Saving Jace

by Rebecca Rivard

  She nodded slowly. “I did. But that doesn’t mean I healed him.”

  “You helped.”

  She rubbed her forehead. “If you say so.”

  “Look,” Suha said, “you’re tired. Why don’t I come back tomorrow and we can talk some more?”

  “Thanks—I’d like that.”

  Suha ate another couple apple slices and came to her feet. “I’m off then.”

  “Not by yourself.” Jace made to stand up. “I’ll walk you home. Corban would love to get his hands on our healer.”

  Suha raised a brow. “He has to catch me first. Besides, you’re the one he wants, not me. Beau can take me.”

  “On my way,” a deep voice rumbled and Beau shambled in. The man was big, with wiry black hair and shoulders as wide as a door, but he had a sweet smile. Jace sank back onto the couch as the bear-man slung a massive arm around Suha’s shoulders. “How’s my girl?” he asked her.

  “Good.” She slid an arm around his waist and raised her face for his kiss.

  Kyler’s face fell, but he smiled manfully. “Nice meeting you, Suha.”

  “You, too,” she said with a kind smile.

  “Don’t wait up,” Beau said as the two of them headed out. “I’ll crash at Suha’s place tonight.”

  Kyler let out a gusty sigh, and then helped himself to some more food. Not much interfered with his appetite. “If you’re a healer,” he said to Evie between bites, “you didn’t get that from Fane.”

  “Fane’s your dad?” Jace asked. “So you know who he is.”

  “Sure, but he never said he was fae.”

  “But he never seems to get older,” Kyler said. “And he’s tall and blond and looks like a fucking model.”

  “Sounds fae to me,” Jace said.

  “He couldn’t help our mom,” Kyler added. “I mean, the dude’s a flake, but he wouldn’t have just let her die—not if he could’ve healed her.”

  “He loved her in his way. He’s just…Fane.” Evie moved a shoulder. “He comes and goes as he pleases.”

  “He’s your dad,” Jace growled. “The man should’ve helped you out.”

  “He did. After Mom passed, he gave me a diamond worth thousands of dollars.”

  Kyler snorted. “Only Fane would give you a diamond instead of cash.”

  “It saved our butts,” she shot back.

  Jace shook his head. “That’s just like a fae. Throw some fucking glitter at a problem and hope it goes away.”

  “That’s Fane.” And it was true, but it hurt to hear it from Jace, because if the fada were right, she was fae, too. And besides, she loved her dad—she’d just learned not to count on him.

  She blew out a breath and decided to think about it in the morning. “I’m for bed.” She crossed the room to drop a kiss on Kyler’s cheek. “Night, squirt. You should go to bed too. It’s late.”

  He gave a big yawn and for once, didn’t argue. “’Kay. See you in the morning.” He gathered the empty plates and carried them into the kitchen.

  “’Night, Jace.” Evie gave him a smile that she hoped didn’t look as forced as it felt. Jace had closed down. Apparently, the fact that she might have more than few drops of fae was a game changer for him. “Thanks for everything.”

  “Don’t thank me.” He rose to his feet. “It’s my fault you got dragged into this.” They stared at each other across the coffee table, and then he said, “Have a good sleep.”

  Her heart sank. So he wasn’t coming. “You, too.” She turned blindly toward the bedrooms.

  Jace sat on the living room couch as Evie and Kyler got ready for the night and then retired to their separate bedrooms.

  Adric called to check on him and to report that they were still looking for Corban. “According to Zuri,” he said, “the bastard never got on the plane. It was to Costa Rica, by the way.”

  “Who the fuck does he know in Costa Rica?”

  “Hell if I know. But he’s been gone for over a year. Maybe he met someone, or maybe it’s someone he knew from the Darktime—one of my uncle’s contacts. Leron used to send him on secret missions. But then again, maybe he just wanted to hide in the fucking rain forest. Anyway, I’ve got every tracker in the clan out looking for him. If he’s still in Baltimore, we’ll find him.”

  “Good. And Ric? When you question him, I want to be there.”

  “You got it. But meanwhile, you’re the best protection Evie’s got.”

