Part 24 (1/2)

”I know you would do everything you can, just as you have, to save me,” she whispered. ”But even if you could, I don't know if I can take everything that comes with you. How can I ever be sure no one in your family will ever turn on me if I hurt you like I did before?”

Damian released a heavy breath. ”Because if they ever dared to lay a single finger on you, they know I'd take them down. One, two, d.a.m.n it, all of them if necessary. My adopted family and my pack in New Mexico. You come first, Jamie. You always will. Not them. Your happiness, your joy. You matter most to me.”

Fierce loyalty to her rang through his words. No one had ever put her at such a high priority. Jamie's heart melted as she stared at him. ”Oh, Damian, I'm tired of running. I don't want to be alone anymore. I want you, for whatever little time I have left.”

His eyes burned bright as green lasers. He grabbed her by the shoulders, took her mouth, possessive, controlling, claiming. She slid her hands up to clutch him closer.

The low moan of a.s.sent rumbling in her throat triggered him.

”I have to get inside you. Now,” he muttered into her mouth.

Still kissing her, he swept her into his arms. Taking the stairs, his long, powerful legs eating up the distance. He carried her into his bedroom, and set her down on the floorboards.

Damian stripped off his clothing. Naked, he ripped her blouse apart. b.u.t.tons snicked onto the hardwood floor. A low growl rippled in his throat as his claws emerged, and sliced through her bra. He shoved the pants down her hips, sheared off her panties.

She hit the bed and fell backward, as he rolled next to her. Damian rose up, took her nipple into his mouth and suckled her. Little, fast flicks, creating a gush between her legs. Then he reached down, his hands spreading her wide, bent his mouth to her core and licked her. Fast, furious swipes with his tongue, getting her scent on him, all over him. She writhed in ecstasy, making little animalistic sounds.

Pus.h.i.+ng her thighs farther apart, he mounted her. His look was intense, determined.

Jamie sagged against the mattress in surrender, recognizing the humming need, the instinctual drive. The grief and anger he felt raged also in her own heart.

The head of his erection pushed at her wetness, then surged inside. He slammed into her, driving up to the hilt. Shocked at the invasion, she writhed. He was bigger, harder than ever. She felt stretched, full, Damian joining them, possessing her in the most primitive way.

”You're mine, mine,” he breathed, the powerful muscles of his arms locked as he held himself over her. He thrust forward again, pulled back, thrust again, pressing her deep into the mattress. ”Mine. Do you get me, chere?”

”Damian...”

”Answer me,” he demanded, withdrawing. His slick p.e.n.i.s hovered just outside, leaving her empty and aching.

She sobbed, clawing at his shoulders, her need great, so close, so close. ”Yes, I'm yours, only yours,” she cried out.

Damian gave a satisfied smile. Then he rewarded her by sliding deep into her again, and taking her mouth. His tongue stroked as she pushed her hips up at him, frantic now to come. He pulled away, licking her lips. A bead of sweat popped off his forehead, splas.h.i.+ng onto her breast.

She reached up and bit his collarbone. He grunted and pistoned his hips harder, making the bed shake and thump. Jamie strained against him. She stared up at his eyes, dark with pa.s.sion, his face hardened and intent. He commanded her body now, this big male joining them intimately. The heat of o.r.g.a.s.m flickered just out of reach, and she wailed, needing it, wanting it.

”Yes, that's it, come, come for me,” he demanded.

The words and the tender command in his husky voice clinched it. Jamie arched, her body rising off the mattress as she shattered, climaxing hard. Her nails dug into his thick muscles, scoring the skin. He threw back his head, the cords and tendons on his neck straining, and roared her name. Coming inside her with powerful spurts of his seed.

She bore his heavy weight as he collapsed onto her with a soft sigh, his head dropping to the pillow beside her. Jamie locked her trembling thighs around his hips, stroked his sweating back.

Damian rolled off her, breaking their contact. He slid an arm around her, as she curled into his shoulder, her heart rate slowing.

”You left me again.” His voice was low, anguished.

