Stone Cold Seduction

Chapter Nine

Jax cupped the back of my head in his hand. His kiss was gentle and searching. I relaxed against him, winding my arms around his neck. With a growl, he pulled me closer, and the kiss changed. His mouth became hot and possessive. When he pulled back a moment later, we were both breathing hard.

“I will keep you safe.”

I leaned my forehead against his shoulder, wanting to ignore the people and sounds around us. “I know, Jax.”

“You are my mate, my life.” His voice was quiet and hoarse.

I blinked back the moisture in my eyes. “You have to stop saying stuff like that. You have to give me time to catch up. I’ve only had a couple days to get used to the idea. You’ve had a lot longer.”

He drew in a breath to speak, but this time I stopped him with a finger to his lips. I leaned back and looked into those silver, gray eyes. “Whenever you say things like that, I go mushy inside. I don’t think I can afford to be mushy right now. And anyway, we need to get going.” I tugged on his hand, forced a smile for the people who’d stopped to watch our kiss, and started walking in the direction of my apartment.

After a block had passed, he said, “I’m sorry. I can’t help it. But you’re right. I need to give you time, and I will.”

“Thanks.” I smiled up at him and gave his hand a quick squeeze. “When we get back to my apartment, I need to look over the shop, check the cash register to make sure Cassie has enough change, and pull a little more stock.”

Jax let go of my hand so he could wrap an arm around my shoulders. “I’ll do that while you pack.”

He scanned the sidewalk and streets continually. His arm was relaxed, but the stance was deceptive. He studied each face we passed, not missing a single detail. I felt safe with him in bodyguard mode.

“What will I need in Scotland?”

“Warm clothes.” The corners of his eyes crinkled in amusement before he resumed his watchful vigil. “Carys lives outside of Inverness. Since it’s October, I believe it’s a little cold and wet right now.”

“How’s that different from Seattle?”

“It’s not much different, just colder. Pack warm. Think wool sweaters.” Jax pulled me to a stop at an intersection, and we waited for the pedestrian signal to change.

Wool sweaters? They definitely weren’t a wardrobe staple of mine.

We walked the rest of the blocks in silence. I didn’t want to distract him, and I didn’t mind the quiet. When we arrived at my building, I locked us inside by throwing every rusty deadbolt my street-level door had. Jax stayed in the shop while I trudged upstairs.

I opened the hall closet and grabbed my small suitcase. There wasn’t a single wool sweater in my closet, so I’d have to make do without. I let my mind wander aimlessly while I packed the necessities. I am a big fan of packing light. The less I take, the less I have to pack home. And I was hoping this would be a quick trip.

Rummaging around my bathroom, I grabbed my toiletries and makeup. I piled everything into the suitcase and stared at it, just knowing I’d forgotten something important.

The token.

I ran down the stairs and found Jax stocking the soaps.

“Hey, I need to grab the token, then I’m ready.”

Famous last words.

By the time we made it to Jax’s apartment, it was almost four o’clock, and I was exhausted and starving.

He unlocked the door and ushered me inside. Curiosity overrode my exhaustion. This was the first time I’d seen his apartment, and it didn’t disappoint. There were few furnishings in the living room. A big leather couch, a recliner, and a big screen television. Typical bachelor pad. Rich, dark brown paint covered the walls, making the white crown molding really stand out. It gave the room a sophisticated feel, despite the lack of personal décor.

I wandered into the kitchen, where Jax was flipping through take-out menus.

“You must have heard my stomach growling. That’s a serious stack of menus. I take it you don’t cook much.”

He kept shuffling. “Not if I can help it. Do you have a preference?”

“Comfort food, please.” I saw his lips twitch in amusement. While he placed our order, I wandered around his kitchen. His was more spacious than mine, but didn’t have that same cozy, lived-in feel. The counters were bare, save for a coffee maker and toaster. Stainless steel appliances gave the room a modern feel. Overall, it was a nice place.

Jax hung up. “Let me show you where you can put your stuff.”

He snagged my suitcase when we walked past the front door. I followed him into the master bedroom. A king-sized bed dominated the middle of the room. The walls were painted a deep, ocean blue shade. Paired with the white crown molding, it was a striking effect. A dresser and a nightstand were the only other furniture.

“The bathroom is the door to the right of the bed.”

I couldn’t take my eyes off the bed. It was huge, with a graphite gray comforter and mounds of pillows.

