Taming Kiera (Therian Agents Book 3) (5 page)

Balor whined pitifully as Jacob placed him in the back of Chase’s SUV.

“Thanks for taking care of him,” Jacob scratched the dog’s head.

“You sure you know what you’re doing?” Chase leaned against the hood, his arms and ankles crossed.

“She’s safe with me,” Jacob replied with a confidence he didn’t feel.

Kiera bristled whenever he tried to assert his control. She was wild. Unpredictable. There was no denying she had a strong dislike for authority. But if he didn’t find a way to restrain that wildness, she’d continue to be a danger to both of them.

“That’s not what I meant.” Chase shook his head and a flash of concern crossed his expression. “You seem rattled, and not just from the attack. If there’s something else going on–”

“Everything’s fine.” Or it would be once he figured out what to do about the claim his lion had made on the woman. He should have demanded she go back to the Agency. Instead, he’d fought for her to stay. He pushed his fingers through his hair in frustration.

Chase let out a long, exaggerated sigh. “If Circe is behind the attack, you know she won’t stop until she gets what she wants. We don’t know what she wants or how dangerous she is. If she’s hired rogue wolves, there’ll be more of them.”

“The house is secure.” Jacob shoved his hands in his pockets. If the wolves came back, he’d be ready for them. “I’ve got agents watching the place twenty-four-seven.”

Chase opened his mouth to speak, but then shut it, shaking his head. He gave a small, frustrated grunt.

“What?” Irritation hardened Jacob’s tone.

“Nothing.” 

Jacob ignored the look Chase gave him and turned back to the house, intent on finally making Kiera understand the rules that needed to be obeyed.

His stomach twisted every time he thought about how close she’d come to being taken. He’d let his guard down and it almost cost him his life. He wouldn’t make that mistake again.

One thing Jacob knew was that life was never secure or safe. Danger lurked around every corner. The enemy was always waiting, watching for the right moment to strike.

He would fight to his last breath to protect Kiera, but he wouldn’t always be there.

She needed to learn to fight for herself.

He found Kiera in the solarium, bent over a blank canvas, pencil in hand, her brows knit together in concentration. She was left handed, something he hadn’t known about her. He didn’t know why, but the discovery made him smile.

Her hair hung across her slender shoulders in a dark braid. She’d recently showered and her skin glowed, clean of make-up. Her scent washed over him, subtle, yet intoxicating.

His lion was awake and craving. Every part of him wanted her. His body felt raw, on edge, and it took every ounce of strength to rein his desire back.

He cleared his throat, his muscles tense with the effort to stay away from her.

“Thank you for letting me stay.” She didn’t look up from her work.

“We need to talk.”

“Let me guess, more rules?” She put the pencil down and looked at him.

God, those eyes. They bore into him with such passion, such lust that his balls tightened, and he had to hold back the growl that rose in his throat. Her cheeks grew flushed. The scent of her arousal undeniable.

He wanted her under him, screaming his name, begging for her release.

She sucked in a small breath as if she could read his thoughts.

Shit.

He cleared his throat. “You need to start training.”

“I think I’ve done pretty good so far.” She held up her hands. “Look no paws.”

He clenched his teeth to keep from smiling. “You’ve done well to contain your animal, but you also need to learn to release it.”

“Release it?” Kiera shifted in her seat and narrowed her eyes at him. “The whole point of me coming here was for you to teach me to control it.”

“You won’t have full control until you learn to shift between human and animal with ease.”

“And what if I get stuck?” She sounded irritated, but he saw the flash of fear in her expression.

“I won’t let that happen.”

“I think I’ll stick to the no tail rule.”

“You’re making jokes because you’re scared.” He leaned against the wall and crossed his arms over his chest.

“Of course I am.” She shivered, closed her eyes and sighed. “I’m terrified.”

There it was again–an awareness of her animal, a tug to comfort her. Protect her.

Mate with her.

He swallowed hard and steeled himself against the unwanted emotions that stirred in his chest.

“If you follow my rules you won’t need to be afraid. I can teach you how to shift, how to fight, so that even when I’m not with you, you’ll be able to protect yourself.”

“Fine.” Kiera gave a tight nod.

