Chapter Fifteen

Nolan was the first through the mangled door. He stood in the way of Ian swiping his claws across Owen's neck and quickly ending him.

Even if Owen didn't deserve a quick death. He'd been a bane in the lives of a lot of people. A rank asshole who thought women were playing hard to get when they turned him down.

One of those guys. The kind who couldn't understand, or care to understand, what boundaries and permission meant. For some time, Ian had been dying to put the creep in his place.

If the coward would stop using Nolan as a shield.

"You failed to mention Ian owned an exotic pet!" Owen paled. His gaze crawled over Ian's panther, and then he shrank back.

Ian vibrated with the need to kill Nolan. He just wanted to take out Jace's threat first.

One less worry.

Nolan's eyelids lowered to slits. His venomous gaze followed Ian's movement. He was anticipating the panther, assessing it. Waiting for Ian to bolt around him to get to Owen.

"Not gonna happen." Nolan's mouth curved into a cunning grin. "I can't let him miss out on his playtime with Jace."

Ian's hackles rose. A low growl rumbled through his chest.

"Jace. Jace. Jace." Nolan's laugh was straight-up deranged with an added twist of malicious pleasure. Like his cruelty was the ultimate high. "You don't like me saying his name. Does it have a vile taste like I've licked it all over before I spit it out?"

A deadly storm crashed through Ian's blood. Nolan was going to regret defiling Jace's name.

"Do something about that fucking cat!" Owen's voice turned nasally when he whined.

Nolan's psychotic smile widened. "I plan—"

Ian lunged forward. The impact caused Nolan's arms to jackknife into the air. He squeaked in surprise as he launched toward the ceiling like a flipped coin. As the guy came down, Ian's panther followed, keeping his weight on the bastard to make sure he stayed down.

Ian was mass of pure muscle and brute strength, his 250-pound body honed into a lethal killing machine with only two goals.

Keep Jace safe and stop Nolan and Owen from breathing.

"Nolan!" Owen screamed from behind them.

No sooner had Nolan's back crashed against the floor than he twisted sideways while shifting into his coyote.

"I'm freaking out! I'm freaking out!" Owen shouted in a chant while he stomped in place.

If the dumbass didn't shut the hell up, Ian would willingly abandon his fight with Nolan to maul the prick.

The coyote went for Ian's throat, sharp canines snapping like a sprung bear trap. Ian used his massive weight to knock Nolan backward, but the coyote flipped around at the last second and landed on his feet.

Ian yowled, his muzzle pulled back, showing his deadly teeth. They wrestled, each fighting for their life and trying to destroy the other's. Fur flew through the air, claws desperately trying to scour flesh from bone.

With a destructive swipe, Ian ripped a gouge in the coyote's side. Blood immediately stained the carpet, the fibers thirstily drinking it in. Ian's cat was twice as large as Nolan's coyote. The coyote couldn't weigh any more than sixty pounds. The impact of the wound sent it tumbling backward until it hit the wall.

Blood smeared across the opaque glass. Ian launched his body, refusing to allow any space between them. Sharp teeth sank into Ian's front leg, but the adrenaline fueling him prevented him from feeling the full-blown pain.

Once. Twice. Five times Ian slammed his clawed paw into the coyote's head and neck, all in rapid succession. His sharp three-inch nails gorged flesh. The coyote released its hold on Ian's leg, dodged left, and then sprang onto the bed and over the other side.

The coyote backed up a few steps, teeth bared as Ian stalked around the bed, both panting heavily. The blood from Nolan's wounds matted his fur and created crimson blotches on the floor.

Behind Ian, it sounded as if shelves were crashing down.

"Ian!" Jace shouted, his voice strained with panic.

When Ian looked left, he saw that Owen was no longer standing by the door. He must have found the closet.

Instead of going after the coyote, Ian spun around and raced toward the sound of his mate screaming for him. Pain exploded in his hindquarters. Sharp teeth sank into his flesh.

Pivoting, Ian slammed the coyote into the footboard of his bed, causing the entire bed to shake. Nolan yelped and released Ian.

Playtime was over.

With a fierce yowl, Ian leapt at the coyote, his claws slashing through the air. Nolan nimbly dodged his attack, but Ian was relentless. He pursued the coyote, his powerful muscles propelling him with ease.

