Dark Protector

by Katie Reus

  She held out a container of what was now only twelve cookies. She should be full but when she was stressed, she ate. “Want one?”

  He snorted and shook his head. “You steal these?”

  “From Ana.” She ate another one, the cinnamon sweetness doing nothing to ease the tension inside her.

  “Shameless,” he muttered, a half-smile tugging at his normally harsh mouth.

  The male was an enforcer for the lupine shifters’ Council that governed the packs in North America. Not like the way humans did though. Alphas ruled their own packs, but The Council was kept up to date on the formation of new packs, and if necessary they sent Jayce to mete out punishment to anyone caught breaking their laws.

  And Jayce was scary as fuck. Gah, damn it, she needed to stop cursing. She’d been trying to cut all curse words out of her vocabulary for the last five months but even in her head she couldn’t stop. Vivian had told her she had a potty mouth—which she did. So she was watching herself around the jaguar cub now. Trying to anyway. She couldn’t even stop cursing in her head.

  “So what’s up?” he asked.

  Well, stealing the cookies hadn’t been pointless because she was hungry, but the truth was, he wouldn’t take a bribe anyway. She’d just been hoping to butter him up a little before diving in. Here goes nothing, she thought. “Look, I know what you’re going to say, but please hear me out before you respond. I want in on your next mission. I did well on the last one—until shit went sideways. But that wasn’t really my fault.”

  She’d accidentally killed an important, ancient vampire. With one of Jayce’s blades. That had caused a ripple of effects for both their species but that was all water under the bridge now. “And you know I’ve had experience on other investigations since then. I…need off the ranch, Jayce. Even a small part of a mission would be appreciated.” She forced herself to stop before she started begging.

  Watching her carefully, Jayce rubbed a hand over the scarred side of his face. He had a wicked-looking scar that formed a crisscross over his left eye. That, combined with his gray gunmetal eyes and the fact that he was five hundred years old? Yeah, scary was a good description. He was one of the oldest shifters in existence, which meant he was very skilled at surviving. The only reason she wasn’t scared of him anymore was because she’d seen the way he looked at Kat and their adoptive daughter.

  Plus he was Aldric’s brother. He’d actually let his brother scar him up centuries ago because Aldric had been in mourning. Aaaaannnd at that thought, the cookie turned to cardboard in her mouth. The reason the male had been in mourning had been because his mate had been killed.

  Natalia didn’t think Aldric was over her, would probably never get over her death. Something she didn’t want to think about now. She’d wasted enough time letting him take up space in her head. She was moving on, and taking on a new mission away from the ranch was the best way for her to do that.

  “I’m heading out soon on an investigation with Kat. I could use an extra person I trust as part of the team. You’re in if you really want.”

  She blinked. She’d been so sure she’d have to convince him. “For real?”

  “Yep. You’ll need to clear it with Connor, but I think you’re perfect for this. It’s in upstate New York. We’ll be attending a party with a feuding vamp coven and lupine pack. The Clifton coven and Kinley pack.” He paused, as if waiting for her to recognize the names.

  She’d never heard of either the coven or pack, but that wasn’t unusual. Not considering how insular supernaturals could be. “I’m in.”

  He nodded once. “Good. You’ll be one of my eyes and ears—like at the club thing we did in Winston-Salem.”

  That was the night she’d met Aldric for the first time—and the night she’d killed someone for the first time. Ugh. She didn’t want to think about that now. The guy had deserved to die so she didn’t feel guilt over it. Not truly. “I’ve been begging you for months to take me on another mission. Why the change?”

  “I think you’ll work well with the partner I have picked out for you.”

  If she was going to get this opportunity, she wasn’t going to turn it down. Not when spending time away from the ranch and having some adventure was exactly what she’d been craving. “Who’s my partner?”

  “A vamp. You’ll like him. He’s easy to work with.”

  There was only one thing left to ask. “When do we leave?”