“You like pillows?” I teased.

I saw the faint hint of color on his cheeks. “They matched the blankets. The sales lady was persistent.”

I laughed. He was so cute and sexy when he blushed. “At least we’ll be comfortable.”

I caught the glint of silver in his eyes, before he set my suitcase down by his dresser. “Feel free to put your stuff anywhere you want. I’ll just go wait for the food.”

I was a little surprised when he walked out abruptly, leaving me alone. In the bedroom. Confused, I followed him out. “Jax?”

He was standing at the window, looking out at the city. I walked up beside him, noting his stiff posture. His deep voice was soft when he finally spoke. “I’ve played this scene out in my head so many times.”

“What scene?”

“Bringing you home. To my home.”

I threaded my fingers through his and squeezed, but remained silent.

“I was ten when I received my fate. I’ve known about you for the last twenty-four years. I know I’ve only been in your life for the last two months, but you’ve been in mine for much longer.” He rubbed his thumb along mine, where our fingers interlaced.

I tried to imagine what that must be like. He’d had most of his life to get used to the idea of not only having a mate, but having me as a mate. “I…”

“You don’t have to say anything. I just need you to know. To be patient with me if I get a little…overprotective or jealous. Because you’ve always been mine.” I saw his sincerity and internal struggle reflected in his eyes. My heart ached for him.

“My family was killed when I was thirteen. All of them.” His voice had a rough edge to it.

That rendered me speechless. He’d been an orphan at thirteen? I couldn’t imagine being on my own at that age. I ran my thumb back and forth across his palm in a soothing caress. “What happened?”

He went silent and resumed his watch over the city. I wasn’t going to press the issue. If he didn’t want to talk about it, I understood better than most. I tried a different topic. “Tell me about being a gargoyle.”

“What do you want to know?” He sat on the couch, and I snuggled up to his side. Wrapping an arm around me, he let my head settle on his shoulder, right above his heart.

I had so many questions. Where to start? “What abilities do you have? What do you use them for? Why do you have an alliance with the shadow elves? Do you have an Achilles heel? That sort of thing.”

“You want to know everything, you mean.” I could hear amusement in his voice.

“You’re my mate, so yes. Pretty much everything.” His hold on me tightened for a minute with my declaration. I could hear the solid beat of his heart. The connection I felt with Jax was becoming more apparent. The attraction had been instant, I can’t deny that. But I now noticed the subtle changes in his breath, his stance, and his tone. I needed to touch him for reassurance and comfort. For both of our sakes. I wondered if the mate connection had been there for the last two months, and I’d just been too oblivious to notice.

Regardless, I was noticing now.

“As you’ve already seen, we turn to stone. We have excellent night vision. And as Teryl said, we’re good at fighting. When we’re stone, we are indestructible.”

“From everything?”

“Yes,” he said. “Bullets, knives, fists. You name it. And as you noticed, I can fly.”

“I’m not going to forget that anytime soon.” It had freaked me out at the time. But a part of me now wanted to see what his wings looked like, spread out. Another thought occurred to me. “Can you shift whenever you want or only when you get mad?”

I could hear the low sound of his laughter. “I can shift at will, but strong emotions can cause that reaction. You can also shift me.”

I thought about that for a moment. “Why is that part of my magic? I mean, what does that gain me or you? Is it just a mate thing, or can all shadow elves do that?”

His hand rubbed my arm absently. “Many shadow elves can do it, but not fully. They might be able to make a gargoyle’s hand shift, or bring their wings out, but not a complete shift.”

“I only shifted your hand.”

“Yes, but I only asked you to focus on that. If I asked you to shift me completely, you could. And you would do it with far less effort than most. Our mate connection does help, but that’s not all of it.” He rubbed his chin on the top of my head. “The benefit for the shadow elves is that they gain control over a gargoyle’s ability to shift to stone and back. Some of the stronger gargoyles cannot be shifted by most shadow elves. The stronger the family line, the more resistance they have.”

I pulled away so I could look at his face. “Can gargoyles do anything to shadow elves? Because that seems really one-sided.”

“We can amplify your abilities.” His mouth shifted into the semblance of a smile. “But only if we choose to.”

“Okay, that’s confusing. Shadow elves can force you to shift, and in return, you can give them more power to shift you?”

