After Suha left, Evie and Jace took a walk to Druid Hill Park along with Kyler and Beau.
“Should be safe enough,” Jace said. “The night fae won’t be out on a sunny summer day—their skin’s too sensitive to light. And Corban’s gone to ground.”
“And the day Savonett gets past the two of us,” growled Beau, “is the day I slit my own throat.”
So the four of them headed up to the surface. The way out led through the big shed. Evie had only caught a glimpse of it last night, but now she could see it was filled with motorcycles and a car with most of its insides removed. There was a huge workbench at one end, and a mix of human tools and those which looked like they were quartz-powered.
Kyler’s eyes bulged. “Wow,” he breathed with a reverence usually reserved only for his favorite games.
“Sam’s the mechanic,” said Jace, “but we all like to mess with engines.”
“Sick.” Kyler ran a hand over a cobalt-blue fuel tank. “If you need any help, just yell.”
“I will.” Jace opened the outside door and inhaled, testing the air. “Seems clear, but wait here a minute.” He moved forward. Evie was reminded again that he was part cat. There was something very feline in his walk—loose and easy, each step precise, graceful.
Beau ambled out behind him. He tipped his head back and inhaled deeply. “No sign of Savonett or a night fae,” he agreed.
Jace nodded and motioned to Evie and Kyler to join him. Kyler and Beau walked on ahead, leaving her and Jace to follow.
Evie couldn’t get it out of her head—she was part fae and she apparently had some kind of Gift. An amplifier, whatever that was supposed to be. But it felt right—she’d felt the heat in her hands and had somehow known she was helping to heal Jace.
When Suha had offered to get her training, she’d lit up inside—until she’d realized she couldn’t accept. Jace hadn’t said anything, but when she’d refused, he’d removed his hand from her back.
But he must know this was only temporary. He’d said himself they didn’t mix.
She sighed. What she really wanted was to talk this over with Fane, because if it was true that she was part fae, why hadn’t anyone told her?
Jace had said that speaking a fae’s name attracted their attention, but it hadn’t worked to call Fane in the past, except maybe that time right before her mom died. Still, as they walked down the driveway, she turned to Jace and deliberately said her dad’s name aloud.
“Do you think Fane could help me?”
He raised a brow. “Your dad?”
“Yeah. Fane.” She repeated it a little louder. “I have some questions—like what kind of fae am I? And why the hell didn’t I know?”
Jace slipped an arm around her shoulders. “Maybe he’s trying to protect you. If you’re mostly human, you don’t want to be in the fae world. You’d be at the bottom of the food chain, powerless against the stronger fae. And those pricks eat their young.”
Her mouth twisted. “Or maybe he doesn’t want to admit he has a mixed-blood daughter.”
He tightened his grip but didn’t say anything. She winced inwardly, recalling his niece Merry was in a similar situation.
She blew out a breath and set Fane from her mind, because when had he ever come when she needed him? Meanwhile, it was a gorgeous day and a hot-as-hell guy had his arm around her. If she was only going to have these few days with him, then she was going to squeeze every last bit of enjoyment from it.
Jace’s neighbors were seated on their marble stoops, chatting to friends and enjoying the morning sun. The houses were small, each on a tiny piece of land, but they were neat and well-kept. Everyone they passed called out a friendly hello to the two fada. Jace and his den mates were clearly well-liked.
A tiny girl in a pink dress with her hair in tight cornrows pelted down the sidewalk, her mother a few yards behind. “Up, Mister Jace.” She raised her arms imperiously.
“Chantelle.” He released Evie and swung her into his arms. “How’s my girl?”
“I los a toof.” She pointed to the space where one of her front teeth used to be. “Mama says the toof fairy is gonna bring me a dollar.”
Jace smiled at her mother. “Morning, Kari.”
“Morning,” she returned and then shook her head at her daughter. “Chantelle, don’t bother Mister Jace. He’s got visitors today.” She gave Evie an apologetic smile.
“Oh, I don’t mind,” Evie said.
