“Jessa?” Finn’s voice was soft, anguished.
She shook her head, refusing to look at him. That would only make things worse. He was the other reason she couldn’t leave. The hold he had on her refused to budge. Until she figured out what to do about it, she’d cling to Oscar and try not to fall apart.
“Take the laundry, divide it up,” Finn’s voice was tight, clipped. “All of this stays.”
“The scent trail needs to be covered,” a voice Jessa didn’t know.
She opened her eyes, regarding Finn and the redhead at his side.
“You think soiled diapers and dirty clothes will throw them off?” the man asked.
Finn rubbed a hand over his face. “What else can I fucking do, Hollis?”
The man, Hollis, shook his head. “I don’t think they’ll come back right away.”
“That’s why we’re leaving,” Finn said, looking at her. “We have to go, Jessa.”
“Let me take her,” Hollis said.
She froze, glancing at Hollis then at Finn and the look on his face. Fury. “No.” His one word said it all.
“Oscar?” Hollis was exasperated.
“No,” he repeated.
“Now you’re going all territorial?” Hollis shook his head. “Think, Finn.”
Finn spoke clearly. “I’m not letting either one out of my sight.”
Hollis nodded, stepping back. “Fine. Take them. I’ll do what I can here and meet you later.”
Finn clapped the man on the shoulder. “Thank you.”
Hollis’s grin was tight. “What choice do I have?”
Finn’s jaw clenched, his hand sliding from Hollis’s shoulder.
Jessa waited, watching Finn’s shoulders droop when they were left alone. “Who was that?” she asked.
His blue eyes found her. “Hollis. One of my oldest friends.”
Exhaustion weighed her down. “Where are we going?”
“Someplace safe,” he said, crossing to her.
She stared up at him. “When are we leaving?”
A ghost of a smile crossed his face. “Now.”
She stood, unsteady. “Okay.”
In ten minutes, they were climbing into a car she’d never seen before. She buckled Oscar into the car seat and tried to breathe but the throb of her head reminded her that Thomas had left his mark upon her—physically and mentally. She reached back, probing the wound and wincing. The gash felt deep—her hair was sticky and matted. When he’d done it, she’d barely registered what was happening. The burn of tears made her close her eyes.
She shouldn’t think about Thomas.
She shouldn’t think about anything.
They changed cars several times. Finn was there at her side, his voice encouraging and his hand on the base of her spine. It helped keep her fear at bay, even as exhaustion crept in. Sometime before dawn, they checked into a hotel. She had no idea what city they were in, but the hotel was all glitz and glamour, with crystal chandeliers and perky desk attendants going on about room service and spa treatments. She let Finn do the talking and carried Oscar to their room. Baby supplies were waiting on one of the beds, but Oscar was still sleeping. She pressed a kiss against his forehead and took a shower, washing her hair and standing under the water until she was too tired to stay on her feet. She tugged on the robe hanging on the back of the bathroom door, changed and fed Oscar, and collapsed on the bed.
Finn made phone calls—lots of phone calls—and the even pitch of his voice gave her some sense of calm.
But when he finally turned off the light and headed for the shower, sleep wouldn’t come. She was aware of the guests next door, laughing and talking loudly, and the faint ding of the elevator down the hall. She heard the water running in the shower then Finn getting into the other double bed. He tossed and turned, punched his pillow into submission, then flopped back onto the mattress. His sigh echoed in the room.
Every squeak Oscar made, every creak of the mattress spring, Jessa’s eyes would pop open and her heart would pound.
She turned, rolling onto her side to stare at the sliver of light that spilled in at the edge of the window. She heard the creak of Finn’s bed, heard him pad across the floor to the bathroom and come back minutes later. But then there was silence. She jumped when Finn’s hand rested on her hip.
“You need sleep,” he whispered.
She didn’t argue or pull away from him. Her heart thundered, yearning for his touch.
