Fugitive Mate (Silverlake Shifters Book 1) Read online

  “That’s a highly trained asshole,” Jace said. “And he was packing.”

  “Yeah. All of my ex’s men carry weapons,” Darlene said. Then she frowned at him. “But how did you know he was? Are you some kind of cop?”

  Jace snorted. Not hardly. But the Silverlake pack did Enforcement work for other packs, and sometimes for the Council. “No,” he said. “But I’ve done some…private security work. And trained operatives betray themselves in small ways, if you know what to look for.”

  Darlene nodded, and then fell silent. They stared at each other. Darlene was biting her lip again. He could feel her wanting to ask for his help, and he could feel his wolf’s alpha protectiveness rising up, wanting to keep her safe.

  Jace ran his fingers through his hair again. “Oh, fuck,” he muttered. “Fuck, fuck, fuck.” He couldn’t send her out there to that guy, whether she was telling the truth or not.

  He heaved a huge sigh. “Do you want to stay with me tonight?” he asked. “If he’s not gone by the morning, we can figure out how to get you past him.”

  Darlene’s eyes went wide. “You’d do that for me?” she asked.

  He sighed again. “Apparently.”

  She glanced at him, and then around the room, taking in the one double bed. “Who gets the floor?” she asked.

  Jace suppressed a shudder. “No one is sleeping on the floor,” he said. “Especially not me. I don’t even want to think about all the substances that have been spilled on that carpet in the approximately one thousand years since this place was last renovated.”

  That got a faint smile. “So you’re telling me it’s perfectly safe for me to share a bed with you?”

  Not even a little bit. Keeping his hands off her was going to be one of the hardest things he’d ever done. “I certainly hope I can trust you to keep your hands to yourself,” he said primly. “I have my virtue to think of.”

  She let out a highly unladylike snort at that, but it made her smile, which was what he’d hoped.

  “Is it okay if I use the bathroom first?” she asked.

  Jace nodded, and then undressed down to his jeans and lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling. He had to be crazy, getting involved with a messed-up human. But what else could he have done? He’d never forgive himself if something happened to her.

  She came out of the bathroom, and Jace took his turn. He took a hurried shower, unable to relax, imagining the guy from the parking lot breaking into the room and hurting Darlene. And then he was imagining going back out into the room and finding out she’d absconded with his valuables after all.

  But she was still there when he finished, in bed with the covers pulled up to her chin. Jace had taken a clean pair of underwear into the bathroom, and that was all he was wearing when he came out.

  Darlene raised her eyebrows. “Boxer briefs, huh?” she said. “I would have pegged you for a commando kind of guy.”

  She wasn’t wrong. Jace went commando a lot—it was easier if he had to shift. “I can take them off if you want,” he said. “Just say the word.”

  “Huh.” Darlene snorted. “Says the guy who wanted to keep his virtue intact.”

  Jace gave her a mock-shocked look. “Shame on you,” he said. “My clothing—or lack thereof—should not be construed as a sexual invitation.”

  He saw her hide a grin. “My bad,” she said. “I will try my best to act like a gentleman.”

  He settled into bed beside her, turning out the light. It was impossible to relax. Between the tension of knowing there was an enemy outside, and the tension of sleeping next to a gorgeous, sexy woman he couldn’t have, there was no way.

  Darlene was clearly having the same problem. Every few minutes, she moved restlessly. “Sorry,” she said finally. “I want to sleep—I need to sleep—but I just can’t settle.”

  Jace hesitated for a minute. “Would you like me to rub your shoulders?” he asked. “I’m not coming on to you,” he added hastily. “But it might help you relax.”

  “Would you?” she asked. “You wouldn’t mind?”

  “Of course not.” It was going to be torture.

  She rolled over on her stomach, and he sat up and began massaging her shoulders. As first she was silent, but after a few minutes she heaved a huge sigh and started to relax.

  Jace carefully kneaded the knots out of her muscles. He’d expected that he’d be dying for more, but he felt strangely content. It felt good, helping her ease the tension of everything she was going through. Making her feel better.