“Good,” said Jace, “because me and Miss Chantelle are old friends, aren’t we?” He dropped a kiss on her small rosebud of a mouth.
Chantelle pursed her lips and kissed him back. “See, Mama. He likes it.”
“Hmm,” he said with a wink at Kari. “Which little girl I know likes to fly?”
“Me, Mister Jace!” shouted Chantelle. Jace chuckled and tossed her gently into the air. The child erupted in helpless giggles as he caught her with large, sure hands. “Again, Mister Jace! Please.”
He tossed her up and down a few more times before shifting her to his hip with the ease of a man used to kids. And right then, a piece of Evie’s heart broke off and landed at his feet. He was just so damn adorable, this tough, inked shifter with a tiny girl in a pink dress clinging to him.
Evie gulped and looked away. Jace pulled her close with his free arm and introduced Kyler and her to Kari, before handing Chantelle back to her mom so they could continue on their way.
Evie slid an arm around Jace’s waist while the other two walked ahead. He slanted her a sheepish look. “Those are my tenants. Chantelle’s dad isn’t in the picture, so I help out where I can.”
Evie pressed a kiss to his jaw. “You’re my hero.”
“It’s nothing.”
“No,” she said. “It’s something. Trust me, I know.”
He squeezed her shoulders. “I’d like to pound some sense into your dad.”
She shook her head. “It wouldn’t do any good. Some men just aren’t meant to be fathers.”
“I can’t understand it. Cubs are so fucking precious.”
“That’s what I think.” Their eyes met and she looked away, afraid of what he would see in her face.
He’s not for you.
Suha had warned Evie away from him in the nicest possible way, pulling her aside to murmur, “Promise me you won’t hurt him.”
Evie had drawn back, affronted. “I won’t.”
“Not intentionally, no.” Suha’s dark gaze was knowing and a little sad. “But Jace—he’s a dominant male, and so you might think he can’t be hurt. But he can. You’re special to him, Evie. The Darktime left him different. He was always a serious kid, but losing his sister—that ripped him to pieces. He was so dark for a while there that I thought we might lose him. An earth fada can will himself to death. The quartz—we use it to heal ourselves, but it can be used the opposite way. To turn on ourselves.”
Evie had swallowed.
“But he came out of it. It helped when they found his niece.”
“He told me about her.”
“He did?” Suha’s delicate black brows had winged upward. “That proves my point right there. He feels something for you. Just—don’t hurt him.”
Evie had glanced at where Jace was arguing basketball with Kyler and Beau. “I wouldn’t,” she’d said.
Suha had moved a shoulder. “If you don’t want him, say so now. Don’t let it go any further.”
Now Evie pressed a hand to her breastbone. Because maybe she would hurt him. But if she did, it wasn’t going to be one-sided.
Jace glanced at her. “Everything okay?”
She rose on her toes and kissed him. “Yeah.”
The rest of the day passed in a happy blur. They walked with Jace and Beau to the park and around Druid Lake, and then headed back to the den, where they sprawled out on the grass drinking iced tea under a big maple. Beau remained standing, one arm propped on the wooden fence that circled the backyard, relaxed but alert, his deep brown eyes continually scanning the area. The men got into a conversation about motorcycles while Evie pillowed her head on her arms and gazed up at the rustling green leaves. It had been a long time since she’d just laid on the grass without anything to do.
Jace traced a finger down her jaw to the hollow of her throat. “Sleepy?”
“Mm.”
He nuzzled her ear. “Take a nap if you want. I’ll be keeping you up tonight.”
Her lips curved. “Is that a promise?”
The answer was a sexy growl that made her abdomen tug.
Sam woke up and wandered outside, yawning. Jace sat up and murmured something to him, and he nodded. Before she knew it, the tiger had his head deep in her car’s engine, and when she objected that she couldn’t pay, he’d shrugged a big shoulder.
“I’m not asking for money. I need something to do, and I’m sure we have some spare parts in the shed.”
