by JF Holland
"Jaden, you're awake," she sighed, wrapping her arms around him, before burying her nose in his neck. Breathing deep, butterflies took flight in her stomach because he smelled like himself. Clean and fresh, with a little musk, but his skin was still damp. He'd obviously showered? Frowning she put a hand to his chest and shoved, pushing him onto his back. She than sat up, so she could check him over herself, make sure he was healing.
Grinning, Jaden lay back on the pillows, arms behind his head, as he lazily watched her through hooded eyes.
"Wow, you really are healed," Maya said as she ran a fingertip over his shoulder, his unblemished shoulder. Not a single scar remained from where the skin had been hanging from his shoulder earlier.
"Yes, I'm fully healed, and hungry," he added. Maya went to scurry off the bed, but his hand shot out, wrapping around her ankle, and halting her flight. "Where are you going?" he asked, slowly sitting up again. Her eyes dropped down over his chest and abdomen, then guiltily jumped back up to his smiling eyes.
"You said you were hungry…" she trailed off, as he used his hold on her ankle to pull her further up the bed.
"I am," he growled.
"Well, let go, then I can go fix you something to eat," Maya said. Squealing as she was hauled back to the top of the bed, and was rolled beneath him. Jaden then settled himself comfortably between her thighs, grinning mischievously.
"I never said I wanted food," then his mouth came down on hers.
Maya wrapped her arms around his neck, losing herself in his mouth for a minute, enjoying the sensation of his hard body, lay flush against her own. Her eyes opened as he pulled back. She then frowned as he began edging backwards off the bed. Leaning up on her elbows she tried to see where he was going. His hands landed on her thighs again, wrapping around them, as he pulled them up, and over his shoulders. Squealing at the move, Maya spluttered, as she landed flat on her back again, and heard him laugh.
"I told you I was hungry woman," he said as he lowered his mouth to her core, and she nearly shot off the bed as he licked at her. It was only his arms banded around the top of her thighs that held her still.
"Jaden, you are meant to be resting. Building up your strength again after yesterday… oh my god, what are you doing?" she managed to sputter as he did something with his tongue.
"Well let me see, you want a diagram?" he mumbled from between her thighs, then laughed again, his breath tickling her as she squealed. He sucked and nibbled on her, stabbing deep with his tongue before flicking the little bundle of nerves hidden beneath the hood.
Maya tightened her thighs around his head and he pulled back, pushing her thighs apart.
"Baby, my ears are ringing, and I can't hear a thing when you do that. Behave or I'll tie you to the bed." He looked down, grinning as he watched the moisture pool. "You like that idea Maya? Do you want me to tie you to the bed?" She squeezed her eyes tightly and tried closing her legs again, biting her lip and refusing to answer him. He laughed again wiping his mouth on her stomach as he pushed himself up from the bed, and her eyes shot open. Coming up on her elbows she stared at him, her eyes slitting and growled.
"You're leaving now? Seriously Jaden, get your arse back here now. Finish what you started or I swear to god I'll…" her tirade was cut off as he dove on the bed. Then rolling onto his back, he grabbed her around the waist, pulling her over him. Spreading her thighs so hers straddled his, he pushed his hips up, and entered her.
Gasping, Maya sat back and stared down at him as he lay beneath her. Her mouth open and closing, as she rested her hands on his pectorals.
"See, now I've inserted part A into part B, you're meant to move baby," he mocked her with a grin. Her eyes again slit. She'd been doing a little bit of reading while they'd been together, so she had a few ideas. His own eyes widened in shock, as she pushed herself upright. Then she slowly rotated herself on him, until she was facing his feet.
"Plant your feet, and raise your knees," Maya told him over her shoulder. Slowly he pulled his knees up as he put his arms behind his head, watching her with a smirk. He could afford to humour her for a while. He was curious to see what she'd do. Up until now, she'd been happy to take a backseat and leave it to him. She'd learned to keep him out of her head, so he couldn't get a thing from there. Well, not when she didn't want him to. He'd give her a minute to soothe her wounded pride, and then he'd take over. After all, there was very little she could do, that he'd not already done or seen.