The mattress gave as he climbed onto her bed. He didn’t say a word as he wrapped himself around her. His arm, thick and heavy, slid around her waist. His heat seeped through the terry-cloth robe she wore. And it felt good. Too good.
She closed her eyes.
His hand rested on her rib cage. His breath fanned the skin at the nape of her neck. One muscled calf slipped between hers, his toes brushing the inside of her foot. She was more distracted than ever now. But in a completely different way. Her body hummed, alive and awake.
Chapter Seven
What the fuck?
His wolf was happy.
So, why wasn’t he? Why was he lying here aching for more? She was in his hold, so damn close he could feel every breath, every beat, every shudder. He could smell her soap and shampoo, her skin, the faint tang of blood, the scent of her arousal…for him.
She wasn’t asleep any more than he was. She’d been through hell today. From the slight tremor in her hands as she’d fed Oscar, he knew she was barely holding it together. He’d wanted to offer her comfort—instead he’d put them in a precarious position. The last thing she needed was him coming on to her. Still, he wanted her. She wanted him. He was hard and throbbing, needing her.
But acting on it had permanent consequences.
His wolf wanted her as his mate—an unbreakable bond. A bond that would ensure Jessa never had a normal life again.
He lay there, taking slow, deep breaths, willing his heart to slow down. She dropped into an uneasy sleep, her body going limp and pliable in his arms. His brain wouldn’t shut off. He’d worried about Oscar, but she’d keep him safe. And that scared the shit out of him. The woman in his arms had no idea how important she’d become to him. He turned, pressing his nose along the curve of her jaw and the soft skin along her neck. She could have been killed. He could not lose her.
It was a long night. Nightmares kept her from a deep sleep. Every whimper or twitch had him whispering reassurances in her ear. He rolled onto his back and pulled her close, trying not to react to the feel of her hand on his bare abdomen, or the exquisite torture of her breath on his chest. He buried his nose in her hair and forced himself to relax. He’d be no good to either of them if he didn’t get some sleep.
When he woke up, Jessa was changing Oscar on the other bed. She was speaking softly, her smile so sweet he ached.
Oscar’s long leg kicked out, catching Finn’s attention. A little hand popped up—his son stretching and wriggling. Finn sat up, watching with curiosity. So, small. So, perfect.
He stood, and smiled as the baby’s eyes tried to focus on him.
Finn chuckled.
“Breakfast,” Jessa said, offering him the bottle.
She was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. Her long blond hair fell over one shoulder. Her huge green eyes were shadowed but bright. She smiled at him, offering him the bottle.
Reaching out, he took it.
Her smile grew.
I’d do anything to see that smile again.
Whipped? Yep. And I don’t care. That should have scared the hell out of him, too, but it didn’t.
She pointed at the chair in the corner and then placed his son in his arms. At first, he wasn’t sure what to expect. Then something inside of him shifted. Protectiveness, yes, but more gentle. A certainty and rightness that seemed to center him.
She grinned at him again, saying, “He’s a champion eater.”
After a large bottle and two burps, Finn had the pleasure of studying his son. He took the time to
note each dimple, ten toes, ten fingers, light eyes—like his own—and a strong grip. As Oscar drifted into a happy sleep, Finn accepted that something fundamental had changed.
He—and his wolf—felt purpose. He had every reason in the world to keep going, right here in this room. He’d never choose this life, but it no longer made sense to fight who and what he was.
Not with the Others tracking them.
Hollis said they were still sniffing around the Hill Country. Dante and Anders agreed. For now, they had an advantage. One they’d need. They had a long way to go today.
He stood, carried Oscar to the bed, and pressed a kiss on his soft cheek. “Sleep on,” he whispered, placing him on the bed. “I will protect you, no matter what.”
Jessa was combing through her hair with her fingers. He saw her wince and moved to her, lifting her hair aside to see the gash Thomas had left. His anger, the wolf’s anger, rose instantly. “Hurt?”
She shrugged. “Only when I touch it.” She turned, looking up at him.
“Did you get any sleep?” he asked.
