“You will not kill our daughter’s mate,” she warned.
“I’ll take your wishes into consideration when the time comes.” He led her over to the first table where his Uncle Tony sat. “Come on, Uncle Tony will get upset if I don’t introduce him first.”
“It’s about time my nephew finds his mate.” He stood up, quickly wrapping his arms around her in a hug. “Welcome to the family. Maybe you can get this wandering Alpha to settle down and stay home for a change.”
How did Jinx deal with people questioning why he was away when they couldn’t tell anyone the true reason? She just smiled. “I’ll see what I can do, after we take Claire to Alaska.”
“Angie’s right, we can help her.”
“Uncle, we’ll give the clan a chance as well,” Jinx interjected. “I know you’re not fond of doctors, but like when I brought on the clan’s doctor, I believe it can be of help to Claire. You don’t have to agree but it’s our decision to give it a try.”
“It’s a waste.” Tony gave Summer a meaningful glance. “Go mingle. I’ll be seeing you later.”
Chapter Seventeen
The evening had been a fun filled and somewhat overwhelming experience. Now all Summer wanted to do was curl up next to Jinx. Claire had woken up halfway through the evening and though she’d been scared with all the new people gathered around, she did fine once Summer held her. Everything had fallen into place. Even the clan’s emotions had categorized themselves just as he had predicted, and were no longer overwhelming, leaving her free to focus on Jinx’s wants and needs.
She stepped up next to him, slipping her hand into his. “Can we go now?”
“Almost, lass. Jackson, can you stop Meshell before she leaves? I want Summer to meet her before we leave.”
“Tonight?” Even as she asked it, Jackson stepped away from them, going back to the table where Lukas was sitting with a couple guys and two women.
“What better time? First impressions can be a world of good. In the morning, Carson will put her through her paces for you. Then if you are still interested, we can meet with her again.”
She didn’t bother to argue, only sat down and adjusted Claire so she was sitting on her legs. “My sweet little girl, I’m going to get muscles as big as Jinx’s if I have to keep carrying you around.”
“Speaking of that. Robin suggested that since the paperwork was drawn up before we left Texas, we can make the adoption official.” He sat down next to them, putting his hand over theirs. “Maybe we should refer to ourselves as proper parents, that way when she starts talking she’ll know what to call us.”
“You mean like Mom and Dad?”
“Exactly. It might be easier for her, especially once we have kids of our own. We don’t want her to feel like she isn’t as much a part of our life and love as they are.”
She ran her thumb over Jinx’s hand and looked down at Claire. “Would you like that, Claire? Do you want us to be your Mommy and Daddy?”
Before Claire could answer, not that Summer really expected her to, Jackson had returned with a woman. Her long black hair and deep chocolate brown eyes were the first features Summer noticed about her.
“Summer, this is Meshell.” Jackson introduced them.
“Meshell, please have a seat.” Jinx nodded to the seat across from them. “I was telling Summer that you’re one of the ground guards here, and I wanted to introduce you both since you seemed to have been missing part of the evening.”
“I was patrolling.” She pulled out the chair and sat down. “Most of the guards covered for each other so we could be here. By the time I got here you were already eating. I didn’t want to interrupt.” It was painfully clear that Meshell was nervous, even slightly uncomfortable being singled out.
Summer watched how the woman moved. She was extremely fit, but not overly that took her to an unattractive level. Underneath, the womanhood was still clear. “How do you enjoy working with the clan?” Summer asked.
“I love it. It’s been what I’ve worked for my whole life.”
Claire begun squirming in Summer’s lap and rubbing her eyes. “We’re almost done, sweetie.”
“Someone is tired.” Meshell smiled at Claire.
“It’s been a long few days for all of us, especially Claire,” Jinx confirmed. “I wanted to give Summer time to get to know you, but I’m afraid Claire has other ideas.”
“I understand. There will be other times.” She nodded and stood. “Welcome to the clan.”
