Chapter Eleven
Aidan lowered to his knees before Jane. His beast was howling inside of him—so desperate for her—but he kept a leash on that wolf. His control would hold. Where Jane was concerned, there was no room for error. His touch stayed gentle on her, and he leaned forward, feathering light kisses on her stomach.
Jane’s hands settled over his shoulders. “Aidan…”
“I need you, Jane.” She was alive. Safe. Strong. Right there with him. And Annette had been right—there were no promises for the future. There was only that moment.
For that moment, he had Jane.
He looked up at her. “If you want me to stop, say the word.” He’d always do what Jane wanted. Did she understand the power that she wielded? He was supposed to be the beast in charge of the city, but for her…I will give her anything.
Jane shook her head. “Stopping is the last thing I want.”
They both needed this—needed each other. Needed the reassurance of being skin to skin. The wild oblivion of pleasure that would sweep them away.
He pressed another kiss to her stomach, then Aidan eased down a bit more, moving lower, lower…
He kissed her through the soft silk of her underwear. A shudder slid along her body and the scent of her arousal teased him. He kissed her again even as his hands curled around her hips. His tongue slid out, licking lightly, but he couldn’t get the access he needed, not from that position.
He needed so much more from Jane.
He caught the edge of her panties with his teeth and yanked them down.
Jane gave a little surprised laugh. He fucking loved it when she laughed. Then she said, “My, what skillful teeth you have, wolf…”
“The better to strip you, my dear.”
Her laughter came again, but the sweet sound faded when he scooped her into his arms and hurriedly carried her to the bed. He positioned her on the edge of the mattress, letting her silken legs hang over the edge. Then he bent once more, his hands moving to push her thighs farther apart.
And he tasted her. His tongue licked. Again and again. She moaned and jerked against his mouth, but he just kept going. He wanted Jane to come this way, for him. Wanted her to have the first blast of pleasure.
Her hips arched toward him. He kissed her tender flesh and kept stroking her with his tongue, just the way he knew she liked. When the pleasure hit her, he felt it. Her body stiffened. Her sex spasmed.
And he pulled back so that he could watch her come for him.
“Nothing is more beautiful,” he whispered, “than seeing you, like this.” Aidan rose, stripping off his clothes and tossing them away. He needed to be skin to skin with her. Needed to be deep inside of Jane.
She rolled, moving her body quickly and rising up on her knees. Then she looked back at him, her cheeks a sweet pink and her eyes gleaming. “I want it this way.”
Fuck, yes. He’d take her anyway. He climbed onto the bed. The mattress dipped beneath his weight. He grabbed her hips, positioned his cock, and drove into her in one long, hard thrust.
Balls deep. Perfect.
She moaned.
He gave a guttural groan.
And then he withdrew, only to thrust deep again. The rhythm was hot and fast, and he should slow down, he knew it, but—
“More!” Jane gasped out. “Don’t stop!”
He would do whatever she wanted.
Jane’s hands flew down and she shoved her palms into the mattress, balancing herself. He gave her more. Gave her everything. The bed was squeaking, the mattress rocking, and his hips pumped frantically as he drove them both toward the abyss of release.
He kissed her shoulder. Licked the skin. Then he bit her, a light marking that was the way of his kind. When his teeth touched her skin, Jane gave a quick cry. Not of pain, but pleasure, and he felt the contractions of her release all around his cock. His eyes squeezed closed because she felt so incredibly good.
Like she’d been made just for him.
He withdrew, then drove deep once more. The pleasure hit him, surging up hot and wild, and he yanked his mouth from her shoulder because he was afraid he’d bite too hard. That he’d hurt her.
He growled her name, and kept thrusting. The pleasure wasn’t ending.
“Aidan!”
His eyes flew open at her cry. She was still coming. He could feel it around his dick. Aidan wanted to give her so much pleasure. So much that she would always remember him—always remember this moment.
Always remember the way it felt when they were together.
Her hands had fisted around the sheets. She held them so tight. Her body arched like a bow and he curled around her, both of them absolutely lost.
