Protection: A Bad Boy Stepbrother Romance (39 page)

M
addie lay still
, trying to keep her breathing even. She was pretty sure that Jasper had dozed off at last, and she didn’t want to wake him. If she did that, she’d have to speak to him. Mate or no mate, she had no desire to do that.

Maddie gently lifted his heavily-muscled arm from its resting place across her bare stomach, cringing. She gave a sigh of relief when he rolled over, burying his face in one of Maddie’s pillows. Jesus, she was going to have to replace the whole set of sheets and pillows. Everything smelled like Jasper’s distinctive cedar scent, and it was entirely too enjoyable. There was no point in getting used to having him around, she reminded herself.

Maddie scooted off the bed, stretching her limbs. She looked down at Jasper’s still form, allowing herself to admire his body for just one more moment. He was perfectly sculpted, sleek muscle from his shoulders all the way down to his ankles. She’d forgotten how tall he was; his shins hung off the edge of Maddie’s queen-sized mattress and if he spread his arms, his hands would too.

Even in repose, Jasper was magnificent. He’d rolled onto his stomach, giving her a great view of his ass, which was probably his best feature. Okay, maybe second best. Maddie couldn’t suppress the grin that spread over her face as she thought about his best feature.

Maddie released a silent sigh and turned away from him, slipping on her jeans, bra, and tank top. She had better shit to do than to sit here and look at some dude’s ass, no matter who the dude was and how fine his ass might be.

Picking up her shoes, she crept out of her bedroom and over to the front door. She snagged her wallet and keys from the table, then tiptoed out the front door. Only when she’d locked the door did she breathe a sigh of relief and slip her shoes on.

She was trying really hard not to beat herself up over sleeping with Jasper. After they’d exchanged bites, the need to complete the bond had been unbearable. Neither of them had been in any position to fight it, so they’d rushed back here to her place. Jasper had been whispering in her ear, a mixture of sweet things and dirty things. By the time they’d hit the front door of Maddie’s apartment, it was a done deal.

She calmed herself. It was just one time, and she’d done it with the best motivations. For some time now, Maddie had been planning to take a mate. She was tired of the constant heckling from her elders about being a single girl. She didn’t want to go on any more horrible blind dates, she didn’t want to have to stress about her figure or what she ate or how she dressed. She especially didn’t want to have to worry that she might meet some charming Shifter who would sweep her off her feet, then break her heart. She’d wanted to pick someone who was dull, unattractive, and flawed; a male who would be excited just to have a mate, and wouldn’t be too offended when Maddie insisted on her independence.

She wasn’t sure how that plan had translated to taking Jasper as a mate, but it had been the best solution at the time. Yeah, he was nuts. Yeah, he’d obviously wanted Jace’s female. Yeah, it had hurt Maddie’s pride a little bit while she was eavesdropping.

But the second she’d stepped into the clearing with him, she knew what she had to do. Jace had needed Maddie to distract Jasper, and Maddie needed a mate who would leave her alone. Jasper lived in the Mississippi pack’s Den, so if Maddie simply refused to move…

It was as simple as that. He’d go back to his pack. Maddie would be left to do as she saw fit, but without the guilt.

It was a perfect plan, really. Maddie smiled to herself as she crossed the Grass in search of her brother. Usually when Jace was in a jam, he tended to dive into his work and not look up until he was content again. That fact, plus the looming threat of the Legion’s attack, meant that he was almost certainly hiding out in his office.

Maddie took a deep breath as she entered the building of executive offices. Her brother needed a serious reality check, and Maddie was the only one who wasn’t afraid to tell him the truth. She didn’t think Jace was going to take her constructive criticism very well.

She steeled herself and knocked on her brother’s office door. Jace didn’t even bother to say anything, just grunted as she opened the door. He looked more than a little disappointed to see her.

“Sorry, I’m not Tessa,” Maddie said, pursing her lips. She flopped down into one of the chairs, staring her brother down. For his part, Jace’s gaze bored right back into hers. Damn he was a stubborn bastard. If he wasn’t so soft and squishy inside, he’d make an excellent poker player. Or hit man, maybe.

“I wouldn’t expect her anywhere near my office. I’ve made my position on her betrayal pretty fucking clear,” Jace growled.