When Meshell walked away, he turned to Summer. “Sorry, lass, but I believe we’ve pushed Claire as far as we can tonight. Let’s get her home.”
In agreement, she let him take Claire from her and stood. There would always be tomorrow to see if Meshell could cut it as one of the Elder guards.
* * *
The hour was early with darkness still surrounding the West Virginia land when the alarms were going off. Jinx hurried out of bed, slipping into a pair of jeans and grabbing the gun he had at the bedside table. The easy reach of the weapon reminded him that he’d have to lock up his guns now that Claire was in the house.
“What’s going on?” Summer asked, fear creeping in her voice.
“Someone or something has crossed the perimeter. I’m sure Jackson and Carson are on their way up. I’ll have to check it out.”
“I’ll go check on Claire.” She grabbed the yoga pants and tank top she’d thrown at the end of the bed. With Claire sleeping soundly in the next room, they’d been able to enjoy each other’s company before falling asleep the night before.
“You don’t have to worry about her,” Jinx promised. “The building is safe and she’s probably sleeping. Nothing can get in, not with everything locked down for the night.”
“If she hears the alarm, she’ll be frightened.” Summer tugged the tank top over her head.
The elevator ding let them know someone had arrived.
“Jinx. Carson and I are here,” Jackson called out as they stepped off the elevator.
“I’ll be back.” Jinx crossed the room. “If anything happens, stay with them.”
“Be safe,” she whispered as he dashed out.
On his way, he glanced at the guards. “Summer’s going to check on Claire. If anything happens you know what to do.” Knowing the men would keep her safe, he didn’t wait for a reply, just stepped onto the elevator and left.
The elevator stopped on the second floor and Lukas stepped in, still getting dressed. “What the hell’s going on?”
“I don’t know, but I’ll tell you this. First thing tomorrow your first assignment is to get us those ear transmitters Ty’s clan has. It would make this easier. At the moment, we’re heading out blind.” He growled, not know what was happening at the perimeter.
“I left the ATV just outside the front doors last night after my perimeter check.” Lukas tossed the keys to him and shoved on his sweatshirt.
“Good.” Jinx caught the keys midair. “While I’m giving you duties, I want two guards outside the house at night, and I want you to find yourself Elder guards.”
“But I don’t have a mate. I don’t need them,” Lukas argued.
“You know what’s coming as much as I do. You’ll have guards on standby for when they are needed. I won’t have you killed because of an oversight.” The elevator doors opened and Jinx ran full speed through the entryway to the front door and out to the ATV.
The ATV roared to life. A split second later, Lukas jumped on board and they were hurling down the path to where the alarm had sounded. Around the houses, and through the trees before he could open it up completely. The cold night air and snowflakes nipped at Jinx’s naked chest, but he barely realized it; all he cared about was getting to wherever the threat was. No one would be screwing up his mate’s first night with the clan, or putting the fear back into Claire.
With a wave of his arm, a guard at the inner perimeter stopped them.
“What?” Jinx barked, irritated.
“It’s a b
ear, animal not shifter, and they’ve dealt with it.”
“Damn it. Is no one marking the territory? We shouldn’t have animals traipsing through the area if it was marked properly.”
“I can’t answer that, sir.” The guard shrugged. “It hasn’t been one of my assigned duties. I believe the front line handles it.”
“I’ll see to it in the morning, and make sure everything is marked,” Lukas told him. “Let’s get back to the house. We’ll let the guards and Summer know everything is safe.”
“Richard, isn’t it?” Jinx wasn’t sure in the darkness.
“Yes, sir.”
With no desire to make the trip to the perimeter and back, he sent Richard instead. “Go tell them I’ve been alerted of the issue and they are to report to the meeting room at nine o’clock.”
“Very well, sir.” Richard hopped onto his own ATV and took off.
