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

mall parking lot, and I guess it’s so our bound wrists won’t cause unwanted attention. We face each other as we eat. Jax doesn’t appear to be having any trouble managing his burger with one hand, but I’m struggling. A tomato is slippery in my fingers as I retrieve it, and Jax asks, “Do you have any sisters and brothers?”
    “No. I was an only child.”
    “Interesting. It must be the human half of you. Our kind usually has multiples.”
    I ask, “Half?”
    He swallows a mouthful of food and says, “You don’t know what you are, do you?” I shake my head as I scowl. Jax says, “For us to be true mates, you must be part werebear.”
    I spew out the soda I have in my mouth before I say, “I don’t think so.”
    “It’s true. Did you grow up with both biological parents? Because back when we were born werebear weren’t allowed to stay in the clan if they wanted to be with a human, and it’s hard to stay away for long.”
    My father adopted me after he married my mother when I was too young to remember, but that doesn’t prove anything, so I say, “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    The ice in Jax’s cola rattles as he sips. He says, “Okay. And I suppose those sexy dreams you had about a guy and a bear aren’t unusual?”
    Oh my god. I blink as I stare at him. When I was in high school, I went through a phase of having dreams like that. The bear caused me great pain, and I thought it was a sign I should become an Eradicator.
    Jax pops a fry in his mouth and says, “Thought so. Face it. You’re the very thing you want to kill.” He raises his eyebrows at me as if he’s amused.
    I shake my head. “Nice try. But I don’t buy it.” I flex my fingers in his direction. “Wouldn’t I grow fur and claws when I get mad?”
    “Nope. Your bear is dormant until you change. And you’ll learn to control your anger pretty quickly once you do.”
    I snort. “Once I do?” I tear into a fry, and the salty flavor coats my tongue as I chew and wonder why I’ve been taught that werebear can’t control their anger. Jax appears to have a lot of control over his life. “And I suppose you make me a special tea to drink to change me.”
    Jax grins as he leans in close. He lets out a low growl and says, “I have to bite you.”
    I jerk back as he laughs, and I flash to part of my old dream where a bear’s mouth is wide open and coming toward my face. This is creepy.
    Jax laughs, and he says, “The bite part, when done right, is awesome.” He frowns. “But the change is brutal.”
    The thought that there might be some truth in Jax’s words is freaking me out, and I ask, “Is your plan to bite me?”
    Jax stares at me for a moment before he says, “Not unless you want me to.”
    I lick my lips as my body trembles with sexual desire I don’t understand. Some guy sinking teeth into my flesh and making me his forever shouldn’t turn me on. “Tell me what you really plan to do.”
    “I’m taking you to meet my alpha.”
    My stomach clenches, and betrayal washes over me. I’m not sure why I was beginning to think I was safe with Jax. I whisper, “So you are going to kill me.”
    Jax shakes his head slowly. “Tori won’t kill my true mate, but I’m not sure what she’ll do.”
    I imagine a harsh old woman passing judgment on me. I’m so going to die. Unless-- Jax seems to believe we’re meant to be together, and I can use that to my advantage. I don’t know if I can convince some powerful alpha, but I might be able to get Jax to help me escape. The trick is to make him think I’m beginning to believe we’re meant to be together too. I reach out and touch his chest. The jolt of electricity that runs through me stops me for a second before I ask, “Do you feel that?”
    Jax nods and places his hand over mine. Intense heat warms my cool fingers like a soft mitten as he says, “That’s our connection. It’s how I know we’re true mates.”
    “Tell me more about what that