  When she was all relaxed and sleepy, he dropped a soft kiss between her shoulder blades, and lay back down on his side of the bed.

  His wolf, surprisingly, was happy.

  Unfortunately, that didn’t help Jace get to sleep. Darlene had dropped right off after the massage, but an hour later his mind was still buzzing, second-guessing himself and the truth he thought he’d heard in Darlene’s voice.

  He wanted to trust her—and his wolf really wanted to trust her. Or maybe his wolf just wanted her.

  He lay there, listening to her breathing. She was so warm next to him, and she looked so soft and vulnerable. But something wasn’t right. She hadn’t told him the whole truth—there was something she was keeping back.

  And he’d still offered to help her. Which was nuts—he couldn’t afford to get involved in human affairs. It was dangerous to his pack.

  But his wolf didn’t care. A wild surge of protectiveness rose up in him whenever he looked at this woman, overwhelming his cautious, logical side. Not a good thing for an alpha.

  An alpha had to keep his head, put the needs of his pack before his own. He couldn’t just go off getting involved in trouble that wasn’t his. Kane, his pack’s Enforcer and head of security, would be the first to tell him that. Damn him.

  Darlene whimpered in her sleep. She sounded frightened—hell, she smelled frightened. No, make that terrified.

  She cried out in her sleep, “No!” She was trembling, and tears rolled down her cheeks.

  Jace couldn’t stand it. He slid over until he was pressed against her back, rubbing his hand gently up and down her arm. “Shh,” he whispered. “It’s okay. Wake up, darlin’. You’re okay. I’m here.”

  She woke up, gasping, and a ragged sob shuddered through her. Jace just kept stroking her gently, murmuring words of reassurance. Gradually, her muscles relaxed and her breathing slowed.

  “You okay?” he asked. He meant to stop touching her, but his hand wouldn’t obey him. Instead, it brushed her hair out of her face and wiped away her tears.

  “No,” she whispered into the dark. “I’m scared, Jace. I’m really scared.”

  He could hear in her voice how hard that admission was for her. “Come here,” he said, and she turned toward him with a desperate little sob.

  Jace gathered her into his arms, her head cradled on his shoulder. She curved one arm across his chest, tucking her hand around the back of his neck. He laced his fingers into her hair, stroking it gently. Her leg tangled with his, knee between his legs.

  He felt warm and protective. Unfortunately, he was also feeling horny as hell. Her gorgeous soft thigh on top of his was giving him a massive boner inside his briefs. Not exactly the way to make a woman feel safe and taken care of.

  “Don’t worry,” he murmured. “I won’t let anything hurt you. I promise.”

  It was a reckless promise. He didn’t know who, if anyone, was really after her. He didn’t know what kind of trouble she was in.

  But his wolf wanted to rip the throat out of anyone who threatened her. No matter what the cost.

  Damn, Jace thought. Why couldn’t his wolf feel this way about a shifter woman? His wolf wasn’t giving its reasons, though. It was curled up inside him now, perfectly content as long as no one threatened them. Idiot animal.

  Darlene had relaxed a fraction after he’d made that insane promise. She moved against him to make herself more comfortable, and her hip brushed against his boner. He had to stifle a groan. H
e wanted her so badly, but he couldn’t take advantage of her situation. He could be a dick sometimes, but he wasn’t that much of a dick.

  Unfortunately, no one had told Darlene that. He felt the shift in her body immediately, as she became aware of his arousal. Her body softened, molded itself around his. Her skin felt like it heated up, and he caught the faint scent of matching arousal in her.

  Ah, shit.

  He knew he was about to make a huge mistake.

  Chapter 5

  Emma knew this was probably a bad idea. But she had screwed up her life so badly, and she was so scared, and she just needed someone to make her feel okay again, if only for a little while. She moved her hand down and brushed Jace’s erection lightly. It was hard as stone, and huge. He gave a strangled groan.

  “Come on,” he said. “I’m trying to protect you, here. Don’t tempt me to act like a complete asshole and take advantage of you when you’re scared.”

