Jenna woke up and looked around the room she was laying in. It was sterile and dimly lit by only one small light. There a few touches like the upholstered couch and chair, and the painting on the wall tried to make it look homey, but it was still institutional. Jenna knew instantly she was in one of the long-term rooms at Kiera’s facility, having seen them before. Questions zoomed through her mind. Had she failed? She couldn’t have she felt it the moment she reconnected Jacks’ beast. She also remembered the pain she had, pushed her gift to its limit, and had accepted her fate. She wasn’t supposed to be here now.
Lifting the light sheet covering her, Jenna looked down at her body, wiggled her toes, and stretched. There wasn’t any pain; she also didn’t feel weak, something else that bothered her. She wasn’t about to do cartwheels around the room, but she could probably manage one if she really wanted to. This had never happened before, she would be out for days if not weeks after healing someone. Damn, Jenna hoped she hadn’t pulled from Jessie or another of the Gemini. Something happened there at the end, right before she passed out, but she couldn’t wrap her head around it. She just prayed no one had to pay for her decisions. Then there was Cash.
Jenna got out of the bed and started to gingerly walk towards the bathroom door, desperately needing to use it, but she quickly realized she hadn’t needed to be cautious. She felt strong. Jenna did her business, and while washing her hands, she looked up into the mirror. Her hair was a riot of tangles, she looked like Medusa, but other than that, she looked rested and refreshed. There were no dark circles or puffiness around her eyes. Her cheeks were a little flushed, but that was it. Jenna stared back at her reflection. What the hell am I going to do now?
She hadn’t felt for the bond that joined her and Cash, but she knew, deep in her soul, it was still there. Jenna just wasn’t brave enough right now to examine it or look down at her wrist. If the fate mated mark was still there, she might cry, and she needed to be brave. She needed to make plans to get as far away from Cash as possible. Away from all of them, the secrets, the lies, and most importantly, the damage she herself had caused.
Walking out of the bathroom, Jenna was startled and froze in place. Someone was sitting in the chair next to the bed. The room was dark enough she couldn’t make out his face, but she knew exactly who it was. Cash. Her legs felt like jelly; she didn’t know what to do. He was just sitting there, looking at her, hands steepled to his chin, one booted foot crossed over the knee, the light glow of his eyes penetrating her, drawing her closer.
Nibbling at her lips, Jenna tried to fight the draw she had to him, allowing the slight pain to steel her mind. She needed to figure out her next move. She yearned to go closer but couldn’t. Instead, she forced herself to stumble back. As soon as she was out the trance he put her in, she bolted towards the bathroom door. Jenna hadn’t made it two steps before his warm, hard body was caging her against the wall. She felt him as his head dipped to her neck, his nose, then lips brushing softly, causing her body to quiver with arousal.
“Trying to run away again, Jenna?” Cash used his tongue behind his teeth to make a tsking sound. Jenna wanted to shake her head in denial, but it was true she was running. Cash didn’t scare her, but what he represented did, so she just stood there, unable to move, every heavy breath she took causing her body to mold further into his. Jenna whimpered, there wasn’t another word for it. She had no idea if it was a plea or a prayer.
Cash moved one of his hands, brushing his fingertips down her shoulder, then her back. Jenna didn’t know what she expected to happen next, but his next words shocked and enticed her at the same time.
“Not going to happen, sweetheart. I should be spanking your ass for the stunt you just pulled. No one and I mean no one is more important than you, do you understand?” Cash growled, grinding his body further into her, the thick length of him rubbing enticingly over her backside.
“No,” this time Jenna did shake her head, and softly pleaded, “it’s not real Cash, you need to let me go. I forced our mating. Please, just let me go.” Jenna struggled in his arms, trying vainly to get away, but Cash was not a man to be trifled with. One of his arms locked around her waist, pulling her back into him while his other hand came up to her throat, surrounding it while applying a little pressure, just enough so she knew he was in control, but not enough to hurt or take her breath. This was how she always expected Cash to dominate—take charge and hold no prisoners.
