JASON

I'm frozen by her outburst. I want to comfort her but I'm almost positive she won't accept it right now. I look helplessly at the wall. I know someone is watching. I feel the magic flow through the room and her face whips up, eyes narrowing as she quarters the room. I've seen that stance in the Druids and I wonder at how much her father trained her. I also wonder at her ability to feel the power. Her hand goes to her temple rubbing it. I wonder if it is all powers she feels like pressure. She can't stop them but she is aware of them, or maybe this is new. A door appears across the room and she stares at it before turning to me.

A hiccup and then she sniffs before speaking, "Did you do that?" I shake my head. "Who, then?"

"I don't know, maybe Perséphone or Orpheus." I glance back at the wall.

"Are they watching us?" I nod. I see her anger flare to life the instant before she jumps down from the bed and stalks over to the new door. She glances back at the wall.

"Wait!" She looks at me, concerned. "Let me check it first." My beast is fighting me wanting to protect her. Her eyes widen and she steps back. I know my eyes are red.

"Are you okay?" Her fingers point at her eyes and she raises her eyebrows.

"Yes, he's a little hard to handle right now." I can't tell her he is clawing at my insides, that he claims her as his.

"Hmm. She turns me to her, pulling on my arm and leans in until we are almost touching as her scent wraps around me. It is heady and exotic. "Beastie, you need to settle down. I'm sure you would keep me safe, but I really need Jason here right now. Please." Her voice is soft but stern and I see him in my mind circle twice before laying down. I stare at her gaping. She smiles up at me before smirking and shrugging. "He likes me."

She steps away and points at the door after a moment, and I shake my head. I glance at the wall, worried at who might have seen what just happened. She follows my gaze and studies the wall before coming back close. Her hands reach up and cup my face, and I shudder. Emma pulls my head down, her lips go to my ear, and her warm breath whispers over it. "I shouldn't have shown them, should I've?"

I barely move my head side to side. I hear her mumble ‘fuck’ before she steps back. I smile at her; I get why Aislin loves her so much. She is a force. Reaching around her to grab the door handle, I open it and look in over the top of her head. I smile definitely Perséphone. I place my hands on her shoulders and turn her, grinning at her sigh.

"Oh, yes!" She groans.

My body flares to life. An image of her over me, her hair wild in her passion, her voice thick with need, and those words coming out of her mouth plays on a loop in my mind. The sound of the door closing pulls me from the fantasy, and I realize she went into the spa-like bathroom Perséphone made for her.

Turning to face the wall, I debate what to do. If Hades is standing there, calling for them to come in will only heighten his interest in Emma. Do I chance it? I hate indecision. The door opens, making the choice for me. Perséphone walks in a huge smile on her face. Why is she so happy?

"She did it. She calmed the beast." She is practically vibrating. "Aislin was right."

"What are you talking about? Aislin was right?"

"Nevermind that. We have to get her out of here. He lifted my ban from this room obviously, but he will know if she leaves. I don’t, nor does anyone else, have the power to cloak her from him here." She stares at nothing, after a moment she looks at me. "We have to make him think it is his idea. He will come to watch soon. He is intrigued with your relationship."

"We don't have a relationship; we just met," I argue.

She just looks at me, and I don't like what that look says. She knows me too well. She saw my reaction. She turns and moves to the door, stopping to look back over her shoulder.

"She is the key."

The door closes behind her. "The key to what? What does that mean?" I growl in frustration. I stare at the closed door for a minute and then two, until a hint of jasmine and ylang-ylang hits my nose. I am halfway to the bathroom before I realize it. I stop to listen and I hear her humming a slow, sexy song. I imagine her undulating under the hot water and swallow. Suddenly, I am at the door, my hands gripping the frame. I want her. I've wanted her since I first saw her pixie face on Aislin's phone, since I first caught her scent at the hotel, since I held her in my arms here in this room. Mate. That word terrifies me. I don't know how to be that; I can barely be a friend.

A sound draws my attention. I lean close to the door, pressing my ear against. I filter through all the other noises and latch on to her sobs. She is sobbing even while humming. She is killing me. I again stand undecided, until I hear her slide to the floor. I throw the door open and stride to the glass shower door.

Throwing it open, I step into the shower, the heat and steam hitting me. Her skin is bright red, and I hiss when the scalding water hits my skin as I sit behind her, wrapping my legs and arms around her. She flinches before collapsing into me, her hands clutching at my shirt. We sit this way until I fear for her skin; the water here will never grow cold. At last, I pull her into my arms and stand, carrying her from the shower. I sit her on the stool near the mirror and move away to get us towels. I wrap her in the biggest towel I've ever seen, tucking it around her. Taking a smaller one, I move behind her and start to dry her hair. I don't speak and she sits, knees drawn up, tears sliding down her cheeks. Her hair is only damp when she lowers her feet to the floor, and reaching up to catch my hand, stops it.

"Thank you," she whispers.

Her face turns up to mine. Her eyes are red and puffy but the green is brilliant, a dark emerald color. They study me as I stand still, waiting. I want to kiss her. I want to hold her until the sadness leaves her. In this moment, I hate that my power doesn't work. I would take her memories to ease her pain.

"You are all wet." I smile a little at the surprise in her voice.

"Yes, well, that happens when you sit in the shower."

"I'm sorry about your clothes."

"They are only clothes." She is still watching my face.

"Can they see in here?" I shake my head. "Good. That's good."

She releases my hand, standing and turning to me. Moving around the stool, she comes in front of me, only stopping when I feel her breasts brush against me. I hold my breath as she rises up on her toes, pulling me down at the same time. Her lips are gentle on mine for a hesitant moment, and she pulls back a little, looking at me. She nods at whatever she sees, and my control snaps. I crush her to me. Lifting her in my arms, I crush my lips to her mouth, demanding more. Needing more. I invade as she sighs.