“No, only certain abilities, such as shadowing.” His expression turned serious. “Our abilities have declined as much as any line, so it now applies almost exclusively to shadowing. The relationship has to be mutually beneficial. Which is why we’re in alliance with the shadow elves. And also because we’re naturally talented at protection. We can form a protective shield.”

“Like a force field?”

He laughed quietly. “Not exactly. It’s difficult to describe, and I hope I never have to show you. It’s a reactive response to danger. Instinct takes over, and we become a living shield. That would be useful to someone like your father.”

I didn’t know if I liked the sound of that. “Are you still indestructible in that form?”

“For the most part,” he hedged.

“What does that mean?”

The sound of the doorbell gave him an excuse to stand up.

“Saved by the bell,” I muttered, as he went to get the food. I’d let him drop the subject for now. The carbs were calling my name.

Jax had ordered from a café that specialized in comfort food. He served dinner in the living room, like a bachelor. We ate their homemade, gourmet macaroni and cheese on the coffee table. I moaned with heartfelt appreciation after the first bite.

Twenty minutes later, my appetite was sated, and I curled up against Jax. It was quickly becoming my new favorite place to be. “Thank you for dinner. You didn’t answer all my questions, though.”

“You’re welcome. And Teryl’s books should be able to give you more information than I can.”

Fatigue made my eyelids heavy. I nodded at him. “Okay.” I hid a yawn behind one hand. I had no problem with waiting. I was too tired to absorb much more information anyway. “I know it’s still early and I hate to be rude, but do you mind if we go to bed?”

He picked me up before I could protest. “Little gem, I’ve wanted to carry you to my bed for years.”

I smiled and tucked my head into the curve of his neck. “Oh, well, in that case.”

He laid me gently on the bed. With utmost care, he removed my clothes and wrapped the soft, thick comforter around me. “I’m going to lock up. I’ll be back in a minute.”

Lying in his huge, comfy bed, I felt safe. In the face of my father, my unknown magic, the hunters, the trip to Scotland, and everything else, I actually felt safe. With a smile on my face, exhaustion pulled me under.

§

I woke to the feel of a large, warm body wrapped around my back. A well-muscled arm rested around my waist, and warm breath teased the back of my neck. I could hear the sound of Jax’s deep, steady breathing, so I knew he was still asleep. My hand was loosely curled around his, and our feet were tangled.

This is what I’d loved the other day. I couldn’t help the feeling of happiness that bubbled inside.

I knew the instant Jax woke. His arm tightened around me briefly. “Good morning, my gem.”

I rolled toward him. “Morning.”

We smiled at each other, and I noticed his gray eyes had little flecks of silver, even when he was relaxed. His black hair was a little messy, and made him look even sexier.

My hair was tangled and matted, and I’m sure my eyes were puffy from sleep. But Jax looked at me as if I were the most beautiful woman in the world. His hand smoothed my hair out of my face, and he leaned in for a soft kiss.

The second before our lips touched, his stomach growled.

I laughed and settled back onto the pillow. “Sounds like we need to get you breakfast.”

His slow smile turned wicked as he leaned in. “I would settle for…”

The phone rang, effectively ruining the moment.

He clenched his jaw and rolled away. “Give me one minute.”

I watched in appreciation as he walked, naked and magnificent, to the dresser to grab the phone. I paid little attention to his clipped end of the conversation. My gaze traveled leisurely over him. The man had an amazing physique.

I heard him sigh, and he offered me an apologetic look before walking out of the bedroom. Oh well. I’d hop in the shower, and then see about getting us some breakfast.

His bathroom was as masculine as the rest of the house. The oversized shower was amazing. I let the shower head spray me with deliciously hot water for ten minutes. I imagined my tension and worry washing away, so I could give my full attention to the travel ahead.

I was pulling on a pair of jeans when Jax walked back into the room. He looked so disappointed, I laughed. “Don’t worry, I’ll make us breakfast and make up for it later.”

He took the towel from me so I could pull my shirt on. “The shadow elves reported four souls missing last night and have increased the price on your head.”

That was not the news I wanted to hear. “My father managed that in a single night?”

“Yes, he probably waited for word of the gemstones to hit before announcing his loss. Teryl will pick us up in about forty-five minutes.”

There was nothing to get upset about yet. The hunters hadn’t found me. I just had to stay fixated on finding my fate. I forced a smile. “Okay, I’ll fix us something to eat while you get ready.”

“I don’t have much for breakfast.”

