Taming Jax (First Wave Book 5) (24 page)

“He’s right honey. It may not seem like it now, but when you’re older, you’ll see that it really is a gift. And it’s a really awesome one too.” Jax said with a genuine smile for the nervous girl. Melina was being really brave revealing so much, and she wanted to encourage her.

“How can it be a gift if all it does is create death?” Melina asked sadly, looking down at her lap. Reven knew how upset she was when he felt her sadness bleed through her energy.

“Hey, little one, listen to me. It doesn’t just create death; it creates protection. Like keeping a baby alive, by yourself. There are very few who could have kept Bayla alive and healthy the way you did. How many times did you have to use your camouflage or your other gift in order to make that happen?” Reven paused and when Melina just shrugged and still didn’t look up, he continued.

“What you did was brave. You took a risk to save her. That takes courage. Besides, I think there is a lot that we can learn from you. We already have, as a matter of fact. We have several teams; we are trying that simulation with in order to try to help train them to think outside of the box.”

Jax saw Melina’s interest pick up and knew that Reven was starting to help her understand how they saw her gift. Trying to help, she added, “It’s true. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been in a bad situation where thinking like that would have saved me some pretty terrible wounds. If it saves even one of our people, it’s more than worth learning.”

Grai and David nodded their heads in agreement. There was no downside to putting their teams through the simulation a few times a month, Grai thought. It would make a great compliment to their hand-to-hand combat training programs.

Traze leaned his head against the wall making David tense. The only reason the boy would have to do that is because he was getting ready to say or do something stupid.

“I don’t see how it can be a bad thing. It’s not like you go around acting out what goes through your mind. It’s just there, in the back, if you need it. Obviously, you don’t need it that much or most of us would be dead already!” Traze said laughing to himself while keeping an eye on David’s hands.

David was stunned that he didn’t have to smack the kid this time and actually had to stop his initial reaction to do it anyway. Jax grinned at David when she saw him fight himself to put his hand back down.

Reven and Grai were equally as stunned at Traze’s simple but effective comment. Reven was the first to recover. “He’s right. If you acted on every thought, then it would be bad. The fact that you only use it to protect yourself or Bayla means you’re a very smart and wonderful girl.”

“Hell, I’m going to teach you even more ways to defend yourself. With and without weapons. But, right now it’s really late, and you need to get some sleep.” Jax told Melina with a big grin.

Jax had expected an argument like any normal kid would do. But Melina surprised her by nodding her head. Looking around the table at the others she said, “Good night," then disappeared.

Reven stood to check and make sure she was back in her bed when Jax stopped him by grabbing his hand and shaking her head. When she had his complete attention, she mouthed one word. ‘Trust’

Reven understood what she meant immediately and sat back down. If Melina could trust them enough to explain some of her gifts to them, then they could trust her to go back to bed if asked. With an ability like Melina’s, where she could basically disappear at will, it was important to establish enough trust between them that she won’t want to leave like that.

Reven watched as Traze went into the kitchen with the broken vodka bottle and returned with a new one. Cracking open the seal, he refilled his and Grai’s glasses. Reven hated to admit that he was really damn irritated that even the man-child knew his way around Jax’s kitchen.

He’d heard from the other warriors and hybrids many times about going to Jax’s place after training or a mission and just hanging out. Of course, he’d never been invited. Watching everyone walk around her place with such familiarity was seriously getting on his nerves.

“She’s pretty incredible.” David admitted as he refilled his glass with gin.

Grai nodded. “Yes she is. Now I understand why Lara said we would be very impressed by the laustio, prime hunters. If her skills are any indication of their talents, we’ll stand a much better chance at winning this war.”

“Hell, she’s bad ass! I don’t even know how she got my mouth open to get the bag in there!” Traze said as he downed another shot before shoving a handful of chips in his mouth.

Everyone looked at him like he was a complete idiot causing him to ask, “What?”

“Never mind.” Grai said wondering why the boy couldn’t see that she’d just waited until he already had it open. Most likely when shoving more food in. Some things were better left unsaid; he thought. At least while they were drinking.

“I think it’s going to be pretty interesting to see what our teams come up with as weapons of opportunity.” David said as he leaned back in his chair and looked up at the stars.

