Page 42 of Siren’s Secret

“I’m not manipulating you.” Wave recoiled. “I don’t need to—”

“Wave. Wave, stop,” Jarred snapped. It was only then that Wave realized she was trying to get up, and he was holding her in place. “Stop,” he rumbled, an annoyingly soothing sound that she responded to instinctively. “I’m asking, what would help you release your powers? Talk to me, precious.”

“But I—”

“Tell me.” That was a command.

Wave wanted to do nothing of the sort, but she gritted her teeth and forced the words out. “I can tear into someone’s mind and force them to bend. Even if they don’t want me to. Or are unsuspecting.”

Jarred locked eyes with her. “I know that part.”

Wave’s shoulders slumped. “Or if, in theory, I’d have a willing victim—a partner, I could slide into their mind… and connect us. If they… gave me control, it wouldn’t have to be… it could be…”

“What are you trying to say?” Jarred interjected when she got lost in the words. Hesitatingly, she met his gaze.

“I could take over their mind without causing harm. I could link my own thoughts with them. That’s… sort of similar to a mate bond for sirens.”

“Permanently?”

Wave hesitated again. “The… sharing is temporary.”

“But?”

“Once the bond fully forms, it doesn’t fade. Having one is extremely rare. And dangerous. A siren bond can be used to control the siren. Catch their bonded and the siren will follow. There are no happy endings for my kind.”

Jarred was silent for a while, digesting that before he spoke again. “Can you use that power without forming the bond?”

“Sure, but who would trust a siren—oomph.” Wave found herself rolled over and Jarred was hovering over her again.

“Show me.”

“What?”

“Show me, Wave. I’ll let you take over.” His eyes were absolutely serious.

“You can’t…”

“Yeah, I can. Show me, precious.”

Chapter 22 – Jarred

Wave was lying under him with eyes blown wide. She looked wild, both terrified and excited. She tried to shake her head, but Jarred wasn’t having it. His jaguar rumbled in agreement. Their Claimed needed something from them and it was his privilege to provide her with everything he could.

“Jarred,” Wave whispered. His name from her lips felt like a caress.

“Precious,” he replied.

“I’m not sure…”

“I accepted your claim, Wave,” Jarred said, trying to make her understand all it meant to him. “I need to ease the pressure for you. It’s driving me crazy knowing that you are suffering and are not allowing me to help.”

“Help…” she murmured, but this time it was clear that she wasn’t talking to him. When she stayed silent for a long time, Jarred growled.

“Fuck it.” He leaned in and kissed her hard. When she didn’t resist, Jarred moved lower and kissed her throat, gently brushing his lips over the bite mark. A soft groan slipped free from Wave and he felt it in his core. He needed to hear that sound again.

Jarred kept going down, kissing and biting her collarbones and tugging the shirt out of the way. The fabric resisted, and frustrated growls pushed free from him until Wave lifted her arms and helped him to pull the shirt up and off.

“Baby, I need you to…” Wave fell silent when Jarred sealed his lips over her nipple. He kissed and teased and tugged on one until she moaned and tugged his hair hard. Then he gave the same treatment to the other.