Shifter In Ascent (Louisiana Shifters) (25 page)

already-flushed skin. Jace reached out with a single finger and tipped Tessa’s face up to his, causing their gazes to lock.
“You… what?”
“If you will stop and listen for a second, I am trying to tell you that I love you,” Jace said, his eyes searching hers.
“But-“ Tessa started. Jace interrupted her by brushing his lips over hers ever so gently, leaving Tessa tongue-tied and breathless. She looked up into his eyes again, trying to ascertain his seriousness.
“Back in the office, that wasn’t how I wanted things to be,” Jace said softly.
“Oh,” Tessa said, uncomprehending. Did Jace regret the passion they’d shared?
“Damn it. I never know how to say things to you, you stand there all sexy and pouty and all the words come out wrong,” Jace murmured. He backed up a step and took his wonderful warmth too, leaving Tessa feeling bereft.
“I don’t understand,” she said, her voice catching.
“I never meant to confuse you. I’ve known since I laid eyes on you that my life had changed. The whole idea of finding someone I was destined to be with… it scared me, Tessa. I’ll never admit to it outside this conversation, but I was terrified. I was fighting a thousand battles against you and myself and Maddie, even Declan,” he said, slipping his hands into his pockets restlessly.
“I realize now that I’ve lain my mother’s sins at your doorstep, and I am more sorry than I can say. I’ve been pushing everyone away for my whole life, and I liked it that way. It was easier, you know?” he said ruefully.
“I guess I’ve ruined that for you, then?” Tessa asked, her voice a little tearful.
“You came in and destroyed all my carefully cultivated plans, Tess. And even worse, you made me realize how lonely I am all the time. And then you went and acted like… well, like you. How could I stand a chance against you?” he said, his tone turning sweetly amused. He finally pulled his hands out of his pockets and reached out to Tessa, grabbing her hips to close the distance between them.
“I’m just awful,” Tessa snuffled, wavering between laughter and tears. She looked up into Jace’s face, bottom lip trembling.
Jace laughed, a sincere and relaxed expression. It looked incredible on him, Tessa decided.
“You’re many things, but awful isn’t one of them. And while we’re talking about this, I also wanted to-“ Jace started, reaching in his pockets again.
“You know what?” Tessa asked, putting her fingers against his lips to stop him from speaking, “We’ve made a lot of progress today. We both said some things we needed to say. Why not just… you know, skip the talk?”
Jace blinked. Had Tessa just come on to him? His mind went blank momentarily, and his expression was probably priceless.
The next second, he swept Tessa off her feet and carried her into a spare infirmary room. He set her down on the bed, his eyes devouring her supple frame, her gorgeous eyes, the perfect curves of her lips.
Jace slid down onto the bed and Tessa leaned her head back and closed her eyes, waiting. His lips brushed hers tenderly at first, his kisses slowly becoming more demanding. Already Tessa was on fire, heat racing through her blood at even this small touch.
Jace pressed against her, insistent. Slowly her lips parted to give him access, and he claimed her mouth in confident strokes. She sighed into his mouth as he pressed her back into the her mouth in confident strokes. She sighed into his mouth as he pressed her back into the

Jace moved so that his body covered Tessa’s. She ran a hand under the hem of his shirt, sliding it up over the taut muscles of his hip, his torso, his chest. Looking up at his face, Tessa felt like she was taunting a caged tiger. His gaze seared into hers as something unnamed passed between them; a grin pulled at the corners of Jace’s mouth, and Tessa’s heart did a cartwheel. She tilted her face up expectantly, and he dropped a series of slow, drugging kisses against her lips.

Tessa kept the rhythm, returning every kiss with a sigh, a nibble, or a nip to the fullness of his lower lip. When she finally became impatient and writhed against him seductively, his big hand slid up to her throat, resting just above her collar bone. She rolled her hips against him, and he growled, gently squeezing the hand that lay against her neck. She could feel his power, his frustration; yet never for a moment did she flinch from his brutal strength. Tessa knew without a doubt that Jace would never hurt her, could feel goodness circling him like a halo.

