Rapture Untamed (Feral Warriors #4)(4)

Olivia turned her body fully toward him, mirroring his earlier position as she leaned forward, her expression condescending. If his words had offended her, nothing in her face let on. Instead, one flame-colored eyebrow rose imperiously. "I see my first obedience lesson didn't take. Not a quick learner, are you?"

Jag leaned forward again, as if they were nose to nose instead of separated by four feet of table. As if they were alone instead of surrounded by his team and hers. "I'll learn best with you sucking my cock." Deep inside, his animal growled at him.

I don't need you acting like my damned conscience, he muttered to the jaguar spirit.

Not even a hint of a blush stained Olivia's cheeks, but challenge glittered in her eyes.

"Next time I'll have to drive my heel through your balls."

Jag grinned. Goddess, but the woman charged his senses like lightning in a storm. "I dare you to try it, Sugar.Dare you."Come with me ,Olivia. Be my partner. He couldn't say the words out loud. She'd get too much pleasure in denying him. No, he had to appeal to her pride. Unless he missed his guess, that pride of hers was going to be his friend.

Jag smiled.Hot damn, this is going to be fun.

Chapter Two

"Those heading west should be aware that last night Hawke and Kougar came across a draden swarm of nearly forty. They're not just multiplying here, but apparently everywhere." Lyon glanced at Olivia from the front of the war room. "You and your men are going to have to remain behind warding at night unless you're with a group large enough to handle that many."

Olivia nodded even though the warning didn't apply to her at all. The draden were no threat to the draden-kissed. Their life forces were her favorite food. Of course, she couldn't tell Lyon that. She couldn't tell anyone. Not if she wanted to remain alive.

And her life was finally starting to mean something.

She'd had some initial discussions with Lyon about potentially setting up a permanent Guard auxiliary nearby, whose sole mission would be to aid the Feral Warriors in this new war against the Mage. Up until now, it had been her life's work to destroy as many draden as possible. But now, with the Mage trying to free Satanan, her mission had changed. Finally, she had a chance to fight on the front lines, to make a difference on a grand scale, fighting Mage and Daemons...if Lyon was pleased with her work and the work of her men.

If Jag didn't screw this up for her. She glanced toward the back wall, where her men, Niall and Ewan, stood, still glaring at Jag for his open sex talk and blatant disrespect of their team leader. Which of the three of them would she force to partner the jackass?

Even as she struggled to ignore Jag, the raw sexual nature of their very public discussion had left her throbbing and damp. If only she weren't so bloody attracted to him. Despite his lousy social skills, every time he came near, she felt his hot gaze on her, stripping her of her clothes and heating her body from the inside out.

But she refused to let anyone know he affected her the way he did, especially Jag himself.

"Tighe, are you taking Delaney?" Lyon asked.

"I am. I need her FBI expertise."

"Good enough."

Olivia watched Jag's gaze zero in on Tighe, a gleam of devilment leaping into his eyes.

As his mouth opened, she instinctively tensed, knowing he was at it again.

"Sorry I won't be joining you and your FBI mate, Stripes. I've been looking forward to that little three-some. Like I've said before, I'm happy to let you take her from the front while I take her in the rear."

Olivia gave a jerk of disbelief, her gaze swinging between Lyon's hard displeasure and Tighe's raw fury. She was used to ribald male sex talk, but such blatant disrespect for another's mate in front of not only the female herself, but one's own superior, went beyond the pale.

The growl that ripped from Tighe's throat sounded exactly like that of a furious jungle cat.

"Tighe." Delaney grabbed her mate's wrist. "Jag, for God's sake, quit provoking him."

Jag just grinned, as if that was exactly what he'd done.

"I know you want me, too, FBI. I see the way you look at me when I'm naked."

"Jag."Delaney's voice was a deep groan of frustration.

Tighe's fangs dropped, his claws unsheathing as his irises grew to fill his eyes, making them look like true tiger's eyes. Though he hadn't shifted - he'd onlygone feral as they put it, that halfway place between man and beast - he presented a terrifying visage as he lunged across the table, taking Jag to the floor with a crash.

Olivia rose to her feet, watching in fascinated disbelief. As Tighe went for Jag's throat, Jag's own claws and fangs sprouted on a vicious smile as if the fight was exactly what he'd been gunning for.

What was the matter with the guy? Did he know how many Therians woke each morning racing to the mirror to see if they'd been marked as they slept? Did he have any idea how badly many Therians wanted to be part of this rarefied band that he so clearly took for granted?

The two Ferals fought tooth and fang, drawing blood, ripping one another's flesh and clothes to shreds.

At least now she knew Jag didn't have it in for her specifically. No, he seemed determined to make everyone furious with him.

As if he wanted their fury.

Recognition slammed into her.Damn. He acted as if he needed the punishment on some dark level he probably wasn't even aware of. She'd lived with that kind of self-destructive need once. Was that his problem?