Gift wrapped protector, p.4
Gift Wrapped Protector, page 4
Individually, they were exceedingly strong. Together, they were even more so. But every Shifter group, no matter how small, had an Alpha, and Jasper was theirs. Though, truth be told, he’d never had cause to use that power against them. He’d never had to.
Thank fuck.
Family was the most important thing to each of them. Their mother and father had instilled that since the day they’d hatched. Together, they were a powerful unit bound by blood, duty, and brotherhood.
“Remember our vow, for our father’s sake,” Jasper said, and he’d met each of the three pairs of eyes staring at him.
His brothers’ eyes were glowing with their beasts, and he allowed his own black and yellow scaled Wyvern to rise just a little.
“With honor and faith,” he began, waiting just a beat until his brothers joined him in reciting their oath.
“We vow to keep safe those in our charge. Our lives for theirs, until our bodies turn to ash and our fire runs cold.”
“Alright,” Heliodore said, and nodded. “We will do what you say, Jasper. You’ve never led us wrong before.”
Jasper had only grunted his reply. Then he’d slapped a hand on his brothers’ arms. Ignoring the sharp ache that began in his heart when he thought of them losing their only remaining parent.
Jasper smiled tightly. If only he had that same conviction in himself that he saw in Dor’s expression, Conny’s nod, and Larimar’s cool stare.
He might not be entirely focused on this new assignment, but Jasper had no choice. He would have to ignore the fact that his heart was not in it and do his best to guard the woman. Whatever her troubles were, he was sure his Wyvern could handle it.
The file remained closed on the seat, unread and unchecked. Jennifer would be pissed. Speak of the devil, er, Owl, the woman was suddenly video conferencing him on his smart phone.
He waited for the Bluetooth option to connect and answered.
“This is Jasper.”
Her big round glasses appeared first, as she tried, unsuccessfully, to get the phone to stand up. Finally, she was looking at him, and her intelligent gaze seemed unwavering. Jasper waited a beat.
“I’m driving, Jennifer. You know, I really shouldn’t be taking calls,” he said and smirked.
“Yes, well, I thought you might need to talk.”
“It’s a routine assignment, Jen. I got it.”
“You know, I know that your father’s ill health is upsetting—”
“Don’t go there. Not now,” he warned softly.
“Jasper, I will talk to him about ignoring the doctor’s recommendations. It will be okay,” she told him, concern filling her deep brown eyes.
With a masterful ease he’d always envied, Jennifer changed the painful subject, going over the details of his new job.
Good.
Chapter Five
He had no intentions of getting teary-eyed with his hard-as-nails handler. She scrunched her nose to keep her glasses from falling off the tip, but he wasn’t fooled.
Sure, she might look cute and cuddly, but behind the façade was one dangerous as hell Shifter. She was a pit viper in sheep’s clothing. He nodded, getting ready to answer her inquiries.
“Let’s see. Got my weapons, surveillance equipment, microwaveable popcorn,” he told her. “And—oh yeah, a brand new mega pack of condoms!” He winked.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, Jas, keep it in your pants! I told you, this one is a friend of mine,” she snarled, giving him her best scathing glare.
Jasper wasn’t expecting that. A real friend, huh? He better tread lightly then.
“Like someone you used to have sleepovers with?”
“Yes, actually, we go way back,” she answered with a sniff.
“Like pillow fights and skinny dipping? Got any pictures? It’s only fair you give me as much information as possible,” he teased, attempting to lighten the foul mood he was in.
“Don’t be gross! You haven’t even opened the file yet, have you?” she accused, but fuck, she was right.
“Uh,” Jas scratched the back of his head.
“Hands on the wheel, Romeo,” she snapped.
“Hey, Jenn, about my case?” Dor yelled from somewhere and he realized she was still at the Wessex house.
“Shut up, Heliodore, I’ll deal with you later,” Jennifer called back to his brother. “Listen up, I’ll fill you in,” she said, pulling out her notes and muttering something under her breath about cocky lizards.
Jasper frowned. Now, that was just mean. He was a magnificent mythical beast, a Wyvern, not some lowly lizard! Really, he should put her in her place, but he knew better than to give Jennifer any of his usual shit.
The Great Horned Owl Shifter was a straight up savage when it came to kicking ass. Shit, she handed out lessons to her charges with a ferocity that rivaled any of the four Wyvern’s.
His ass still hurt from the last time she’d taken him by surprise and knocked him out of the tree he’d climbed. Asshat that he was, he’d arrogantly retained his human form all but forgetting she could fly when Shifted. And those talons of hers? Serious fucking ouch!
“Carolina Moore is more than a good friend. We grew up together, and she’s recently been through a rough divorce. It's Christmas, and I imagine she’s having it rough. Do not give her any of your sleazy pickup lines, Jas, I mean it!”
“They aren’t that sleazy,” he protested.
“Really? ‘Nice shirt, babe, can I talk you out of it?’ That went over really well with the Ecuadorian Ambassador’s wife,” she retorted through gritted teeth.
“Hey, I apologized for that. I thought she was his daughter!”
“As if that would have been any better.” Jennifer rubbed the bridge of her nose. “Listen, Jasper, Caro is like a sister to me. She knows nothing about Shifters except that they exist, and that is only because I told her that. So please, keep everything about you, including your so-called charm, to yourself,” she huffed.
