KASPAR PULLED JESSKA close and nodded to his driver. “Þakka þér Austri. Við erum alveg að koma.” (Thank you, Austri. We’ll be right there.)

Jesska stared up at Kaspar as he closed the door. “I don’t know what to do.”

He smiled, stroking her cheek. “I want you to pack a bag and come with me back to the hotel. We’ll call your brother on the way.”

“I can’t let him run me out of my own home.” She shook her head. “I have to work on Monday.”

“Which gives us two days to figure this out.” He raised an eyebrow. “Will you please come back to the hotel with me so I can keep you safe?”

She scoffed. “Jason Rogers is a coward, Kaspar. He won’t publicly attack me.”

“May I see the note?” She handed it to him and he read it, scowling as he did. “You’re coming back to the hotel with me, Jesska. I’ll brook no argument.”

She snatched the note back. “I get that you’re all alpha male and entitled, Kaspar, but I’m a grown-ass woman, and I’m not just going to run and hide because you say so. Let me call my brother, and if he feels as though I should leave, then I’ll go stay with him.”

Kaspar nodded, although he wasn’t happy about it.

Jesska left him standing by the front door, but he heard her on the phone with Cameron. He took a moment to send a text to Austri, then joined her in the front room.

“Yep, that’s all it says. Yes, it was Jason. Kaspar’s driver got a picture of him.” She glanced up at Kaspar. “I’m sure he can forward it to you.”

Kaspar nodded and sent Austri the request, along with Cameron’s number.

“But how did he get here, Cam? How did he even know where I live? Does his ankle monitor allow him to go wherever he wants? How does he know all that stuff about where everyone goes? It’s creepy.” She squeezed her eyes shut and sank to the couch. “No. Seriously? Why wasn’t I told? Well, that’s lame.” She stared up at Kaspar again. “I guess. Yes, Kaspar offered. Fine.” She nodded. “For how long?” She sighed. “I’ll ask him. Yep. I’ll figure it out. Okay. Thanks, Cam. Talk to you tomorrow.” She hung up and rose to her feet. “Cameron thinks I should go with you. He has Megan and Sophia at his place, which makes it a bit crowded.”

Kaspar smiled. “I feel more comfortable with you being with me anyway, sweetheart. It means I can protect you. Did your brother say how Jason managed to come here without notice?”

She rolled her eyes. “Jason’s halfway house is only a few blocks from here, which is within his tether, so to speak. I am technically not a victim of his, so they don’t need to fill me in when he moves. So, Cameron also feels more comfortable with me being out of here and somewhere protected.”

“It will give us a chance to get to know each other, eh?”

Jesska nodded. “I guess that’s true.”

“Go pack. I’ll speak with Austri and return in a little while.” Kaspar smiled. “Lock the door behind me.”

Jesska nodded and walked him to the door. He leaned down and kissed her quickly and then stepped onto her porch.

* * *

Jesska grabbed a large suitcase from her hall closet and wheeled it into her bedroom. As she set it on the bed and unzipped it, she wondered about the strange direction her life was suddenly taking. She grabbed for Seth’s ring, realizing she didn’t feel as though she needed the talisman like she did before. Kaspar was worming his way into her heart, and she was surprisingly excited by that. Her attraction to him was unlike anything she’d ever experienced.

She packed enough clothes for a week, not sure if the situation with Jason would be resolved by then or not. She supposed that after the weekend, she’d have to figure something else out if coming home wasn’t an option.

Jesska packed up her makeup and hair supplies and dragged her suitcase into the living room, pulling open the front door to head out to the car.

“Jess.”

She tried to slam her door, but Jason shoved his foot against it.

“Don’t,” he warned.

“What do you want?” she asked.

He scowled. “I want you to make this right.”

“Make what right?” Her heart was beating so fast, she thought it might jump out of her chest.

“You know I didn’t kill him. And you need to tell the judge and the DA and anyone else who needs to hear it.”

