Flynn laughed. “I got bit by the good luck bug.” He closed her door, feeling beyond awkward talking to a woman he’d slept with about the woman he loved.
So, he changed the subject. “Stop by tomorrow in the morning, and we can head over to the office together.”
“Okay, thanks for coming, Flynn. I’ll see you bright and early, and I’ll bring breakfast. We might as well eat.”
“Sounds good,” Flynn said, knowing he wasn’t going to be joining her. Food wasn’t his thing anymore.
Now, he’d have to weasel his way out of that…somehow.
Once in his Hummer, he waited for Dena to pull away. Again, he scanned the area, feeling nothing.
“Shit, Tommy! Hang in there. I’m coming.”
Flynn knew the truth.
If anything happened to his friend, he swore Zola Saran was going to pay with her life.
∞ Chapter Two ∞
Tuesday Early Morning
When the jet touched down on the private airfield, Jolie lifted her head from Jacques’s shoulder. He’d held her in his arms the entire two hour flight and was officially her hero.
Yet, this was nothing new.
Her mate was well aware how much she loathed getting on a plane. With each flight, he’d either hold her tight, or let her climb up into his lap.
Without him, she’d be lost.
Lately, she’d divide the job between Jacques or Flynn, and neither seemed to mind. Jolie was just grateful that her mate had made the arrangements with a private jet, so they could relax in quiet and secluded peace. Public flights were uncomfortable for her kind. How did one explain to the passenger beside you that you needed the blinds closed or you’d melt into a blistering pile of flesh?
“Are you okay, Jolie?” asked Jacques, brushing a strand of hair from her face. Gently, he ran his fingers over the worry lines on her forehead.
“I guess. I’m feeling a little stressed still. The flying is bad enough, but now I just want to see Flynn. Then I’ll feel a million times better.”
He completely understood.
Jacques stood as the airplane came to a stop. He had Jolie in his arms, giving no sign that he intended to lower her to her feet. He simply nodded toward the stewardesses who watched him as he carried his mate toward the door and tarmac.
“I can walk, Jacques,” she stated, kissing his neck just below his ear. She knew that one spot made him crazy. In return, she earned a low growl from him.
She nearly giggled.
God, how she loved her mates.
“Jolie,” he began.
She cut him off. “I know. Behave,” she whispered into his ear.
Jacques needed to focus on the task at hand. The woman in his arms was a horrible tease, and when in the mood, she’d stop at nothing to make him insane.
He loved every second of it.
“I suggest we get to the house and get some rest. I assume you’ll be heading to the police station with Flynn in the morning.”
“Yes, that’s probably for the best. What will you do while I’m gone?” she purred into his ear.
“Suffer, I’m sure,” he replied, earning himself a kiss on the cheek.
“Seriously.”
“I’ll rest until you get up, and then I’ll take Mathew to the downstairs gym and begin his training.”
The younger vampyre looked excited.
“I can’t wait, Master,” Mathew stated.
“Take it easy on Jacques,” she teased.
Mathew couldn’t help but be happy. The telltale sign was how the corners of his mouth curled up in a grin. There wasn’t anything he looked forward to more. Training with an ancient warrior was still so amazing to him. “I promise to try,” he finally stated.
Jacques found that amusing. “Thank God for that.”
Jolie cuddled closer into his arms as they slipped into the vehicle picking them up. After Jacques gave the driver the address, she found herself lost in the moment.
Here, Jacques hadn’t pulled his shoulder length black hair back that evening. It moved freely around his throat and looked like shimmering black water. When he moved his head to continually scan the area, Jolie wanted to melt in his arms. From his pale flesh, to the chiseled features, she was lost.
Then he stared at her with his deep jewel green eyes.
“I can hear your thoughts,” he warned, placing a kiss on the tip of her nose.
“Can you, my love?” she asked, nibbling on his jaw bone. Beneath Jolie, his body went taut.
“You’re such a pervert.”
