Aerilyn let out a long sigh and stopped with a pan in her hand. “I’m good. Pissed but good.”
“At Jax or your attacker?” Emery arched her brow as she blew into her cup. “Despite him being a bit of a dumbass, I think he really likes you. Jax, I mean.”
Aerilyn groaned and scratched her head. “I was angry with him all week for how he just walked out like that. I was determined to get him out of here if his freedom was all he cared about, but then he showed up looking so protective. Damn his blue eyes—they’re going to get me in trouble.”
“Where is he?” Emery asked.
Aerilyn answered over her shoulder, “At work. He left a note, but I’m not sure when he left. I fell asleep on the couch while we were watching a movie.”
“When I got back last night, you both were sleeping on the couch.” Emery refilled Petey’s water bowl at the sink and glanced at Aerilyn. “That couldn’t have been comfortable for him, sitting upright all night. Yep, he must really like you.”
Aerilyn tried hiding her smile.
Petey trotted into the kitchen, and Emery gave him a half of her cookie. Aerilyn scolded, “He’s going to get fat if you keep sharing your food with him.”
Emery rolled her eyes and scratched Petey’s chin. “Whatever. So, you want to learn some self-defense moves?”
Now, that was an idea. Aerilyn liked the sound of it. “I didn’t know what to do in the moment. I knew I couldn’t shift, but otherwise my mind went blank.”
“I have a couple moves you could use that wouldn’t get you into trouble—just the opposite. If some jackass wants to try to touch you, you can slip away before he knows what happened. It’s useful for any woman to know these days.”
Aerilyn started some scrambled eggs and felt even better as she took control of the situation. Her father couldn’t claim she wasn’t safe on her own if she learned how to defend herself. She never wanted to feel unprotected again.
Emery looked at her wrinkly, slept-in clothes and shook her head. “Why don’t you get yourself a shower, and by the time you’re out, I’ll have moved the furniture in the living room so we have the space for you to learn some moves.”
Aerilyn watched her friend tap the doorframe before turning around and disappearing down the hallway. She heard Emery’s distant voice sing in her best Pat Benatar impression, “Hit me with your best shot. Why don’t you hit me with your best shot… fire away…”
Aerilyn shook her head and raised her brows. She pressed the spatula along the bottom of the pan, scraping the eggs off, and laughed. Life certainly wasn’t dull with Emery around.
“Ready?” Emery asked.
Aerilyn felt her friend’s eyes trace over her bruised neck and shoulders. She stood ready in a sports bra and exercise leggings, staring back at Emery, who was no longer in her sleep shirt, but sweats and a tank.
“Yeah,” Aerilyn answered with a nod.
“Okay. Show me what your attacker did.” Emery stood casually, gesturing at her friend to come closer.
Aerilyn exhaled before stepping forward and grabbing hold of Emery’s neck and shoulders. With stunning speed, Emery reacted, swinging her arm around, bringing her palm mere centimeters from Aerilyn’s throat. Aerilyn let go and stepped back.
“It’s our natural instinct to shrug our shoulders and try to wriggle free,” Emery said and pulled her long brown hair into a messy bun. “But if you smack your attacker’s carotid artery with the palm or side of your hand, it stops the flow of oxygen to the brain momentarily. It might make them collapse, which could be enough for them to let go so you can run to safety.”
Aerilyn nodded and asked, “But if I’d reacted like that, could I have lost my job? Hitting a parent?”
Emery’s casual expression darkened, and she pointed at Aerilyn’s neck. “Look at what he did to you. If you feel you’re in danger, you’re justified protecting yourself. No one should ever lay hands on you without permission. Give him a loud warning as he moves into your space—back off, leave me alone—before you react.”
Aerilyn took another deep breath and nodded.
Her friend gestured for her to move in on her again. “Okay, try again. There’s another technique I can show you.”
So, Aerilyn stepped forward and grabbed hold of Emery’s neck. Emery reacted, spreading Aerilyn’s hands out from her grasp and lifting her knee up at the same time into Aerilyn’s groin.
