Coming Together Read online

  That cut. This was the first time Jackie had actually stayed longer than the scheduled shoot. There were a couple she’d tried dating, but they never panned out. Jackie sandwiched between Mathis and Paavo was the last thing he wanted to envision. If she were his, he’d never be able to share.

  Wanting reassurance, he turned to Kim. “Please tell me you wouldn’t trade me for that.”

  “Oh no, baby. You’re enough man for me.” She grinned. “Besides, I’ve heard rumors Paavo and Mathis share everything.”

  An onslaught of images flooded his head. No wonder she lost track of time.

  Remembering Kim and her sexy grin, he nudged her. “Good, I’d hate to think I disappoint you.”

  Chapter 2

  Sidra stalked through Volunteer Park with Clive following on her heels. Pieces of her plan were sliding into position. Before long, Stefano would approach and charm Jackie. She could finally claim him once she’d destroyed another of his obsessions.

  The pungent scent of dragon pulled Sidra’s attention. She ran through the murky pre-dawn light, pausing when her gaze landed on dark skin, silky raven hair, slanted eyes, and a petite body.

  The power oozing from the dragon lured Sidra. The woman walked through the park, full of confidence. She was young, but definitely descended from an ancient dragon. Her youth and lack of experience ensured she would be vulnerable to their talents.

  She nodded at the girl and Clive moved in front of her. He caught her arms, lifting her off the ground.

  Ballsy bitch surprised her by throwing her foot out, kicking Clive in the nuts while attempting to twist away. Too bad for her, he craved pain himself, almost as much as inflicting it. Unfortunately, imminent sunrise left them short on time to play.

  He caught the dragon’s gaze and she stilled. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she relaxed under his compulsion.

  Sidra joined them from behind.

  In the middle of the park, moments before dawn, they couldn’t enjoy her screams. Sidra and Clive struck in unison, their fangs cutting past skin, to greedily drink down the dragon’s magic with her savory blood.

  Clive dropped the dragon’s body once it went lax and took Sidra’s hand. They ran for the hidden tunnel leading them into their lair, deep in the Seattle Underground.

  They beat dawn’s first light by minutes.

  * * * *

  Thanks to Kim, Jackie felt not only guilty, but also filthy dirty for the night before. If Kim hadn’t reminded Eddie, he might not have known who she’d spent the night with. Mathis and Paavo had spent hours worshiping her body. Mingled in with all the hot sex, were images and visions she couldn’t begin to understand. Nothing made a damned bit of sense.

  Except it did. If she’d reach for the knowledge, it would be at her fingertips. Fear kept her from digging into the memories from Faerie. They weren’t her memories, but her mother’s. The flashes and knowledge left her questioning everything about herself.

  It didn’t help that too much information had flipped through her head in a series of scenes she couldn’t organize into rational cohesion. Trying to sort out the details only brought on a headache. She chose to purposefully push those thoughts far from her mind, and believe her mother was some sort of fairy princess, instead of the manipulative vixen the visions seemed to depict.

  She focused her mind on wondering what Eddie thought about last night, after Kim so helpfully reminded him who she’d been with. He was probably out there, judging her.

  If she could just keep a man, this wouldn’t be an issue. Her luck with men sucked, while he’d pretty much had a girlfriend nonstop since hitting puberty. Not the same one, but he never went more than a couple days before falling into another relationship.

  It wasn’t fair. She’d tried to keep a boyfriend but they never lasted. Even tried a girlfriend, but Skylar wanted another man, and Jackie had wanted Eddie. So that didn’t work.

  A relationship might keep her mind off her secret desire, but men demanded too much time and devotion. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to be with one person. Jackie did. But they expected her to shut Eddie out of her life. The one thing she’d never do. Nobody was worth ditching her best friend.

  Nevermind her true feelings for him, which left her a twisted wreck. Resolute, she shoved those into the box at the back of her heart and tried to think about anyone else.

