Chapter 17
Jay dropped the vehicle off then felt something creep up over him, a supreme darkness that felt an awful lot like the bullshit shadow monster that was sure to haunt a few nightmares. Not that he would ever admit it.
Something deep within him had warned him to run when he felt the presence. He didn’t, but he should have. They all should have. But no, Evangeline kicked its ass and fixed whatever the bastard did to Bran.
He turned in the vehicle and waited for the shuttle back to the airport.
A black SUV pulled to a stop in front of him, and the window opened. “You’re Jay Walker, right?”
Ignoring the asshole, he watched the bus pull up. He had nothing to say to Evangeline’s piece of shit father. The girl was smart, she stayed away from him as much as possible, but he made it hard, holding Genevieve over her head.
Now, that wasn’t going to be an issue.
Maybe it would be wise to kill Olivier, save them all the trouble. Only he couldn’t murder the prick in public.
The bus pulled up, and Jay pretended to ignore the bastard.
Magic churned up behind Jay, and he erected a shield as he walked toward the bus.
Olivier snarled, “Don’t walk away from me. You know where my daughters have gone. I need to know.”
Again, he ignored the bastard and climbed on the bus. The SUV followed, and Jay silently cursed. Having Robert translocate him from a moving vehicle wasn’t a good idea. Not from a moving bus. Shit, no one could pull that off. Could they?
Whatever, he wasn’t a chicken shit. And engaging with the fucker wasn’t a wise move. How the hell had Olivier found him?
Never mind, don’t want to know.
The ride seemed to take forever, then he climbed off and hurried to the ticket counter. Asshole managed to catch up, and Jay glanced back to see a hint of shadow move over the bastard’s face.
He was somehow corrupted by the thing on the mountain.
Shadow mystic was what they called it. Whatever it was, Zariha’s presence made his bones ache. Jay felt the air shift as the asshole reached out to him. He spun, caught his hand, and stared into Olivier’s eyes.
“Whatever you want, stop following me. I have nothing for you.” Then he pushed a curse at the fucker to slow him down and make him ill.
Jay needed to get the fuck out of New York.
Olivier hissed at him. “You are who I’m looking for. My daughter. Evangeline. Where is she? I know you watch over her.”
“Don’t know who you’re talking about.” He ducked out of line and made his way to the bathroom where he sent a text to Tremaine. He needed out, and he needed out now. He gave all the details about where the bathroom was in the airport.
Jay jumped a second later as Robert appeared before him and touched his shoulder before flicking the lock. They disappeared and reappeared in a giant library, the likes of which he’d never seen.
“Shit, where are we?”
“Safe,” Robert offered. “And gathering answers. You said Olivier found you?”
He nodded. “Not sure how. But he was trying to find out where Evangeline was. I cursed him, but nothing major. By now, he’s probably slumped over in a seat, passed out.”
“Nothing too obvious?”
Jay shook his head. “Nope. Didn’t want to draw attention. I had planned to fly back, but not if he was getting on the plane to follow.”
“You did the right thing,” Tremaine offered. “Now, are you interested in learning more?”
“Sure. Especially if this thing and his puppet wind up back in Silvertail Ridge.”
* * * *
Bran let Evangeline into his home. He locked the door and turned to her. “Don’t want to wait anymore,” he murmured.
“Feed me after, and you can have me anywhere, anyhow you want me.”
Grinning, he closed the distance. “I’ve waited so long for you. I’ve dreamed of you in my arms, in my bed for years.”
She pushed him toward the stairs. “The bed it is.”
He shivered at the rasp in her accent. So fucking sexy. He threw her over his shoulder and hurried up the stairs. “Going to make you the happiest woman alive,” he promised, meaning it to his core.
She swatted his ass. “I’m sure you will.”
A rumble burst free of his chest. He wanted to devour the woman who’d driven him crazy for years upon years. The one who starred in his dreams.
