by Rosanna Leo
She whipped around to help Jani, just in time to see him best the polar. He hadn’t killed the bear shifter, but he’d wounded him badly. The shifter curled into himself on the floor and transformed back into human form.
“Fleur.” Jani held out his bleeding arms. She ran toward him and he enfolded her in a hug.
She must have winced when he grabbed her and he set her away from him and looked her over.
“Your chest.”
“I’ll be okay. It just hurts.”
Anton produced a light coat from the closet in the hallway and brought it to her.
Jani took it and placed it gently around her shoulders. “We need to get you back to the island.”
“No.” She inhaled again and the same scent invaded her olfactory system. “There’s someone else here, hiding.”
“Come out, you coward,” Jani called. “We won’t hurt you. We just want Breckenridge.”
The steps leading to the upstairs creaked.
Anton rolled his eyes and headed upstairs. There was a brief scuffle and murmured pleas for mercy. Anton quickly re-emerged, dragging a man behind him.
His scent exploded through Fleur and all the pieces fell into place. She hadn’t seen him in years. It had been so long she’d misplaced his smell. She gawked at the apparition before her. “Ricky?”
“Hey, Fleur. It’s been a long time.”
Jani bolted forward, setting her behind him, his mouth tight with a need to destroy. “Wait. Ricky Mason?”
Uh oh. If she didn’t do something, there would be all-out carnage. “Jani, don’t.”
“Fleur, this…brute…raped you!” Smoke came out of Jani’s nostrils as he looked Ricky up and down. “I will kill you.”
When Jani lunged, Ricky hid behind Anton. His scent changed, tinged with fear. “Look, man. I only helped trash Fleur’s place because Breckenridge had me by the balls. I owe him money.”
“I confront you about a rape,” said Jani, “and you want to explain why you smashed a few tables?”
“You can’t blame me. Fleur was always a tasty piece, even then. She totally asked for it.”
“She was thirteen.” Jani raged. “How old were you?”
“Never mind.”
“How. Old. Were. You?”
Anton nodded. “I’d answer the question if I were you.”
Jani tilted his head, stretching out his neck. As he did, his muscles rippled and popped.
“Okay, okay,” Ricky confessed. “I was twenty-three.”
“A grown man, and you took advantage of a friendless girl.” Jani clenched his fists. “This is where you die.”
Panicked, Ricky shifted into his wolf and his clothes shredded from his body. He tried to race up the stairs but Anton barred his way to freedom. Jani and Anton shifted into their tigers. As the two larger predators crowded him, Ricky’s wolf peed all over the staircase.
“Jani,” Fleur called. “Stop! He’s an idiot and a loser. Besides, we need information.”
The tiger held still but glared at the cowering wolf. Poor Ricky. He might be a wolf shifter, but he wasn’t exactly best in show. He might be able to bully humans and weaker men, but he’d always avoided confrontation with bigger shifters. Faced with a nemesis like Jani’s tiger, a seasoned fighter, Ricky might very well start soiling himself.
Fleur marched toward Jani’s great cat and put a hand on its rippling shoulder muscles. “Jani, shift. You too, Anton. I mean now.”
Jani’s beast glared at her but surrendered to the shift. Anton’s did the same. As a crackling noise emanated from their bodies, their tiger limbs shortened and transformed. Jani sucked in a breath and the orange and black hairs on his frame receded into his pores. Within seconds, a gorgeous, nude man towered over her. His eyes might not bear the same ferocious gleam as his tiger’s but they seared her nonetheless. Fleur felt powerless to look away, but she summoned all her fortitude and turned her head from Jani’s magnificence.
Ricky, never a smart man at the best of times, chose that moment to make his move. Still in his wolf guise, he leaped at Jani.
Without even looking, Jani thrust out his arm and punched the canine in the throat, sending it sprawling. Jani must have hit him hard because the wolf dropped and its tongue lolled out of its mouth.
Fleur almost laughed. “Now you’re just showing off.”
“It’s more than he deserves,” Jani grumbled. “I should roast him on a spit and eat his innards.”