“You should work to weaken your attacker,” Emery said as she exhaled. “Now, I want you to try. Let’s start with the carotid artery slap first.”
Aerilyn was sore, but she didn’t care. It was vital that she learn these techniques. She wouldn’t be caught defenseless again. They practiced all morning, taking a break for lunch. Then they went at it some more until Emery called it quits, telling her she needed to get a snack.
By mid-afternoon, Aerilyn was sitting out in her backyard with a fresh cup of coffee, watching Petey wander around her property. She felt even better than she had when she’d woken that morning, having a sense of empowerment that lifted her spirits. If Riley’s dad touched her again, he’d be sorry.
Her phone’s screen lit up with a text from Jax. How are you doing?
She smiled and looked around the evergreen-covered hillside. It was sunny, as it often was, yet there was a chill in the air. Whenever she was stressed, taking some time out in the wilderness centered her and calmed her soul.
Aerilyn texted back. Better than last night. I’ll be going for a hike if you want to join.
Not more than a few seconds passed before she got her response. I’m on my way home. Just need a shower, and I’ll be over.
For the rest of the afternoon, she busied herself with household chores until she heard the knock she’d been waiting for. Petey wagged his tail and greeted Jax with his hedgehog toy.
Jax’s eyes traced over her throat, but she raised the neckline of her bulky sweatshirt, concealing the marks left by Riley’s dad. His eyes creased as he asked, “You sore today?”
She didn’t want him worrying about her, so she shook her head. “I’ll be fine.”
“You’re avoiding the question,” he said with a serious expression. “Can I see?”
Aerilyn stood in the center of her living room and exhaled slowly before peeling off her sweatshirt. He gave no indication of enjoying the view of her in her sports bra, except for an embarrassed momentary glance away. His gaze moved across her shoulders and neck. He stepped forward with his hand outstretched, stopping short of touching her marked skin.
She put her sweatshirt back on and assured him, “It’ll heal. And it won’t happen again.”
He raised an eyebrow. “How do you know?”
She lifted her chin. “Because I know how to defend myself. Emery showed me some new moves today.”
“Did she?” Jax arched his brow.
Aerilyn nodded and led him to her back door. Petey was the first one outside. The dog sensed it was time for their walk and hurried ahead, knowing the way.
Jax and Aerilyn followed after, hiking up a dirt path into the wilderness. She looked above them into the tree canopy and said, “So, I think we need to talk about what happened last week. Put it behind us.”
Jax’s deep voice answered, “I mishandled the situation and was rude. I think that’s about it.”
Aerilyn glanced over at him. “That may be, but I probably should have warned you from the start that my father could have read into things, which would complicate his feelings toward you. And the moment we shared in the wilderness during the Society outing...”
He remained silent, walking beside her. They reached the crest of the hill that opened into a field of yellowed grass. The blades moved ahead of them, revealing Petey’s location. The sun was sinking below the horizon. Lavender and pink hues dappled the cloudy sky.
Sensing he was waiting to hear what she had to say, she continued, “I shouldn’t have allowed the kiss to happen. I have strong intuition, but all shifters do to an extent. Dad may n
ot be thinking straight, but he must be picking up on my attraction… to you.”
Jax’s blue eyes found her gaze. She stopped moving through the tall grass and wrung her hands together. “I will keep myself in check from now on. I’m just not used to—I know how much your freedom means to you, and I will do everything I can to get you off the hook with my dad.”
Petey raced through the clearing, and Aerilyn kept her eyes on her dog to avoid seeing Jax’s reaction. She’d been as honest as she could and as clear as she could manage. It may have left her vulnerable, but it was only fair after the things he’d admitted to her about his past.
“You’re not all to blame,” he muttered beside her. “I don’t want to stop working with you, seeing you, but can Alaric get past his protectiveness and see my innocence?”
It was a good question that she didn’t have an answer for. She squinted at the horizon. “Thanksgiving’s this week. We always have a big party at the lodge. If you wanted, you could come. Show my dad you belong in the Society like any other shifter. That you’re a good guy who can be trusted around his flock.”
