33

Mara was up before the sun. She glanced toward the murky blue that was barely lightening beyond her window as she fought to catch her breath. He probably wasn’t even awake yet, let alone out of bed. None of the others were naturally early risers like Mara. Sweat-damp sheets surrounded her, and Jackson’s t-shirt was suddenly too tight over her beaded nipples.

She could still feel every throb between her legs. Exhaling a shaky sigh, Mara tried to banish the visual of Jackson’s bright green eyes hovering above her, dragging over her bare skin as he slowly pushed between her legs. Another zap of desire struck her clit, and she groaned quietly. Fuck, she’d been close to cumming hands-free. Sex dreams had never been a problem before, but this was her second one since meeting Jax.

What was it about him that influenced her body to no end? It was like he held a mainline straight to her most forbidden thoughts. What was wrong with her? The man was in a fucking relationship!

And Mara was dangerously close to cuddling up with him in the pool house.

It was the stress, she convinced herself. Just the stress of the whole situation and her trust in her security. Somebody probably had a paper written somewhere about the effects of heroism on the sex drive or something…

That was the only reason for the dreams. Mara nodded rapidly, dismissing the raw attraction she felt every time they were near each other.

The sound of his ragged breathing was haunting her into waking, and the phantom sensation of his throbbing length as it stretched her apart—making her fit around him like she was made for him—had her pleasure teetering on a razor-sharp edge. He made it all sound so good. Like she was the single greatest pleasure he’d ever known.

Fuck, that was exactly what she liked. Vocal men. Being desired. Seeing a man barely holding onto his sanity while he fucked her.

Mara groaned again. She needed relief if she was going to make it through filming without fantasizing about him.

Resigned to it, Mara closed her eyes tightly and picked up where her dream left off. She licked her thumb and dragged it down her nipple, leaving a wet path from her chest to her soaked panty-line. She imagined it was his tongue as he curled around each peak and sucked softly at first, then sharply, his teeth nibbling on the sensitive flesh.

As her fingers touched her slick flesh, she imagined him pulling out to the tip before ramming home, groaning from deep in his chest. She couldn’t help panting through the zinging pleasure building at the base of her spine. Her soaked fingers pressed and swirled her clit in time with his pounding thrusts, and she arched her neck back.

And when she imagined him sinking his teeth into her neck, her orgasm slammed into her. The gasping, shattering pleasure was only tempered by the death grip her teeth had on her lip. But the rolling groans were pouring from her chest.

The sound of shattering glass snapped her out of the afterglow with violent force. She paused, her ears straining for the otherwise quiet house. When she heard the sound of Jackson’s curses, Mara exhaled in relief.

It seemed like she wouldn’t be entitled to any privacy any time soon, so she headed for her shower to start her day.

A few hours later, Mara headed for the kitchen in a fresh pair of athleisure wear. She already knew she’d have hair and makeup on set. Jax was standing at the patio door with his arms crossed.

“Morning,” she said, “Did I hear something break?”

She forced herself to look at him and prove she could be an adult. She wished she hadn’t when his bright green eyes lasered in on her. Suddenly, the kitchen felt small. His inhale was so deep it made his shoulders expand.

“Broke a mug,” he said, his voice low enough to make hairs prickle on the back of her neck. “There’s coffee on the stove. I was thinking we could discuss the next steps outside on the patio. It’s a mild morning, and the fresh air will be good.”

“Thanks,” she whispered, busying herself with pouring it. “I only have a chair out there, no real furniture yet.”

“I’m good with standing.”

Mara nodded, unsure what else to do when he was being so intense. It almost reminded her of the dream when he’d secured all his focus on her pleasure.

Jackson inhaled sharply again.

“So, how was the pool house? Is there anything I need to get to make your stay more comfortable? I noticed the bedding was still folded.”

The tense silence confirmed what she’d suspected.

“You didn’t sleep in the pool house, did you?” She couldn’t help the smile building in her chest. She couldn’t let it show, but thinking of Jackson refusing to sleep away from her made her feel strange.

He cleared his throat. “I don’t mind sleeping on the couch, Amara. I just don’t think it’s a good idea right now. Your stalker is in town. Hell, he was on set. He messed with your food. I can’t risk your safety by being that far away.”

She sighed into her first sip of liquid gold. “You’re probably right.”

He gave her a stunned face and floundered for a minute before pulling open the patio door. “You’re not going to fight me on it?”

Mara took another full sip and settled into the outside seat. “Doesn’t seem like there’s much of a point. I trust you to do what needs to be done, Jax. Alright, lay it on me. What’s the latest with Colton.”

Jackson studied the forest beyond her yard for a beat. “As if right now, it’s looking like the stalker has access to sensitive information about you. He knows where you live—at least as much as the city and state. He knows what you like to eat, most of your habits, as well.”

Mara shifted uncomfortably. “We knew some of that already.”

“Yea,” he agreed, scratching the scruff growing on his face. “Except, now it’s looking like he’s purposefully blackballed you with other security agencies. I confirmed through the night and into this morning that all the companies who have you listed as untouchable have never worked with you or interacted with you before.”

“Why? Why the hell would he care?”

“For some reason, he wanted us to work together. Don’t ask me why because I haven’t figured that part out yet. But, last night Colt and I figured out that he hacked my—” Jackson froze as if considering something, then shrugged— “Beta’s personal email account and got Colton involved masquerading as my company. So, at this point, what we know for sure is that your stalker is a wolf who wants you to be surrounded by wolves and Fae.”

“You think he knows about my background? You think he’s from the Underbelly?”

“I think it would be stupid to dismiss it. But what would they want with you? Is there any reason they’d think you would be a benefit to them?”

Mara shook her head. “I got out clean. They shouldn’t want me back. And anyway, if they did, why not just take me? Why make this whole elaborate stalking situation? That brings media attention and police attention, two things my dad was always clear about being the worst-case scenario. Doesn’t make sense.”

“No, it doesn’t.”