“Really? That’s disgusting.” She did laugh this time and the action made her chest wound feel as if someone had poured alcohol all over it. She rubbed the area over the injury. “Ow. This hurts like a bitch.”
Jani’s face crumpled. “I’m so sorry, életem, for all of it.”
“What does that mean? And what about that other thing you keep calling me, mindenem?”
“Mindenem means ‘my everything.’ And életem means ‘my life.’ You are my life, Fleur.”
“Oh.” And she’d been moping earlier about never having received flowers from a man? It felt as if Jani has just delivered the world’s biggest, most expensive bouquet to her door. Fuck flowers. He called her his life.
He was hers too.
While Anton kneeled next to Ricky, reviving him with a few less-then-gentle slaps to the face, Jani drew her close to his chest. “We’ll get the information we need from Mason, and then I’m taking you home for a nice, warm bath, okay? Your wound needs attention and I smell like his piss.” He sighed. “I want to take care of you.”
“I’d like that.”
“But I will tell you this much, Fleur. If I ever run into your old boyfriend in a dark alley, I won’t be held responsible for my actions. What he did was despicable. I’ll spare him today, for your sake, but by the time I’ve finished questioning him, he’ll see my face in his nightmares.”
She believed Jani. After all, she already saw his face in her dreams.
Chapter 10
IT was late when Jani, Fleur, and Anton returned to Gemini Island. Rather, it was early. They’d had to interrogate Mason for some time in order to get information on the elusive Breckenridge. They hadn’t hurt him in any way, but Jani made certain to share his most terrifying looks with Mason. The idiot must have had a modicum of sense because he groveled. While he met Anton’s gaze here and there, he tried not to look at Jani. Those were the moments when Jani held Mason’s face and forced him to look. At one point, he swore the man aged and withered.
At one point, when Anton took charge of the interrogation, Fleur pulled Jani aside. “No wonder Anton relies on you in Hungary. You’re scary as hell when you want to be.”
He reached for her hand and kissed it. “You pay me such compliments. I’m blushing.”
She giggled. “No, I like it. You have a definite Doctor Jekyll/Mr. Hyde thing going on.” When he made a face, she grew pensive and explained. “I love fighting next to your tiger. You make my wolf feel ten times more powerful. And when I get to see your tender side, the woman in me is happier than she’s ever been.”
If he hadn’t reeked of another man’s piss, Jani would have taken her there.
Eager to get Fleur alone, Jani had returned to the interrogation. No matter how much he and Anton intimidated Mason, it seemed the wolf man was more terrified of what Breckenridge could do to him. Mason gave them a few tidbits of information, not enough to pinpoint the drug dealer but enough to get them started. Jani promised Fleur he’d seek out Breckenridge soon.
Fleur wanted to be there when he did, but there was no way in hell Jani would allow her to be part of yet another confrontation. He would handle it without her.
It had been hell feeling her pain on the boat ride back to the island. Her injury had made his own body suffer pangs. They were obviously connected on a deep level. Although they hadn’t mated formally, they were still mates. He was already starting to hear her thoughts and feel her aches. Now he just needed to make it official.
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br /> Once they were back on the island, Anton said goodbye and headed to his place. Jani picked Fleur up and carried her back to his cabin, ignoring her protestations she could walk. He knew her legs were unharmed. He just wanted to carry her.
It had scared him to see her fighting again, scared him even more than watching his little sister deteriorate before his eyes. He had a feeling this fear would never go away. As long as Fleur was at his side, he’d always worry about her. He’d always want to protect her.
The sun was shining through the trees as they reached his cabin, and he gladly shut the door on its bright rays. He wanted nothing more than to hold Fleur in the dark until she healed.
“I will heal, you know,” she said, gleaning his thoughts.
“I know.” Shifters always healed quickly from superficial wounds. It didn’t make it any easier to have to stare at the blood on her beautiful body.
They’d put their clothes back on again at the meadow but Fleur had bled through her shirt. He wanted to burn the garment. He never wanted to see her blood again, not until the moment he bit her and made her his mate.