Tessa let out a yip as Jace rolled them and sat up so that she was riding his lap. Jace caught and held Tessa’s eyes, velvety brown against ash gray.
“Bite me,” he commanded in a throaty growl.
Tessa slid a hand up his chest to his neck, tilting his head back for better access. She could feel every muscle in his body tensing and knotting in anticipation. Tessa put her mouth to his neck, mirroring where he’d bitten her. She kissed and licked for a moment, drawing the moment out. Sliding one hand up to fist in his hair, she gave him a soft nip.
Jace groaned wildly, and in that second Tessa bit down just between his shoulder and neck. His groan increased to a shout of pleasure as he ground his hardness against her. Tessa sunk her teeth in deeply, letting Jace know that she was his perfect equal.
“You’re mine,” he snarled.
The second Tessa released him from her bite, they were rolling again, his clothes flying everywhere. And then Jace was on her, inside her, over her, growling as he pounded into her mercilessly. Tessa took it eagerly, matching him thrust for thrust and raking her nails down his back. Marking what was hers.
And then Tessa was lost, choking out Jace’s name as a mounting wave of pleasure broke and washed over her. Moments later Jace joined her, shouting a curse and pumping his hot release inside her. Gasping, they collapsed in a sweaty tangle of limbs. Little aftershocks of pleasure rippled through them both as they lay recovering.
Finally Jace eased off Tessa’s slick form and he rolled over next to her, running a hand possessively over her flank. Tessa was too contented to really move or think, so she just gave him a few halfhearted pats on the chest.
Jace flashed an exhausted smile and laughed, a genuinely happy laugh. Tessa wasn’t sure she’d ever heard him laugh like that before, but it made her heart flip flop again.
“What?” she said, mock-offended.
“Seems like I tired you out, kitten.”
“Kitten?!” she cried, batting a hand at him.
“I really think it describes you pretty accurately,” he teased, leaning over to drop a kiss on her forehead.
Tessa grumbled but couldn’t be bothered to move out of his embrace, no matter how terrible the nickname he chose.
An idea ran through the back of Tessa’s mind as she lay in Jace’s arms. Something about An idea ran through the back of Tessa’s mind as she lay in Jace’s arms. Something about

