He couldn’t explain it. But thought if his mind gave him a glimpse of what he craved the most, he should take advantage. It wouldn’t soothe him though. It’d only serve to remind him what he missed, what was meant for him yet not
his
.
He didn’t need that. That, he couldn’t forget.
Jaw clenched, he strode into one of the bedrooms, tugged the covers back, laid Annie on the bed, and tucked her in tightly just the way she liked. After pressing a kiss onto her forehead, he headed back into the living room.
Still, the image of his fated remained, still unmoving. The worry he’d sensed earlier overshadowed with sadness. As if she were real, his chest tightened.
“H-hi.” Her voice broke when she spoke. She then took a step in his direction. “Jake, I’m—”
He materialized inches from her.
Her voice died, her eyes widened, then came the fear.
So clear. Those honey eyes. Her flushed face. That intoxicating scent. Her chest rising and falling with each breath. Even her voice. Just like it was real.
He reached for her.
She gasped. Her lips parted slightly. Then finally, his fingers grazed the side of her face. And she did the damnest thing—she leaned into his touch.
She was real,
real
, and he’d walked right by her.
“Valerie,” he whispered in awe.
She came, subjecting herself to endless days with him, with Annie while on their vacation. That could only mean she had a change of heart, wanted more from him. His heart burst, so many emotions running through him: relief, happiness, pleasure.
It had only been few days, but he’d missed her so goddamned much. He never realized how much he needed even a glimpse, not until he’d gone without.
“Release me from my vow.” His voice sounded coarse. “Please, release me.”
She nodded, slightly.
He claimed her lips in a searing kiss, delving into her mouth, tasting her. She wrapped her arms around him, kissing him, forcefully, and passionately.
Her fingers digging into his skin, he feverishly laced his through her hair. Just as thick and soft as he imagined, then he trailed his hand down her back, fully pressing her against him until every part of her chest pressed to his.
He couldn’t help but think once again how perfectly her body fit his. Tiny compared to him, a fraction of his height and width, but she soothed every ache, every worry.
Cupping her cheek, he broke away from the kiss to stare into her beautiful eyes.
“H-hi.” She swallowed. “I’m sorry, I should’ve called.”
He grinned. “Called?” He shook his head, chuckling. “I’ve missed you so damned much.”
“You…You aren’t mad?”
His thumb slid across her bottom lip. He kissed the tip of her nose, then her lips. “I’ve never been mad at you, Val.”
“But…” She drew away. Her body still close yet not touching. “You were when…”
She moved, and her hair gleamed in the lights. Remembering what it felt like, he thought it couldn’t have been so thick, so soft. To test the theory, he grabbed a strand and ran his fingers through it. He’d been wrong. It was that soft, that thick.
“Stop it.”
Realizing he hadn’t been paying attention, his gaze snapped to hers. He tucked the strand behind her ear. “Sorry…I…”
Resting her hand on his chest, she shook her head. “No. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…I was trying to tell you something, and well…it’s just I can’t concentrate when you do that.”
A smile spread across his lips.
She didn’t seem to notice, lost in thought. Placing both hands on his chest, she tapped her foot impatiently. “When you got here, and you saw me. You were mad.”
Mad? Was he? He shook his head. “No, Val, I wasn’t mad. You’d know if I was mad.”
She seemed to consider his words, before she reasoned, “But your eyes glowed, and…and you ignored me.”
“A demon’s eyes glow for a number of reasons, not just when we’re mad. I went into the room because I thought you weren’t…”
“You thought I wasn’t what?”
“When Annie and I left, we weren’t on the best terms. I thought I imagined you.”
Her eyes widened. “Oh.” She took a breath. “Maybe you should sit.”
He nodded. “Would you like something to drink? A glass of wine—”
She nodded. “That’s fine.”
He moved at immortal speed pouring a glass of wine, then popping the cap off a beer. Handing her the glass of wine, he sat beside her.
“How’s Annie?”
“Good, but she missed you.”
She took a big gulp of wine. “I know.”
“Know? About Annie?”
Her eyes cast downward avoiding his gaze, she nodded.
“Ashley told you?”
Meeting his gaze, she hesitated. “Yeah. You’re not mad at her, right? She didn’t mean to…I think—”
He shook his head. “Not mad. I wanted to tell you, but I knew you’d come—”
She stilled. “And you didn’t want me here?”
