by Iris Abbott
“Mates!” Jillian and Jenna said at the same time.
A sharp chill cut through Jillian’s body. She broke out in goosebumps and shivered from head to toe.
“That’s what we’re afraid of,” Dante confirmed. “It’s common knowledge in the paranormal world that Lucian and Phillip have found their mates as have a few others on the council. We think Jessica and Selena were the intended targets with the other ladies being collateral damage.”
Jenna glared at Dante. “I’m positive you and my sister are mates. She was attacked too.”
Jillian held her breath and waited for his response. They hadn’t had a chance to talk about this mating thing yet. She wasn’t even sure if it was true though her gut said yes.
“I marked her, Jillian’s definitely my mate. No one on the outside planning an attack could have known that however. I only informed the council less than thirty minutes before the attack started.”
Jillian’s hand flew up to the bite mark on the side of her neck. She unconsciously rubbed the sensitive spot. “We’re going to be talking about this in private as soon as possible,” she blurted out.
“Fine,” Dante agreed. He ran his free hand through his midnight black hair. “We’ve got bigger problems. If anyone outside your family or the council finds out that Jillian is a conduit, she’ll be a prime target for our enemies.”
Her sister sucked in an audible breath. “I’m not staying away from my sister, family, and friends,” Jenna insisted in a stubborn voice.
Craig sighed. “I know, but you damn well will be vigilant until this threat has been dealt with.”
“Brittany teaches self-defense classes, and she’s already agreed to create a time slot just for our circle of friends,” Jillian said. “If she still wants to do it, I’m definitely signing up. She kicks ass! You should have seen her and her friends fight off those zombies.”
“That’s right, I took her class last year, but I’ve gotten slack. Jillian and I would never have been able to fight them off on our own,” Jenna admitted.
“We should start some serious training,” Jillian suggested to her sister. “If that ever happens to us again, we will be the ones kicking butt. And I’m going to start tutoring sessions with Brianna as soon as possible,” she insisted.
“I agree,” Jenna said. “Don’t forget Jessica’s going to need extra protection.”
Craig frowned. “Why, what’s wrong with Jessica? I know she didn’t get injured in the attack or Lucian wouldn’t have bothered meeting with Dante and the others.”
Jenna slapped a hand over her mouth. “Uh oh, I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“Well, you did so spill it.”
“It must be early because Jessica hasn’t mentioned it to us yet, but during the attack, Brianna said that Lucian was going to flip out more than usual because Jessica’s pregnant.”
“That explains a lot,” Dante said, raising a brow. “Lucian almost destroyed his office when we returned to headquarters. It took him several minutes to calm down. I never saw him so out of control.”
“She’s going to be under lock and key,” Craig guessed.
“You can count on it,” Dante agreed. “And she won’t be the only one.” He gave Jillian a pointed look before abruptly standing. “I hate to impose, but I need to stay here tonight. I don’t want to let Jillian out of my sight, and your penthouse apartment is much safer than the inn.”
“Of course,” Craig and Jenna said at the same time.
“You’re welcome to stay here for as long as you need to,” Crain offered.
“Thanks, I don’t think it will be too long. There are a couple of houses for sale near where Lucian and Phillip live. Jillian and I will be looking at them tomorrow. It looks like Enigma is going to be our new home, so we might as well get settled as soon as possible.”
“You mean it!” Heedless of the audience, Jillian wrapped her arms around Dante’s neck and rained kisses all over his face.
****
Dante pulled her onto his lap and abruptly stood. He hid his emotions well, but he’d been shaking inside from the first moment he heard Jillian was in trouble. Jillian snuggled against him, and the spontaneous passion that always simmered between them rushed to the surface, blinding him to everything else.
“That’s my cue to say goodnight. Lucian will be contacting you tomorrow, Craig, with a checklist EPD can use to look for other zombies and clues of their existence.”
“Yeah, I can’t wait to see how I am supposed to spin this one to the other detectives and officers.”
“The usual line will do. A bad batch of a new drug with crazy side effects will probably be the most believable excuse,” Dante helpfully added, before striding toward the guest bedroom. “Goodnight,” he called without looking back.
He closed and locked the door before placing Jillian on her feet by the side of the bed. “I need to be inside you now,” he insisted. He was already undressing. He was pleased to see that Jillian wanted him just as bad if the speed at which she got out of her clothes was anything to go by.