Jani dragged himself away from her so he could draw the blinds in the cabin. He’d ensure they would not be disturbed. He rejoined Fleur in the middle of the living room and began to strip out of his clothes.
In spite of her discomfort, her gaze traveled south. He liked that. She appreciated his body and wanted him. There was no better feeling in the world than to be desired by this woman.
“I had a hard time not checking you out in front of Anton earlier,” she confessed with a smile.
He dropped his pants and stepped out of them. “You can check me out whenever you like.”
She reached for him, but the skin on her chest tugged and she groaned softly.
“Be patient, little one.” Catching a whiff of his awful scent, he urged her to sit on the bed. “Give me one minute to shower and then I’ll take care of you.”
Jani raced into the washroom and took the quickest shower known to man so he wouldn’t smell of piss when he held Fleur. He toweled off and strode naked into the bedroom to help her.
He removed the coat she’d worn home, taking care not to snag any of the fibers on the encrusted blood on her chest. Grabbing a pair of scissors from the kitchen drawer, he cut her shirt from her, slicing around the wound. Some of the blood had hardened, catching bits of shirt in it. Leaving the stubborn section of cotton on her breast, he helped her out of her shoes, pants, and panties, and led her into the bathroom.
His cabin had a generous bathtub. He’d learned Ryland had insisted on all the cabins having big tubs. Perfect for sharing. While he ran the water, he sat on the edge of the tub and pulled Fleur onto his lap. They sat quietly while the tub filled, holding each other.
Jani knew he loved Fleur. He was fairly sure he’d fallen in love with her when he rescued her from Crane’s compound, but he knew it more than ever now. He wouldn’t waste another moment of his life out of her presence.
He turned off the taps and assisted her into the tub. Sitting with his back to the wall, he gathered her between his spread legs and grabbed a soft cloth from the side of the tub. Wetting the cloth, he cleaned her wound as gingerly as he could. She stiffened at first, but his she-wolf was brave and tolerated his meaty paws without making a peep. It didn’t take long for the encrusted piece of cotton to come loose in the water. Jani scooped up the offensive garment and tossed it into the trashcan.
He held her some more, kissing the length of her neck. She tasted so good, even though her sweetness was marred by fear and worry. She sighed, sinking into his touch, her fingers tracing his thigh muscles. His cock throbbed against her back and his tiger teeth descended.
Bite her now, his tiger insisted.
“Fleur,” Jani said, tipping her chin toward him. “Look at me.”
She angled toward him, and he swore it was love that made her dark eyes sparkle.
“I’m not going back to Budapest. At least, not without you.”
“Really?”
“I love you, Fleur. You’re my mate.”
“Oh, Jani.” She began to laugh. No, she was crying. He wasn’t sure what it was, but it was a joyful noise. “I love you too.”
“You do?”
“Yeah. I think I’ve loved you since you told me you’d never let anyone raise a hand to me.”
“I would destroy anyone who dared to hurt you.” He cupped her cheek and rested his forehead against hers. “I need to mate with you. I need to put my mark on you and show the world you’re mine.”
“I was so worried I wasn’t good enough for you.”
“My beautiful Fleur. I’m not nearly good enough for you.”
At his words, she nuzzled his neck, but he made her look at him so he could kiss her. He brushed his lips against hers, needing to be gentle with her at first, after all she’d endured. The temptation of her embrace proved to be too great and he slid his tongue inside her mouth. She sighed, welcoming him there. As they nourished one another with their kisses, the bathroom grew steamy and uncomfortable. Jani’s tiger was restless and sought a deeper connection, the sort it could only achieve through penetration. Jani wanted nothing more than to drag her to his bed, mark her, and make her his partner in every sense of the word.
But he wanted something else as well. He needed to see her come, right here in the bathtub.