“I watched you stab him, Jason!”

“You lying little bitch,” he spat out, raising a knife to her face. “You don’t know what you saw.”

Jesska didn’t even have the chance to scream. Jason was yanked away from the door and slammed up against the wall. He let out a very feminine squeak as Kaspar lifted him off his feet, his hand wrapped around Jason’s throat. “What the hell are you doing here?”

The knife dropped to the ground and Jason grabbed Kaspar’s wrist, trying to loosen his grip.

Jesska dialed 9-1-1 as Kaspar continued to demand answers from Jason. The problem was, Jason couldn’t answer, considering Kaspar was cutting off his air supply.

“9-1-1, what’s your emergency?”

“Hi. Jason Rogers tried to break into my apartment. My friend is here, holding him at bay, but could you please send the police? He’s on house arrest, awaiting a trial date. He killed my fiancé ten years ago.”

“What’s your name, ma’am?”

“Jesska Shane,” she said. “Please hurry.”

“I have dispatched officers to your home. Please stay on the line with me.”

“Okay,” she said, and focused back on Kaspar. “The police are on the way, Kaspar.”

Jason was starting to turn blue, and she grabbed for Kaspar’s arm. He glanced at her and she nodded toward her attacker. “The police are coming.”

She was relieved that she didn’t have to give another warning. Kaspar eased up on Jason, who took several gasping breaths just as she heard the sirens. “They’re here,” she said to the operator.

“Okay, ma’am. If you need anything further, give us a call back.”

“Thanks.” She hung up and turned to Jason. “Jason, you will never get it, will you? You need serious help. I hope they lock you up and throw away the key. You disgust me.”

“You always were a selfish little bitch.”

Kaspar hissed at him and slammed him against the wall again. “You will never see her again. You will forget her name. You will only tell the truth about your actions when you killed Seth.”

Jason appeared dazed as the officers arrived, and it took a few minutes for Kaspar to relinquish him to the authorities. Jesska was afraid they’d try to take Kaspar as well, but he finally let go of Jason’s arms and stepped away from him.

“Ma’am? Will you please explain what happened?” one of the officers asked.

“Jason left a threatening note earlier and then came back to try and make me lie to get him released,” she explained, and her voice hitched. “He had a knife. He’s supposed to be at his halfway house, but I guess his ankle monitor allows him enough freedom to come here.”

The officer took notes and nodded. “And who are you?” he asked Kaspar.

“He’s my friend,” Jesska said.

“I was speaking to him, ma’am.”

“Sorry,” she grumbled.

Kaspar pulled out his passport and handed it to the officer.

“His Majesty, huh?”

“Já... yes.”

“How come I’ve never heard of you?” the officer asked.

“We are a small monarchy in Iceland. We don’t travel much.”

The officer eyed him for a few seconds before handing him back his passport. “I think we have everything we need. Officer Jenkins has your contact information, so we’ll call you should we need anything further.”

“Thank you,” Jesska said.

“Are you sure you don’t need medical attention?”

Jesska shook her head and glanced at Kaspar. “No, Jason didn’t get the chance to hurt me.”

“Okay, we’ll take it from here.”

“Thanks,” she said, and wrapped her arms around herself, suddenly freezing.

As the police officers led Jason away in handcuffs, Kaspar pulled her into the shelter of his body and guided her back into the house. “Are you all right?”

She shook her head, the sudden realization that Jason had been waiting at her front door, with a knife of all things, hitting her like a freight train. What if Kaspar hadn’t been close? She shivered as she settled her cheek against Kaspar’s chest and closed her eyes. He rubbed her back as she allowed his comfort to surround her.

“I know he’s being locked up at the moment, but I would still like you to come back to the hotel with me,” he said.

She glanced up at him. “But like you just said, Jason’s not a threat anymore.”

“Unless they let him out.”

Jesska gasped. “Do you think they would?”

“I don’t know, sweetheart, but I’d rather be safe than sorry.”

