Jace inched up the volume, but the sound was too muffled for him to make out what they were saying. No one was lunging to put Ellison or Deni in cuffs, fortunately. Just cops talking to citizens, citizens who happened to be Shifters.
Jace sat down on the couch, unwilling to look away. He hugged Deni’s picture to him almost without realizing it. He was still hugging it when the cops finally left the house and Deni came downstairs to find him.
* * *
Jace was off the couch and at the bottom of the stairs as soon as Deni stepped off them. Deni found herself caught in a hard hug, Jace lifting her from her feet.
“It’s all right, Jace,” she said quickly. “I’m all right.”
Jace growled and buried his face in her neck. Deni held him, the solidness of his body against hers slowing her racing heart.
“You touched stuff,” Ellison said, half joking. He went past Jace, snatched the remote off the couch, and clicked off the television. He started to close the cabinet door and stopped. “You touched more stuff.”
Deni took the framed photo of herself from Jace’s hand. She had to tug at it before he blinked and let it go, as though he’d forgotten he was clutching it so tightly. Deni handed it to Ellison, who restored it to the cabinet, not before giving Jace a sharp look.
“Did you hear what they said?” Deni asked.
“Not well.” Jace released her from the hug and took a firm hold of her hand. “I only saw they didn’t arrest you, thank the Goddess. What happened?”
“They’re interested in what Shifters have been up to lately,” Ellison said. “Very interested. Looking at identification, asking where we’re working, what we’re doing when we’re not.”
“Have to wonder why they’re asking all the sudden,” Jace said. “Right after I arrived. I don’t believe in coincidences.”
“Neither do I.” Ellison and Jace shared a grim look. “I hate to say this, but you’d better stay down here awhile. They’re roving Shiftertown, and probably won’t be leaving soon.”
Deni saw the flash in Jace’s eyes, the wild look she saw in herself sometimes. Trapped.
She touched his arm. “I’ll stay here with you.”
Jace’s look changed in an instant to something hungry and raw, his eyes going very light green. “You shouldn’t.”
“You’re hurting.” Deni put her fingers to the red marks around his Collar but she didn’t touch them. “Because of this?”
“I don’t know.” Jace’s hand was sweating, slick against hers. “I think so.”
“I knew Liam was crazy,” Ellison said. “Going on about releasing us from Collars. I’m going to go get Dylan, have him look in on you.”
“Be careful,” Deni said.
Ellison tipped an imaginary cowboy hat. “I’m always careful, ma’am,” he drawled, then went past them and up the stairs.
“Let’s sit down.” Deni started to lead Jace to the sofa, but he didn’t budge. His body was strong, a boulder she couldn’t move.
“Den, you should get out of here.” His grip was tight, his hand hot.
Deni’s heart beat faster as she touched his wrist and found his pulse banging beneath her fingers. “I think I should stay. Ellison will be right back.”
“No, go!” Jace pushed at her, his breath coming fast. “If you stay, I don’t know what I’ll do. I want you—last night wasn’t enough. I want it hard, and I want it now. Don’t let me take it from you.”
Deni let go of his hand, but she remained squarely in front of him. A Shifter going feral and feeling mating frenzy was a dangerous thing. Jace could do anything, even kill her, if he was crazed enough. She understood that.
On the other hand, in mating frenzy, only the mate kept a Shifter from completely losing his mind. She thought of Jace behind her on the motorcycle, warming her and giving her the strength to cut through her fears and get them home. He’d been with her every second, and he’d held her in victory when she’d made it. When Jace had to hide down here, Deni had reasoned that she owed him. She still believed that.
“I’m not leaving,” she said.
Jace’s eyes turned all the way white. He grabbed Deni by the wrists and hauled her against him.
Chapter Seven
Deni landed against Jace’s chest, his skin hot through his thin shirt. His jacket’s zipper rubbed Deni’s arms, the friction of it releasing the heat in her own body.
Jace’s kiss was hard, opening her mouth, his grip on her wrists crushing. But Deni was strong, had always been strong. She could not have endured so much without strength. She rose on her tiptoes, kissing him back, her body fitting to his.
Jace raised his head, breaking the kiss. His lips were parted, the moisture inside his mouth beckoning her. Deni knew his taste now and craved more. She also knew what he felt like inside her, and she wanted that again. She wanted his firm body on top of hers, wanted the heat of his thrusts to fill her. Deni reached for the button of his jeans and slid it open.
Jace tightened his fingers on her wrist again. “Don’t play with fire.”
“I’m cold,” Deni said in a low voice. “Warm me up.”
Jace was struggling with coherence. “Ellison will be back soon, you said.”
She gave him a hot smile. “Then we should hurry.”
“Bloody hell.”
Deni unzipped his jeans. He hadn’t bothered with underwear this morning, she found as she dipped her hand inside. His cock, hard and hot, tumbled into her hand.
Jace let out a groan. He jerked Deni against him, his arm solidly behind her as she lightly stroked him. “Gods, woman.”
“You woke me up, Jace,” she said. “I want to thank you for that.”
“In the middle of last night, you mean?” His words were strained. “I was feeling payback from the fight. Tried to keep it quiet.”
“You know I don’t mean that.” Deni squeezed his c**k until he let out another noise of pleasure.
“Damn.” Jace tugged her hand from him but only to lift her into his arms, kissing her with a ferocity that tasted of fire.
The sofa was near. Jace tipped Deni back over its arm until they both fell onto its cushions, arms and legs bumping and tangling in each other’s. Deni laughed.
The laughter probably saved her, she thought later. Jace shook his head slightly as though clearing his mind, and his eyes took on a jade hue again. He slowed his kisses to something tender, lips soft on Deni’s. She ran her fingers through the short ends of his hair, liking the warm brush of it.