Claws and Fangs Read online

  “What did I do wrong?” She hated the fear that quickened her pulse.

  “Nothing.” He took a deep breath. “It was a rough night and the drive home didn’t calm me any. I’d hoped it would.”

  “What happened?” Strong emotions of anger hit her suddenly but she had a feeling they were coming from him.

  The sight of him shrugging off the leather jacket to reveal muscled arms in a black tank top was one she admired, distracting her from the feelings she picked up from him. Chase’s body always had an effect on her. He tossed the jacket across the back of the chair by the door, sat down hard and tore off his biker boots. They were dumped on the floor.

  “Chase?”

  His intense gaze lifted to meet her curious stare. “Don’t freak out.” Then it was as if a mental door closed between them, and suddenly she couldn’t pick up anything he felt.

  That’s not good. She wondered why he thought she’d be alarmed, but then realized he was snarling his words. “I know you’re not going to hurt me. I believe that. I’m not going to run screaming from you just because you’re in a bad mood.”

  “That’s not what I meant.” He stood, reached down to fist his shirt, jerked it up his body, and tossed it away.

  The bruising on his ribs was horrible enough, but the smeared blood on his side had her stumbling closer. “What happened?”

  “It’s not mine. The damn jerk bled all over me though. The black clothes hide it well enough, but it’s all over me where I couldn’t wash it off without undressing.”

  To prove his point, he removed his belt and unfastened his leather pants. The red stain continued down one hip and thigh. Jasmine’s mouth fell open.

  “One of my pack decided to jump me in the parking lot. He thought it would be a good time to challenge me, after I’d already fought some vamp ass when a few of them got out of line with customers at the club.” He bent, pushing the pants completely off. “I’m guessing he figured I’d be too tired to win.”

  Jasmine inched closer to get a better look. The blood trailed all the way down to his knee, and it was worse when he turned to stalk into the bathroom. More blood covered his back, but it was brighter red and wet. Four slash marks scored his shoulder blade.

  “Chase? You’re hurt.”

  He halted by the door with his back to her. “I could have undressed in the bathroom so you didn’t have to see this, but it’s part of my life, and now yours. There’s no sense in hiding it from you. The enforcer got in a lucky strike with his claws before I got hold of his throat. I’ll heal by morning. Everything is going to be okay.” He glanced at her then. “I’m fine.”

  Jasmine stood statue-still while Chase continued into the bathroom. The sad expression on his face didn’t convince her. He’d left the door open so she didn’t hesitate to follow him inside. The clear glass door allowed no privacy as she watched him stand under the showerhead.

  “One of your pack tried to kill you?” She wanted clarification.

  “Yes. It happens from time to time.”

  “He. Tried. To. Kill. You.” She was horrified. “That’s not okay. I thought packs were supposed to be like family.”

  He avoided looking at her as he dumped soap on a washcloth to scrub at the blood. “They are. Human family members kill each other too. Our worlds aren’t so different in that regard.”

  “Your world sucks.”

  That drew a quick grin from him as he shot her an amused look. “Only the vampires.”

  “I’m not joking around. Someone tried to kill you.” The rest of it sank into her perplexed mind. “Is he going to come after you again?”

  “No.” His gaze narrowed. “It was a fight to the death.”

  You killed him.

  “I walked away. He wouldn’t give up. I had to carry him to my car and go dump the body.”

  Her knees weakened, causing her to sway a little on her feet and grab hold of the counter for support. Fear hit hard, more so than horror. She figured that would come later. “Are the police going to be looking for you?” She thought quickly. “We need to leave the country.” She’d flee with him. She might not be sure everything being a mate entailed, but it was for life. Losing Chase wasn’t an option she wanted to consider.

  “We?” Eyebrows lifted. “You’d come with me?”

  “Of course.”

  She pushed away the reason they needed to leave. It made it easier to handle. He’d saved her life and she’d made a serious commitment by agreeing to be his mate. He also wasn’t human so, in her mind, normal rules didn’t apply to him. It had been a case of self-defense.

  His features softened. “Humans don’t get involved in our business. There won’t be any missing person’s report filed. His family or friends will make it appear as if he left the country if anyone questions what happened to him. It’s what we do to stay under the radar.” He paused. “It’s his family and friends I have to worry about, along with any other wolves in the pack who have a problem with what I’ve done.”

  “Because you had to kill him? Won’t they understand he attacked you and you had no choice?”

  “No, challenges and the resulting deaths are expected. It’s because I mated you.” He turned in the shower, facing away to duck his head under the spray.

  Guilt nagged at Jasmine. She’d mourned the loss of her life as she’d known it while Chase had been at work. It didn’t seem fair that she had to give up her house, her career and the people she cared about to be with him. It’s no picnic for him either, she suddenly realized. People were trying to kill him because they were together.

  “What can I do?” She wanted to help him.

  Chase glanced at her over his shoulder. “You could come in here and wash my back. I’ll heal faster if the wounds are clean. My body won’t have to fight off infection as it mends the damage.”

  One glance down his body had her more than willing to strip and join him. Tan, muscled skin tempted her to do more than touch his back. There had been changes since the mating, ones that she couldn’t deny. Her libido seemed to have gone into overdrive. Just staring at him naked made her ache.

  Her hands shook as she removed her clothes while he watched through the glass. Passion was an easy emotion to read as his eyes began to glow. They fascinated her. She slowly approached. He pushed open the door and stepped back to make room. Steamy hot water ran over her as she waited for him to reach around to secure the door.

  He was so tall compared to her that she had to lift her chin to see his face. A soft growl rumbled from him and the muscles in her belly clenched. Her nipples also responded by growing taut. Desire rolled through her with a jolt. Chase inhaled and his hands gently cupped her hips.

  “You’re so sexy and smell so good. So mine.”

  All she wanted to do was reach up to cup his face and pull his mouth down for a kiss. It was difficult to remember that he was injured. “Your back.”

  “It doesn’t hurt. Don’t worry about it.”

  “I need to wash it.”

  He snarled something under his breath, but dropped his hands and turned. “Do it fast. I’m impatient.”

  He wanted her as much as she did him. She hadn’t missed the state of his dick before he’d spun around. Chase was sporting an impressive erection that matched the rest of him—all hard, masculine perfection. The sight of the ugly slashes across his shoulder blade cooled her passion a bit as she stared at them.

  “I don’t want to hurt you. Should I just use water but not soap?” She reached up to unhook the showerhead from the holder, making it easier to maneuver.

  He grabbed the soapy sponge and handed it to her over his shoulder. “I’ll get a fever if infection sets in. It won’t kill me but it’s not pleasant. I need to be at one hundred percent by morning.”

  “Why?” She accepted it and hesitantly began to wash the wounds. His muscles tensed but he held still, making no sound.

  “I have to work early in the morning. It’s going to be a long day.”