"Jesus Christ," he hissed, as she used her hands on his knees to raise herself up of him. Leaning forward she gave him a heart stopping view of her arse, and he closed his eyes on a groan. From this position, he could actually lie back and watch himself reappear out of her body. Then the breath lodge in his throat as she slowly rotated her pelvis on her downward stroke, as she took him back inside. Using her internal muscles, she squeezed and release his dick as she rode him. His hands came from behind his head, resting on her hips as he punched his head back into the pillow. "What the fuck Maya," Jaden hissed through his teeth as she rocked a little, before repeating the move. His hands flexed on her hips, then moved up her ribcage, before covering her breasts. Squeezing the soft globes in his palms, then loosening his hold. He pinched her nipples, as she continued her leisurely ride.
Jaden ground his teeth, the mouth-watering scene before him adding to the whole sensual experience. The visual of seeing his own flesh disappear and reappearing from her body, as she rode him, had his spine tingling. Horrified, he realised he was going to cum at this rate, and she'd barely started. His back arched under her, as she again squeezed those internal muscles around his dick. Massaging his flesh as he moved within her. Closing his eyes, he prayed, teeth grinding and neck muscles straining as he tried to hold off the inevitable. He was over two hundred years old, he should be able to take this, but fucking hell. The way she moved as she took control and mastered his body was just too much. Growling he sat up, holding her back to him as he stroked a hand down her stomach and snaked it between her legs. He began using a circular motion, rubbing on her clitoris, before pinching the flesh between his thumb and forefinger. Gripping her hip with his other hand he pulled her down, onto him as he pushed up. He felt her begin to shake as her muscles again contracted around him, and his balls drew up tight. Panicking, he did the only thing he could think of. As he thrust up hard, he pinched her again, then opened his mouth. Biting into her shoulder, as he lost control. Hammering into her, as he felt her jerk against him. Her internal muscles clamped down, and wrestled his release from him. Dragging it from him, as she flung an arm over her head. She held his mouth to her as she used his still spilling body to ride out her own release, moaning loudly. Once she stopped and her muscles were doing nothing but flickering with tiny aftershocks; Jaden fell back on the bed. They lay spent, with her sprawled over his chest, his arm still holding her shaking body to his sweat covered one. Breathing harshly through his burning lungs, he grinned as he lifted his head and lathed the marks he'd once again left in her shoulder.
"Well…" he managed, as he got his breath back.
"How about a shower, then round two? Afterwards, you can feed me."
Maya groaned. Then rolling over she separated them, before turning, and curling into his side. Putting a hand on his stomach, she rested her head on his chest. Running a finger over the scars on his ribs, tracing each furrow in his skin with a gentle stroke.
"How did you get these?" She heard him sigh, resting her chin on his stomach, she looked up at him.
"It was a long time ago, not long after I thought I'd lost all my family. I was a mess for a while Maya, I wasn't careful. I wandered aimlessly, working to buy food as I moved across the country." Sighing he shoved himself up in the bed, resting back against the headboard. He tugged her into him, an arm around her shoulders as he rested his chin on her head. Closing his eyes, he thought back to those dark years, and they were. He'd had no direction, no family. Living from hand to mouth, as he'd moved around looking for som
ething, he didn't have a clue what?
Maya kept quiet, staying out of his head, his thoughts moving way too fast for her to catch anyway.
"I came upon a barn, a couple of towns up, about three months afterwards. I heard a muffled sound coming from inside. I crept up and peeped around the partially opened door. There was a woman inside, probably just out of her teens, if that. She was trying to fight two men off her," Maya tried to look up, but his chin was still on her head. She could feel his anxiety, as the thoughts in his head began to clear. Maya gasped, as she saw the scene unfold.
"Shit Jaden it was them. It was my father, uncle and the woman that wasn't a woman. That bloody witch, Maisie," Maya hissed. She felt him nod against her.
