Page 37 of Jace's Mate

A growl.And something inside her answered.It rose from deep in her chest—low, rough, and furious.

She growled back.

Before she could blink, Jace leapt over the small table and grabbed her.One arm under her knees, the other at her back, pulling her against him.

“You dare disobey me?”he growled again, voice thick with something unnamable.

His grip was strong, but not painful.She should’ve fought.Should’ve screamed.But instead, she adjusted slightly—settling into his arms as if they belonged to her.

“Yes,” she whispered, breath catching.

And then—his scent.

God, his scent.

It hit her like a punch to the gut.The raw, addictive scent of his arousal.And hers answered in kind.

But she’d heard it too many times in her life—Control yourself.Her uncle’s voice echoed in her mind, warning, shaming.

“Do it,” Jace ordered.

The command landed deep.

Anikka’s body responded before her mind could stop it—hands unclenching, legs relaxing.Her fingers gripped his shoulders.She tilted her face up, mouth parted—ready to—

“I can’t!”she gasped, tearing herself from his arms.

She staggered back, putting several feet of air between them, her chest heaving.“What are you doing to me?”she choked.“I’ve always been in control!”

Jace’s eyes narrowed, but he nodded.“I’ve never seen a shifter fight this hard, Anikka.That level of control—it’s impressive.”

The praise made something warm curl in her stomach.She hated it.

“I’m not an animal,” she insisted, folding her arms tightly around her waist.“I don’t give in to urges.”

He chuckled—slow, rich, dangerous.“Youarean animal.At least part of the time.And when that part takes over…” He stepped closer, muscles flexing under his shirt.“I can’t wait to show you.”

“I won’t.I can’t.Whatever it is you’re trying to make me—”

He kept coming.One step.Then another.

She didn’t move fast enough.

In seconds, he had her caged against the wall, his arms braced on either side of her.Close.Tooclose.She pressed back, spine to the wall, trying not to touch him, not tobreathehim in.

“You will, Anikka.”

That voice again.Dark silk wrapped around steel.No one had ever spoken to her like that.

No one had ever made herwantto obey.

“You’re a shifter,” he said, voice softer now but no less commanding.“I can smell the wolf in you.And I’m going to help you release her.”

“No!”she gasped.

“Yes,” he growled.

Chapter 10