Текст книги "Primal Law"

Автор книги: J. Tyler

сообщить о нарушении

Текущая страница: 15 (всего у книги 18 страниц)

Fourteen

“Jax, open your eyes.”

Don’t want to.He preferred to keep sleeping, safe in his cozy cocoon. Besides, hers was the wrong voice. Not the one he loved.

Wait, loved? Ah, shit.

“Sweetheart, can you hear me? Come on, handsome. Let’s see those peepers.”

Kira. For her, he tried. His lids were like wet concrete, but he managed to crack them open a tiny bit. Her small form was leaning over him, blurry. But there. Holding his hand, stroking his brow. So good.

“I . . . can’t smell you,” he rasped.

Her touch stilled. “What?”

“He means his sense of smell is gone,” Melina said. “He can’t scent you.”

“Oh. What do we do? How do we fix it?” She was so upset, his baby.

He couldn’t comfort her. Couldn’t move a damned muscle.

“This is undocumented territory, but I’d like to try something. Are you willing to let me make a small incision in your wrist? I can give you a local anesthetic.” Obviously she was talking to Kira.

Wait a minute. Melina wanted to cut his angel? Why? Jax tried to growl but only a pathetic whine came out. His eyes closed again.

“Yes! Anything that will make him well.”

No!his mind shouted. But his lips wouldn’t budge.

Noises ensued, the clank of metal on a tray. Melina spoke to his mate, but he couldn’t make out the words. He was tired and he hadn’t even been awake that long. His energy was nonexistent.

Suddenly a slick finger parted his lips, began to rub his tongue. He sputtered, tried to turn his head away from the latex-covered digit, but the doc held him fast, smearing something wet on his tongue. His gums and canines, too. What the hell?

Automatically he swallowed, and caught the sweet, earthy taste on his tongue. His initial impression was that it was nice, if kind of weird, and then . . . the effect hit his system like rain in the desert. Warmth flowed to cells and muscles, liquid sunshine. And he knew.

Melina had given him Kira’s blood. Lifesaving, nourishing blood from his mate. Doing the job that no medicine could hope to perform in pulling him back from the brink. Slowly, he cracked his lids open again, glad to find his vision mostly clear.

“Hey,” he croaked, giving Kira a lopsided smile.

“Oh, my God!” Scooting her chair close, she hugged him tight, laying her head on his chest, on his right side, opposite the bullet wound. “I was so worried. Everyone was. Is.”

Carefully, he brought his arm around her, holding her snug against him. “I’m okay, baby. Don’t cry.”

“Sariel says I’m blotchy.” She sniffed.

“Yeah? What does he know? You’re always beautiful.” He kissed her head, and would’ve growled if he had the energy. “I can smell him on you.”

At least he could scent again. A bonus.

“He was comforting me because I thought you were going to die.” Another sniff. “Get over it.”

He snorted a laugh, but it hurt and he sucked in a breath, waiting for the pain to subside. Apparently his healing powers weren’t at full speed yet.

“Doc?”

Melina moved into his line of vision, angled face filled with concern. “Yes?”

“Is this, you know, temporary?”

“The boost you’re feeling now?”

“Yeah.”

She sighed, showing more emotion than he’d witnessed in months. “I’m afraid so. Kira’s blood has strengthened you because it contains the properties you require to be a healthy wolf shifter male. But you aren’t mated. In short, this is a stopgap measure to get you strong enough to finish the process.”

He frowned. “But if I take her blood when I bite her, what’s the difference? Why can’t I take it through the cut in her wrist or something?”

“Good question. I think the answer lies in your saliva, in the chemical change that occurs when mates bond during sex. I could be wrong.” She shrugged. “Only two ways to find out.”

“Two?”

“First, we’ll let you take blood from Kira’s wrist—provided she agrees.” Kira nodded, so Melina continued. “Then we give you a few hours, see if the bond forms between you and you’re completely well. If it hasn’t worked, you’ll feel progressively worse in a relatively short time.”

