Page 31

E vie came awake in slow increments. She was curled on her side, a big arm draped over her waist.

Jace. Her lips curved.

No covers except a sheet tangled around her legs, but he was spooned around her, and his body generated plenty of heat.

She was pleasantly sore in places that hadn’t seen any action in way too long. She might even have a couple of slight bruises where he’d gripped her hip at the end, but who cared when she felt so good? She curled her fingers around his hand where it rested on her stomach and opened her eyes.

Without windows, there was no way to tell the time, but she guessed it was close to morning. Above her, the fae lights glowed on, painting the room with the muted colors of dawn—rose, a soft yellow, a pale sky-blue.

“Nice trick,” she murmured.

Lips tickled her nape. “Who’re you talking to?”

Her cheeks heated. “No one.”

The arm on her waist tightened. “The fae lights?”

“Yeah,” she admitted. “They seem almost alive. I thought about morning and they came on.”

“It’s you. They’re somewhat self-directed, but I’ve never seen them as responsive as they are to you.”

“Really? Huh.” She stretched out a hand on the mattress. A shining ball the color of sunlight slid over her palm, sending a tingle up her arm. “So why does that bother you?”

He released her waist and rolled onto his back. “It doesn’t.”

“No? It sure seemed like it did last night.”

“It’s like we said in your kitchen—we don’t mix. Fada, humans, fae—” He moved a hand.

“Wow.” She sat up and swung her legs off the bed. “So I have two strikes against me. Maybe I’d better just leave.”

“No—wait.” He grabbed her wrist. “Don’t be mad.”

She pinned him with a look. “Let. Me. Go.”

He released her and sat up. “Just listen—please? I’m sorry. But you said yourself that we don’t mix.”

She had. And she’d be wise to remember it.

She sank down on the edge of the mattress. “What?”

“I told you about my niece Merry. Her mom—my sister—was killed by some of our own people. But the night fae helped.” He blew out a breath.

“Because she had a baby girl who was a quarter fae. I know you’re not a night fae, but the baby was part human, too, and it caused problems for Takira in the clan.

Things were so bad then, anyway—people went a little crazy.

After Takira died, a night fae went after her mate and the cub. Merry was the only one who survived.”

“Oh, Jace.” She closed her eyes. “I’m so sorry.”

He jerked his head in acknowledgment. “Merry has to hide from the night fae. They have a thing about keeping their bloodlines pure. She’d be dead now if not for the Rock Run fada.”

“Oh, God.” Evie’s heart squeezed. She could only imagine how she’d feel if it were Kyler.

“It was almost nine years ago, but—” He looked away.

She touched his thigh. “You still miss her. Your sister.”

“Every fucking day. You asked about the tat.” He indicated the cat’s paw on his shoulder. “It’s in honor of Takira. Her jaguar was gold and black.”

She swallowed, and then scooted closer. Just touching him—thigh to thigh with her shoulder against his.

He slanted her a look. She’d thought he had a hard face, but now she knew him better, she saw there was something soulful about it, too—as if the hardness were a mask he wore to hide whatever was beneath.

He’s sad. Underneath, he’s sad and lonely. Evie didn’t know how she knew. She just did. He was still grieving—for his sister, his parents.

“If both her parents are dead, why doesn’t your niece live here?”

“When things went south, Takira took her family and disappeared. Merry was just four years old and she had to go into fucking hiding. And Takira”—his breath rasped in—“I never saw her again.”

“I’m so sorry.” She threaded her fingers through his.

“Anyway, after Takira was killed, Merry’s dad took her and ran, but the assassins found him, too.

Merry was about five by then. Somehow she ended up in Grace Harbor with the Rock Run fada.

” He shook his head. “I thought she died with her father. By the time we found her again, two years had passed and she thought of the woman who’d adopted her as her mom.

I…” His throat worked. “I couldn’t take her away. ”

Evie nodded. She understood, even agreed—but her heart hurt for him. To be forced to make such a choice…

“It’s for the best,” he said. “She’s got a family—a mom and a dad and a little sister and brother. And I get to see her every week or so. At least I know she’s alive, and happy.”

His hand clenched around hers. She brought it to her mouth and kissed it, heart hurting for him. “How old is she?”

“Thirteen. She’s frickin’ smart, too—and even prettier than her mom.” His voice rang with pride. “Her animal is a jaguar, like all the Joneses. And she’s all black like me—another black panther.”

“She sounds awesome.”