Give her up?
His heartbeat drummed in his ears.
Hell, the fuck no.
***
“A second deadly mugging has New Orleans residents on alert this morning…” The pretty blond news anchor, Sarah Steele, stared straight ahead, her voice carrying just the right degree of concern. “Authorities have confirmed that another body was discovered in the St. Louis Cemetery late last night, another victim of a robbery gone wrong.”
“What the fuck?” He shot up from the barstool, glaring at the small TV. It was freaking early and he’d dragged his ass down to this tiny diner because he’d wanted to see people’s reactions to last night’s kill.
But the reporters were screwing up the story. It was no mugging. Fuck that. And what about the detective? Mary Jane Hart? Was the blond bitch on TV even going to mention her?
Folks at the nearby tables glanced at him, their expressions a bit worried.
They should be worried.
The blond continued, “Reporter Kennedy Jackson is live at the police station with an exclusive interview with Police Captain Vivian Harris.”
And then a new scene was showing on the screen. The camera focused on an older woman, one with a gleaming badge pinned to her chest. The woman looked all official as a microphone was shoved toward her. “Citizens should be on guard,” the woman explained. She had to be the damn police captain that the reporter had mentioned. As if on cue, text appeared beneath her image, text that read Police Captain Vivian Harris. “They should be smart. Citizens should always travel with a friend late at night and be aware of their surroundings. And if anyone sees something suspicious, do not hesitate to call the cops. After all…” She gave a tight smile. “We’re here to help you.”
Fuck, fuck.
“Rest assured,” the police captain continued doggedly. “I have my best team working on this case. The killer will be apprehended.”
Then—from off camera—he heard a reporter ask, “This makes two murders in a very short amount of time. Are we looking at a serial?”
The police captain’s eyes narrowed just a bit.
He realized he was holding his breath.
“No, Ms. Jackson,” Vivian Harris said clearly. “We’re just looking at a man who enjoys preying on the weak. A coward who hunts in the dark.”
His claws wanted to spring free. He wanted to attack. She’d dared to call him a coward?
Vivian Harris stared straight into the camera—seems like she’s looking right at me. “As I said before, this killer will be apprehended, have no doubt about that.”
Really? Then come and get me.
The camera cut away from her and the pretty blond reporter was back on screen.
Or…maybe I’ll just come and get you.
***
Aidan’s heartbeat thundered in his ears. He was still curled over Jane, the scent of their lovemaking filling the air. And he was already getting hard for her again. Hardly surprising. He pretty much always wanted Jane.
She looked back over her shoulder, smiling at him. “I love you, Aidan Locke.”
I would die for you, Mary Jane Hart.
“Want to take a shower with me?” Her voice was light, happy. And why not? She’d cheated death. They were together. They both should be happy.
“Absolutely.” Slowly, he withdrew from her. She gave a little moan.
And I’ll be coming right back inside you when we get in that shower.
He rose from the bed. Maybe his knees were a little weak. Making love to her could do that, not that Aidan would ever admit it. He wasn’t supposed to have a weakness. I do. It’s my Jane.
She rolled over, still smiling up at him. “I don’t know how it happened, I don’t know what magic you got Annette to pull, but I feel stronger than I’ve ever felt in my entire life.”
He forced a smile for her. “I’m glad.”
“Race you to the shower.” Then she was zipping past him.
He started to hurry after her but…
Something caught his eye. Something there, in the bed. Frowning now, he leaned over and looked closer at the bed covers. Sure, they’d wrecked that bed. Only…
The sheets were ripped.
He picked up part of the sheet and saw the long tendrils that looked as if claws had sliced into them. Aidan glanced at his own hands. He hadn’t let his claws out. He’d been touching Jane the whole time, so he hadn’t wanted to risk cutting her skin.
He picked up another piece of the shredded material.
Jane had grabbed the bedding. He remembered that. At the end, when she’d been lost to the pleasure, she’d fisted her hands around the sheets.