“And then?”

“We give you more blood, and release you to do as wolves do in the wild.” She actually smirked at this.

Jax looked to Kira, who was blinking rapidly, cheeks turning pink. “Not unless that’s what Kira wants.”

Melina was silent for a moment. “Are you saying you’d rather die than force Kira into mating you?”

As much as it broke his heart, he had to let her go if that’s what she wanted. “That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

Big blue eyes fixed to his. “Jax,” she breathed. “You don’t mean that.”

“Every word.”

“I’m not going to let it happen,” she whispered.

“Then stop me.”

“Oh, I intend to.”

“I’ll give you two some privacy,” Melina said with a grin. “I’ll be back.”

Neither of them noticed when the doc left. They just stared into each other’s eyes, and Jax wondered where to go next. What to say.

All that came out was, “Thank you.” Which was completely inadequate. He wasn’t a man prone to long, mushy soliloquies, hearts and flowers. He’d rather showa woman what she meant to him, and he sure couldn’t do that laid up in the infirmary. Damn it.

An impish smile curved her lips. “You’re welcome. Though I had sort of a selfish motive for saving your bacon.”

“Really?” His hand sought hers, clasped their fingers together on top of his stomach.

“Sure. A take-charge wolf man with woo-woo powers and a smokin’ hot bod? And I might get to be a wolf, too. Where else am I going to find all that?”

He laughed, and immediately regretted it. Sharp pain blasted through his shoulder and he gasped, riding it out. As the sick waves subsided, he noted that her teasing mood had disappeared and tears swam in her pretty eyes. “Hey, none of that. I’m going to be fine.”

“What if you’re not? I can’t help but feel this is my fault,” she said, voice breaking. “If I had—”

“No. This is most definitely not your fault, or mine. Nature isn’t fair, that’s all.” Studying her expression, he thought it only fair he give her one more out.

“Kira, I want you to know I meant what I said. You’re under no obligation to mate with me. If you don’t want to do it, I’ll let you go. You can’t leave here until it’s safe, but I can. I could ask Nick to assign me in the field for a while, and this mating fever, or whatever it’s called, might pass.”

And the mere thought broke his heart. Made him want to tear the room apart, shred the furniture. When had she burrowed so far under his skin?

To his amazement, her expression turned fierce. A little bit pissed. His angel got right in his face. “Listen to me, Jaxon Law. There’s something really good here, between you and me, and I’m sticking around to take it all the way. So stuff the self-sacrificing crap and get out of this bed so we can get our animal goin’ on.”

Okay, his inner wolf liked the attitude. A whole helluva lot. The rest of him did, too, and made his desires known with throbbing intensity, injuries be damned.

Reaching out, he traced a finger over her lips. “Yes, ma’am. You always so bossy?”

“No, but I’m learning.”

With that, she took his mouth, licked inside. Her flavor excited him as no woman’s ever had, and he wanted to pull her on top of him. Have his way right here. She must’ve felt the same, because she broke the kiss to nibble along his jaw.

“You could bite me right now,” she murmured.

“Baby, even if it would work, there’s no way I’m going to create the most important bond either of us will ever experience sitting in my oh so sexy hospital bed.” He arched a brow. “Give me a little romantic credit.”

She brightened. “I’m glad to hear you say that.”

“Why? Was that some sort of test and I passed?”

“No! Well, maybe a little,” she teased. “I don’t want to do it here, either.”

“Why do you want it at all?” His quiet question pierced the playful mood, but he had to know. His own change of heart concerning taking a mate wasn’t such a mystery. Kira, he wasn’t so sure about. “Why me? Have you made peace with the fact that I have an animal half who’s every bit a part of me as the man?”

Her gaze slid from his and moved to his lap. “I keep telling you that wasn’t the problem.”

