Jake (Immortals of New Orleans #8)(84)

"I'm telling you. Cass and I are just friends. Did I have sex with her once? Yeah, but it was literally just once. She means absolutely nothing to me."

"Like us?" Kai raised an angry eyebrow at him, her gaze locked on his.

"We're mates, Kai. Cass is human. We had a few laughs and that's it." Jake shook his head, and blew out a breath. He was tired and hungry, losing patience. "You and I both have a past. What's going on is related to our mating. Cassandra isn't even here right now. It's just us. You're my mate."

"I'm sorry, Jake," she whispered, screwing her lids closed, her lips pressed tight together. She lifted her gaze to meet his. "I just … I don't know. I'm not used to thinking of myself as a shifter. I'm not like you. I'm a loner. Everything that's going on between us. You're … you're incredible, but I'm not used to this. My beast … she doesn't like this. I can't control her. I hate what's happening."

"Kai. From now on in, it's just you and me, you get that, right? There are no others unless we choose. Even though I shared you with Quint, I'm only going to allow that so we can explore your fantasies. But I can tell you right now that I will never be with another woman again … not ever." Jake set down the book and closed the distance between them. He gently cupped her cheeks with his palms, his eyes locked on hers. "I'm your lover. Your mate. Yours only. I'm your Alpha. Yes?"

"Yes." Kai's lips trembled as she spoke. "I never thought this could happen. That I'd feel this way about a man. For over a hundred years, I avoided supernaturals, never indulging in the thought I'd find a partner. I could never have that with a human. I didn't want to fall in love and watch them die. I'd have no right. And so … this … this thing between us. It's so intense. And … you … you make me feel good. I don't want to lose this. I don't want to wake up and have someone tell me it's all a joke."



       
         
       
        

"This isn't a joke, Kai. I'm yours. You need to take me, mark me. As much as I want to mate with you, and believe me I do, I want you to be ready. I'm a wolf. This is something we're never really expecting but we know it's a possibility. But I get you need time to process this whole thing."

As Kai nodded, Jake leaned into her, his lips brushing hers. She tasted of honey, her soft mouth responding to his. As he deepened the kiss, she relaxed into his embrace. His cock lengthened, his delicious mate once again in his arms. The crinkling of the paper bag crushed between their bodies broke the silence.

"Hmm." He tore his lips from hers, taking a deep breath. "Jesus, do you know how bad I want to go eat you right now and skip this whole breakfast thing?"

"Sounds tempting." She laughed.

"How about you take a shower and I'll join you as soon as I'm finished ordering the food. We have time for a quickie before they deliver, and then I'm going to make love to you for a few hours after we eat."

"We should get some sleep maybe?" she asked with a sexy smile.

"No rest for the wicked. Besides, we have all day to sleep." Jake kissed her one last time and released her.

"I'll be waiting," she told him, slowly backing away. "Hurry."

"I'll be there in just a minute." As Kai turned and disappeared from his sight, he licked his lips, the taste of his mate fresh in his mind.

Jake picked up the phone and dialed room service, firing off their order. As he set down the phone into its cradle, he sighed. As much as he wanted to stay up all day making love, Kai was right. They needed to get as much rest as possible, conserve their energy. They'd have to be at the top of their game to defeat Kasdeya.

Jake turned and was walking to the bedroom, when the doorbell rang. "What the hell? There's no way that could be ready."

He reached for the door handle, and stopped cold, cautious of the delivery. Pressing his eye to the hole, he spied into the hallway, catching a glimpse of familiar blonde hair. As he swung open the door, the woman gave him a broad smile, launching herself into his arms. She smelled as he'd always remembered, yet no longer did his chest beat with passion for the gorgeous adventurous woman he'd met in San Diego. As he released her he grinned, happy to see his friend. Cassandra Evans.





Chapter Fourteen


As the hot spray sluiced down her body, Kai's thoughts spiraled, reflecting on her previous life. Albeit alone, her routine in Wyoming had been satisfying, safe. A week ago she'd analyzed the geodetic data of the Yellowstone caldera, and had been honing a ground deformation model. Every week, she'd made it a habit to do physical inspections, documenting changes throughout the park. Although one could easily get lost within its great expanse, there was nowhere she hadn't seen.