“Fine?”

“I’ll do it.” She turned back to the canvas and picked up the pencil.

“Good,” he said roughly. “We start now.”

A low muttered curse tore from Kiera’s lips. This time Jacob couldn’t help but smile.

No matter what happened to him, he would make certain that Kiera survived.

Kiera paced the basement rec room. Was she seriously considering trying to turn back into a lion?
This was insane.

“Relax,” Jacob said, his golden eyes watching her with an intensity that made her squirm.

“I can’t do this.”

“You can, and you will. The key is staying calm. Don’t get over excited and don’t panic.”

“Right.” She rolled her eyes. He spoke about shifting as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

His expression tightened and his lips thinned, but despite the hard look he gave her, Kiera couldn’t help but imagine how incredible those lips would feel against her own.

“Fine,” she sighed. “What do I do?”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “First, you’ll want to take off your shirt and jeans.”

“Well, I was hoping for a bit more romance–”

“Kiera.” His voice was sharp, but a flush colored his cheeks.

She chuckled. “Are you going to join me?”

“I’m not the one shifting.”

“Still, I think it’s only fair.” She cocked an eyebrow at him and grinned. “I’ll show you mine, if you show me yours.”

“This isn’t a game.” He pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head. The fitted white shirt that he wore did little to disguise his broad shoulders and corded biceps.

“It’d be a lot more fun if it was.” She stuck out her bottom lip.

He narrowed his eyes and scowled. She supposed it was a look meant to intimidate, but it was difficult to be afraid of him.  

“Fine.” She shrugged, pulled her shirt over her head, then unbuttoned her jeans and shimmied out of them. In just her bra and panties, she placed her hands on her hips and raised an eyebrow. “Now what?”

Jacob’s jaw twitched and his eyes burned with amber fire. He was visibly trying to control his desire.

Kiera felt the tiniest sliver of hope. 

“Close your eyes,” Jacob growled.

She hesitated for a brief moment, then did what he asked.

Shutting down one of her senses made the others more heightened. The air was cool, but she felt the heat radiating off Jacob’s body just a couple feet away. She could hear his breath, smell his masculine scent.

“What do you feel?”

In that moment, she was more aware of him than anything else.

With a nervous swallow, she said the first thing that popped into her head, “You.”

He inhaled sharply, then cursed.

“Sorry,” she muttered, clenching her eyes shut.

He cleared his throat. “Focus on the animal.”

She tried. The animal was there, but it didn’t rise to the surface. It watched her with quiet patience. In her mind’s eye, she could see the lioness clearly. She was beautiful. Strong.

“There,” Jacob said, as if he could see what she saw. He was closer now. She could feel his breath on her cheek, but he still didn’t touch her. “Allow it to come forward.”

Kiera opened herself up, giving the lion room to move freely. The large cat purred. The sound resonated from her own throat, and she almost laughed. It was an odd sensation. When she stopped resisting, the animal became an extension of herself. Adrenaline pumped through her veins and her heart rate increased. She could do this.

“Slow down your breathing.” Jacob’s voice had become distant.

The animal paced within her mind. The soft purr became a low, steady grumble. It moved towards her, filling up the space that Kiera had given it. Anxiety crept up her spine and tightened her chest. She could feel the animal trying to take control.

“Stop,” she mumbled. “Stay back.”

The lion didn’t listen, but slowly crept towards her.

The muscles in Kiera’s limbs went painfully stiff as the animal tried to fit within her skin. Something sharp sliced through her and she cried out.

“Kiera. Open your eyes,” Jacob commanded, his voice gruff. Even in the midst of her agony, she could feel his hands on her. The searing heat almost numbed the physical pain. “Focus on me.”

She opened her eyes and met his penetrating gaze. His arms were around her, crushing her against his chest. Pain turned to discomfort and the animal retreated back into the dark corners of her mind, until all she felt was pinpoints of pressure, and a slight tingling in her fingers and toes.

“I couldn’t do it.” Her teeth chattered and she shivered despite the warmth of Jacob’s body.

“It’ll get easier.” He continued to hold her. His large hands smoothed down her back, then back up. His fingers were hot against her bare skin. His touch stirred the desire within her.

