Tears trickled from her eyes again, tugging Jace out of his animal focus. He shifted, not as smoothly as he usually did, but jerking and groaning with the pain of it. His cat did not want to let go.

“It came off,” Jace said, the words bearing a Feline growl. “Look. The Collar. Gone.”

He took Deni’s hand and put it to his neck.

Deni’s eyes widened. She brushed Jace’s bare neck, which didn’t hurt at all, skimming her fingers around to his throat. “What happened?”

“Don’t know. Was out of the wreck before I realized. Maybe the fire. Maybe it takes intense heat to melt them off.”

Jace touched Deni’s face, his need for her kicking him hard. Deni moved to his touch, then she grabbed his hand and stared at it. “What is that?”

Jace glanced at his palm. It still hurt, and now he saw why. His palm was burned but crossed by a gold streak, which he realized was Deni’s bracelet. The slender gold band had been fused into his skin.

Chapter Thirteen

“Hurts,” Jace said. And itched too.

Deni kissed his palm, her lips cool. “I can see that. What happened?”

“It must have heated and melted,” Jace said. “Sorry, Den. I promised I’d bring it back to you.”

“You did.” Deni touched his face and gave him a smile that tightened the bond around his heart. “Let’s go home.”

“We are home.” Deni was under him, her body soft, her scent and warmth making him forget pain. “Stay here with me.”

She looked worried again. “We need to go back. You have friends and family who love you, and they’re afraid for you.”

Jace nuzzled her. “But I’m free of everything. I’m done with being used, hurt, experimented on. I’m finished being easygoing Jace, in the background. I have my mate, my life. I have you.”

Deni’s expression softened. “Yes.”

The mating frenzy was kicking in with her too; Jace saw it in her eyes. Her fingers were hot as she brushed his face, finding his hurts.

The touch of the mate healed. Jace closed his eyes and knew his wounds were closing, his burns easing, his Shifter metabolism helped by the gentle caress of his true mate.

“Jace, stay with me.”

Jace opened his eyes, realizing he’d started to revert to his leopard. He forced himself into human shape again. He needed to stay human right now, because he wanted to have her.

He growled low in his throat. Deni recognized the sound, her eyes becoming darker, filled with need. She ran her hands up his back and to his neck.

Jace knew that once he started kissing her, he’d not be able to stop, and he didn’t care. He slanted his mouth over hers, tasting her heat, her frenzy. It built and grew, calling to his own frenzy, which answered.

The kisses turned fierce. Jace bit down on Deni’s lower lip, eliciting a gasp from her but also laughter. She arched against him while she laughed, her body moving in wonderful ways.

Jace held her down with a strong hand and entered her. As he slid inside, his world changed.

The selfish wildness that had infused him when he’d realized he’d lost the Collar whirled into one tight focus. Deni. She alone mattered. He wanted to be with her—forever—and nowhere else. Even if he had to return to Shiftertown with her, to still be a captive, it didn’t matter anymore. Jace would find a way to be with her, he vowed this. And with Deni, he’d always be free.

He fit into her as though she’d been made for him. Jace kissed her lips, her face, her lips again as he drew back then stroked inside her even deeper.

Deni sucked in her breath and then she smiled, her eyes darkening in pleasure. She touched his cheek as she liked to, her fingertips a soft counterpart to the crazed need inside him.

Jace rocked into her, her body squeezing down on him and turning him wild. Raw need flooded him, relieved only by the wonderful feeling of thrusting into her. Stroke after stroke, loving her, cradling her body with one arm so the hard dirt wouldn’t cut into her.

“My mate,” he whispered. “I saw you, and never wanted to be without you.”

Deni shook her head, fingers threading through his hair. “Jace.”

“Be mine,” Jace said. “Say it. Always mine.”

Deni smiled. “Mine.”

He returned the smile, his fierce. “Forever.”

“Yes.”

The word turned into a groan. Deni’s grip bit into his shoulders, and she held him while she shuddered and cried his name, her thrusts meeting his. Jace bent his head and nipped her neck, tasting the metallic tang of her Collar.

He’d have it off her—he’d figure out how. And she’d be free, with him. The pain would be gone, and Deni would heal. He’d be with her, next to her, helping her all the way.

“Jace.”

Deni’s groan filled him with frenzy. His thrusts grew faster, his growls deeper. He’d go to ground with her, and they’d do this all day long and into the night. She’d smile at him, beautiful and sensual, and wrap her arms around him, wanting to do it again.

“Deni. Goddess.” Jace lost his seed into her, pumping his hips while she laughed to the stars.

Jace raised his head, his body slick with sweat, and kissed her lips, her mouth hot with afterglow. “I love you,” he said, his heart in every word.

“I love you too, Jace. Always my mate.”

Jace was still hard, pulsing with need for her. He gave her a feral smile as he thrust into her again, beginning the rhythm once more.