Magical Holiday Love (The Anthology Novella Series Book 4) Read online

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered raggedy, laying her forehead against his and sighing. “I hurt you.”

  Jax nibbled at her bottom lip, that grin stealing across his features. “You didn’t,” he assured her softly. “It’s most likely nearly healed by now…just a little tender.”

  Megan stared into his eyes, finding desire there, and need…and something else that she couldn’t quite put her finger on. She knew that this was crazy, but there was something about this man that she needed…desperately.

  She pressed her lips against his, swiping her tongue along his teeth and his mouth opened with a growl, deep from his chest and it reverberated through his body into hers, causing a delicious heat to course through her veins, right to her very core. This was pure, unadulterated need.

  Jax impatiently tugged at the sweater that she wore, needing to feel her skin against his, and groaned into her mouth only a moment later when she twisted to help him remove it. It went sailing across the living room and his hands went instantly to the hooks of her bra, releasing them in an instant.

  She lifted her head once again and smiled at him. A smile that nearly took the breath from his body. “The bed would be more comfortable,” she husked, aching to feel his hot flesh against hers.

  He nodded and eased them off of the sofa, taking her hand and letting her lead the way.

  Megan guided him towards her bedroom on shaky legs, dropping her bra somewhere along the way, and when she looked back over her shoulder, she found Jax grinning. He gave the hand that he held a gentle squeeze as she pushed open the door and walked over to the bed.

  She turned to face him and he instantly pulled her against his strong frame, his mouth taking hers once again. Hot, demanding…yet unbelievably tender. They backed up until the backs of her knees hit the mattress and she quickly unfastened her jeans and stepped out of them, not letting go of his mouth for an instant. She couldn’t if she tried.

  Jax pushed her down onto the mattress, his hands stroking and caressing every inch of her, and she found herself crying out to him with a desperate need that hit her like a tsunami. A strong, powerful rush of intense desire that she had never before experienced. It was earth-shattering!

  Jax pulled off his boxers and reached for the silk underwear that she still wore. He wanted nothing between them, no matter how thin. He needed to have her completely bare to him.

  His mouth left her lips and traveled down her throat, to her collarbone then her breasts. His tongue danced and trailed around her hardened peak only a moment before taking one into his hot mouth, pulling a sexy as hell purr from her throat, and he swore that it was almost his undoing. His body was throbbing to take her, but he wanted to make this last. He needed to enjoy every damn second. He had never wanted a woman as much as he wanted this one, and it was for so much more than merely satisfying his basic needs. He found himself wanting…everything.

  “Jax,” she breathed, running her fingers through his silky hair as she arched her back, pressing herself more firmly into his mouth. His suckled hungrily, before moving to her other breast and giving it the same sweet attention. “Please…”

  Jax looked up into her hooded eyes and saw the raw, uninhibited need there, burning brightly and making her eyes sparkle and dance like nothing he had ever seen before… and it was wondrous. He kissed his way back up and hovered over her mouth, stationing himself between her willing thighs, the heat of her arousal searing not only his body…but his heart.

  “I’m right here, baby,” he whispered against her mouth before moving his hips and sliding inside. He filled her to the hilt and stilled, taking a moment to just enjoy her warmth as it surrounded him, and he realized with something that felt a lot like a punch to the chest, that he suddenly felt like he was home.

  “So good,” she groaned as her eyes slid closed and she sucked in a breath.

  Jax moved his hips, grinding himself against hers, their skin slick with the perspiration of their lovemaking and he thought nothing had ever felt better.

  Megan wrapped her legs around his hips, lifting herself to meet his thrusts in perfect sync with his body and it was absolutely sublime. They moved faster, more desperate as the first tremors began to hit her. She gasped, arching off of the mattress as she ran her nails across his back, scoring his skin.

  Jax kissed her tenderly before lifting his head, “Look at me, Megan,” he whispered, and her eyes opened and caught his. “I need to see you when you come for me.” He moved his hips faster, repositioning his body to hit just the right place, and his efforts paid off when only a moment later she felt her entire being tremble and explode and she couldn’t help but cry out her release as her orgasm slammed through her with a vengeance; causing her body to come crashing down around him, bringing him to his own climax.

  Jax’s body stiffened as a growl burst from his throat, her name passing his lips over and over as he buried his face against her neck, licking at the pulse that beat rapidly there. He tasted the sweet saltiness of her skin and shuddered as he spilled himself into her.

  They lay that way until their breathing had evened out and finally he rolled over onto his back, taking her with him and pulling her up close against his steely frame.

  “My, God,” he breathed, kissing her temple as his hand danced across her back. “You are amazing.”

  Megan skimmed her fingers across his chest, loving the smooth, hard plains of his body. She had no words. This man had come into her life and saved her, in more ways than one. She trusted him…and that was something that she didn’t think she would ever do again.

  “You aren’t too bad yourself, Eddie.”

  “Eddie?” He questioned with a quirking of his brow.

  “Yeah, wasn’t it Eddie Munster who was the wolf-boy?”

  Jax barked out a laugh, his body rumbling beneath her, and Megan giggled, the vibration tickling her ear. “Megan Daniels, you are one astonishing woman.” He chuckled.

