Page 4 of Jace

“I don’t care for saddles either,” Susannah joked weakly, the idea of going into the air on the back of one of these creatures making her feel instantly queasy.

“Excellent,” Jace said. “You will get along splendidly with your float-ray.”

“I meant that I don’t know how to ride, and I don’t want to learn,” Susannah told him. “I’m going to keep my feet right on the ground, where they belong.”

She thought again of the jump she’d just performed and barely repressed a shudder of horror.

“We have a long journey ahead of us,” Jace said, narrowing his eyes at her.

Somehow, it only made him look hotter. She cursed herself for noticing.

“That’s fine,” she said. “I don’t mind a walk.”

“Then let me help you with the whelp,” Jace said, striding over with a big piece of fabric.

The whelp?

“Strapping him close to your body helps him stay warm,” Jace explained. “And it will allow you to use your arms for other things.”

“Fine,” she said. “How do I do it?”

“You don’t,” he said. “I’ll show you how.”

She opened her mouth to protest, but he was already moving close to wrap the fabric around her waist. Heat practically poured off him, and his scent was intoxicating. His serious blue gaze raked over her as he determined how best to secure Zeke.

But Susannah’s poor body reacted as if he were scrutinizing her for a much different use. In spite of herself, she felt the blood rushing warm to her cheeks as his big hands spanned her hips, tying the cloth tight.

She held the baby to her chest, trying not to keep breathing Jace in.

But it was impossible. He was threading the cloth through itself behind her neck, so gently that she nearly shivered with the pleasant sensation.

What is wrong with me?

2

Jace

Jace paused, his hands motionless on the back of the little Terran’s neck.

Her skin was so soft under his callused hands, and her scent was enough to drive him mad. Wild sensations ripped through him, sending all of his senses into high alert.

Everything about her called to him, sweet and warm. Some deep instinct told him to rip her clothes off and take her, by force if necessary - something he would never do to a female, no matter the circumstances.

And at the same time, he wanted to cradle her in his arms, feed and comfort her, and protect her from danger forever.

What is happening to me?

The dragon tugged at him from within, trying to remind him of something. But he had buried it so deep for so long it was as if their connection was nearly broken.

He drew in a deep breath, calling on his military training to carry him through these choppy waters.

She is Zeke’s mother, and must be treated with respect.

Somehow, he forced himself to finish securing the sling so that the whelp could ride comfortably and safely on his mother’s chest.

“There,” he said, hoping she didn’t notice the way his voice broke slightly with the effort not to inhale more of her delicious scent.

“That’s amazing,” she said. “Thanks very much.”

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