“She is.” He didn’t speak for a while, and she was about to say something when he grated, “For two years, I thought she was dead. Two fucking years .”

“Oh, Jace.” She hesitated, and then did what came instinctively—took him into her arms.

“Takira should’ve come to me, damn it. Why didn’t she come to me?” His voice was a harsh whisper against her neck. “Why did she run like that? She had to know I’d help her, no questions asked.”

“I don’t know.” She stroked his nape, heart breaking for him. “But if things were as bad as you say, maybe she thought it was better you didn’t know.”

He pulled away and stared down at his hands. “Or she just didn’t trust me.”

“Oh, Jace. Why would you say that?”

He lifted his head, his expression bleak. “Because I told her straight out not to mate with Silver.”

“Oh.” She swallowed hard. “I see.”

“I was a fucking ass. But I came around. I could see how much she loved Silver, and he would’ve done anything for her.

And when I found out she was having Merry, I was so happy for her.

She was such a cute cub—still is. So when Takira disappeared like that with no warning, what was I supposed to think? ”

“Maybe she was protecting you. If you didn’t know where she was, you couldn’t be forced to tell anyone.”

His eyes flashed cat-green. “I wouldn’t have given her up to anyone.”

“Not even your alpha?”

“No.” His fingers curled on his thighs. “Fuck. Maybe. It’s hard for a fada to say no to his alpha. And our alpha then was the mother of all bastards. He might’ve dragged it out of me—I was younger then, not much older than Kyler.”

“That has to be it. It’s the only reason that makes sense. She didn’t hide Merry from you—you knew her up until she was four. If your sister ran without telling you, it was to protect all of you, not because she didn’t trust you.”

He scrubbed a hand over his face. “Maybe you’re right. I guess I’ll never know.” He pulled her toward him. “I want you, Evie. Come back to bed—please?”

That please arrowed straight to her heart. She cupped his face. The kiss they shared was soft, special. She knew he wouldn’t want pity, but she ached for him. “All right. Just give me a minute.” She pulled on her sleepshirt and headed to the bathroom.

When she returned, the room was awash with early morning light. Looking up, she realized that the ceiling had slits reaching all the way to the surface. An air circulation system was running as well, but the slits let in sunlight and additional fresh air.

Jace had used the other bathroom, but he’d beat her back to the room and was reclined against the headboard, an arm behind his head.

Even at rest, his biceps bulged. His stomach was ridged, the scars thin pink lines that somehow made him even sexier.

Nearly hidden beneath black chest hair were flat brown nipples, and lower down, his cock nestled in another patch of dark hair.

It was already at half-mast, but as she watched, it lengthened into a full erection.

She swallowed, her mouth literally watering.

His hazel eyes gleamed in the dawn light. “Come here.” He beckoned with one hand.

She pulled off the sleepshirt and climbed on top of him. His thighs were large and hairy between hers, his penis a hard stalk between their bellies. She set her hands on his shoulders and gave him a long kiss. Pouring all the understanding in her heart into him.

Because sometimes sex was just sex, and sometimes it was more—a way to share your deepest self with someone. To say, You’re not alone .

The kiss transformed, went from compassionate to heated.

She raised her head and looked down at him through lowered lids.

Jace’s mouth quirked. The sadness in his eyes had retreated, replaced by something hot and a little wicked. He rocked his hips, his meaning clear.

She began to move, sliding up and down on his erection, not taking him inside, just teasing them both as the underside rubbed against her pussy.

Jace’s fingers tightened on her hips but he allowed her to take the lead. When she stopped, he cupped her breasts, pinching the nipples into sensitized points before reaching between their bodies to swirl his thumb over her swollen little nub. Unhurried, tantalizing strokes.

She closed her eyes and let him tease her. Tiny shocks reverberated up and down her spine, and her inner thighs tightened as she began the slow spiral to climax.

But she didn’t want to hurry things, so she moved his hand away and leaned forward to rub her lips over his. He tasted of mint and morning. She gave him a leisurely kiss and then started to move down his body.

He went to roll her onto her back but she stopped him with a hand on his chest. “Stay there. I want to taste you.”

His indrawn breath was all the answer she needed. She moved down his hard, flat stomach and circled his erection with her fingers. He was long and thick and a little sticky from her juices.

She lapped at him. Delicate licks that made his thighs go rock-hard.

“Fuck, you look hot,” he said, and slipped a hand around her nape. “Take me, Evie,” he said in a stern voice that made her insides melt. “Now.”

She tightened her grip on him and obeyed. He tasted dark, salty.