Jared

Chapter 20

After making sure his grandfather was situated Sid had thrown Adam a set of keys so he could take Angelina home. She had been wonderful helping him with Gramps and now they sat in front of her house. He turned off the car leaving the keys in place. The only noise in the car was him clicking off the lights. Adam glanced at her house seeing no lights on. “Sorry I’m getting you home so late.”

Angelina shrugged her shoulders glancing at the house. “It’s okay.” She turned back toward him. “Nobody really pays attention to my comings and goings. Kind of nice at times like these.” She smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

Adam frowned. “I didn’t know you had feelings for me Angel.” He started to explain feeling tremendous guilt. “I was so full of myself back then”

“Back then?” She snorted. “It wasn’t that long ago Adam, but I really don’t want to talk about it. I’m not a charity case wanting you to feel bad for the little girl who once was.”

“I’m not….”

“Yeah, you are.” She pulled her legs up in the seat to turn more toward him sitting on her knees. “Poor little Angelina. She liked a guy who didn’t know she was alive. So what. I was just one in a thousand….a million, in the same situation.”

Adam’s eyes searched her face. “I see you now Angel, does that matter or am I too late.”

Angelina looked past him out the window. “I wouldn’t be sitting in this car with you right now if you were too late Adam.” Her eyes found him again. “My feelings for you haven’t changed. Oh, I wanted to hate you, tried to hate you when you would pass me with Ms. Perfect by your side. She was never good enough for you.”

“You tried to hate me?” Adam frowned.

“Oh, yeah.” She snorted again. “You should see last year’s yearbook. Every picture of you and Ms. Perfect that I could find, and there were many, is grafitied by yours truly. I know that seems childish, but it made me feel better.”

Adam just sat staring at the beautiful girl sitting across from him. “I did know you were alive Angel.” When she started to deny, he stopped her. “Last year’s prom. You came with that douchebag Dan Stevens. You and he were slow dancing when our eyes met. The rest of the night I couldn’t keep my eyes off of you and I never wanted to hit anybody more than I wanted to hit douchebag Dan.”

“You’re just saying that.” She narrowed her eyes at him. “I would have known if you were looking at me because I was always looking at you.”

“You wore a lavender dress right above your knees with white lace.” He grinned at her shocked expression. “The lavender made your eyes even bluer.”

“Why didn’t you say anything to me?” She couldn’t hide the shock in her voice.

“Because I was with Ms. Perfect and you were with douchebag Dan.” He replied. “I wish I could redo that night and ask you to dance with me. Would you have danced with me Angel?”

She didn’t answer right away, but sat looking down at her hands which were folded tightly in her lap. Finally she looked up, a tear sliding down her pale cheek. “It would have been a dream come true.”

Adam reached out grasping the back of her neck pulling her close. “I was an idiot.”

She nodded with a small smile. “Yeah, you were.”

His lips stopped a breath from hers. “Am I forgiven?”

“Only if you kiss me.” She didn’t move closer, but sat still in anticipation.

“Forgiven it is then.” His lips finally met hers in a kiss that steamed up the windows in less than a minute.

********

Jared was where he wanted to be, between the legs of a beautiful woman. Their first joining had been fast and frenzied, their second a bit slower and more exploration and the third lazy and lasting. His arms, bended at the elbows, framed her head, his face inches from hers so he could place his mouth to her face, lips or neck, wherever they landed as he pumped into her tight warmth in a slow lazy rhythm. Her legs wrapped around his low back loosely as she met each of his thrust. Oh, hell yeah, he could keep this up all night, but the loud pounding on his door blew that thought straight to hell. His forehead fell to hers as he moaned. The pounding persisted.

“Go away!” He shouted at the door, his tone menacing. He looked back down at Tessa who smiled up at him, her hand touching the side of his face.

“It might be important.” She ran her thumb across his lips laughing when he sucked it into his mouth.

“The world better be f*cking ending, because that….” He frowned shaking his head. “No….not even that would be as important as this.” He winked at her, then growled when the pounding started again.

“Jared!” Damon yelled on the other side of the door.

“Go away Damon!” Jared yelled back. “I’m busy.”

“I don’t give a shit if you’re….” Silence from the door lasted only a second. “Oh.”

“Yeah, oh!” Jared rolled his eyes. “Now go the f*ck away!” This was seriously ruining the moment which was pissing him off.

“Well you know what hotshot.” Damon called back with a couple pounds to the door. “I remember a few times when I was….busy…and you wouldn’t go the f*ck away. Now get your ass out here. The council is here wanting to talk to us.”

“Dammit!” Jared hadn’t stopped his love making, didn’t miss a beat during all of that back and forth.

“You got five minutes before I come in there and get your ass.” Damon pounded a couple more times and Jared could have sworn he heard a chuckle.

“The door makes a creak and you’re a dead man.” Jared growled.

“Yeah, whatever. You got four minutes.” Damon’s voice faded down the hall.