He quirked a brow. “Was my greeting too subtle? I can work on that if you like.”
She flushed, then took another large gulp of wine.
“I wanted to tell you. I knew you’d come, and I didn’t want to force you to be in such close proximity to me because of the circumstances.”
She exhaled.
Then it occurred to him. Why had she come? He assumed she had a change of heart, but now he wasn’t so sure. Had she come because she knew he could lose Annie and wanted to spend time with her or because she wanted to spend time with them both? Learning the truth about Annie wouldn’t have changed her opinion of him, and she had been clear. She wanted their relationship to remain professional. He assumed she came for him, but had she? If she hadn’t, why had she let him kiss her? Pity? He tensed.
“What are you thinking?”
He took a deep pull of his beer, then met her gaze. “Why’d you come, Val?”
She looked away for a brief moment, then met his stare and admitted, “I wanted to apologize again about the other night. I also wanted to apologize about the day we…um…kissed, and I found out about Annie, and everyone kept telling me you needed a friend, that I should come and—”
“I see; my friends talked you into coming. You did so, out of pity.”
The anguish of saying it aloud crushed him, but his tone didn’t convey the truth. He took another swig of beer. It didn’t dull it. He needed something stronger.
She set the glass of wine on the table. “No, that’s not true—”
“Did you let me kiss you out of pity, too?”
Her eyes widened and watered.
Seeing that was worse than being shot with copper, worse than being stabbed.
She was his. She should want him, need for him. If she didn’t, admitted it, and it pained her, he shouldn’t feel it in his soul.
Setting his beer on the table, he turned fully to her, grabbed the back of her neck with one hand, snaked his other around her waist, and pressed her into his embrace. As he did so, he buried his face in her neck. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“What?”
Pulling away just enough to meet her gaze, he cursed under his breath. “I’m sorry. Tell me what I said that upset you.”
Scanning his face, her lips millimeters from his. She bit the side of her lip. “Every time I think I’ve gotten you figured out, I realize I’ve got it all wrong.”
He didn’t know what to say, so he said nothing.
She stared unblinking into his gaze. Her hand trailed down his chest, then she whispered, “Your eyes are red again.”
He bet they were. “Your hands are teasing my demon.”
Her fear heightened. She drew away, quickly. His arm around her waist tightened. An impulse, but he recognized even if he wanted to, right then, he couldn’t let her go.
“He…he doesn’t like me?”
She couldn’t be more wrong. A smile spread across his lips. “He likes you a little too much.”
Her brows drew together, now looking worried. “Can he hurt me?”
He shook his head. “He can’t.”
“Why?”
“Because I want you, too.”
Her breath hitched. She swallowed, then hesitantly laid her hand on his chest again. “It’s true?”
Did she know she was his? Who told her? “Yes.”
Her eyes scanned his face, then watered. “I’m scared. I don’t want to get hurt.”
He shook his head. “Impossible. I can’t hurt you.”
“You can and will when you find your fated, Jake.”
So…She
didn’t
know. Part of him was relieved; he wanted to be the one to tell her. Yet another part of him wished she knew. “No, Val, I won’t ever hurt you. I vow it.”
It would’ve been easy to admit it then. In fact, he’d been close, but her lips met his. The moment they did, her tongue entwined with his so softly he couldn’t physically pull himself away.
That first taste…
Pure, heated magic.
Desire consuming him, he hauled her against him until she settled on his lap, and then he deepened the kiss.
Her hands grasped the back of his head, pressing her chest against his. Feeling her nipples harden under her cotton blouse, he groaned. He ran his hand down her back, then under her shirt. Like silk, soft to the touch and warm.
She responded so sweetly, arching her back. A soft moan escaped her lips. Her hands tightened when they roamed his back, her nails digging into his shirt, into his skin.
Breathing her in, his shaft throbbing so painfully underneath her thighs he thought he’d burst through his jeans. He groaned deep in his throat, then raked his hand up her leg and cupped her rear. Breaking their kiss, he dragged his lips down her neck, licking her lightly. The need to kiss every inch of her burned.
His teeth shifted, fangs sprang.
He wanted to scream in frustration. He couldn’t mark her, not before he told her, but he didn’t have the strength to pull away, so he slowed his pace, kissing softly, skimming the skin on her lower back. Then he heard the softest, sweetest whimper.
