Page 34 of Jace's Mate

Even that light touch sent heat rushing through her.

She let him guide her, her footsteps hushed by thick carpet.But she couldheareverything.Fabric brushing against skin.Doors closing.Phones clicking back into place.Someone drinking.Swallowing.

She could hear someoneswallowing.

She was losing her mind.

“No,” Jace murmured, opening a door.“You’re not.”

He led her inside and closed the door behind them.

She turned to look at the door—relieved to see the three men hadn’t followed.They were on the other side, and...blessed silence.

With a shaky sigh, Anikka lowered her hands from her ears.

“Would you like something to drink?Wine, maybe?”Jace asked, watching her too intently—like a scientist studying a dangerous specimen.“Or something stronger?”

She didn’t answer right away, watching as he moved to a cabinet and pulled out a bottle.Her nose twitched.She couldsmellthe wine.Even with the cork still on.

“I don’t...something is happening to me,” she whispered, her lips numb.“I feel like I’m losing my mind.”

Jace paused.One look at her expression—anxiety, confusion, a touch of panic—and he put the wine back.This time, he pulled out a different bottle.Amber liquid swirled into two glasses, the sound of it sloshing impossibly loud to her ears.

“Here,” he said, offering her one.

She took it slowly, sniffing it despite already catching the scent from across the room.It smelleddivine.

Jace gestured toward a nearby sitting area.“Let’s sit.You can tell me about yourself.”

The couches looked comfortable—deep cushions, soft velvet—but she hesitated.

She stared down at the scotch.Could she actuallyseethe bubbles in the liquid?

“Your senses are sharpening,” Jace said, interrupting her frantic thoughts.“It happens when mates find each other.Especially when they’re Alphas.”

Her head snapped up.“I’mnotyour mate, Jace,” she said, more firmly this time.

She took a tentative sip of the scotch—and froze.

“Oh dear heaven,” she whispered.The layers of flavor...the warmth...the smooth glide over her tongue followed by a slow, lingering burn.It was exquisite.

“Are you sure?”he asked.His voice had gone low again—like velvet and smoke.

Anikka looked at him closely.The dark hair.That scruffy jawline she normally wouldn’t find attractive.But now...now her fingersitchedto touch it.

“Do it,” Jace said quietly.

Her eyes flew to his.

“Do what?”

“You want to feel my beard.Do it.”

She nearly dropped the scotch.“How did you...?”

“I can read minds, Anikka.And apparently, you can too.”

Before she could protest, he reached out and took her free hand, guiding it to his cheek.The moment her fingers brushed against the coarse hair, she felt something click inside her.