“Go now, Little wolf. Take the message of peace back to your wolves and your bear friends. It will be some time before there is unrest again among either of your species. You will live in harmony with each other for many years to come.”
She wondered if he meant ten years or ten centuries. It was impossible to know. She also wondered how old he was. She suspected Navin might be significantly older than he appeared. But she didn’t ask either of these questions. “Thank you for coming.”
He gave a little bow again before turning away.
She watched as he leapt into the air, shifting before her eyes, and then he was gone. She couldn’t even see an indentation in the foliage, indicating he’d landed on all four paws. He was that powerful.
No scent lingered. No roar. The air around her was calm and settled for the first time since she’d arrived on the mountain.
Sienna was smiling as she spun around, shifted, and headed back to the spot where she’d left Surge.
Chapter Seventeen
Sienna had never been so tired in her entire life as she was when her mate lowered her into the warm water in the giant tub in his bathroom. She sighed heavily as he sat behind her and arranged her back against his front.
The day had taken a toll on both of them. She suspected Jayce had been through an even greater ordeal than she had. After all, he’d been forced to pace next to Surge and wait for her to return from her visit with Navin.
She’d run back as fast as she could, shifted midair the moment she spotted Jayce, and leaped into his arms. She’d never been so glad to see anyone in her entire life.
Her man. Her mate. Her Daddy.
Instead of reprimanding her, he’d kissed her all over her face and hugged her so tight she couldn’t breathe. He’d also carried her back to Elias’s house, Surge alongside them.
The afternoon had been filled with answering questions. Hundreds of them. It had fallen on Sienna’s shoulders to answer them. No one else had been present with the lion. She’d felt the weight of the responsibility pressing heavily against her shoulders.
Jayce had held her in his lap the entire time, never taking his hands off her body, stroking up and down her arms and legs as if reassuring himself that she was alive and well.
She doubted he would ever let her out of his sight again.
As she stared at the water coming out of the spigot, she said, “I’m not sure I’ll ever trust another faucet again.”
Daddy chuckled as he reached around her to turn off the flow of water. “I’ll double-check all of the nozzles in the house first thing tomorrow, Little one. For your reassurance. And mine.”
“What a strange thing to happen,” she muttered.
“It was obviously all part of your destiny. It set the wheels in motion. We knew you would need to be wearing that blue dress at some point. What we didn’t know was that it would be today. You must have nearly fainted when Leah pulled it out of the closet.”
“I did. I think I was yanked into a sort of trance from that very moment. I could do without that happening again anytime soon. It was unnerving.”
He stroked her arms lightly with his fingertips. “Me, too, Little mate. I think several years were shaved off the end of my life when I discovered you missing.”
“I hope Arion isn’t too hard on Jezebel. She could no more control her part in my escape than I could.”
“I’m certain he will spank her naughty bottom tonight just as hard as I intend to spank yours.” Jayce’s tone was one of promise. He fully intended to punish her, but she was absolutely going to enjoy it. The events of the day did little more than provide an excuse for him to discipline her. They wouldn’t get these kinds of opportunities very often because Sienna didn’t plan to disobey her Daddy’s orders with any regularity.
She squirmed in his arms. It was impossible to let her body relax with him touching her, and breathing on her neck, and smelling like he did, all musky.
As tired as she was, she would not rest until he claimed her at least one time tonight.
Sienna said nothing while Jayce washed her body meticulously and slowly, deliberately taking his time. She didn’t argue because every stroke of his palm felt so good that she never wanted it to end. It was like a long, drawn-out foreplay. Even though foreplay wasn’t the least bit necessary, it still felt nice.
When he was done, he lifted her out of the tub, patted her body dry, and gripped the back of her neck to guide her into the bedroom. “Stand next to the bed, naughty girl. About three feet from the mattress. I want you to lean over, place your palms on the comforter, and push your bottom out.”
She whimpered as she assumed the position. Her blood pulsed rapidly through her body, making her feel overheated. Arousal was already leaking from her pussy to run down her inner thighs. There would never be a way to hide her need from him. He could scent it in the air. Just as she could scent his.
Jayce set a hand on the small of her back. His cock bobbed against her hip. “I’m so damn proud of you, Little mate. You were so brave today. I’m humbled by your strength and the gifts you possess. You will always be a key member of our pack, and I will forever stand behind you and support you when you’re called upon to serve.”
Tears dripped from her eyes at his reverence. “I love you, Daddy.” It was the only way she knew to convey her appreciation for his words.
