Her legs gripped him as she arched her hips and began to move with him in perfect harmony.
“You’re so tight,” he groaned against her lips. “So wet.”
The walls of her vagina clenched against him, and he nearly withdrew before plunging into her again, with slow precision. It was torture, and the pressure that was building inside was making her crazy.
She needed more.
“Faster,” she said hoarsely. “Harder.”
He ignored her, and her animal reacted in anger. She snarled and pushed against him, her strength gaining her the advantage. She flipped his large frame until he was on his back and immediately she was astride, sliding his cock deep within as she began to ride him hard.
“Holy Christ.” Julian’s words excited her. “I’ve died and gone to heaven,” he whispered.
Jaden bared her teeth and bent low, biting him on his shoulder as she continued to pump her hips. “You ain’t seen nothing yet.”
She righted herself, and they began to dance. His cock slid in and out of her, each pass igniting more fire as they quickened their pace. Her hands slid to her breasts, and she watched him, her mouth open slightly, as his fingers joined hers.
The only sounds she could hear was flesh against flesh, and as the tempo increased, she felt her walls constrict against him, pulling at him in such a way that he groaned loudly.
“I can’t hold off, babe,” he said, his eyes half-closed.
“Good,” she answered. “Keep your eyes open . . .” She clenched her teeth as her insides exploded into molten fire. “And watch me come.”
His hands fell to her hips, the fingers gripping her hard as he pulled her up and down. She felt him expand, felt his cock straining deep inside, and when they both came together, she screamed loudly and welcomed his answering cry.
His eyes burned, and he snarled as she continued to move against him. For several long moments, the two of them moved slowly, until she collapsed upon him. She felt his heart beating fast and furious against her cheek and closed her eyes as his arms slid up her back to cradle her tight to his chest.
Three years ago, he’d sent her packing. Three years ago, she’d let him.
Jaden clenched her teeth together. That was a lifetime ago. Things had changed. She’d never give up so easily now.
He had changed.
I love you.
The words were a whisper in her mind, slipping from her subconscious like a secret she couldn’t share, and they surprised the crap out of her. She stilled, her breath held at the back of her throat as her mind processed what her heart was saying.
She smiled tremulously and released a long breath as she relaxed and let his warmth melt into her.
She wasn’t giving him up, and she had to believe that one day he’d return her feelings. Whatever tomorrow brought, she’d be there by his side, and damned if she was going to let Cormac and the fallen ruin everything.
They’d save the world, and she’d save his soul, whether Julian wanted her to or not.
There was no other option.
Chapter 24
Hours later they both awoke warm, still tucked into the other’s embrace. A new day dawned, filled with the promise of violence and the possibility of death. Kind of sucked the joy out of fresh beginnings.
They made love one more time. It was a feverish joining, fueled by longing and fear.
Fear of the unknown and of losing everything before it had even been gained. Words were not spoken, feelings were not discussed. It was as if they each needed to connect once more on a level that was primal, real. That by joining their bodies together in the most basic way a man and a woman could, they were grabbing hold of something they could control.
Their passion.
Julian watched Jaden from hooded eyes as she quickly dressed. Her clothes were damp, and he tried not to stare, but the T-shirt clung to her breasts in all the right ways, which for him was all wrong.
He could not afford distraction. Not when there was so much at stake. Saving the world and all that.
He turned from her and grimaced as he scooped up his jeans and slid them over his hips. The energy that burned beneath his flesh was frenetic, and it kept his heart beating fast and hard.
Kept his mind alert. He felt good.
He slipped his feet into his boots. “You ready?”
Jaden was quiet; when she glanced up at him, her eyes shimmered. “Last night . . .” she began, and paused.
“Shh, you don’t have to say anything.”
“I do.” She shuddered and looked at him. “Last night I realized something. I know things aren’t perfect between us, but there is something more than just sex and mating and all that crap.” Her eyes fell from his. “At least for me.”
