The man was slender and taller than his six foot three by at least three inches. He was a regular day Frankenstein monster minus the bulk. Yet Jacks knew this man was easily one of the most dangerous beings in the room. His eyes weren’t just cold—they were dead. This man had killed— a lot. A man who’d lost all humanity.

His chest suddenly tightened as a memory flashed over him. He’d seen that look before. From his fellow soldiers coming back from war. Not the first timers who were just experiencing the shock of it all, but the fighters who had accepted their plot, embraced it, became it, and then lost themselves in the process. It was a heart wrenching sight to see.

The meeting adjourned, and they all shook hands. First day, first meeting done.

He caught up with Vera as they headed out of the war room. “How long do these meetings usually last?” She looked up at him with haunted eyes, but a second later the look was gone and in place was a curvy smile.

“A few hours at most.”

“That’s not what I meant. How many days?” The teasing twinkle in her eye made him want to bend her over and spank her rounded ass. His cock applauded the idea. God dammit, no!

“Usually the negotiations go on for a week. No more than five days. Why are you getting bored already?”

“Not at all. Actually I—”

“Hey, wait up!”

Jacks and Vera turned to see Ariss hurrying towards them. Jacks stifled the urge to inform her that she could move quicker if she didn’t wear ridiculous dresses and heels. Shit, by time she reached them it would have been faster to go to her.

He thought Ariss was gorgeous before, but she was absolutely stunning up close. Her face was a picture of perfection. Her nose was thin and straight, her eyebrows were thin and rounded, her face small and pert, which filled out to a slender body. Yet she didn’t even make his cock salute. It was a shame too because her eyes were eating him up like a starved woman wanting a snack.

“I’m sorry to keep you, but I’m afraid I didn’t get to meet you earlier. I always make a point to meet a man as good looking as you.”

Jacks frowned. Normally he loved his women fast and easy, but his cock didn’t agree this time. As he glanced down at Vera, he knew why. Vera outshined this fake golden goddess without all the glamorous clothes and makeup. Not only that, but something about Vera made him want to hold her down and give her a hard pounding to loosen her up.

“I’m Ariss, Ariss Luvina. It’s so good to meet you...”

“Jackson Marsh. Everyone just calls me Jacks though,” he said gruffly and shook her hand harder than necessary. Her eyes twinkled at him as she sent him another perfect smile.

“If you’re not busy later I would love to have dinner with you. You seem like such an interesting man.” Jacks refrained from snorting but Vera didn’t. She arched a shapely brow at Ariss like she was nuts. Well wasn’t that a little interesting. The urge to grin at her obvious dislike of Ariss was strong.

“Sorry but no thanks. We’ve got to go,” Jacks said.

“By all means, go out with her. I’m sure she’d love to have her hands on you,” Vera said and spun away on quick steps. Jacks growled in his throat and went to go after her but a soft, iron strong hand on his chest stopped him. He glared down at Ariss.

“She’s right you know. If not tonight, then you should come by room...anytime. I promise we’ll burn the sheets up together.”

Jacks sighed with and tossed her hand off his chest while touching her as little as possible. Then he stalked after Vera.

What the hell was it about her? She drove him nuts. Tied him up inside and dammit he hadn’t stopped thinking about kissing her since he met her. And that was months ago.

Making up his mind, he knew what he had to do and followed her to the bedroom.

Vera slammed the bedroom door shut. Let the bastard have Ariss. Like she cared. She didn’t.

She just didn’t like perfectly beautiful women flirting with her guardian. That’s all.

The bastard burst into the bedroom and slammed the door shut behind him. That poor door was getting beat up for no reason.

She opened her mouth to yell at him—about what she wasn’t sure yet, anything at this point would work. But then he twisted the lock in the door and all words faded from her mind.

His eyes were dark again, smoldering with molten heat. His scent grew thick and luscious; it was male, sex, and something uniquely him all rolled together. The lykaen and woman in her wanted to roll around in that scent, nuzzle it, and hold it close.

Closer and closer he came until finally his body pressed lightly against hers. Her breaths came quicker and her nipples puckered against his chest. She licked her lips and looked up, up at him. His lips were pulled into a hard line. He looked like a man on edge. A man ready to explode.

Her mind was shutting down, her defenses deflating as quickly as a popped balloon. Where was the fire in her? The shield she’d erected around her body and her heart to keep something like this from happening. Was she forever doomed to face the same fate again and again? She couldn’t lose control. She had to be in control.

So she did the only thing she thought of in that chaotic moment and wrapped her arms around his neck, leaned into his strong body, and kissed him.

The world spun, the earth moved, shattering under her feet. He froze for half a second, and then slanted his head and took over the kiss with such skill, such force, that she had no choice but to succumb to it.

His lips were full, warm, and pliant against hers. His tongue slid into her mouth searching, plundering. She clung to him like a leaf to a tree in a storm. His hands stroked her back, reached down to cup her ass, then pressed her hard against him. Never had she felt this strong flush of desire.

She couldn’t get enough of his lips. How were they so soft? Why did he taste so good?

Groaning, she held him tighter uncaring of the soft, needy noises leaving her throat, or that her hips arched anxiously into his. The earth moved again as his tongue glided hot and wet into her mouth. The wet touch triggered and answering dampness inside her.

His tongue was raspy; it reminded her of sandpaper but not nearly so abrasive. Then there was a hard wall against her back.

He tore his mouth from hers and buried his face in her neck. “God you’re so beautiful. You drive me mad, Vera.”

She had the urge to tell him flattery wasn’t necessary that her body was fully on board with whatever he could dish out. But the reprieve from his kiss gave her a moment to think. As his mouth worked delicious magic against the soft skin of her throat, Vera thought frantically.

Jacks pulled away to glare down at her “Dammit, what’s wrong? I can feel the change.” He pressed his hips against her and let her feel the steel hard press of his cock. His touch burned her, fueled a wild fire inside her.

For a human he was observant. Did the man have to unnerve her so? She broke eye contact with him to stare at a point across the room.

“I just...don’t know where this is going. Don’t know if I want it to go there or anywhere. I don’t even think I like you.” Because you scare me deep inside. So much more than Dmetri ever did.

His hands gentled on her body and turned soft and caressing over her shoulders, arms, and back. If her body grew anymore soft, she’d be pudding on the floor.

“I may not be able to answer those first two questions, sugar, but I can answer the last. If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a soldier, it’s to trust your instincts. And both of ours are singing in perfect tune together.” He drew his lips up her neck and she arched to give him more room as she struggled to breathe.

“You like me, Vera. Your body likes me, wants me. I can feel the damp heat of your pussy through your tight little jeans as easily as if they were a clump on the floor.”