Protection: A Bad Boy Stepbrother Romance (46 page)

A
round midnight
, Tessa sighed in Jace’s arms, content beyond belief. They were curled up in Jace’s bed between the silky sheets and the thick quilt, and Tessa couldn’t remember ever being happier. Jace, for his part, looked like the cat that ate the canary. He was still running his hands over every part of Tessa’s body, as if he were making sure she wasn’t a dream.

Every couple of minutes, he’d give her a sultry look and Tessa would laugh. Her mate might have the stamina of a bull, but she hadn’t quite caught up yet. This whole thing was still pretty new for her.

“Do you really think Camilla is safe around the Shifter we found at the Legion’s lab?” Tessa asked, twisting her gorgeous ring around her finger.

“Why wouldn’t she be safe?” Jace asked, nuzzling Tessa’s neck as he spoke. She shivered at the lick of flame that shot down her spine, but resisted the temptation to respond.

“Well, you know he’s sort of… crazy? Off-putting, at least. And he’s enormous. I kept thinking he was going to crush her by accident. For all her talk, she’s pretty innocent…” Tessa trailed off, her concern evident.

“Hmm. Sound like any other couples we know?” Jace asked, his voice teasing. Tessa blushed and smacked her hand against his arm, her expression miffed.

“That’s not the same thing at all! They’re… and we’re… it’s just not the same!” she insisted.

“It seems clear that the male has dedicated himself to her protection. What more could you really want?” Jace asked, ever the practical one.

“Lots of things! I want Camilla to have love, and trust, and loyalty… I want her to have what we have,” Tessa said, feeling shy.

“And she will. Believe me, if Camilla’s half as incredible as you are, she’ll have men falling at her feet. And judging by that temper of hers, she’ll give them a run for their money,” Jace said, amused.

“It’s just that… well, what if he’s not the right one for her? She’s my baby sister, and I want her to have the world.”

“The first time you met me, did you think I would be the right one for you?” Jace asked.

“Well, no. But if it makes you feel better, I did think you were some kind of sexy male model. You were too pretty to be true,” she said with a sigh.

Jace let out a deep laugh, pulling Tessa close and giving her a kiss before he spoke again.

“I think you’ll find that Camilla can handle herself just fine. Besides, we have better things to worry about,” he said, taking a mock-serious tone.

“Like what?” Tessa asked, a smile curving her lips.

“Like this,” Jace said, pressing his lips to Tessa’s in a seeking, dominant kiss. She made that little sigh, the one he claimed to love so much, and they were once again lost in their own little piece of mated bliss.

M
addie sat
on her front porch, rocking herself on the porch swing. She rested her head on the back of the swing, her long dark hair fluttering with each movement. Her foot pushed at the ground, making the swing sway, but she wasn’t paying a bit of attention. Her mind was consumed with her situation, and with her new mate.

Mate. Pshhh, she thought, rolling her eyes heavenward. More like pain in the ass.

Jasper was being impossible. Not that Maddie was the least bit surprised, really. She’d known Jasper since childhood, loved him for over half her life. At least until she’d grown up a little and realized that there was no such thing as destiny, no such thing as finding your true mate. No love at first sight, either. That was all a bunch of bullshit, dreamed up by desperate men trying to sell Valentine’s Day cards.

Maddie shifted in her seat, drawing her foot up. The rocking slowed, but she didn’t mind. She needed a plan, some way to get rid of the male with whom she’d exchanged a lot more than a couple of bites. The mating ritual, their shared past, her childhood crush, that was all good and well. The sex they’d had a few days ago, though…

It was unacceptable. It had shocked her, shook her to her very core. Jasper, big, tough, swaggering alpha male that he was, was the most incredible lover she’d ever had. Maddie had never been shy about sex, never hesitated to tell a male just what she wanted, what she needed.

With Jasper, she hadn’t said a word. The sex had been like her hottest, most perfect fantasy come to life. He knew where to touch her, how to make her gasp, when to tease and when to be rough. She’d melted in his arms in a hot minute, and the mating heat was only one little pleasurable bit of her surrender.

No male ruled her like that, made her gasp and beg and call out his name. Just thinking about his touch gave her goosebumps, made her breasts tighten and her core ache.

“Unacceptable,” she murmured aloud, reinforcing the idea to herself. “You know better, Maddie.”

“Know better than what?” came a low rumble.

Maddie turned, watching Jasper as he pushed open the screen door and ambled outside. Stupid son of a bitch insisted on staying in her house, filling her private space with his scent and brawn. His stubborn streak might not be a surprise, but his sheer ability to entice her mind and body, lull her and make her want things she shouldn’t… Yeah, that was plenty surprising.

