thirty
“Thurl, I need to breathe.”
Jade’s muffled voice came from my chest, where I had her smooshed against me. I couldn’t let her go, couldn’t make my muscles unlock where I held her.
She turned her head to the side and took a deep breath.
“I’m okay.”
Her small hand patted and stroked my lower back.
“I’m okay,” she repeated.
“I felt it, Jade.” Emotion strangled my throat.
“I know. It’s okay now.”
At that moment, I wanted to say it would never be okay again. I knew I was overreacting. I had already been on edge with her gone, but when the pressure slammed into my neck I went into the fog. Every thought emptied from my head save one—get to Jade.
The stranglehold lasted mere seconds, but I’d made it to the fence when it loosened. My brothers surrounded me, having heard my roar when I took off. My brain kicked in when Roul grabbed my arm. I snapped at him, but stilled when he spoke.
“Tell us where we’re going.”
They weren’t questioning me or my need to get to her. I shook my head to clear it further and a phone rang. As one, our heads swiveled to look at Quin.
“What? We have allies now. It would be stupid not to carry a phone.” He pulled it from a small pack that was fastened around his waist. “Hello?” He listened and then looked at me. “It’s Luna. Jade’s fine. There was an incident at the police station, but it’s been handled. They’re on their way back now.”
When the SUV pulled through the gates, I nearly ripped the door from the hinges to get her into my arms. I heard the others talking, but my heart still pounded in my ears. “I can’t lose you.”
“You won’t, Thurl. I’m right here. Luna was with me. She saved me. I was protected.”
I snapped when a hand fell on my back. Drym backed away, his hands up in surrender.
“Take her home. You need to see that she is safe and unharmed.”
I shivered as the thoughts of what might have happened continued to torment my brain. She didn’t protest when I picked her up, but I felt her waving at the others behind my back as we left. I didn’t need to stay to discuss the incident. I knew Drym was right, and they would fill me in later.
Nanna stopped us just inside the door. “Oh my god, baby, what happened?”
“I’m okay Nanna. I was attacked in the bathroom at the police station, but I’m okay now.”
She smoothed Jade’s hair from her face. “Was it Silver Fang?”
“We don’t know yet. Luna and Detective Chambers are looking into it.”
“Do you want me to go to Roul’s?”
It took a minute before I understood she was asking me. “Only if you wish.”
“I’ll go then. Let me know if you need me, honey.” She patted me and Jade at the same time.
“Thanks, Nanna.”
I sat on the edge of the bed with Jade still wrapped in my arms.
“What can I do to help?”
I snorted. “Never leave my sight again.”
She sighed and pulled away from me but stayed on my lap. “That’s no life for either of us.”
My heart clenched, and I resisted the need to pull her back against me. She slid from my lap, standing between my legs when my hands compulsively gripped her thighs.
“I’m not leaving you.”
“I know, but—.”
“No buts, Thurl. I’m not leaving you.”
“You already chafe against my hold. I am a monster, and you will grow tired of me, of my need to protect you.” I looked into her eyes. “My need for you.”
She cupped my face in her hands. “I chose you, Thurl. I choose you.”
I looked away. “You say that now, when you are frightened. What happens when the threat is gone? What happens when all that’s left is a monster who can’t live by your side in daylight?”
“I will still choose you.”
“You can’t know that.”
She grunted in frustration. “How can such a powerful creature be so dense?”
I felt like I’d been slapped.
“Oh, don’t look at me like that. Close your mouth before you catch flies. You are amazing, Thurl. You are a beast, that’s true, but you’re also kind and gentle. You’re considerate and passionate. Generous and loyal.”
“I was bred to kill.”
She nodded. “And I’m sure you’re good at it. That doesn’t mean you aren’t capable of love, or worthy of it.”
I swallowed. “What I feel for you…” my heart squeezed. I felt like I stood at the edge of a cliff. Her reaction to what I said next meant everything. Our bond lights flared around us. “I love you, Jade.”
“I love you, too, Thurl. And love means it will all work out. Our love—our bond—will make it work.”
Her words sank beneath my skin, burrowed into my heart, and took up residence in my soul. Not that I wanted to believe her, or needed to, but that I had to. She forced them on me with certainty enough for both of us. The lingering doubts about not being good enough for her, not being what she needed, dissolved in the face of her love.
“You are truly okay? Your neck isn’t sore? You don’t need to be seen by a doctor?”
“An EMT checked me over at the station. My neck is tender, and will be for a few days, but I’ll be fine.”
I gave her a tiny nod. “I need you. I need to feel you wrapped around me, my cock inside you thrumming with your heartbeat and squeezed by your orgasms.”
She sucked in a breath. “Yes, please.”
She pulled her shirt over her head and toed off her shoes while I pulled her jeans down her body. The scent of her arousal wrapped me in a delicious hold and I groaned as my dick pushed from my seam. Her small hand grabbed me and it jerked in her hold. I tugged her wrist away. “I will not last.”
“That’s okay.”
“I won’t be able to control myself. I will hurt you.”
“No, you won’t. Please, Thurl, I need to feel alive. I need you to fuck me.”
I twitched, the need to protect her warring with the need to claim her, to imprint my body, my scent, on her. She grabbed my cock again and yanked hard.
I lost control. I growled low as I spun us around and pinned her to the bed. She cried out when I pushed into her, but I was too far gone to stop. I was more animal than rational, and I rutted her like one. I pounded into her, my hand above her shoulder, holding her in place. Her moans and cries spurred me on.
I sank deep and her walls fluttered around me.
“Oh fuck, I’m close.”
I hammered into her, my release threatening, but I held it at bay. I snaked my tail between us and pressed against her clit. With a moaning cry I felt her pussy clamp and squeeze my cock and I exploded. I spilled into her until I felt it leaking out as I slowed my thrusts, easing us both down.
I collapsed to the side, rolling her until she lay limp across my chest. Our juices ran from our still-connected bodies, and I smiled. She chose me. This exquisite creature that I did not deserve chose me.
“Holy shit, Thurl.”
“Are you okay?”
She chuckled. “I won’t walk for a day or two, but it was worth it.”
She wiggled, and my cock responded. She sat up on my chest and stared at me with wide eyes.
“Are you serious? How do you have anything left in the tank after that?”
I squinted in confusion. “What tank?”
She collapsed back onto me. “What tank, he asks. Pete’s sake. The sex tank. The well of whatever that makes your dick hard.”
“You make my dick hard.”
She laughed. “Clearly.”
“Do you have nothing left in this tank?”
“Nope.” She snorted. “My tank is bone dry.”
I tilted my head. “How do I fill it?”
She laughed so hard she fell off my chest. Between snorts she managed to say, “I think you filled it all right.”
I was even more confused, but she couldn’t answer any further questions. She was laughing too hard.