Fire in the Smokies

didn’t it? It was certainly plausible they’d need the battery later.

Brianna sighed. “So you’re a wolf. And I’m not dead.”

“Correct.” He paused. “You okay?”

“Me?” She laughed. “I’m not the one afraid of the dark.”

“Now you’re confused.” Jaxon wrapped his arms around her middle below her breasts and held her tight. “I’m not remotely afraid of the dark, baby. I don’t even actually know darkness. I can see fine. It’s tight places I could do without.”

“So, you’re claustrophobic.” She set her palms on his thighs and he had to work hard not to jump. Did she have any idea what she did to him?

“Hmm, I guess so. If you tell anyone, I’ll deny it though.” He kissed her neck again while he smiled. Was this okay with her? Was she feeling the connection too?

“That’s a laugh.” She tipped her head to one side, giving him better access to her neck. Her fingers bit into his thighs where she gripped him. “If I made a list of all the things about you worth mentioning, claustrophobia wouldn’t even make the short list.”

This time when Jaxon laughed, his body shook enough to cause his hands to brush against her breasts. His amusement got cut off quick at the contact. He swallowed. The woman was all firm muscle, except her chest. His fingers grazed the softer flesh, not for the first time, and he wanted desperately to cover her entirely with his palms.

She wasn’t wearing a bra. His dick grew hard thinking about the thin layer of her shirt between his hands and her nipples.

Brianna squirmed against him. His cock stiffened further.

“So, what do you do? When you aren’t out saving firefighters from caves.”

“My brothers and I have a farm outside Pigeon Forge. We raise thoroughbreds.”

“You live with your brothers?”

“Yes, Sergius is one year older than me. Micah, two years younger. We’re very close.”

“How close?” She grew rigid.

The woman had a sense of humor. Well, actually, she was probably serious, but she made him laugh, nonetheless. “Not that close. We just don’t know any other wolf shifters in the area, so we stick together. We came here ten years ago, built our cabin, and love it here.”

“Sounds lonely.”

“Oh, we aren’t lonely. In fact, my older brother Sergius mated about six months ago. Juliana is fantastic. She lives with us now too.”

“Your brother got married and you all live in the same house? Why doesn’t he move out?”

“It’s a big house. Everyone has plenty of privacy. Besides, it’s safer for Juliana that we all stick together.” Now why did I have to go and mention that?

“Safer from what?” Brianna turned toward him as though she could see him. Her lips were inches from his. It was the perfect time to put an end to this line of questioning. The last thing he needed right now was to explain vampires to her. She hadn’t finished swallowing the shapeshifter addition to her life yet.

Jaxon closed the gap and set his lips against hers. Her warm, soft mouth forced a low moan from deep inside him. What the hell? He didn’t moan. Not even when having sex.

Jaxon tilted his head to one side and took possession of her more thoroughly. She opened for him. He licked the seam of her lips and then reached inside for more.

Brianna twisted farther and gripped his arms. She met him halfway, not showing any signs of stopping the mind-numbing kiss.

And that’s what it was. In fact, Jaxon could feel his brother Sergius trying to communicate with him, but he couldn’t quite make the connection. He didn’t want to. Sergius would have to wait.

Brianna pressed her chest against his. God, how he wanted their shirts to disappear into the ether.

After long moments, his mate pulled back. She set her forehead against his. She’d squirmed her way sideways across his lap. Her thigh pressed against his dick.

“You’re like a drug. I can’t even think.” Her words puffed out of her mouth as though she’d been running. “Who kisses a man she just met in a cave in the dark? What am I, twelve? It must be the stress of the situation making me lose my mind.”

“I sincerely hope you aren’t twelve. That’s…ew. And you’re my mate. It’s controlling you. You wouldn’t be able to help the attraction you feel toward me no matter where we were or what the circumstances.”

“Jaxon.” The voice of Serg nearly shouted into Jaxon’s mind.

“What?”

“Where are you? Why aren’t you communicating with me? You had me worried.”

“Kinda busy right now is all. I’m in the cave. The smoke was overwhelming and we had to move deeper. We’re safe.”

“You sound funny. What is making you ‘busy’?” Sergius laughed into Jaxon’s head. “Did you encounter more than a fireman in that cave? You sound out of breath as if… Wait… Don’t tell me…” Now he laughed so hard Jaxon cringed.

“Are you done?”

“Me? I’m not the one screwing a fireman. Is he hot?”

“He is a she. And yes, she’s hot. She’s my mate.”

“Whoa… The fireman is a woman? Now why didn’t I think of that?”

“Well, I didn’t either. And believe me I was worried when I realized she was my mate and still thought she was a man.”

“I’ll bet.” Serg laughed again. “Okay. Listen. You are good and trapped for a while. The flames are really high and pressing against those caves with no end in sight. Thank God you got in there when you did.”

“Yeah, I’m not sure my feisty mate truly needed my help. In fact, I’m probably holding her back with my aversion to tight spaces. But I’m not sorry I’m here.” Jaxon squeezed his mate and pulled her head onto his shoulder.

“I’m laughing my ass off, dude. Mr. I’m-not-claiming-a-woman-in-this- lifetime.”

“Go ahead. Get it out of your system.” Jaxon wasn’t laughing. He did, however, deserve any ribbing his brothers dished out. “Are you done yet?”

“No. But we have more important things to consider. Guess who’s in town?”

“Are you kidding? Now? Could that possibly be a coincidence?”

“In my opinion, nothing Keeton McKinney does is a coincidence.”

“How did you find out he was around? Has he hurt anyone?” Jaxon tensed.

“No, we sensed him. He’s lurking around the area. But, I will say one thing, Micah and I have been taking turns following him and he isn’t going anywhere near that fire.”

“Huh. Now that is interesting. Do you suppose he’s afraid of flames?” Could they have stumbled on a weakness in the vampire who thought he owned these mountains?

“I’m hoping he’s a whole lot more than afraid of them.” Sergius’s voice was serious. “We’ll keep tabs on his location. I just wanted you to know. He isn’t approaching the fire, but he is watching like a hawk. He surely knows you’re in there, and he’s circling the area.”

“Great. Thanks for the info.”

Jaxon jolted when he realized someone was calling his name.

“Jaxon? Hello? Earth to Jaxon?” His mate wasn’t just calling his name, she was practically screaming.

“Yes?”

“God, Jax. Where were you? I’ve been talking to you. You were in some sort of trance or something.”

“Sorry, baby. I was talking to my brother.”

“Your brother? Oh, telepathically. Were you serious?”

“Yes, he was updating me on the fire. We’re stuck for a while. Surrounded by flames.”