I released a mock sigh. “Typical bachelor. Will I find more than beer and mustard in your fridge?”

That earned me a slight smile. “I think I have eggs and bread.”

“Any cinnamon and sugar?”

“Ah, I might.”

I patted his firm butt. “Get ready. I’ll whip up breakfast.”

Before I could take two steps, he snagged my arm and pulled me back for a scorching hot kiss. When he finally released me, I swayed a little, dazed. “What was that for?”

“I liked waking up next to you.”

I touched my tingling lips. “Yeah, me, too.” I stood there for another moment, then hitched a thumb over my shoulder. “I…uh, I’ll just go get breakfast started.”

His deep chuckle followed me down the hall.

I managed to find everything I needed to make French toast. He even had a skillet. If I were a betting woman, I’d say he’d never cooked on it, but he got credit for having one in the first place. Humming to myself, I dished up a couple slices of perfectly golden toast.

Plate in hand, I turned around to find Jax inches from me. “Oh! Hi.”

“You made French toast?”

“Yes, you even have syrup in your fridge.”

He grinned sheepishly. “It’s for the frozen waffles I buy.”

I pointed at the table. “Go eat some real food, and I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”

My phone rang just as we finished. I answered on the second ring. “Hey Teryl, we’re all set.”

“I’m downstairs in a cab. You guys need to hurry.” His voice was hushed and tense.

Jax arched a brow and I knew he’d heard Teryl’s end of the conversation.

“Why, what’s wrong?”

All I heard was static and the words “hunter” and “be here soon.” Jax lived on the third floor, but we didn’t bother with the elevator. We grabbed our meager luggage and rushed down three flights of stairs.

Teryl was standing at the trunk of the cab in front of the building and waved us over. “Hurry, we’ve got to get out of here.”

We stuffed our bags in and piled into the back seat. Teryl leaned toward the cab driver. “Sea-Tac airport.”

The cab driver nodded and fiddled with the radio until the sound of the Eagles filled the cab.

“What’s going on?” I asked softly.

“Jax told you about the latest theft?” When I nodded, he gave me a tight smile, before looking away. “Someone just issued a kill order. Dumb asses.”

I couldn’t hide my shocked gasp. I saw the driver’s gaze flick back to us in the rear view mirror. I pasted a fake smile on my face until he looked back at the road.

“That’s a sick joke,” I hissed at Teryl.

“It’s not a joke.” His gaze softened. “We need to get you to Carys, fast.”

I turned to Jax. “How good are the hunters at tracking?”

His eyes were streaked with silver and his lips were pressed into a thin line. He was silent for a full minute before he said, “Most are good, but a few are very good.”

Nausea rolled through me, and I closed my eyes. So much for washing my tension and worries away. I took a deep, shaky breath. If we could just get in the air and on our way to Scotland, we’d be okay. That’s what I wanted to believe.

“How many layovers do we have?” I asked.

Teryl pulled a printout from his coat pocket. He scanned the page. “Ah…looks like we touch down in Las Vegas for a two-hour layover, then London for four hours, then finally, Inverness Airport. If I’m calculating the time differences right, that is.”

“They can’t find us that fast, can they?” I was really hoping for a break, even a small one.

Jax scanned the streets as we made our way through Seattle. “A few might.”

I sat back and stared straight ahead. There were times when I wished Jax didn’t have to be quite so honest.

Teryl leaned across me. “Jax, if you have names, I might be able to figure out where they’re at and buy us more time.”

I eyed him. “You can do that?”

“Maybe. I’m not usually good at locating people, but I can find objects. Each hunter has a…”

I barely stopped myself from asking what. I didn’t want to know. I really didn’t want to know.

“Weapon,” Jax finished for him. “Yes. Maura will have her dagger, she calls it Drust. And Falon will have his gun, Enforcer. I don’t know what Altair uses. Blythe also has a dagger. Reaper, I think she calls it. And Luke”—Jax grabbed my trembling hand and kept talking—“I don’t know what Luke uses, either. Those are the only hunters who are capable of finding us this quickly.”

“Obsidian knife,” I said.

The weight of their gazes hit me. I had to swallow a few times before I could repeat myself. “Luke has an obsidian knife.”

“Elle, honey, I hate to ask you, but it will help me a lot. Does he have a name for it?”

My lips were dry and I was so cold. Why did fear have to be so cold?

“Princess,” I whispered. “He calls it Princess.”