“Rafe’s very good with kids,” Mira said in a low voice.
Jazz tore her gaze from the stairs and faced the other woman. Mira stood with her hands linked loosely in front of her. Jazz swept her gaze over Mira. Her beauty was still as profound as the last time Jazz had seen her. Genetics had definitely been kind to her.
And she’d been Rafe’s lover.
Jazz shoved the thought deep before her jealousy could stir. From the way Rafe had worked her body, she’d known he was experienced. It’d be ignorant to think he didn’t have tons of ex-lovers around. It was just unfortunate one of them was staying in her house for at least the night. Tomorrow? She had no clue. Rafe had told her they needed to talk, but they hadn’t had a chance. The kids had needed her.
Mira stared at Jazz expectantly, obviously awaiting a response.
“Yes, very good,” Jazz forced herself to say.
“Your boys seem to like him too.”
“Yes, they do.”
Jazz slipped past Mira and walked toward the kitchen. Small talk with Rafe’s ex-lover was not on her list of things she wanted to do before bed.
Mira followed her, and Jazz silently cursed.
“I used to wonder how he’d be if we had kids.”
Jazz froze mid-step. “If you had his kids?”
“Well, yes.” Mira shrugged. “I couldn’t help it, especially when we were in bed together.”
She was talking about being intimate with Rafe. In front of his new lover. What kind of woman did that?
“And do you want to have his babies?” Was that the point of the conversation? That Mira wanted Rafe back?
“I considered it. One time when we were in bed together, I almost asked him to make me his, but—”
“Stop.” Jazz raised a hand. “I don’t want to hear it.”
Mira crossed her arms in front of her. “I’m sorry, Jazz. I didn’t mean to upset you. I’m not used to interacting with humans. Your beliefs are so different than mine. I don’t know what’s appropriate. Do I offer you tips on how to make Rafe wild or not?”
That was it. Jazz pointed toward the living room. “No tips. Just get away from me. I don’t want to look at you or talk to you.”
Mira flinched. “I see. When Devin gets back from patrolling the woods, I’ll have him drive me home.”
She turned and rushed toward the door, but not quick enough for Jazz to miss the tears in Mira’s eyes.
Great. Now, she was the insensitive one. Mira had just admitted to not knowing how to interact with humans. “Mira, wait. I shouldn’t have snapped at you. I’m sorry.”
Mira froze at the doorway. “I truly didn’t think anything of my relationship with Rafe. Sex doesn’t always mean attraction or love. Sometimes it’s just an escape. Something to chase away the loneliness. Sometimes it’s just an act to make babies.”
Jazz thought back to how Mira had stood apart from everyone and to the way she’d been so happy to talk to Jazz. It had felt good to laugh with another woman again.
Okay. If Rafe was going to make an effort to accept Josh, she could do the same with Mira.
Jazz moved to the sink and filled a glass, not because she was thirsty but to give her a moment to gather her thoughts. There was no good way to ask why Mira allowed Devin or Rafe’s brothers to order her around. Protection was one thing, but the display Jazz had witnessed went beyond that.
Jazz took a sip of water, then set the glass down. “So you’re not seeing anyone?”
Mira frowned.
Geez. Mira wasn’t kidding about not being used to humans. Didn’t she even watch television? Jazz sighed. “I mean you don’t have a boyfriend? Or a lover?”
“No lover. I haven’t been with anyone in a long time. I’m afraid to risk it.”
“Why?” Jazz straightened. “Would Devin or one of the other men hurt you if you took a lover?”
Mira laughed, and Jazz’s tension eased.
“Gods no. My family would never hurt me. Actually, Devin would be happy if I decided to take another mate. Then he wouldn’t have to watch out for me anymore.”
Mate. Jazz tried the word out. It sounded primitive and reminded her that the man she’d been sleeping with wasn’t really a man. He was a different species.
And what exactly did that mean for them? Could he mate her?
“So it’s common to have more than one mate?” It was for wild cats, at least.
With a grin on her face, Mira pushed away from the door. “See? This is what I mean. Our cultural differences can cause a misunderstanding.”
“Will you explain it to me?”
“You can only have one mate. It’s a physical and mystical bond.” Mira hopped on the counter. “Physically, your tie is through a mate bite. Mystically is a little harder to explain. It’s also different for human mates than it is for most shifters.”
“Shifters can take human mates then?”
Mira grinned. “Yes. Rafe can mate you.”
“Oh, well, that’s good to know.” Geez. She sounded as excited as she felt. Which was a lot. Jazz shook her head. Was it so wrong to be excited? She had been thinking about growing old with Rafe.
“It is good.” Mira’s smile widened, obviously guessing at the reason behind Jazz’s excitement. “Now, understand that there are two types of mate bond—one that’s strictly for breeding and one that’s based on love.”
“But if you can only take one mate—”
“—and you pick a partner for the wrong reasons, you’re stuck.” Mira nodded. “Exactly. That’s why it sometimes takes years and years before our males mate, but once they find their one, they never let her go. Our males will tie their females to them body and soul.”
“Like soul mates?”
The idea made Jazz’s belly flutter. She’d always dreamed that there was one person in the world she was meant to be with. She blamed it on reading too many romance novels, but it was the kind of thing fantasies were built on.
“Yes, soul bonding is