That made her laugh. It was so unexpected that even Mathew jumped at the sound of it.
Jolie turned his face toward hers. “I love you,” she admitted, bringing his lips to hers.
The kiss was sweet and gentle. After all, they had Chloe and Mathew with them. If they were alone…
Well, there was no telling what would have happened.
“What was that for, mon amour?” he asked, as soon as they broke apart.
“I think you know why,” she replied. Then she sent him a barrage of erotic pictures into his mind, showing him what she would rather have done. This time, his eyes flashed and fangs peeked teasingly from below his lip.
“You need a keeper.”
Oh, how Mathew wished he could volunteer for that job.
Jolie leaned into Jacques’s strong body to let him hold her. For now, she’d enjoy his touch. When they got home, she’d be back between the two men she loved more than anything in life.
Their reunion would be sweet.
She couldn’t wait.
The airfield was further away than she anticipated. By the time the vehicle pulled up in front of the house, Jolie was going insane. She needed to make sure her other mate was safe.
As the car drove away, they headed toward the door. Inside, Jacques keyed in the alarm code and invited Mathew into their home. He could tell from the look on his face that he was impressed by the size of their home.
“Do you like it?” she asked.
He smiled. “It’s really amazing, Mistress. It’s a shame you can’t come here more often. Why did you keep it if you’re banned from the city?”
Jacques took this one. “Who would think to look for us right where we’re told not to go? Well, nearby. This house isn't in Philadelphia. It’s on the outer edge of the city limits. Technically, we can come here.”
Jolie laughed. “Technically, huh?”
He patted her on the behind. “Let’s get Mathew to his room and retire to ours.”
She glanced over at Chloe. “Can you watch over us?”
The woman nodded. “Yes, Mistress. Do you want me to do it, or Vanth?” Her eyes swirled at the mention of the demoness’s name.
Jolie patted her cheek. “I don’t think they know we’re here yet, so Chloe will do.”
“Yes, Mistress.”
“But, if you suspect anything,” Jacques added, “Release the demon hounds.”
“Yes, Master.”
With that, they moved through the house. Jolie enjoyed watching Mathew’s face. He was like a child seeing something for the very first time.
With each new discovery, his smile got bigger and bigger. Finally, he couldn’t help but run his fingers over a cherished crystal on a shelf.
“It’s pretty, isn't it?” she asked.
“I’m sorry, Mistress. I shouldn’t have touched it, but it called to me.”
Jolie smiled over her shoulder at Jacques and was given a nod. “Do you want to know the story behind that crystal?”
He smiled like a little kid.
“Absolutely.”
She loved his curiosity. It was a sure sign that he was acclimating to their family and on the road to healing.
Jolie picked it up in her hand. “I was given this a long time ago,” she offered.
He waited patiently, his eyes lighting with anticipation as she continued.
“There was this bold young woman who liked to travel. She and her companion went to Ireland to h
ear the singing stones and watch the faeries dance in the moon light. As they wandered into a cave, the young man went to kiss the young woman and tripped, knocking them both into this pool of water. When they finally surfaced, he’d found this crystal below the dark water and gave it to the young woman to try and ease the insult of being drenched.”
“Did it work?” he asked curiously. “Did she forgive him?”
“I do believe she did,” Jacques added.
“What happened to them?”
Jolie turned to her mate, grinning wickedly. “Oh, well, eventually they fell in love, but it took many years for the stars to align and their love to bloom.”
Mathew curiously watched them. “You knocked her into the water?” he questioned Jacques.
“Ah, yes, I admit it. I was the guilty party, but I’ve learned from my mistakes.”
Jolie held the crystal up to the light. It sent a rainbow across the wall. “Does it call to you, Mathew?”
“Yes, I had to touch it.”
Jolie took his hand with her free one and placed the crystal in his palm. “Then we would like for you to have it, Mathew.”