She nodded. “Thank you for…that.”
“For what?” For doing what he wanted?
“For keeping me safe,” she finished.
“You are safe.” He drew in a deep breath. “What you did for Oscar, protecting him—”
“I had to,” she said softly.
“You had to put yourself in harm’s way to protect my son?” He shook his head. “You’re an amazing woman, Jessa. I can never, ever, repay you or thank you enough for what you’ve done for me.” His throat grew tight, it was all he could manage.
Her cheeks colored, the slight hitch of her breath intriguing him. “I know he’s not mine, but I love Oscar as if he were.” Her voice was a whisper. “You don’t need a nanny. You have me. No matter how scared I am, leaving him would kill me.”
“Don’t leave. Stay with him. Stay with me.” He tilted her chin back. “Please. I will keep you safe.”
She swallowed, her green eyes holding his. “With you, nothing’s safe.”
“I would never hurt you, Jessa. You protected my son with your life, risked everything for him—for us.” He ground the words out, the pain of her doubt all but crippling. “You know what I am. My wolf and I will make sure nothing like this ever happens again. You are family now. My family. Do you believe me?”
Her eyes widened, but then she leaned into his hand, her nod slight.
His resistance almost crumbled. He ached to tug her close and kiss her lips. His wolf paced, craving a bond with her. His thumb traced the edge of her lower lip before he could stop himself. It was a mistake, an-oh-so-sweet mistake.
He stepped away from her, his control on the brink. He didn’t want to leave her, but staying here was too great a temptation for his wolf. He slipped into his jeans and stepped into his boots, tugging on his white undershirt as he opened the door. “Getting breakfast,” he said before he left the room.
…
She pulled on the jersey dress and frowned. Mr. Brown had already thrown away their old clothes, including her bra. Every trace of their route had to be destroyed, wiped out, to keep the Others off their tracks. Jessa understood, but now she had no bra and an indecently tight dress to wear. There was nothing she could do about it. According to Mr. Brown, they were leaving in five minutes.
She braided her hair loosely, brushed her teeth, and hurried back into the hotel bedroom. Oscar was wriggling and content on the bed, in a clean diaper and thick gown—since it was colder where they were going.
She smiled down at him. “You look happy.”
The door opened to reveal Finn and Mr. Brown, both of whom immediately noticed her lack of bra. Great. She picked up Oscar, using him as a shield of sorts. “We’re ready.”
“Good.” Finn’s eyes narrowed. “Let’s go.”
They took the back way out, stairwells and parking garages, none of them talking until they were inside a truck. Oscar’s seat was strapped in the middle, so she buckled him in. A motorcycle was strapped into the back of the truck, something she hadn’t expected. No room for a car seat there, she grinned. But then, Finn was known for liking fast things.
When he climbed into the truck, her stomach tightened. Should she bring up this morning? He’d wanted to kiss her, so why hadn’t he? She wouldn’t have resisted. She would have held on—tight. Because damn it all, she loved him.
Instead of saying anything, she just sat in silence.
“Breakfast,” he said, offering her a brown paper bag.
She took it. “Thank you.”
He didn’t say much as they navigated out of the city and onto a stretch of endless highway. She didn’t know if it was her imagination, but the tension between them seemed to grow with each passing mile.
She finally broke the silence. “Can I ask a question?”
“Yes.” His blue eyes glanced her way.
“What about Thomas’s family? Will he just disappear? Is that what happens?”
“Yes.”
“I’m guessing there’s more like Thomas? Because of Cyrus?” she asked.
He nodded.
“Why do they hate you?”
His hands tightened on the steering wheel. “The bone that infected me was important—something they want. Hollis says it was probably one of their ancestors, possibly the same bloodline, but ancient. Which makes me and those I’ve turned more powerful than they are.”
“He wants you because you’re a threat. You challenge his role?”
He nodded.
“I’m guessing the whole territorial wolf thing prevents sharing and playing nice?”
He laughed. “Yes.”