"Yeah I kind of had an inkling as she appeared today, at first I just thought your father was taunting me about killing my parents." He ran a hand through his hair and sighed. "Anyway, I thought they were hurting her, I didn't realise it was consensual. I was ready to dive in and help out, when I was hit from behind. All I remembered hearing was that horrible, maniacal laughter. Then one of the others turned around. He'd shifted by this time, while inside her. It wasn't normal, it was," he cleared his throat. "Anyway, he turned and began stalking towards me. She pushed herself up on her elbows while the other one was…" Maya knew exactly what her father was still doing to her, as her uncle stalked Jaden. All while good old Uncle Jefferson held him.
"You don't have to continue, I can see it in your mind," Maya said, feeling her stomach revolt.
"Shit, I'm sorry. I'll try harder to mask them so you don't get a picture show too," he added. Bending, he kissed her head, as he rubbed a hand up and down her back. Blanking his mind, he waited until she settled against him again, then continued.
"As I was held, I tried struggling, but it was no good. I just didn't have the strength, not against fully grown shifter. The cat came up, and clawed up my ribs, then as I screamed from the pain Maisie moaned. I heard her calling them back, telling them to leave me alone. She said she was hungry for something more than torture. Your uncle stalked back to her and took his human form, the jackal following him in. Of course at the time, I thought he was a hyena; due to that laugh of his. They didn't even shut the door, just left it wide open as I sat there. As I tried to breathe through the pain, they just went back to their foursome." He sighed again, and she felt his chin rub softly against her hair.
"I must have passed out, because when I came to, they'd all gone. I was left looking up at the night sky, and my side was burning, but semi heeled."
Maya ran her hand soothingly over the scars, then bent and kissed them, making him sigh again.
"I bet they are kicking themselves now," she said, looking up at him with a small smile.
"Yeah I guess they are," he said, as she turned again and continued to run her fingers over the marks.
"This is new," she said as she moved her hand up, running it over the ink on his chest. It matched the mate mark on their hands.
"Yeah, I was informed that if I had silver tattooed into my skin, I could shift without losing my clothes. That's how you do it too," he said running his thumb over the ring he'd placed on her finger.
"That's cool, I like the ink too. Is it sore?"
"No. He had to mix salt in with the ink and silver, so that it would stay put, but I kind of like it. I may get a few more done now I know Douglas knows what he's doing. I always fancied a little artwork, but couldn’t figure out a way to get it done. With our healing abilities, once immortal, it kind of makes it hard to get ink or piercings." She nodded her head, and he bent, kissing her forehead.
"Okay, now I've completely ruined the mood, how about that shower?" He gently moved her to the side, then rolled out of bed. Scooping her up into his arms, he strode out of the bedroom.
Putting her back on her feet, he turned on the shower.
"You wash my back, and I'll wash yours," he said, waggling his brows. Then stepped under the spray, reached out, and grabbed her hand, pulling her under with him.
Chapter Thirteen
"It's about time you two showed your faces." Balin smirked over his shoulder, turning a chicken leg on the smouldering barbecue.
"Yeah, sorry," Jaden said, grinning at his brother, who rolled his eyes at his blatant lie. Then he wafted a pair of barbecue tongues over Jaden's shoulder, encompassing the people in attendance.
"Go mingle, I've not a clue where Sam and Helena have gotten to." He then turned and returned to cooking on the barbecue.
Jaden patted him on the back, then took Maya's hand.
The garden was crowded with people. When he and Maya had eventually gotten dressed, and headed next door. Jaden had taken a couple of minutes to examine Luc first, while he still stood in his garden. Man that must suck, he thought, looking towards the sky. Then he noticed that the sun was beginning to set.
"Do you think I should have left a note for Luc?" Maya shook her head at his question.
"He'll spot us, it's a little hard not to with the number of people here.
"Yeah, there are more here than I realised." He again looked around the garden. People were stood in little groups, chatting and laughing. They made their way between the groups, thanking them for coming, and for their help the night before.
A very subdued John Forrester stepped up to them.
"I am so sorry for my behaviour," he told them, not quite meeting their eyes.