Suddenly Tessa sat straight up in bed, jostling Jace as she did so. He went on full alert, looking for the source of danger.
“I’ve got it!” she announced, turning excitedly to her mate. Jace crossed his arms and gave her a skeptical look, frowning.
“You had me thinking the Legion was about to kick down the door,” he scolded, which only resulted in Tessa giving him a huge grin.
“No, but I’ve figured how we’re going to kick down
their
door,” she said brightly, too excited to be put off by his reprimand.
“We’ve talked this to death, kitten. If James won’t give up the information, we don’t have enough ammo to advance on the Legion’s encampment. And apparently you won’t let me torture the poor bastard.”
“Yes, but I think I just figured out how to turn James. I realized that every time I’ve talked to him, he’s asked me about Camilla repeatedly,” Tessa explained.
“I don’t see where you’re going with this,” Jace replied, tilting his head and furrowing his brow.
“When he asked me about her, he kept calling her ‘Milla’. At the time I thought that he’d gotten her name wrong, but now I don’t think that’s it at all. He was using a nickname for her. A sweet nickname,” Tessa said, looking at Jace expectantly.
“Okay, so he’s not bad at names. So what?”
“You’re such a guy. Men don’t call women sweet nicknames unless…” Tessa prompted, motioning for Jace to finish her thought.
“Unless they’re in love?” Jace asked.
“Exactly. If James feels that strongly about Camilla, then maybe we’ve been approaching him the wrong way. Or rather, we shouldn’t be the ones asking the questions.”
Jace nodded slowly, thinking it over.
“You think he’d talk to her if he knew she was in the Legion’s crosshairs,” he said, processing.
“I do. You have to tell Shaw about this! If we can bring James around, Shaw will be floored,” Tessa said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
“Why don’t you just tell him?” Jace asked, eyeing his mate.
“Well, I mean… I’m not really the best authority, am I? I’ve done nothing but misjudge people since I got here. Actually, scratch that; I’ve been on this path since I was a teenager,” Tessa said, her mouth twisting wryly.
“Are you talking about that bastard guardian of yours?” Jace asked, his expression darkening instantly.
“Well, yes. Him, and James, and… I’m just not a very good judge of people and how they tick. Besides, Shaw will take you more seriously. It’s obvious that he respects you,” Tessa said, trying for good cheer.
“And despite all that respect, he hasn’t approached me to help with his brother. He came to you for help, Tess. That means he trusts you with the only family he has left. I think that’s a pretty big deal, don’t you?”
“Well, yes…” Tessa started, but Jace cut in.
“James, that Benedict fellow…”
“Bryon,” Tessa corrected.
“You couldn’t know what they were planning, and it’s not your fault that you trust others easily. Not everyone can get away with being a suspicious ass all the time,” Jace joked.
“Are you calling me naïve?” Tessa asked, eyes narrowing playfully.
“I’m saying that you’re completely lacking the ability to manipulate others. How would you even know to look for that in someone else?” Jace said, his tone soft.
“Oh,” Tessa said, flushing gently, “Well, alright then.”
“Let’s backtrack for a second. Do you think Camilla will really be able to persuade James to switch sides?” Jace asked. Tessa gave a husky laugh that had Jace’s wolf perking up, taking interest in the beauty of her voice… and her other assets as well.
“I think you haven’t spent much time with my sister. If Camilla wants him to, he’ll switch sides for her. She does that sexy innocent thing that drives men wild,” Tessa said, rolling her eyes.
“I think I know where she learned that,” Jace said, reaching out and pulling Tessa back down into his arms. Tessa giggled, swatting at his chest.
“Oh come on. I’m the older sister, after all. I’ve seen some things and been some places,” she said, teasingly defensive.
“I bet you anything that I can show you some things you haven’t tried before,” Jace teased, picking up her hand and kissing her fingertips.
“And if I’m not impressed, I get anything I want?” Tessa asked coyly. Jace gave a soft growl and rolled over to cover her body.
“You’d better not have seen any of the things I’m planning to do to you right now,” he threatened, running a possessive hand down her flank.
Tessa giggled again and kissed her mate.
“I guess we’ll see,” she laughed, and then they were lost once more.
NINETEEN

“You want me to do what, exactly?” Camilla asked, wrinkling her nose. “You want me to trick James into helping us?”
“No exactly, no.” Tessa slipped out of Jace’s embrace and sat down on the bed next to Camilla. “We think- I think, that is, that James is already on the verge of changing his sympathies. We just want you to help us give him an extra nudge.”
“I’m not sure how I’m going to change his mind. I mean, you’ve already basically laid it all out to him, haven’t you?” Camilla asked.
“I have, but I think he’ll listen to you. I’m pretty sure he has some feelings for you, Cami,” Tessa said frankly.
Camilla’s face reddened, and she frowned more deeply.
“He sort of confessed his undying love for me. I didn’t do anything at all to encourage it. Really, we just talked a handful of times,” Camilla said, dropping her gaze to her hands.
“I can assure you that there is probably some crazy Shifter reason he’s acting that way,” Tessa said comfortingly, looking at Jace for support.
“It’s probably your Ascendant pheromones, Camilla. They’re extremely hard to resist for an unmated male,” Jace said helpfully.
Camilla nodded, taking and releasing a deep breath.
“So we’ll just be taking you right down the hall to his room, and having you help us ask some questions. If possible, we’d like you to bring him over to our side. At the very least, we need to know what the Legion is planning.”
“Okay. Let’s do it,” Camilla said, climbing out of bed. She brushed off the scrubs she’d been given to wear, stretched, and cracked her neck.
“That’s my girl,” Tessa said affectionately, tousling Camilla’s hair. The trio went down the hall to James’ cell. Tessa paused at the door to warn her sister.
“He’s been violent. They’ve got him sedated, but please don’t get too close,” Tessa said. Camilla nodded, eyes wide.
As soon as they opened the door, Camilla drew up a chair beside James. He rolled his head slowly to face her, and they locked gazes.
“Milla,” he croaked. He coughed a couple of times, but didn’t struggle in any way.
“I’m right here James,” Camilla said nervously.
“Stay back from him,” Jace rumbled, earning a hard look from Camilla.
“James, you wouldn’t believe all the things I’ve learned since we were brought here,” Camilla said, lowering her voice intimately.
“They’re all werewolves,” James said quietly.
“Shifters. Call them… us, really. Call us Shifters. That’s you too, in case you didn’t already know,” Camilla replied softly.
James didn’t reply, his gaze intent on Camilla’s face.
“I need you to help me, James. I’m very afraid right now. I know the Legion is planning on coming here, and I don’t want to go back with them. Do you remember what the Monsignor called me?”
“Brood mare,” James mumbled.
“That’s right. And if I’m a brood mare, you’re a stallion, James. They’ve only kept us around “That’s right. And if I’m a brood mare, you’re a stallion, James. They’ve only kept us around

