22. Jax

22

Jax

Her body curled around mine automatically, like it remembered my touch in that cave and craved more. Ever since that night, she was never far from my mind.

How could a woman have so much control over me when I had none over her? The crone had told me that as a null, Anna would never feel the mating bond the way that I did. It would never affect her. When I finally let her go, she could walk away and never think of me again.

She might not even think of me now except that I was forcing her to live in my house.

Forcing her to sleep in my bed.

Except maybe I was the only one who was tortured.

I could smell her arousal. Every whimper when I touched her went straight to my cock. God, I ached for her, but I couldn't have her. Couldn't take her.

Slipping my hand down her panties, I curled my hands over her ass cheeks and pulled her hard against my cock. She whimpered and squirmed against me.

"You want to come, baby?" With one hand anchored around her, I flipped on my back and took her with me until she was sprawled across my lap. Her hair fell over her shoulder and tickled my chest. "Ride me."

"Inside," she whimpered, but she moved across the length of my cock. "I want you inside me."

"It'd be good, wouldn't it, baby? Filling you? Stroking you? Your hot pussy clenching around me. You'd be so wet. Ah, fuck, you're so wet for me."

"Yes." Her nails bit into my chest. "Do it. Fucking, do it!"

Instead, I pulled her panties down and curved my thumb around her clit. She shivered around me before shoving off me and scrambling off the bed.

I sat up, and we just stared at each other in the dark. Anna wrapped her arms around her body and narrowed her eyes. "Leave, please."

"I didn't finish what I came here for."

"Yes, you did. You want me to feel helpless beneath your touch. You want me to want you.

Congratulations. You've succeeded. Please, Jax. I can't take anymore. Not tonight."

Silently, I got out of bed and walked her way. When I reached her, she didn't move, so I bent down and pressed a kiss to her lips. "Good night, Anna."

When she met my gaze, there was more than need in them. There was passion, yes, but also a fire, and every single day since we'd returned from Wisteria Woods, I'd seen the fire grow.

She was becoming more of herself.

The next morning saw me with no sleep, a raging hard-on, and I was crankier than ever. Still, I dressed and jogged down to the gym. It was barely dawn, but the gym was hopping. A guard at every piece of equipment, and several sparring on the mats.

One young man I recognized well.

Finn flipped his opponent, slamming him to the ground, and then he crouched. He had a feral look in his eye that wasn't in any of the other guards'. A few others stopped to watch, but Jenson stood and clapped Finn on the shoulder.

It had been a while since I'd brought a rogue into my pack, but Jenson knew how to make them feel comfortable. How to make them feel welcome.

Finn was strong. Stronger than most. One day, he might even be stronger than Jenson.

The door closed behind me, and everyone stopped what they were doing to turn to me.

"Carry on," I said with a wave of my hand. "Jenson. Are you done?"

"Yes, alpha."

"With me. Finn, get some water and cool down. I'll see you in ten minutes."

Everyone stared at me for another minute before returning to their duties. My guards were loyal. They would do as I told them until their very last breath, but I could feel something simmering in the pack bond. Weakening it just a little. Not enough to cause concern.

I didn't need to ask. I knew what it was.

They were allowed their opinions. It was only when those opinions got in the way of me protecting them that it would be a problem.

Jenson toweled off and jogged behind me as we went upstairs. I had a main office at the heart of the pack. It was a huge building with a large kitchen, empty bedrooms, and an event space. At the very top was my office. There was a beautiful view of the territory from my windows.

And I was rarely there.

Sometimes I met people at my house. Other times, I met them in a bar. Usually, I liked meeting outside.

And sometimes, I met with people in the locker rooms of the gym.

Jenson ran a towel over his face as he entered the room. "Finn kick your ass?"

"I took on three others before him. Just to give him an edge," Jenson said with a smirk. "He's good. Real good. One day, I might worry about that."

"I've made some decisions without talking with you about it. This is your chance to give me your opinion."

"My opinion? Wow. This is a big moment for me. Where do I start? That girl, Callie, that you took out about seven years ago? I told you that she was probably a walking case of STDs? I want to tell you I told you so. And my God, when you promoted Derrick, and I tried to stop you?

And that time you thought you could make your own wine?"

I cleared my throat. "That is not what I meant, and you know it."

Jenson tossed the towel on the bench, crossed his arms, and leaned against the lockers. "Oh, you mean when I asked to guard Irene, and you said no. When you moved the most hated woman in the pack into your house and now walk around reeking of her every day? When you shared with everyone that Irene has been stripped of her magic and is as vulnerable as a fucking human in our territory?"

There was that anger I'd felt shimmering beneath his skin.

"That's more like it." I studied him. I knew there was something between him and Irene, but there was no mating bond. Wolves didn't develop a mating bond with another species. That didn't mean they didn't fall in love, but if Jenson and Irene were dating, they would have told me. "I could have left her with the Darkwyn witches. Maybe I should have."

"She belongs here," Jenson said darkly. "She is our witch."

"A witch with no power. Hardly any good to us."

"Then why the fuck did you bring her back?" Jenson roared as he launched himself at me.

"What the hell are you planning on doing with her?"

I didn't move a muscle as Jenson stopped himself just short of touching me. He was in my face. Something he wouldn't dare unless I'd given him permission. "Help her heal, Jenson. Make her feel safe. She was taken from us by someone who swore their loyalty to me."

"I will keep her safe."

"Maybe, but not now. I want to know who took her. That can be your job."

Jenson snarled and backed off.

"As for Anna…" I stopped when the door opened, and Finn walked in. My eyes flitted toward him. "That was not ten minutes."

He opened his mouth and then shut it before running his hand behind his back sheepishly.

"Sorry. I could say that I'm shit at telling time, but mostly, it's just in my nature."

"To spy." Like father, like son. Finn was definitely more than a messenger boy.

"I'll just go back out and wait."

"No need. I knew what I was getting when I brought you in," I said mildly. "I was just about to tell Jenson to assign a guard to my mate. She'll be heading to The Fanged Smile for the day.

There are those that have been waiting for her to be without me."

"I'll do it," Finn said immediately and then cleared his throat. "With your permission, sir."

I raised an eyebrow at his eagerness, but I nodded. "Go."

With a grin, he mock-saluted me and exited the locker. The door shut, and Jenson and I looked at each other. "You could let her go, you know. Let them both go. Finn would take care of her. He's her first defender."

"I'm her first defender," I growled. "And I am not letting her go. If the Black Diamond pack has a problem with that, then they have a problem with me."

"Is that an order, Jax? To bow to your mate?"

Cocking my head, I studied him. "I've told you her story. Not the details, of course, that's her story to tell, but enough that you know she is not her father."

"And Parker's death? You forced him to take care of her for years, and then he managed to find a gun and blow his brains out."

"That's on him," I said shortly. I didn't want to talk about Parker. I couldn't forgive him for leaving me.

"You wanted my opinion," Jenson said shortly. He knocked his hand against the locker and shook his head. "I don't know what to think. She's complicated, Jax. I'm with you. I'm always with you. You know that."

"I do, and I appreciate that. I'm going to get a quick workout and a shower. Then I want you to call a meeting. Several, in fact. The hunt for the traitor begins."