“God, I’m sure you did. She confessed to you that she was trying to save her sister from the Legion. What a bitch. I hope you kicked her when she was down, too.”

Jace’s jaw tightened as he glared at Maddie. Good, she was getting somewhere. She just needed to poke the hornet’s nest a little more, get him talking.

“What, you don’t like me calling her a bitch? Bitch bitch bitch,” Maddie said, smirking.

“That’s enough,” Jace said, picking up some papers from his desk as if he were going to return to work. Time to kick it up a notch, then.

“You’re a moron,” Maddie said. Jace’s eyes snapped up to meet hers again, their amber hue deepening to a chocolate brown. How easy it was for them to go right back to childhood, picking fights with each other.

“What is your problem?” Jace snapped, laying the papers back down with much more force than necessary.

“Uhhh… you. You are my problem. Do you realize that you were actually happy for one damned minute there? Tessa made you happy. Don’t deny it,” Maddie demanded.

“It doesn’t matter,” he said, his tone firm as steel.

“That’s why you’re a moron. Because it clearly does matter, you just don’t want to admit it.”

“It doesn’t matter. It’s done.”

Jace leaned back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest. Maddie had to force herself not to smile at the physical tell. He was digging his heels into the ground, which never worked for long. She had twenty-plus years of experience as her guide.

“It’s not done, but it will be if you don’t stop being such an asshole. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but you don’t connect with a whole lot of people, Jay. But her… she gets you. Shit, she likes you. Bizarre, if you ask me.”

“It doesn’t matter,” he repeated, grinding his jaw. Maddie chuckled to herself as she prepared to unleash the fountain of his anger. One more particularly sharp blow should do it.

“Do you honestly think I can stick around here forever, keeping you in touch with reality? You know what they call relationships like that between brothers and sisters? Creepy, Jay. It’s creepy.”

Jace’s face turned an incredible shade of maroon and he stood up behind his desk, seeming to take up all the space in the office. She’d hit the mark, alright. Now she just had to cover her own head and wait until it was over.

“Shut UP, Madeline! I have done nothing these last years but work and care for you, and now you’re insulting me? I’ve given you everything, and I’ve never asked for anything from you but your loyalty.”

Maddie couldn’t agree more, but she shrugged. He had some things to get off his chest. Better that she let him dish it out now than on his poor mate-to-be. God knows the girl had already heard enough. Maddie struck back at him, going in for the kill.

“At least I’m not stuck in the past. So our parents died. So what? People die every day, Jay. It was almost twenty years ago. Don’t you think it’s time to start letting go a little bit?”

“You don’t get to dictate the grudges I hold! You don’t even remember our mother!” he roared, leaning over the desk as if he might jump over and throttle her. Maddie swallowed. She knew Jace would never hurt her, but his anger was hard to withstand.

Maddie opened her mouth to answer, but Jace cut her off.

“No. It’s my turn to talk. For someone who is supposed to be so well adjusted and not completely screwed in the head, can I just point out that you just took Jasper fucking McDonough as a mate? He’s fucking insane, Madd. He’s crazy, and volatile, and I can’t understand what was going through your tiny brain!” Jace snarled.

Uh oh. Maddie had lost control somewhere along the way, and now Jace was turning the tables. Maddie had no desire to examine her own life. Shit, she lived with her flaws every day.

“Don’t change the subject. I’m an adult, and I have my reasons for taking Jasper as a mate,” Maddie said.

“And I’m not an adult? I don’t have good reasons? Please, tell me the differences you see between us,” Jace shouted. Bingo. Maddie had slipped for a second there, but now she had everything lined up like a game of nine ball. One more shot, and Jace was through.

“I don’t love him, Jay. That’s the difference. I’m not playing around with my own heart,” Maddie said, dropping her voice to a soft chiding tone. “But you, you love her.”

Jace deflated like a balloon. He slouched, and then dropped back into his office chair. His expression was nothing short of tormented, and Maddie’s heart bled a little for him.

“Shit,” he mumbled. Jace raised his hands and scrubbed them over his face. He bowed his head and raked his fingers through his hair.

“Hey. Look at me,” Maddie said. When he didn’t respond, she got up and went around to his side of the desk. Slipping her arms around his neck, she hugged him hard.