Jenna could feel her arousal wetting her thighs, and her nipples beaded to hardened peaks. The friction of the hospital gown she wore not enough to get her what she needed. Cash’s arm had pulled the fabric tight, but she needed just a little more. Her breathing increased to the point of panting. Jenna didn’t struggle or fight, she submitted, for the first time in her life, to the man holding her. At this moment, he could do anything he wanted to her, and she would let him. Cash used his thumb on the hand holding her throat to stroke her flesh, the sensation prompting her to offer him more of her neck.
“You smell so damn good, Jenna,” Cash growled. “I need to taste you, every fucking inch of you, and then, I am going to take what is mine. What I have waited my whole life for.” Cash tightened his hold on her neck, then quickly released her, only to spin her around, caging her once again within his hold. Jenna looked up into his eyes, studying his expression. Cash was handsome as hell, but this Cash was different from the one she’d seen before. His eyes were heavily laden with lust and so bright, she had to resist the urge to blink, not wanting to miss a second, committing it to her memory. Because right now, Cash Warren only wanted one thing—her.
Cash caressed Jenna's cheek, looking deeply into her eyes like he could see straight into her heart
“Fuck, all these years.” He moved his hand, twining his fingers into her hair and whispered, “All these years wasted on hurting when I could have been whole with you.”
Jenna found herself putting her arms around his neck, pulling him closer, her eyes falling to his mouth, waiting for his kiss, wanting it so badly. But he was in charge, the soft growl and tight grip he had on her body letting her know without words. Jenna’s lips parted when Cash lowered his mouth, touching hers. A soft tender kiss, just a brush of his lips was all she got. Jenna felt the soft, stubble of his beard and smiled, remembering how she had thought about his beard before. It wasn’t enough, but she cherished it, adding another moment to her memory.
Cash pulled her more fully into him, lifting her leg to cradle his hips. The poor man had to bend his knees to get where he wanted, their sizes were so different. Jenna giggled this time when he growled in frustration. Not a man to be detoured, he ran his hands down her ass to her knees, lifting Jenna swiftly into the air, his lips just a centimeter away from hers the whole time. Jenna closed that space, taking his full bottom lip into her mouth and sucking lightly, letting him know she was done playing.
Cash returned the favor, his tongue licking her lips, taking his time before slanting his head, deepening it. Jenna loved the feeling of having a part of Cash inside of her, he devoured her mouth, leaving her breathless, only stopping for a moment when he laid her back, the cool feeling of sheets under her and a heavy man on top of her. Jenna hadn’t felt him move, but it didn’t matter, his kisses were now skating along her cheek to the underside of her jaw, licking, sucking, and kissing every inch, just as he had promised.
Her legs locked around him, opening further, giving his big body more room.
“Please,” Jenna moaned, canting her hips to rub against his jean covered cock. Cash drew back for a second, looking down at her.
“Decide, Jenna, this is your one and only chance to deny me. If we go any further, I won’t stop until you believe you are mine. Do you understand?”
Jenna was beyond thinking, but she was able to manage a nod and a smile. Right now, with the looks Cash was giving her, she wanted him to convince her, to erase any and all doubt from her mind. Need, lust, and hunger crossed his face, drowning Jenna in need. Cash ripped the thin hospital gown from her body, baring her to him. His mouth was moving down her throat to her collarbone, and when his lips latched on to her nipple, Jenna screamed out in ecstasy.
Her hands moved of their own accord over his biceps, shoulders, and neck, trying to find a foothold in the storm he was creating in her body. Another hard pull and tug of his mouth sent a jolt through her body, her hips lifting instinctively, urgently seeking some relief, primed for what was to come next. But Cash wasn’t a man who you could predict his moves. His mouth slid down moving over her exposed belly, his tongue lingering on her belly button, playing, dipping inside, then out, making her a promise she would get what she wanted soon.
Jenna’s fingers raked at his t-shirt, pulling and scraping until Cash lifted his head, taking one hand over and behind his head, lifting the offensive material over and off of his head. On his knees, between her legs, he looked like a God to her. Jenna watched in rapt attention when his hands moved to his belt, unbuckling it. She stared, taking in every inch of him—his massive chest, tight abs, and the muscles of his flexing tattoo-covered arms as he worked the belt free.
When he moved to get out from between her legs, Jenna almost bolted up, not wanting him to leave her for a second. But his sly smile and shake of his head stopped her. Now standing, he watched her as he kicked off his boots with a heavy thud, letting his jeans slide down to the floor. She had seen him naked before, cared for him, but this was different, this was a promise. He was letting her see all of him.
