BirthStone (12 page)

She swallowed hard knowing he was right.
Stripped emotionally, she spoke from her heart. “I don’t like
sleeping alone. I need…I need you. I miss you when you’re not
here.” She paused. “Don’t forget, I went through all of that with
you. The bombs, Tyrese’ kidnapping. Silas, I sat in a room with
Siseria while the bomb was inside her. If you think I don’t have
nightmares about those bombs, you’re wrong. I may not have seen the
bloody aftermaths like you did. But I sat not five feet from her,
talking, trying to get information. So…yeah, I need you to hold me
at night. To talk me through my fears, allow me to hold onto you
when you’re dealing with this shit. We’re supposed to be a team,
but you’ve gone Lone Ranger on me. I can’t handle this by myself. I
miss you so much, I ache with it.”

He stepped closer, touched her arms. She
trembled at his nearness.

“Jas…I miss you too. I want to ride between
your thighs every minute of the day. You know that’s my favorite
place. But… right now, there is a war going on…”

Frowning, she took a step toward him. “War?
Did you just say war?”

He nodded. “Asia gave up some interesting
information today. I can’t remember if it was before or after you
came in, but another group of humans have declared war on us.”

“What? Do you mean like a real war? Like
they have overseas or the ones they show on TV? Organized crime
turf wars, that kinda thing?”

“Wolves being killed in experiments, that’s
war. Some are being changed into weapons, some are being sent to
fight on behalf of the highest bidders. They got the jump on us. I
have my teams working around the clock to find answers and develop
solutions so that we have a fighting chance. It’s going to take
some time for them to complete that task. That means I have to play
offense to buy them that time.”

She searched his eyes, read the sincerity of
them, and stepped into the circle of his arms. He wrapped them
tightly around her. His warmth filled every nook and cranny of her
chilled soul. War? She knew something was off but hadn’t expected
that. Her sons, her mate, her family were at risk. Prickles of
energy raced up and down her spine. She wondered if he noticed.
“What do you plan to do?”

“Kick their asses in such a way they never
come back at me.” His answer was quick, to the point and oh so
Silas Knight.

“I’m sorry.” Although her complaint was
legitimate and something they needed to deal with, the timing
sucked. He needed her strength and support right now.

He squeezed her tight and dropped a kiss on
her forehead. “I should have told you what was going on. Things
changed today, I stepped up security and made other plans. I
discovered the location of one of their warehouses and will be
sending them a surprise visit.” His voice changed to one of gleeful
determination. “Like I said, offense.”

She nodded against his chest, the feel of
his cotton shirt warm against her skin. “Whatever you need from me,
let me know.”

“Keep my pups safe.” He took her arms in his
hands and pushed her backward. Their gazes connected and she read
his intent. “If anyone breaks through security and comes after you
or the children, take whatever you need from me and kill them.” He
waited a moment. “Do you understand?”

She nodded. “Yeah. I heard you.”

He shook her slightly. “I asked if you
understood.”

“Silas, I’m not simple-minded. I heard and
understood what you had to say. Now listen to me.” She waited a
moment for his attention to shift to her eyes. “If someone breaches
security and comes after me or my kids, I will kill them. You
obviously don’t know me well if you thought for a moment I would do
otherwise. But here’s where you got it twisted. I will kill them if
they come after you as well.” She held up her hand to stop him from
speaking. “Don’t waste your breath telling me to do or think
anything differently, because I’m not going to change my mind, you
can take that to the bank.”

He dropped his hands and took a step back.
They continued to look intently at one another. He scowled and she
gazed at him until he threw his hands up. “I need you safe.”

“Likewise.”

His head snapped up, he opened his mouth and
then snapped it shut. “Jasmine.” His tone held a plea.

“I love you, Silas. Don’t ask or expect me
to accept something happening to you without doing something to
help, I can’t do that anymore than you could.” She read the
resignation in his eyes and released a breath. Her mate could be
stubborn but he was realistic.

He snagged her around the waist, their
bodies slapped together when he pulled her close. “Be careful, try
not to get hurt. You are my barometer for control. If you get hurt,
I will lose it and level this place,” he whispered next to her
ear.

She shivered hearing the ring of truth in
his words. Many would die if he lost control, she would need to be
extra careful. Damn, this was the worst time to lose control of her
emotions. She opened her mouth to tell him about her energy surges
and then changed her mind. He had a lot on his plate. She would
deal with this.

“I will have my children with me; you know I
don’t play when it comes to family. You never have to worry about
that.” She gazed up into his dark green eyes. “With everything that
is within me, I will not allow my family to die without a fight.
Believe that.” As she spoke, a gentle breeze touched the nape of
her neck.

“Your eyes changed.” He brushed his thumb
across her bottom lip.

“Huh?”

“When you made that vow, there was a glow
behind your eyes. They became translucent, like liquid gold.”

Her brow rose. “Really?” She pretended a
nonchalance she didn’t feel.

His gaze went from thoughtful to resigned as
he placed a kiss on her lips. “Yes. I pity any fool who attempts to
come after my mate or pups. I have no doubt you will handle them
well. Thank you, love.” He took her lips and deepened the kiss.

Her heart jumped and then raced as she sank
into his embrace. Familiar heat flared between them as he lifted
her in his arms. She laid her palm flat against the hard plane of
his chest as he carried her to their bed. Inhaling, her senses were
inundated with the scent that was all him, masculinity personified.
If she could bottle his unique fragrance, men would pay a mate’s
ransom for an ounce of the potent cologne. Her tongue flicked into
the crook of his neck.