“It still amazes me how much we have to learn.” Grai said, shaking his head in wonder at how the child’s mind must work in order to do what she could do.

Reven refilled everyone’s glasses and raised his own in a toast. “To good friends and new things to learn.” Reven said with a smile.

Everyone clinked their glasses together and downed the alcohol. They sat in a comfortable silence for a little while before Jax finally spoke.

“Well guys, I think I am more than ready for bed. Good night.” Jax stood and headed in the back door as the men all said good night to her.

Grai waited until he saw Jax’s bedroom light go on before turning to Reven. “How is it going?” Reven sighed and refilled his glass.

“It’s a little bumpy. However, it’s going a lot better than I ever expected that it would.” Reven said evasively, unwilling to discuss something so personal. Especially with Jax anywhere in the vicinity.  

Grai chuckled. He could well understand why Reven was reluctant to go into details. Jax was a formidable woman, and he would not want to cross her either. Giving the man a break, he nodded his head.

“Enough said. I think we should head out as well and let you guys get some sleep. If you need anything, call me.” Grai said as he stood.

David stood as well and when it looked like Traze planned to stay where he was, David slapped him in the back of the head.

Before Traze could complain, David said, “Get up boy, it’s time to go.”  

*****

Lara remained in the shadows, unwilling to interrupt the bonding occurring between the unique people on the back deck. She wasn’t here for them anyway; she knew they were working things out on their own quite well.  

Gathering her energy, she sent a call to her hunter. “Laustio, arise and speak.”

She waited until she heard the faint rustling in her mind, before sending another burst of energy to the hunter. “Laustio, arise.”

Lara smiled when the beast awakened. “Ancient one, it has been long.” Melina’s beast said to Lara as its host slept.

“Yes it has, my friend. Our time has finally come. You are the first hunter to awaken.” Lara said to the beast as she watched the others on the deck.

“My host is young, weak and immature, but I can assist her in any way that you need, ancient one.” The beast said, subtly making sure that the ancient one knew that its host was not ready to be activated.

Lara stifled a laugh. “Laustio, you mistake my intent. I have no desire to activate a child. I believe she has been through more than enough already. What I need is information that only you can provide.”

“I will help in any way I can.” The beast responded immediately, glad that its child-host would not need to be activated. Yet.

“The child spoke of a man who found her and saw through her skins. Do you recall this man?” Lara asked, hoping the beast remembered him.

“Yes, I would not forget him.” The beast said angrily as it relayed all it could remember to Lara.

Lara sat heavily on the ground as the beast confirmed her fears. It has begun; she thought sadly. She had hoped, along with the other ancients, that the past would not be repeated. Obviously, she had hoped in vain.

“Rest, my friend, you shall not be called to service for a long while. Remain vigilant and protect your host at all costs. I will deal with him and his ilk. This time it ends.” Lara said as she stood and looked up at the good people on Jax’s deck.

She would not allow anything to happen to these people. Her people. Not this time. This was the time of the Ocarion’s prophecy. This time the past would die. She would make sure of it.

With a purposeful stride, Lara made her way back to Viper’s cabin. To explain to him what was going on and get his support for what needed to be done next.

Chapter Fourteen

Jax turned over, again, and fluffed her pillows trying to find a comfortable position. It wasn’t that she wasn’t tired or needed to sleep, she just couldn’t shut down her mind. She had gone over the whole day at least a dozen times and she still came back to that damn man.

She heard everyone leave an hour ago and knew that Reven had gone into his room shortly afterwards. With her mouth feeling like it was filled with dust, she sat up and decided to sneak into the kitchen.

Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, Jax threw on a short robe over her tank top and panties and listened at the door for a minute to make sure everyone was asleep before pulling it open. She stood quietly for a moment before continuing down the hallway to the kitchen.

She knew where everything was and didn’t bother to turn on the light as she pulled the refrigerator door open and searched the contents for something to drink. Shaking her head at all of the juice boxes, she grabbed a soda and gently shut the door.

Turning around, she gasped at the huge shadow in front of her before slapping at it. “You could have been hurt you idiot!” Jax whispered angrily at Reven.