Nolan tried to latch onto Ian's leg again. Not happening. Jace needed him. This fight had to end now. Using his massive form, Ian steamrolled over the coyote, causing Nolan to flip several times. Before the coyote could gain his bearings, Ian sank his teeth into flesh, whipping his head from side to side until the coyote collapsed.

The son of a bitch was dead, throat shredded.

As Ian sprinted toward the closet, he shifted. He yanked the door so hard he heard wood splinter under his palm. If Owen put a single bruise on Jace…

Ian came to a hard stop as his brows shot up. Owen was on his knees, his arms protecting his head. Jace had a thick plank of wood from the broken shelves and was swinging it viciously. "You're nothing but a bully, you slimy toad! I hate you!"

Owen dropped to his back and kicked upward, his foot connecting with the arm that held the plank of wood. Jace shouted in pain, dropping his weapon. Owen shot to his feet, his hands flying toward Jace.

Those hands never reached him.

Pure, unadulterated rage propelled Ian forward. He grabbed the back of Owen's shirt collar and yanked him away from Jace. The human fought to get free, twisting and turning wildly as Ian dragged him out of the closet.

"Don't come out until I tell you to," he said to Jace over his shoulder. His mate had been through too much already, traumatized by the entire situation. Damn if Ian was going to add to Jace's distress by killing Owen in front of him.

As soon as they cleared the door, Ian slammed it shut. "You wanted to see how pathetic I am." He let Owen go then kicked him toward Nolan's dead body. "You broke into my home. You threatened my mate." Ian rolled his shoulders as Owen tripped over his own feet and crashed to the floor.

"You killed Nolan!" Sweat beaded Owen's brows. His face was flushed, his breathing labored. Swaying, he rose to his knees. "What the hell are you?"

Ian dropped to one knee, glaring murderously into Owen's eyes. "The biggest and deadliest cat in this house."

Claws sliding free, Ian plunged his hand into Owen's chest, yanking out his beating heart. There was no pleasure in killing. It was a means to an end. Nolan and Owen had sealed their fates the moment they'd entered Ian's home.

The moment Jace's life had been threatened.

In one of Owen's pockets was the cell phone jammer. Once it was turned off, Ian cleaned his hands in the bathroom sink, washing away the blood.

Next, he covered the bodies with a sheet. Jace didn't need to see the carnage. From the moment they'd met, his mate's innocence had captured Ian. For as long as he could, Ian wanted to protect Jace's naivete.

It was too precious to tarnish.

"Ian?" Jace's voice sounded small as he called out from behind the closet door. "Is it safe to come out now?"

Grabbing his phone off the bed, Ian walked to the closet and stepped inside. "Let me get dressed."

"I want to know, but I don't want to know." Jace glanced past him but was unable to see the bedroom since the door was shut.

After getting dressed, Ian took his mate's hand. "We're going into the living room. I'm going to call the sheriff then clean up the mess they left behind."

Ian opened the door, put a hand over Jace's eyes, and led him out. He didn't let go until they were by the overturned couch.

"Cleaning up will be the easy part." He stared up at Ian from under his thick lashes. "There're a lot of scratches on your floor. We'll need more than a soapy mop to fix them."

He stepped closer to Jace, those hazel eyes fixed on him. There was so much trust in them. Trust that Ian would always keep him safe. "The only thing I care about is that you're unscathed, kitten."

"My arms hurt from whacking Owen with that heavy piece of wood." He rubbed his upper arm, but it seemed more as a soothing gesture than to ease any physical pain.

"You were incredible." Ian skimmed his knuckles over his mate's cheek. "You were terrified, yet you defended yourself."

"I wasn't terrified. Not entirely," Jace said, his jaw firmly clenched. "I was furious as hell. I wanted him to pay for being the world's biggest asshole and for coming after me."

Ian flipped the couch back over then grabbed the cushions and put them back in place. "I might have to spend a few nights at your house until my bedroom is back in order."

"Thank you." Jace grabbed Ian's hand when Ian tried to walk to the kitchen. "I was scared the whole time they were in the house, but your presence…" He shrugged. "Somehow I knew we were going to be okay." Then he grinned. "I may or may not have panicked a teeny-tiny bit."

"Your secret is safe with me."

