Page 55 of Siren’s Secret

“What about—”

“Always, Wayla. I’ve done my share of fucking up and screwed up more shit than I can count. Me and Hellion included. You know what I’m thankful for?”

“What?”

“That I screwed up with him and not you. I can live with those consequences. I couldn’t if I had hurt you.”

“Don’t worry. I wouldn’t let you live,” Jarred interjected roughly.

“Good.” Irishen nodded, flicking his gaze to Jarred for a moment. “And I’ll freeze your furry ass off if you ever let any one of them attack her like that again.”

“You’re not worried he’ll hurt me?” Wave huffed, irrationally annoyed.

Risha chuckled softly. “No.”

“Hmpf.”

Jarred leaned closer and kissed the bite mark on her throat. “Love,” he murmured.

Wave blinked and craned her neck to give him better access, then she sprang to her feet and scrambled over Risha. “Love? You called me love?” she shrieked. Somehow, that hadn’t registered to her before.

“Wondered how long that would take,” Jarred muttered and rose to his feet. Wave backed away and he followed. More like stalked her, a jaguar on a prowl. They kept going until her back met the wall. Jarred took one more step and plastered them together. All Wave could see was his handsome face and the warmth in his eyes as he leaned down and nuzzled their noses together.

“Love.”

“Jarred,” she tried, but he nudged her nose again, almost playfully.

“Yes, love?”

“Baby, you can’t…”

Now he lifted his hand and wrapped his fingers around her throat, covering the mark. “I can’t what, love?”

Wave melted. She couldn’t help the soft moan rising up and escaping. “Fuck.”

Jarred smiled with a little devious glint in his eyes and massaged the side of her throat gently. “Yes, love.”

“Fuck it. Fine.” Wave reached up, grabbed Jarred’s hair with both hands, and yanked him down. She wasn’t ready for the words, but she poured everything into the kiss. Jarred easily let her lead but met her stroke for stroke, bite for bite, and his hold around her neck never relented. Claimed.

“Mine,” Wave snarled.

“Always, love.”

Chapter 28 – Irishen

Irishen watched as his mate kissed another male and felt the emotions roiling in the bond. He expected to feel a small sting of envy or jealousy, but it didn’t come. She needed Jarred, needed the solid strength he gave her without question.

He would be lying if he said that watching them didn’t get him hard, especially when Wayla moaned into Jarred’s mouth. Not that he could see much beyond Jarred’s wide back, but it was a very fine back to look at. For a second, he debated leaving the room, but his feet refused to move.

She might be Jarred’s Claimed, but she was his mate. Their bond was equally true, even if it was newer—by hours, he might add—and still so fragile. Not as fragile as he had feared, though. The way Wayla had latched onto his bond would have put him on his knees if he hadn’t already been there.

Jarred murmured something to Wayla and then slowly pulled back. A snarl rose in Irishen’s throat for him denying her, but before he could rip into the male, Jarred turned them around. Gently, he guided Wayla toward Irishen and dropped a kiss on the top of her head.

“Go kiss your mate, love.”

Well, fuck. That twisted his insides into a nervous knot. Wayla took one hesitating step toward him, lips swollen and cheeks flushed. She looked absolutely delicious and when she licked her lips, for the first time, Irishen let himself truly entertain the idea that his mate might find him attractive beyond the pull the mate connection created.

He wanted to devour her.