"It wasn't your fault," Maya said gently, putting her hand on his arm.
"It really wasn't," Jaden added, taking the proffered hand John held out.
They chatted for a while, then John wished them well, thanking them for their understanding. They left him talking to Edwin, his friend and fellow tiger shifter. Also the grizzly twins, Nathan and Adam Lincoln.
Wandering back up the garden they found the drinks table, set up beside the French doors. Then spotted a small table to one side, which held nothing but a huge cake. It was nearly as big as the table itself. Jaden raised a brow, nodding towards the creation. Untangling her hand from Jaden's, Maya stepped closer, to take a proper look.
"Wow, who made this?" The white cake was beautiful, an intricate design of the mate mark was in one corner, within a full moon. They'd even put two black jaguars on the top, instead of the usual bride and groom. Maya smiled as she traced the delicate heads of the black cats.
"They're edible," came a voice from behind them. Maya turned to see a woman with deep brown, bobbed hair. She was slim and had the most gorgeous pale blue eyes.
"Hi, I'm Elizabeth Adams, I own the bakery." Then she pointed to the group of men over in the corner, gossiping, drinking and laughing. Not that they'd admit to gossiping, men didn’t do that. They had discussions, Maya thought with a smile. "I'm mate, and wife to Daniel. He's the tall one at the back, with the soulful brown eyes." Elizabeth sighed, hands to her chest, as she fluttered her lashes, then winked, as she turned to them again.
"I'm sorry I couldn't be there to help last night, but I had to take care of our Jenson. He's only just turned five, and well, he can be a bit of a handful." Just then a small boy with golden curls and big brown eyes, tore across the lawn. He held a red aeroplane in his hand, high in the air, as he made engine noises. Up and down the garden he went, screeching to a halt, before turning and taking off again.
"See what I mean," she said as he crashed into Luc, who had just come through the gap in the fencing. He looked down at the child with a blink, and the little boy began crying. Elizabeth sighed, and went to move to him, but his father looked up. Conversation forgotten as he heard the cry and he made his way over. They watched as he bent down until they were at eye level, as he ruffled his son's hair. Then scooped him up, into his arms, and proceeded to swing him in the air above his head, until his tears turned to hoots of laughter.
Luc stood there, blushing, moving from foot to foot with his hands in his trouser pockets. Elizabeth looked up and smiled at him, as her husband calmed their son.
"It's not your fa
ult Luc, he gets very focused on his games." He nodded, which turned into a sheepish smile, when he turned to Jaden and Maya.
Elizabeth bade them a happy union, and they thanked her for the cake, before she went to join her husband and son.
"So who does this belong to?" Luc asked, pulling a brazier out of his back pocket. His brow raised, as he dangled the flimsy piece of black lace from a finger.
"Balin," Jaden shouted, turning in time to see his brother doubled over with laughter.
"That's mine, thank you," Maya said, blushing. Snatching the lacy garment out of Luc's hand, she quickly tucked it into the front pocket of Jaden's jeans.
"Sorry," Jaden said to Luc, "you'll have to forgive my brother, he's an arse. I thought he'd have grown out of his pranks by now," he scowled, turning to Balin again. He in turn just held his hands up, barbecue tongues still attached, then spun to carry on cooking. They could still see his shoulders shaking with mirth.
"When the hell did he do that?" Maya asked confused. "We walked by you not fifteen minutes ago."
"He managed it all just before the sun set. He put it on me, and fastened the hooks, before taking a photo, I might add. Then he ran giggling back around here," he added dryly, which set Jaden off laughing. Well, until Maya smacked the back of his head with her palm.
"You'll have to excuse my family; they seem to have turned into children." Maya smiled sweetly at Luc. He shook his head, hands in his pockets as he made his way over to Balin.
"I like the sound of that."
"What?" Maya said, turning to Jaden. He pulled her into his arms.
"You claimed us as family," she looked into his golden eyes, searching them.
"You are my family now, both you and teenage Tom over there," she added, looking pointedly towards Balin. Jaden raised a hand and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Then leaning down, he brushed his mouth over hers.