On Jason's Watch [Paladin Protection Agency 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) (18 page)

She ran her clawed hands over his body carefully. She was hardly able to believe he was real and standing in front of her, transformed but alive. He was taller than her by nearly a foot, his claws and fangs as deadly as her own. His body was covered in thick fur the color of moonlit snow. His face was distorted by the transformation, but it was still him beneath those animalistic features. She heard the scrape of metal and glanced up to see what was left of the door being tugged back into place. They were alone. Val was safe with the others from Paladin.

Jase whined and nuzzled at her cheek, and she heard him growl her name. It was broken and rough, but it was clear enough that there could be no doubt. She tried to speak, but it came out as a whimper instead. Frustrated, she did it again and managed a low, rasping growl that approximated his name.

Dozens of questions filled her head, but there was no way to ask them. How was he alive? Why was he a werewolf? It seemed impossible. She’d seen his body and tasted the scent of death that covered him. Now he was like her, a monster. His breath was hot against her neck, and she buried her face into his chest, clinging tightly. His scent was warm and soothing, and she realized that no matter what he looked like, this wasn’t a monster. It was still Jase.

His hands smoothed down her hips, tugging her closer, and she realized that he was aroused. She could feel his cock, thick and erect where it pressed against her. Her breath caught in her throat, and lust spiralled out from the center of her being, filling her with heated need. Razor-sharp talons brushed through her fur, leaving a trail of tingling fire in their wake. She reached for his shoulders, straining on tiptoe to reach high enough to wrap her arms around his new, larger, and more powerful frame. He growled in approval, and the sound made her insides quiver.

His claws stroked over the curve of her ass, and then he was lifting her, dragging her body across his. His hips rocked into hers, and she was pressed into the wall behind her, his cock grinding against her pussy.

It was strange to feel the silken touch of fur beneath her fingers as she stroked him. It was stranger still to know that despite everything, they still wanted each other.
I guess love truly is blind.
The thought made her laugh, though it came out as more of a strangled chuffing sound. The gentle press of teeth against her shoulder drew her attention back to the moment, and she wrapped her legs around Jase’s hips, her unnatural strength making it easy to lock them together.

She arched her hips and whimpered as his cock rubbed along her clit, making the already sensitive flesh swell and ache with need for him.

Their bodies bucked and shuddered as they teased each other, building up each other’s passion until they were both panting and more than half wild with desire. Again he drew himself along her opening, missing her entrance by the barest of inches. That was when Jazz’s control broke. With a snarl, she flexed her legs and wriggled, managing to join their bodies at last. As his cock filled her, she howled, the sound bouncing off the walls of the room. His voice rose to blend with hers, and he drove himself inside of her, burying every inch of his impossible length deep in her body.

The moment they came together, all semblance of control was gone. Instinct took over and she rode him with unrestrained eagerness. Every part of her was ablaze with raw need, and she took what she needed without hesitation. Over and over, he filled her, thrusting hard and claiming her body just as completely as she claimed his.

Care was forgotten in their passion, and the stinging bite of claws across flesh added another layer to the pleasure she was feeling. The walls reverberated with snarls and howls as she spurred him on. Every part of her had the same focus, the same driving goal. She needed to mark Jase as hers, forever. Her teeth closed on his shoulder, and she bit just deep enough to draw blood. She howled in triumph and then growled in frustration as he lifted her off of him. She thrashed, reaching for him again, and they fell into a battle of wills. He struggled to untangle himself from her limbs and snarled as he finally won free. Without warning, he wrapped powerful arms around her and then dragged her to the ground with him.

She found herself on her knees, and as he moved in behind her, she leaned forward until her face was cushioned on the backs of her arms. His claws curved carefully into her hips, and he drove his cock into her, balls-deep on the first thrust. She braced herself as he took her hard and fast, his body dominating hers completely.

Thrust after thrust hammered into her as they both relinquished control over to their wolf. Jazz reached back to run her claws over his thigh as he draped his body over hers. Her shoulder burned, and she knew he’d bitten her, marking her just as she had marked him. That realization set her free, and her inner walls clamped sharply around his cock as her orgasm hit. She heard herself scream as she milked his cock with every surge of pleasure that rolled through her. He lunged hard and came only a moment behind her, his entire body shuddering with the force of his release.

Before she could gather her scattered wits, she felt a gentle burning that washed over her body like scalding rain. When it was gone, she realized she was human again. Breathless and spent, she turned her head to nuzzle at Jason’s cheek as the tears she couldn’t form before finally fell to dampen his silver fur.

“I love you,” she whispered, her voice hoarse and raw now. “I thought I’d lost you.”

She felt his muscles tense and shift beneath her touch, and the fur that had covered him thinned and vanished.

“I promised I’d protect you.” His lips brushed her cheek, kissing away her tears. He withdrew from her and settled onto the floor before gathering her into his lap. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her again. “I’m sorry it took me so long to get here.”

“You were dead. I think that’s a pretty good excuse.” She tried to make light of what had happened, but there was a catch in her throat and her eyes burned with fresh tears.

“I wasn’t dead. Just close to it. You did say that it took a near-death injury to cause the lycanthropy to kick in.”

“But you have to stay alive long enough for the infection to establish itself!” she argued. “I saw you go down, Jase. I—it hurt so much. I thought I’d gotten you killed.”

“You didn’t get anyone killed.” His hands were gentle as they stroked her hair and drew her head back down to his chest. “You saved me. I think you’re the reason I survived, sweetheart. Last night, when you bit me…you
were
transformed enough to transfer the infection. I just wasn’t near death.” He chuckled slightly. “At least, not at the time.”

