Free Dark Tremor (Mated by Magic #2) by Stella Marie Alden, Chantel Seabrook Page B

nearness.
    He inhaled her intoxicating sent. Desert with a hint of rye.
    “Get out of my way.” Her voice held a soft quiver. She felt it too.
    “I’m not letting you walk out of here,” he whispered softly in her ear.
    She shivered and her breath hitched.
    Josh cleared his throat behind them. “Just an observation, but if you two are a match, then–”
    “Don’t start.” Jace kept his palm planted firmly on the door and locked an arm around her waist. His cock begged to enter her.
    “I’m just saying, it’s solstice. If you mated–”
    “Not happening,” he growled. 
    Terra turned to meet his gaze. Hurt shined behind her blue eyes as she bit her lower lip.
    “Look, I don’t want to be mated to you either, but if there’s a way to beat Mic, then I’ll do it.”
    He placed his free hand on the door beside her head, trapping her. She let go of the cat and took a small step backwards, until she was pressed tight against the door.
    “This isn’t a game. Do you even understand what Josh is suggesting? What you’d be sacrificing?”
    She swallowed hard. “It’s just sex.”
    He laughed darkly. “It’s a hell of a lot more than sex. It’s a fight for power, for control. If you’re not strong enough…” He clenched his teeth not wanting to think about what could happen to her.
    The ground trembled beneath his feet and the entire structure seemed to vibrate.
    Josh cursed behind him, and Nicole came out of the other room squawking.
    “For the love of God, stop it,” Jace yelled. “Do you know how high this building is?”
    “Trust me. I’m strong enough.” Terra’s eyes blazed, but the tremors subsided. “Maybe it’s you who’s not strong enough.”
    “What’s going on?” Nicole’s high-pitched voice grated on his already overwrought senses.
    Her eyes went wide and her mouth dropped open. “Did she seriously just do that?”
    Josh laughed at the bar and poured another. “Looks like you found yourself a little hell-cat.”
    “More like a badger,” Jace grunted.
    “Nicole, let’s go.” Josh’s lips twisted in a smirk.
    “I’m not going anywhere. I want to know what just happened. Did she just cause the entire building to shake?”
    Not for the first time, Jace wondered how Josh put up with the screeching.
    Josh gripped his wife’s shoulder and turned her toward the door. “We can talk about it in the car. You said you wanted to visit your family.”
    She shrugged off his hand. “I’ll go. Alone.”
    Jace didn’t miss the subtle glare Nicole threw at Terra and the disdain at Josh before slamming the door shut behind her.
    Josh stared after her, clearly wounded by her slight. Their marriage had never been easy, but Nicole was acting even bitchier than normal. Clearly even love matches had their problems.
    “It’s the desert heat,” Jace said, shoving his hands in his pockets and not taking his gaze off Terra. “Makes everyone cranky.”
    The breath that escaped Terra’s lips sounded like a hiss. 
    Josh gave his head a small shake. “I’ll go down to the conference center and make a few calls. Get Jack up to speed.”
    “You don’t need to leave,” Terra said, looking uncomfortable.
    “Yes he does.” He took a step towards her and the damn cat nearly tripped him.
    The little demon hissed, as if it was his fault.
    “We need to talk.”
    “Right. Let’s talk about how the thought of mating with me makes you cringe.” Her mouth quivered. “Sorry if I don’t meet your high standards.”
    “That’s not why…” He scrubbed his hand over his face and blew out a long breath.
    “Yeah, I definitely need to get out of here.” Josh slapped him on the back as he passed. “Good luck.”
    Terra glared at Josh’s back as he departed and crossed her arms over her chest.
    Jace studied her a long moment. Her face was scrunched up in defiance. Her lithe body tense, but still she made him harder than fucking granite. Maybe she was strong enough to survive mating with him