Page 32 of Burn of Obsidian

“After you, little thief,” he whispered, the name forcing her spine rigid as she climbed the few steps to the front door with Jax and Rosey at her back.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

“Give us a minute, jellybean,” Thea said, nudging her baby sister away. “Otherwise, you’ll have to see us kiss.” Thea stuck her tongue out and pulled a gross face, which Rosey copied with a giggle.

“Fine,” she moaned, skipping to the next room.

Thea waited a second before shoving Jax against the wall with all her strength, her hand in the centre of his chest. He grunted, the frames beside him rattling. She was pretty sure she’d only been able to do it because he’d been caught off guard, but that didn’t matter.

“Behave,” she threatened, her heart racing much faster than his. Wild magic swelled at her fingertips, and her stomach tightened with anxiety. “Please.”

Jax looked at her for a second, a slow smile curving his lips. “Only because you said please.”

Bloody hell, she thought, rendered speechless by the fact that the man could indeed smile.

“I prefer the pink.” He touched a strand of her hair, and she felt the tips of her ears burn. She preferred the pink too, but rarely wore the colour when she was working.

“Mum needs you in the kitchen,” Molly said in the doorway, her gaze flicking between them.

Thea stepped back, immediately missing his heat. He watched her, his expression returning to indifference. She would have believed he was actually that cold if she hadn’t spotted bursts of intensity beneath that carefully constructed mask.

Before she lost the nerve, she left him with a last warning glare.

“So, you have a boyfriend you didn’t tell us about?” Her mum’s disappointment was clear as soon as Thea stepped into the kitchen. “He’s not what I expected. A little intimidating, if you ask me.”

Thea barely controlled her groan, knowing it would only piss her mum off more.

“Also, don’t think I haven’t noticed you never returned my text the other day.” Her mum wagged a finger at her. “You answered Molly, and don’t you dare argue that I allow her to stay overnight with her girlfriend when I never allowed you. I know you too well, Thea.”

Thea prayed that a hole would open up and swallow her.

“I wasn’t going to say anything.” Probably. “It’s just – ”

Her mum threw a tea towel at her, and Thea snorted as it slapped against her face.

She loved her mum, but she could be a difficult woman when she wanted to be. If she was going to get through the evening, she needed wine. Or maybe a lobotomy.

JAX

Jax wasn’t sure what the fuck came over him. Agreeing to dinner with Thea’s family? If his brothers found out, they’d believe he’d lost it entirely. It wasn’t something he’d do, not when everything he did was meticulously thought out beforehand. But watching the panic race across Thea’s face was arguably worth the discomfort for a few hours, and if he was going to convince Thea she was his mate, he’d have to meet her family, eventually. That was the singular thought that dominated his decision. The need to get closer to her, in any way possible.

The entire family was a rush against his senses: bright colours, high-pitched squeals, and excessive smiles. And they were all human.

“So,” her father grunted, his voice hoarse and broken. “Jax, what do you do for a living?”

“Ayden!” Dorothea scolded, her eyes softening every time she looked at her husband. “Don’t put him on the spot like that.”

“Asking your daughter’s date about his job is normal, honey.” Ayden smiled, reaching for his wife’s hand. “It’s just, Thea hasn’t mentioned you before.” His features pinched, but it wasn’t unfriendly. He wasn’t old for a human, possibly in his late forties or early fifties, but his skin was pale, sunken beneath both of his eyes. He was clearly very sick, only picking at his dinner.

“It’s still new, dad.” Thea’s hand clamped on her glass of wine like it was a lifeline. “Molly, how’s Bianca?” she asked, changing the subject each time there was a question his way.

She smiled so easily with her family, tension bleeding from her shoulders as the evening continued and the wine flowed. Her laughter flowed like water, hitting him directly in the heart each time. It pierced through his numbness, and he wasn’t sure what he was supposed to feel. He craved the sound, loving the way she threw her head back and snorted when she found something particularly funny. She was unequivocally open with her delight, and he wanted to understand how she could feel so much and not fall beneath those emotions.

To feel nothing was easy, but to live was hard.

Shuffling to his side, Thea’s youngest sister moved close enough she was almost in his lap. He made sure to make no sudden movements, especially with Rosey sitting so close. She chatted away like a hamster on caffeine, patting his arm every time she didn’t think he was paying attention.

He wasn’t used to being welcomed so quickly. There was no underlying strain as Thea’s father greeted him, no wary glares or threatening handshakes. Her mother went in for a hug and was polite enough not to acknowledge how stiff he was in response. The only one that was hesitant was Molly, who’d simply frowned at him all evening. The entire family was either incredibly naïve at his underlying threat, or they trusted Thea wouldn’t bring someone dangerous home.