Jax (Immortals of New Orleans Book 7) (20 page)

They exited in silence, and Katrina suspected both of them thought she was losing her mind. Although they’d had the decency not to comment further about how the magick affected her, she grew convinced that she was connected to the witch. Despite what Ilsbeth had done to Dimitri, Katrina didn’t sense malevolence within her home. These objects, the music, even her spilled blood had been an intentional act, one designed to communicate.

As they entered the secret passageway, Katrina gave a parting glance to the special place Ilsbeth had taken great care to create, and she wondered what other secrets lay within the walls of the mansion. The energy she’d felt previously had dissipated, but they were one step closer to finding answers. Through the tunnel, the exit into the bedroom was revealed, the last streams of light from the sun lancing through the darkness. With salvation on the horizon, she breathed in hope that one day she’d awaken in the arms of her mate, free from the evil that plagued them.

Jax palmed the tarnished piece of jewelry and considered what had transpired at Ilsbeth’s mansion. For over three hours, they had searched. Jake had been correct about the office contents. From everyday herbs and crystals to more rare substances such as a vampire fang, the apothecary contained Ilsbeth’s treasured ingredients. But Katrina hadn’t experienced any other psychic connections after they’d left the bedroom.

On the short ride back to his Burgundy Street home in Quarter, they’d sat in silent contemplation. Jax had bought the recently renovated early nineteenth century mansion sight unseen, but justified the purchase with the intention of spending more time with Gillian. He surveyed the empty living room, admiring the hand-carved cream-colored crown molding. The plaster walls had been painted a distinctive robin’s-egg blue. Matching silk curtains hung perfectly from the twelve-foot-high ceiling. A grand fireplace sat against the wall to the right and Jax set the ring and other items they’d collected on its mantle. He reached for the switch, igniting the gas, and watched as the flames roared to life.

A rattle overhead told him Katrina had turned on the shower. He’d resisted pressing her about what had happened at the house. In the pit of his stomach a nagging thought persisted. What if his mate was changing? What if she changed into something to the point where they’d be unable to bond? Samantha’s shocked expression was all he needed to tell him that something was terribly wrong with Katrina’s magick, more than he’d suspected. While she no longer experienced trouble shifting, her behavior and experiences in Ilsbeth’s mansion had bordered on the inconceivable.

Jax attempted to shake the troubling thoughts from his mind and made his way into the kitchen. With no time to decorate, the only furniture he’d ordered had been for the master bedroom and a kitchen table and chairs. Jax searched through the cabinets, thankful he’d had the forethought to ask his butler to stock the home with food and drinks. Snatching a couple of snifters off the shelf, he set them on the counter. He reached for the bottle of cognac and uncorked it, the classic notes of vanilla and cinnamon wafting into his nostrils. Jax held the tumbler up to the light, swirling the well-aged liquor.

Like its circular motion, his mind spun, strategizing. They needed a witch to help them figure out the significance of the poison ring. He’d texted Luca on the ride home, but the vampire steadfastly refused to let him see Samantha again. Jax didn’t blame Luca for not wanting his pregnant fiancée involved in their business. They’d all seen how the black magick was affecting Katrina. Bringing the mystical objects to Samantha and possibly risking her baby’s safety was not an option.

If you want something done right, take it to the boss.
Unfortunately, the boss, Mick Germaine, was an unknown player in the convoluted supernatural world. Unlike his acclaimed counterpart, Ilsbeth, the warlock hadn’t impressed Kade as ally or adversary. Luca told him that Mick had left New Orleans, taking up residence an hour outside of the city toward Bayou Goula in Iberville parish. Jax had convinced the vampire to set up a meeting with the head priest. Tomorrow night they’d go see the warlock.

Tonight, however, Jax would tend to his mate. His wolf had grown anxious, yearning to taste her again. Katrina’s tenacity never ceased to amaze him. He shook his head and gave a small laugh. She fought him at every turn, yet he’d caught her every glance, watching him.