Jamie stroked the damp hairs on his muscled chest. ”I'm sorry. I wouldn't blame you if you wanted to leave me instead.”

She dropped her head back onto his shoulder, ashamed. He raised her chin with a finger, forcing her to look at him.

”I could no sooner leave you than bite off my own arm,” he gently teased.

”Coyote ugly doesn't apply to wolves?”

Damian laughed, then drew her tighter. He buried his face in her hair. ”You won't die, Jamie. You can't. I won't let it happen.”

They drowsed a little, then her hand slipped down his muscled thigh. His p.e.n.i.s lay against his leg, stiffening. Damian groaned as she gently squeezed, and rolled her over onto her stomach. Jamie tensed as he settled behind her, his hands braced on her hips.

In this position she felt open, vulnerable. But she trusted him.

With reverence, he kissed her tattoo, then she felt him cover her from behind. A big, muscled warrior ready to invade her in his ancient mating tradition. He entered her hard and fast, and began thrusting in a rhythm that sent heat spiraling through her. Damian bent over her, his chest hairs sc.r.a.ping against her back, murmuring to her in French. He reached down between her legs and touched her.

She came apart again, crying out, squeezing him tight as he stroked inside her. He joined her, his big body shuddered as he clenched her hips.

When they lay spent and exhausted, he gave her a warm, lingering kiss. Jamie blinked, her heart beating fast to the pace of his, the breath bellowing out of her lungs slowly easing to normal. Damian wrapped her in his arms. Comforted by his strong embrace, she fell asleep.

Hours later, she woke, the room shrouded in darkness. Her senses screamed danger. Damian snapped back the covers, pulled her off the bed so hard her arm felt like it nearly detached from the socket.

And then she smelled it.

Smoke.

He swore as he jammed his legs into his pants, pulling them on commando style. Jamie grabbed a T-s.h.i.+rt from the drawer, pulled on her sweats and raced to the window. Below on the street were about thirty people. Not people. Morphs.

Fear made her heart race.

”They couldn't get past Rafe's safeguards, so they're flus.h.i.+ng us out. Stay with me.”

Damian hustled her out into the hallway. The door to the attic burst open, Cindy's face strained as she hustled Michael, Sophie and Sandy down the hallway. Etienne followed, Ana in his arms. Bare-chested, Gabriel ran toward them, buckling his jeans.

”Fire's on the first floor. d.a.m.n it, they tossed a Molotov into a window and the drapes caught. We'll have to go out the back way through the windows.” Gabriel herded Etienne's family across the hall toward his room.

”How did they get past our defenses?” Etienne s.h.i.+fted Ana in his arms.

”Someone using magick weakened the s.h.i.+eld just enough.”

Several pairs of eyes s.h.i.+fted to Jamie. Oh c.r.a.p. Playing basketball in the house, and practicing her powers secretly in the house, dematerializing when she ran away. With all else, she'd forgotten. And her magick was far more powerful than theirs.

”Where's Rafe?” Gabriel yelled.

”Here,” a calm voice answered. In black leather, his face surreally calm. ”They're outside. Waiting for us.”

”Saw them,” Damian said grimly as they crossed the room. ”Gabriel, take the children and Cindy, get them onto the Ca.s.sidys' property next door. They're away and Rafe and I safeguarded the yard just in case. The Morphs can't touch them there. Then come back, we'll need you to fight. Jamie, go with Cindy and Gabriel.”

Smoke clogged her lungs as it thickened the air. The children came first. Her magick caused this problem. And it would help now.

Gabriel already had the French doors in his bedroom opened to the balcony. Etienne was just about to climb over the railing, a bawling Ana in his arms. With his Draicon strength, he could easily jump. But with the children, he had to climb down.

Damian vaulted over the railing, landing fifteen feet below. He held up his arms, waiting. Waiting to catch her if Etienne dropped her. d.a.m.n, this was not good.

Jamie ran over to Etienne, grabbed Ana, s.n.a.t.c.hed up the wailing Sophie and set them down. He shot her a furious look.