“But—”
“Let him,” Jace said. “The man’s a genius with engines, and he really does like to play with them.”
“All right,” she said, “but I’m making dinner tonight.”
“Works for me,” was Sam’s reply. “I’ll trade a few spark plugs for food anytime.”
Kyler joined him, and the two of them spent the rest of the afternoon with their heads under the hood, joined an hour or so later by Horace. There was a lot of shaking of heads and muttering, but by the end of the day Sam literally had the engine purring.
Zuri appeared with Tigger in the curve of one arm. He set the cat down and took over for Beau on guard duty. To Evie’s amusement, Tigger stalked around the perimeter of the backyard as if he were on duty too before settling on a branch of the maple. Meanwhile, Horace and Beau went out for groceries, and a short while later Suha, Adric and Marjani showed up with beer and wine.
That night Evie and Jace made fried chicken, biscuits, and sweet corn for everyone. Somehow the whole group fit around the kitchen table. Evie took in the hard-eyed soldiers bantering with one another as they downed her fried chicken, and felt like pinching herself. Two weeks ago, she hadn’t even known Jace existed, and now he had his hand on her thigh under the table, his pinky teasing the edge of her shorts—and the Baltimore alpha was seated a few chairs down, grinning at something Kyler had said.
She wanted to gather up the day like the gift it was and hold it close so she’d never forget it.
But the best part was yet to come. This time, Jace didn’t even wait for Kyler to go to bed, just stood up as Adric and Marjani left, pulling Evie to her feet along with him.
“Good night, everyone.” He nodded to his den mates, who were sprawled around the room, Kyler in their midst, watching the basketball playoffs. Even Tigger was watching, curled up on Suha’s lap.
Kyler just gave them a wave before turning back to the game. “Night, you two.”
Jace set a hand on the small of Evie’s back and steered her down the hall. The moment they were in the bedroom, he backed her up against the door, framed her face with his hands and kissed her, hard and deep.
Evie’s head swam. She gripped his waist and hung on as her heart pounded in her ears. He moved his mouth to her neck and nipped the beating pulse, sending a jolt clear to her womb.
“Goddess, I want you.” A harsh growl against her skin.
She drew a serrated breath. “Me too.”
“Show me.”
He didn’t need to ask twice. She slid her fingers into his hair and dragged his mouth down to hers. Kissing him with all the hunger in her heart. Sucking his tongue into her mouth. Nipping his lips. Sliding a hand down his back to squeeze one of his firm buttocks.
His breath sped up. His hips moved, pressing into her belly. She could feel his cock, thick and ready.
He removed her arms from his neck and pressed them against the door, her hands on either side of her head. “You’re mine, Evie.” His eyes seared into hers, dark gold touched with the green of his cat.
She wet her lips. “You said we don’t mix.” But a part of her cried, yes.
“I’m an ass. Now say it.” He nipped her jaw, and pleasure jolted straight to her clit. “I want the words. Just for tonight.”
“Or else what?” Her chin jutted. Because that had hurt, what he’d said about the two of them not mixing. She might have her own doubts, but not because he was a fada.
But you agreed, a little voice reminded her.
He lifted a single black brow. “Are you teasing a cat?”
She moistened her lips, but she was damned if she’d back down. “Yes.”
“Oh, baby,” he crooned in a dark voice that made her inner thighs clench. “Then you better be ready to play.” He captured her wrists in one hand and held them above her head, while with his other hand he undid her shorts. “Or else what?” he repeated. “Maybe I’ll keep you against the door until you beg to come.”
She slid him a look from under her lids. “Maybe I’d like that.”
He chuckled and skimmed his fingers under the waistband of her panties. She was wearing her only sexy underwear—black satin with a touch of lace and a bra to match.
His heated gaze took in the black lace against her cream-colored skin. “Did you wear these for me?” When she nodded, he murmured, “Good girl. Now say it, Evie.”
