Jase stepped over him, his gaze on Albert. “Problem?”
Albert nodded to Brenna. “Mine.”
Jase’s eyebrows rose. “I don’t think so.”
Albert’s smile widened to reveal another missing tooth. He clenched his hands into fists.
Real panic ripped through Brenna. “No, no, no. We’re not doing this. Everyone out of the restroom.”
Jase brushed her to the side, his gaze steady on Albert. Wood crumpled under his shoes. “Apparently, we are doing this. Anyone care to explain first?”
She gulped in air and grabbed his jacket, not sure where to look. “Albert is a Brenna’s Warrior who wants to mate. To save me.”
Jase pursed his lips in anticipation, his eyes lighting up. “I see. Why don’t you go find your sister? I’ll just be a moment here.”
Albert swung one beefy arm, and Jase shoved her out of the way, taking the hit. He staggered back, shaking his head. “Guy hits like a brick building.” Twisting, he jabbed Albert in the nose before following with an uppercut. Albert smashed into the wall, and shot back, arms swinging.
Brenna yelped and sidled out of the way. Conn had appeared to block spectators from the doorway.
The fight was brutal.
Albert had size and a bit of strength; Jase had speed, training, and pure fury. In the end, there was really no contest.
Jase shoved Albert back into the wall, stepping into his space. Albert’s eyes glazed, and he tried to bring up his left arm for a weak hit. Jase trapped it with his, took a second, and nailed Albert with his elbow. Albert dropped to the ground, out cold.
Jase turned toward her. Blood flowed from a cut in his forehead, danger etched in every line on his face.
She swallowed at the devastation in the bathroom and shook her head. “You’re always fighting.”
His eyes narrowed. “Every fight I’ve been in lately has been because of you.”
Her spine steeled. Well, hmmm. That was true. “Whatever.”
He stalked toward her and tilted her chin up with one knuckle. “There’s only one way to solve this. Tonight, we mate.”
Chapter 7
Brenna ditched her heels and padded from the kitchen, two tumblers in her hands. She gave one to Jase before sitting next to him on the sofa. “Kilbeggan whiskey.”
Jase nodded and sniffed the glass. “One of many Irish treats.” He swallowed, his throat moving. “Fifteen years old?”
“Yes.” Brenna sipped, allowing the smooth heat to slide down to her stomach. “I’m sorry I got you into another fight.”
He lifted a shoulder. “I like fighting.” The vampire had built a crackling fire while she’d been in the kitchen. He’d also removed his coat and tie, leaving his white dress shirt unbuttoned at the top. Very nice muscles filled out the sleeves and chest. “Though I’ve never brawled in a women’s restroom.”
“Me, either.”
He kept his gaze on the fire. The soft sounds of Celtic music enhanced the night. “Did taking my blood earlier today give you any extra strength?”
“No.” In fact, she’d already forgotten about taking his blood.
“I see.” He reached in his pocket and handed her a small box. “Take the pills.”
She flipped open the lid. Three pink pills sat on cotton. Flutters washed through her abdomen. “Three, huh? You must be a dynamo in bed.”
He didn’t smile. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Then stop treating me like fragile glass.”
“You’re more fragile than glass.”
Irritation snapped her chin up. “Perhaps. But I won’t shatter.”
He finally focused on her. “No. You’ll bruise and break.”
She frowned. “Vampires have mated with humans for centuries, and the pills aren’t used all the time.”
He rubbed his chin. “I know. But those matings are destined, and those vampires are in control. I’m not.”
She sat back and crossed her legs, the sparkly fabric stretching. “You need to get over yourself.”
Humor rode his exhale. “You’re not the first to say that.”
She eyed the door. “I’m surprised Moira isn’t here trying to interfere.”
“Conn won’t let her. We had a discussion earlier.” Jase downed the rest of his glass. “If this wasn’t necessary to save your life, I’m sure your family would stop it.”
“They’d
“All right.” His voice lowered to a timbre that licked along her skin. “If you won’t take the pills, drink your whiskey, Brenna.”
The way he said her name. As if she was the only person in existence, and as if he owned each letter. She took a deep breath to relax. There was no helping the thrumming through her veins or the softening of her thighs. Her mind was made up, and she wanted this to happen. So she tilted back her head and swallowed the potent malt.
A blast of heat flared in her stomach as the drink landed. Her body melted.
Jase’s powerful shoulders shifted, and he grasped her around the waist. Another smooth movement, and she sat on his lap, straddling him. Her dress rode up her legs, and an impressive erection rubbed against her.
She swallowed.
He reached up and removed the pins holding her hair. The mass fell down around her shoulders, and he brushed it away from her face.
“Are you sure?” he asked, his voice a low rumble.
Her lids dropped to half-mast. “I’m sure.”
His eyes flared. Gently, he removed her glasses, folded them, and set them on an end table. With a finger, he drew down one side of her dress before doing the same with the other side. Her breasts sprang free. The material stopped at her elbows, effectively pinning her. Intrigue caught on her breath.
He made a low noise in his gut and smoothed both hands over her breasts.
Electricity ripped down to her clit. She bit her lip to keep from groaning.
“You’re gorgeous, baby,” he whispered, brushing his thumbs across her nipples.
She breathed out, her mind spinning. Shrugging her shoulders, she lifted her arms free of the material, and the dress dropped to her waist.
Her hands trembled as she reached for his shirt buttons, and it took a minute to finish releasing the last one. She pushed the sides apart. Hard, defined muscle enhanced his broad chest—along with several scars. Deep, vicious, shattering, the knife and whip wounds showed his time of captivity.
It was too easy to say the wrong thing about his pain, so she kept silent. Unable to help herself, she leaned forward and kissed a long gash above his heart.
His breath hitched, and his hands tightened on her breasts. Then he tangled one hand in her hair and tugged. She lifted, her gaze meeting his.
Strength, anger, and vulnerability commingled in the vampire’s eyes. A dangerous cauldron of emotion. One she wasn’t powerful enough to protect against. So she did the only thing she could—she opened herself completely to him.
She ran her hand along the side of his face, her heart breaking when he turned into her palm. As if a gentle touch was too much for him to resist. Tears pricked the back of her eyes. “I won’t hurt you,” she whispered from somewhere deeper than the moment.