  “That’s the only reason I’m not out there with you right now.”

  Adric ended the call and Jace glanced toward his bedroom. Evie was probably in bed now—his bed. Jace’s cat was awake and swishing its tail.

  The woman. She waits. Go to her.

  Jace remained stubbornly on the couch.

  Why had he let Evie see him tonight? As he’d crossed the alley, he told himself that all he wanted was to make sure she was okay. His clan wasn’t rich. Hell, they were hanging on by their fingernails, with every spare penny going toward rebuilding the homes and businesses that had been destroyed during the Darktime. Anything left over was invested in this new venture with the smartphones.

  But Jace had some cash set aside. He could help Evie if she wasn’t so stubborn about not taking his money.

  He sure as hell hadn’t planned to kiss her. But she’d looked so damn brave, clutching her keys like she had a prayer of chance against a man who had six inches and sixty pounds on her. And holy singing crystals, that had been some hot kiss. He’d been seconds away from stripping off her clothes and taking her right there in the kitchen.

  But what the fuck was he thinking? She was a human and a fae, and he had a policy about not mixing with other races. Look where it had gotten Takira.

  The wall sconces sensed the lack of motion and dimmed, but Jace barely noticed. He was recalling how happy his sister had been with Silver.

  “So he’s part night fae,” she’d said. “He’s not his genetics any more than we are. Who knows how much fae we have in us? You have a powerful Gift yourself. Does that mean you have more fae than me?”

  “But a night fae,” he’d growled. “Mate with anyone but one of them.”

  “Oh, Jace.” His sister’s dark eyes were knowing and a little sad. “You don’t choose your mate—you just know. He’s the one. And he’s a good man. If you’d just meet him, you’d see.”

  “Is this what we’ve been fighting for all these years? For the right to mate with a fucking fae?”

  “He’s half fae.” She’d lifted her chin. “And I thought we were fighting for the right to live our lives however we choose—instead of as Leron’s pawns.”

  “You’re right.” Shame had tightened Jace’s stomach. “Forget I said that. Go with your Silver.”

  “You’ll come to our mating ceremony?”

  He’d crossed the room in two strides and wrapped her in a hard hug. “Try and keep me away.”

  His sister was thin. Food had been scarce for a long time. Her stomach shouldn’t have bumped against his.

  He’d stepped back and ran a hand down her tunic. “You’re—”

  “A baby.” A smile split her face. “We’re having a baby. Can you believe it?” There hadn’t been a cub born to the clan for three years.

  Now grief swamped him. He dropped his head into his hands. If only he could go back and unsay those words to Takira. Because what had happened hadn’t been either her fault or Silver’s. All she’d tried to do was make a family with her mate and daughter.

  It had been Leron and Tyrus who’d smashed his sister’s happiness like a fragile glass.

  Jace heaved himself off the couch. Fuck this. Takira wouldn’t say he was honoring her by staying away from Evie.

  She’d say Jace was being an ass.

  19

  As Evie exited the bathroom, she heard Jace in the living room on his quartz phone.

  She said goodnight to Kyler and then went into Jace’s bedroom. The fae lights brushed over her as if saying hello, and then spread themselves a
cross the ceiling before dimming to a soft glow—which was pretty effing awesome when you thought about it. Maybe Jace would let her take one home.

  She left the door slightly ajar and changed into a striped cotton sleepshirt. Jace came down the hall and she tensed in anticipation, but he went into the bathroom and a short while later the shower came on.

  She set the quartz phone he’d given her on the night table next to a pretty chunk of amethyst and sat cross-legged on the bed. Waiting for Jace—who probably wasn’t going to come.

  She combed her fingers through her damp hair. What was so bad about being part fae? Sure, the fae could be selfish, unpredictable creatures—look at Fane. But Evie wasn’t like that, and if Jace couldn’t see that, then to hell with him. She scowled in the direction of the bathroom.

  A fae light brushed against her chest, right over her heart. She felt as if she’d been hugged.

  She gave a wry smile. “You’re trying to make me feel better. Thanks.”

