Free Fiery Temptation by Marisa Chenery

sat up and reached out to touch Jalen’s hunched shoulder. He jerked away before she made contact with his skin.
    “Don’t, Neve,” he said. “Not yet.”
    She pulled back her hand and dropped it to her lap. She silently watched as Jalen took deep breaths, and slowly by degrees, the visible tension in his body seemed to leave him. Once he sat straighter, he turned his head to look at her. His gaze searched her face as if he looked for something.
    “Are you okay?” he asked, still not making any move to come closer.
    “Yeah. I’m not sure what happened. I just couldn’t seem to catch my breath, but I’m fine now.”
    Jalen scooted closer and cupped the back of her head as he gave her a soft kiss. A deep breath expanded his chest before he slowly released it. “I’m going to clean up in the bathroom. You can have it after me. I think I’ll introduce you to the others, then I have to tell you something.”
    “All right. Tell me what?”
    “Something about me.”
    Without another word, Jalen stood and walked into the bathroom, leaving Neve to wonder what it could be he had to tell her. From the look on his face, it had to be something important.
    * * *
    After coming out of the bathroom and Neve went in, Jalen snatched up the cordless phone from the nightstand and dialed Gannon’s phone number. His friend answered after the third ring.
    “Hey, Jalen. What’s up?”
    “Do you know if the rest of the guys are around?”
    “I think so. Why?”
    Jalen blew out a breath. “I have someone over here who would like to meet all of you,” he paused, “like I told you before, I think I’ve found my mate. There is no question that I’m going through the same thing you did with Arwen.”
    He was met with silence before Gannon asked, “Are sure?”
    “Oh, I’m pretty damn sure.” Jalen looked at the closed bathroom door, then lowered his voice. “I just absorbed some of her life energy.”
    “You were able to stop it, right?” Gannon asked with concern in his voice.
    “Yes, just barely. I think I’m going to have to tell her the truth before I do something that can’t be taken back.”
    “If you really think she’s your mate, don’t do what I did with Arwen and try to run away from it. You’ll only make yourself and her miserable.”
    “Don’t worry. I don’t plan on doing anything like that. I’ve learned from your mistakes.” At that moment, Neve walked out of the bathroom. In a lighter tone, Jalen said, “So if you aren’t busy, how about you and Arwen come over in about twenty minutes. I’ll call the others and see if they can pop around as well.”
    “She’s there now, isn’t she?” Gannon asked.
    “Yes.”
    “I see. Arwen and I will be there. I’m sure she will be happy to meet her, especially if she really is what you think she is to you. At least, my mate has been through it.”
    “My thoughts exactly. Anyway, see you two in a bit.”
    Jalen hung up and turned to face Neve. “That was Gannon. He said he and Arwen would come over. I’m just going to call my other band mates.”
    She stopped at the side of the bed and picked up her panties, which she pulled on. “I’m looking forward to meeting everyone.”
    He watched her pick up her bra. His cock jerked, showing interest in going another round, but that wasn’t going to happen. As he’d told Gannon, he’d actually absorbed some of Neve’s life energy the last time. It was also getting too hard to control. He was going to have to tell her the truth and show her what he was. After that, if she accepted him, he’d see what happened. Jalen was pretty sure he’d change Neve the same way Gannon had changed Arwen.
    “I just have to call the others. All right?”
    She smiled as she picked up the last of her clothes and put them on the bed. “Go ahead. Don’t let me stop you.”
    Jalen made his phone calls, able to reach the rest of the band and invite them over. While he did that, he kept a close eye on her. She wandered around