Page 70 of Jace's Mate
“I need a shower.”
Jace chuckled and hugged her.He wouldn’t mind a shower right about now either, but this moment felt too good.Holding her like this, finally, felt too perfect.
“Just a few more moments.”
Thankfully, he felt her relax against him again and he pulled his fingers through her hair reveling in the long, soft strands.He had so many questions, but they could wait.This moment, her soft, contented sighs, were enough for now.
When they finally separated, he knew that this first time with Anikka wasn’t enough.And it wasn’t just because she smelled so good.This was his mate.He’d heard about the voracious appetites from others when they’d met their mates, but Jace hadn’t realized that the need would be this all-encompassing.It was painful, this need to connect with Anikka, to make love to her.It was almost as if he needed to imprint himself on her.
He needed to embed his scent into her skin.Yes, that was what he was feeling.
But before he could do that, Jace needed to get Anikka’s permission.Right now, she was too baffled by their world.He could see the instincts starting to assert themselves within her, but there was still too much she didn’t understand.
Gently, he helped her sit up, handing her one of the napkins left behind and grabbing one himself to clean up.
“Was that normal?”she asked, turning her back on him as she cleaned up.
“For mates?”he clarified, a slight grin tilting his lips.“Yeah.”He sighed heavily, his muscles tightening as he fought the instinct to protect her from everything.
She tossed the napkin into the trash can, then lifted the torn panties.She contemplated repairing them, but knew it was pointless.Jace watched, thinking that he preferred her like this, but regretted that she was self-conscious in front of him.Soon, she would stand in front of him naked while they talked.And she’d be completely comfortable doing it.But right now, it was all too new.
And to be honest, Jace wasn’t sure he would be able to control himself if she was naked.This need for her…was new to him.He’d need to learn to control it just as she was going to have to learn their ways.
“I think that…” she paused, not sure where she was going with that thought.
Pulling her back into his arms, he buried his nose in her hair and breathed in her scent.“It’s going to be okay, Anikka,” he vowed.He’d make it okay!Hell, he was going to make it better than okay!
A sharp knock on the door interrupted them, and Anikka jerked out of Jace’s arms, blushing furiously.His frown deepened, but he turned, placing his body squarely between her and the entrance.
He didn’t answer the door until he heard the zipper of her jeans.Only then did he call out, “What?”
The door creaked open and Megin peeked in, eyes lowered.“We’ve spotted something you need to see, Alpha.”
Jace didn’t need more details.His gut told him this was about Anikka’s uncle.
He turned to her, his gaze serious.“Are you ready for this?”
Anikka blinked up at him, still adjusting the knot at her waist.“I don’t think I’ve beenreadyfor anything since meeting you, Jace,” she replied, voice tart.“What’s next on this roller coaster?”
A few chuckles filtered in from the hallway.Jace glowered at the interruption but realized that Anikka was immune to his intimidation.That, strangely, pleased him.
“We’ve been tracking your uncle.We suspect he’s trying to cause trouble.We need to find out why.”
Anikka stared at him, then flicked a glance at Megin, who still hadn’t looked up—but he’d heard every word.
“Why would he try to annoy anyone here?From what I overheard before I left that house, he was only planning to stay a few months.Just passing through.”She folded her arms around herself, unconsciously shrinking in on her own body.
“Do you know what his plans were?”Jace asked.
She thought, then shook her head.“No.He never told me much, but I saw people coming and going all the time.We moved a lot.He’d rent a house for a few months, maybe a year, then suddenly we were gone.”
Jace made a low sound in his throat.“Is your uncle wealthy?”
She barked a laugh.“Not even a little.He always had ‘big plans’—at least, that’s what he said.But he was terrible at turning those plans into anything real.”
Jace glanced at Megin.“This might be bigger than we thought.”
“What do you mean?”Anikka asked, peering around him toward Megin like the younger man might finally give her a straight answer.