She curled her fingers against his shirt, unwilling to let him go.

The hard length of his cock pressed firmly against her stomach. He wanted her. There was no denying it. Why did he continue to deny what was between them?

“Jacob,” she whispered his name and his gaze flashed to hers. God, she wanted to taste him, to feel his lips against hers. “Kiss me.”

He groaned and closed his eyes.

She ran her hands up his chest, around his neck and tangled her fingers in his hair, pulling his mouth down to meet hers. She didn’t force it, but merely brushed her lips gently against his. He tensed briefly, then his mouth descended on hers in a scorching rush.

She was too terrified to breathe. Terrified he would pull away.

His hands slid down her back, over her ass, lifting her to cradle his thigh. Kiera moaned into his mouth and wriggled against him. He kissed her deep, hard, filling her body with sensations she’d never known, had only dreamed about. Her head swam with the taste of him. The soft stroke of his tongue lit her on fire.

His scent and the heat of his body permeated her senses. Her hands roamed over his body, across the hard ridges of his abs, across his chest, around his back. She wanted to enjoy the moment, savor the sensation. She didn’t understand the need that coursed through her body, but she knew that only Jacob could satisfy those needs.

Her fingers tightened in his hair, her need for more than just his kiss grew more desperate. She let out a soft moan as his tongue stroked deeper.

He pulled back, his eyes blazing, his expression tight with lust. He inhaled sharply, hissing a breath between his teeth.

“Don’t stop,” she pleaded.

“This can’t happen.” He cupped her cheek with a calloused palm. His expression was a mixture of sadness and frustration.

“Why not?” Her voice was barely above a whisper. “Whose rules are we breaking?”

“Mine.”

“Yours?” She ran her hand over the long length of his cock, and it twitched beneath the thin material. “I see the way you look at me. Why deny it?”

He muttered a harsh curse, gripped her wrist and pulled her hand away.

In a hoarse voice he said, “I’m not going to fuck you, Kiera. No matter how much I want to.”

She blinked up at him in challenge. Her cheeks warmed, but despite her frustration, she managed a small, seductive smile. She wouldn’t let him see how much his denial had hurt her pride. She grabbed her shirt and pants off the floor.

“You know where to find me when you change your mind.”

Jacob didn’t come to her. Except for his scheduled training sessions, he kept his distance, and even then, he remained aloof.

Kiera was beyond frustrated, mentally and physically. She growled at the blank canvas in front of her, picked up a paintbrush and ran an ugly red line down the center. Not even her art could ease her growing agitation.

Her lion rumbled close to the surface, but she no longer concerned herself about it making an unannounced visit. Despite Jacob’s best efforts, she couldn’t shift.

Jacob thought she wasn’t trying hard enough, that she was letting fear hold her back, but he was wrong. No matter how hard she tried, the lion stayed trapped inside of her.

A knock on the front door jolted her back to the present. She dropped the brush and mumbled under her breath.

A woman’s voice travelled down the hall.

Curious, Kiera rubbed her eyes and stood. She paused when she turned the corner.

Jacob had his back to her, his arms wrapped tightly around a tall, auburn-haired woman.

The embrace was natural. There was no awkwardness between them, as if they’d shared many similar moments.

Kiera moved back behind the wall quickly.

Was this woman the reason he’d refused her? Why hadn’t he just come clean and told her he was seeing someone?

Kiera peered around the corner and glared at the woman who still hadn’t released her hold on Jacob. She had strong features, almost masculine, yet striking.

Jacob pulled back, his brows drawn down. “You’re shaking. What’s wrong?”

“Hunter’s back.” The woman looked up at him, dark eyes misty.

“Hunter Sinclair?” Jacob dropped his hands and took a step back. A snarl twisted his lips.

“The one and only.” The woman crossed her arms over her well-endowed breasts and frowned. A small sliver of vulnerability crossed her expression.

“Shit.” Jacob rubbed his forehead. “Has he contacted you?”

“No, but I thought you should know that I heard about the wolves. If Hunter is still rogue…”

“You think he might still be working with them?”

“I don’t know.”

