Pulling Piper onto the second bed with him, Jace nodded. Mitch sat beside Bobby and the four of them faced one another.
“Cody’s friend Vince is like the two of you,” Jace informed them. “Although, he asked to be changed and seems to have accepted it, even enjoys ‘the gift’, as he called it. Plus, he did seem knowledgeable.”
“That’s good,” Piper stated. “Isn’t it?”
“I think so. He seemed really surprised that we didn’t know much about your transformations. He was shocked when I mentioned you’d been turned against your will.”
“What did he say?” she asked.
“Just that it wasn’t normal.”
“Between Piper and myself—both of us not having a choice—I can’t see his reasoning,” Bobby spoke up.
“Yeah, he picked up that I was with Piper but we didn’t mention you,” Jace told him. “He could meet early in the morning. I’d like to get a feel for him before we bring in Bobby.”
“Thank you,” Bobby said softly.
“I’d like to meet him too,” Piper agreed. “Especially before we do introduce him to Bobby. Do you think it’s safe?”
Shrugging, Jace turned toward her. “I think so but I don’t see what choice we have. If we want his help, you’ll have to talk to him.”
“I can stay with Bobby while the two of you go,” Mitch offered.
“Won’t he think that’s weird? If you don’t show up?” Bobby asked.
“No, I think it’ll be fine. This really is a good chance we have, so we need to take advantage but be cautious,” Jace assured. “There was one more thing.”
Searching Jace’s face, Piper couldn’t imagine what was coming. Jace had tensed and was looking her in the eye.
“The first thing he said to me was to congratulate me on our mating.”
“What?” Piper jumped to her feet. “Mating… We… Jace?”
“It’s okay,” Jace told her as he rose to his feet. “Don’t freak out, Piper.”
“Don’t freak out?” she yelled. “I did something to you! I’m sorry. I am so, so sorry, I swear I didn’t mean to.” How could this have happened? She promised herself that she would never hurt Jace and she didn’t even know how she’d done it.
“Baby, come here.” Jace walked toward her.
“No,” she said, backing away. Obviously she couldn’t control herself around Jace.
“Guys, can you give us a few minutes?”
“Yeah, sure. Let’s see what room service has to offer, Bobby,” Mitch said quietly.
Piper didn’t even glance in their direction as they went through the adjoining door. She stared at Jace. Was he different? Would he have to go through the pain of shifting like she did? Why in the hell hadn’t she been more careful?
“You have to calm down,” Jace told her, taking a step forward every time she took one back.
Shaking her head, she tried to put more distance between them. Her back hit the wall, and Jace grinned at her. He closed the distance and braced his hands against the wall on either side of her head. “I’m fine. There is nothing wrong with me.”
“Are… Are you sure?”
“My vision is sharper, my hearing better, and I feel great,” Jace told her.
“But what about turning?”
“I don’t think we have to worry about that. You didn’t bite me, and I didn’t drink your blood. I think this might be a good thing.”
“What if it’s not?” Piper asked. She noticed her voice shaking and swallowed. “Jace, we don’t know what this could mean for you.”
Leaning closer, Jace gently brushed his lips over hers. “It means that we are closer than before. That the bond between us is, in fact, a connection that can’t be broken. I love you and I know you feel the same.”
Piper ran her palms over Jace’s chest, just needing to touch him, to assure herself that he really was unharmed. She would meet with this Vince guy and assure herself that she hadn’t endangered Jace.
“Vince even said that I was fully human.”
“Really?”
“How about you make sure I’m still me,” he suggested, rubbing his lower body against hers.
She felt his erection and shuddered. She shouldn’t let him distract her. They needed to be careful until she was sure that whatever she’d done to Jace would have no horrible side effects.
But when Jace’s teeth nipped the side of her neck, she felt her resolve shake.
“I have to have you,” he whispered.
She tightened her hands against his shirt, rumpling the material.
Jace slid his knee between her legs and pressed her harder into the wall.
Oh, that felt good. His mouth covered hers and she opened, giving him access to take control. Closing her eyes, she gave herself over to his power as she yanked the back of Jace’s shirt until he pulled back and tore the garment over his head.
“You too. I want you naked.”
They took turns undressing one another, only stopping briefly to exchange hungry kisses. When Jace tried to guide her to the bed, she shook her head. “No, here.”
“Fuck, baby,” he groaned. “You can’t say things like that.”
Piper laughed and gripped his shoulder, pulling him against her. “Come on. Make me yours.”
Jace grasped her hips and lifted her off her feet. She wrapped her legs around his waist. With her shoulders braced against the wall, she dug her nails into Jace’s shoulder. “Now, now,” she demanded.
Positioning his cock against her pussy, he started to push inside.
“Yes,” she hissed.
Jace’s gaze locked on hers as he buried himself deeply. His bright blue eyes were shining with love. She shuddered at the look of devotion and knew they needed this.