to experiment with. It’s sick, and it scares me.”
“I won’t let them hurt you,” James said, pulling at the restraints in an effort to reach Camilla.
She beat him to it, putting a hand on his shoulder. Instantly he relaxed, satisfied. “I don’t think one person could stop them. I think we need a big group to protect us. And
these are our people, James. Can’t you feel it?”
James was silent again for a long time before he responded.
“You trust them?” he asked, searching Camilla’s face.
“With my life, and with Tessa’s.”
“Then I will trust you, Milla. They can ask their questions.”
Jace cleared his throat, but Tessa silenced him with a look.
“When are they coming?” she asked, not breaking eye contact with Jace until she was certain
he’d remain passive.
“What day is today?” James said, squeezing his eyes shut.
“Thursday,” Jace replied. Tessa looked at him again, but he raised his hands to indicate
peaceful intentions.
“They’re coming in three days, then. Monday at midnight.”
Jace pulled out his phone and started texting, so Tessa continued her questioning. “How are they going to get into the Den?” Tessa asked.
“They have two witches, twins. The Monsignor said that the Legion had used them before,
and that they are very powerful. He is certain that they will be successful.”
A knock came on the door, and Shaw entered.
Camilla gently patted James’ shoulder, then stepped back to let Shaw move closer to his
brother.
“I think that’s all we have for the moment, James. I feel a little light headed and I’d like to
lie down. Will you answer questions for the others?” Camilla asked quietly.
James looked at her, his eyes sad.
“You don’t love me.” It came out as a statement rather than a question. The pain is his voice
was obvious, and Shaw reached out a hesitant hand to James. The younger man flinched, and
Shaw’s face mirrored his brother’s agony.
Tessa couldn’t help but put a comforting hand on Shaw’s arm, giving him a sympathetic
smile. Jace tensed the second she the touched the other male, but he knew Tessa was only trying
to help. Hell, he was a little bit touched by her obvious concern for his leader. Their leader, Jace
corrected himself.
“I barely know you,” Camilla said slowly, hesitating.
“But you don’t feel it. The pulling, like magnets?” he asked, furrowing his brow. “I’m afraid not,” Camilla said with a soft shake of her head, “but I hope that you will still
join us. Help us protect ourselves, James.”
“I said I would protect you. I wouldn’t go back on my promise, Milla. If you ask me to join
the we-… the Shifters, I will. I would do anything for you,” James said roughly. “Thank you, James.”
With that Camilla rose and left the room. Tessa followed her, leaving Shaw and Jace to work
out all the details with James.
Camilla went back to her room and climbed into her bed. Tessa was just behind her, and she
sat down on the bed next to her sister.
“Can we share?” Tessa asked, nudging her sister with a shoulder. Camilla scooted over, then “Can we share?” Tessa asked, nudging her sister with a shoulder. Camilla scooted over, then