Zan grimaced at the mention of his brother. Great impression he’d made so far. Three days ago Dean had saved his sorry ass, then Zan had salivated all over a well-respected doctor and now he’d engaged in a fight with several of Dean’s pack members. Who’d want him for a brother, much less a mate for an adored female shifter that Dean considered a personal friend?
Determined to make things right, Zan realized he would just have to accept the consequences of his actions tonight. And if Dean thought to warn Zan away from Jackie, well, he could save his breath because that was never going to happen.
“As I’ve stated several times before, you heal fast.” Jackie said. “Probably as fast as Dean. The bleeding isn’t as bad as I thought and while you did rip open the stitches, it appears you don’t really need them anymore. You can either leave them in since they’ll dissolve in another week or yank them out later. Keep your ribs wrapped another twenty-four hours though, especially after taking a beating tonight.”
Zan tunneled a hand through her hair and gently pulled her closer. “I may not be a saint or an angel, but I’m also not quite the bad person you think I am. Other than acting like an ass now and then, I’m not sure what I’ve done to give you that impression.”
Jackie’s eyes darted to his shoulder, the one his tattoo rested, though now covered by his t-shirt. Somehow, somewhere, Jackie had seen his tattoo before on another shifter and whatever that individual had done put a bad taste in Jackie’s mouth. It made Zan want to tear the bastard’s head off. “Then prove me wrong.”
He went predatorily still in that split second, his nostrils flaring to take in the subtle scent of aroused female. It wasn’t hope or relief that made his gut tighten. Or even want. It went beyond that. He couldn’t deny he wanted to bury his aching cock inside her for so long that they both walked funny for days. It was the prowling snarl of his beast roaring mine in his head that sharpened and focused his every sense on the woman kneeling next to him. His long fingers spasmed on her head, wanting to bring those parted lips to his. But more, wanting her to want to bring her lips up to his for the hard, possessive kiss that was burning a hole in his gut.
A sudden shout and string of curses burst from within the bar, breaking the tense moment. Zan glimpsed the relief in Jackie’s eyes as she jumped to her feet. She’d let down her guard for a few seconds and was even now regretting it. As for Zan, he was a heartbeat away from flinging Jackie on her back and thrusting his tongue between her lush lips. He’d never give her those seconds back and in fact planned on using the knowledge of her feelings to full advantage. His advantage.
Zan stood carefully, so tense that one misstep would send him over the edge and Jackie would find herself thrown over his shoulder while he raced into the forest to claim his woman in private. While the idea had plenty of merit, he could only imagine her volatile reaction. A reaction that caused him to grin in perverse delight. She was a fitting mate for him. While he always thought he’d wanted a submissive mate like his adored mother, he now realized that type of female would never truly satisfy him. He needed the spit and the fire, the passion and the strength that made Jackie into who she was. Life would never be boring with her.
Vertical once again, and feeling more like himself, Zan looked Jackie up and down, appraising. “I’m going to ask you something and please don’t get mad at me. I don’t think I could survive another put down.” And he wasn’t completely joking.
Jackie slanted her eyes to him. “If it’s sexual in any way I will put you down again.”
Ah. She was back in self-protection mode. Too late.
Zan’s hands went up in mock surrender. “I have no doubt of that.” His steamy gaze swept over her, approving each delectable curve. Knowing exactly what lay under her casual top only made the ache pressing against the front of his jeans burn hotter.
“What I’d like to know is how you knew to do what you did. Your reflexes are some of the fastest I’ve ever seen and that includes my team. You not only stopped me, you dropped me. It was quick and efficient and required little exertion on your part.”
Jackie only shrugged. “I learned some self-defense. It’s come in handy on a few occasions. There’s no reason to make anything out of it.”
Her evasion rang a bell in his head. Recalling past conversations he realized other instances where she’d dodged some questions by both his men and himself. It made him wonder. “It was a trained move, Jackie.”
Again with the eye rolling. “I already said I was trained in self-defense. A lot of people are. It’s not a big deal.”