“I did this to you?” Horrified, she tried to pull herself out of his arms only to be met by strength as great as hers.

“You saved me, and made me into a superhero in the process. Stop feeling guilty. I’m sure as hell not sorry I’m still breathing.”

“But you’re a monster!”

She felt his body stiffen. “You think I’m a monster?”

“I—no. Maybe. I don’t know. I’m a monster, Jase. But I don’t see you the same way. You’re still you.”

He relaxed slightly. “Can you hear yourself? You’re not making much sense. If you and I are the same, and I’m not a monster, how can you be one?” He brushed another kiss to her brow and lowered his voice to a whisper. “Besides, I refuse to consider the idea that I’m in love with a monster. Therefore I’m going with the superhero concept, thank you.”

“You’re in love with me?”

“You’re a bit slow on the uptake tonight.” He laughed and hugged her hard. “Or did you miss the bit where I kicked in a steel-plated door just to get to you? I’m sure me and this new wolf-thing are going to have a fair number of disagreements in the future, but the one thing we’re sure of is that we both want you. The moment I woke up, all I could think of was that I had to get to you.”

Warmth and hope blossomed in Jazz’s chest, and suddenly it was hard to think clearly. “I thought you were gone, and it hurt so much. I just thought of all things we’d never get to do, all the places we’d never see together. I was going to kill them for taking you away from me, for taking that chance away from us.”

“We’re going to have that chance now.” He paused and cuddled her closer. “And they’re in no shape to ever come after you again.”

“They’re gone?” Relief filled her.

“No survivors,” he muttered and then tried to stifle a yawn as exhaustion closed in on them both. “Hey guys? Someone want to toss us in some clothing and blankets? Jazz and I would like to go home now.”

There was horrible screech as the abused steel door was opened a few inches. “Coming right up.” Sin’s voice was thick with relief. “And for the record, everyone out here is going to need trauma counseling after listening to the two of you go at it.”

“Oh god.” Jazz felt her cheeks heat as embarrassment filled her.

“Don’t you worry about it, sweetheart. They’re all just jealous.”

Epilogue

He woke up to Jazz’s laughter lilting in counterpoint to the low rumble of the distant surf. It had been over a month since his last nightmare, and he had finally gotten used to getting a full night’s sleep. Her presence in his life was a balm to his soul. Waking up to Jazz’s laughter every morning was healing him a little more each day, and he knew that soon the nightmares and the dark memories that fueled them would be part of his past.

Not bothering to dress, Jase stretched before wandering out onto their private deck to see what had her so amused. The morning sun streamed through the trees and warmed the flagstones beneath his feet as he spotted Jazz standing in a dazzling patch of green and gold light. She was barefoot and clad in a white cotton sundress that clung to her curves, her hair loose and blowing in the tropical breeze. As he watched, she reached up to offer a morsel of papaya to the capuchin monkeys that sat in the tree above her, chattering as their tiny hands reached out to snatch the fruit from her fingers. His heart beat a little faster as he drank in the sight of the woman the fates had chosen for him.

The Costa Rican sun had darkened her skin to a deep, burnished gold, and her eyes had lost the lingering fear that had shadowed them from the first time he’d seen her. As he came closer, the monkeys yammered in alarm and fled back up into the trees, leaving them alone.

“You’re supposed to be getting lots of sleep,” he chided her softly as he drew her back against his chest, his arms wrapping around her to rest over the curve of her stomach.

“And you’re supposed to get dressed before you leave the bedroom. It seems we’re both not doing what we’re supposed to be.” She laughed and added, “And being in bed with you is rarely the best way to get a decent night’s sleep.” She settled back against his chest with a gentle smile, her hands lying atop his. “Not that I am complaining. I prefer spending my nights indecently.”

“You better not be complaining. If you were, I’d have to point out that last night’s session was entirely your idea. I distinctly remember suggesting an early night.”

Jazz’s laughter filled the yard, and she leaned back to look up at him. “Is that how you remember it?”

“Yes, it is. And if you say another word, I’m going to show you the difference between one of my ideas and one of yours.”

“Oh.” He saw the challenge flare in her eyes, and his groin tightened in anticipation. “I think perhaps I need a reminder, then. For I am quite sure last night was your idea. After all, you’re the reformed reprobate in this relationship.”

“That’s it!” he growled, letting a bit of his wolf bleed into his words as he swung Jazz into his arms and headed straight for their private swimming pool.

Jazz squealed with laughter and squirmed in his arms, protesting every step of the way. “Put me down Jason Waters! You don’t go manhandling a pregnant woman this way!”

“I have not yet begun to manhandle you, sweetheart. But believe me, I intend to. And since this is how you got into this condition in the first place, I am certain our baby will be just fine.”

He tore her sundress off before they reached the water, and he let it flutter to the flagstones as he stepped off the edge and landed waist-deep in the pool, Jazz still cradled carefully in his arms.

“That water is cold!”

“It is not.” He cut off her protests with a kiss that had his cock surging to attention. Her mouth opened to his with a hunger that told him she wanted this as much as he did. Since the day they’d met, he’d wanted her. Months later that need hadn’t faded at all. If anything, it had grown until she was the center of his universe. First her, and now the child she carried.

He lifted her wet body out of the water and settled her on the lip of the pool. He kissed her again as he moved his hands between her legs and parted her thighs. He held her knees apart as he kissed his way slowly from her lips to her breasts, easing himself lower into the water as he worked his way down her body. She tasted of sunshine and flowers and he savored every inch of her skin, pausing to taste and tease as he moved ever lower.