In a strong kiss, Jade's lips seize mine. "You can." His eyes are filled with amusement. "You remember your word?""Yes.""Tell me right away. So I know you recall.""Finn," I introduce myself."You're a good girl. "Turn right now." Jade smiles as he slips his hand on my lower back and pushes his fingers into my skin, bringing me flush against Dan's chest.I wait for Jade to shove his thick length deep within me, but instead, his hands brush over my ass in a hard massage, again and over.Dan gently massages his hands up and down my back, as if to soothe me. It begins to function after a few seconds.But as Jade gets closer and closer to my entrance, I stiffen myself, ready myself for agony.The tip of his smallest finger brushes against my passage but doesn't enter, as if he's getting me acclimated to the sensation of having him touch me there."I need you to relax for me, angel," rumbles Jade.I take a big breath, hold it, and then exhale, intending to release all of my stress with i
Until the snarls in my skull reminded me that whatever was wrong with my wolf was still wrong with my wolf. Accepting that Dan was correct that Amanda belonged to us all hasn't altered that.It helped me make my decision. It's not easy. But it's simpler.I promised myself that we'd deal with Darius and then I'd go before my wolf attacked Amanda for the third time and killed her. In the meanwhile, I'd continue to avoid her. It would be in everyone's best interests if I did.I went about my days and nights, trying not to think about her, avoiding Jade and Dan's attempts to draw me into any conversation involving her, and failing. Even when Amanda would sleep, allowing us the freedom to plan for Darius's attack, one look into Jade's amused grey eyes and Dan's perceptive hazel stare told me they knew I was still thinking about her.And then I saw her, clad in Jade's white t-shirt, skinny naked legs, her hair loose and a bit wavy over her shoulders, looking stunning. As lovely as she'd app
I wait, but the argument in Jade must have died down since he doesn't respond.Another transformation in Jade to lie at Amanda's feet.He'd have gone out there and done whatever the fuck he wanted before Amanda, regardless of what I said. But he's thinking about someone other than himself now. He's considering her.I push open the door. "Sam told her about Monica." If she approaches you with questions—" "I know what to say," Jade says. "We all know what to say."I nod and return inside."You haven't told her that the only reason I was able to save her was because you knocked Darius away." She could be more forgiving if she understood how important you were in her rescue.""She might," I concede.It's not as if I haven't contemplated it, just to dismiss it a split second later. She could perceive me differently. But she could assume I'm telling her she owes me anything for saving her life.That's not going to work to gain her forgiveness.I enter and proceed to the stairs. Halfway ther
I have no doubts about who they are. The dogs. I'm not going to inquire who Monica is. Or was."How did you get in here?" I inquire, moving back, my gaze darting behind him. Did he enter by the back door, or did he come around the side of the house?As he approaches, I recall that not all shifters are predators, and not all humans are safe."You should run while you can." He smiles at me, nearly as thin as the skeleton hand he extends towards me. "If you come with me now, then—""Angel, get inside."Jade was tucking me behind his back before I realized who he was.He's put on a pair of grey sweatpants, but that's all he's done. I look around to see whether the weird man is walking away, but Jade places a palm on my tummy and nudges me back. He never takes his gaze away from the skeleton figure. "Go.""Amanda."I startle and spin around. Dan. He blinks at me through half-lidded hazel eyes, and I know he couldn't have been awake for more than a few minutes, but he at least bothered to p
Dan would be aware.When her footfall receded away from the door, I turned to go wake him up. She's going farther into the garden, which is a bad idea."You'll think of something," I murmur to myself. "But she needs you now."I walk to her, not knowing what the fuck I'm going to say to soothe the shadows hiding in her thoughts, shadows that scared her away from me and Dan even though I know we provided her pleasure.We made her happy.She wouldn't have cuddled us so tightly after that.Then I notice it.A masculine voice that shouldn't be in this room. Garrett. Mona's elder brother, and the one who frequently shows up to accuse us of murdering his little sister.Fuck.I run. Push the entrance door open. They're just ahead. Amanda steps back, a biting edge of terror infusing her beautiful jasmine aroma. Garrett is approaching her, his achingly familiar blue eyes filled with a crazy, grief-stricken gaze.Whatever instinct Dan has must have awakened him because his amber and licorice sme
Perhaps he's simply passing the time until he has something definite on us. In any case, we need to keep a tight check on this officer in the future. I'm trying to sleep. "I have a feeling I'll need it." He takes a few steps up before coming to a standstill. "And next time Amanda wants to go for a wander in the garden, do us all a favour and go with her."I soften my tone. "I still say we should kill him."Do I envision myself severing the throat of a man with Mona's eyes?My wolf has no objections to it. However, the man recalls me carrying Mona's body in my arms. I recall her blood pouring through my trousers. I'll never forget her lifeless gaze.But if it must be done. It must be done, therefore I will do it."Leave Garrett to me," Finn whispers quietly, his voice barely audible."If you believe talking would make him go, you're mistaken. Every every year he—""She was his sister," Finn says as he climbs the stairs. "He's in mourning. He'll move on in time.""You didn't see him," I
Finn isn't picking through the filthy clothes, so it can't be him. If Dan does the cooking, it's most likely him. "Perhaps normal isn't the best word. Human." I move my hand to grasp the bottom of his shirt.When I feel the darkness drawing me beneath, touching Jade and Dan seems to help. It keeps me in the present moment. "He said I lived through things most humans wouldn't.""Like the bites," says Jade.I nod, my gaze still fixed on Jade's pristine white shirt. "Like the bites."Even if no one had commented on the state of my neck, they would have all noticed I had more of them. But Dan kissed them when he brought me to bed and didn't back down. Jade also touches them often. Light, lingering caresses, as when he touches the scar I cut into my left wrist with Felix's steak knife. As if he wants me to know he sees them and doesn't find them repulsive.I hesitate since there is so much about Darius and his pack that I haven't told them. "As well as the bridge." "I..." my voice trailed
In his tanned palm, the dull silver firearm with a black grip appears little. Aside from the machine gun, it's the only revolver I know the name of, and only because of the old cowboy movies Dad used to watch.Dan pokes his finger inside the silver projecting cylinder on the side. That's when I realise what he's been doing — or has been doing — all this time. Checking that each chamber has a bullet. If somebody walks through the door, he won't have to load or reload his weapon; he'll just take up a gun and shoot.Swallowing hard, things suddenly feel much more real than they were five seconds earlier."Finn and Jade know what they're doing down there," Dan says as he clicks the chamber back into place and returns the rifle to the table. "I know what I'm doing up here," he says, not picking up another weapon. "This attic extends the entire length of the house." All that's up here is dust and insulation, so there's lots of places to hide. We've got—""No.""Amanda, we're doing this—" he