Free Jax: Mating Fever (Rocked by the Bear Book 6) by V. Vaughn Page A

scowl, because as much as I’d like to scream for help, I know better. The police think we’re as crazy as the Sasquatch hunters, and they’d never believe me. Apparently werebear infiltrated law enforcement decades ago, and they have a history of corruption that helps keep other werebear safe. Besides, with this guy’s mind-control power I’d probably be the one to get arrested. “Yes,” I say. “I’ll be good.”
    Jax pulls into a parking space, and the car clunks into park before he turns to me. Sunlight glints off the key to the cuff, and he grins as he leans over me to unlock my wrist. When I catch a whiff of his musky scent, heat rushes through me and desire burns low in my belly. I’m going to hell in a handbasket, because I can’t control my lust for the man who’s kidnapped me.
    A low rumble comes from Jax as he removes the cuff, and his hand is hot on my skin as I do my best to control my trembling. He quickly attaches the restraints to both of us so that we’re handcuffed together. He says, “We may need to use these later. I can tell what they do to you.”
    “What?” Oh god. He does plan to use me for sex.
    He says, “I can smell you want me. The way I want you.”
    I jerk back as I pull my hand away and say, “Stop it.” My voice becomes a whimper. “Please.”
    “Look at me, Sasha.” His voice is stern, and I’m afraid not to comply. “I can’t make it stop. It’s our destiny to be together.”
    I snap out of my trance at the ridiculousness of blaming this on destiny. “Really? Then why did you have to kidnap me?”
    “Because while I don’t think you could ever kill me, I’m not so sure you’d show the same restraint with my brother and other people I care about.”
    He’s got a point. I say, “Fine.”
    Jax chuckles as he backs the car up.
    I ask, “What’s so funny?”
    “Fine is girl code for ‘I’m pissed off, but you don’t deserve the breath it would take to tell you why.’”
    Before I catch myself, I smile. What the hell is wrong with me? I turn away to glance out the window. A family is walking to their car, and the little girl swings her box of food as she skips. She has no idea of the danger that I protect her from, or the evil sitting beside me.
    “What do you want?” asks Jax.
    I say, “Number three with diet soda.”
    The chain that connects us jingles as Jax says, “I need to get my wallet out of my back pocket.”
    I turn back to face him and let my arm willingly move with his. As he lifts his hip my hand grazes his jeans, and I imagine how his butt would feel in my grip. I roll my eyes at myself, because my attraction to Jax must be his magic at work. I’m going to have to remain vigilant with this guy.
    Jax winks at me as if he can read my thoughts, and I glare at him. It makes him chuckle again before he says, “I’ve always liked feisty.”
    I open my mouth to speak but snap it shut instead. He’s not worth the insults. I turn my head to gaze out the window as Jax orders our food. A man walks from his car to the restaurant, and he reminds me of Rand, my partner and the man who trained me as an assassin. He was my mentor, and now he’s dead. When I froze and couldn’t shoot Jax’s brother, Jared, the other day, Rand took over. But it was too late, and Rand wouldn’t let me come when he went to finish the job at Courtney’s apartment. If I had been there, Rand might still be alive.
    When the take-out bag rustles in Jax’s hand I turn to him and take it. Anger burns in my veins as I think about how easily Jax’s kind will take a human life. My soda cup chills my fingers when I grab it. I recall how Courtney said that the reason she and Jared killed Rand was because he attacked them. It’s true, and it hits me. Rand could murder a werebear just as easily as they can kill us. It was what we’d been trained to do. Maybe Courtney was right when she said we’re not so different after all.

2
    J ax drove us to an empty section of a shopping