Jared sighed. “Guess now I understand why he always wanted to kill me. I must of drove him and Nicole nuts. Guess payback is going to be hell.” He chuckled as he picked up his pace nuzzling her neck.

“Maybe you should have thought about that before you started pounding on their door while they were….busy.” She chuckled, enjoying the feel of his heaviness on her.

“I love the smell of honeysuckle.” His lips vibrated against the curve of her neck. Without thought he rolled, keeping them together. “You finish us. I’ve been on top all night.”

Tessa just sat there staring down at him with wide eyes. “Umm, I don’t know how.” Her cheeks flamed.

“Just move honey.” Jared moaned when she did just that. His hands reached out to the flare of her hips running slowly up her sides to stop at her breast. They overfilled his large hands, her eyes had dropped watching, her tempo picking up. His eyes never leaving her face he rolled her nipples with light pressure watching as her head fell back as she rode him. Jared waited for a second before sending them both over the edge so she could feel the power of being in charge, but soon he couldn’t take much more and pinched her nipples sending them both over the edge and the loudest scream he’d ever heard came out of Tessa’s mouth.

Tessa slumped across Jared, her breathing ragged before stopping altogether. She sat straight up, her breast swaying as her hand slapped across her mouth. “Oh my God! Did I just scream?”

Jared laughed, pulling her back down to him. “Music to my ears babe.” He loved her shyness. She was such a mix he never knew from one minute to the next what he was going to get…shy Tessa, hellcat Tessa, funny Tessa or compassionate Tessa. He was finding out real fast he liked them all. He rolled her over pinning her to the bed. “When I get back I plan to make more music.”

Leaving Tessa naked in his bed was one of the hardest things Jared had ever done and he wasn’t happy about it. Stomping down the hall he pulled his t-shirt over his head. His boots were untied and his jeans unsnapped. Damon turned the corner spotting him.

“Good.” Damon waited for Jared to reach him. “I thought I was going to have to bust in this time.”

“From here on out you and everybody else better be knocking.” Jared warned.

Damon grunted, leading the way into Duncan’s office. “Better put a sign on the door like I had to.” He glanced at Jared with a scowl. “Not that it worked since you seemed to take pleasure in pounding on my door every chance you got.”

Grinning, Jared shrugged his shoulders. “Your handwriting sucks. Couldn’t read what it said.”

“You couldn’t read, ‘Go the f*ck away’ in bold letters?” Damon rolled his eyes. “Seems like you’re the only illiterate dumbass here then.”

Jared chuckled walking into the office to find Duncan, Levi and their council leader Sloan Murphy in conversation. “It’s about damn time Kincaid.” Sloan snapped.

Sloan Murphy was the oldest vampire in the council and took over leadership more than a hundred years ago. When he said jump you didn’t ask how high, you got your ass off the ground. No one knew his true age, he looked to be forty something in human years, but for all anyone knew he was as old as time in vampire years.

“Sorry.” Jared bowed his head slightly in respect to his elder. “I was….”

“I don’t care what you were doing Kincaid.” Sloan’s eyes darkened slightly. “But by the smell I would say you left some female happy.”

Jared didn’t even want to go there. Talking about Tessa with anyone at this point was out of the question, even if it was his elder…not happening. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out the vial. “We came across this.” He placed the small bottle in Sloan’s hand leaving out the fact that he got it from Tessa. “We think that is being used to turn the humans into half-breeds.”

Sloan held the small bottle up to the light. “Excellent.” Sloan stared at it for a second. “I’ll get someone on this right away. The sooner we find out what’s in this the better.”

“I knew she was hiding something.” Levi sneered at Jared.

Jared didn’t say a word, but his body tensed.

“She who?” Sloan asked putting the vial in his pocket.

“The human he’s f*cking.” Even though Levi was staring straight at Jared he never saw the kick that sent him flying across the room.

Damon grabbed Jared before he went after Levi. “Cool down brother.”

Sloan stepped in front of Levi who was pointing and cursing at Jared. “I take it you and this human…” Sloan turned to look at Jared one eyebrow cocked.

“Is none of anyone’s business.” Jared finished the sentence still eyeing Levi.

“If it interferes with Council business it is.” Levi shot back his stance less threatening with Sloan standing in front of him.

“Listen you piece of shit.” Jared pointed his finger over Sloan’s shoulder at Levi. “If you think you have any authority over me, you’re sadly mistaken.”

“Can someone please tell me what the hell is going on?” Sloan, known for his patience, was quickly losing what patience he did have.

“Gladly.” Levi sneered. “The human is Tessa Pride. She and her half-breed brother are the ones who broke in and stole one of our prisoners right out from under the warriors. She is also the mate to one of the half-breeds who terrorized the humans at the fairgrounds.”

“How do you know that?” Duncan who had been quite to this point spoke up. “I know you weren’t there and we haven’t given our reports yet.”

