Costin grumbled something about hormonal females, which was followed by a grunt. No doubt Sally had delivered a well-placed elbow. Jacque grinned at the sound.
Fane stared at his mate,taking in the beauty that still took his breath away every time she walked into a room. His hands itched to touch her, a constant need. Every beat of his heart was for her. Every breath he took gave him life to live for her, his fiery redhead who always kept him on his toes.
“What changed your mind?” Jacquelyn turned back to look at him. Her green eyes drank him in, and he felt her attraction to him. He remembered the first time she’d looked at him with desire and how he’d fought the need to take her, bite her, and make her his right then and there. At the time, he couldn’t do it. He had no right to, not until she agreed. But now? Now he had every right, and he exercised that right as often as he could.
She raised a brow at him. “Your right?”
He stepped closer until the toes of their shoes touched. He reached a hand up and slid it around her neck until he gripped her under her hair. “Yes.” Fane let his need flow through their bond. A good battle always made his hunger for her grow to an intensity that demanded satiation. “Just as you have the right to take me. And I encourage that taking wherever, whenever, and however you’d like. All you need to do is tell me.”
She tilted her head in a wolf-like gesture. “Not ask you?”
His lips turned up slightly at the mischief that danced in her eyes. “You do not need my permission to seduce me, Luna. I’m quite willing to do your bidding.”
She threw her head back and laughed. He didn’t give up the opportunity to dart forward and nip her neck. Then he let his tongue run against her skin. “Hmm. I love the way you taste.”
“Hold up, Alpha.” She pushed him back. “You haven’t answered my question. Why have you decided to let me come with you?”
“Just what I told Costin.” He pulled her closer, his hand gripping the back of her neck firmly. His other hand lingered on her hip and then slipped under her shirt. Her skin was soft as silk against his palm. He wanted to bite her there as well. “Some things are not worth fighting over. I always want you with me. If it was up to me, you’d never leave my sight.”
“Yes.” She chuckled. “I know. You’ve done that before. It gets rather awkward when I need to use the restroom.”
He shrugged. “We’re mates. There’s nothing we don’t know about one another.”
She smacked his shoulder. He didn’t care as long as she touched him. “Thatis something that should be private. It’s not a couple activity, Fane.”
He smiled at her. She was so cute when she got embarrassed. Once upon a time, she got shy when he undressed her. Thankfully, his beautiful mate had gotten over that little quirk. Now, she had no problem stripping in front of him. But sometimes, he missed that time in their lives where they were figuring each other out, working hard to become comfortable with one other, becoming one.
But he wouldn’t be opposed if she decided to strip in front of him now. Unfortunately, he could tell by her narrowed eyes she wasn’t going to indulge his fantasy until he offered her more of an explanation. “If you’re with me, I can protect you. I will know exactly where you are and what you’re doing. And as you mentioned before, regardless of where you are, if I am in a dangerous situation, so are you.”
“What about the possibility of me getting kidnapped?” She ran her hands up his chest. “You were quite adamant about keeping me from a situation where that might happen.”
“I won’t lie…” His eyes closed as her hands ran up his neck and into his hair, her fingers wrapping around the strands and giving them a sharp tug. “I still don’t like it. But I’m able to compromise.” Fane pulled her tightly against him, maybe a little too roughly, but she didn’t complain.
Her forehead wrinkled as her brow rose. “And what do I have to give up for you to make this compromise?”
“A year of foot massages.” He was unable to keep the smile from his face.
Her hands stopped tugging at his hair. “Foot massages? That’s all?”
He leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers, then ran his tongue across them. “With a happy ending, of course.”
She laughed again, causing her body to rub against his in a way he found painfully delicious. “Of course.”
“You can start now.” He pulled her arms down and joined their hands, leading her to the door. “Rachel and Gavril have Slate for another couple of hours. Thatmightbe long enough.”
Jacquelyn snorted. “If you think I’m massaging your feet for two hours, you’re out of your wolfy mind.”
“Obviously I don’t think that.” He chuckled. “Ten minutes should suffice. But for the other part… Well, you know how I like delayed gratification.”
He felt her embarrassment through their bond and knew if he turned to look at her, she’d be blushing a lovely shade of red.
ChapterFour
“Sometimes being the male in a supernatural relationship is like being the captain of a ship in the dead of night without a compass. You’re just floating along aimlessly through the fog, hoping you don’t crash into an unseen object. In this analogy, that object would be any projectile my mate might decide to throw at me.” ~Sorin
The blade flew from her hand the second she stepped out of the sprite stronghold. Elle walked backward, pulling another blade from the opposite thigh sheath and flinging it with as much fury as she had the first.
Sorin slapped the first one away with inhuman speed and then dodged the next, continuing to move toward her. His eyes shined brightly with his beast, and his canines remained extended. He’d managed to keep the rest of himself from phasing, but Elle knew he was struggling. She could feel him through their bond, wrestling with his control.Too damn bad.She would not keep her own emotions in check. Elle was furious, and Sorin had brought that fury on himself.
