Page 82 of Burn of Obsidian

“Not intentionally,” Thea said with a wince. “But I think that’s why dad's so sick. It’s almost impossible to control when you’re a child, and we didn’t know what I could do for so many years.”

The tears flowed harder, until hiccups and sobs rattled her body. It was a while later before she’d calmed, and reaching down, Jax removed his boots, and then her shoes before lifting her in his arms. He crossed the room to her bed, pulling the sheets back before laying her down.

“What are you doing?” she asked, clearly exhausted when he crossed to the other side to climb in, fully dressed. She didn’t protest when he pulled her back across him until her upper half was draped across his chest. “You can’t stay.”

Jax wanted to smile at that, and rather than answering he moved to stroke more circles along her back. Beast settled to a much lower purr, one that didn’t sound like a dying truck while he sunk his nose into her hair. Her breathing was slowing, her pulse not so erratic.

He felt a dip in the bed, Reaper huffing when he realised there wasn’t space in between them to squeeze into.

“Fuck’s sake,” Jax muttered, watching the cat as he eventually found a comfortable space by his shoulder.

Thea blinked up at him, sleepily.

“You named your cat Reaper,” he said.

“Yeah.” Thea wrinkled her nose, her laugh soft. “Together, we’re the Grim Reaper,” she said before laying her head back down.

Jax smiled into her hair. “Hilarious.”

“Hmm,” she mumbled. “You can’t sleep over.”

Jax continued to stroke her, watching her drift to sleep with her face and palm pressed against him. He knew he should leave, and yet he couldn’t find the enthusiasm to move.

THEA

Thea wasn’t ready to wake up, not with the dull ache thumping through her temple. She must have fallen asleep crying, because her face felt swollen and her nose stuffy. But at least she’d had the initiative to wrap herself in blankets because she was deliciously warm.

Too warm.

Hot, even. Or that could be the fact her palms were prickling with heat.

Thea jerked up in bed, her hands somehow beneath Jax’s shirt on his bare skin. “Jax?”

He didn’t stir at his name, lying flat on his back with his eyes closed. She was draped across him, her leg wrapped over his like she’d tried to get even closer. Pulling her hands out from beneath the fabric, she found her palms pulsating.

“Fuck,” she whispered, shaking off the residue. Wild magic danced in her blood, the headache a mixture of crying and an annoying drum beat that was the spirit of the magic. “Jax?” She shoved him, disturbing Reaper, who was happily lounging by his side.

Still nothing.

She moved closer, panic growing at how still he was. She reached across, fingers brushing his cheek…

Thea screamed, flipped onto her back before Jax’s weight settled above. Panic had percolated through every muscle, her immediate reaction to shove at him.

“What the fuck!” The fear had been immediate. “I thought I’d killed you!”

Jax blinked slowly at her, except it wasn’t Jax who was staring; it was Thunder. His irises were liquid silver, shimmering so clearly she could almost see herself in their reflection.

“Is Jax okay?” she asked when his nose nestled into her neck. “Thunder?”

“Hmm,” he grumbled against her, dropping his hips until she felt his erection. “Mine.”

“Thunder, what are – ” He bit her neck, hard enough she gasped before licking across the small wound.

“Mine,” he repeated, his voice deeper than Jax’s, more guttural. “You mine.” He ground his erection against her core, and Thea found herself moaning at the friction.

“I need Jax.” She pushed against his shoulders, only for him to sink lower on her body, pushing up her Drunken Beast shirt with a frown. “Thunder, I need…”

His stubble scratched against her stomach, his cheek nuzzling before he released an impatient grunt. Grabbing the fabric of the T-shirt, he stretched it in his hands until it finally tore. Her breasts spilled out, and he was on them in an instant. He bit down, teeth tugging at her nipple and his tongue lapping at the piercing. Thea’s back bowed, and she was forced to swallow her moan.