Annie nodded. “Uh huh, I don’t know what it means, but she used to say it a lot when she was mad. She called him a ‘possessive demon.’”
Valerie could’ve laughed, but her thoughts didn’t let her. Annie’s parents were mated—destined for each other. The closest thing to “love at first sight,” finding one’s mate. It came as no surprise her father had been possessive of her mother. She’d heard immortal males couldn’t help it, but she wasn’t Jake’s mate. She couldn’t understand why another male, an employee at a restaurant at that, holding out her chair would anger him. It was the man’s job, for God sake. Jake was being overly…possessive when there was no reason to be. She wasn’t his fated. He would’ve confessed by now having had multiple occasions to do so. Although her heart leapt each time he told her he loved her, she didn’t believe it. He couldn’t. He didn’t know her.
“What does it mean, Val?”
Annie’s question drew her from her thoughts. “It’s when someone is too protective…in a bad way.”
Jake’s jaw went slack, but he didn’t have time to respond. The waitress approached them, took their drink orders then left. Intent on avoiding him, her gaze darted to her menu.
“I thought protecting someone meant you loved them,” Annie commented.
“It does, but sometimes there’s no need to be protected.”
“I get it, now. One time, Mommy and Daddy and me, we went shopping and a man held the door open for Mommy and Daddy said the f-word and Mommy got mad.”
“Maybe the man was looking at Mommy the wrong way, and Daddy was trying to protect Mommy,” Jake pointed out.
Taking a deep breath, she plastered on a fake smile. “Or maybe the man was being polite or maybe it was his job to hold open the door,” she explained to Annie, patiently.
The waitress interrupted, setting their drinks on the table, and took their orders. Valerie barely glanced at the menu and ordered the first thing she saw, the filet.
“Two filets and the grilled sirloin from the kid’s menu. For sides, we’ll have the lobster mac and cheese and fries. And we’ll start off with two cheese soups and the clams. Thanks.”
Annie giggled. Valerie couldn’t help but follow. “Uncle Jake eats a lot.”
The warmth of his palm pressed against hers. He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it.
Pure heated desire ran through her. She remembered his lips on hers and how it felt when his mouth trailed down her neck toward her breasts. Heat pooled in the pit of her stomach.
She pushed those thoughts aside. No time for any of that. She fought to keep her face blank and eyed him curiously. His way of apologizing? Probably not. He didn’t look the least bit sorry for what he did.
It didn’t matter, not right at that moment. He’d embarrassed her, but he meant well, hadn’t he? It was sweet in an overly possessive type of way. Oh God, did she really feel that way, or was it because he held her hand in his with his lips pressed to her palm?
The appetizers served first, Jake insisted she and Annie try the soup. Trying the clams, she hesitated. She’d never been a fan of them, but the alpha male who had her at his mercy wouldn’t take no for an answer. He brought it to her lips. She couldn’t refuse. Delicious, but she thought that had more to do with the fact that when he fed them to her, her tongue lapped his finger. His face hardened. His jaw clenched.
Pure heated desire. She read it in his beautiful dark eyes. Knowing she wasn’t the only one affected, she smiled.
The entrees served, they ate, and Annie talked. By the time the waitress served dessert, Valerie could barely move. Jake shoved a forkful of chocolate cake in her mouth anyway. Some of it got on her face bringing Annie to giggles. He ever so tenderly wiped it away with his finger.
When Jake paid, they left in time to watch a fireworks show on the beach. They picked a spot, and sat on the sand, cuddled close. Jake legs open, Annie in between, settled against his chest, and she tucked under his arm, resting her head on his shoulder.
The fireworks display began with a bang and seemed endless. By far the most impressive Valerie had ever seen. The best part: Annie loved it. Her beautiful dark eyes round with glee, she smiled ear to ear. Wearing her new pink bow, she pointed and oohed and awed.
Sparing a glance at Jake, she noticed his gaze, too, fixated on Annie.
The perfect picture.
The most perfect moment.
Her gaze darted from one to the other. She realized she felt something she’d never truly felt before—complete.
Foolish and absurd, yes, she met them barely a month ago, but she couldn’t help it. She may be temporary in their lives, but she didn’t feel like they were temporary in hers.
