Page 90 of Jace's Mate

She rolled onto her side and found Jace towering over her, arms folded and fury simmering in his eyes.

“What the hell?”she snapped, irritation overriding sleepiness.“Why did you hit me?”

She’d woken up ready to make love to the man, not to spar.But if he wanted a fight, well—she couldabsolutelyhandle him.

“You disobeyed me, Anikka,” he growled.His voice was low, gravelly—worse than his usual morning tone.

But it wasn’t just exhaustion from the four-hundred-mile overnight run.No, this was something else.Frustration.Worry.Fury.A thread of fear.

“How?”she shot back, slipping out of bed and glancing around for clothes—except… there were none.Not hers.Not his.Just bedsheets.Great.

Snatching one up, she yanked the corner free from where it was tucked beneath the mattress, wrapping it around herself with exasperated flair.“What did I do, Jace?”

“You followed me to the Gufta pack’s headquarters.”

She didn’t flinch.Didn’t look away.

“I did,” she said plainly.“And I’d do it again.”

Before he could respond, she marched into the bathroom and turned on the shower, letting the hot water steam up the glass while she adjusted the sheet like armor.She wanted a moment of peace, a moment to clean up before their inevitable argument hit round two.

But peace wasn’t in Jace’s vocabulary this morning.

He followed her straight into the shower, twisted the knob to his preferred temperature, and pulled her—sheet and all—under the spray.

She gasped, sputtered, and wiped the water out of her eyes.“Excuse me?”

“You followed me,” he growled again, steam rising around them.“After I gave you specific orders to stay here.”

“Actually…” she flicked water at his chest, “you told me to be naked when you returned.Technically, Iwasobeying.”She leaned around him and smacked his butt, only to wince when her hand bounced off his rock-solid backside.“Ow.Damn your glutes.”

“Don’t beobtuse, Anikka,” he said, stepping closer.“I shouldn’t have to spell out every possible command.I won’t tolerate malicious compliance.”

She planted her palms on his wet chest and glared up at him.“Let’s get something straight, Alpha.”

His eyes narrowed slightly, but she pressed on.

“I love you.I didn’t plan to.I didn’t even like you at first—you’re arrogant, bossy, and you act like you know what’s best for everyone.”She took a breath.“But you’re also kind.Generous.Smart.A fantastic leader.You listen when it counts.And somewhere in all that infuriating dominance, you’ve wormed your way into my heart.”

She stood on tiptoe and kissed the center of his chest, feeling the way it stilled beneath her lips.

“I love you,” she repeated.“And I willnever,ever, obey you if it means staying behind while you walk into danger.That’s not who I am.That’s not how this works.”

For a moment, silence.

Just the steady hiss of water and the heartbeat pulsing beneath her hand.

Then he spoke.

“You love me?”

She nodded.

“Yes, Jace.I love you.”

He exhaled hard, then gently pushed her back until her spine touched the cold marble wall.She shivered, not from fear—but from the intensity in his eyes.

“Youloveme,” he repeated, a slow grin stretching across his mouth.It transformed his face from anger to something radiant.“You love me.”