“Add marking the territory to your list,” Jinx told Lukas. “I want you to make sure it’s done by nightfall. I do not want a rehash of this again.” He turned the ATV around and started heading back to the house. “See what I mean about the hours you’ll put in for the clan?”
“I understand, and can still do everything. I’ve made arrangements for Eric to accompany us when we go to Alaska. We’ll only be away two days, so don’t worry about the clan. Eric and I will fly out with you. I’ll get Ty to approve Eric, and then we’ll fly back the next day. Everything will be fine.”
“For your sake and sanity, I hope Ty will approve Eric. If not, you’re going to be exhausted rather quickly.”
“There’s no need to worry, he will. Eric has the skills Ty needs and with me overseeing everything there won’t be a problem. I can do this. Just have a little faith in me.”
He took his gaze off the path for a moment and glanced at Lukas. “I’ve always had faith in you or I wouldn’t have asked you to be my Lieutenant.” The ATV came to a halt in front of the house where lights gleamed from the third floor. Before he went inside there was one thing he wanted Lukas’s opinion on. “You’ve had some contact with Meshell in her guard duties.”
“Very little, why?”
“I’m considering adding her to the team to protect Summer and Claire. She’d be the additional guard for the time being, always the third on when guarding my family. Jackson believes if we give her a chance she’ll live up to the task.”
“But you’re worried.”
“I have confidence in Meshell when it comes to ground duties, even considered moving her to the outer perimeter, but this is my family we’re talking about. I won’t risk them.”
Lukas turned slightly to look over at Jinx. “If you think Meshell is up for it, do it on a trial run. Always keep her with guards you know will protect Summer and Claire no matter what happens. Even use her only here on our land, where the security is higher, at least at first. I have to agree with Jackson, she could be a good guard with a little more training, and having another woman around might be good for Claire.”
“So you think I should try Meshell?” He had a feeling Lukas would say that.
“I’ve seen her in training and when on duty. She’s dedicated, the skills are there, and she cares about the clan. All qualities in a good guard.” Lukas nodded. “What does Summer think?”
He shut off the ATV and glanced up to the third floor. “She met her at the end of the night, but it wasn’t enough for much. Poor Claire was done, she had enough of meeting everyone and we had to leave. Jackson is going to put Meshell through her paces this morning, giving Summer a chance to observe. Then they can meet again if Summer finds her acceptable.”
“I don’t believe Jackson is putting her through the paces just for Summer. It’s for you too. You need that final push to convince you she’s ready.” Lukas stepped off, stretching his legs as Jinx came around. “If you don’t want to risk her with your family, I’ll take her as one of my guards. It will give her the chance.”
“If I feel she’s not ready for Summer and Claire, I’m certainly not allowing her to guard you. If she’s not ready, we can move her to the outer perimeter and go from there. Maybe in a few months she’ll be ready for the next step.” He climbed the couple steps to the deck, Lukas behind him. “Now get some sleep. You have a lot to attend to in the morning.”
“Goodnight. I’ll lock up, you go to Summer.”
He didn’t argue. There was a bounce in his step and a lightness to his heart knowing that in just a few minutes he’d have his arms around Summer. No longer tired, he had another idea on how they could spend the rest of the night.
Chapter Eighteen
The soft glow of the moon shone through the window, casting just enough light for Summer to watch Jackson with Claire. The sweet girl had been terrified when she woke to the alarm going off. Summer had calmed her but when Jackson stepped into the bedroom to check on them she held her arms out to him.
The reaction from Claire had both been joyful and painful for Summer. It was good to see Claire connecting with others, but at the same time painful because she didn’t seem to want Summer to hold her.
In that instant she realized how blind she was in this parenthood. Normally parents, and the Elders, could feel a child’s emotions just as the Elders did for all the clan members, but not with Claire. She had no commitments to the clan, no blood bond to anyone in the clan, making her an enigma.
The elevator ding sounded like a quarter dropping in a silent room, sending a wave a fear through her. Carson already had his gun trained on the door when Jackson stepped around her, putting himself in front of her and the doorway to Claire.
