Free His Darkest Salvation by Juliana Stone Page A

took a lot for him to remain still. Nico wanted her or, at the very least, wanted to protect her.
    But she’s mine.
    The thought slid through his mind, and he paused, surprised. What the hell was that about? The woman meant nothing to him.
    Julian sighed wearily, suddenly tired of it all, and nodded to Declan. “Go with him, I’ll be there as soon as Jaden and I . . . have a conversation.”
    “If you touch her in any way that’s inappropriate, I will kill you,” Nico rasped.
    “You could try,” Julian began as he turned from the warrior, “but I’m way ahead of you since half of me is already dead.”
    As he spoke, he felt a whisper of regret for a life unlived, a chance that was never to be. He’d never be whole again, would never be free of the pain, both physical and emotional, unless he accomplished what was required.
    And even then, the odds were a total crapshoot.
    “Go, Nico.” Jaden’s soft whisper and her obvious affection for the other jaguar grated on his nerves. He felt fingers of tension work their way across his jaw as he clenched his teeth together tightly.
    Jaden whispered something to Nico, too low for even his ears to hear, and though he pretended to turn from them, he would have given anything to know what she’d said to calm the warrior. A promise from a lover? A reward for good behavior?
    The jaguar was seriously pussy whipped if he was gonna let sex rule his actions, but then again, Jaden DaCosta was a damn fine piece of ass. He should know. He’d tasted her on a long-ago evening, not unlike the one that was fast approaching.
    His eyes swept the length of the room, taking in the magnificent view that the endless wall of glass afforded, and he studied the waning sun as it began to descend lower into the sky.
    He heard the elevator doors open.
    “Dude, I need a drink. You think we can hit the bar on the way down?” Declan’s voice drifted back to him as did Nico’s answering growl. Julian shook his head, wondering how the sorcerer could remain so flip in the face of such darkness and death. He supposed it was how he dealt with the pile of shit that was his life. The same pile of shit Julian needed to dig out from under.
    He watched as Jaden crossed the room and opened a cupboard that was located near the window. He saw her reflection in the glass, and it afforded him a chance to study her without her knowledge. Her lean body was covered in a simple skirt and blouse, both professional yet feminine. Her generous breasts strained against the thin fabric, and his gaze lingered.
    Her hair was pinned loosely, and as she turned, her tattoos glistened vibrantly. He found himself fascinated by the luminescent quality, the exotic design.
    She grabbed a glass and threw some ice into it before pausing. “You need a drink? ’Cause I sure as hell do.”
    “Whiskey, over ice,” he answered without thinking. He turned back to face her and let his eyes drift over her body once more. Her feet were bare, the toenails painted bright pink.
    His eyes lingered there, on the feminine arch and delicate lines.
    “Some things haven’t changed,” she said softly, and, for a moment, he was clueless as to her meaning. He shook his head slightly, more than a little pissed at how easily she was able to distract him.
    She raised his glass, and the sound of the ice tinkling against the tumbler echoed loudly between the two of them.
    “Everything has changed,” he retorted, not liking the sensations she seemed to pull so easily from him.
    “Whiskey,” she said. “It’s what you were drinking that night . . .”
    Maybe it was the way the light played along her skin, emphasizing the healthy, golden glow, that had him hurtling down memory lane. Or maybe it was her scent, fresh, exotic, and wholly feminine.
    Whatever it was, suddenly things shifted, like reality had taken a vacation, and he saw her as she’d been three years earlier, younger, fuller, and so passionate that she’d taken his breath