These are marks made by claws. I’ve seen marks like this before.
“Aidan…” Jane’s voice called. Light. Teasing. “I won.”
***
“I don’t like this,” Aidan said.
Jane rolled her eyes as she checked her gun. The weapon was good to go with silver bullets. And, for extra paranormal protection, she had a wooden stake strapped to her ankle. “Yes, well, I adore you, but I don’t particularly care what you like about this part.” He’d brought her back to town, but been oddly quiet and reserved during the drive to the cemetery. Back to the scene of the crime. “I have a job to do, and I’m getting back to it.” Her gaze sharpened as she looked at him. “I’m not a cop because I like playing things safe. I’m a cop because I want to keep everyone else safe.”
He stood beside her, his arms crossed over his chest. “Did you forget you nearly died last night?”
“Hard to forget that bit.”
He glowered even more. It was probably not the time to tell him that she found his glowers sexy. Her body was practically humming. It was so weird. She couldn’t remember ever feeling this good. “I also didn’t forget,” Jane continued, “that I shot the bastard who attacked me. So if I shot him, he bled. And you—with that absolutely wonderful nose of yours—will help me track him.”
“Jane…”
“Come on.” She led the way into the cemetery. Dr. Bob had the victim’s body on his table, and she’d be heading to the ME’s office later for an update on Travis. Just to make sure there weren’t any new twists waiting for her. But for the moment, she wanted to try some blood tracking.
The scent of blood hit Jane just after she’d taken a few steps inside the cemetery. Strong. Coppery. A little…woodsy? Her nostrils flared as she inhaled the scent. Then Jane turned to the right. “I was over this way when he attacked.”
Aidan caught her elbow. “Jane, do you smell the blood?”
“Yes.” Her breath hitched. “He must have bled out a whole lot more than I realized.” And the crime scene techs must have been damn slouchy at their jobs. They should have cleaned the area far better.
She followed the scent, her steps quickening.
Then…
Jane stopped. There were no giant trails of blood on the ground. Well, not except for the stain that was from where she’d been. Someone had tried to clean that up. Jane pointed. “I remember falling here. You—you were crouching above me.” She threw a quick glance his way.
His face hardened. “Yes.”
She lifted her hand, as if aiming a gun. “He was right over there.” Where the slightly woodsy scent was coming from. Jane took a few lurching steps forward and then she saw the blood drops. Just drops. As if the killer had been running away and the blood had flown back in his wake.
How do I smell this? The blood drops have already dried and they’re so small.
What in the hell was happening? “Aidan?”
But he’d just brushed past her. “It was good of the bastard to leave us a trail.”
“Aidan, what’s happening to me?”
His shoulders tensed. “I think he jumped over the wall to get out of here, same as I did.” He came back to her, scooped her into his arms and said, “Hold on tight.”
He was keeping something from her. “Aidan. Stop.”
He tensed.
“How did I heal? Why can I smell his blood?” Why do I feel so good?
Aidan’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. “I told you…that I gave you my blood.”
Jane nodded. “You did that before.” When Garrison had been a trigger happy dumbass and shot her. Not that she held a grudge. Well, not anymore. She and Garrison had worked past that unfortunate first encounter.
“There seem to be a few…side effects this time.”
Side effects? That sounded so not good. “How long will they last?”
His arms tightened around her. “I have no fucking clue.” Then he was running toward the wall. She held onto him as tightly as she could and then—
They were over the wall. He touched down without even having his knees buckle. Carefully, he put her onto her feet then swept his gaze around the area.
A little late to see if anyone saw that move.
But…no one was there.
Aidan threaded his fingers with hers. “Come on.” And he was moving fast, but not so fast that she couldn’t keep up. They hurried across the street and he crouched next to a boarded-up building.
The scent of blood was strong again. And sunlight glinted off the silver bullet on the ground. A blood-stained bullet.
“He dug them out,” Jane said. There were two more bullets nearby. “He’s strong, Aidan.”