“Then what—oh, right. You didn’t want nature to force your choice.” Taking her chin, he tilted it up so she’d meet his eyes. “I don’t want that, either. But for my part, I don’t have to worry anymore.”

“What are you saying?” She bit her lip.

“That I’m falling for you,” he said, smiling a little. “Because of you, not some souped-up version of my genetic code. This might sound stupid, but I knew you were all I wanted the second I saw Chup sleeping on your stomach.”

“That doesn’t sound stupid at all.” Leaning in, she kissed the corner of his mouth. “In fact, that’s the greatest thing anyone’s ever said to me.”

“What about you?” He attempted to keep the sudden strain out of his tone. “Do you still feel trapped?”

“No,” she said, taking his hand. “I’m scared and a little overwhelmed, but not trapped. I think that’s because I’m not fully adjusted to this lifestyle yet. To the enormity of all of this—otherworldly beings, evil forces and soldiers who battle them. Plus there’s a big possibility I’ll be a shifter like you guys. But my feelings for you have become stronger than my fear of what I can’t control. Does that make sense?”

“Perfectly.”

She has feelings for me. Yes! It’s a place to begin. A terrific place. Still . . .

“So you’re really okay with the idea of becoming a shifter?”

After a pause, she nodded. “I’m nervous, but at the same time I can’t help but wonder what it will be like. You know, the process itself. Not to mention being stronger and faster, being able to defend myself with claws and really sharp teeth. It’s kind of cool, now that I’m getting used to the possibility. I think I’ll be disappointed if it doesn’t happen.”

“It might not,” he said gently. “Melina didn’t change after she and Terry mated.”

“I know. If it doesn’t, I’ll deal with it.” Lapsing into momentary silence, she played with his hair. “It’s weird for me to think about being shifter, but at least I get a warning. I can only imagine what a shock it was for you guys.”

“Damned right it was. Thought we were losing our minds at first.”

She studied him, obviously chewing on something. “You told me that you, Zan, Aric, and Ryon were Navy SEALs. And you were all turned after you were ambushed on patrol. Right?”

“Yes, plus Raven, who’s in Block R. Why?”

“So is that when your Psy abilities manifested? You were all able to do cool stuff after you became shifters?”

He frowned. “No, we had our abilities already. They just became much more powerful.”

“Did any of the other men—the ones who were killed—did they have powers, too?”

“I don’t know,” he said slowly. “It’s never occurred to me to ask.”

“Did any of you know one another before you joined the Navy?”

“No, we met in BUD/S training and were placed on our team together. What are you getting at?”

“I’m not sure. It just seems strange that out of all the people in the military, a group of guys with Psy abilities ended up on the same team unbeknownst to one another, and all of you survived when so many others didn’t. Doesn’t that seem weird to you?”

Suddenly, Aric’s earlier declaration returned.

Which would mean our high-up government friends—the assholes who’re supposed to be on our side—lied to us. Ain’t like that’s never happened before.

A chill gripped his heart. What could it all mean? Were they played from the beginning, set up, used? The strong turned into paranormal soldiers, the weak discarded like broken toys?

That would be abominable. And it could be true.

“When you put it like that, it does,” he said. “I don’t know what to make of what’s going on with NewLife and these experiments, disappearing Alpha Pack team members, dead bodies, what the government does or doesn’t have a hand in, none of it. What I do know is I want out of this bed.”

Mischief sparked in her blue eyes and she leaned over, nibbling his neck. “My poor wolf pup,” she teased. “Feeling a bit anxious? Cooped up?” Her hand slid under the covers.

“Kira.” His intended warning became a plea as her fingers sought their prize, rooting under his gown to find his lengthening shaft. “God.”

“Let me help you get rid of some of that tension.” Her hand began stroke him, sending shivers of delight through his burgeoning erection, up his spine. “I’ll make a mess,” he gasped. “The doc will know what we’ve been up to.”