  Chapter 2

  Jayce pushed open the door to the house he shared with Kat. There was an underlying scent of roses teasing him—his mate’s scent. It was still surreal that he was mated at all, much less to a woman better than any fantasy he could have imagined. The scent was strong enough to let him know she was home even if he couldn’t hear her moving around upstairs.

  It made him edgy, needy. Something he was still getting used to after only ten months. Though he’d known her longer than that, had been in love with her longer too.

  The first time he’d met her he’d wanted her, craved her with a need he hadn’t expected. He’d wanted to push her away, push away anyone who could make him feel like that. He’d been rude and offensive to her—and she’d laughed in his face, calling him a little puppy.

  Her words had been like a challenge, one he hadn’t been able to resist. So he’d chased after her until he’d caught her. Then he’d been stupid enough to let her go, but luckily the gods or God or someone had allowed him to have her back. He’d almost lost her because of his own stupidity, then at the hands of an evil group. Never again.

  He’d never let her go. The female owned him. She was his heaven.

  “Hey, you,” she said, jogging down the stairs, her long black hair loose around her shoulders. “Leila’s over at December’s. She’s going to babysit tonight so Liam and December can get away for some grownup time.”

  Translation—he and Kat got grownup time too. He growled low in his throat, pleased at the thought. It didn’t matter that they made time for each other—he was always ready for her.

  Her pale blue eyes went pure shifter as she paused halfway down the stairs. With a wicked, knowing grin, she turned on her heel and raced back up the way she’d come.

  Daring him to chase her.

  He loved chasing her. They both loved when he did. Moving with lupine speed he sprinted after her, his feet barely touching the stairs until he stood in the doorway of their bedroom.

  Their bedroom.

  The first they’d ever had that was all theirs. Not his or hers, but a home they lived in together. As a family.

  She was stretched out on her back on the pile of giant fluffy blankets they kept in front of their fireplace. Her hands were behind her head as she stared at him, her wolf still in her gaze. “You must be getting old,” she murmured. “I beat you this time.”

  “Old?” He stalked toward her, all the muscles in his body pulled taut. His erection was already shoving insistently against his pants, the mere scent of her pushing him to the edge.

  “Mm hmm.” Her eyes flicked back to human, the humor there making him smile even as he felt primed for her. This female completely undid him.

  He stripped off his shirt and shoes before he knelt in front of her. His pulse was an erratic beat. “Why are you still dressed?” he rasped out.

  “Waiting for my mate to take care of that.” There was a haughty note to her voice that had his cock straining even more. He could be patient when he wanted—except with her.

  She didn’t move other than to spread her thighs wider as he slid in between her legs. He reached for the button of her tight jeans and slid the denim down her legs. She should never, ever wear clothes. At five feet nine inches, it seemed she had miles and miles of smooth, toned legs. A scrap of bright pink material covered her pussy and he knew she’d have on a matching bra.

  His mate liked to wear pretty things and he’d had to stop tearing them off her. Sometimes it was simply easier to flick out a claw and slice through the barrier between her body and him.
But…he’d learned to be a little more civilized for her. Or at least feign it. Because he would do anything for his Kat.

  She rolled her hips once, arching off the blankets in a lazy, sensuous motion. “Too slow,” she whispered, her eyes full of a hunger that mirrored his own. It had only been two days since he’d last had her, but it felt like a lifetime.

  In seconds she was completely bared to him, his beautiful, strong mate. Long and slender, she had a hint of curves he couldn’t resist running his hands over. Not that he wanted to resist. He wanted to consume her right now. With his callused hands, he cupped her breasts, teased her light pink nipples with his thumbs.

  The scent of her arousal filled the room, making his primal side shove to the surface like a battering ram. “How do you want it?”

  Her cheeks flushed, her eyes went wolf again. “Surprise me.”