Aidan had turned to stare down the street. His expression thoughtful, he said, “Yes, yes, he fucking is.”
Her nostrils twitched. “Where did he go after he left?” Because she couldn’t tell. Her side effects weren’t that good.
“They cleaned the streets,” Aidan said, disgust thick in his voice. “This is the only scent I’m getting…right here. If there was more blood, it was washed away when the streets were cleaned this morning.”
Dammit.
“Sorry, Jane.”
“No, don’t be sorry.” Carefully she pocketed the bullets. “We learned more. The guy is stronger than I expected. Hell, you’re the only one I’ve seen dig out silver bullets. I didn’t realize that was something most werewolves could do.”
He was silent.
“I need to go see Dr. Bob,” Jane continued, adjusting her plans as she considered things. “But I think first I’ll check in at the station with Vivian. She’s probably freaking the hell out right now, and if I stop to see her, it will give Bob a little longer to finish his report.”
Aidan’s head jerked to the right. A low growl built in his throat.
Oh, jeez. What now? “Aidan?”
“He’s coming.”
She yanked out her weapon. “The killer?”
“Worse.” The one word came out as a snarl. “The vampire.”
And then he was there. Just strolling down the street toward them. Jane blinked. Had the guy been in the road a moment before? She didn’t think so, but now he was just boldly striding toward them.
The vampire took his time approaching them, and when Aidan wanted to lunge forward, Jane wrapped her hand around his arm. “I want to see what he has to say.”
“The bastard is in my town, without an invitation. He’s asking for trouble.”
She knew that was true. Vamps and werewolves weren’t made to get along. And Aidan never let vamps stay in New Orleans long.
“Jane.” Vincent’s gaze swept over her. “You’re…still human?” He seemed surprised.
Jane had to admit—when she’d woken up in Aidan’s bed—she’d been surprised, too. Only now she fully realized that it hadn’t been Dr. Bob’s medicine or Annette’s voodoo magic that had saved her…
It had been Aidan.
“When I got here last night…and saw Aidan rushing away with you held so tightly in his arms…” Vincent lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “I thought you were dying.”
“And you jumped in to help save me?” Anger vibrated in her voice. “How nice of you—oh, wait. You didn’t help. What did you do? Watch from the shadows and count down as you hoped my life ticked away?”
He took a step back.
Aidan’s claws had come out, she could see them. She still touched his arm and Aidan’s muscles were rock hard beneath her hand. But Aidan wasn’t attacking.
He’s holding back for me.
“You can’t change fate,” Vincent said.
“I think we make our own fate. People aren’t born with their whole lives mapped out in some little book.”
Vincent’s expression hardened. “You aren’t like most people.”
“Were you watching the whole time?” Jane asked him. “When that werewolf brought Travis Maller to the cemetery? Were you here when the poor guy was being murdered?”
“No,” Vincent rasped. “I didn’t arrive until after.”
Aidan gave another low growl. “Would you have helped if you had been there sooner? Would you have stepped in to save the human?”
Vincent seemed surprised by the question. “I didn’t know him.”
Jane’s jaw dropped. “He was a person! Didn’t matter if you knew him or not—the guy was in pain and he needed help—so you should have wanted to save him.”
“Vamps aren’t like that, Jane,” Aidan said gruffly. “They don’t care. They’ll tear apart their whole families if that gives them the blood they need.”
Sadness flashed across Vincent’s face. “I have…seen that happen.”
“Yes, so the fuck have I,” Aidan fired back. “Too many times. I know what your kind can do. I know how all they can live for is the bloodlust—it controls them. It maddens them. It—”
“My kind isn’t doing the killing this time.” Vincent had straightened his shoulders. “Yours is.”
She let Aidan go. The vamp was just asking for trouble.
But Vincent held up his hands. “I’m sorry. I’m not here to provoke you.”
“No?” Aidan obviously doubted that statement. “Could’ve fooled the hell out of me.” He lifted his claws. “So this is how things will work. I’ve played the good guy with you long enough. The beast in me wants nothing more than to cut off your head—”
“Aren’t you the blunt one,” Vincent muttered.