“Umm…” he moaned, depositing her on the
mattress, then falling on top of her. “You are my mate, it is
impossible for you to be second in my mind, we are merged into one.
You are the beat of my heart and I am sorry you felt neglected. I
will spend all night and tomorrow if necessary to correct my
mistake. No one is more important than you, Jasmine. “He gazed into
her eyes, holding her captive. “No one.”

Tingles of mind bending pleasure shot
through her as she met his unwavering stare. Her eyes filled as his
head lowered. “You are my queen.” He placed a soft kiss on her
lips. “My mate.” He kissed her again. “My woman.” He brushed the
tears from her cheek. “I am sorry you are hurting.” Instead of
kissing her again, he rolled her over on top of him and held her
gently while she pulled her thoughts together. His nearness had a
habit of robbing her of her wits at times.

“I know you do. But you have to talk to me,
Silas. I don’t want to listen to your conversations all day through
our link. I have enough just dealing with the kids. I expect you to
fill me in on the highlights so I’m in the loop.”

He rubbed her back with his fingertips,
sending zings of heat rushing to her core. If this wasn’t so
important, she would demand he take care of her needs right now.
But her mate was not fully human and thought in black and white;
she needed him to move toward the gray areas to compromise.

“I need a few hours of just the two of us.
Doesn’t have to be sex, although that would be great,” she rushed
to say when he stiffened. “We used to do that before the bomb
scare, we need to go back to it. Like I said, I miss you and need
to re-energize. That only happens when we spend time together.”

He nodded. “Okay. Whatever we need to do to
get back to where you are comfortable, let’s do it. I didn’t
realize how much everything that happened a month ago impacted my
actions. I cannot allow that.” He squeezed her tight. “Thanks for
telling me about it.” He pushed her up so she could look into his
eyes. “But you can’t leave me over stuff like that, or for any
reason.”

“I wasn’t leaving you,” she huffed. “I was
leaving the bedroom so I could think. It's too hard to gather my
thoughts together with you in the same room as the bed.”

The arrogant man grinned. “Really?” He
pulled her down and kissed her. She forgot the conversation, the
war, everything disappeared beneath the fire of his touch. Melting
into his embrace, she relished in his possession.

Within seconds he was bare. Their lips broke
apart and she sucked down air as she pulled off her tank top.

“Never compare me with your ex again. I am
your mate and there are things I can never do, neglect you is one
of them. Never mention your time with him in that manner again. I
don’t like it. My wolf hates it.” He paused while searching her
eyes. “I promised Matt his mate would be safe here. Don’t make me
renege on my word and destroy him.”

The change in atmosphere caught her
offguard. How did he do that? Go from fucking hot to a somber
serious moment. Her insides were still quivering from the promise
in his kiss. She nodded, deciding silence was her friend because
her only point of reference
had been
her time with Davian.
The purpose of the comment was so he understood her feelings, not
for Silas to hurt her ex-husband.

His eyes never left hers as his fingertip
rubbed and then pinched her pebbled nipple. Fire raced through her
stomach as her head fell back. Ridiculous… the effect this man had
on her libido was f'ing ridiculous and she loved it.

“You are so beautiful,” he whispered. Her
eyes flew open, searching for his. She met his searing gaze and
softened. Her mate was arrogance personified, tough as nails and in
some instances, unmercifully brutal. Right now the love and
commitment shining brightly from his eyes shoved all of that aside.
It spoke to another side of him. The side that was mate, father,
and lover. Her lower regions tightened in anticipation.

“Silas,” she whispered, her wits evaporating
beneath the power of his gaze.

“I love you.” He didn’t pretty it up with
anything extra, that was not his way. Her man saw things in black
and white, and this time she approved.

“I love you,” she said, feeling the coolness
of the sheets beneath her as he flipped her over. Her fingertips
traced his jaw, loving the stubble on his chin.

“Show me,” he whispered.

Smiling she reached low and guided him in.
Perfection. That word captured her mind as he slid forward,
stretching, claiming, and filling her completely.

“Silas,” she said breathily as he placed a
kiss on her forehead while holding her tight. Heat from his body
set hers aflame. His hardness pulsed inside her like a live wire
sending waves of anticipation through her. Need rose with a demand
of fulfillment. Lifting slightly, she widened her legs and he slid
a bit further in.

“Mmm,” he moaned as she rolled her hips
beneath him, pushing him closer to the edge.

“You like that?” she whispered, watching
him, the tightness of his jaw, the tenseness of her biceps and the
slow dance of his pecs.

“Yesssss,” he hissed, and then he moved.

Jasmine thought she was prepared, she really
did. But when he pulled out to the tip and slid back in so slow,
she lost her mind. With each hard inch filling her at such an
incredibly slow pace, everything inside her tensed in preparation
for her climax. Grabbing his butt cheeks, she lifted her hips off
the bed and ground into him as hard as she could. If she could
climb into his body to ease the itch he created, she would.

He chuckled. “Sweet bitch,” he said softly
into her ear just before he pulled out and slammed back into her.
On edge already, her walls welcomed his thrusts and tightened with
each subsequent penetration.

“So good…” she moaned as he continued
hitting her spot, taking her higher until she flew over the
rainbow. Her body shook beneath the earthquake of her emotions.
“Silas,” she called, opening their link so he could enjoy her
experience.

“Arghhh,” he groaned as he followed her in
orgasmic bliss. She took in large breaths while rubbing his back as
he continued to shake and shudder. Moments later he rolled over and
pulled her close. She kissed a salty patch of his sweat laden chest
and then ran her tongue across the spot.

“Ummm,” he moaned. “Such a demanding
bitch.”

Grinning, she bit his nipple and then laved
the abused nub. “Okay, now that you’ve apologized appropriately,
let me show you how much I missed you.” She slid down, grabbing his
rising wood. He had promised her this night and she intended to
take him up on it.

Chapter 10