Ice Moon (13 page)

Chapter Twenty

Jared

I
found a dark corner of the hall and willed my hands to stop shaking. When Taryn asked me to the Masquerade, I didn’t hesitate to say yes. I’d wanted to help her and get to know her better. I should’ve realized there would be loud music and a stifling crowd.

The second we came through the door, the pounding bass deafened my ears, and the stench of perfume, after-shave, and sweat intermingled until my heightened senses were overwhelmed, leaving me stripped of any ability to ground myself.

“Hi.” A curvy woman dressed as Batgirl leaned on the wall beside me with a drink in her hand. Her long dark hair fell past her shoulders, and even in the dim light her smile beamed. “I’m Vivianna, but my friends call me Vivi.”

“Nice to meet you, Vivianna.” I shook her hand.

Her bright expression dimmed a notch. “And you are?”

I kept my attention on Taryn in the spotlight as she made her announcements to the crowd. “I’m Jared.”

She was quiet, and for a minute, I thought she’d move along. No such luck.

“I saw you dancing with our hostess. Have you two been dating long?”

I sighed and peeled my gaze from Taryn to my uninvited guest. “You’ve got a lot of questions.”

She shrugged. “Ms. Goldstone has a reputation in Tahoe for being ruthless in business and just as cold in her personal life, so I assumed—”

“Whatever you’ve heard, she’s a damned smart woman, and she may be plenty of things, but cold isn’t one of them.”

“Can you tell me what she’s really like?”

I ground my teeth to keep from saying something that might come back to bite me in the ass later. “Maybe you should ask her.”

Crossing my arms, I turned my attention back to the stage. The now empty stage. I frowned and took a couple steps forward. Where’d she go? I took a slow breath, but there were too many scents all comingling for me to find hers.

As I got closer to the dance floor, a feral growl rumbled deep in my chest. A jaguar. With all the dancers in costumes, I couldn’t depend on my eyesight. My sense of smell led me to a tall man with dark hair, in a black cape.

He pivoted, probably catching my scent as well. Zorro. We both frowned.

“Sebastian? What the hell are you doing here?”

He looked me over and raised a brow. “I could ask you the same thing. Are you building something?”

Sebastian was the true heir to the Nero empire, in spite of Damian’s ambitions. Now there were two jaguars on Pack territory? This mess kept getting even more fucked up. The last time I saw Sebastian, he’d been ducking out of an underground fight club after knocking out my twin brother. We’d never spoken directly before. I was surprised he knew what I did for a living.

“You must’ve heard your crazy brother is buying a house on the lake, in Pack territory. I hope you’re here to drag his ass back home.”

He kept his attention on the dance floor as he spoke. “Since Damian was shot, his behavior has become more erratic. He is supposed to be rehabilitating, but when I visited his home, the staff we hired to assist him were the only ones there.”

“So Nero didn’t send him to buy a place here?”

Sebastian shook his head without looking in my direction. “Nero has no love for your Pack, but it’s not in our best interest to start an unnecessary conflict at this time.”

“I’d be happy to help you get him out of Tahoe.”

He glanced my way with a smirk. “If I were going to take him anywhere, I could do that on my own.”

A couple left the dance floor, exposing another couple farther away. Taryn was dancing with a man dressed as the Phantom of the Opera. Every muscle in my body tensed. The man looked over his shoulder and Sebastian spun around to face the bar.

Damian.

I started for the dancers, but Sebastian grabbed my elbow. “Wait.”

“What for?” I jerked my arm free, glaring at him.

“I’m here because I discovered my brother was poking around some old Brightwood files. Files that had been sealed.” He pressed his lips together, and when he spoke again it was low enough only a werewolf could have heard him over the music. “Records regarding a student who had the gift of Pyrokinesis.”

Fuck. Damian knew.

“Why would you give a crap?” I stepped closer, forcing him to take a step back. “She’s finished with Nero. If either of you are considering taking her back, I will personally end you. Leave. Her. Alone.”

He shook his head. “I want to talk to her, not take her.”

“Why?”

He stared into my eyes, probably sizing me up. My nerves were wound so tight, I almost wanted him to make a move so I’d have an excuse to hit him.