Julian’s throat tightened, clogged with emotions he wasn’t capable of handling well. “I think you’re an amazing woman, and if things were different . . .” He didn’t know what to say. He had no future.
“But we can try, can’t we?”
Her lip trembled, and he swept his mouth across her softness. His forehead rested against hers, and he murmured, “We can try.” It was an empty lie but one he was willing to believe in.
“Let’s do this.” Jaden pulled away from him, suddenly all business. She cracked a smile. “I want it ended, tonight.”
Her long hair fell in tangles down her back, and he found his hands reaching for bits of debris stuck within the silken waves. “We look like shit,” he murmured.
“Speak for yourself, Castille, I think you look damn hot.” She smiled up at him, and her fingers fell to the scars on his chest. He hissed at her touch, and her eyebrows furled slightly.
She was quiet for several seconds.
“Who did this to you?” Her words were soft, and when she raised her head once more, the tears that glittered deep within the depths of her eyes pulled at him fiercely.
“I don’t remember,” he answered.
“You lie.”
Julian frowned, not caring for the challenge. “Why does it matter? What will change if you know?”
Jaden’s eyes darkened, the whites nearly receding as she narrowed them angrily. “If I know who the bastard is, I can tell him exactly why I’ll be cutting his balls off in the most painful way possible after I hunt his sorry ass down,” she snarled, and he was taken aback by the rage he sensed. “That someone would mark you in such a way is unacceptable.”
She turned from him, and he knew her control was rapidly fading. “We will destroy the portal. I will kill Azaiel myself, or anyone who stands in my way.”
She started to walk, and he had no choice but to follow the woman who would protect him as if he were nothing more than a child.
“And then I’m going to make whoever did that to you pay.”
A smile slipped into place and he shook his head, awed at the power and determination the woman possessed. She would protect him. How fucking bizarre. A DaCosta.
My DaCosta. The thought was bittersweet considering he had no clue what the hell was coming down the pike.
They slipped from the jungle refuge and quickly made their way back to the great room. It was near dawn, darkness still hung in the sky, and, through the windows, stars could be seen twinkling like diamonds.
The smell of food wafted toward them, and his belly rumbled. He turned immediately and followed Jaden across the foyer and into an extremely large, modern kitchen.
It was full. His gaze traveled across the room, taking in the shocked faces as everyone stared back at him and Jaden.
“Julian, what the hell happened to you?”
The harsh voice belonged to Jagger, and Julian squared his shoulders angrily, not liking the focus of so many. His brother’s eyes stared at the scars exposed on his chest, and they burned beneath Jagger’s gaze. He felt like a damned bug under a microscope.
The edges of his mind condensed and expanded as darkness seeped into the cracks. It was always there, the blackness. The rage.
“Do yo
u want a detailed play-by-play or the condensed version? It’s not like we have a whole lot of time,” he asked, frowning darkly as he stared at his brothers.
He fought the urge to cover himself, ashamed of the scars and what they represented. Weakness. Helplessness. He saw the horror on Skye’s face before their eyes connected, and she looked away.
It was Libby that pulled at his heartstrings.
Her eyes were huge as she rose from her seat and crossed to him, her hand reaching for his even though he flinched at her touch. He knew of the scars she carried. Of how the DaCostas had carved her flesh and left their own unique brand of tattoo behind.
She’d suffered as well, and he respected how far she’d come.
“Julian, Mr. M has made pretty much every breakfast item you can think of. Please help yourself.” Her eyes strayed to the scars on his chest, and he tried not to show his aversion as she rested her hand against them. He was unsuccessful. She ignored his discomfort, and whispered, “They’ll fade, and, eventually, the memories will as well.” She looked at Jaden, her eyes sad. “Life goes on, and we learn to deal.” She squeezed his hand. “You’re not alone, Julian, even if it feels like that. Your family loves you.”