Cash crawled back onto the bed, resuming his place, placing one hand near her head and the other low on her hip, moving until he reached her knee, his bare body cradled in her most intimate space. The heat of his touch melted into her skin. Jenna’s palms glided up his chest, noticing the small tremble underneath the skin. She looked up at him in question.
“I want to take my time,” he whispered. “I don’t want to rush this, but baby, I can’t hold back. Tell me you’re ready for this, that you want it.”
“Oh God, yes, please, Cash, I am so ready, please.”
Cash slipped into her body with one powerful thrust. Jenna gasped, he was so large and filled her so deeply. She felt owned by all that was Cash Warren, but more importantly, she felt claimed. Cash held still, staring down into her eyes, allowing her time to adjust to his fast intrusion. He looked at her with love and promise. All the things she wanted in her life were right here for the taking. Could she be brave enough to claim him back?
Jenna's hand came up without thought, and as she cupped his cheeks, she brushed her thumb over his lower lip, once, then again. Yes, she was brave enough.
“Cash,” she said as her arms went around his neck, clutching him tightly as he began to glide in and out of her body. Gently at first but becoming more urgent with each stroke until he was pounding into her body, his beautiful body flexing with each thrust of his hips.
Jenna felt the tingling start low in her stomach as his cock grew even larger, stretching her to just this side of pain. She was almost there, but Cash backed off once again, moving more slowly, drawing out the sensations he was creating in her body. Jenna watched as the muscles in his neck tensed.
“I claim you, Jenna, as my mate, my future. Do you accept my claim?”
Could she do it? There were still so many unanswered questions, and they didn’t even know each other, not really. The draw they felt was unnatural, but at this moment, none of it mattered, she knew that.
“I claim you, Cash Warren, as my mate and my future.”
He started to pump into her harder hitting that spot within that brought sparks behind her eyes and caused her pussy to clamp down hard on him not allowing him to move.
A second later Jenna felt it, a sensation so foreign, but familiar at the same time, a burning that seemed to emanate from her heart straight to Cash’s. She had been here before; this was home. The moment the connection cemented itself connecting the two of them, Jenna’s body ignited into a thousand sparks of lights, the feeling so intense, it took her breath, sight, and ability to speak.
Jenna vaguely felt Cash reach his own completion, collapsing onto her body, the heavy weight welcoming, grounding her. She felt a warming and for a split second, intense pain on her wrist, but Jenna ignored it, not wanting to take the time to examine it further. It was gone now, so it didn’t matter. The only thing that mattered was the man in her arms.
Jenna continued stroking Cash’s back, holding him close, loving the feeling of his weight on her body while they were still connected. When he slipped out of her, Jenna groaned. Cash looked up at her, concerned.
“Was I too rough? Did I hurt you? Damn, Jenna, I should have taken more time. Fuck, I am so sorry.”
“Cash,” Jenna laughed, “if you had done that any better, I would be dead right now. I loved every minute of it, wouldn’t mind doing it again,” she said, giving him a cheeky smile.
Jenna felt so content and at peace, truly happy for the first time in her life. This little bubble with just her and Cash was a place she never wanted to leave. When he rolled off her, she mourned the loss of not only the man but the moment. But he surprised her when he pulled her close, cradling her on his chest, taking her hands in his and placing them both above his heart. It was a couple of minutes before either of them spoke, Cash the first to break the silence.
“Did you feel it, Jenna?”
Jenna had felt so many things, she wasn’t quite sure what he was talking about. He must have gotten a clue from her silence. Lifting their entwined hands, Cash separated them enough, so both of their wrists were visible.
“The moment our bond was blessed?”
Jenna looked at their wrist; their mating mark had changed, it now had twin lines running through the elongated Celtic knot that was there before. She remembered the feeling, even the pain she chose to ignore, but seeing the mark, she couldn’t deny their connection anymore. She had always been practical, never believing in love at first sight or fairy tales with a happy ending. That wasn’t how her life worked, but she realized she had been falling in love with this man since the moment she saw him floating in the water and knew her love would keep growing. Would his?
Cash pulled her closer and said one simple word, “Yes.”