Her eyes welled. She looked away from them and toward the display of lights in the sky.
Not a moment later, she felt the heat of Jake’s gaze. Leaning into her, he whispered, “Look at me, sweetheart.”
She shook her head, knowing staring into the deep depths of his eyes she’d lose hold of her tears.
“Look at me…Please.”
She caved and looked. His eyes soft and tender, looking at her like…like she was the only woman in the world. It filled her with belonging anew, reminding her what she’d tried to bury in the back of her mind—how scared she was, scared of losing all of this beauty.
He pressed his lips to hers. “I know, sweetheart. I feel it, too.”
She blinked. Tears flowed down her cheeks. Despite what he said, she knew he couldn’t possibly feel what she felt.
She felt…
Oh, God. She loved him.
Truly. Madly. Deeply.
She was undeniably, intensely, and profoundly in love with a demon whose touch could soothe her as easily as it enticed her.
And she loved Annie.
It spelled disaster for her.
Her fear had become reality. She’d fallen for a man she didn’t belong to. Once he found his mate, she’d lose him—
and
Annie.
Right then, she didn’t have the strength to care, not while he looked at her like she was his everything.
Her life had been a series of losses. Her parents abandoning her before she was old enough to realize what it meant, then she lost her coven. Now, she stood to lose Jake and Annie.
But before then, she’d enjoy them all she could. When they were gone, she’d have dozens of memories to live her life off.
No regrets.
Moments later, the fireworks showcase ended. Heading back to their hotel, Annie’s excitement dwindled. The long day had caught up to her. Jake carried her. Not long after, Annie fell fast asleep.
Valerie felt Jake gazing at her every so often but fought the instinct to look his way.
As they entered the pool area at the hotel the silence stretched, so she said, “This whole trip has been…the best. Thank you for letting me share it with you both.”
“I didn’t let you. You belong.”
Riding the elevator, getting off their floor, they entered their hotel suite. Jake laid Annie in her bed, removing her shoes. Valerie followed close behind. After Jake tucked her in, she sat on the edge of the bed, kissed Annie’s forehead, and whispered, “Goodnight, sweetie.”
Reluctantly, she left. Outside the bedroom door, she found Jake, leaning against the wall, looking every bit the demon he was. He didn’t allow her a word, materializing inches from her.
“The spell.” His breaths came out in spurts.
What?
“The sound one…do it, please.”
She held the power. Her choice. She could refuse, then nothing more would happen between them.
She couldn’t. For all fate had taken from her, she would enjoy this—him, ignoring her fears. If it lasted another day, another week, another century, she’d relish it.
She flicked her wrist, muttered the spell.
His handsome features hardened. “You want me. I need you.” He said it, but doubt lingered in his tone. “Tell me.”
Want?
She craved him. Days ago, she was ready for all of him. He was the one who wanted to wait.
“Tell me what you want. I’ll do it. I’ll be…whatever you want.”
“I want you, Jake. You’re the only man I’ve ever wanted.”
The hardness of his body enclosed hers. Burying his face in the crook of her neck, he inhaled, taking in her scent. His breath on her neck, he pressed a heated kiss on the sensitive flesh, and an onslaught of emotions rushed through her.
“I’d move the world for you, sweetheart,” he whispered, his mouth lingering close to her ear.
With just those words, she melted against him. Her hands held the contours of his face, feeling and memorizing the angles.
He rubbed down her back. The length of him jerked against her. “You’ve taunted me all night…all damned night…”
He yanked on her dress tearing it, leaving her in a lace bra and thong. He pressed heated kisses on her neck, moving his way up to her jaw, then finally meeting her lips.
Oh, God. His lips.
His tongue darted into her mouth violently, consuming every inch of her mouth.
Her knees buckled. His hands cupped her backside, bringing her legs around his waist, pressing her against the length of him.
She let him.
She needed him.
She loved him.
His mouth devoured her, but his hands roamed her back; each trace amplified her desire. They trailed lower and lower like his mouth. Reaching her backside, he squeezed, growling simultaneously.
Goose bumps erupted across her skin.