She sighed and stepped away from him. “You just want me at your beck and call.”

He raised an eyebrow. “For what purpose?”

“Because you feel the need to kiss me... all the freakin’ time,” she retorted.

Kaspar chuckled. “Perhaps you’re not far from the truth.”

“Perhaps?” she challenged.

He closed the distance between them again and pulled her into his arms, kissing her deeply. She looped her arms around his neck and slipped her fingers into his hair. “This is exactly what I was talking about,” she said, smiling against his lips.

“Well, if you don’t like it, sweetheart, I’ll stop.”

“Don’t you dare.”

Kaspar chuckled and kissed her again.

She broke the kiss and stared up at him as she continued to run her fingers through his hair. “Did you see Jason? Is that why you came?”

“First I felt your panic, then when I saw the man in the photo approach and...” He shook his head. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here sooner.”

“What are you talking about?” She wrinkled her nose. “Jason didn’t stand a chance.”

Kaspar ran his knuckles down her cheek. “If he’d done anything to you...”

“He didn’t,” she rushed to say. “Look, maybe I should go and stay with Amanda for a few days.”

“Who’s Amanda?”

“My best friend,” Jesska said. “She would be happy to let me crash, and I could help with her daughter.”

He frowned. “I’m not comfortable with that.”

“Why not?”

“Because, what if the people who are after Megan and Sophie are watching you and they go after her?”

Jesska bit her lip. “I didn’t think about that.”

“Will you please come to the hotel with me so that I can protect you?”

She studied him for several tense seconds before nodding. “Yes, I’ll come with you.”

He kissed her again. “Thank you.”

She smiled and pointed to her suitcase. “I’m ready whenever you are.”

He pulled out his cell phone. “Austri will take your bag.”

“I can take it.”

Kaspar smiled as he opened the door to admit Austri, who grabbed her bag without comment.

“Or he can,” she grumbled.

“If you need anything else, we’ll buy it, or Austri will come back and pick it up this weekend.”

“Okay,” she said, and locked up, following him to the car.

Kaspar waited on the sidewalk while she slid inside and secured her seatbelt. He joined her, linking his fingers with hers as Austri started the car and pulled away from the curb. Kaspar lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her palm. “You okay?”

She nodded, offering up what she hoped was a genuine smile. “I’m fine.”

Jesska turned her head and stared out the window as Austri drove to the hotel. She was thankful that Kaspar left her to her thoughts, as dark as they might be.

The car went over a bump and she looked up to see that they were driving into an underground parking lot.

Without speaking, Kaspar followed her out of the car and to the elevator bank. He wrapped an arm around her and guided her into the elevator, pushed the button, and kissed her temple as they rode up to his floor.

Jesska leaned against him, shutting down in an effort to control her emotions. As soon as she felt anything that might be considered unsettling, he’d calm her with a touch. He also seemed to pick up on her need for silence, and walked her to a non-descript door, using the key to open it and then guiding her inside. “This is your room, sweetheart.”

She surveyed the space, unable to feel anything even in the midst of the room’s warm décor. “It’s nice.”

“You can choose a different one if it’s not acceptable.”

“No, it’s gorgeous.” She smiled up at him. “I’m sorry, I’m just a little out of sorts.”

“You be whatever you need to be.” He stroked her cheek and smiled. “The bathroom has a large tub.”

“Stop being so sweet.”

Kaspar leaned down and kissed her cheek. “No.”

Jesska sighed. “So now that I’ve ruined your entire evening, shouldn’t you get back to whatever it is kings do?”

He checked his watch. “I only need an hour. Then I’m all yours.”

“No, don’t worry about it. I don’t think I’d be very good company tonight,” she admitted. “I’ll just take a bath and go to bed.”

He cocked his head. “I will come see you in an hour.”

She rolled her eyes. Bossy britches.

“Here’s Austri with your bags,” he said as Jesska’s door opened and the driver arrived with her luggage. “I’ll have Camilla unpack them for you.”

