His Darkest Hunger (Jaguar Warriors 1)

His double meaning wasn’t lost on her, and Libby shook her head sadly. “I don’t think anything will ever be the same again, Cracker. But thank you for your kind words.”

“Hey, old man, you gonna let me say a proper hello to Blondie here?”

Aware of the dark eyes boring a hole into her back, Libby encircled Jagger in a far more intimate embrace then she normally would have, but the devil was licking at her toes and she answered his call recklessly.

Jaxon’s brother was almost a duplicate, when it came to his features, but he was larger both in height and in bulk. She felt the hard muscles tense at her forward greeting, but they quickly softened and she laughed up into the wicked green eyes that regarded her closely. They glinted with both open warmth and something devilish, which manifested itself as his grin widened and he reciprocated, wrapping his long arms around her like a silky net.

She was crushed against him, and he laughed softly against her neck, “I better behave myself or he’s going to blow.” Gently, she was released, and a genuine feeling of warmth had her pausing. It was tinged with sadness at the realization that it was a reaction she hadn’t felt in a long while.

Jagger had never been part of their unit in PATU. He was overseas in Iraq most of the time she’d been with his brother. She’d met him several months after joining Jaxon’s unit. He had come home on leave, and they instantly clicked. He was a tough soldier and deadly at his job, and if you were part of his inner circle, he was loyal to the bitter end.

She had always liked that about Jagger. There was no second guessing. He was a no bullshit kinda guy.

Critically, Libby ran her eyes over him. He’d become one hell of a sexy specimen. He had matured. There was no longer any hint of boyishness about him…well, until he smiled. The eyes were still devastating, but there was something there; a void, a wariness that she could sense because it was akin to the feelings that coursed deep inside her.

Cupping his face with her hands, she could see the pain that he tried to hide from everyone. It called to her. It was so like her own. “Jagger, you’ve grown up.”

His eyes softened and he chuckled. “Well, you look exactly as I remember. You’re still the same hot little blonde that Jaxon would never leave me alone with.”

Libby shook her head. They both knew that was a bald-faced lie, but she appreciated the sentiment.

He

was a charmer, for sure, and she wondered if there was anyone in his life. Then she sighed inwardly. He was a jaguar warrior, and in so many ways just like his brother. She wasn’t sure it was in their genetic makeup to trust and to love.

“When you’re done copping a feel over there, Jagger,” Jaxon said, “I’d like to have a few minutes of your time. If it’s not too much trouble.”

The sarcastic words elicited a wide grin from the younger Castille. He winked down at Libby and whispered as he moved away, “This is gonna be fun. He’s already frothing at the mouth, and I haven’t even begun to work it.”

Libby turned around, her violet eyes flashing as they connected with the Jaxon’s. Clearly, he was pissed, and he looked dangerous as all hell. She felt a shiver course through her, and as his eyes dropped to her chest, the tightening of her nipples crested against the thin T-shirt that she wore.

When his eyes met hers again, they were lit with an inner fire that was part madness and most definitely tinged with desire.

She felt her stomach flutter but did not break eye contact, instead following slowly behind Jagger. The large parchment they had spread out was a detailed map of Mexico and several surrounding countries, including Honduras and Belize.

She felt that little flip inside her once more, and nervous tension washed over her in waves. She could see they had red-flagged an area on the south-east side of Mexico, near Cozumel. There were also a series of red-flagged areas in Guatemala, Honduras, and Belize.

Libby felt a slow burn begin as she studied the map. None of the red flags were anywhere near where they needed to be. The burn intensified, and her gut contracted as anger flushed through her veins. Her breathing increased, and the sound of her heart beating fast in her breast was so loud, she was sure everyone in the room heard.

It was obvious what was going on, and she was having none of it. This was her mission. Not his. He thought to leave without her? Christ, he didn’t even know where to look.

Her fury burst forth. “What the hell are you doing, Castille?” she demanded, and once more five pairs of eyes landed on her.

She crossed over to him in seconds, and her hand arced out, sweeping the map from the table. Just as quickly, Jaxon’s large hand snaked out and he grabbed hold of her arm in a steel grip. She wanted to cry out as pain radiated down from her wrist, but clenched her teeth, her hatred and anger spewing forth from her eyes.

“Leave us,” Jaxon growled menacingly, and cast a dark look at the others, who appeared stunned by the ferocity of his order. The cold tone of his voice brooked no arguments, and one by one they cleared the area, leaving the two of them alone. Ana cast a sly look toward Libby on her way out, and Libby fought the urge to stick her tongue out at the vampire as she disappeared into the basement.

“Are you going to let go or are you trying to crush my wrist?”

Jaxon cursed and loosened his grip, drawing a rough hand through the messy crop of hair atop his head. He started to speak, and she watched him slowly gain control of the fierce emotions at war inside him.

“I’ve made arrangements for you to be taken to a safe place until this is all over. As soon as the transport arrives, we’ll head out.”

“You will not keep me from going to Belize. You will not.”

She was breathing hard, and began to pace as anxiety ravaged her limbs. She was like a junkie coming down from a high, and she sure as hell wasn’t ready for it.

“I told you last night I was going. I guess you didn’t listen too well, because I also said I would kill anyone that stands in my way. And that includes you, Jaxon. Don’t think for one second I would hesitate to put a bullet through your brain if you dared to try and keep me here.”