He looked stunned. “No! I can’t accept this! It’s yours and has sentimental value.”
Jolie moved into Jacques embrace. “It’s just sitting here gathering dust. I think that it should be where it’s appreciated. I want you to have it, Mathew. It’s a memento of your trip.”
He closed his hand around it. “Thank you. I’ll cherish it forever.”
Jacques spoke up, “Maybe one day, you’ll give it to a woman who calls to you too.”
He swallowed. There was no doubt that the master knew what he was thinking. He could sense it by the way he was looking at him.
“Here’s your room,” she said, leading him to a door. “Sweet dreams, Mathew,” she offered.
He watched them walk away.
When they were out of earshot, he stared down at the crystal. “I already know what I want to dream about.”
With that, he entered the room.
Alone.
Jolie couldn’t wait to find him. Already, she could pick up a slight trace of his cologne in the hall.
“He’s asleep,” Jacques warned. “Don’t jump on him and scare the hell out of our mate.”
She grinned. “Damn it. And here…”
He silenced her with a kiss. When Jacques pulled away, he grinned. “I’m well aware of what you planned.”
Inside, they could hear his soft inhale and exhale of breath. Her heart quickened, knowing that she was so close to getting them back together again.
Without hesitation, she began pulling off her soft sweater and dress pants. What she wanted now was to curl between the men she loved.
Reuniting would be so sweet, even if they were only apart a short time.
Jolie cautiously crept across the bed toward Flynn. Just as she was about to plant one hell of a kiss on his sexy, sleeping mouth, it hit her.
She froze.
Jacques paused behind her, feeling the wave of anger.
‘Jolie, what’s wrong?’ whispered Jacques into her mind.
‘He smells like another woman. His body was in contact with some other female,’ Jolie replied angrily.
Silence.
Jacques was sure there had to be a damn good reason. Flynn was crazy about Jolie. There was no way he’d cheat on her.
Not in a million years.
Then again, he didn't know they were coming, and he was human… It brought out all the feelings of mistrust and betrayal from other humans.
‘Jacques, did you hear me?’
‘Yes, my love. I can smell her too.’
Jolie wanted to escape.
Everything in her ached at the idea that her one mate had touched another woman.
Her Flynn…
Why?
Just as she was trying to move away from him, he must have realized that he wasn’t alone. He sat up, eyes popping open, and looked shocked.
“Jolie, baby?”
She was chilled to her heart. The scent of another woman assaulted her senses, and frankly, it pissed her off.
“Yes, Detective, it’s me. Are you surprised? I hope I’m not interrupting something,” she answered, sliding away from him, so she couldn’t smell the offensive scent.
At that moment, Jolie could feel the need to scream coming over her. Their species was territorial of their mates, and she was no different despite having two. Both men belonged solely to her, as she belonged to them.
Here, Flynn came to their bed reeking of another woman.
That was a sin in her book.
“Baby, I missed you,” he said, reaching out to take her hand. Only, she pulled away from him.
He was surprised and glanced up at Jacques to be met with a completely blank look.
“Have you really, Detective?”
Flynn knew something was wrong, but he wasn’t sure what was bothering her. The only time Jolie ever called him ‘Detective’, was if the shit was about to hit the fan or she was teasing him.
Her tone didn’t convey any humor. Instead, it screamed ‘danger’.
“Is something wrong?” he asked, moving toward her again.
Jolie hissed, bearing her fangs as she escaped into Jacques’s arms.
Flynn jumped.
This was a first.
“Yes, something is very wrong. I left the family unprotected to rush here to be with you. When I climb into our bed, beside my mate, who I missed horribly, he smells like another woman.” The hurt in her voice was clearly there. Even she heard it.
Flynn was confused. “Wait, what?”
She stayed out of arm’s reach. “You heard me, Flynn. You reek of another woman.”
He thought he might be having a bad dream. “I smell like another woman?” He glanced down at his t-shirt.