As he put the rim to his lips and let the spicy tonic flow over his tongue, Jax decided to test his little wolf further. There would be no secrets between them, nor any limits he didn’t test. He gathered the glasses and set forth to the bedroom, looking forward to the pleasure he’d find within the arms of his mate.

Stalking his prey, Jax quietly cracked open the bathroom door. In contrast to his ultra-modern New York City penthouse, everything about his new home was ingrained with a classic elegance. Mini brass gas lamp sconces illuminated the walls. The enormous shower sat center, its clear walls in a perfect square. Exposed copper piping emerged from the floor, curving into the oversized circular showerhead.

Jax sipped his cocktail and kicked off his shoes, observing the way her back arched as she ran water through her long hair. With one hand, he yanked his t-shirt over his head and tossed it aside. Katrina pretended not to notice him as he circled the steam-filled enclosure. Her eyes closed, she teased him, running her hands down over her breasts.
Ah, how my mate enjoys being watched
. Perhaps he’d give her the opportunity to do so for Jake, he mused with a small smile.

He unzipped his jeans and shrugged out of them. The sound of Katrina’s sigh told him she was every bit aware of what he was doing. Her arousal filtered into the air, and he lost patience. Jax set the drinks on the counter and took his dick into his hands. Unable to wait a second longer, he paced toward the door.

Steam swirled around him as he stepped into the glass-encased shower. He came up behind Katrina, the warm mist brushing over his face. His cock brushed the small of her back and he slipped his arms around her. Her head fell back onto his shoulder and he heard a soft moan.

“Hmm…Jax.”

“You were expecting someone else?” He held her close, his hands sliding over her stomach.

“Why is it that, in such a short time, I’m starting to feel like I’ve never been without you?”

“Because we’ve known each other our whole lives. Our wolves, their minds have always been one. It is us who have to learn to adjust. They simply do what nature has taught them.”

“How is it you know everything?”

“How come you answer questions with a question?”

“Have you ever been in love?” she asked.

Jax’s chest tightened at the question. So many years had passed, but he’d thought he’d been in love only once.

“I thought so,” he replied.

“You have?” she asked, a lilt of surprise in her voice.

Jax detected pain in her response and he knew he shouldn’t have said anything. But given he expected the truth from her, he wouldn’t lie.

“It was a long, long time ago. There was a girl. I was just a teenager. Foolish.”

“We all do things in our youth we regret.”

“Some later in life,” he noted. “But what I did? We mustn’t pretend we can marry humans. It is not our way.”

“You broke her heart?”

“My father insisted.” Jax grew silent. Aside from Gillian and Nick, he hadn’t discussed his family with anyone.

“I see.” Katrina’s arms wrapped over his.

“Have you been in love?” Jax diverted attention away from his own situation. In truth, he sought answers about the vampire.

“I’ve had lovers, but I’ve never been in love.”

“And Luca?”

“Luca? It’s complicated,” she sighed.

“It always is. But, my mate, I want to know what I’m dealing with. Do I have competition?” he half joked, wrapping her wet hair around his hand.

“I told you that Luca rescued me.” Katrina blinked away the moisture. With her head tilted backwards, she met Jax’s gaze. “Sometimes, for whatever reason, you meet someone and there’s just this connection. We’ve been lovers on and off over the years, but was I in love with him? Not really. Not like you mean. We’re just friends.”

“He still cares about you,” Jax observed, selfishly relieved that she hadn’t fallen in love with the vampire.

“I care about him, too. Samantha, she’s been good for him. Softens him up a bit. He can be a bit cranky.” She laughed. “He’s not exactly fond of humans…as in not at all. Frankly, I’m surprised he bonded with a witch. I only say that because he’s not tolerant of other supernaturals. He cooperates with them only because Kade’s his maker. He makes him help the wolves at times. But he and I? I don’t know. He was never like that with me. When we first met, he was unjaded. We were both still very young.”