  Closing her eyes, she stepped under the hot water, letting her tension wash away. Her thoughts drifted to a mysterious Adonis. Deep blue eyes that found her through the Jitterhouse’s windows. Dark waves fell to his shoulders. His sinful red lips twisted into a smile before he walked into the night. The mystery man had haunted her dreams since she first laid eyes on him a week ago. Thoughts of the stranger were a welcome distraction.

  She wondered if he could be more. One problem, he never came in, never stopped to chat, but watched until she took notice, then slipped into the night.

  A dreamy sigh left her lips. Perhaps tonight, at work, she’d sneak out to get his name, maybe his number.

  Once the water ran cool, she shut off the faucet and wrapped herself in a towel before dumping her dress in the hamper. She took a fortifying breath and opened the door.

  Eddie stood there with his arms crossed over his sculpted chest, his eyes dark with concern.

  Her mouth started to water and she tried to scoot past him. “Hey, Kim leave?”

  “Yeah. I’m meeting her this evening.” He stepped into her path, blocking her from the bedroom door. “Another late night walk in the park?” His gaze dropped to her left hand where she absently rubbed her knuckles.

  Shoving her hands behind her back, and praying the towel stayed put, she smiled innocently. “Had to get home. It was shorter than going around.” The intensity in his gaze incited a raging desire she couldn’t squelch.

  “What happened to your hand?” He moved slowly toward her while she struggled to stand her ground.

  Managing to hold her smile, she shrugged. “Spilled hot coffee. It’s nothing.” Eddie stalked closer and she backed up. The concern in his eyes should have brought her back to reality, but it didn’t. He looked feral, bordering on possessive, and it turned her on in a big way.

  Dropping her eyes, she took in the way his muscles moved under warm brown skin. She must be imagining the tent in the flannel pants as he stopped an inch before her. Transfixed by his chiseled abs and the lickable ‘v,’ she didn’t realize he’d reached for her wrist until he pulled her hand between them with a hiss.

  “That wasn’t caused by coffee, Jackie. What really happened?”

  She lifted a shoulder with a smirk. “Hit a wall in frustration.” At least, the asshole’s jaw had felt like a solid brick surface. “Only a bruise. It’s fine.” She backed into the wall, not because she feared Eddie, but because she was having trouble resisting the urge to drop the towel and rub herself over him like a great big cat in heat. His dark look should have terrified her, but clearly she’d lost her damned mind. “I need to get dressed.”

  He snarled. “Who attacked you? Was it Mathis and Paavo?”

  A laugh bubbled up. “No.”

  He closed the distance, his body pressed against hers. “Who, Jackie? Who hurt you?”

  “Stop. It’s nothing,” she breathed, lost in his intense gaze.

  His big hands wrapped around her upper arms as he brought her against him. That tent wasn’t her imagination, and she desperately tried to reason out why the hell he was aroused.

  “What happened?” he growled.

  Her breath caught, her heart raced, and her blood boiled. She wanted his concern to be passion, but kept thinking back to Kim.

  Angry at herself, she glared up at him. “Attempted. They connected with nothing but my foot and fist. I didn’t wander off. I came straight home.” She pulled back.

  He closed the distance again. “Why didn’t you report the attack?”

  She snarled. “They came at me. I kicked one in the face. Punched the other. I hardly saw them before
their asses hit the ground. Once they were down, I threw up a wall of ice and picked up my pace, getting here before they could follow. I couldn’t describe them if I wanted to.”

  His nostrils flared. “Damn it, Jackie. You’re going to get yourself killed one of these nights.”

  She jerked out of his hold and stepped into her room. “What? Am I not supposed to live? Not supposed to work? Not supposed to go out? Ever?”

  His expression softened. “I didn’t say that.”

  “You know what? It doesn’t matter. I’m fine. I can take care of myself.” She slammed the door in his face.

  He thumped softly on the frame. “Damn it, I didn’t say you couldn’t.”

  Tears flooded her eyes. “Just stop, Eddie.”

  * * * *

  Eddie stood at her door with his head pressed against the wood. He heard her sniffle and his heart wrenched tighter. “Fuck,” he mumbled, as he went to the freezer to wrap some ice for her hand. Then he fixed a cup of coffee the way she liked.

