What did Iwantto happen?
“No, you’re right. I don’t feel sorry for Brian.” His voice was just a hint of sound, yet I heard every syllable. “Why did you railroad me, Abby?” Jace put one hand on either side of my shoulders, pressing me against the tree at my back with his very presence, and I couldn’t tell if my sudden disorientation was because of his proximity or the rapid subject change.
“I didn’t—”
“Don’t eventhinkabout lying to me.” His body was a torch blazing in the night, threatening to burn right through my clothes, though we had yet to touch. “You made a fool out of me in front of half the territorial council, and if Brian is the reason, so help me—”
“Brian? What?” I frowned up at him, confused.
“If working for me is just a way to delay your wedding, I’m disappointed in you. Faythe would never have used—”
“The hell she wouldn’t!” I pressed myself so hard against the tree that the bark caught on my borrowed jacket and bit into my palms. “She would have done whatever it took to get what she needed out of life. Shestillwould. But that’s not what I was doing. I’m going to marry him. Eventually.”
Jace stared down into my eyes, his breath warm against my cheek. Stirring my hair. “Your pulse didn’t race while you were with him. Your pupils didn’t dilate. There wasnoattraction.”
Panic flooded my bloodstream like fuel dumped onto a fire. If he could hear whathadn’thappened with Brian, surely could hear whatwashappening now. With my gaze caught on his beautiful mouth…
My face flamed, but I couldn’t look away. “The job isn’t about Brian.”
“Then tell me the tru—”
I pushed up onto my toes and kissed him.
Jace went completely still, evidently as shocked by what I was doing as I was. Then he relaxed and slid one hand into my hair, not surrendering to my kiss butguidingit. He tilted my head and tasted my lower lip. I opened my mouth for a taste of him and Jace growled with pleasure, a sound so deep and strong, it triggered primal tremors all over me, lighting me up from the inside.
My entire body was on fire. I’d never felt anything like it.
Then Jace stepped back, ruthlessly severing all contact, and the space between us seemed suddenly colder than before. “What thehellare you doing?” he growled.
What wasIdoing? “It takes two.” Yet the deflection of blame made me feel even guiltier.
Jace took another step back, and a brutal sense of loss settled over me with an almost tangible weight. “Abby, this can’t happen. I’m your Alpha. Hell, now I’m yourboss. And you’re…” He glanced at the ring on my hand, which suddenly felt too heavy to lift. “Those are all lines I can’t cross.”
Can’tcross. He hadn’t said he didn’twantto cross them.
I sucked in a deep, cold breath, trying to purge treacherous thoughts.
“I know.” I had to fight to maintain eye contact. “I’m sorry.” What the hell was Ithinking?
“I mean it.” He stepped back again, and his eyes closed. “I’m a mistake you don’t want to make. I’m sending you home with your father. We’ll start your training after the holiday, if that’s still what you want.”
Jace started to turn, but I grabbed his wrist and he froze. “I won’t change my mind,” I whispered, suddenly desperate to be taken seriously. Working for him had nothing to do with Brian or with my wedding. Hell, it had nothing to do withhim,or with whatever had almost just happened between us. “You said I could start now. Alphas don’t go back on their word. Youhaveto keep me, Jace,” I said, and his exhalation came on the tail of a frustrated growl.
His next words were a rumble so low and gravelly, I could hardly understand them. “Fine. But you’re done for the night. Go to bed, Abby.”
“Okay. I’m sorry, Jace.” When he only growled at me again, I raced through the woods toward the ranch without looking back, silent tears trailing into my hair. I’d really messed up, and now Jace thought I was using him. Of course, Iwas, but he couldn’t possibly understand why or how.
Or how much I hated myself for it.
Or the fact that I had no choice.
If I wasn’t with him when he investigated the murder, I’d haveno wayto explain why my scent was at the scene of the crime.
FIVE
Jace
I followed Abby at a distance until she got to the ranch, then I shifted and headed back into the woods in feline form, trying to escape my thoughts. And give everyone else time to go to bed.