  The fae light pulsed a bright yellow, and then dimmed again. Evie held up a finger, and another light—this one a soft pink—floated down to balance on her fingertip.

  She stilled, afraid to breathe. It weighed no more than a soap bubble, a globe of miniscule stars. But unlike stars, the tiny points of light were in constant motion, turning in hypnotic spirals so that she had the unsettling sensation of falling endlessly into the center. The colors changed, the pink changing to a shimmering copper and gold and then back again.

  The shower turned off. She dragged her gaze from the fae light and it wafted back to the ceiling.

  She smoothed the sleepshirt down over her thighs and looked at the door. Several minutes crawled past, but still no Jace.

  She blew out a breath. He wasn’t coming, and she was tired. Time to go to bed. She gave her pillow a few hard punches and went to lie down.

  A tap sounded on the door. Her heart leapt. “Come in.”

  Jace slipped into the room along with a few more fae lights and closed the door behind him. He’d changed into a white ribbed tank and brown shorts that hung low on his hips. His short black hair was damp from the shower, and stubble shadowed his jaw. He leaned against the door and stared at her—all hard muscles and honey-dark skin.

  God, the man was beautiful. She moistened her lips. “Hello.”

  “So,” he said, “you have more than a few drops of fae.”

  She lifted her chin. “So what? If I’m fae, then I’m one of the good ones, right? Being a healer is a good thing—like Suha.”

  He took a step toward her, then another. Lithe, catlike steps that made her heart slam against her rib cage. He was a predator, a man who literally had teeth and claws, but she trusted him with her life—and more, with Kyler’s life. And when her heart sped up, it wasn’t because she was afraid.

  He stopped beside the bed. His gaze raked down her body, dark…hungry. Heat curled through her belly.

  “Later,” he murmured. “We’ll talk about it later.”

  “Fine with me.” She held out a hand. His fingers closed around hers, but instead of joining her in the bed, he drew her to her feet.

  “You’re not too tired?” He caressed her upper arms, and even that slight touch sent sensation jolting through her.

  She pressed a kiss to the hollow of his throat. He smelled of soap and warm, spicy male. “Not anymore.”

  His heart pounded beneath her lips. “God’s cat, I want you—since the minute I first saw you.” He gave a short laugh. “Even when I thought you were going to bash my head in with that damn rock.”

  Her mouth curved. “Really?”

  “Yeah. I thought I was dying and you were a fucking angel. But what about you?” He leaned back so he could meet her eyes. “I’m an animal, Evie. The jaguar’s part of me. Can you handle that? Because if not, tell me to get the hell out of here.”

  She fisted a hand in his tank. “Jace?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Shut up and kiss me.”

  He blinked, and then his cheek creased in a smile. “Yes, ma’am.”

  Powerful arms enfolded her. His mouth came to hers in a slow, bone-melting kiss. First, warm, firm lips slid over hers. Then he teased the seam of her mouth with his tongue. When she opened to him, he slid his tongue inside, tasting her in leisurely sweeps that had heat licking through her.

  She moaned and rose onto the balls of her feet to get closer. Big hands gripped her hips, urging her up against his erection. He dragged up the hem of the sleepshirt and then stilled as he palmed her ass.

  “No panties?”

  She ran her lips over the stubbled edge of his jaw. “I never wear panties to bed.”

  He squeezed her bottom, his mouth a wicked curve. “I like how you think, woman.” A long finger delved between her cheeks, stroking into her cleft from behind.

  He touched her clit from below and pleasure stabbed through her. She tightened her grip on his shoulders and rested her forehead against his chest while he played with her—sliding his finger into her, stroking over her most sensitive flesh. Her arousal ratcheted up, became an aching need.

  She wriggled against his hand. “Jace.”

  “Mm?” He brought his hand to his mouth and sucked her cream from his finger, his gaze locked on hers.

  She shook her head. “I—”

  “I know.” He traced his lips over each of her eyebrows. “I know.” And somehow, she felt that he did. They were in this together, each of them helpless against the other.