She loved that sound. And that smile. It made her heart happy. He made her heart happy. She swallowed.
“He might not want to kill me, but there’s no doubt he wants to control me. A wolf is unfailingly loyal to his offspring. And his mate.” He glanced at her, his hands clenching the steering wheel again.
Did he miss Cara? Their relationship had brought Oscar into the world. “I’m sorry about Oscar’s mother. Was she… a wolf?”
“No. She had no idea what I was.” He shook his head.
Jessa saw the sadness on his face. “You miss her?”
“Cara wasn’t my mate. Sex isn’t the same thing. She and I had a good time, nothing more.” He looked at her. “A wolf only has one mate in his or her life. And once they find it, there is no one else.”
Which meant he only had one thing at stake. “You have to protect Oscar. How do we do that?” she asked.
He ran a hand through his hair. “Stop fighting my wolf.”
She turned in her seat. “You fight your… wolf?”
“Sometimes more than others.” His grin was hard.
“Over what?” she asked.
His brows rose. “Domination. I’m an alpha, a leader. Sometimes the wolf needs to prove that.”
She had a vague idea what that meant. His run-in with Thomas was etched into her memory. “But you said Cyrus doesn’t want to kill you.”
“If the blood that runs in my veins is linked to his ancestors, then killing me might kill him.”
“Oh,” she sat back, digesting this.
“It’s Hollis’s theory. One I’ve never had to test.”
She looked at Oscar, sleeping peacefully in his seat. “My brothers?”
“Are safe,” he answered immediately. “Under constant guard.”
“By werewolves?” she asked.
“No. None of my pack has turned anyone, Jessa. We don’t look at this as a good thing. My pack—there’s five of us—check in occasionally, but we know being together for too long tends to stir recognition. I talk to Hollis more often, for obvious reasons. He’s our science guy—my answer man. He thinks it’s an infection he can cure. Until then, we agreed: no children, no mates, no complications.”
She stared at him. “Are you serious? So you’re all supposed to suffer alone?”
He looked at her
. “Versus pretending to live normal lives? Risk hurting people we care about, or infecting them? Hell, yes.”
“No one should be alone,” she said. “You have Oscar now.”
“We don’t know how this will affect him, Jessa. He’s so small—” He broke off then, clearing his throat and sucking in a deep breath. “The change, turning, might kill him.”
“Finn.” But words stuck in her throat. Oscar was at risk? Whatever fear she’d felt before couldn’t compare to what she felt now. This time she couldn’t save him. “When will we know?”
“Four nights,” Finn growled. “Then I’ll go looking for Cyrus.”
His words ended her need for conversation. But now the darkening sky seemed more threatening than Cyrus. There was nothing either of them could do to stop the moon.
Chapter Eight
Finn tried not to tense as he pulled into the driveway. It wasn’t that he was unhappy to see Dante and Anders. It had been a few years since they’d all been together, and a day didn’t go by that he didn’t feel their absence. But the circumstances of their reunion were far from ideal. All too soon they’d face a full moon. Damn, he was tired.
“Hollis was at your apartment. Who are the other two?” Jessa asked from beside him in the truck cab.
“The big one next to him is Anders. He thinks he’s hilarious.” Anders waved, grinning. Dante crossed his arms and leaned against the porch railing, watching them. “And the other is Dante.”
“How do you know one another?” she asked.
“College,” he said. “We were all pretty close. Before I attacked them.” Not anymore. Now he had no idea what they thought about all of this.
The passenger door opened before he’d unbuckled his seat belt.
“You must be Jessa.” Anders was all smiles. “Nice to meet the girl who didn’t run away screaming.”
Finn saw Jessa’s smile and calmed. “Does that happen a lot?” she asked, laughter in her voice.
Anders nodded. “Hell, yes. You start sprouting pointy ears and a bunch of extra teeth, and you’d be surprised at how fast a gal can run in heels.”
Falling for the Billionaire Wolf and His Baby (Blood Moon Brotherhood) Page 9