“To let you use my bathroom. All your guy stuff is all over the place,” she said, dragging her gaze away from him. Not looking at him didn’t allow her to forget his big, muscular body, or how good it looked in those faded jeans and that tight white tee shirt. Without even looking, she knew he was barefoot, reminding her that he was too comfortable in her domain. His big feet and hands also reminded her of everything else about him that was shockingly large.

Really? Really? Can I not go five minutes without thinking about his cock? she scolded herself.

“Maybe you should come into the bathroom with me, into the shower. Show me what I’m doing wrong, darlin’,” Jasper said, dropping into the rocking chair facing the swing.

Maddie’s gaze snapped up to his, and she almost cursed aloud when she felt herself blush. She clenched her fists and straightened her spine, unwilling to let him see the little shiver that wracked her frame. This idiotic weakness she had for him was insane, unconscionable, impractical. One part of her wanted to get up and climb onto his lap, get it out of her system. Another part knew that if she so much as touched him again, lust would override her common sense.

She had plans, goals. Places to go and people to see, and none of that had a single thing to do with Jasper. She needed to stop this here and now. One quick, deep cut that would drive him away and give her back the balance she’d lost.

“You have to leave, Jasper,” she said, gritting her teeth. She swallowed, almost unable to voice the half-lie that came next. “I don’t want you.”

No response. Jasper’s jaw tensed for a moment before relaxing again. He rocked in the chair, watching her with dark eyes. She could feel him undressing her. Worse, she feared he could see right to the core of her. See her selfishness, her fear. The deep internal scars that would never heal, the reasons she could never trust anyone but Jace.

Whatever he saw, he didn’t comment. His reply was simple, but hard to argue against.

“No.”

Maddie frowned at him.

“Jasper—” she started.

“No, Madd. I’m not leaving. Not your house, not your pack, and not you. I’m not leaving you,” he said, his expression stern.

With that he stood up and stretched, exposing his taut abs and the trail of dark blond hair that led down into his low-slung jeans. Maddie had to drag her gaze away again, annoyed with her willful body.

“You want breakfast? Double the bacon, half the eggs?” he asked. Her heart lurched when she realized that he’d remembered the foods she’d liked as a kid.

She shook her head. She might not be able to force him to leave, but she didn’t have to just give in to him. Bringing up the past wasn’t the way into her heart, and he’d learn that soon enough. Shit, soon enough he’d learn that she didn’t have enough of a heart left for him to steal. That part of her was burned black long ago, and nothing new could blossom there anymore. No matter how she’d tried, with male after male. Prime specimens, all gorgeous and noble and perfect. None had sparked anything close to love, few even inspired her lust.

She eyed up Jasper one last time, wondering what it was about him that made her wolf so horny and needy. Damned if she knew.

“Pancakes,” she said, answering his question at last.

“No bacon?” Jasper asked, cocking a brow.

Maddie’s stomach growled, and she sighed.

“Maybe bacon,” she allowed.

Jasper put out his hand, pulling her up from the porch swing. The faint electricity of his touch made her scowl.

In that moment, Madeline Copeland wondered if she wasn’t just about royally screwed.

F
ire crackling
and warming her skin, moonlight pouring in the windows and casting shadows on the floor, handsome Harlan staring at her with more desire than she’d ever seen in her whole life…

Penny couldn’t think to resist.

Raising her hand, she beckoned to him. She longed for him, longed to comfort and caress him, learn the nuances of his incredible body and the flaws of his heart. Something in her called out for Harlan, wanted him so badly it nearly hurt.

Harlan sunk to his knees, the thin white sheet around his waist threatening to come loose. Penny stared at him, swiping her tongue over her lower lip, anticipation simmering low in her body. When he reached out and tugged at the lower hem of her t-shirt, then pulled it up over her head, Penny’s heart began to pound.

Without speaking, Harlan stripped Penny’s jeans off. Eyes intent on Penny’s face, he unhooked her bra and slid it off, baring her breasts to the firelight. With each breath, her breasts rose and fell, drawing Harlan’s attention.

“Beautiful,” he said, reaching out to cradle one round globe, brushing his thumb over her dusky nipple. He paused, then withdrew his touch. “Penny…”

He seemed uncertain how to ask her permission. Penny rose on her knees and leaned forward, cupping his jaw and pressing her lips to his. He met her with a groan, his lips and tongue seeking hers, stoking the rising flames of her desire.