Connection, bond or link. It didn’t matter what they called what was happening between them.
Piper knew they belonged together.
Chapter Nine
Jace leaned forward to stare out of the windshield at the building that Vince had texted him the address of. Vince had told him that this location was secure and they wouldn’t have to worry about anyone interrupting them.
Beside him, Piper rubbed her hands on the legs of her jeans. “It’s big,” she commented.
The building didn’t have a sign but was new construction of concrete and steel. It looked clean and well maintained.
“Are you sure this is the address?” she asked.
Jace glanced at the GPS on his phone. “I think so.”
“Okay.” Piper nodded before opening her door. “Let’s get this over with. I feel like I might throw up.”
She was looking a little pale. “Hey.” He reached for her hand before she could climb out of the car. “Mitch and Bobby know where we are. Plus you’re pretty bad ass when you shift, and I can take care of myself. Everything is going to be okay. We asked Vince to meet somewhere private.”
“I know.” She squeezed his hand.
They exited the vehicle and met around the front of the car. Piper slid her hand into his, and they strolled up the sidewalk to the glass front door.
Jace darted his gaze around, trying to get a good look
of everything. Since there was no sign indicating what the building was, he remained alert. He let Piper enter first but followed close behind. Vince came out of an office and smiled at them.
“That’s him,” Jace whispered.
Piper stiffened as Vince walked forward
Holding out his hand, he offered Jace a greeting first. “Jace. And you must be his mate.”
When Piper placed her hand in Vince’s, the man’s eyes widened. “Wow!”
Piper looked over at Jace.
“I’m sorry.” Vince patted Piper’s hand, which he still had possession of. “I wasn’t expecting such a strong lycanthrope.”
Piper only nodded.
“I am so pleased to meet you. I’m Vince Blackwell.”
“Piper. And thanks for meeting with us.”
“Of course. I have to admit that I was very eager to meet you. The fact that you and Jace have mated… That is so remarkable. I hope one day to meet someone I care so deeply about.”
“Yes, we would like to talk to you about the mate thing. Among other…subjects,” Piper stated.
“Yes. Well, please, let’s go inside. I’m borrowing this office from a friend but he’s promised that we won’t be disturbed.”
“What is this place?” Jace asked.
“Oh, some of my buddies are starting up their own business. They haven’t actually moved in yet, so the place was available.”
That didn’t really answer Jace’s question but he let it slide for now. The office that Vince led them to was sparse. A lone, small metal desk with a chair behind it and two matching chairs against the wall were the only objects in the room.
“Sorry about the lack of furniture but like I said, they haven’t actually moved in yet.”
“Sure.” Jace kept his hand on the small of Piper’s back until she sat. He took his seat next to her.
Instead of going around the desk, Vince hopped up on the edge of it.
Vince’s position made Jace feel more comfortable, like they weren’t there for an interview or something. He wondered if Vince knew—and figured he did.
“Jace told me very little about you. If you don’t mind, I’d really like to hear about how you were changed,” Vince said to Piper.
She glanced over at Jace, and he nodded.
While Piper told her story, Jace watched Vince closely. He’d heard Piper’s words several times but it never got easier. He hated the fact that she had gone through so much. If Joe wasn’t already dead, Jace would be out hunting him down.
After Piper had explained about her escaping and going on the run, Vince was rubbing his chin. “Did you ever see this man again?”
Shifting in her chair, Piper nodded. “He finally caught up with me. He attacked and I didn’t have a choice. I killed him.”
Vince’s eyebrows rose in apparent shock. “You killed the lycanthrope that made you?”
“She had to,” Jace defended.
“No, of course.” Vince raised his hands. “I guess that came out wrong. It’s just that from everything I’ve ever heard, the bond between the one who turns a lycanthrope is unbreakable. I’ve never heard of anyone beating their maker. It’s amazing.”
Jace wasn’t certain how to take that comment. Piper was devastated she’d had to kill Joe.
“I…” Piper clenched her hands. “I wouldn’t have if he would have left me alone.”
“It would have been easy enough to track you. With the sharing of blood, he would have eventually found you.”
Piper’s head snapped back to Jace. He knew she was thinking the same thing he was. Did that mean that the two men who’d turned Bobby would find him?
“What happened to him? This man?”
Piper ducked her head.
“He won’t be found,” Jace said firmly. He’d made sure that no one would ever find the body.
“You were there?” Vince questioned.
“Yes.”
“That makes more sense. The only connection stronger would be that of a mate.”
“We…uh, weren’t mated at the time,” Piper spoke up.
“Call me a romantic but I think once the two of you met, you started down the road to bonding.”
“Like fate?” Piper asked.
“Exactly, and now that you don’t have your maker to train you, I’d be happy to step in. How often do you shift?”