  “I know,” she said. “But I want to forget I’m scared. I want to forget my train wreck of a life, just for a little while.” She added in a soft, embarrassingly pathetic whisper, “Please, Jace.”

  She slid on top of him and moved her legs apart. Her pussy pressed against his shaft, her panties hot and damp. She wondered if he could feel it through his briefs. Her breasts were pressing against his chest through the thin shirt she wore. “Please,” she said again. “Don’t make me beg.”

  “Oh, fuck,” he muttered. He flipped her onto her back and rolled onto his side next to her, sliding his hand around the back of her neck, his thumb caressing her cheek. “I don’t want you to beg. I just want to make sure you really want this.”

  She met his gaze. His eyes seemed to glitter in the dim light. “Yes,” she said simply.

  He kissed her neck slowly, lips lingering on her skin. “Okay,” he said. “But we’re doing it my way.”

  He moved his lips to hers. They were soft now, gentle. The scruff on his face was pleasantly rough against her skin. Jace took his time, lazily running his tongue along the tender inside of her lower lip, delving deeper to tangle his tongue with hers.

  She met him eagerly, parting her lips and letting him invade her mouth. When he felt her straining, wanting more of him, he pulled back, taking tiny sips from her lips, soft and gentle, tantalizing her before he kissed her deeply once more.

  “I want to taste all of you,” he whispered between kisses. “I want to make you feel me the way I feel you. To want me the way I want you.”

  Heat pooled between her legs, and she felt a warm glow in her chest. This was no casual fuck for him. He wanted to take his time—he wanted it to mean something.

  She ran her hands over his gorgeous body—the taut planes of his back, the curve of his lower spine, his muscular ass. His skin felt amazing, warm and silky smooth.

  He unbuttoned her shirt slowly, kissing and licking his way from her breastbone to her navel, and then back up. Her skin quivered at his touch, the sensations sizzling across her body like kisses of lightning. She’d taken her bra off to sleep, and he gave a low, sexy rumble of delight when the soft weight of her breast fell into his hand. He stroked and caressed it as he licked and nibbled, drawing her hardened nipple into his mouth. She sucked in her breath, arching her back.

  “You’re so beautiful. So perfect,” he murmured.

  He gave the other breast equal time, until she was moaning in pleasure, her head thrown back. She put her hand around the back of his neck and pulled him to her, nipping at his neck, covering his warm skin with hot kisses. He gave a low growl that curled her toes.

  Reaching between her legs, he ran his fingers over her soft mound, and then lightly along the band of her panties. He did it again and again, stoking her arousal until her panties were soaking. His cock was pressed against her thigh, hot and hard.

  He dipped his fingers into her panties and slid them over her slick clit, caressing it. Emma moaned at his touch, spreading her thighs for him, wanting more.

  He increased the rhythm, his head resting on her breasts, his hand bringing her to the edge.

  Emma was wild with wanting him. She turned to face him, running her hand down the front of his briefs. “I want to see you,” she said. “To touch you. I want to feel your cock inside me.”

  Hearing her say it seemed to drive him wild. His eyes flashed gold, and he gave a low, hungry growl. He leaned in and nipped her neck lightly, sending shivers down her spine. “I want all of you,” he said in her ear. “Tell me I can have all of you.”

  “You can have all of me.” She whispered the words, and then hooked her hands in the waistband of his briefs slid them down, wrapping her hand around his cock to pull it free. He shivered at her touch, rolling his hips and giving a low groan. She loved that she could make him so crazy.

  She moved her hand, sliding his cock up and down, stroking. He let his head drop back and moved with her.

  “Ah, ffuuuck,” he said. He moved on top of her, licking and nibbling his way down to her stomach, down further to her pussy. He pulled her panties down and she lifted her hips eagerly so he could pull them off.

  She parted her thighs for him, and Jace wrapped his hands around her ass. “I want to taste every inch of you,” he said.