  When she said that she usually meant she wanted it a little rough. Right now he needed to take the edge off first. Bringing her to orgasm would do that for him. He needed to please his mate on a bone-deep level. Something about being bondmates did that to males. They had to take care of their females in every way. And he loved doing it.

  Without warning he buried his face between her legs. She let out a yelp of surprise before one hand gripped his head. He normally shaved his head but he’d grown out a little buzz for her because she said she liked the way it felt against her fingertips.

  She tasted sweet and all his. That primal thing that lived inside him was right at the surface, teasing and tasting her.

  “Jayce.” The way she gasped out his name was like a prayer, all needy and desperate.

  His tongue delved into her oh-so-slick folds. She was soaked for him and they’d barely started. He teased her over and over before focusing solely on her clit. The little nub was swollen and sensitive.

  She jerked against him the harder he stroked her clit, making nonsensical sounds. He could drown in her taste, in her, and die a happy shifter.

  There had been a time when he’d been sure he’d lost her for good. At that thought he increased his efforts, pressuring her clit more than normal just as he slid two fingers inside her.

  With another surprised yelp she started coming, as he’d known she would. He’d learned exactly what she needed to find release, loved pushing her over that edge. As her inner walls tightened around him, milking his fingers harder and harder, her thighs clenched around his head and she called out his name.

  He relished the pressure, savored the taste of her climax on his tongue as she rode through her release. Finally, he pulled back to look up the length of her body.

  She looked down at him with a sultry, sated expression as her legs fell, boneless, to the blankets.

  Hard and aching, he crawled up her body, caging her underneath him. When they were face to face she smiled up at him, cupping his cheek with one hand as she wrapped her legs around his waist.

  Unfortunately he was still dressed. Moving quickly he shoved his pants off before caging her in again. With nothing between them, he got exactly what he wanted.

  He didn’t need to guide himself with his hand, instead just positioned his cock at her entrance and slid fully inside her.

  Gasping, she arched her back as he filled her.

  His jaw tightened and his balls pulled up harder as she clenched harder around him. He kept his gaze pinned to hers, watching her as he remained in place.

  Staring up at him, she slid her hands over his chest and stroked his shoulders. “I missed you today,” she murmured, rolling her hips against him.

  He was beyond words at this point, and nipped her bottom lip between his teeth before devouring her mouth. She met him stroke for stroke, her tongue delving past his lips, just as hungry for him as he was for her.

  “Move,” she groaned against him, the word muffled. But he understood it.

  Gladly. He began thrusting, slamming into her in rough, hard strokes. When she’d been human he’d been more careful with her. Now, they could both give in to their primal urges.

  Her nails scored down his back as he slammed into her, over and over. It didn’t take him long to reach the edge but he held back, wanting to savor the feel of her tight sheath milking him.

  He loved the way she took him, as if they’d been created just for each other. Latching on to one breast, he sucked a nipple into his mouth. She arched again, digging her fingers into his back.

  Her inner walls grew slicker, clenching even tighter. She was close, ready to climax again. He craved it, to feel her orgasming around him.

  Reaching between their bodies he tweaked her clit, rubbing it in a tight little pattern guaranteed to push her over the edge once more.

  “Jayce!” She buried her face against his neck only to pierce his skin with her canines.

  There was no pain, only pleasure as she marked him. Another reminder that he belonged to her as much as she did to him. He let go of his control then, his own orgasm slamming through him, piercing all his nerve endings as pleasure pummeled his body.

  When they both collapsed against the blankets, he rolled to his side, instinctively pulling her to him. She laid her head against his chest, her breath skating against his skin in uneven rasps.

  He stroked a hand down her hair and spine. Inhaling, he let her scent fill him. She was his.

  “What time does Leila come back?” he asked sometime later. He wasn’t sure how long they’d been lying there. Didn’t really care as he held Kat in his arms.

  She laughed lightly, no doubt knowing why he asked. “Not sure.”

