Page 41 of Jace

He didn’t want to push the issues that curses weren’t real. She clearly wasn’t ready to believe that yet. He made a mental note to ask her about the source of her supposed curse at a less stressful time. She hadn’t mentioned its origin. Maybe it would help him to better understand her fear.

“You said it yourself. You’re too strong for a regular accident,” she retorted. “Maybe the curse is… evolving.”

He shook his head, but chose not to argue. In time, she would see that being with him was not a danger. For now, it was best not to upset her. They had plenty else to worry about.

“I’m going to dump these in the woods,” he told her. “Go back inside and lock the door.”

She frowned, but obeyed and his dragon rejoiced once more. His mate was no pushover. It made her submission all the sweeter.

He took the porch steps two at a time and scanned the grassy front lawn as he headed for the trees.

There were no obvious signs of their uninvited guest. If he let the dragon out and searched carefully, he would probably find something, but it was clear that whoever had been here was long gone.

His priority was getting back to Susannah and Zeke as quickly as possible.

When he hit the tree line, he grabbed a stick and used it like a shovel to turn over some dirt under a big, waxy-leafed shrub.

As soon as he had a good-sized indentation, he dumped the berries into it and covered them with the dirt he had excavated.

Sucking in a deep breath of cool, fresh air, he straightened up.

It was nice out here. Missing workers and mysterious berry poisoner aside, he could get used to the open space and privacy.

Taking one more deep breath, he headed back for the cabin.

Now that the berries were out of Susannah’s reach, he was free to relax and let his memory carry him back to last night.

A sizzle of excitement swept through him.

Gods, but she was sexy. It was impossible to think of her splayed out on the bed, moaning and begging for his mouth without feeling another surge of desperate need.

He had intended to take the edge off this morning in his shower, but thank the gods he had wandered out to check on her first.

It had been so long since he hadn’t been awoken by the whelp.

Jace hoped the little one hadn’t given her too much trouble this morning. He probably should have been there to help.

He coached himself to reassure her about the berries, and find out how their morning had gone so far when he went back inside. Talking about the whelp should distract her from her fears, even if Zeke had given her a run for her money.

Jace’s desire for her might be bordering on agony, but there was a right way to begin as mates. Patience and compassion were far more important than scratching this towering itch.

He knocked twice on the door and was pleased to see her peek through the curtain at him before opening it.

Having been outside without her for a moment, he was struck by her sweet scent all over again. Would he ever get used to it?

“Did you see anything suspicious out there?” she asked as he entered, distracting him immediately from his wayward thoughts.

“No,” he told her gently, hoping to calm her and himself at the same time. “I’m not sure who left this, but we’ll just keep our wits about us for now. We’ll want to survey the property today anyway. Maybe we’ll find some evidence then.”

She nodded, a tight smile on her face.

“I know you’re still worried about what we did,” he told her gently. “But truly, those berries had nothing to do with it. I hope you don’t have any regrets.”

Her green eyes flashed to his and he saw desire and fear battling each other there.

“I have no regrets, Susannah,” he told her softly, moving closer. “I am proud that you are my mate.”

She smiled up at him and he saw warmth in her eyes now.

---