“But I’ve held back, fucking barely. Mostly because you haven’t killed anyone yet. Jane doesn’t like it if I kill without reason.” He shrugged. “One of her little rules.”
Vincent’s eyelids flickered. “Of course, you can only do what Jane likes.”
Jane glanced between the two of them. Similar in size, and she had no doubt that Vincent was a powerful vampire. In a battle, who would win?
Sure, the vamp had his parlor trick of disappearing into thin air but…
My money is on Aidan.
“Get your ass out of my town,” Aidan told him darkly. “Be gone by the time the sun sets tonight. If you aren’t, I will come for you, and I won’t hold my beast back.”
The vamp lifted his chin. “Jane, I am here to help—”
Her laughter was bitter. “Tell that to the woman you attacked and left in a dirty alley.”
“I didn’t kill her—”
“No, you just took her blood. Nearly killed her.”
Vincent shook his head. “I held onto my restraint. She was never in any danger. What was I supposed to do? You’d shot me and your boyfriend there did his best to rip out my throat. You know how blood loss is for our kind.”
She made sure her weapon was aimed right at his heart. “There is no ‘our’ here, buddy.”
His gaze darted down to her weapon. “Wooden bullets?”
“You better believe it.” Total lie. But the silver bullets in her gun would still cause him plenty of blood loss. “Think you can pull that vanishing act before I shoot? Or before Aidan decides to use his claws to rip off your head?”
Vincent stumbled back a step.
“See, I don’t like it when vamps feed on humans. And I really don’t like the way you seem to be skulking around every time I blink. Aidan showed you courtesy,” the werewolf version, at least, “now it’s past time for you to get out of here.”
“You’re going to regret this,” Vincent warned her.
“I highly doubt it.” She cast a quick, nervous glance Aidan’s way. He hadn’t said much, probably because it took all of his self-control and strength not to attack the vampire. And he’s holding back for me. “The only thing I regret is that we ever met.”
“That so?” Vincent turned away from them, presenting his back as far too tempting of a target. “My mistake. I thought you wanted to know about your father. But, hey, guess I was wrong.”
Before she could speak, Aidan curled his arm around her shoulder. “He’s baiting you, Jane.” His voice was rough, ragged. Definitely using all of his self-control not to attack.
She knew Aidan’s words were true. Jane gave a rough nod in agreement. Then she made sure her voice was nice and strong as she said, “The only father I had was killed by a vampire when I was eleven years old. He was staring straight at me when he drew his last breath.”
Vincent stilled. She saw his shoulders stiffen. “I’m sorry…I-I didn’t realize…”
“The same vamp spent hours torturing me. I’ve still got the scars to prove it.”
Now he did whirl toward her. “That shouldn’t have happened.” Vincent seemed genuinely horrified. “You were the beginning of something new—”
“Bullshit. I’m the end.” She’d grown accustomed to that burn mark on her body. “Got the permanent reminder to prove it.”
Aidan’s fingers tightened on her shoulder.
“Keep moving,” Jane said to Vincent, her hand steady on her gun. “Because you are done here.”
Vincent’s eyes gleamed with his fury. “I am sorry. I will find the vampire who attacked you. I will make him pay—”
“Already done,” Aidan interrupted. “He’s dust in the wind. See, he was the last asshole vamp who didn’t listen when I said this town belonged to the wolves.”
A furrow had appeared on Vincent’s brows. “You avenged her?”
“I killed for her, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Never doubt that.”
Vincent raked his hand over his face. “Jane, your father—your real father—he was troubled, I knew that. But I can’t believe he would let something like this happen—”
“Yeah, well, word on my biological dad is that he died a long time ago, too,” Jane said. “The vamp who killed my family? Thane Durant? He told me that werewolves had killed my father.”
Surprise flashed on Vincent’s face. “That’s not what happened to Michael, not at all. You were told a lie.”