"I think it best we leave things the way they are until you've talked to the cops." Jace let Ian's hand go and looked around. "Sheriff Harper needs to see the damage they caused. Do you think we'll be in trouble for…" He waved toward the bedroom.

"Not after I explain to him that I was protecting my mate," Ian said.

"How does Sheriff Harper know about mates?" Jace stared curiously at him. "Is he a shifter, too?"

"Bear shifter. Do you remember the waiter at Deep Dish who called me a celebrity?"

"Julian," Jace replied.

"He's the sheriff's mate." Ian dialed the police station and asked to speak to Sheriff Harper. When he was patched through, Ian told the sheriff he'd had a break-in and that there were casualties.

"Do you need an ambulance?" Dominic asked.

"The coroner," Ian replied. "I'll explain everything once you get here." He hung up.

"I don't think we should tell my mom and grandma." Jace picked up a large shard from the floor. It was from one of the dinner plates. He took it to the kitchen and tossed it into the trashcan. "We're okay, so there's no need to freak them out."

"They might blame me for putting you in danger." Ian adored Myla and Inez. He didn't want them to see him in a bad light. It would crush him if he disappointed them in any way.

"They wouldn't blame you." Jace walked out of the kitchen then glanced around as if he was itching to clean up the mess. "They're not like that, Ian. Blame is placed where it belongs, which is Nolan and Owen, not you."

Jace sat on the couch, his hands tucked between his legs. Ian reclined next to him. He was so damn proud of his mate for keeping himself together through the entire situation. A shy, introverted guy who, despite his fear, rose to the occasion.

"Can I make a request?" Jace leaned into Ian's side and gave him a soul-melting smile. The kind of smile that punched Ian right in the heart and left him breathless.

"Request away."

"When you replace your bedroom door, make it a regular damn door. I'm so over secret panels."

Ian laughed, placing his arm around his mate and pulling him even closer. The missing piece in his life was right next to him. A slip of a man who completed Ian in every way possible, filling him with so much joy that he just might burst from it.

* * * *

"Breakfast is ready," Jace's mom called through the bedroom door.

"Be right down!" Jace hollered.

"Where do you think you're going?" Ian whispered.

"Did we lock the door? I don't remember if we locked it. I need to check." Jace tried to wiggle free, but Ian pressed a hand on either side of his head, trapping him, refusing to let him escape.

"She's not walking in here." Ian rocked inside him, each toe-curling thrust wrenching a moan out of Jace. He would never tire of that fat cock stretching him or those firm hands on his body.

A pile of goo. That was what Jace turned into around Ian. A melted puddle of sickly-sweet happiness coated in dewy-eyed love.

Horny, too. All Ian had to do was breathe and Jace wanted him. For the past three days, Jace was bent over chairs, pinned on flat surfaces, or fucked against the wall. Last night, he'd been on his hands and knees in the back of Ian's Navigator, begging his mate to wreck him while they were parked in the driveway.

It was a miracle they hadn't been caught having sex all over the house.

Every muscle in Jace's body twitched when his mate sank his cock deeper. Ian bit and licked his jaw, his neck, and then kissed Jace like they had seconds to live.

Their rhythm turned frantic. Jace dug his nails hard into his mate's back, chasing Ian's tongue, receiving nips and purrs in return. Jace tightened his legs around Ian's hips, wrapped his fingers in cascading hair, desperate for release.

Ready to beg for it.

The burning fire inside of Jace engulfed him when Ian locked onto his shoulder, those sharp canines piercing his skin. Jace shoved his fist into his mouth to stop the exploding scream from reaching ear-shattering levels as pleasure pulsed from him in delicious waves.

He felt Ian throbbing inside of his ass, his mate grunting deeply. Stars still danced behind Jace's eyes as Ian withdrew his teeth and lapped at the wound he'd created.

"Good morning." Ian teased Jace's earlobe between his teeth.

"It is when I wake up next to you." He unraveled his hand from his mate's hair.

They were still chest to chest, their sweat-soaked bodies entangled. Ian gazed down at him, his focus intense.

"Move in with me, kitten. I want family photos on the walls, the kitchen bursting with delicious scents, your love and happiness filling every square inch of our home."