They reached for each other at the same time and fell on the bed in a pile of tangled arms and legs. Their lips meshed together, tongues tangled, and teeth softly clashed as they fought to get as close as physically possible. Dante was addicted to her. She tasted sweeter than the finest wine, and he would never get enough. He kissed her harder, taking more.
She was always so responsive to him. She pushed back against him, arched her back, and moaned. She ripped her mouth from his to whisper her needs and wants and to tell him exactly what she wanted.
“Easy, baby, I’m going to do all that and more,” he promised. But first, he had to sate the burning instinct to possess her hard and fast. He aligned the head of his erection with the opening of her sex and thrust forward. His shaft pushed through her tight core, and her body embraced his. Nothing had ever felt this good. He buried his face in the side of her neck and bit down on his claiming mark.
Her body shuddered around him, and she begged him for more, demanding he move harder and faster. He thrust his hips and stroked in and out of her tight wet heat. She pressed back, matching him move for move. Their bodies rocked together, racing toward fulfillment and the greatest of pleasures.
They gazed into each other’s eyes, and later he would swear that they both glowed brighter than the moon. And he finally knew this was what it felt like to love. It was more than the chemistry and physical attraction. It was everything.
****
Lights flashed, cymbals clashed, fireworks exploded, and Jillian’s heart actually stopped for a few beats. She loved Dante more than words could express. She felt his love flow into her as well. She wanted nothing more than to cuddle and enjoy the aftermath of what they just shared, but she needed answers, and they couldn’t wait.
Jillian sat up and turned sideways so that she and Dante were facing each other. “I don’t know about this mate thing. We’ve only had sex twice. Granted it was mind-blowing, earthshattering, better than the richest chocolate kind of sex, but you’re already talking about moving in together. I want to make sure we do this for the right reasons. Because we want to, not because we have to.”
Dante wrapped his arms around Jillian and held her tight. “I’m not the best with words. I’m more of an action man. I tried to show you with my body how much you mean to me.”
She gave him a worried look. “What if the passion burns out after a few months and we can’t stand each other anymore. It has a tendency to do that, or so I’ve heard.” She didn’t know from experience, because no one had ever made her feel the way Dante did.
Dante shifted, placing her back against his front and wrapped his arms around her. “The little bit of magic that exists in all paranormal beings ensures that mates recognize each other when they meet. I’ve been alive for several centuries, and I’ve been far from celibate, but I’ve never had such a burning need or desire for anyone else. Magic always recognizes soul mates when they cross pa
ths. The bond between mates is strong and can only be broken by death.”
Jillian pulled away from him, turned around, and sat up on her knees, so they were eye to eye. “That’s another problem. You don’t age. You still look thirty-five, but you say you’re several hundred years old.” She laughed. “I know enough about my family to know that witches don’t live forever. Magic isn’t going to keep me alive for hundreds of years. I’ll die, and then you’ll be left alone to grieve for me until another mate comes along.” A tear slipped from beneath her tightly closed eyes.
“Baby, I will never forget you, even if I live another thousand years.”
That only made Jillian feel worse. She buried her face against his neck. “I don’t want to leave a hole in your heart after I’m gone either. Mourning someone, you can’t forget or get over for centuries would be devastating. I don’t want to be responsible for that much pain and grief.”
He hugged her hard and held her for several seconds before speaking. “I love you, Jillian.”
“I love you too!” She kissed his eyes, the tip of his nose, his jaw, and finally his mouth.
“That’s good, real good because I’m afraid you’re stuck with me for eternity.”
Jillian’s head jerked up. “How!” Hope made her eyes shine brightly.
Dante fingered the bite mark he deepened during their second bout of lovemaking. “Actually, the saliva of guardians has special healing agents much like the saliva of the shifters and the blood of vampires. Ever since I bit you and injected some of my own saliva into your body, it’s been working to heal any internal damage. It all but stops your body’s aging process. Barring any catastrophic injuries, you will live as long as I do. Over the centuries other guardians have learned that the bite only has to be repeated every month to continue the healing and anti-aging processes.”
Dante laughed out loud before rolling over and completely covering her body with his. “My beautiful Jillian, I have so much to teach you about the paranormal world and the power and beauty of magic, but all of it can wait until tomorrow. I need to make love to you over and over again until both of us are too tired to move a muscle.”
Jillian totally agreed as she surrendered to the magical embrace of her guardian.
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Table of Contents
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
SIX
SEVEN
EIGHT
NINE
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
SIX
SEVEN
EIGHT