  She snuggled up against him and stifled a yawn, she was suddenly tired as hell. Not to mention unbelievably sated and content.

  She lightly threw her leg over his and let herself drift off. Hoping that she wouldn’t wake in the morning only to find out that this had all been just a dream.

  Megan slowly drifted from slumber basking in the feel of a warm body curled around her, and a smile lit up her face. Well, there goes the dream factor, she thought with a giggle.

  Jax moved, pulling her closer as he snored, and Megan had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. The man was utter perfection, yet snored like a damn lumberjack! She sighed and closed her eyes, not wanting this to end. It had been a very long time, or actually forever since she felt so warm and protected in someone’s arms and she wasn’t ready to have it end just quite yet.

  She knew that he would most likely wake and make a hasty exit, thanking her for her time and trouble- and that thought filled her with a deep sadness. How did this man get under her skin so quickly?

  She glanced down at his side, where the bandage was and gently traced her finger over it.

  “You can take it off if you’d like,” his husky voice murmured and she jerked her head up, only to find him lying there, his eyes still closed and a shit-eating grin plastered across his face.

  Curiosity got the better of her and she slowly lifted up the edge of the bandage. A gasp escaped her when she saw not a mark on him. She tore it the rest of the way off and tossed it onto the floor, her fingers skimming across the smooth perfect skin.

  “Wicked,” she breathed in awe, and felt him chuckle.

  “Not bad, huh?”

  “Pretty sick if you ask me. That’s freaking amazing…I’m floored.”

  Jax flipped over and pinned her underneath his impressive frame, and Megan squealed in surprise. He nibbled on her lips a moment before taking them in a soul-stealing kiss. It was deep and thorough and knock the breath out of you perfection. Damn, but this man could kiss!

  When he broke away and they came up for air she could see hi
s amber eyes glowing brightly.

  “My, my, Mr. Powers- you sure are a frisky one in the morning, aren’t you?” She teased with a giggle, and he only growled in response before fusing his mouth to hers once again, eliciting a low growl of her own from the recesses of her throat.

  They made love the entire morning and finally forced themselves to leave the bed to shower. They showered together, soaping each other and giggling like children, and Megan had never felt so happy in her life. This man made her laugh and smile…and call out to him in the throes of ecstasy as she had never done before…with anyone…ever. And as they stepped from the shower and playfully dried each other off…she found herself not wanting this to end.

  Jax tucked the towel around his lean hips as she slipped into a t-shirt; then leaned down to kiss her lightly on the nose when her head popped out of the neck hole.

  “You hungry?” She questioned softly.

  “I thought you didn’t eat?” he asked, that damn brow of his quirking up.

  “No…I said I wasn’t really a cook,” she laughed. “I have eggs and such… I’m just not sure that you’re strong enough to survive my cooking.”

  Jax pulled her up against his body, nuzzling her neck and she felt the blood rush to her face. My God, this man could have her hotter than sin in two point two seconds! “How about this,” he whispered against her skin. “You make the coffee and I’ll take care of the cooking.”

  Megan leaned back and smiled up into his face, “Deal!” She agreed, and turned to walk towards the kitchen. “Damn, I might just have to keep you.” She laughed then disappeared through the door.

  Jax stopped dead in his tracks and looked at her receding back, her words causing a tightening in his chest that he had never experienced before. “I don’t think I’d mind being kept by you in the least, Sweetheart,” he whispered, before following her.

  “So, um…I was thinking.” Megan said from across the breakfast table. She shoved another mouthful of eggs into her mouth and took a quick sip of her coffee. Damn, but the man could cook!

  “Yes?”

  “Well, you said that you were staying at the motel on third, and well in this day and age of um…bedbugs and such…and I’m sure with you most likely having to worry about fleas…”

  Jax just about spit his coffee across the table, and quickly grabbed a napkin. “Excuse me?” he choked out and shook his head when she gave him a snarky little smile and a wink. Damn, but this woman was one of a kind!

  “Anyway…I was wondering if you’d like to… to stay here while you…you know, hunt.”

  Jax bit back the desire to jump on the table and yell Hell yes! With everything that he had. There was nothing he could have wanted more than to spend time with her. This woman was everything he never thought a woman could be, and he wanted to get know every single part of her – body and mind.

  “On one condition,” he said, his voice even.

  “Yes?”

  “You let me do the cooking.”

  Megan snickered and raised her coffee cup. “Deal.” And a very large part of her wanted to jump for joy.

  “I’ll just go grab my stuff, check out a few things and I’ll be back,” Jax promised as they stood in the doorway of her apartment. There was a part of Megan that couldn’t believe that she had actually offered to have him stay with her, yet another part that just knew that this was right and she couldn’t help but feel excited.

  “I’m going to run to the grocery store and stock up. Is there anything special you want?” She asked, feeling like a silly school girl. Just what in the hell was happening here?

  “Any raw meat will be fine,” he laughed, giving her a quick kiss.

  “Smart ass.”

  Jax pulled her against his body and brought his mouth down on hers, kissing her deeply. When they broke apart he gazed into her eyes, those amber depths filled with heat.