“It’s not over yet, Jay. Tessa is a survivor. She didn’t come through all of the Legion’s shit just to be taken down but a few mean words from you. Not to deflate your ego or anything,” Maddie teased.

“I can’t forgive her, Maddie. You of all people should understand that about me,” Jace whispered, his voice rough with emotion. Maddie released him and knelt down next to his chair, peering up into his face.

“Maybe you’re looking at it the wrong way, Jay. Maybe you’re the one who should understand her, even if no one else does. Look me in the eye and say that if the Legion snatched me up, you’d let me die.”

Jace met his sister’s eyes, and then looked down again.

“There were other options,” he muttered.

“Like asking for help?” Maddie asked.

“For starters, yes.”

“And what exactly do you think her confession was? Sounds like a cry for help if I’ve ever heard one.”

Jace looked up and met Maddie’s eyes again. She could see the gears turning, working out her words.

“She waited until we were practically under attack to ask for help,” he snapped.

“Yeah, okay. So she didn’t trust a total stranger with her sister’s life. For all Tessa knew, you’d just kill her and be done with it. The only person that would ever miss her was locked up in the Legion’s prison,” Maddie pointed out. Damn, she was pretty good at this. Maybe she should have gone to law school or something.

“She waited almost two weeks, Madd. It wasn’t until after we were in bed together that she told me. Even after she’d discovered that we were fighting the same enemy,” Jace said. He clenched his jaw, stubborn to the end. Maddie waved a dismissive hand at him, causing his scowl to deepen.

“So she didn’t trust you soon enough. She made a judgment call, and it was wrong. You’re mad at her because she didn’t feel like you’d help save her sister.”

“Anyone who’s ever met me knows that I’m a sucker for a damsel in distress,” he said, rolling his eyes. Some of the anger had leaked out of his expression, which Maddie took as encouragement.

“Uh, no. Clearly you haven’t met yourself. You put off this vibe like some kind of heartless potential axe murderer. You’re too private, and you play your cards close to your chest. You’re basically a single girl’s nightmare.”

“You’re saying I should forgive her, just like that,” he said.

“Just like that. Think of it as the first step of letting go of the past, Jay.”

“And what if she won’t have me? I got in her face. I told her I hoped Shaw had her put down.”

Maddie’s jaw dropped for a second before she could school her expression. Clearing her throat, she tried to push the little burst of anger rising in her chest aside. Her brother really could be a cold-hearted bastard.

“I’m sure she knows you don’t really want that. And if she doesn’t, you’d better tell her. Make a grand gesture, you know? If she’s meant to be your mate, and I believe that she is, she’ll be able to forgive you. Like I said, she’s a hell of a lot tougher than she looks.”

Jace was quiet for a long moment, his expression one of reflection. He nodded, looking down at Maddie.

“Thank you,” he said at last.

“No problem. Now I have to take care of some things, so I’m gonna get going.”

“I hesitate to even ask where Jasper is at the moment,” Jace said.

“Jasper’s a big boy. He’ll be fine,” Maddie said with a smirk. She stood up, moving to the door.

“Madd,” Jace said as she was leaving.

“Yeah?” she said, turning back toward her brother.

“Don’t kill him unless he really deserves it,” Jace said, completely serious. Maddie chuckled and waved, then left him to his thoughts.

Maddie was equally absorbed in her own thoughts as she headed across the Grass. She had a lot of things to do and very little time to do them. She estimated that Jasper wouldn’t sleep much longer, and by the time he awoke she’d need to be ready to lay out their situation to him.

She was so embroiled in her thoughts that Maddie managed to crash into a very distracted-looking Tessa. Tension crackled between the two women in an instant, Maddie’s temper swelling and pushing at her to do something. She surprised herself by growling low in her throat, openly threatening the other Shifter.

Rage splashed over Tessa’s face, but just as quickly it was gone, replaced with a cool façade.

“I need to talk to your brother,” Tessa half-growled.

“I imagine you do,” Maddie said with a knowing smirk.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Tessa snapped. She sounded darker, more primal than usual. It was like the wolf was talking for her, through her.

“I just spent a huge amount of my precious time and energy talking my brother into a relatively reasonable state. Do me a favor, and don’t fuck it up. Just get the mating thing out of the way,” Maddie said, her expression turning serious.