She could tell the suggestion didn’t go over well. Jax’s eyes closed, and he shook his head. “What would I be committing to if I did? Are you talking about me becoming a member?”
Aerilyn glanced over at him. “The Society’s a family. We look out for each other, help each other. You can have a nomadic lifestyle with the Society after choosing a home lodge. You can vote for representatives, and if you choose, the matchmaker’s services are available to you, along with our lawyers, doctors and bankers. It’s an underground network. You wouldn’t be alone anymore.”
He didn’t respond, and she worried she’d frightened him off. She cleared her throat and tried smoothing things out. “It’s just a party. You don’t have to commit to anything if you go.”
Jax rubbed his forehead. “It’s just to show your dad I’m no threat? And to see what it’s like if I drink the Kool-Aid?”
She laughed off his response, though it got under her skin. “Come on—what else are you doing for Thanksgiving?”
“KT’s going to her friend’s place, and she invited me along.” He turned to look at the view and put his hand in his pockets. Jax shook his head and flinched. “I’m not comfortable in large groups or the city.”
Aerilyn knew this about him. She’d figured it out the first day they’d met. She loved her family and visiting the lodge but could relate. That was why she’d bought a home in the foothills. She preferred being surrounded by fresh air and pine trees.
She faced him and waited for his gaze to meet hers. “Will you go? If not to learn more about the Society, to be there with me? I’m going to tell my father about what happened at school, and he’s—”
“Yes,” he interrupted and gave her a half smile. “I’ll be there for you.”
Aerilyn lifted her shoulders and smiled. “Thanks.”
Petey came bounding through the long golden grass with his tail wagging. In his mouth was a battered and dirty tennis ball. Aerilyn laughed as he dropped it at her feet. “You always find something to play with on our walks.”
She threw it across the clearing, and Petey raced after it, sending a spray of loose gravel into the air. Jax and Aerilyn took turns throwing the ball for Petey until Jax faced her and asked, “So, you’re telling your father?”
“Yeah, I thought I’d tell him at the party so he has to keep his reaction in check,” she said. “I’m not as upset anymore, and after my one-on-one with Emery, I feel better about protecting myself.”
“Me too,” he muttered.
She sensed concern behind his pensive expression. Aerilyn suppressed a grin as she bent down to pick up the brown tennis ball from the ground and threw it again for Petey. “Dad’s not going to be happy.”
He agreed, letting out a strangled laugh. “I’m sure he won’t. I had a hard time seeing straight when I found out. But he should know.”
He was right, of course. It was never really an option to keep it from Alaric. She sighed. “I’m not going to let him force me back home. He’s going to want to, but I’d rather live freely than under my father’s thumb. Neither way is guaranteed to be safe anyhow. I might as well be happy.”
“It’s the only way to live.” He watched a hawk glide in a circle above them, then coast beyond a grove of evergreens. “I’m glad you learned some self-defense moves.”
“I was never interested in becoming an enforcer, but”—she raised her eyebrows and laughed—“that was fun. She’s going to show me more. It’ll be our weekend thing. Want to see what I learned?”
He adjusted his knit beanie and zipped up his puffer jacket. “You aren’t going to hurt me, are you?”
Aerilyn smirked back at him. “C’mon, come at me from behind. Put your arm around my neck.”
She faced away from him and looked over her shoulder.
He seemed unsure and muttered, “What about your bruises? I don’t want to hurt you.”
Aerilyn straightened up and threw her hands in the air. “I’ve been at it all day. The bruises will heal, and you’d be helping me practice. Emery says it’s all about muscle memory. If I do it enough, I’ll automatically know what to do in the moment.”
Again, she turned away and sang, “La, la, la. I’m just an innocent woman, minding my own business.”
An arm wrapped around her neck and she reacted. Aerilyn tucked her chin against her chest, leaned forward and spun to the side, moving her leg behind his. An opening formed in his chokehold, and she pulled her head out while shoving against his chest, sending him off balance. He fell to the ground with a groan.