“I want you to know that even though I said I thought I was in love,” Jax paused and carefully selected his words, “I’ve never felt this attraction, not like what I feel when I’m with you. When I first heard you laugh, I just…if you hadn’t left, I would have chased you for the rest of the night. And now that I actually have you? I’m never letting go.”

“I don’t want you to let go.”

“We’ll get answers tomorrow from the warlock. This thing is far from over.” Jax traced his finger over his mark and his lips tightened in determination.

“We may be out of time,” she whispered. “Samantha. She knows.”

“Knows what?” he asked, aware of what she was insinuating.

“I’m changing. I can still shift, but inside,” Katrina brought her fist to her chest, “something is happening. Tonight at the house…I don’t know how I did what I did. I’ve never even met Ilsbeth. But the magick? It’s almost as if she knew me.”

“It’s going to be all right, Kat.” Jax spoke with conviction. It terrified him that something evil had rooted inside his mate, but he wouldn’t let her see his trepidation. “Tonight…all I want to do is be with you.”

Jax’s hand found her breast. He took a slippery tip in between his fingers and let his other hand dip in between her legs.

“Jax…I want…this,” she breathed.

“I need to be in you again,” Jax admitted. Claiming her hadn’t been nearly enough to sate his wolf. He yearned to make love to her over and over, marking her with his scent, his touch.

Katrina cried out loud as he slid a finger deep inside her core. Her head lolled forward and she braced her arm against the glass.

Jax smiled. He’d never been with a woman so responsive to his touch. Made for him and him alone, his mate shuddered in pleasure. Her breath quickened and he knew she was close. Driving two more fingers deep inside her channel, he pumped into her, his thumb circling her clit. He wrapped his hand under her chin, and she parted her lips, her tongue laving at his thumb.

Jax’s shaft strained against the crevice of her ass. The thought of fucking her, taking her in every conceivable way hardened his cock to concrete. Nothing would be off limits with Katrina, and the excitement of exploring how far they could go sent shivers through his body.

A small whimper escaped her lips as her core spasmed. He didn’t relent as she came, plunging his fingers in and out of her pussy.

“Yes, yes…that’s it, baby. Let go. You don’t need to hide from me,” he encouraged her, as her small cry became a scream.

“Yes, yes, yes…” Katrina’s voice echoed in the shower.

Jax withdrew and spun her around toward him. Lifting her by the waist, he grazed his cock through her wet folds. He stumbled backward, his back slamming into the side wall. Katrina held tight around his neck and slipped her hand down between them. Jax hissed as she took his shaft into her hand and stroked it.

“Mine,” she whispered in his ear and guided it into her pussy.

“Fuck, yeah,” Jax grunted as he drove up into her. Her channel fisted him and he sucked a breath, the sensation quivering over his sensitive skin. “No, no, no…don’t move, don’t move.”

“You feel so good inside me. Please, I need this. I need you,” she told him.

The bite of her nails digging into his shoulders took the edge off and he slowly withdrew and rocked inside her again. Moving together as one, they made love. Water dripped down their faces, their lips crushing together. He’d never get enough of this woman, he knew. Tonight was just the beginning. Every time she revealed a slight vulnerability, she countered with a strength that could only be found within the arms of an Alpha’s mate.

His tongue swept against hers and he drank in her loving kiss. As she sucked his bottom lip ever so gently, he increased his pace. Thrusting up into her, he grazed his pelvis against hers, and felt her shake beneath him.

“Oh, Jax!” Her deafening calls urged him and he pounded up into her.

“That’s it. Fucking come, baby. Oh shit,” Jax cursed. From his root to its tip, her sheath tightened around him, and he called out her name as he came deep inside her.

Her teeth scraped down over his shoulder, and he noted how she’d been careful to avoid marking him. Despite her control, he suspected she’d snap soon, marking him regardless of whether she intended it or not. Her wolf would have its due.