Her lips parted. What in the hell am I supposed to believe? And why did it just hurt me to hear my father’s name? Michael…
“Thane Durant,” Vincent continued darkly, “was a twisted, sadistic, lying bastard. You can’t believe any shit he told you.” His laughter was bitter. “Actually, Thane was the one to kill your father.”
What? Jane gave a quick, hard shake of her head but… “I guess vamps turn on each other all the time, huh?”
“No, we don’t.” Vincent inclined his head toward her. “You know then, how you came…to be?”
“I don’t need a talk on the birds and bees from you, jerk.” She could feel the rage pouring off Aidan and Jane wasn’t sure how much longer his control would last. Having a vamp this close to him, well, it had to be like waving a red flag in front of a bull. A very, very big and dangerous bull.
Stampede time is coming.
“Michael was a good man, once. A good father. But he didn’t handle the change well. He needed a guide.” Vincent sighed. “I let him down, so that’s on me.”
He actually sounds sincere. Was the vamp bullshitting? Or had he known her father?
“If you want to learn more, I guess you’d better come find me before sunset,” Vincent added. “Because I will be gone then.” His gaze slid to Aidan. “Alpha, I don’t want a war. That’s not why I was in town. Believe it or not, I thought I was helping.” He rolled back his shoulders. “I won’t make that mistake again.”
“Damn right, you won’t,” Aidan snarled.
Vincent turned away once more. He started walking and then…
Freaking parlor trick. He vanished.
Aidan turned Jane to face him. “He’s trying to manipulate you.” She could see his worry. “Jane, he probably knows dick about your real father. He just wants you to seek him out. He wants to get power over you.”
“I don’t care.” Saying those words made a weight rise from her chest.
Aidan blinked. “Come again?” He threw a quick glance over her shoulder, and a predatory gleam appeared in his eyes as he swept the street.
Probably trying to make sure Vincent hadn’t reappeared.
“I don’t care what he knows about the vampire who used to be known as Michael.” That had been the name her mother had whispered on a few pain-filled nights. Monsters aren’t real. Monsters…Michael wasn’t a monster. Had her mother been trying to convince herself of that fact? “He doesn’t matter to me. The past is over, and all I want to do is focus on the future.” Her future with Aidan. “The past isn’t going to dictate my life. I won’t let it. I’m more than some vamp’s kid.”
His hand rose and slid tenderly over her cheek. “Yes, Jane, you are. You are…everything.”
Only Aidan could say those words and make them sound utterly true. She wasn’t, of course. She was just a cop, doing her job as best she could. But Aidan made her feel special. Aidan made her feel like she didn’t need to be ashamed of her past.
Her Aidan.
Her head turned and she pressed a kiss to his palm.
***
The werewolf was a fucking problem.
Vincent watched as Aidan touched Jane so tenderly. The alpha knew what she was—he knew what she would become. With Aidan Locke’s own twisted past, the guy should be running the hell away from Mary Jane Hart.
Not holding her so gently.
Damn him. He is screwing this up for me.
Jane should have died the night before. Everything would be different this day if she had. But no, she still breathed. She still packed her gun with its wooden bullets.
She was still fighting what would be.
Jane and her werewolf turned away and headed down the street. Probably off hunting for more clues. She was so worried about getting justice for the humans. He didn’t get that. She needed to be worried about herself. Surely she could see that?
She’d flinched, just the smallest bit, when he’d said her father’s name. Michael. The name mattered to her. The man mattered. Poor Jane. She’d probably gone her whole life, wondering about the monster that was her father. Would she like to hear that he hadn’t always been so bad? That he’d tried to protect his family? Protect her?
Vincent thought Michael might just be the key to winning over Mary Jane. He’d thrown out the bait, now he just had to wait and see if she took it.
And if she didn’t…
And sunset came…
Then I have to work out a new plan. Because he truly hadn’t intended to go to war with the alpha. But sometimes, battles couldn’t be avoided. Sometimes, bloodshed came.
Death came.
No matter how hard you fought to avoid it.