“Yes, Flynn, you do,” said Jacques, motioning to his body. “You smell like a flowery perfume.”
Flynn stared at them.
Then, he got it.
“Jolie, you can’t seriously believe that I would do anything to compromise our relationship, do you? I would NEVER cheat on you or destroy what we’ve built. You’re my mate.”
Jolie glared at him. “It doesn’t matter what I think, Flynn. The proof is in our bed. You smell like another woman.”
He pulled off his shirt, throwing it across the room. “Baby, I didn't have sex with another woman. I was hugged by one. When I arrived at the location, where Tommy went missing, his partner was there. She grabbed me before I could escape.”
Yeah, he was definitely not telling her about the leering and the ass pat. He was in enough trouble, and he didn't even do anything.
“When I got back here, I was lonely and didn't want to shower. I wanted to hide in sleep until I could get my bearings. I didn't roll out of anyone’s bed and into ours. I swear.”
Well, that made her feel a little better, but not much. Her mate smelled like another woman. That was one hell of a hug. She could pick up the woman’s perfume on his now bare chest.
Flynn realized something else. “Hey, you shouldn’t have come here. I don’t want you and Jacques to be harmed if the societies find out you are back in Philadelphia. I can do this alone. You know Zola wanted you here and why.”
“You had to know we’d come, Flynn,” answered Jacques, leaning back against the pillows as he cradled Jolie in his arms. “We’ll solve this together and leave as a unit. It’s how mates do things. Hopefully, we’ll be avoiding the council all together.”
Flynn stared at his mate. “Jolie, please touch me.”
She stayed against Jacques arms. “I can’t. That woman’s scent, all over my mate, is offensive.”
With that, she curled into Jacques’s body and called for death. While he may not have cheated, he still had contact with another human, and that bothered her.
Flynn heard her exhale as the hurt pierced his heart. “She’s really upset with me over this.”
Jacques
, who often played mediator, felt for the man, but also for Jolie. “You smell like another woman. Why wouldn’t that hurt her?”
Somehow, Flynn wasn’t surprised. The second Dena threw herself on him, Flynn should have known. It was a woman marking her territory, of sorts. Of course Jolie would see it like that. She wasn’t human--she was a pack creature.
Well, shit.
“But I explained what happened, and I didn’t know you two would be here tonight,” he stated adamantly. “Surely you believe me. Why would I cheat on Jolie?”
Jacques felt his pain. “Flynn, what if she came to our bed smelling like another man? Or worse, she had Mathew’s scent all over her? How would you feel?”
Flynn growled at the mere idea.
Jacques continued, “We’re fiercely territorial. You have to understand that another woman’s scent on you is an insult to her womanhood. You’re her property.”
“Hey now!”
He stopped the man. “Listen, it’s how it is. You’re the primus’s mate. In our world, that’s iron clad. I’ve seen mates killed when something like this happens.”
Flynn stared at Jolie. “I…”
“What you don’t get is she’s your property too, and mine. Jolie is progressive, but we can’t stop being who we are. We’re vampyres, and we mark our territory by touch and scent. You smell like another woman. It’s as simple as that.”
He sighed. “I see your point.” Flynn flopped back against the pillow and growled in frustration.
“Try and see how she feels. This was disturbing for us. We’re used to our happy threesome. This isn’t happy right now.”
Flynn contemplated it. He would be livid if she came to bed smelling of anyone else but himself and Jacques.
“I get the picture. I’ll go shower and fix this in the morning,” he answered, climbing out of bed. “You believe me though, right?”
Jacques smiled in the dark room, his fangs catching the light. “Yes, Flynn. I know you wouldn’t touch another woman. I trust you.”
Well, that’s all he could ask for at that moment. At least both his mates weren’t pissed at him. Leaning toward Jolie, Flynn kissed her on the bare shoulder.
Then the worst part of all this hit him.
Dangerous Retaliation (The Harcourte Vampyre Society Book 4) Page 4