It was exhilarating trying it out on a man twice her size and succeeding. She knew he hadn’t put all of his effort into taking her out, but just the same, she couldn’t keep the smile from sliding onto her face.
Jax blinked up at her. His voice came out raspy. “Yeah, that works. I’d like to see you do that to your dad.”
She laughed and held her hand out to help him up. He grabbed hold and tugged her down. A yelp escaped her lips as she tumbled into him. Jax caught her in his awaiting arms and groaned.
Her amusement dissolved away as she enjoyed the moment. She abruptly rolled off of him and sat up. A gentle breeze tousled her hair while she tried to control her emotions.
Jax pushed himself off the ground and got to his feet. He avoided looking at her as he brushed dirt and grass from his clothes. His voice came out in a mumble. “Sorry.”
“That sort of thing can’t happen if you want my dad on your good side,” she said, feeling her throat tightening.
Why did his touch have to feel so good? If only ignoring her attraction toward him were easier.
Thirteen
Jax still smelled Aerilyn on him when he returned home. If he’d been asked what that smell was, he wouldn’t have been able to describe it. It was more like a feeling. Like the moment the sun broke the horizon at dawn, or how moonlight felt on his fur when he shifted at night.
Man, was he in trouble. The more time he spent with Aerilyn, the more he wanted to. This didn’t fall into line with his nomadic lifestyle. And she couldn’t have been clearer. His freedom was at risk if Alaric sensed anything going on between them. His head told him he needed to remain entanglement free, but his heart and body hungered for her like nothing else.
The memory of her pressed against him remained in his thoughts over the following days when he shifted to release his energy buildup, and when he was busy at work in KT’s shop. He would have to do a better job of controlling himself around her, especially at the party. The purpose was to convince Alaric he wasn’t a threat in more ways than one.
He hated that he actually wanted to go into the city to stand in a room full of people just for her. He supposed there was a first for everything. This was certainly a big one. At least for him.
Thursday morning was cold and overcast. A weather system had blown into town, leaving a sheet of ice on everything. When Jax wo
ke, he thought about the evening’s plans and the fact that he didn’t have many clothes to choose from.
He didn’t go to Thanksgiving dinners with family. He didn’t go on dates. He didn’t have a job that required more than jeans and a T-shirt. He stared at his options and hoped a suit and tie weren’t expected. Then he remembered Alaric’s clothing the night he’d been brought to the lodge. He’d been dressed impeccably.
Jax swore under his breath and pressed his fist against the wall of his trailer. He closed his eyes and told himself it didn’t matter. Who was he trying to impress anyway?
A soft knock came from the other end of the trailer. He pulled on a long-sleeved shirt and a pair of sweats and went to open his door. Outside was KT. Her short gray hair had been brushed into place, and she was clutching her bomber jacket closed.
“Hey, Jax,” she grumbled in her normal gruff way and lifted her chin. “Just seeing if you’ll be coming along with me this afternoon.”
“Oh, uh, Aerilyn invited me to join her family,” he said apologetically and rubbed his neck.
“Don’t blame you one bit. I wouldn’t want to go sit around with some old farts listening to their comments about how lumpy the mashed potatoes are.” She nodded and gave him a crooked smile.
“Yeah, but at least I’d fit in wearing jeans and a flannel with you,” he sighed, glancing back toward his bedroom.
KT frowned. Deep lines formed around her temple and eyes as she mumbled, “It’s a fancy affair, is it? Well, my mama used to say there’s no point dressing up a pony and calling it a mare.”
Jax rubbed his jaw and shook his head. “Not sure how to take that, KT.”
“No.” The elderly woman pinched up her face impatiently and raised her hand. “I don’t mean it as an insult, son. There’s nothing to be ashamed of. You are who you are—don’t be trying to hide it. I like you just fine, and I’m a damn good judge of character.”
She said it with such authority, he didn’t want to question her. The corner of his lip curled up. “Thanks, KT.”
Half-Blood Descendant: A Paranormal Series (Half-Bloods Book 1) Page 13