“There won’t be a mess,” she promised him with a wink. “Sit back and enjoy, and I’ll take care of everything.”

When she flipped back the covers and exposed him, bent over his throbbing flesh, his dazed brain grasped her meaning. All half-formed thoughts of protest died on his lips and he groaned, arching his hips.

Her mouth surrounded him, took him in, hot and sweet. The sensation fired his blood, not to mention the sight of her blond head bobbing over his lap, his cock disappearing between her lips. Just the idea that she planned to swallow his essence nearly made him lose it way too soon.

“God, Kira!”

She hummed in apparent pleasure, small fingers squeezing, manipulating his balls as she sucked. The dual stimulation was challenging enough in holding off his orgasm, but when the hand slid down his perineum, ventured into his cleft to massage the forbidden pucker there . . . Jax almost came totally undone.

“Baby, I can’t last,” he rasped. “Please . . .”

Please stop? Or please eat him alive? He wasn’t sure. His world had been reduced to a whorl of intense, mindless pleasure. Nothing existed but what she was doing to him, how unbelievably incredible it felt to surrender to her.

Mine!

Unable to hold back any longer, he erupted with a shout. On and on his cock pulsed as she drank him down, not missing a drop. After what seemed forever, his spasms finally stopped and she pulled off him, wiping the corner of her mouth.

“Oh, my God,” he breathed, the words a reverent praise of her talents.

She gave him a self-satisfied grin. “Did that help?”

“Did it ever! I think my bones melted.”

“Good, that was the plan.” Kissing his cheek, she arranged his gown over his lap once more and fixed the covers. “Can you rest some now? You look tired.”

“Not sure. Maybe I could take a nap,” he mumbled, suddenly drowsy.

“Go ahead.” She took his hand. “I’ll be right here.”

Worn out from the naughty interlude, Jax fell into an exhausted, sated sleep. When he woke again, hands were shaking him, urgent voices calling from far away. He tried to ignore them but they were persistent, and he finally managed to crack open his eyes, blinking against the sunlight that shone around the edges of the blinds.

“You’re awake! Thank God.” Kira smiled down at him, eyes shadowed.

“Did I sleep all night?”

“Yep.” Melina beamed a penlight into his eyes. “It’s a quarter past eight.”

“Jesus,” he muttered, jerking his head from the light. “That’s my brain you’re skewering.”

“At least you still have one. Do you remember me bringing in a cot for your lady to sleep on? Us giving you more blood?” She slipped the wretched device into her coat.

He thought. “No. Must’ve been out of it.”

“You were, but I thought you might’ve had some awareness. The fact that you didn’t is telling, Jax.”

“My body is failing.” God.

“Faster than I expected. This is it—do or die. You’re going to drink from your mate’s wrist, gain some strength, and then I’m releasing you. Go where you like, but if you don’t come back mated, there’s no coming back,” she said bluntly.

Kira winced, and he wanted to snap at Melina to use some sensitivity, but it wouldn’t do any good. The doc didn’t believe in candy-coating the facts.

“Remember what I said about what could happen to your abilities after mating. Now, I’ll leave you two alone. As soon as you feel strong enough to get up, do it.” Then she was gone.

Kira watched her go. “That woman is so hard to like. But for some reason, I do.”

“Because she’s a good person, just shit on by life. Now, give me your hand.”

She did, and he nuzzled the delicate flesh inside her wrist. Flicked out a tongue and tasted. His senses might be shot, but her sweet vanilla and citrus came through, making him dizzy. He needed her so much.

Resisting the urge to bite, he grazed the skin with one canine, making the small cut so fast she barely felt it. Little drops beaded in the slice and he captured them, soothed the area with his tongue. As before, the flavor was so strong and heady, he couldn’t wait to learn how it would feel to be truly joined.

Strength seeped into his bones, that soothing warmth returning. Along with a more insistent heat in his groin. He wasn’t going to get any stronger without the mating. Now was the time.

“My clothes?”