Jace's heart thumped wildly. He searched Ian's eyes for… He wasn't sure. A hint of doubt maybe? Some tiny indication of hesitancy. But all Jace saw in those whiskey depths was a deep yearning.

"I'm messy." Jace couldn't stop the need to point out his flaws. "I leave my clothes everywhere. The top of my dresser is cluttered. I use all the hot water when I take a shower. I—"

Ian clamped a hand over Jace's mouth. "That sounds like heaven to me, and I want a lifetime of messiness with you, sweetheart. Tell me you want that too, Jace."

"I would if I could talk." His words came out muffled under Ian's hand.

Chuckling, Ian pulled his hand away. "You're gonna have to repeat that."

Jace bit his lower lip. "That sounds like heaven to me, too. But I can't leave my mom without a car."

She'd gotten rid of hers last year when fixing her ancient car was no longer worth sinking money into. Jace didn't mind running errands for her or giving her the keys when she wanted to do them herself.

Although he refused to let anyone behind the wheel of the rental Ian had gotten him. Hopefully the detailers could get that fish odor out of his car. He never wanted to smell anything that foul again.

"I have a feeling you're going to turn down my offer, but I can buy her one." He clamped his hand back over Jace's mouth when he opened it. "A used but reliable one, unless you want to make the drive all the way here whenever she needs something." He moved his hand away.

"You're right. Although I know your heart is in the right place, I can't accept such a generous offer, Ian."

"And I already explained to you that, as your mate, it's my job to take care of you."

"Because it's humiliating for your kind not to do that." Jace waffled. It would be nice for his mom to have her own car. Then he wouldn't have to drive into town every time she needed something. "I don't know if I can help my mom financially while paying my half of the bills at your house."

" Our house." Ian nuzzled his neck. "Please stop throwing up roadblocks, hon. Whatever your mom and grandma need, we got them covered." He lifted his head and met Jace's gaze. "You still don't fully understand what it means to be mated. Let me help out, Jace. Allow me to do for you three what I've always dreamed of doing. Taking care of my family."

Jace saw how important this was to Ian. How much having a family meant to him. It had always bothered Jace to see his mom struggle when she deserved the world. If helping made Ian happy, Jace couldn't snatch that happiness away from him. "Okay, but don't go overboard."

"Define overboard."

"You know exactly what I mean." His mate was already paying for the current repairs at his house, which couldn't be cheap. Not after the damage those two assholes had caused.

At least Sheriff Harper had been more than understanding when Ian explained what had gone down. He said he would write it up as a home invasion. Case closed.

In his gut, Jace knew that Ian had killed Nolan and Owen. He just didn't know what happened to the bodies and wasn't interested in finding out.

"I'm still having your butt quack underwear framed." Grunting softly, Ian eased out of Jace's body. "We need to get out of bed. I can hear someone coming up the steps."

Ten minutes later—including a bathroom pitstop to clean up—they were in the kitchen. Ian blushed profusely when Jace's mom kissed him on the cheek.

"How did you sleep?" She handed him a plate of pancakes and sausage.

"Soundly." Ian accepted the plate and slid into a chair. "Thanks for breakfast."

"Ian asked me to move in with him," Jace blurted out. He gripped the back of his chair, staring between his mom and his grandma. "I said yes."

"Don't you think it's too soon?" His mom studied him while she set his plate on the table. "I like Ian a lot, and he seems good for you, but you two haven't known each other that long."

"When you meet the right person, time means nothing," his grandma said. "They're crazy about each other, Myla." She pushed to her feet. "This calls for a celebration!"

"No tequila for breakfast," his mom groaned.

"A round of shots for breakfast." His grandma left the kitchen.

"I'm just concerned you two are moving a bit fast." His mom sighed. "The way I moved at lightning speed with your father." Her eyes became dreamy. "I loved him from the moment we met."

Jace swallowed roughly at the mention of his dad. Ian slid an arm around him, pressing a kiss to his temple.

"I'm just going to miss you living here." She squeezed Jace's hand. "You glow when Ian is near you. I can also see with my own two eyes how much he cares about you. That's all a mother can ask, that her child finds the right person to spend the rest of their life with."

Ian was more than the right person. He was Jace's match in every way—all thanks to a simple request for a towel. It had led to a connection more deep, more cherish, and more beautiful than anything either of them could have imagined.

THE END