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Chapter Ten

The stolen car ran out of gas a mile outside the city center, so they had to walk. Leah's feet were killing her. She maintained a taciturn expression, but she couldn't take much more. "I could pickpocket money or a phone," she said tiredly. "But look at us."

Jasper took her in again from head to toe, and every bit of her warmed.

"Good point." He glanced around. "I have an idea." He swiftly swept her up into his arms.

She yelped but couldn't stop herself from snuggling against him. "What are you doing?"

"Hold still and just look wounded."

"I am wounded," she muttered.

He jogged across a busy roadway, and she paused, seeing an exclusive hotel across the way.

"Wait a minute," she said, too tired to struggle. "We can't go in there."

"Trust me." Jasper strode through the front door of one of the most prestigious hotels in all of Paris and headed directly to the front desk where a fully uniformed man, complete with sparkling gold buttons, straightened.

"Sir, I can't have you in here," he said firmly.

Jasper shook his head. "My wife and I were robbed. The woman has lost most of her sequins. My name is Jasper Maxwell and I've stayed here before."

The guy behind the desk stood to about five feet eight inches tall with blondish-gray hair and a sour countenance. He quickly typed on a keyboard and then read the computer screen, muttering the whole time. Then he stiffened. "Jasper Maxwell? May I have your address, please?"

Jasper gave him an address from Montana in the States.

"And your phone number?" The front desk clerk straightened his already perfectly pressed jacket.

Jasper easily held Leah in his arms and recited a phone number she knew well. "My phone was stolen along with my wallet, but you should have it on record, along with my address and a credit card."

The man behind the desk paused in reading and then widened his eyes. "Oh, my goodness. My apologies to you both, Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell. Shall I call the police?"

"No," Jasper said, a speck of dried blood dropping from his temple. "We've already dealt with the police tonight. For now, we just need a room, and I'll call in and get my credit cards replaced. You can use the one on file until then."

"Of course. Of course. Would you like the same room as last time?"

Curiosity filtered through Leah, but she remained quiet, her entire body aching, and her mind spinning with what had to be elation. They'd saved those kids, and she was one name closer to ending this quest.

"Yes. Thank you." Jasper accepted an old-fashioned key. "I remember the way."

He turned and, still carrying Leah, walked down a long, beautiful hallway of antique furniture and stunning oil paintings to reach a round elevator. He walked inside and pressed the button for the highest floor.

"You've stayed here before?" Leah asked.

"A few times," Jasper said. "We've been here on business, trying to expand the family holdings, and, of course, one of us is usually injured after hunting werewolves. This is a nice place to stay."

She'd lived a long time but had never bunked anywhere quite as nice as the grand hotel. "I suppose so."

They reached the top level, and Jasper strode out, unlocking one of two doors to move into a spacious suite with a phenomenal view of the Eiffel Tower. An ornate baroque sofa and chair set fronted a wide-screen television stretched across lovely wallpaper.

Jasper gently placed Leah on her feet.

Pain ticked up her legs, and she bit back a wince, favoring her left foot. Her right one felt like it had gone through a meat grinder.

Jasper reached for the remote and clicked on the television, scrolling to a local channel. Everything in Leah settled as she watched Inspector Dupont with several members of the Brigade de recherche et d'intervention cuffing the three now conscious men as aid workers tended to the children near an ambulance.

Her shoulders finally relaxed. "Looks like George will now get his." He looked a bit battered and bruised on the television.

Jasper turned up the volume, and a tall female reporter wearing a rain slicker reported that an anonymous caller had tipped off the authorities.

Leah exhaled fully for the first time in a week. "My computer team will be sending all the evidence they've gathered against George and his cronies directly to the inspector to make the case." She wished she knew where the recording had ended up, but considering George had been found with the kids, coupled with the evidence, he was heading to prison—where he belonged.

She reached for the phone, having one more duty to perform. The call immediately went through.

"This is Mallory," her friend said.

"Mallory. Hi, it's Leah."

Mallory squealed. "Oh, Leah. Oh, my goodness. Where are you? I was worried sick, but just heard about the arrest. Reporters are all around here asking questions. Are you all right?"

"I'm fine," Leah said. "Sorry. Something came up. You didn't find my purse, did you?"

"No. Were you robbed? How did you lose that lovely clutch?"

Perhaps the Kurjans had thrown it away. "It's a long story, but I wanted to thank you for your help in bringing down George and his operation."

"You're so welcome. I'm thrilled the children are safe. We should celebrate with a drink. Also, the auction went well, and we raised about two hundred thousand, with many people agreeing to donate annually for the next five years."

How wonderful. "That's excellent," Leah said, smiling. "Great job, Mallory."

"I'm happy to have helped. We do have news people waiting outside, and I wasn't sure if you wanted to handle that, or shall I?" Hope filled the woman's tone.

"Definitely you." Leah shifted her weight to her other foot, which hurt just as badly. "Since we called in an anonymous tip, I'd like for you to say you're shocked about George and had no idea he was such a criminal."

Mallory must've headed outside because the sound of traffic filtered through the line. "Are you sure you don't want credit?"

Leah needed to get her toes into some warm water. "The less anybody knows about me, the better. I'd really appreciate it."

Horns honked loudly. "Of course. I'll keep your confidence. Lunch next week?"