  He’d worried about her since the first day of second grade. At the bus stop, the girl from down the road glared at Jackie the entire time they’d waited. Jackie pretended she didn’t notice, but he saw the way her jaw clenched as she purposefully looked anywhere but at Sheila.

  Once they were on the bus, Sheila started in with, “You don’t fit in.”

  “You look funny.”

  “What color is that? Sunny?”

  “Ugly little brat.”

  And more. Eddie shot back one snide remark after another. Each time, Jackie grabbed his wrist. “Don’t. Ignore her.”

  He was so mad, he didn’t get it until weeks later, when Sheila finally got bored and moved on to making fun of someone else.

  Watching her cry when they got home tore him up. Jackie hurried to her room and shut herself in. Her sniffle drove him to action.

  He slipped inside and sat down beside her, taking her hand. “What’s wrong, Angelfish?”

  She looked away. “Do you believe her?”

  “Sheila?”

  Her pigtails bounced with the nod.

  “She’s a brat,” he answered automatically.

  One corner of her mouth tipped up as she looked over, wiping the tears away.

  He scooted closer, putting his arm around her. “Never liked Sheila anyway.”

  Jackie laid her head on his shoulder. “Thank you.”

  “We’re best friends. I’ll always stick up for you.”

  “Ignore her.”

  He frowned.

  She leaned back, her aquamarine eyes shining. “Just play with me if no one else will.”

  “Every day,” he promised.

  Since then, she rarely cared what anyone thought of her. And she really could take care of herself. A few months back, she’d completely frozen some asswipe into a muggersicle and shattered him with a touch. He remembered how terrified she’d been when she first came home.

  It was around three in the morning when she finally came in. She’d slammed the door, something she avoided, especially late at night.

  He hurried into the living room, and found her sliding down the wall, pulling her legs to her chest as she stared at nothing. Her teeth chattered, her body trembling. Wet trails glistened on her porcelain cheeks.

  Eddie knelt before her. “What happened?” Through some miracle, he’d managed to keep his voice calm.

  She sucked in a breath and looked him in the eye. “I ki-killed so-someo-one.”

  “What?” His calm evaporated. “What the fuck did they do to you?”

  “Tri-tried to mu-mug me. I-I sha-shattered him.”

  “Shattered?”

  Her eyes closed as she pulled in a deep breath. Then the words came out in a rapid flow. “He put his hands on me. I touched him. Solid ice. When I shoved him away, he fell. Shattered. A million pieces. Brent said there was no hope for him. But… but I killed him.”

  “He tried to hurt you. You’re okay?”

  She shook her head.

  Eddie scooped Jackie into his arms and carried her back to the bedroom to help her change. He thanked every spirit he could for Kim being out of town, visiting her father. “Want me to hold you?”

  “Please?” she whispered.

  He kissed the top of her head before standing her in front of the closet. “Get ready for bed. I’ll be right here.”

  After she’d changed, she crawled under the blankets and into his arms.

  She’d known she was a mage, but never had a flux of power like that. A few days later, once the shock wore off, she called Mike and started hanging out with his mage girlfriend to learn better control over her magic. As usual, she’d soaked up all the tricks she could at an accelerated rate.

  Jackie had always learned fast. When he had trouble accepting his magic, she would lay beside him under the stars, tutoring him on all the shit his grandfather had taught him about shaman magic, and their stories.

  Myths and legends fascinated her, but she refused to learn anything about her fae side. All either of them knew is that her mother was fae, which wasn’t much considering how many different kinds there were. Maybe her reluctance to accept half of her heritage affected his recognition of his own.

  Sooner or later, he would have to deal with the fact he’d have to shift before he was ready. He’d somehow managed to put it off years longer than he should have been able to. At one point, he started to think he couldn’t shift, but he’d never tried—it was supposed to come naturally. Over the last couple of weeks, his magic had increased, flaring up. The change was coming, whether or not he was ready.

