Free Shadowed (Dark Protectors) by Rebecca Zanetti

sleeves and chest. “Though I’ve never brawled in a women’s restroom.”
    “Me, either.”
    He kept his gaze on the fire. The soft sounds of Celtic music enhanced the night. “Did taking my blood earlier today give you any extra strength?”
    “No.” In fact, she’d already forgotten about taking his blood.
    “I see.” He reached in his pocket and handed her a small box. “Take the pills.”
    She flipped open the lid. Three pink pills sat on cotton. Flutters washed through her abdomen. “Three, huh? You must be a dynamo in bed.”
    He didn’t smile. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
    “Then stop treating me like fragile glass.”
    “You’re more fragile than glass.”
    Irritation snapped her chin up. “Perhaps. But I won’t shatter.”
    He finally focused on her. “No. You’ll bruise and break.”
    She frowned. “Vampires have mated with humans for centuries, and the pills aren’t used all the time.”
    He rubbed his chin. “I know. But those matings are destined, and those vampires are in control. I’m not.”
    She sat back and crossed her legs, the sparkly fabric stretching. “You need to get over yourself.”
    Humor rode his exhale. “You’re not the first to say that.”
    She eyed the door. “I’m surprised Moira isn’t here trying to interfere.”
    “Conn won’t let her. We had a discussion earlier.” Jase downed the rest of his glass. “If this wasn’t necessary to save your life, I’m sure your family would stop it.”
    “They’d try to stop it.” She shook her head. “I make my own decisions. Don’t ever forget that.”
    “All right.” His voice lowered to a timbre that licked along her skin. “If you won’t take the pills, drink your whiskey, Brenna.”
    The way he said her name. As if she was the only person in existence, and as if he owned each letter. She took a deep breath to relax. There was no helping the thrumming through her veins or the softening of her thighs. Her mind was made up, and she wanted this to happen. So she tilted back her head and swallowed the potent malt.
    A blast of heat flared in her stomach as the drink landed. Her body melted.
    Jase’s powerful shoulders shifted, and he grasped her around the waist. Another smooth movement, and she sat on his lap, straddling him. Her dress rode up her legs, and an impressive erection rubbed against her.
    She swallowed.
    He reached up and removed the pins holding her hair. The mass fell down around her shoulders, and he brushed it away from her face.
    “Are you sure?” he asked, his voice a low rumble.
    Her lids dropped to half-mast. “I’m sure.”
    His eyes flared. Gently, he removed her glasses, folded them, and set them on an end table. With a finger, he drew down one side of her dress before doing the same with the other side. Her breasts sprang free. The material stopped at her elbows, effectively pinning her. Intrigue caught on her breath.
    He made a low noise in his gut and smoothed both hands over her breasts.
    Electricity ripped down to her clit. She bit her lip to keep from groaning.
    “You’re gorgeous, baby,” he whispered, brushing his thumbs across her nipples.
    She breathed out, her mind spinning. Shrugging her shoulders, she lifted her arms free of the material, and the dress dropped to her waist.
    Her hands trembled as she reached for his shirt buttons, and it took a minute to finish releasing the last one. She pushed the sides apart. Hard, defined muscle enhanced his broad chest—along with several scars. Deep, vicious, shattering, the knife and whip wounds showed his time of captivity.
    It was too easy to say the wrong thing about his pain, so she kept silent. Unable to help herself, she leaned forward and kissed a long gash above his heart.
    His breath hitched, and his hands tightened on her breasts. Then he tangled one hand in her hair and tugged. She lifted, her gaze meeting his.
    Strength, anger, and vulnerability commingled in the vampire’s eyes. A dangerous cauldron of