Page 13 of Taste of Danger

Jax would find the two, and then he would bury them deep, allowing them to starve for the rest of eternity.

Death would be too quick and merciful for them. Jax wanted them to suffer for what they’d done to his sweet, timid mate.

He ran a hand through his beard, his brow arched as he watched Elvine dragging Arion into their bedroom. She seemed to like towing him around, and honestly, Arion looked like he was in heaven when she did that.

Now the fun would begin. He’d heard their conversation and was curious to see if they would actually follow through with spanking him or make Jax work at getting them into bed like Elvine’s evil little butt had suggested.

“We’ll start with you, buttercup.” Jax pointed at her and stepped closer, inwardly smiling when he saw her swallow roughly. He wasn’t talking about having sex, but it was fun to see her squirm after hearing her diabolical plan.

“Start with what?” The hesitation in her gorgeous green eyes dissolved into a playful smirk. “Are you talking about letting me spank you, or are you referring to feeling my feelings?”

Nice. He liked that she still had that fire in her. Although he enjoyed shocking them with his boldness, loved their reactions, Jax didn’t want either of them to fear the intimacy they would share.

He could handle shyness and didn’t mind coaxing either of them into relaxing so they could explore each other’s bodies. But he never wanted fear to be a part of their lovemaking.

Not after the way he’d seen Arion treated. Not after he’d found out that Elvine was hiding something from them. Jax prayed like hell her fear and anger had nothing to do with sex. If he discovered someone was abusing her the way Arion had been, the burning fires in hell would seem like a backyard fire pit compared to what Jax would do to them.

Both his mates needed protecting, and Jax would do that. He also knew his father and brothers would also kill anyone who thought to harm the two. Elvine and Arion were family now, and the Frosts fought to the death for one of their own.

“I’d be more than happy to help you with feeling your feelings, buttercup.” He sat on the bed and patted the spot next to him. Her bravado melted right before his eyes. “Have a seat for our jam session.” He gestured toward the other side of him. “You too, pumpkin. We’re not going to let anything put a strain on our mating. That’s how this is going to work. If one of us has an issue, we jam.”

Jax waited for Elvine to call him Mr. Bossy Pants, but she didn’t. Instead, she flopped down next to him like dealing with their issues cramped her style or something.

“If I have to sit and pour my feelings all over you two, then you have to do the same,” Elvine said to Arion.

Honestly, Jax was beginning to think his fairy wasn’t in the habit of opening up to anyone. The Frosts always dealt with problems head-on.

They were a close-knit family who supported each other and leaned on each other when things became tough. If they had a beef with one of their family members, they either talked it out or beat each other’s asses. But once that happened, things were settled and they moved past the problem.

Jax wouldn’t dream of laying a hand on either mate to settle their issues, but he would threaten to put them over his knee if they were too stubborn to work through whatever was bothering them.

“I didn’t think he actually meant it,” Arion argued with Elvine, a panicked look on his face.

It seemed his other mate wasn’t used to opening up either.

“Sit your sexy ass down right here, pumpkin.” Jax poked the mattress on his right.

He cursed under his breath when Arion wrung his hands in front of him, his eyes darting around like he wanted to find a quick escape. Did Arion fear intimacy or talking about his feelings? Jax needed to know those things so he was better equipped to help his mate.

Pushing from the bed, he pulled Arion into his arms, holding him close while wishing he could erase the vampire’s pain. “Take a few deep breaths, jellybean.”

Elvine frowned, causing Jax to shrug, letting her know he had no idea where that endearment had come from. But he kind of liked it. Then he crooked a finger at her. Elvine slipped from the bed.

“I didn’t want to overwhelm him.” She walked toward them, and damn if Jax wasn’t captivated by the sway of her hips. “I thought my honey bunny could use strong arms right now to feel safe.”

Jax kissed Arion’s head when he felt his mate trembling. Elvine looked up at him, her expression conveying the depth of her concern for their mate. He nodded at her, telling Elvine he felt the same way.

“We’ve got you, jellybean.” Jax tried out the endearment again, because he was willing to bet that, under all the pain and suffering, Arion was the sweetest guy.

Elvine pressed her front into Arion’s back, wrapping her arms around both males. “I’m sorry I made you fear me in the forest,” she whispered to Arion. “I’m really not like that, except when it comes to protecting the people I care for the most. Then mama is gonna unleash her badassery.”

Jax smiled when he felt Arion’s shoulders twitching. His pumpkin was fighting a laugh.

“Keep going,” he mouthed to Elvine then added in a normal voice, “You said a cuss word. I’m telling my dad.”

She rolled her eyes. “What’s he going to do, ground me? Papa Frost has to catch me first.” Her beautiful gossamer wings fluttered behind her. “All I have to do is give him an innocent smile, and you’ll be the one in trouble. Kalen will swear you somehow caused me to say it.”

“You’re diabolical, ma petite.” He narrowed his eyes. “Are you saying my dad would believe you over me?”

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