Reven chuckled and opened up the refrigerator. Jax almost drooled at his bare chest and the plaid pajama bottoms he was wearing. He stood in the light of the refrigerator and leaned down, scratching his chest as he rummaged around for another soda.

Jax didn’t realize she had been staring until he stood back up and turned his twinkling blue gaze to hers. She quickly looked away and popped the top of her can. She was wondering how to end the awkward silence when Reven spoke.

“You having trouble sleeping?” He asked nonchalantly as he closed the refrigerator door, enveloping them in darkness.

Jax only felt marginally better now that they were in the dark. She still knew that he was half-naked and way too close to her. A dozen different ways to accidentally bump into him crossed her mind and were quickly discarded. The residual light from the streetlights and the fact that she could easily see him, made all of them too obvious.

“Jax?” Reven asked, trying to keep the smile off of his face. He could scent her desire and need and knew she was struggling with herself.

Jax looked up in surprise, realizing that he spoke to her. “Huh?” She asked, only a part of her tried to think of what he said while the other part was mapping his smooth, broad chest.

Reven smothered his chuckle and repeated. “Are you having trouble sleeping?”

Jax shook her head and took a large sip of her soda, hoping it would cool her heated senses. It didn’t. “No, I just needed something to drink. You?”

Reven considered the question for only a moment before opting for the truth. “I was having trouble sleeping.”

His reply startled Jax for a minute. She wasn’t sure what she expected him to say, but that wasn’t it. Suddenly concerned that he might be unhappy here, she decided to hedge around until she could figure it out.

“Did you drink too much?” Jax asked, taking another sip of her soda to hide her curiosity. Her eyes were glued to his chest as he chuckled.

“No, I did not drink too much.” Reven said evasively. He knew what she was doing and if she wanted information, then she was going to have to come out and ask, he thought.

Jax sighed and shifted her feet. It figured the damn man wouldn’t give anything away. She tried a different tactic. “Oh. Is it your bed? It was a hand me down from another cabin, I never tried it out before putting it in there.”

Reven grinned. “The mattress is a little short, but comfortable.”

Jax was getting irritated. He was obviously jerking her chain. Fine, she thought, if he wanted to play games, then she could play them a whole lot better than he could.

She ran the can of soda between the gap in her robe and rubbed it slowly from her throat to the tops of her breasts. Jax sighed at the coldness and closed her eyes, uncaring that her robe now opened enough to reveal that she was only wearing panties and a tank top.

“Mmmm, it’s a little warm in here. I should probably check the thermostat.” Jax said and smothered her smile when she heard Reven’s low growl.

She could feel his heated gaze travel her body from head to toe and she barely managed not to shiver. Pulling the can away from her chest, she took another sip and slipped past him to the sink. His quickly indrawn breath as she passed, made her smile as she emptied the can and threw it in the trash.

Turning at the sink, she leaned back against it and bent one knee so that it would further the gap in her robe, displaying more of her leg and panties. His gasp told her that she had his complete attention.

Hiding her smile, she finished the game, hoping this would teach him a lesson about teasing her. “Well, I’m good now. Night.”

Jax easily slipped by the stunned fool and allowed the smile to break out on her face as she headed down the hallway. The jerk shouldn’t have started this game she thought, and she wouldn’t have had to finish it.

She barely got to Reven’s open door before she was snatched up and thrown onto his bed. She sat up quickly and faced the heavily breathing, angry man shutting the door and stalking towards her.

Jax swallowed roughly as the first heady scent of his arousal hit her. Yeah, she thought, I may have gone a little too far. It was confirmed moments later when Reven spoke to her through the Shengari’.

“You think to play these childish games and walk away unscathed? No, little brat, it does not work that way. Now it’s my turn.” Reven said with a growl as he leaned down and pressed her to the bed.

Jax considered kneeing him to get him off of her, but he must have expected it and used his lower body to trap her to the bed. Jax couldn’t stifle her groan at the feel of his hard heat pressed against her hip as his bare chest tempted her to touch him.

Unable to stop herself, Jax reached up and pressed her palm against his chest. His heat felt like it was branding her hand, and she gasped, jerking her hand away quickly.

Reven could feel her gathering her energy to fight him, and he was done fighting. Done pretending he didn’t want her with every breath he took and every fiber of his being.

“No, little brat. This time you will not fight me.” Reven said before he took her lips with his own.