  Seeing Jackie upset always hurt. Knowing he caused her distress made it worse.

  I’m a fucking ass.

  Once again, he’d overreacted, this time worse than normal. Jackie’s pain pulled out the inner beast, who wanted to protect her while tearing the shit out of any asshole who’d hurt her. The last thing she wanted, or needed.

  He opened the door without knocking, and found her curled up on the window seat in her favorite holey jeans, and the sweater his mom had knit her for graduation. One more reminder he should see her as family, and not the woman he wanted to spend his life with.

  Besides, he loved Kim. She was everything he wanted, if he could just let go of his inappropriate feelings for Jackie.

  “Here. This is for your hand.” Eddie sat beside her. Curling his fingers around hers, he gently pressed the ice to her knuckles. “And this is a peace offering.”

  She took the mug with a soft smile. “Thank you.”

  Jackie’s soulful eyes locked on his, sadness in their depths. “I wish you wouldn’t worry so much.”

  “I try not to.” He rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb, infusing healing energy into her, and looked up through his lashes. “Sorry for being an ass.”

  “Forgiven. Sorry I’m such a pain in the ass.”

  He kissed her forehead, wishing it were her soft rose petal lips and whispered, “You’re not.” Closing his eyes, he breathed in her water lily scent. “Ready to go to Grampa John’s?”

  “Yup, I’m ready.”

  Sitting back, he nodded. All he could think about was carrying her to bed, stripping her down, and climbing over her gorgeous body.

  Chapter 3

  Eddie was nervous as he pulled up to Grampa John’s house. He required a push into action, and Grampa could usually get him moving in the right direction.

  He took a deep breath and smiled over at Jackie. “Bet you can’t wait for a big helping of smoked salmon.”

  She moaned, rolling her head toward him. “You know I can’t. His will always be the best.”

  Laughing, he nodded. Watching her eat any seafood was a gorgeous sight. One he’d see less of when he got the guts to finally move on.

  “Come on. He’s been waiting all week to see you.”

  “You too.”

  Eddie snorted. “He sees me a lot more often, lately.”

  Her brow pinched. “Why?”


  He sighed and looked up at the ceiling. “Guidance.” Grampa was the only one who could help him figure out what to do with the influx of power that sprung up the night of Scotty and Jayde’s party.

  Maybe all the magic flowing through the room sparked his own. Whatever the catalyst, he was finally coming into his power. The full moon was in a few days, triggering his first shift. Hopefully his magic would settle then.

  “About Kim?”

  He nodded, her assumption an easier answer. Eddie had a strong desire to move forward, but something stood in his path, holding him back. He couldn’t figure out what.

  Jackie hopped out of the car and hurried to the house. He followed, watching her hips sway.

  Grampa John opened the door before she could knock, and swept her into a hug. “What happened to you coming over more with Eddie? I don’t see you enough.”

  She laughed and Eddie’s world brightened. “Sorry, been busy. I had a few photoshoots this week.” She blushed as she pulled back and ducked inside.

  “Go fix a plate, I’ll be right there,” Grampa called.

  “Don’t be long. I’m famished,” she teased. “I may eat all the salmon myself.”

  He laughed. “I don’t mind smoking more, but I did make you a batch to take home.” Grampa John shut the door and pulled Eddie into a hug. “What’s going on? Seems like the weight of the world is pulling you down.”

  Eddie drew in a deep breath. “I’m going to do it tonight.”

  Grampa’s eyes narrowed. “Do what, exactly? Follow your heart?”

  Eddie nodded. “I’m meeting Kim’s father tonight. Assuming that goes well, I’m finally going to ask her to marry me.”

  Grampa huffed. “You would never have hesitated if Kim was the one.”

  “I thought you liked Kim.”

  “I do. She’s a good girl. But you were meant for someone else.”

  Someone who thought of him as a brother. Eddie shook his head. “Kim’s the one. She’s everything I want and more.”

  His brow cocked. “Then I wish you luck.” He squeezed Eddie’s shoulders.