“A couple times a week,” Piper responded and scooted forward on her chair. Piper was a lot more comfortable with this subject and it showed.
“That’s good.” Vince sounded pleased. “The more you let your wolf loose, the stronger the relationship will become. The one thing you don’t want to do is fight the transformation.”
Since Piper had spent several years doing just that, they knew already for her to accept the change as it came. As soon as she’d opened herself up to the wolf, she’d become calmer and more in control.
“How do you recognize our kind?” Vince asked next.
“What do you mean?”
“It seems that there are different ways that one lycanthrope senses another. My friend got a flash of their animal in the eyes and I can smell them. I’ve heard several different stories.”
“Jolt. I get a little electric static when I touch them.”
“That’s a new one. Fantastic!”
Vince’s enthusiasm was almost catching. Piper grinned. “I guess, now that I know what it is. The first couple times were literally shocking.”
“I bet,” Vince said with a laugh.
“Is there…? Does it always hurt so much to shift?”
Vince’s amusement faded. “It does. When I was first learning, my mentor would make sure I had pain reliever for before and after. I’ve gotten faster but yes, it still hurts.”
Piper’s shoulder slumped, so Jace covered her hand with his and held her fingers.
“Can you tell us any more about the mating?” Jace asked.
“Well, I can only share with you what I’ve heard. Like I said before, I’d never met a mated pair. I didn’t even know it was possible to mate with someone purely human.”
“So Jace is still human?”
“Yes, yes. Unless you go through the transformation, Jace will remain human, although due to the mating, you will always be connected. You’ll be able to find him anywhere.”
When Piper turned to him, unshed tears pooled in her eyes. If they had been alone, Jace would have taken her in his arms. She’d been so worried about that, scared to death that she had taken from him what had been taken from her—the choice
“Although I would love to see if already being mated made the transition easier.”
“No.” Piper shook her head. “I won’t change him.”
Vince sighed. “I guess I can understand that since your change wasn’t what most of us go through. But you have to remember that I did choose this. It’s a gift.”
Piper didn’t look convinced. Jace would have to have a private conversation with her on the subject later. He wasn’t against being turned. He just wanted to make sure they knew what they were getting into in.
“The most interesting piece of all of this is who made you,” Vince addressed Piper again. “Because I have to tell you, killing your maker is nearly impossible. Your connection to Jace must be stronger than anything I’ve ever come across. It makes me wonder what else is possible.”
There was an odd change in Vince’s demeanor that put Piper’s back up. Inside, her wolf was actually making her skin feel tight. She glanced over at Jace to see if he was picking up the same weird vibe that she was.
“I’m not sure what you mean,” Piper stated carefully.
“I’ve been turned for a long time. While I have heard about destined mates, I really was starting to think it was all a myth. You’ve proved to be bonded so strongly that you’ll even kill for Jace.”
“I…uh…” What could she say to that?
“The things that I can learn from the two of you…” Vince sounded almost giddy.
&n
bsp; Piper grasped Jace’s hand tighter. “I think it’s time for us to go.”
“Go?” Vince repeated. “We’ve only just begun.”
“No, really,” she insisted. Every instinct in her was screaming to run away. To put herself in front of Jace and protect him.
“You’re not leaving,” Vince told her. Any amusement and kindness had drained away, and Piper was shocked to see the evilness in his gaze.
“What’s that?” Jace asked.
Vince waved his hand, and Piper looked toward the door. Two large men stood in the opening. One of them reminded her of a linebacker she’d seen when watching football with Jace. Wide, heavy and a huge solid mass of weight. The short, stockier guy had a crooked nose and ugly face. A boxer came to mind when she spotted him. Jace jumped to his feet and blocked her before she could do the same for him.
“What the fuck is going on here?” Jace demanded.
“Now calm down. These two men are my associates and won’t hurt you, as long as you cooperate,” Vince said, still with that calm tone to his voice.
“Cooperate?” Jace repeated.
“Yes, I wasn’t lying when I said the two of you intrigue me. A mated pair, especially with one of the partners being human? That is too important to let the two of you go your own way. We need to find out more.”
Piper couldn’t believe this was happening. She gripped the back of Jace’s shirt. “I thought you wanted to help us!”
“I do, but can’t you see how much we can learn from the two of you? This is bigger than just a couple of people.”
“This isn’t going to work. I have friends who know where we are,” Jace said as he gripped Piper’s wrist.
“That buddy that was with you last night? Don’t worry, he’ll be joining us soon.”
“No!” Piper cried. If they got Mitch then this sicko would get his hands on Bobby too.
“It won’t be bad. We just want to study some blood.”
“Look at your own blood,” Jace demanded. “But you won’t touch her.”
Vince shook his head. Jace had moved just enough that Piper could see his face.
“I’m actually very fond of the two of you. Please don’t force my hand. Just give us a few samples and you can be on your way.”