Destined (War of the Covens 2)

Jae snorted. “Yeah, right. You barely even noticed me.”

His hand slid down her waist to her hip and he squeezed her to him. “I’m noticing you now,” he growled.

Giggling, she shifted away from him. “I think we better cut that out before you deflower me.”

“Deflower you?” He quirked an eyebrow. “Does that mean …”

She blushed. She couldn’t believe she was having this conversation with Ryder. “Yes.” She heaved an exaggerated sigh. “I am a virgin. Scared?”

His eyes darkened, and she shivered as he shook his head, his throat thick with a possessiveness that should have alarmed her, and yet only stirred the heat in her. “Glad,” he managed, seeming just as surprised. “I think I’d have to take the head off any other guy who had touched you.”

She smiled. “How caveman of you.”

“Yeah, you love it.” He grabbed her and nipped playfully at her lips.

Jae melted into him and would have happily let him do what he would with her, but somehow Ryder shook himself into focus enough to sit back on the other bed.

He shrugged ruefully at her questioning look. “It’s safer.”

She blushed again as she tried to articulate what she wanted. “I wouldn’t mind, if we—”

“I would, sweetheart.” He cut her off with a soft look. “I want you. But as my mate.”

Jae nodded, shocked that somehow this three-day car journey with Ryder had turned into a long-ago fantasy she’d had before Ethan took her. A sense of peace washed through her as she looked at Ryder. With him beside her, maybe she really would be okay.

She snuggled deep into her pillow as he talked. For hours they laughed and chatted about everything and nothing, until eventually she fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

RAP, RAP, RAP.

Ryder bolted out of bed, his gaze going straight to Jae to make sure she was all right. Sunlight streamed through holes in the motel room curtains, shooting shafts across her golden skin. A tingling ran through him as he remembered the night before. He smiled. She was one step closer to being his.

RAP, RAP, RAP.

Jae was coming around at the banging on the door. Ryder cursed, creeping toward the door.

“Who—”

He held a finger to his lips to cut off Jae’s question as she sat up, pushing her thick hair off her face.

Who was banging on their door? No one knew they were here.

“Jaeden, it’s me!” a strong male voice yelled through the wood.

Ryder tensed as Jae gasped, “Reuben?”

She flew from her bed and knocked Ryder out of the way so she could throw open the door. The next thing he knew, his female was in the arms of some tall, built, dark-haired vampyre. Ryder growled. He wasn’t an expert on the subject, but he was guessing the vamp would be considered good-looking.

Jaeden must’ve heard him growl because she pulled back from the vampyre and turned to him now. “Ryder, this is Reuben. I told you about him.”

Ah, yes, the vamp who talked her into breaking coven laws—the vamp who wanted something more than just friendship. He had never considered himself the possessive type, but all of a sudden, he understood why Lucien got as crazy as he did whenever another male came on to Caia. His arm shot out of its own accord, and he pulled Jaeden into his side. She groaned at his obvious display of jealousy, but right now he didn’t care if it irritated her.

He glared at Reuben, whose dark eyes were narrowed on him. “What are you doing here?”

The vampyre straightened and spoke calmly, “I was worried about Jaeden. I came to check she was all right.”

“Some tracking skills you’ve got there.”

Reuben didn’t respond, just stared at him with a practiced bland expression.

Jae was right. This vampyre, despite looking about twenty-four, was old. And that meant he was dangerous.

“You’ve seen she’s all right. Now leave.”

“Ryder.” Jaeden smacked him lightly on the chest in admonishment. “Stop.” She turned to smile at Reuben. “I’m fine. But you’re here now, so why don’t we grab some breakfast together?”

Reuben smiled at her. “Sounds wonderful.”

“Sounds crap.”

Jae snorted. “Reuben, this is Ryder. Please forgive him and his lack of manners. He’s a Neanderthal.”

“He’s just being protective.”

Hey, he didn’t need the vamp sticking up for him. He was about to say so when Jaeden clamped a knowing hand across his mouth. Her eyes smiled at him, and he relaxed, wanting nothing more than to kiss her good morning.

“Can you stay quiet long enough to get dressed so we can meet Reuben at the diner?”

He nodded reluctantly and waited, secretly amused, as she turned back to the vamp to direct him to the motel’s diner, her hand still tight across his mouth.

The door closed behind the vamp and she released him.

Before she said a word, he had her backed up against the door as he devoured her mouth with a hot kiss. Finally, he pulled back, enjoying the way her chest heaved from his attentions.