“Because the files my brother was interested in were sealed by my mother.”

His dead mother.

“Find out what your brother is planning, and I’ll see if I can arrange a meeting with Taryn to answer some questions for you.”

We stared at each other for another second before I stormed off for the dance floor. Couples parted, allowing me through without a word, maybe sensing how close my wolf was to the surface, sensing the danger.

Taryn met my eyes as I approached. They were dancing to Time Warp, without touching. That was probably the only reason I could control myself enough not to tackle him. His hands weren’t on my mate.

“We need to talk.” My attention was focused on her, not Damian. The bastard could drop dead for all I cared.

She nodded and glanced at her client. “Please excuse us.”

He flashed me a well-practiced smile. “I don’t believe we have been
properly
introduced. I’m Damian Severino.”

We’d first encountered one another the night he’d been attacking my twin brother, Jason, with a knife, and we both knew it. This asshole was well aware I couldn’t kick his ass here in public.

“And now we have.” I took Taryn’s hand, lacing my fingers with hers and doing my best not to reveal the sudden pain. Her hand was burning up.

“You’re a contractor, right? I’m purchasing a home in the area and I could use an experienced carpenter to make some modifications.”

As much as I wanted to knock that smirk off of his face, Taryn came first, and right now, she was close to showing everyone in town her special ability.

“You couldn’t afford me.” I turned to Taryn. “Let’s get out of here.”

I led her through the crowd, sweat beading on my forehead. I wasn’t sure if the sweating was from the claustrophobia smothering me, or the fact that my hand throbbed, burning from her touch. Either way, we both needed some fresh air. Pronto.

Beside my truck, I released her hand and glanced back at the building to be sure we weren’t followed. When I met her eyes again, her face was unreadable.

“Are you all right?”

She shrugged.

I traced my fingers along her jaw. Her cheek was still hot, but not as bad as she had been. Her eyes searched mine. Without a word, she wrapped her arms around me.

I held her close, kissing her hair. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left you up there. I didn’t realize Damian was here.”

She shook her head, but didn’t pull away. “I knew you were struggling with the crowd. It was stupid. I shouldn’t have danced with him. He was pushing my buttons and my pride got the best of me. I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction that he’d shaken me.”

A smile pulled at my lips as I ran my hand down the back of her hair. My mate had spirit, and every day that I got to know her better, I found more reasons to respect her. To love her.

“You’re amazing.”

She stepped back a little and looked up at me. “I could’ve set the building on fire.”

“But you didn’t.” I tipped my head toward the community center. “No one in there suspects anything, except maybe that the rumors of Taryn Goldstone being an Ice Queen might be wrong.” I sobered, lowering my voice. “Damian knows who you are.”

She nodded. “He eluded to that, but didn’t get any confirmation out of me.” She frowned. “How did you find out?”

“His brother was at the Masquerade, too.”

“And you two are friends?”

I chuckled, shaking my head slowly. “Not quite. I’m not sure anyone is Sebastian’s friend.” Pulling in a slow breath, I didn’t find any sign of either of the jaguar’s scents. “Can we get out of here?”

She started to smile. “Let me text Madison.”

Taryn let her community relations manager know she needed to get home to her son, and we got in the truck.

“If Damian knows I was at Brightwood, is he planning to use the information to blackmail me?”

“I don’t know yet, but Sebastian might be able to help us find out.”

She gave me a questioning look. “I thought he’s not a friend.”

“Yeah, but when we have a mutual threat, he’s willing to overlook it.”

She sighed. “My head is spinning. So the brothers are enemies?”

“They are when Damian is angling to gain control of Nero away from his older brother.”

“Cain and Abel.”

I shrugged. “A little, I guess.”

“Damian doesn’t know where I live, and I have an unlisted number, but he could probably get my address if he has enough money and connections.”

“Nero has connections and ears everywhere.” I gripped the wheel a little tighter. “We should keep Charlie close, just in case.”

She straightened, a wave of heat flowing across the cab of my truck. “You think he’d come after Charlie?”

“No, but I don’t want to take any chances. If Damian wants something from you, it won’t take him long to figure out that Charlie is your weak point.” I started the engine and caught her hand. I kissed her warm skin, breathing her in. “We’ll keep him safe. Everything is going to be all right.”