Leah rubbed a hand over her aching forehead. "I'm off again to catch the next guy, but I promise I'll give you a call when I'm back in Paris." She was ready to take a break after she caught Wallace. Perhaps even with the hottie currently watching the television.

"Sounds like a plan. Good luck with the rest of your mission." Mallory clicked off.

Leah hung up the phone.

"All good?" Jasper asked.

"Yeah." Leah watched as the young children were loaded into what looked like a large van, hopefully on their way for medical care.

"Right." Jasper kept his gaze on the screen. "You saved those kids today."

"It was a team effort," she said before turning to face him. "However, there are a bunch of women we need to rescue from good old Wallace and his family."

"We?" Jasper asked, his voice soft. "I don't think so. This is a great ending to your career as a vigilante, and we still haven't discussed your penchant for disobeying me. When I tell you to stay somewhere, you fucking do it. I'll handle the fighting from now on."

* * * *

Jasper dug deep for patience and forced his temper away because one of them needed to be in control. Obviously, it had to be him.

She curled her hands into fists. "You're insane. I'm not someone who just sits where they're told."

"You will be." He lifted her once again and strode into the luxurious bathroom.

"What are you doing?" She slapped his chest halfheartedly.

He opened the shower door and flicked on the hot water, noting the long marble bench along the side.

She looked at it with need. "Oh, thank you."

"You bet." He set her back on her feet and tore the dress off her, revealing her stunning body. Full breasts, smooth pussy, all his.

She took a step back. "Now, wait a minute." Desire and something else glowed in her eyes. Caution? It was way too late for that.

He slowly removed his shirt and bloody pants before kicking off his boots. "Get in the shower, Leah." He watched the struggle inside her and fought a smile. The woman definitely wanted to get into that warm steam, but she also couldn't let herself obey. "I tried," he rumbled, instantly picking her up and walking into the shower with her.

The warm water hit them both, and she groaned, throwing her head back. He let her slide down his hard body, and her breath quickened against him.

"Turn around." He ducked her completely under the spray. For once, she obeyed. He reached for the shampoo on the wall and liberally washed her hair before rinsing it. Using the conditioner, he caressed her scalp, and she softly moaned.

When she turned around, hunger glinted in her eyes.

He ducked his head and washed the dirt and blood off his hair and body. "Sit down," he ordered.

Surprisingly, she sat on the wide bench, looking like sin covered by steam.

He knelt, lifting her feet. "How badly are you hurt?"

"Not bad, just dirty."

He gently washed her feet, noting the scratches on the bottoms of each sole. They'd heal quickly, but he had to admire how tough she'd been as they ran through tunnels and down filthy avenues. She hadn't complained once.

He cleaned both her feet and then kissed the arch of her foot. She giggled. He looked up. It was the first time he'd ever heard her giggle. He tickled her other foot, and she made the sound again.

Very nice. He'd spend a lifetime making her give him that sound.

She slapped his head while steam rose around them, cocooning them in their own little world.

On his knees, he was as tall as she was while sitting on the bench. He grasped her hair and leaned in to kiss her, molding his lips to her softer ones. She returned the kiss, easing something deep inside him.

Her hands flattened against his shoulders, and she leaned back to stare at him, her eyes fathomless pools of everything he'd ever want. "Jasper? We have to get a couple of things straight."

"I agree. From now on, you do what I tell you to do. I promise I only have your safety in mind." He tried not to use the word obey again because he really didn't want this to turn into a lesson. They needed each other too much right now.

She smiled, and the sight was adorable. "I'm not the obedient type. Sorry."

"Let's change that." He swiftly stood and lifted her so he could take her seat before flattening her face down over his knees.

"Hey," she said, giggling more.

God, he fucking loved that sound. He brought his wet hand down on her equally wet ass, and the sound echoed through the steam-filled room.

"Jasper," she protested, kicking out and laughing again.

"Tell me you're going to obey." Yep, he had to use the word.

"Not in a million years." She tried to swing out with one arm, but he pinned it at the small of her back. Even so, she giggled some more. "Jasper, I mean it. Let me go."

Ah. There was the problem. "I'm never letting you go." He spanked her five more times—hard—and she stopped laughing. "I'm not joking." He noted the brand in the center of her lower back where he'd put it before. The mark had faded over the years. He didn't like that at all. "Tell me you understand."

"I think you should stop."

He smacked her again.

"Fine. I understand," she murmured.

"Good girl."

A tremble went through her at the words. Yes. His little Leah liked to know she was safe, and if he had to be a controlling mate once in a while, he'd give her that. He reached between her legs. She was wet, and not just from the shower.

"Jasper," she whispered brokenly, moving against his hand.

He played at his leisure until she panted, then he flipped her back over, easily grabbing her ass and lifting her to his mouth.

She made a sound deep in her throat that he'd remember forever as her thighs widened and rested on his shoulders.

He sucked her clit into his mouth, lashing it with his tongue.

She cried out, and her entire body shuddered as an orgasm took her quickly. She tasted like heaven and…his.

When she was finished, he slowly lowered her to his lap.

Her eyes were huge in her heart-shaped face. "Sometimes, I forget how strong you are."

"That'd be a mistake." He tangled his fingers in her hair and kissed her hard before releasing her mouth again. "That's something you're going to want to remember from now on."

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