“Here.” She handed him a pile of freshly laundered jeans, a green shirt, socks, and shoes. “Zan brought them. Everyone’s worried about you.”

“They won’t have reason to be, soon.”

She blushed. “They’re all going to know.”

“And be jealous as hell.” Sitting up, he swung his legs over the side of the bed. “If any of those dipsticks give you a hard time, remember that’s just their way of showing you how much they like you. If they ignored you, then you’d have to worry.”

“I suppose so.”

He dressed quickly, glad that he felt pretty good. One a scale of one to ten? About a seven at the moment. He’d work with it.

“What do you say we go for a walk?” he asked with a grin.

“To your favorite spot by the stream?”

“Unless you’d rather drive into Cody. I can book us into a nice room, order some bubbly and—”

“I think the stream is the perfect spot. And you’re the only high I need,” she said, almost shyly.

“And I think that’s the greatest thing anyone’s ever said to me.” Chest swelling, he stood and held out a hand. “Shall we?”

“Let’s go.”

Putting her hand in his, she allowed him to walk her outside, into the new day. She trusted him to take care of her, now and always.

He’d do anything not to break that trust.

Anything.

Staring out the window, Nick watched them go, with a heart heavy.

So little time left, and they didn’t know. How short life is. How unfair.

Turning away from the glass, he clenched his fists. “This isn’t a gift, it’s a curse. Take it back,” he whispered.

But no one listened, or answered. No one ever had.

Not once, from the day he was born.

As they walked, fingers linked, Kira’s nerves started to get the best of her. Because the truth was, Jax was every fantasy come to life.

As he tugged her along, walking slightly ahead, she ogled his ass hugged just right in the well-loved jeans. His broad back flexing under his T-shirt, his trim waist. The scrolled tattoo winding lazily from under the right sleeve to trail down his arm. She couldn’t wait to see the rest of it again, lick it. Taste his skin.

“What are you thinking about so hard?” Turning his head, he looked back at her, lips curving into a sensual smile.

For a second, her brain fritzed, totally short-circuited by his sheer beauty. Not the pretty kind, but dangerous. All raw, sexual male. She’d never been one to prefer any sort of facial hair, but his goatee was the perfect complement to his masculine face and bad-boy, motorcycleriding image.

“Earth to Kira.”

She shook herself out of the drools. “Sorry. Too much on my mind, I guess.”

“I’ll fix that by blowing all those pesky thoughts to dust.” He grinned at her, his meaning clear.

“I’m sure you will.” His words reminded her of something. “What did Dr. Mallory mean when she told you to remember what can happen to your abilities when we mate? Can something go wrong?” The idea of anything happening to him scared her.

“Not wrong, exactly.” He paused. “She told me the bonding could negate my powers for a while.”

“Oh, no! Will you get them back?”

“Most likely.”

“You seem pretty nonchalant about it.”

“I’m not. But when it’s a choice between losing my abilities or my life . . .”

Not much of a choice at all. She hoped he didn’t regret their mating, but couldn’t bring herself to say so. In spite of nature forcing life-altering changes upon them, she and Jax had formed their own connection. One based on mutual trust, friendship, and attraction. Nothing could take that from them.

Except death.

She shivered.

“You cold, baby?”

“No, I’m fine.” She smiled and the worry in his eyes eased.

When they reached his favorite spot by the stream, he turned and gathered her into his arms. Pulling her flush against his hard body, he cupped her face. “Relax, angel. I’m not going to devour you. At least not until you’re begging for it.”

She was there already. His hands on her face, the heat of his erection burrowing into her tummy, his strength surrounding her . . . Oh, yes. She wanted more of that, with the two of them naked, tangled, and sweaty.

His kiss was slow and thorough. Sweeping and exploring. Like a master, he eased her gently under his spell, and she wondered whether he might be part Sorcerer. She rubbed against him, needing to be closer, to crawl inside him.