But as soon as she opened her mouth, he covered it with his as if afraid to let her speak. Her heart lurched as she realized he didn’t expect her to say it. He kissed her as if he were aching as much as she was, his tongue curling over hers, taking her deeper by slow degrees. Meanwhile, his fingers slid deeper into her panties, teasing her sensitized flesh until she was breathless and aching.
She wanted to touch him. Her hands jerked in his grip but he wouldn’t let her go. He kept them pressed to the door above her head and continued kissing her until she was dazed, her legs like limp noodles.
He lifted his head, his expression hard and a little wild, and she knew his cat was inside, looking out. He squeezed her bottom. “You’re a bad girl to wear these tight little shorts. All day, I kept looking at your ass and picturing what I was going to do to you when we were alone. I swear my cock was hard the whole fucking day. And this shirt…” Long, work-roughened fingers stroked her belly. “The way you keep flashing me. It’s enough to drive a man insane.”
She laughed up at him, but God, he was making her hot. “I wasn’t flashing you. All you could see was my stomach.”
“You think that isn’t bad?” He released her wrists and jerked up her T-shirt to expose her breasts. “I wanted to taste you, lick you, and then move up your stomach to your hot tits.” He pinched her nipples through the black satin…and then his mouth was on her and he was sucking the points to hardness.
She cupped his head, holding him close. His mouth was warm and wet. Each hot suck shot straight to her womb.
She moaned, and he gave a sexy rumble in response. From her breasts, he moved his way lower, trailing a searing line of kisses down her abdomen until he reached her mound.
“Mine,” he growled against her panties. He pursed his lips and blew a hot stream of air into the satin right above her clit. “Say it.”
She whimpered and pressed her palms against the door, her body straining to him. “God, yes. Please.”
He stilled. Slowly his eyes turned up to hers, so that she felt like prey. Sexy, not-even-going-to-try-to-run prey. Then his lips curved in a wicked smile. “But I’m still going to tease you…because we both like it.”
He came to his feet and swung her into his arms. The world spun and Evie nipped his shoulder. “I do. Like it, I mean.”
His answer was a fierce kiss. When it ended, she was on the bed with him kneeling over her.
The first thing he did was to strip off her clothes. He dropped them next to the bed and sent his own after them. “That’s better.” His gaze stroked down her body where she lay with one knee bent up, lingering on her nipples, which tingled eagerly, and then continued down to the tuft of dark blond hair between her legs.
“You’re darker here.” He traced a fingertip through her curls.
“Because I’m a natural blond. This—” she touched the hair on her head—“gets bleached by the sun. That doesn’t, unless I sunbathe naked.” She slanted him a wicked smile.
“Damn.” He pressed her bent leg down and straddled her. “Now I’ve got a picture in my head of you spread out naked in the sun like a fucking sex goddess.” He traced a finger around her nipples and then down her breastbone. “Would you burn?”
“No—I don’t burn. I just get a little darker.”
“Beautiful,” he murmured as he stroked her flank. “This afternoon in the sun, you sparkled like someone sprinkled silver dust on you. I wonder if you have some sun fae in you. You should talk to Queen C about it.”
“Sure. I’ll just drive up to Rising Sun and knock on her door. If she even has a door…”
“Adric knows her. He could talk to her.”
She shook her head. “If the sun fae wanted me, they’d have done something a long time ago.”
“Maybe. The fae have their own way of looking at things, though. And time moves more slowly for them. She may be planning on doing something, but by the time she gets around to it, you’ll be fifty years old. You should think about it—the sun fae can help you train your Gift, if you don’t want to ask Leesa.”
“All right—I’ll think about it.” She trailed a finger down the hard muscles of his abdomen. “But right now, I have better things to do.”
“I like how you think, woman.” His eyes glinted with his cat: golden brown with shards of green radiating out from the pupils.
She slipped her arms around his neck. “You promised I’d see your jaguar again.”
“Mm.” His chest rumbled, and she grinned.
“Are you purring?”
“Yeah,” he said with a sheepish smile. “The cat likes you.”