“I think it’s Jinx,” she whispered, afraid to speak any louder.
“It should be,” he reassured her. “The elevator is only coded to open to those Jinx allows. The three of you, Lukas, Carson and me—no one else unless someone was able to override the system. With the triple steel doors that are supposed to withhold any attack, we can’t smell anyone inside. Just stay back until we know for sure.”
She glanced back at Claire, making sure she was still asleep, before turning her gaze back to the elevator doors. Never before had it taken an eternity for an elevator to go three floors, at least not until then.
The elevators opened and she heard Jinx’s voice. “It’s me and everything is under control.” He stepped out of the elevator and Carson holstered his gun. “It was a bear.”
Jackson moved aside and she went to him. “Animal or shifter?”
“Animal.” He slipped his arm around her waist. “Seems while I was away some of the guards decided to slack on their duties marking the perimeter. I’ll deal with them in the morning, and Lukas will see that the perimeter is marked. How’s Claire?”
“Jackson got her back to sleep.”
“Jackson?” He looked over at the Captain of the Guards. “Getting in some fatherly experience before it’s your time? Don’t blame you there.”
“She’s a sweet child, and surprisingly she took to me. I’m happy to do whatever I can to make things easier for her, and for both of you.” Jackson stepped away from Claire’s doorway. “Carson and I will leave now. If you need anything, we’re just downstairs.”
“Thank you.” Jinx nodded and turned back to her. “Now as for you…” He reached down, scooping Summer into his arms, and carried her toward the bedroom.
“What are you doing? Put me down.”
“I’ve been thinking about how much I want you, how I want to be buried deep within you.” He laid her on the bed and tugged at the tank top she threw on.
“Who knew an alarm call in the middle of the night could turn into something so exciting?” She unbuttoned his jeans and let them fall away.
“Take off your pants,” he ordered, pulling off his cowboy boots and stepping out of his jeans.
“That’s my mate, always demanding.”
“I can’t help it if I like you naked, to feel your body against mine, bare skin to bare skin.” He pounced on her, landing on top of her and pressi
ng her back against the bed. “You’re mine, now and always. I love you.”
“I love you too.” She slipped her hand between them, wrapping her hand around his shaft and applying just enough pressure that he arched over her. “I love that I have so much control over my big strong Alpha.”
“When your hand is there…” The words stopped as her fingers slid down the length of him.
“Yes?”
“Doing that…ahhh…how could anyone resist you?” He leaned closer, pressing his lips to hers in a hungry kiss.
“Take me,” she ordered. Their beasts mingled within them, caressing each other. No longer could she wait; she needed him like she needed her next breath.
Without breaking the kiss, he slid between her legs. His shaft teased along her folds before he gently pushed into her, bringing a moan to her lips. With his shaft buried deep within her, she felt whole. Their connection was taken to a whole new level. With each touch it sent pleasure shooting through her.
“Faster.” She lifted her hips to meet his as he pumped into her.
“So demanding.” With each stroke he brought it up another level, slowly intensifying the tempo until she was ready to roll him over and do it herself. When her control was almost at its limit, his hips slammed into her as she met each thrust.
“Come for me, lass. I want to feel your muscles tighten against me.”
Minutes later, an orgasm coursed through her. Her body arched into him, nails digging into the soft skin of his back. “Ah, Jinx.”
Seconds later he buried his head in her shoulder, growling her name as his own release followed. Nuzzling her neck, he stayed buried deep within her. “How did I ever get so lucky?” He kissed a line along her neck, working his way to her ear.
“If you keep doing that, I’m going to be ready for round two.”
As if agreeing, his shaft twitched, hardening against the walls of her core. “Shifters are known for their stamina.”
“Umm.” She moaned, teasing her fingers along his sides. “You might be Mr. Eveready, but I do need a little recovery time.”
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