  “Natalia asked to come on our mission Friday,” he said abruptly. Saying yes to her hadn’t been an impulsive move. Not exactly. But there were others he could have asked. Those with more experience and training. Natalia had been so damn eager though and the truth was, she would do a good job. That was never in question.

  Kat lifted her head, propping her chin against her hand as she looked at him. “You said she was too young—even though we’re pretty much the same age.”

  Part of him still didn’t like taking Kat on missions with him, but he’d rather have her with him than leave her behind. And the only way for her to grow into her strength, to learn how to truly fight, was to work with him. “I changed my mind.”

  His mate snorted. “Are you playing matchmaker at your age?”

  He pinched her ass. “What’s up with the age jokes?” he mock growled.

  “I just like messing with you,” she murmured, nipping his chin lightly.

  He loved that about her. She’d brought so much into his life, including laughter and playfulness, something he’d missed for centuries. “No. I think she’ll be perfect for this job. But I…want my brother to find what we have.” He hated seeing his brother alone. It was like part of Aldric had died all those centuries ago—until he’d met Natalia. Jayce wouldn’t let his brother be a dumb-ass and let her slip through his fingers. So if that meant he brought Natalia in on a job that Aldric just happened to be part of?

  Kat’s expression softened. “Just when I think I can’t love you any more than I already do. And I agree. God, what is wrong with him?” she muttered.

  Jayce didn’t respond. Aldric had lost his pregnant mate centuries ago. The loss had changed him irrevocably. Since he’d met Natalia, however, Aldric had seemed as if he could be fucking happy again. Then he’d gone on a mission and just decided to not come back. He’d been gone over five months and though he was in touch with Jayce and Kat, Jayce knew that Aldric had simply cut Natalia out of his life.

  Jayce understood what that was like, how much it hurt. Aldric had done the same damn thing to him centuries ago when he’d lost his mate and gone a little mad. But he’d seen the change in his brother since Aldric had let Natalia into his life.

  “She doesn’t ask about him anymore. Hasn’t in months.” Kat’s voice was quiet.

  Jayce nodded, figuring as much. “I didn’t tell her he’d be there.”

  Kat lifted her eyebrows but didn�
�t respond, just laid her head back on his chest. After a few minutes, she slid a hand down his stomach and grasped his hardening cock. “Think we have time for a quickie before we’re not alone anymore?”

  He had her pinned flat on her back before she’d finished the question. The answer was always a yes.

  Chapter 3

  “I don’t want to go to this fucking party,” Ursula snarled, showing her fangs. She stomped a heeled foot against the entryway of her grand foyer before taking a vase and throwing it at a wall.

  Using quick reflexes, Aldric caught it, sighed and put it back on the pedestal she’d grabbed it from. He focused on her. “Then you wish me to stop investigating your mate’s disappearance?” The truth was, he wouldn’t stop no matter her answer. He’d been hired to do a job. Not to mention Arthur was his…maybe not friend, exactly, but he respected the male.

  Aldric would find him or find what had happened to him, if he was indeed dead. Though according to Ursula he wasn’t, because she could feel her mate’s existence still in the world. Too bad she couldn’t tell Aldric where exactly. Because his job could never be easy.

  “Don’t be an ass! I didn’t say I wasn’t going. Just that I didn’t want to go.” She smoothed a hand down her elegant black dress. Her reddish hair, streaked with gold, was pulled up into a twist at her neck.

  “You done with your tantrum?” He kept his voice mild, knowing it would annoy her enough to start behaving. She was almost as old as him and normally the epitome of control. He could understand her emotional state right now though. Her mate was missing and she was worried about him. But Arthur was smart and would find a way to survive if at all possible. Ursula just needed to remember that.

  Jaw clenched tightly, she nodded and turned her back to him, showing an expanse of bare skin. He took one of the recorders she’d be wearing and slid the jeweled piece into her hair. Even to a trained observer, no one could see that it was a recording device. She was also wearing a microscopic recorder in a necklace he’d provided her with. Technology was an incredible thing.