Breaking the kiss, she knelt on the spongy ground and unzipped his jeans. “First I want to devour you,” she said, voice husky. “Will you beg for it?”

His eyes darkened with predatory hunger. “Make me.”

“I like that sort of challenge.”

Hooking her fingers in the waistband, she pulled down his jeans, slid them off. He kicked off his running shoes, stepped out of the pants, and spread his legs, standing with his feet braced slightly apart, and then pulled off his shirt. All of the glorious skin she’d been eager to touch and taste was right there, a living sculpture of male beauty.

Reaching out, she cradled his heavy balls, squeezing, manipulating carefully. He moaned and widened his stance, encouraging her to do what she wished. What she wanted was to drive him out of his mind with a tongue bath, and so she grasped the base of his cock, lifting his stiff erection. Bending forward, she licked the silky sac, determined not to leave an inch unloved. He squirmed, buried a hand in her hair and thrust his hips, clearly enjoying the attention.

Getting into her ministrations, she kissed and suckled each orb as though savoring a juicy peach. Delicious, too, smooth and creamy, just like—

“Kira,” he rasped.

“Mmm. Ready to beg yet?”

Whatever reply he might’ve made was silenced when she swallowed him to the root. A cock this magnificent deserved her undivided attention and she gave it, sucking him with firm pulls, laving the underside, worrying the sensitive flesh with lips and a slight grazing of her teeth.

Her wolf lasted longer than she expected, and she smirked to herself as he disengaged with a low growl of warning. “Get those clothes off, because if I do it there won’t be anything left but scraps.”

“You wouldn’t want me to traipse back in the buff?”

His eyes narrowed. “I don’t share.”

“Good to know, because neither do I.”

Kneeling, he helped divest her of the pink cotton shirt she’d worn this morning, followed by the lacy white bra. Both were tossed aside and he literally crawled up her body, pushing her to lie on the grass. Straddling her, he tweaked a nipple and it immediately perked to attention, seeking more of the same. But he moved on, attacking her jeans with the same impatience she’d demonstrated, stripping them and her underwear down her legs. The shoes and socks went next, and the whole pile joined the rest of their clothing.

“Christ, you’re so pretty,” he breathed in reverence.

She resisted the impulse to cover herself. Barely, and because she knew he didn’t like it when she did. “I’m happy you think so.”

“It’s a fact.” Bending, he sniffed her neck, inhaling her scent. “So good. Sweet. You’re not afraid of the Big Bad Wolf eating you up?”

“Should I be?” Oh, God, he felt so good above her, his hard cock rubbing her belly.

“Oh, yeah. Be very afraid,” he deadpanned.

Then he gave her nipples his full attention, treating them with the same care she’d lavished on his balls. He suckled, scraped, and licked, making every nerve ending sizzle in joy. She clutched his short black hair as he began to kiss his way south, humming to himself in pleasure. Callused fingers parted her folds and it was his turn to drive her wild, his tongue lapping at her clit, her channel, sending tendrils of delight spiraling through her abdomen and to her limbs.

Somehow he knew when she couldn’t take anymore, but instead of backing off, he upped the ante. “Am I driving you crazy, baby? Who’s going to beg now?”

A smart remark hovered on her lips—and was instantly forgotten when his mouth went back to work on her slit. And when a slick finger teased her back entrance.

Her eyes widened and she gasped. “What are you doing?”

“Relax, angel,” he purred. “Give yourself to me. Just feel.”

She started to refuse. She really did. But the wonder of his tongue combined with the finger rubbing sensually around the sensitive ring of muscles therereduced her to a puddle of mush. He was never too invasive, simply teased and stroked in time to feasting on her, to the point that she was nothing but his.

“Jax, please!”

“Please what, my angel?”

“Fuck me,” she begged. “I need you, inside me.”

“What my lady wants, she gets.” He sounded rather pleased with himself.