He shook his head politely and withdrew his hand, murmuring, “I’m gonna grab a coffee.”
Jaden followed him to the side table, and they both poured themselves a strong cup of brew. Her dark eyes never left him, and he was starting to feel confined, like he needed to shift and run.
Declan joined them, his face grim.
“You look like crap,” Julian said as he studied the sorcerer. The man looked like he’d not slept in days, which Julian knew from personal experience was most likely the case.
“Beggin’ pardon, but not everyone got laid last night.” Declan winked and laughed softly as his gaze moved to Jaden. “Lucky son of a bitch.”
Julian’s chest rumbled, and his nostrils flared. “Move away from her.”
Declan paid him no mind and continued on, his tone light, though the fire that lit his eyes was anything but. Julian sensed the darkness inside the Irishman and thought that maybe the sorcerer was closer to the edge than he realized.
“I think your woman can more than take care of herself, and if I’m guessing right, won’t take too kindly to having you decide who gets to stand next to her.” He flashed a grin. “Besides, she smells really good.”
Julian’s animal shifted, and his skin burned as he bared his teeth.
“Julian, it’s okay.” Jaden put her hand on his arm, and his anger receded. She turned to Declan, and her voice was curt. “You will stop antagonizing him. Do not cross me on this. Everybody needs to be on top of their game. I don’t have to remind you how high the stakes are today and what will happen if we fail.”
“No, you don’t.” Declan backed away and grabbed himself a cup of coffee. “It’s all I can think about.”
“If you guys are done with the drama, we need to get organized.” Ana’s dry voice cut between them, and they all turned to the vampire. She stood a few feet away, her lips pursed tightly, a look of annoyance pinching the delicate features of her face. She looked pale, even for a vampire, and Julian knew that there was something heavy going on between her and Declan. It was in the way her eyes never strayed far from him.
It was in the way Declan tried to avoid her at all costs.
“Ana’s right.” Jaxon rose from the table and nodded toward the foyer. “We’ll meet downstairs in ten minutes.” His dark gaze settled on Julian. “Can I have a word with you two?” He nodded toward the sorcerer.
Julian watched as everyone else cleared out. They were off to their corners to get ready for whatever the hell was coming their way. Finn’s golden complexion was pale, and his eyes looked haunted as he nodded before slipping away. Nico lingered, his eyes claiming Jaden even as he turned to leave.
It bothered Julian to see the want reflected in the warrior’s eyes, but he knew that Nico would give his life to protect Jaden—that he’d claim her if he could. Julian didn’t like it, but he needed to be cool with it. She deserved so much more than he’d ever be able to give.
He watched the jaguar leave and unclenched his jaw.
“Jaden, you remember how to get to the hub? This isn’t official business, more of a family issue,” Jaxon said politely.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“She stays.” Julian spoke quickly, surprising even himself. He could tell Jaxon wasn’t pleased, and his brother arched an eyebrow as he glared back at him.
“Fine,” Jaxon answered, his tone clipped, though he could tell his brother was perplexed.
Jaden moved closer to him, and just the presence of her body, the feel of her warmth, did wonders for him. He was fast losing control, yet, with her at his side, the slide wasn’t so slippery. He was able to hold his ground.
“What are the two of you not telling me?” Jaxon asked, looking at the both of them, ignoring the chuckle that fell from Declan’s mouth.
The sorcerer snorted and stood with his arms crossed. “This should be good.”
Julian ignored him and faced his brother, not liking his tone or the way he was looking at Jaden.
“She is mine.”
Julian heard the words, and as they echoed inside his skull, he looked down at the woman beside him. She is mine. It felt . . . right to vocalize it. He glanced into Jaxon’s shocked face and smiled wickedly, liking the fact that his brother was off center. “We are mated.”
“He is your mate?” Jaxon asked Jaden, his tone incredulous. “And you never thought I might like to know this?”