“So I can see him?”
“Sure.” He backed off and crouched on the mattress. Color cascaded over his skin, bright bits of green and gold and copper that reminded her of the inside of a fae light. They spread out until his body glittered, indescribably beautiful.
And then suddenly, his form was more cat than man, and then a black panther stood on the foot of the bed. He was big and brawny, with powerful legs and long, sharp canines. This close, she could see the roseate pattern on his pelt—large, irregular black spots surrounded by a dark walnut that blended in to make him appear all black from a distance.
She drew in a breath, awed and the tiniest bit afraid, even though she knew it was Jace.
He settled next to her and nudged her with his head. “You want me to pet you?” He rumbled and nudged her harder, so much like Tigger it was impossible to be afraid. “Okay,” she said with a chuckle and smoothed a hand over his head. His fur was velvety soft over the hard bones of his skull. “You’re beautiful.”
He pushed his head harder into her hand, and then crept even closer so he could rub against her jaw. Marking her with his scent.
She turned her head and their eyes met. His irises were a pure green now, but she saw the man there too, his gaze alive with intelligence.
She stroked a hand over his jaw. This time his purr was loud and clear.
He came up over her, and rubbed his head over her chest. Her already sensitized nipples hardened. Her breasts felt achingly full.
Then he moved down her body and rubbed his head against her mound, too. Her breath sucked in. “Jace.”
He gave a badass growl and came on top of her again, a paw on either side of her head. His fur glittered, and she watched as he changed back to man. This time it was a quick shift—less than thirty seconds.
“I want you,” he said in a gravelly voice that was half cat, half man. “Now.”
“Yes.” Her arms were already around him. Her hips rocked off the bed, touching his erection where it hung, hard and heavy.
His fingers speared into her hair, holding her still as he trailed love-bites over her neck. Her insides clenched. Something unexpected in her liked being held down like that—firm and yet gentle at the same time. His to tease however he wished.
His other hand went to her pussy. He dipped a finger into her, and then trailed the moisture around her tender nub. Pleasure swirled through her. “Yes. There.”
“That’s it, angel. Take it.” He continued to play with her, but when her sex tightened, he took his hand away.
She moaned his name, and he said, “You can come when I’m inside you.”
“Get on with it then,” she said between her teeth.
His cheek creased. “You’re so damn cute.”
For answer, she reached down and squeezed him. His smile disappeared. She worked her hand up and down him, toying with his balls, learning the feel of him. His cock spurted with pre-cum and she rubbed it over the slick cap, enjoying how his eyes slit with pleasure.
His hips gave an involuntary jerk and she squeezed harder. “Fuck,” he muttered. He removed her hand and grabbed a rubber from the night table. He worked it over his erection, and then crawled back on top of her. She reached between their bodies and guided him to her entrance. They both watched as he slowly entered her.
Her breath hissed out. He paused, and she met his eyes. She knew what he wanted.
“Please. I want it. I want you.”
He slid in another inch. “That’s it, Evie. I love it when you beg me.”
“Please,” she said again.
He slid deeper, and then withdrew again. He continued moving in and out in tantalizing increments until at last he was fully seated in her.
She rotated her hips in slow circles, pleasuring them both.
His jaw clenched. “That’s it. Take me, baby. Tease me.”
His hand was in her hair again, the other hand on her ass as he began to move in her, holding her in place for his firm, perfect thrusts. From somewhere far off, she heard herself making sounds of arousal, soft at first, and then louder as her pleasure increased.
It was so good. Her chest constricted. Because she’d found him, but she couldn’t keep him.
“Mine,” he said, and she nodded, throat tight.
Because she was Jace’s, for as long as he wanted her. It was crazy, but it felt right.
But even if she waited until Kyler was grown up, they were from such different worlds. How did she know it wouldn’t just be her mom and Fane all over again?
Sensation stormed through her, searing her nerves. And then she was convulsing around him in an explosive orgasm that both shot her high—and cracked her heart.