  He began lapping at her pussy in long, slow, broad strokes. The touch of his tongue was cool against her heated skin, and waves of sensation rolled through her. Each time he reached her clit, he swirled his tongue, teasing the sensitive nub before beginning again. Each time, Emma bucked her hips, giving a whimpering moan.

  “Oh, yeah,” he whispered.

  As she got more excited, he slowed down the pace, until she was begging him to go faster. “Suck my clit,” she said. “Make me come. God, Jace, I’m so close…”

  She could feel the storm building inside her, and he stoked it until it crashed over both of them. He held her while she shuddered with its power, drawing the aftershocks out of her, bringing her to the pinnacle of pleasure.

  When she was spent, he moved up beside her, gathering her in his arms. She moved against him, hot wild energy still pulsing through her. As amazing as it had been, it wasn’t enough.

  “I want you, Jace,” she said. “I need to feel you in me.”

  He moved above her, resting on his forearms. She opened herself to him and took him in her hand, guiding him. He settled between her hips, his shaft sliding deep within her, stretching and filling her. She rose to meet him, welcoming him inside her.

  He moved slowly, and she savored the exquisite feel of him, the hardness of his chest against her breasts, his cock moving deep within her, her hands sliding up and down his back.

  She never wanted this to end.

  It seemed that Jace felt the same way. He moved slowly, not rushing, settling into an easy rhythm.

  It felt like he was all around her, inside and outside. The sensation of him surrounding her was overwhelming. It built and plateaued until Emma felt like she’d left her body behind, and she was immersed in pure feeling. Her chest felt like a blazing sun had been lit inside it, and she wanted to stay like this forever.

  She felt her climax building again, and she gave herself over to it, waves of pulsing sensation. When he felt her come, Jace began to thrust faster, harder, until his climax overtook him and he exploded, pumping into her. She cried out, clenching around him once more, his climax adding to her pleasure.

  She held on to him, digging her fingers into his back, and they clung to each other, floating on the afterglow.

  Chapter 6

  Emma woke up suddenly, fear clutching at her insides. It was still dark out—the clock on the bedside table said 3:42 in bright red numerals. Jace was on his stomach next to her, one arm pillowed under his head, the other tucked around her waist.

  And they were both naked.

  Oh, shit, what had she done?

  She should have been long gone by now. She shouldn’t have stayed here, wasting all these hours that she could have been on the road. Hours that meant Alexande
r could have sent more men after her.

  And she definitely shouldn’t have had sex with Jace. What did she even know about him? Only that he was in some kind of a biker gang, which probably wasn’t a good thing.

  And he was amazing in bed.

  And caring. And protective.

  Yeah. Easy to be all that when it was only sex involved. But when the going got tough—well, the guys she’d dated had never really been around when the going got tough.

  You never let them be.

  Emma looked down at Jace, lying beside her. The room was dimly lit by the lights from the parking lot, shining through the curtains. He’d said he would help her. But would he? And could she risk getting him involved? It might be better for her just to get out of here. Hopefully Alex’s minion had moved on when he hadn’t found her, but if not, she’d just have to find a way to dodge him.

  She slid out of bed, trying to untangle herself from Jace without waking him up. Lucky for her, he was dead to the world. No wonder he was worried about people ripping him off. If he always slept this hard, a person could bring in movers and steal the furniture out from underneath him.

  She found her shirt on the floor and put it back on. Her panties were back in bed somewhere, with Jace. She’d never find them without waking him. She fished a clean pair out of her bag and put them on.

  She reached in the bag again, and her fingers touched the cold metal of Alexander Grant’s laptop. She hesitated, then pulled it out. The motel had free wi-fi, and in moments she was online. She logged into her email through the web, and a message from Alexander popped up.

  Emma, baby, where are you? I’m not mad about the car. I just want to know you’re okay. Call me…

  She closed the message without answering. What kind of idiot did he think she was? She knew what he’d done. Knew that he’d stolen her friend Duke’s songs for his recording company. When Duke found out, Alexander’s team of corporate lawyers had been all over him like ants in a sugar bowl, threatening legal action against him if he made it public.