Taryn leaned over, resting her head on my shoulder. “I hope you’re right.”

I wrapped my arm around her shoulders. “I am.”

I’d die before I let that son of a bitch touch either one of them.

S
herri was on her feet when we opened the door. “I wasn’t expecting you guys back so soon. Is everything okay?”

Taryn nodded and set her purse down. “Yeah. I did my welcoming thing and ducked out when I saw an opportunity.”

Sherri went into the kitchen, putting a few leftovers in the fridge. “Charlie is sleeping, but he told me to tell you to check the journal.”

“All right.”

I peered around the living room and dining room. “Where’s Tank?”

Sherri smiled. “He’s snoring at the bottom of Charlie’s bed.”

I chuckled. “That kid is going to spoil him.”

Taryn handed Sherri some cash and thanked her. I stoked the fire in the hearth and added another log. After the door closed, Taryn’s footsteps came closer behind me. Her hands slid around my waist from behind, and I covered them with mine.

“You okay?” She came around in front of me. Her gaze locked on my eyes as she reached up to catch the zipper of my X-Men uniform. She lowered the zipper and I started to smile. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

She rose up on her toes to press her mouth to my newly exposed chest, her tongue tasting my skin. Blood rushed below my belt, pulsing until my erection throbbed. I gripped her hips, my voice barely a whisper. “Tonight, you’re mine.”

Her throat bobbed as she swallowed, her blue eyes wandering over my face. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You won’t.” I kissed her lips, savoring the sweet taste. “Give me a second.”

I jogged out to my truck. Call me hopeful, but I’d tossed a box of condoms in my glove compartment tonight just in case. Werewolves don’t generally contract STDs, and human women couldn’t carry our children without being converted first, but psychics were an exception to the rule, as Charlie proved, and trapping Taryn with my child before she even understood what I was probably wasn’t the best way to earn my mate’s trust.

When I came back in, I locked the deadbolt and went straight to her, taking her in my arms as I claimed her lips over and over. She moaned into my mouth, our tongues tangling. I needed her naked, her skin against mine, now.

Without breaking the kiss, I scooped her up, carrying her to the master bedroom. I laid her down on the bed and went back to close the door and click the lock. When I turned around, she pulled a slow breath in through her teeth.

“I’m already heating up.” She shook her head, frustrated tears shining in her blue eyes. “This is so unfair.”

“I have an idea.” I reached for the door. “Open the windows and wait here.”

She frowned. “What?”

“Just trust me.” I left the room and went into the kitchen. Once I found a salad bowl, I filled it with ice and went back, closing the door behind me. Her room was chilly, but I had no doubt her body would warm both of us. It was keeping us from combusting that I was worried about.

“Ice?”

I nodded setting the bowl on her bedside table. I took the condom out of my pocket and set it beside the ice. Her gaze followed my hand and back up to my eyes. She almost smiled.

“You’re serious.”

“I need you.” I lowered my zipper.

“What if I start a fire?”

“You won’t.” I kicked off my shoes.

“How can you be so sure?”

I pulled my arms out of the suit. The cold air had my nipples rock hard. “Because we’re a good team, and we want this. If it starts to get out of hand, we slow down, cool off, and try again.” I crawled over her on the bed rolling her onto her back under me. “I’ve got no problem with hours of foreplay if that’s what it takes. You?”

She wet her lips, allowing her smile to break through. “Sounds good to me.”

I grinned sliding my hand up her curves to clasp the zipper at the base of her neck. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

Lowering her zipper, I struggled to focus as her hot hands explored my bare back. Her touch, in stark contrast to the chilly temperature of the room, sent shivers through me like electricity. I tasted her lips and hummed as my fingers slid inside her costume to caress the warm silky smooth skin of her abdomen.

Hours of foreplay. Shit, I was about to lose it and I still had my damn pants on.

My tongue twined with hers as the zipper reached the end of the line. My teeth brushed her lower lip and I opened her suit. The second my chest came in contact with her skin, the heat ignited. I lightened the kiss, forcing myself not to jump back.