Free Dawn Endeavor 3: Julian's Jeopardy by Marie Harte Page A

decided to take off the kid gloves. “I know what this is about, and you need to stop it.” Tersch glanced away.
    “You're not your father. You would never have intentionally hit Ava. You were pissed.”
    “I should have controlled myself.”
    “Yeah, you should have,” Jules agreed and read the surprise on Tersch's face.
    And that was half the problem. In trying to help him, the team had been too nice.
    Tersch needed a foot up his ass to keep him in line. “So next time, keep it under control.”
    “Jules, man, I tried.” Tersch ran a hand through his shaggy blond hair. “It's like there's this festering rage inside me. When you were gone, I knew I could help.
    I wanted to help, but no one would let me because Hayashi had one of his damned visions.” Tersch scowled. “Instead, he and Morgan went. That fuckhead.” Jules grinned. “Come on, he's not that annoying.” Tersch stared at him.
    “Okay, he is. But he makes Hayashi happy.”

    “I know. Why do you think I haven't broken him in two yet? With as much shit as he's been giving me, I should have killed him by now. Asshole thinks he can order me around. And he's way too familiar with Ava,” Tersch muttered then sighed. “It's just hard, you know? For so long, it was just the four of us. Now Fallon's got Olivia, and Hayashi has Morgan.” He flushed, as if embarrassed to admit he was lonely. “I don't… I just… Hell, I don't know.”
    “You think I don't feel the same? I can literally see all that love in their auras, that violet energy that surrounds them. It's so beautiful; you have no idea.” Jules wanted that kind of togetherness for himself, so much so, he could taste it. His beast shoved a vision of dark red hair and bright blue eyes at him, demanding the return of his mate, and Jules shook it away. Christ, one problem at a time.
    “So what's stopping you from getting hitched?” Tersch asked and grabbed a rag to clean himself. He sank down onto his bed. “You're fairly normal. Women seem to like you well enough.”
    “You mean, until I have to admit I fuck men who turn into beasts and that I'm not human anymore?” Jules asked drily. “Sometimes a monster cock isn't a good thing, man.”
    Tersch sighed. “Well, there is that. Finding a mate is complicated. But it's not for me. I don't want a mate, a girlfriend, or God forbid, a wife. No ties. Just me and my team.”
    Yet Tersch didn't sound convinced.
    “Yeah, well, I'm not here to talk you into jumping on board the love train. But interceding the way you did yesterday, throwing yourself between me and those gunrunners in Florida? Not good. You need to stop throwing yourself between me and danger. I can handle myself. No matter what the others have been saying, I'm fine, back to normal, and prepared to kick your ass if you don't quit babying me.”
    “Don't you mean fuck my ass?” Tersch griped and shifted on the bed. “Hell, Jules. You pounded me good.”
    “You complaining? Because that was an awful lot of cum that splashed over my fingers while I reamed you.”
    Tersch flushed. “Whatever.”
    Jules looked closer at his teammate, using his psychic skills, and was relieved to see that the gray and blackened streaks through Tersch's aura were finally starting to fade into a warmer red, the color of health.
    “Look, I'm not a matchmaker. I could give two shits if you settle down and have a passel of kids.” Which in Jules's opinion was exactly what Tersch needed—some sense of normalcy. “But we work as a unit, and the women are a part of that.
    Just turn back into the arrogant asshole that annoys the crap out of them. Because if you don't, I'm turning Sharpe loose on you. She's been dying to have a few one-on-ones. I've been keeping her off your ass.”
    Tersch sighed. “Okay, already. Understood. I owe you one.”
    “More than one.”

    “Damn.”
    “And stop avoiding Ava. She's more than pissed. She's hurt you won't talk to her.”
    “Thought she didn't want me