“Um, no. I can do that.”

“She will be happy to.”

“No. I’m good. Go to your meeting or whatever you need to do. I’ll talk to you in the morning.”

“I’ll come see you in an hour.”

“Kaz,” she droned. “I’m fine, really.”

He leaned down and kissed her quickly. “I’ll be back in an hour.”

“Fine.”

Kaspar studied her for a few seconds before disappearing out the door, and she was left blissfully alone.

As she went about unpacking her luggage and filling the bathtub, she realized the monotony of the work wasn’t helping to divert her thoughts from the harrowing evening. She squeezed her eyes shut as fear slipped in, frustrated because Kaspar wasn’t close to take it away. Shaking off the negative emotion, she closed her now empty suitcase and turned off the bath taps.

Fear pressed in again, and she did what she always did. She reached for her purse. Inside was the only relief she knew, and she needed that relief in a big way. Removing her clothes, she set the blade on the corner of the tub and slid into the warmth of the bath. When she felt the fear again, she grabbed for the razor, pressing it against the skin of her thigh. She’d barely gotten a nick when she heard her door smash open.

“Jesska!” Kaspar called, frantic worry in his voice.

She squeaked, standing in the tub and grabbing for her robe. She managed to pull it on and step out of the tub even though she was still wet.

“Jesska, baby, are you okay? Where are you?”

“I’m... I’m fine, Kaz. I’m in the bathroom,” she called.

The door to the bathroom slid open and Kaspar’s eyes went from her, to her leg, to the razor blade on the floor where it had fallen.

“What are you doing?” she snapped.

He frowned and made his way to her razor blade, picking it up and holding it between his index and middle fingers. “What’s this, Jesska?”

“None of your business.”

He pushed her robe open and knelt before her, surveying the small cut on her leg. With a touch, the wound closed and, other than a little staining from the blood, you’d never know she’d done anything to her leg. “How did you do that?”

“Baby.”

“Kaz. How did you do that?”

“I can heal you, elskan.”

“How?”

“I don’t know how, sweetheart, it’s just something between mates. Now,” Kaspar kissed her knee and then rose to his feet, throwing the razor blade in the trash. “Tell me. What is this?”

She shook her head.

Kaspar pulled her close, cupping the back of her head and kissing her temple. “I felt your fear, baby. Why are you frightened?”

Jesska shook her head again. “It’s dumb.”

“Not to me it isn’t.”

Jesska burst into tears, angry with herself that he affected her so deeply.

“Elskan, shhh. Tell me.”

“The note. He... he knew everything about us. He had a knife, Kaz, and he said I lied. But I didn’t lie. I watched him kill Seth.”

“Oh, baby, Jason can’t hurt you anymore,” Kaspar whispered. He lifted her face and wiped her tears away, kissing her forehead and smiling. “I’m here.”

She nodded, her pain and fear gone as suddenly as it came.

“Where are the rest?” he asked.

“Rest of what?”

“Jesska.” His voice dipped low in warning. “Where are they?”

She bit her lip. “In my purse.”

“And?”

Big, fat, bossy king dude.

“In the pocket in my suitcase,” she grumbled.

“You dry off and get dressed while I take care of this,” he said, as he leaned down and grabbed the trash can. “I’ll open some wine and we can watch a movie when you’re done.”

“What about your meeting?”

“My meeting’s over.”

Guilt slipped in. “Because of me?”

He wrapped his hand around the back of her neck and gave her a gentle squeeze. Her guilt slipped away and she licked her lips.

“My meeting was over because I said it was over.” He leaned down and gave her another quick kiss before pulling the door closed behind her and leaving her alone.

Jesska sat on the edge of the tub and dropped her head in her hands. She studied her leg. The now white scars of many of her “relief sessions,” slanted over her skin, but the place she’d just cut was perfect. No scar, no scab, no pain.

“Are you getting dressed?” Kaspar called through the door.