“It was none of your business, Castille,” she said softly. “Hell, Julian didn’t even find out until a few days ago.”
“When? How?” Jaxon asked, his questions fragmented.
“Well, I’m guessing they did the nasty at some point,” Declan inserted, his face alight with a devilish grin. “It’s usually how it works isn’t it? I mean with you shifters. Christ, is there no other way? Some cultures jump over a rock or sing to the moon. Easy and it’s done, but you guys . . . it’s all about the sex.”
The sorcerer sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. “And while I’ll be the first to admit I’d love to hear all the tasty details, we don’t have time for this shit.” His eyes narrowed, and the energy in the room changed slightly. “What the fuck do you want to know, Jaxon? Just ask the question.”
Silence fell between them for several long seconds. Julian could tell that his brother was struggling with something. Join the fucking club, he thought.
Jaxon glared at the three of them, his dark eyes narrowed, his lips thinned. His broad shoulders were square, and the power that clung to him would scare the shit out of most men.
“You’re hiding something. I can tell. I need to know everything before we head to Vegas.” His brows furled together into a grimace. “There’s no room for mistakes.” Jaxon looked at each of them, and there was no doubt as to the seriousness of the situation. “There’s too much at stake. I won’t jeopardize my son’s future.”
“There’s nothing that you need to know.” The lie slipped easily off Julian’s tongue, and his face remained blank as he faced his brother. They were way too close to his objective to fuck things up now.
Jaxon’s eyes narrowed, and they glittered, a dangerous, dark color. He took a few steps forward but stopped as a growl erupted from Julian.
The two brothers stared at each other, while the energy in the room darkened.
“Where have you been for the last six months?” Jaxon spit out, and it was obvious he was furious. “Why did you not contact us as soon as you could?” His eye turned to Declan, full of accusation. “You were part of my team, Dec. What the hell is going on?”
“Why do you care?” Julian asked. “Isn’t it enough that we’re here and willing to do whatever it takes to defeat Cormac? Why the interrogation?”
“I care because someone let you out from wherever the hell it is you were.�
�� Jaxon’s face was fierce. “Nothing is coincidence. I’m assuming that someone wants something from you in exchange for your freedom.”
Julian’s gut clenched. His brother was a smart son of a bitch. He narrowed his eyes and the anger inside of him burned hard.
“And you!” Jaxon’s furious eyes leveled a dark look onto Jaden. “You are part of PATU. We’ve worked together. What’s your role in all of this? Can we really trust you? Or does the DaCosta blood that I can smell from here taint you the same way it’s painted your family in darkness.”
The animal inside Julian bellowed in rage, and he snarled, his body a blur, as he reached for his brother. His vision narrowed until he saw red, so great was the anger inside of him.
She was there, her body slipping into the space between them, preventing him from getting to Jaxon. His canines erupted painfully, and the darkness that always circled the edges of his mind expanded until he began to pant loudly. He was riding the edge, and, for the moment, it looked inviting as all hell.
His eyes looked deep into his brother’s, and he knew that in that moment, if not for Jaden, he would have done everything in his power to rip Jaxon’s throat out. He envisioned it, clear as day, and smiled wickedly at the thought.
He felt the animal beneath his skin shift, felt the claws that had erupted. A growl rumbled, low, from his belly, and he heard Declan swearing, inventing new words as he tried to calm the animal.
His energy changed and he turned his head, pinning the sorcerer with a furious look. “Stand back and don’t try your fucking mojo on me.”
Declan’s face was tight, but he nodded and fell back.
It was then that he smelled the blood, and, instantly, the madness faded as he looked down at Jaden. In his rush to get to Jaxon, she’d stepped in the way of his claws. Even though he’d not shifted, the tips of his fingers had become razor-sharp, and he’d pierced the flesh of her shoulder.
“I’m fine,” she whispered. “It’s nothing Julian, really.”
His Darkest Salvation Page 24