All thought fled the moment he leaned down and his lips touched hers. Jax was lost amid a sea of sensation as his body pressed against hers fully and his tongue swept inside her mouth, teasing her and tempting her senses.

The feel of his body overwhelmed her, cocooning her in his heat and energy until she could no longer separate her arousal and need from his own.

Reven could feel her body relax beneath him, and he prayed that she would touch him again. He almost broke their kiss to shout in joy when Jax put both of her hands on his waist. Instead, he hissed in pleasure, his body grinding against her in encouragement.

Jax gasped when he pressed against her, pleasure and need seemed to shoot through her veins, and she couldn’t stop from running her hands from his waist to his chest. His muscles rippled, and his body trembled beneath her hands before she wrapped them around his back and pulled him closer.

Reven growled low, her willingness, submission and need overwhelming him. He knew, by reading her energy, that she was going to allow him to finally claim her, and he wasn’t going to give her a chance to change her mind.

He trailed kisses down the side of her neck, teasing her skin until she shivered in his arms. He tried to push her tank top out of his way, but the annoying thing refused to cooperate. Unwilling to break the tentative spell he had Jax under, he made a tear at the seam and worked it until he pulled the shirt off and threw it to the floor.

Jax moaned when the shirt came off, and she could feel the heat of his bare chest against her own. Without a thought, she pressed against him, holding him close as his heat and energy surrounded her and teased her to new heights.

She gasped when his hot mouth surrounded her nipple as his other hand moved down before throwing her panties to the floor. She moved her hands back to his waist and pushed at his pajama bottoms until they were past his sculpted ass.   

Reven pulled strongly at her nipple causing her to grasp his tight cheeks and pull him closer until they both groaned. He could scent her arousal; he knew she was ready for him, but he wanted more. He wanted to explore and touch all of her.    

He wanted to kiss the soft skin at the curve of her elbows and the back of her knees. Take his time kissing and licking her, finding the places that drove her wild. But, his Jax had other plans.

The moment she felt his heat pressed so close to her own; Jax shifted and rolled her hips until he was poised to enter her. Without hesitation, Jax pulled him down as she arched upward, impaling him just inside of her.

She gasped from the size and feel of him, trying to adjust while her energy melded with his, increasing the heat and need. Reven panted, trying to gather some control in the storm of passion that was rocking them both.

He thought he was doing well, until Jax pulled him down the rest of the way and seated him fully inside of her. The pleasure was almost too much as their energy danced and united, allowing each to feel the intensity and emotions the other was experiencing. Their energy pulsed and throbbed together as Reven pulled back slightly, before slamming back into her deep and hard.

That first thrust nearly caused Jax to lose it. It was so much more intense than she had ever expected, more so when she could experience the pleasure and joy Reven felt as well. It was hypnotizing, like finally coming home, and her soul and body screamed for more.

Reven had stopped for a moment to make sure she was adjusting to his size, but Jax was done waiting. There was no turning back, and she refused to stop now.

She grabbed his tight ass and pulled him closer, rolling her hips and making them both moan before whispering into his ear. “Don’t stop baby…”

Jax barely finished the sentence before Reven growled and set a furious pace that Jax easily kept up with. When one of them seemed to get too close, they would both back off and slow down, trying to make the pleasure last, as long as they could.

For Reven, it was a completion of his soul that he had never expected to be gifted with. He was so overwhelmed with emotion, his and hers, that he wanted to revel in it, for as long as he could. Jax had never felt so complete, giving and taking without any consideration of what would happen afterwards.

Reven could have gone until morning, but he could feel Jax begin to tire, and he increased the pace. This time when Jax attempted to slow them back down by tightening her legs around him, Reven leaned forward until he forced them apart again and moved even faster.  

He could feel her energy begin to unravel and knew she was getting close. Sitting back up without slowing his furious pace, Reven reached down and stroked her hard, slick nub. When Jax gasped and tried to bolt upright, he used his other hand to hold her back.

Jax almost screamed in frustration. She didn’t want it to end, but there was no fighting it. Reven knew the second Jax lost it, and he finally allowed himself to spill his heat deep inside of her. A part of him couldn’t help but hope that this incredible moment would create a child.