With one hand, he unclasped her bra, removing it completely, then pushed her against the wall, his erection grinding against her core.
She quivered. Spasms of pleasure running through her, she couldn’t do anything but hold on and
feel
. His hands, his lips, his chest, his shaft…
His blazing eyes met hers, then trailed the length of her.
“Beautiful.”
Suddenly, he gripped her waist roughly; his tongue swirled around her nipple, heating her core.
“Please…” She moaned, closing her eyes shut. “Don’t torture—” She felt the press of the mattress beneath her, the words died on her lips.
His mouth covered hers.
“No…” she managed.
He stilled, hissing. The muscles in his shoulders and chest quivered.
She pressed her mouth against his, then tugged his shirt up. Only pulling away to remove his shirt completely. A second later, he cupped her core through her panties.
“Ah…” She arched to his touch.
“Fuck. You’re wet.”
“Oh…please…”
His hand went to her cheek. “Shh…shh…baby, it’s okay. We can s-stop.”
Using all the strength she could muster, she pushed her hips against his. He groaned, then collapsed on top of her.
Her fingers weaved into his hair, pulling his lips against hers. “I need you, Jake, please…”
“Fuck.”
His hand tightened against her shoulder, then ran along the side of her body until it reached her center. Pulling on the string of her thong hard enough it snapped, he discarded it, then grazed his fingers against her core. A light touch. He hissed.
She trembled, her hands grasping the flesh on his bare back. His mouth trailed lower, down her chest and stomach until he met her heated flesh. He ran his tongue against her softly. Once, twice, then she lost count, his fingers rubbing against her.
She forgot to breathe, screamed; her hips bucked uncontrollably. His arm wrapped around her hips, trapping her beneath the sheer force of his strength.
His tongue continued to rub against her. The speed of his licks grew more frenzied, then he slid his finger inside her, and the pleasure he’d built burst.
“Jake!” She shivered.
His mouth on hers a second later. His body spread against hers, his warmth permeated her.
“I love you.”
She didn’t realize she said it aloud. Not until he stilled and drew away from her. His red stare snaring her. Jaw dropped, his breaths coming out fast, heating her.
So much beauty. Not just handsome, but beautiful from within. He’d let her into his life, and she loved everything she’d found.
Staring into the depth of his eyes, overwhelming emotion assailed her, spilling into her and flowing around her.
Love. Contentment. Pride.
Belonging.
It ingrained itself into every cell.
What she felt was real, so real. She’d never regret what she said.
“Sweetheart, I loved you from the moment I laid eyes on you sleeping on my couch.”
He laughed in a way she’d never heard before. Almost as if he’d forgotten the past, the present. Almost as if no future existed but the here and now. Beautiful.
“Even though you attacked me.” His fingers slid over her lips. “And it hurt, my beautiful witch, but all I could think of was how your eyes were the perfect shade of honey.”
Then he kissed her. Roughly. Passionately.
She got lost in it, so lost she found herself begging. “Take me.”
He pulled away. “But…”
“I want you, Jake…Please.”
His cock jerked against her. He swallowed. “Are you sure?” It took strength.
“Yes.”
His lips met hers, yet unlike the last, soft and thoughtful. Unbuckling his pants, he pressed the weight of his body against her, his boxers the only barrier between them. His fingers against her flesh rubbed softly, then he slid his finger inside.
“Please…”
“I have to get you ready. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“You won’t…please…”
He slid another finger inside. Her hands grasping the back of his neck trailed down his back. He removed his boxers and grabbed his length positioning himself at her opening. Staring straight into his eyes, she felt completely and utterly naked from within.
He cupped her face and filled her. Stretching her, no pain, only pleasure.
He took her lips, delving into her mouth wildly.
All yours.
Chapter 25
The taste of her lips in his mouth, her body caressing his, her scent around him, Jacob stared into the deep depths of her warm honey eyes, captivated with the delicate witch that lay beneath him.
So breathtakingly beautiful…
Every inch…
Nothing but beauty, and all his.
His cock pulsed inside her, yet he hesitated, resisting the need to bury himself deeper. Instead, he relished her, searing the memory of the moment in his mind.