She frowned, but not in an I’m-mad-at-you, this-is-none-of-your-business kind of way, but in a how-will-I-ever-deserve-you kind of way.

“Yes, Kaz. I’m getting dressed.”

She applied lotion and then pulled on her favorite pajamas. A dark blue camisole with white lace around the neckline and matching short-shorts. She slipped from the bathroom to her bedroom and peeked into the living room. Kaz stood by the sofa pouring red wine into a glass, his eyes focused on the television.

Some hockey game was on, but since she didn’t follow hockey, she had no idea who was playing. He caught sight of her and dripped wine down the side of the glass.

“Skít,” he hissed, and set the glass on the table, reaching for a napkin to clean up before turning to her again. “God, baby, you’re stunning.”

Her heart raced. “I am?”

“Yes.” He closed the distance between them. “Maybe you should put on a robe.”

“It’s wet.”

Kaspar groaned.

“You okay?” she asked.

He shook his head, leaning down to cover her lips with his. Jesska grasped his arms when he deepened the kiss, wrapping her legs around his waist as he lifted her and carried her into her bedroom.

He laid her on the mattress, his body covering her as he broke the kiss, dropping his head to her neck and taking several deep breaths. “I need you to put on more clothes, elskan.”

She slid her hands into his hair to keep him from moving. “Or we could take more off.”

He shook his head, his breathing shallow. “No. I will not do this until I bind you, but you make it very difficult to stay with my conviction.”

“Bind me, then.”

He looked up at her slowly, his expression difficult to read. “When you are ready, I will bind you, sweetheart, but not before.”

“I’m ready.”

“No, you’re horny. We both are. There’s a difference.”

She huffed, slipping her hands under his shirt. “Not when the end result is the same.”

Kaspar groaned again, kissing her neck and pushing himself up and off of her. “Please put some clothes on. I will wait for you in the living room.”

She watched him leave, frustrated that he could so quickly gain control, unlike her. She dragged her hands down her face and then slid from the mattress. Reluctantly, she pulled on yoga pants and a long-sleeved T-shirt before joining him back out in the living room.

“That didn’t help much,” he snapped.

Jesska threw her hands in the air. “Well, what am I supposed to do about it? Apparently, everything I own drives you crazy.”

“No, just the woman in the fabric.” Kaspar smiled and held his hand out to her. “Sorry, elskan. I don’t mean to snap. I will endeavor to control myself.”

“Something I’m not asking you to do.”

He stroked her cheek. “I know, baby, but something I’m going to do all the same.”

“You’re right about me needing time,” she admitted.

“I know. You take as long as you need.” Kaspar kissed her hair. “You’re still dealing with a lot of confusion over your feelings, sweetheart, but we’ll sort them out together.”

She dropped her cheek to his chest, her favorite place to be of late, and closed her eyes. “I feel like when I’m with you, nothing bad can touch me.”

“Nothing bad can touch you.”

Jesska raised her head again. “I’m going to hold you to that. I will try to avoid my desire to stop myself from loving you, but you can’t leave me. Whether it’s death or otherwise. Deal?”

He grinned. “Deal. Now come and have some wine. You’re going to show me your city tomorrow.”

“Alone?” she challenged.

“Yes.”

“No, I mean without Austri.”

“Oh, then, no.”

She wrinkled her nose. “Will we ever be alone?”

“We’re alone now, elskan.”

“You know what I mean.”

He led her to the sofa and pulled her down beside him. “Outside of my home, my security is never far, but I will speak with them about being less conspicuous while we’re touring tomorrow.”

She grabbed her wine glass. “Thank you.”

Kaspar grinned and picked up his own wine. “Now, relax.”

“Yes, Mr. Bossy Pants.”

“My pants are bossy?”

“Probably,” she retorted.

He chuckled. “Kiss me, elskan.”

“You kiss me.”

Kaspar gave her a wolfish smile and did as he was commanded.