  “I’ll see you later,” With that he turned and dashed down the hall. Megan watched him go, then went back inside to dress. Could this all trully be real?

  Megan mulled about the kitchen, watching as the sauce bubbled on the stove. She had decided that should would surprise Jax by cooking one of the only things that she was halfway decent at cooking - spaghetti. She stirred the sauce and tasted it…not bad at all.

  A cold breeze hit her and she turned. What the hell? Megan walked into the living room and found her terrace door open, the curtains blowing from the cold winter wind. Her eyes flew around the room, but found nothing. She cautiously walked over to the sliding glass door, her heart in her throat a reached out a trembling hand to close it. Something was very, very wrong!

  “I see that Jax has been quite taken with you, my lovely.” The voice that drifted across the room sent a shiver racing right up her spine, instantly chilling her to the bone. No! It couldn’t be!

  She turned to find the Vampire standing there, his white eyes shining brightly in the dim light of the room, almost as if they were lit from within, and she felt her blood turn to ice. This just couldn’t be happening.

  “What are you doing here?” She rasped, her throat constricting with her terror. She could feel the vibrations of fear coursing through her limbs, causing them to quake and she was terrified that her legs would give out on her.

  “You see, I find you rather interesting,” he whispered, taking a step closer. “I most likely would have just cut my losses once Mr. Powers intervened, but now…” He eyed her up and down, the intensity of his gaze causing gooseflesh to rise up on her arms. “I’m curious to know what he finds so very fascinating about you.”

  He took another step toward her and she instinctively took one back. If she could just get into the kitchen and grab a knife! At least then she would have a fighting chance. She sure as hell wasn’t going to just stand here and let this vile creature bleed her dry!

  “He’s…he’s going to be back any second, you know,” she warned, praying for all she was worth that she was right.

  Dimitri laughed, but the sound held no humor in it what so ever. “You would like to think that; wouldn’t you,” he hissed. “But, I’ve sent him on a bit of a wild goose chase. You see, if nothing else, Jax is stubbornly dedicated. He doesn’t take his responsibilities lightly, and if he were to get a lead on…well, me… I’m afraid that duty would take precedence over his latest piece of ass and he would be obligated to check it out.”

  Megan felt her heart drop to her knees. Oh, God! There was no stopping this. Well, she thought with a quiet acceptance. This was it then.

  “What do you want?” she repeated, jutting out her chin in defiance as she straightened her spine. She would not cower to this animal! These might be her final moments on this earth, but she was damned if she was going to go down begging this asshole for mercy!

  “Why…you, my dear.” With that he closed the distance between them and grabbed her, pulling her against his body with his hand once again to her throat, successfully cutting off her air, and she had the insane thought that he really needed to change his go to move. “You really do smell delightful,” he whispered against her ear and Megan felt herself beginning to get lightheaded. This just could not be happening! Not now…not when she had just found Jax…

  In the next instant, the door to the apartment burst open and Jax stood there, his eyes blazing in fury. The grip on her throat tightened as Dimitri’s other hand swept across her belly to her breast, pinching harshly; and she rasped in pain.

  “Step away from her you son of a bitch!” Jax growled, his jaw clenched and his body shaking with fury.

  “Oh, Jax,” Dimitri crooned, his hot fetid breath whispering across her face and she felt her eyes begin to water from the un-Godly stench…or was she crying? She didn’t know. “Let me have my fun. You always have been such a killjoy.”

  “It ends now,” Jax hissed, and through the fog that was her brain, Megan saw Jax shift into a very large, beautiful black wolf. A half smile crossed her face as she thought that he was magnificent. All streng
th and power and…deadly.

  Dimitri threw her viciously across the room with much more force than she would have expected, slamming her into the wall with a mighty smack, and then…there was only blackness.

  Jax struck the moment Dimitri had tossed Megan across the room, his body vibrating with the pure fury rushing through his veins. He saw her hit the wall and crumple to the floor and flew through the air, hitting the bastard straight in the chest and snapping.

  They rolled and struggled, Dimitri’s fangs extended and trying to meet their mark and rip Jax’s throat, but Jax was much too powerful…and pissed off.

  They smashed into the coffee table, splintering it in an explosion of broken wood, their growls and hisses filling the silent apartment.

  Dimitri kicked Jax across the room where he slammed into another table, smashing it and sending glass crashing to the floor.

  Jax shifted back to his human form and picked up a broken table leg, lunging for the angry Vampire and meeting his mark with deadly precision - the make shift stake sliding through his chest and directly into the creature’s heart like a hot knife sliding through butter.

  Dimitri stopped struggling and glanced down in surprise, his lips curling up into a sardonic grin only a moment later. “Well, played,” he grunted softly, the words wheezing out of him.

  Jax watched, breathing heavy as the Vampire screeched and turned to dust at his feet. He turned and rushed over to where Megan lay, praying with everything he had that she was all right, the sound of her smashing into the wall echoing through his brain. Sweet Jesus, she had hit hard.

  He fell to the floor beside her and pulled her into his arms, his heart thrumming in his chest to the point that he thought it would explode. He could feel her faint heartbeat against his as he rocked her gently.