Levi glanced quickly at Duncan. “I…” He cleared his throat. “One of the warriors who came through mentioned something about it.”

“Is this true?” Sloan looked at Jared, his stare probing.

“Yes.” Jared relaxed slightly even though his body wanted to kill Levi on the spot.

“Dammit!” Sloan slammed his hand on the desk. “What is wrong with you warriors? If someone is mated you cannot interfere.”

“It’s only his word. She has no feelings toward him, nothing.” Jared didn’t like where this conversation was going. “He’s lying.”

“And you are a hundred percent sure about that?” When Jared didn’t answer Sloan put his hand on Jared’s arm. He couldn’t read a warrior when the warrior didn’t want to be read, but if he laid his hand on him nothing could be hidden. It was his talent. His eyes widened before he glanced at everyone else. “Everybody out.”

Once everyone had cleared the room Sloan turned toward Jared. “Can you read her?”

“I don’t know.” Jared replied leaning against the wall. “Her brother has her blocked. No one can read her.”

Again Sloan’s eyes widened in surprise. “Even when he isn’t near her?”

“Yeah.” Jared nodded. “Pretty impressive huh?”

“Very.” Sloan actually looked impressed. “He have any other talents we could use?”

“He hasn’t come into his full power yet, but as soon as he does I have a feeling he is going to make a great warrior.” Jared grinned. “He did pull a fast one on us when he broke out Chad Evans. Got to give him props for that.”

“We need to make sure he doesn’t rage when he comes into his power.” Sloan’s eyes narrowed.

“From what we understand from the half-breeds who came over to our side is that whatever they used to turn them makes them immune from going rogue.” Jared shrugged his shoulders. “Until we know what’s in that vial we don’t really know that for sure.”

“You think Chad Evans would know?” Sloan pulled the vial out looking at it.

“Send Damon in to ask.” Jared smirked. “I’m sure if he knows anything Damon can get it out of him.”

Sloan snorted. “We need to keep the bastard alive, not decapitated like the last one. Anything else I should know?”

“These half-breeds have beating hearts, which makes them easier to kill if need be.” Not often did things surprise Sloan. He’d been around longer than most. “I think they are trying to make them more human, but with the skill and powers of a vampire.”

“What makes you think that?”

Jared’s eyes darkened slightly. “Because they were going to use something on Tessa. Not sure what, but from what we understand they were going to make her a breeder.”

“Son of a bitch!” Sloan was truly shocked.

“Exactly our thought.” Jared pushed away from the wall. “If that’s all….”

“No, that isn’t all.” Sloan frowned. “Stay away from this Tessa Pride.”

“No.” Jared didn’t like to be disrespectful to any council member and he usually wasn’t, but on this he wouldn’t budge.

“If she is mated….”

“Then I’ll kill him.”

“You can’t just go around killing people because of your current piece of ass…”

Jared took a quick step forward, but stopped inches of grabbing his elder. “I have done nothing but give my life for the Council. I have shown nothing but respect and did what I was told since I pledged my alliance, but if you ever call her that again or show any disrespect toward her, you will greatly regret it.”

Sloan stood toe to toe with Jared. “You are ready to throw it all away for this human who may or may not be your mate?” His nostrils flared as if smelling for the truth.

“Without question.” The answer surprised even Jared, but he knew it to be true. No woman had ever affected him the way Red did. “I have walked this world alone for many years without finding a mate. Actually I think the mate thing is way overrated and a load of crap.”

The older vampire crossed his arms staring intently at Jared. “I’ve never known you to act rash. You’re one of the best warriors the Council has ever had.” Sloan sighed. “I’m going to trust you on this, but no matter what you think, the mate thing is real and the Council will ban you if she is mated to another. Find out if she is mated to this half-breed and if not, find out if she is your mate. Every vampire finds their mate Kincaid and if she isn’t yours, you need to let her go. It’s not fair to her because once you find your true mate the feelings you have for her will be put to rest.”

Jared bowed his head slightly keeping his mouth shut. He knew Sloan was giving him some slack and he appreciated it, but he also knew mate or not nobody would come between him and Tessa.

“Now get the hell out of here and send Duncan back in.” Sloan walked around Duncan’s desk taking a seat.

Jared turned to leave, but stopped. “You need to keep an eye on Levi.”

“Why’s that?” Sloan looked up from the papers scattered on the desk.

“Because I know all the warriors that were at the fairgrounds and I also know none of them would have said a word before being debriefed by the elders. Levi isn’t an elder and I know they haven’t been debriefed yet because you would have known about Tessa and the half-breeds.” Jared warned.

“Noted.” Sloan replied. “Anything else?”

“Nope.” Jared opened the door and walked out. “He wants to see you.” Jared nodded toward Duncan as he walked past heading back to his room where Tessa waited.

Damon fell in step with Jared. “Well?”

Jared didn’t say anything for a moment. Thoughts of Tessa being mated to the half-breed burned his blood. “Sparkles needs to die.”