Turning her face away so he could kiss and nip at her neck, Jani pulled her tight against his chest. Although his stiff cock wedged between them, he felt so close to her. She moaned when his teeth tugged at her skin. Her full breasts bobbed on the water, hypnotizing him. He palmed the globes, tweaking her nipples. Desperate to feel her tighten around him, he slid a hand between her legs and stroked her pussy.
“Yes, yes.” Her soft cries became throaty, urgent.
She bucked against him but he held her close with his free hand. He explored her skin, taking his time, eating up her groans. Each fraught thrust of her hips made him smile. Every soft repetition of his name was music to his ears. He pleased his mate. He knew how to make her come and pride suffused his body just as much as lust.
When he sensed her orgasm, Jani circled her clit, putting more pressure on the delicious bud. Fleur’s soft lips swelled around his fingers. She caught her breath and unraveled, grinding against him on a sigh.
“You’re a miracle.” He had no other words for the phenomena. She moved him as no one else had.
When her body stilled, she stared at the water as if bashful. Her face colored and he grinned, loving her blush. He helped her stand. When she wobbled, he wanted to pound on his chest and say to any other man in the vicinity, “See? I did this. I made my woman come.”
Jani stepped out of the tub, bracing himself against the sudden cold. It barely mattered. Hard as stone, he suffered from no shrinkage, he wanted her so much. He held Fleur’s hand as she got out of the tub and toweled her off. He was pleased to see her wound was already closing. Thank God. He couldn’t handle her injuries.
She still averted her eyes.
“Fleur?”
“Are you sure? About mating…with me?”
“You are my mate, whether I bite you today or not. I’m proud to be with you. I love you, little flower.”
Happiness made her lips curl. “No one’s ever called me that.”
“It’s your name. It’s special, like you.” Jani kissed her, unable to quench his thirst. “I need you so much.”
Fleur bowed her head in submission. “Take me, my alpha.”
When Jani’s predator teeth once again descended, cutting through his gums, he didn’t stop them.
*
He wanted her. He wanted her.
This time, Crane didn’t seem to have a comment.
Jani picked her up and carried her into his bedroom, kissing her the whole time. It was a bit more awkward now that his mouth boasted killer teeth, but she didn’t let it faze her. If anything, i
t just excited her more. A human woman might grow terrified of the animal in him but Fleur craved his bite. She didn’t care if he drew blood. In fact, she wanted it. She wanted to feel his teeth all over her body.
He laid her on his bed and stood still for a moment, admiring her. She tried to keep her gaze level with his face but failed. Instead, it flitted toward his pelvic area. She’d never seen him so hard. The image burned into her brain. Fleur knew the delectable sight would race through her frontal lobe every night as she fell asleep. He looked determined, as if headed into battle. She almost cowered, he was so magnificent and had to hold back tears of awe. Jani, in all his glory, was capable of destroying any red-blooded woman’s emotional stability.
He seemed to be deciding his plan of attack and she squirmed in anticipation. “Jani?”
“Don’t rush me, életem. This is an important decision. My bite will mark you forever. I can’t decide where to put it.” His gaze roamed over her breasts, her waist, her sex. He ran a finger down the length of her leg in contemplation of her thigh.
“Jani, please.” The wait, although short, was killing her.
He rolled her over onto her stomach and drew her onto all fours. “Do I have to punish you for your impatience?”
I used to punish you, Crane jeered. Guess what my favorite color is, little dog? The color of your bruises.
Fleur tensed and glanced over her shoulder. “Please, don’t.”
“Hey,” said Jani. “It was just an expression. You know I won’t hurt you. Ever.”
“I know. The word punish brings back bad memories, that’s all.”
“I’m sorry.” Jani understood and stroked a reverent hand over her ass cheek. “Sweetheart, I promised I’d never raise a hand to you. I would never push you to do anything that scares you. If one day you want to explore darker pleasures, I will help you, but not until you’re ready.”
She relaxed once more. “Okay.”
He smiled, kneeled down, and licked her pussy from behind.
Fleur melted. He understood everything about her. Her fears and delusions. Her dreams and insecurities. Jani knew them all and he took them on as his own. He was her perfect man.