Deftly, he urged her to flip over and grabbed her hips, pulling her up on her knees with her ass poking in the air. Offered to him. The man and the beast.

She knew what would come with the fucking and she welcomed it. Wanted it hard and feral, no holding back, and she made sure he understood. “Take me, like a wolf takes his mate. Show me how it can be.”

“I’ll show you how it is,” he asserted. “You’re mine.”

The blunt head of his cock pushed into her, sliding deep. He filled her to the hilt, his strong body covering hers, and still she needed more. Her blood called to him, every cell in her body yearning for the completion only he could give them. To be his Bondmate, the one at his side for life, loving him. Fighting their battles, celebrating their triumphs. She wanted it all, with him.

“God, yes,” he hissed. Gripping her hips, he began to thrust, slamming into her core with almost brutal force, skirting the edge of pain.

Breathless, she moaned, pushing back onto him. Tempting him to increase the intensity, to own her. Spearing her again and again, he drove them higher, to the brink. His nails lengthened, became claws needling her flesh. He seemed to grow bigger all over as he pounded into her channel, his muscles taut and unyielding.

About to go over, she reached back, trying to touch his face. “Jax, I can’t . . . Please!”

Sitting back, he brought her into his lap, the position burying his cock deep. Instinctively, she tilted her head to the side, offering her neck in submission to her mate. A finger brushed aside her hair and he licked the vulnerable skin where her neck and shoulder met.

“You’re mine.”

“Yes, I’m yours! Don’t make me wait any longer . . .”

He struck, sinking his canines into her flesh like razors slicing through paper. She cried out, the pain unlike any she’d ever known, and then . . . ecstasy.

Pure, white-hot pleasure that boiled and rose for about five seconds and then exploded in the most powerful orgasm she’d ever experienced. Screaming, she writhed on his lap, spasming around his cock. Her release triggered his and he poured into her, warmth bathing her womb. She opened her eyes and was shocked to see the forest through a golden glow, almost like a veil surrounding them. A glow that sank right through their skin as they remained connected, winding into a tangible golden thread that ran between them.

From her heart to his.

Jax stiffened with a hoarse shout, emptying the last of his seed and then slumped, still holding on, his face in the crook of her shoulder where he’d bitten.

How long they remained there, joined, she didn’t know. Finally he raised his head and peppered her neck, her cheek, with kisses. “Are you all right, baby?”

“I think I blew a fuse,” she teased.

“I know I did.” He sighed, and then said, “My wolf is gone, and so are my other gifts.”

“What? How can you tell?” Something like panic pushed at her breast.

“I just can.”

Easing off his lap, she sat facing him. “Well, try to shift.”

“Okay.” Scooting back some, he remained kneeling, and concentrated. After a couple of minutes, he shook his head. “Nothing.”

She reached out, took his hand. “Oh, Jax, I’m sorry. But Dr. Mallory said they’d probably return,” she reminded him.

He laughed. “I know. I was thinking how ironic it is that five years ago, when I was turned into a shifter, I thought I’d been cursed. I would’ve done anything to reverse it. And now I feel quite naked.”

“You are naked, in case you forgot.”

Fortunately, he responded to the tease. “Oh, my God! You’re right. What’re we gonna do about that?” Playfully, he got on his hands and knees and stalked her.

“I haven’t the foggiest.” Giggling, she began to inch backward. “Hey, you’re bullet wound is healed! I guess that means something good came from bonding, huh?”

“It means I’m in good enough shape to stalk my mate.”

He leaped, and she jumped up with a squeal, trying to run. She couldn’t get away, though. Even without his abilities, he was still faster and stronger than she was. He easily caught her, spinning them around, and took them both to the ground.

He turned, taking the brunt of the fall, giving her a cushion for the landing. And she had to admit, she didn’t mind landing on him at all.

“I’m your captive—now what will you do with me?”

He smiled, his canines oddly normal. “I’m sure I’ll think of something.”