“I’ll take care of it.” Jacob placed his hand on her shoulder, his expression far gentler than Kiera had ever seen.

Kiera cringed. There was a clear bond between the two.

“Thank you.” The woman exhaled a shaky breath, then shook her head. “Okay, enough of that. Is it true you have Riley’s sister here?”

Kiera stiffened. She pulled back and leaned against the wall. Shit. Was she going to demand Kiera leave? If she was a lover, or even an ex, had she come here to confront Kiera, or worse, have Jacob kick her out?

“Yes.” Jacob’s voice went tight.

“Interesting.” There was no anger in the woman’s voice, only curiosity.

“Don’t give me that look. It’s not what you’re thinking. She needs someone to take care of her while she adjusts to everyday life.”

“Chase said she’s a bit of a handful.”

Seriously?

“That’s an understatement.”

“He also said she’s quite pretty.”

“Chase should learn to keep his mouth shut.”

“So is she?”

“What?”

“Pretty?”

Kiera closed her eyes and held her breath, waiting for his response. There was a long moment of silence.

“She’s my responsibility, that’s all.”

Kiera clenched her teeth, humiliation burning her pride.

God, she was an idiot. All this time she thought he was just scared or struggling with some deep dark intimacy issue. But the truth was worse, he belonged to someone else.

She turned quickly and caught her baby toe on the edge of a chair. Her breath came out in a hiss. Damn it, who put chairs in the middle of a hallway?

“Kiera?” Jacob growled her name.

A long series of curses ran silently through her head.

She straightened her shoulders, locked her jaw and turned the corner.

The woman smiled and held out her hand as Kiera approached. She ignored it, giving a small nod instead.

“I’m Jenna.” She tucked her arm through Jacob’s and leaned into him. “I’ve being hearing all about you.”

Kiera glowered at Jacob, then back at Jenna. “Can’t say the same about you.”

Jenna’s eyebrows shot up and her mouth dropped open. A second later, she shook her head and smiled, her eyes twinkling with humor.

Jacob scowled. He opened his mouth to say something, but stopped when his cell rang. “It’s Turner. I need to take this.”

Jenna continued to smile while Jacob moved to another room.

“You’ve known Jacob a long time?” Kiera asked, crossing her arms.

“You could say that.”

Jenna moved into the living room.

Kiera didn’t know what else to do but follow.

“Is Jacob treating you all right?”

“Other than the lack of company and cold shoulder treatment, I can’t complain. Don’t worry, he keeps his distance.”

Jenna chuckled. “I wasn’t worried.”

“Well, if you want me to leave, I’ll go. I didn’t know about you. If I did–”

“Why would I want you to leave?”

Jacob came back into the room, his expression darker than before. “Can you stay with Kiera? I need to go into the agency for a couple of hours.”

“I don’t need a babysitter,” Kiera snapped.

“I was hoping to stay for a bit anyway,” Jenna said, her expression apologetic. “I need to use Jacob’s internet. Mine’s down.”

“Right.” Kiera rolled her eyes at the obvious lie and turned on her heels. If he had plans to take this woman to bed while she was in the house, wolves or not, she was out of there.

Jacob’s sigh followed her down the long hall, followed by a woman’s soft laugh.

Humiliation burned Kiera’s cheeks. She almost made it to the solarium before Jacob grabbed her arm.

“What’s wrong with you?”

“With me?” She snapped her arm back and he released it. “What do you care? Go spend time with your girlfriend.”

“Girlfriend?” A multitude of expressions crossed his dark features before returning to the stoic one that he reserved especially for her. “I have to go. We’ll talk about this later.”

She turned on her heel, feeling the cold prick of tears behind her eyes. Damn it, she wouldn’t cry. Not over a stupid man.

A rumbling growl of displeasure sounded behind her.

“Kiera.” The command in his voice made her stop in her tracks.

She hated the effect that he had on her.

Slowly, she turned back to face him. She knew what she had to do, but her throat constricted and her stomach twisted.

“Thank you for everything you’ve done for me, but it appears I’ve worn out my welcome. I think it’s best for both of us if I go back to the agency.”

With all the composure she could muster, she turned and walked into the solarium, shutting the door behind her.