And hell.
She reached into her purse and handed Paris a small pouch.
His brow wrinkled even more. “What’s this?”
“It’s a precaution.” One that they might not have to use but… “The liquid inside can knock out a werewolf in his prime—an alpha werewolf.”
His fingers clenched around the bag. “You were planning to attack Aidan?”
“No, I was planning to save my own ass. When I came here, I didn’t know what I’d find.” But I feared it would be Jane’s dead body. “I like to protect myself.”
He opened the bag and pulled out the vial. “I can see that.”
“Put it in a syringe. Keep it close. If something happens and you need Aidan to…to calm down…use it.” Because as powerful as Paris was, he would be no match for an alpha who’d lost his sanity. “It won’t kill him, I promise. It will just knock him out long enough for you to secure him.”
He was still staring at the vial. “By secure him, you mean lock him down with silver.”
That was exactly what she meant.
“How were you going to use this on him tonight? I don’t see a syringe here.”
“I would have found a way.” She didn’t mention that she had a syringe hidden in her purse.
He put the vial back into the little bag and pulled the draw string closed once more. “Why give this to me?”
“Because there is a reason you’re Aidan’s right hand. You can be trusted.” He was an honorable man. A rare thing in this world. “And maybe I don’t want to see you get ripped apart by your friend.”
Paris took a step back. “You think Aidan would turn on me?”
“If you turned on Jane, yes, I do.” Without hesitation. “Some bonds are stronger than pack. Time for everyone to start realizing that.”
Chapter Eleven
Aidan lowered to his knees before Jane. His beast was howling inside of him—so desperate for her—but he kept a leash on that wolf. His control would hold. Where Jane was concerned, there was no room for error. His touch stayed gentle on her, and he leaned forward, feathering light kisses on her stomach.
Jane’s hands settled over his shoulders. “Aidan…”
“I need you, Jane.” She was alive. Safe. Strong. Right there with him. And Annette had been right—there were no promises for the future. There was only that moment.
For that moment, he had Jane.
He looked up at her. “If you want me to stop, say the word.” He’d always do what Jane wanted. Did she understand the power that she wielded? He was supposed to be the beast in charge of the city, but for her…I will give her anything.
Jane shook her head. “Stopping is the last thing I want.”
They both needed this—needed each other. Needed the reassurance of being skin to skin. The wild oblivion of pleasure that would sweep them away.
He pressed another kiss to her stomach, then Aidan eased down a bit more, moving lower, lower…
He kissed her through the soft silk of her underwear. A shudder slid along her body and the scent of her arousal teased him. He kissed her again even as his hands curled around her hips. His tongue slid out, licking lightly, but he couldn’t get the access he needed, not from that position.
He needed so much more from Jane.
He caught the edge of her panties with his teeth and yanked them down.
Jane gave a little surprised laugh. He fucking loved it when she laughed. Then she said, “My, what skillful teeth you have, wolf…”
“The better to strip you, my dear.”
Her laughter came again, but the sweet sound faded when he scooped her into his arms and hurriedly carried her to the bed. He positioned her on the edge of the mattress, letting her silken legs hang over the edge. Then he bent once more, his hands moving to push her thighs farther apart.
And he tasted her. His tongue licked. Again and again. She moaned and jerked against his mouth, but he just kept going. He wanted Jane to come this way, for him. Wanted her to have the first blast of pleasure.
Her hips arched toward him. He kissed her tender flesh and kept stroking her with his tongue, just the way he knew she liked. When the pleasure hit her, he felt it. Her body stiffened. Her sex spasmed.
And he pulled back so that he could watch her come for him.
“Nothing is more beautiful,” he whispered, “than seeing you, like this.” Aidan rose, stripping off his clothes and tossing them away. He needed to be skin to skin with her. Needed to be deep inside of Jane.
She rolled, moving her body quickly and rising up on her knees. Then she looked back at him, her cheeks a sweet pink and her eyes gleaming. “I want it this way.”
Fuck, yes. He’d take her anyway. He climbed onto the bed. The mattress dipped beneath his weight. He grabbed her hips, positioned his cock, and drove into her in one long, hard thrust.
Balls deep. Perfect.
She moaned.
He gave a guttural groan.
And then he withdrew, only to thrust deep again. The rhythm was hot and fast, and he should slow down, he knew it, but—