  He took her mouth in another hard kiss. His tongue swept between her lips, demanding a response. Heat curled through her belly and lower, between her thighs. A pulse beat deep in her core. She sucked his tongue deeper and twined a leg around his hip, pressing her bare flesh against him.

  He groaned low in his throat and ground himself against her. Electricity danced up and down her spine: hot, bright pricks that stoked her desire even higher. His hands moved to her breasts, now pinching her nipples, now caressing them.

  He dragged his mouth from hers and regarded her from beneath thick black lashes. A flush painted his broad cheekbones, and the hazel of his irises was spiked a brilliant jade.

  She curved a hand around his cheek. “That green in your eyes—”

  “That’s my cat.”

  “That’s what I thought. When you’re a jaguar, your eyes are green.”

  “The jag wants you too.” His voice was guttural, and she knew both cat and man were present at this moment. His lids lowered, and he studied her warily, as if expecting her to change her mind and send him away.

  She stroked his neck, his shoulders. “I’m not afraid of your cat. He’s beautiful.”

  His jaguar had fascinated her from the first night. After Jace and Adric had left, she’d googled black panthers and found out that they could be either jaguars or leopards. A black panther still had the jaguar or leopard markings, but they were hidden by the extra black pigment. Even when Adric had first accused her of being fae and the jaguar had snarled at her, she’d still found the cat gorgeous in a savage, primal way. But even then, Jace’s cat had seemed to want to protect her—he’d put himself between her and his alpha, and she guessed that for a shifter, that was a huge deal.

  “He thinks you’re beautiful, too. And sexy as hell.” Jace angled his head against her palm, inviting her to stroke him more deeply. She obliged, combing her fingers through the short strands of hair on his nape.

  “I was afraid you wouldn’t come to me,” she confessed.

  Teeth scraped over her throat, sending dizzying waves of delight through her. Her fingers dug into his shoulders.

  “I couldn’t stay away.”

  “I’m glad.”

  He bent her over one strong arm and sucked at the base of her neck. She made a sound of sheer pleasure. “Jace…”

  “Mm?” he said against her throat.

  She set her lips against his ear and whispered, “Take me to bed.”

  His muscles locked. His nostrils flared, as if
drawing her scent to his very heart—and then he snapped into action, scooping her up and setting her on the mattress. She scooted back against the pillows and watched as he dragged off his tank top.

  He crawled onto the bed, part cat, part man—and in one smooth move, had her on her back, his thighs straddling hers, his hands on either side of her head.

  He had a soldier’s body, hard and roped with muscle. Her breath sucked in at the sight of all that smooth male flesh. She smoothed her hands down his chest. “You are one fine man.”

  “Yeah?” He nuzzled her neck.

  “Oh, yeah.” She trailed her fingers over his ridged abdomen. The muscles twitched under her hands, and she smiled inwardly. She loved that she affected him as much as he did her.

  She came to the scars on his belly and frowned. “I’m sorry you got hurt again.” She traced a finger over the longer, shallow mark.

  He moved a big shoulder. “I’ve been hurt worse. I’m just sorry I dragged you into all this shit.”

  She nodded. And yet a part of her whispered that it wasn’t all bad. Because if Jace hadn’t come to her door, she wouldn’t have ended up here with the sexiest guy she’d ever met pressing her to the mattress.

  Jace tugged at the hem of her sleepshirt. She lifted her upper body, and he pulled it over her head and dropped it on the floor.

  He sat back on his heels, taking her in as if she was the most delicious treat. Her nerves tingled. It was like he was touching her with his eyes, searing her with his gaze.

  When she reached for him, he shook his head. “Let me touch you.”

  “All right.” She set her hands back on the mattress and waited to see what he would do.

  He started by feathering his fingers over her rib cage—light, delicate touches that sent a quiver over her skin. Next, he moved to her breasts, cupping them in his large hands.

  “Beautiful,” he breathed as he brushed his thumbs over her nipples.

  She smiled up at him. She was average and she knew it—nothing special. But Jace made her feel like a freaking sex goddess.

  Her nipples puckered and his eyes darkened. “Fuck, you’re hot.” He pinched them, and she sucked in a breath as pleasure shot from her breasts to her womb.