A thread of guilt wafted through him, but damn it, he’d been good to his wife. He’d loved her with all of his heart. But it had been years, and he was ready for something new.
He needed to find his happiness. And this woman held it in her hands.
He slid her down his body, relishing her softness against his hardness. She was delectable. Tall, lean, strong, but still soft in all the right places.
No more holding back. Bran wanted to offer Evangeline everything. Without hesitation, Bran pulled the T-shirt off her body, then rid her of the bra, covering those gorgeous breasts.
Bending, he captured one puckered tip between his teeth and laved over the sensitive flesh.
She purred, running her fingers through his hair before sinking her nails into his scalp.
Hissing, he slid one hand down her belly to open her pants and slide them down her legs, with the scrap of fabric she called underwear.
Gracefully, she kicked off her clothes and pulled him toward the bed as she tugged his shirt over his head and dropped it to the floor before ridding him of the pants and shoes.
Bran pushed her onto the bed and knelt before her, his dick bobbing with the motion.
One big hand caressed her thigh. “Your blade is tattooed into your skin.”
Beautifully etched silver blade with a wrapped handle. He’d never seen anything like it. Even that tattoo glowed with magic.
“It’s beautiful,” he murmured. Then he thumbed the small star on her pelvis. “I sense magic here.”
A whimper escaped. “Protection against my father.”
The scent of her desire made him harder. No one called to him the way she did. He pushed her legs apart and leaned in, scenting her arousal. Her dewy nether lips offered a feast. He ran his tongue through her folds, then sucked her clit.
She fell back, threading her fingers through his as he slid his hands, up her sides.
She tasted exquisite. He lapped, suckled, and explored. Never would he tire of her taste.
A gasp left Evangeline’s lips, then she panted. “Bran, please. Never needed a man more than I need you deep inside me.”
A soft growl left his lips. He picked her up as he crawled up the bed, then laid her out with her head on the pillows.
“I’ll make love to you, over and over again, until neither of us can move.”
She laughed. “Going to have to move tomorrow. I’ll need to help my sister adjust.”
“Whatever you need me to do, I will.”
“I know, but right now, I need your cock deep inside me. That’s all I want.”
He placed himself at her entrance and fed her the tip, slowly pushing in. Christ, she wrapped around him like a silken fist, and he could do nothing but find her end.
She grasped his head and dragged him down for a kiss. He dropped to his elbows as her legs wound around his sides. Taking his time, he made love to her with slow glides that left him wanting more.
She mewled, panted, moaned. Her sounds pushed him on, driving his pace up. Evangeline’s hands explored his body with greedy caresses.
They moved together, undulating, rubbing, exploring. A sensual dance that burned through him, into her and back.
The wind outside slapped branches into the walls and windows in time with their rhythm. The rain joined in. Breaking the kiss, her eyes latched onto his.
She came, his name on her lips, and he followed. Her wolf rose up, brushing against his. He’d never felt so connected as her love, long denied, washed up through their bond, taking away any doubt that they would wind up here.
“Mine,” he grunted. “Always needed you.”
A tear leaked down her face. “Needed you more.” There was more on her mind, but he wasn’t a mind reader.
He rolled to her side and took her with him. Then he threaded his fingers into her hair. “Hey, look at me. What is it?”
Her green eyes grew brighter. “I was afraid you’d hate me when you learned about Jasper. About him being another brother.”
“Why?” he whispered.
She laughed bitterly, her brow arching.
“Okay, yes, it shocked me, but honestly, I don’t give a damn. In the long run, what does it matter?”
“Doesn’t. I used to fear you’d wind up like him. But the more I think about Nate, and how different he is from what Jasper was, the more I realized you’re different from both. I’ve been waiting so long, I didn’t think I’d have you.”
“You have me. Always, forever, and then longer. I’m not ever walking away.”
She kissed him, pressing close. His dick filled, getting harder. “I’ll take advantage of that.”
“I offer it freely.” He kissed her again.