“Jake…” Her body shuddered.
One arm snaked around her waist, the other he dragged up her spine, cupped the back of her head, and drew her lips to his, kissing her ever so tenderly.
“Jake, please, stop…” She gasped.
He stilled. Had he been too rough? Had he hurt her? His stomach turned. Having no choice, he let her go, but his heart and body protested. He gave her room, leaning against the back of the couch.
He swallowed past the lump in his throat, then with a hoarse voice asked, “Did I hurt you?”
Apart from unhooking her arm from around his neck, she hadn’t moved. It meant even then, she still sat on his lap. Her face flushed, her lips gloriously swollen, she smiled softly. Beautiful.
“I thought you said you couldn’t.”
She cut into his thoughts. For a moment, he had to focus, gather his wits, and think about what she meant. “Never mean to, but I want you so bad, I don’t…” He shook his head. “I don’t know if I was too—”
Her hand slid across the side of his face. “You didn’t.”
The breath rushed out of him.
“It’s just you make me feel things…I’ve never done more than…kissing.”
Even with her cheeks flushed, he saw her embarrassment. Hell, he could feel it. Funny since it thrilled him.
No one had ever touched her; he was the first. It didn’t dull the pain of watching her kiss another man. Nothing would. But it made him feel better, knowing she’d never given herself to anyone, knowing she was all his. Maybe it was selfish and stupid to think, but he didn’t care.
It didn’t mean he’d rush her to give in to him. No, he’d take his time, give her all the time she needed. He didn’t want her to regret a single thing about him, or them.
Drawing her against him, he kissed her lips lightly, then immediately pulled away, not expecting anything else. When she leaned into him and rested her head against his chest, he thought it was the perfect end. Smiling, he laced his fingers through her auburn hair.
“Jake,” she whispered after several moments. Placing her hands on his chest, she looked into his eyes. “I know I apologized yesterday, but I wasn’t completely honest. You said I was honest, so you didn’t want an apology. The thing is…I didn’t mean what I said. I said we didn’t need you, and maybe we didn’t, but I wanted you…to hold me.”
He’d been wrong. Hearing that was the perfect end.
“I was pressured into coming. Nathan practically forced me. I’m too much of a coward to take the first step. I wanted to apologize at least, but I was afraid you wouldn’t forgive me because I’m not sure you should. And last, I don’t pity you. No one does.” Her gaze fell away from his, and her eyes welled anew.
He tensed, waiting for what she’d say next, hoping for the answer to his question.
Her gaze met his. “I let you kiss me because I wanted you to.”
He smiled. Amazing how just hearing that made his good day a great one. “Not as much as I wanted to kiss you, sweetheart. I’ll always forgive you.”
****
Annie’s wails pierced the air. Valerie awoke startled. The warmth underneath her allowing a pleasant, deep sleep disappeared. She didn’t have time to wonder. Bolting off the couch, she ran toward the sound of Annie’s wails.
Peering into the room, she found Jake with Annie, tenderly holding her against the expanse of his chest. She hadn’t expected anything less.
Annie pulled away from her uncle’s embrace. “Val?”
She neared, then sat on the opposite side of the bed. “Hi, Annie.”
Wiping her face, she sniffed. “We missed you.”
“I missed you, too.”
“I had a bad dream. I’m sorry if I woke you.”
She shook her head. “Don’t be.”
“Are you going to stay with us?”
“Yes, I am.” With her eyes on Annie, she didn’t miss the rise and fall of Jake’s chest.
Annie smiled widely.
“Let’s try to get back to bed, okay?”
Annie lay down still clutching Jake’s hand. Valerie lay beside her and softly ran her hands through Annie’s hair. It took mere minutes.
Jake carefully stood, then lay on the other side of Annie facing them both. “You have a way with her.”
Smiling, she whispered, “So do you.”
“Thank you, Val.”
Valerie nodded then closed her eyes, smiling to herself and knowing she’d lost the battle with her will.
Most likely, it happened the moment she set eyes on Jake, and she’d only been fooling herself since then. Either way, she wouldn’t back down now. She didn’t know if it was love or lust, but she knew one look at Jake was all it took. Whatever it was, she was on the road to finding out. No doubt she was still scared, terrified, in fact, but she was more afraid of not giving herself the chance to love.