“Geez, looks like someone needs a little somethin’ somethin’ to relax,” he whispered, but not low enough to stop her from hissing at a decibel that she knew drove his Wyvern crazy.
“Fuck. Do you have to be so loud?”
“Yes, I think I do.” Jennifer smirked. “Ready to listen? Good. Now, where was I? Oh yes. Well, Carolina was on a dig in Egypt—”
“What is she, Indiana Jones or something?”
“No, she’s an artist. I told you this. She is a sculptor, actually, and a critically acclaimed one at that.”
“Okay, so she was on a dig in Egypt, and she ran into some trouble—”
“Yes.”
“What kind of trouble?” Jasper asked, all business now.
“The kind that you are uniquely equipped to deal with. Read. The. File.”
“Alright, Jennifer, keep your secrets. So, you got her holed up? The GPS coordinates were already in my truck. This little adventurer braving the NY mountains in the snow?”
“You recognized the coordinates? Good. Yes, I sent Caro to my cabin. I know how much you enjoy roughing it in the great outdoors.” She smirked at him.
Jasper barely withheld a growl. Frigging woman had a strange sense of humor. He didn’t mind the woods or mountains. It was just so isolated. There was nothing to do there.
The last time he was there he had the Bear cub to play with. Who would entertain him now?
“Stop it. You’re there to do a job.”
Damn freakish woman, he swore she could read his mind sometimes.
He had planned on heading down to Miami after his last gig, but he couldn’t do that now. No beach babes and surfing in the wee hours of the morning. No downtown bar and body shots off his favorite bartender.
This Christmas was so going to suck.
Ugh.
Freaking Indian Lake. What was so great about it? The lake was just so dang lake-y. And yes, he knew it was a lame complaint. Would it even be iced over yet so he could skate? Probably not.
Stupid lake.
His Wyvern scratched and roared inside his mind’s eye, and Jasper’s thoughts turned to that bit of news he’d been avoiding.
Fuck.
His heart was heavy with thoughts of his father’s illness. It was just like the old man to spring that on them without any aplomb.
Arthur Wessex was not a cruel man or a bad father—not in the least. He simply did not believe bad news should be sugarcoated, and he never mollycoddled his sons. Not ever.
School didn’t close because the expected snowstorm didn’t add up to more than an inch? Wake up, buttercup.
Your brother ate all your cereal? Eat some bran.
You lost the soccer game? Try harder next time, no one ever won without practice.
Goldfish died? The toilet is that way.
You failed your driver’s test? Walking is good for you.
So, that girl you had a crush on likes someone else? I believe it, but get your ass back out there, son, and try again.
Didn’t I mention I have cancer? No? Well, I do, now get back to work.
Good old Dad. His brothers were upset too, and that rankled his beast. All three looked to him for guidance, as if he needed any more responsibility weighing him down.
Shit.
Jasper wasn’t mad at them. He simply couldn’t believe this was happening. Sure, the years without Mom had been rough, but he’d never thought his father would ever stop fighting.
No treatment? It was beyond comprehension. Maybe he just didn’t want to live without his wife anymore. Jasper’s Wyvern let out a sorrowful growl. His beast seeming to understand his old man where Jasper did not.
Even worse were his parent’s parting words. Who had time to think of women just then? His old man never used to have shit timing, but what else could explain it? Jasper didn’t have the heart to fight, so he’d simply nodded and left the room.
If loving his wife had made Arthur Wessex give up on life after the doctor had given him bad news, then Jasper was just fine, never knowing that kind of love. He could not even imagine it.
“Better off alone,” he muttered, taking a left onto the highway, and settling in for the long drive to the mountain cabin where his assignment was, hopefully, staying out of trouble.
Better get this over with.
Chapter Six
The hours ticked by slowly, but Jasper’s brain kept coming back to his discussion with his dad. Seriously? What was the man thinking? How could he expect Jasper to even consider finding a mate in the middle of all of this mess?
Besides, he was still young. Sixty-five in Wyvern years was like being in his twenties to normals. He had plenty of time for that.
“Find your mate, son, and become the man I know you can be,” his father had said, clapping his large hand down on Jasper’s in a show of affection that was pretty flamboyant for the staid man.
Not wanting to argue, Jasper just nodded his head, squeezed his hand in a brief shake, and left. There was so much he wanted to say to him. So many things he was grateful for.
Hell, Arthur Wessex could’ve left him and his brothers to be raised by the scientists who’d hatched them in a federal laboratory deep underground, but no. He didn’t walk away.
When the eggs yielded human babies, the General had acted. He’d superseded every order and initiated his own. The boys were his, and anyone who wanted to argue the matter would have to deal with him.
No one wanted to take on General Wessex, and after word got out, the paperwork was filed, and he took the four young Shifters home to his wife, raising them as his own.
It was brave, and more an act of love than any other Jasper had ever known. All his life, he’d tried to be what his father wanted him to be. Jas had always done his duty, and what was asked of him.
But a mate?
Who needed to be tied to one person for eternity when there were so many wonderful women to sample? He loved his father, but there was no way he was about to search for the old ball and chain.
Dad was probably just worried because his time was running out. Loneliness was a terrible companion for old age, or so he’d said.
Fuck.
Now that he’d considered that, it was all he could think about. This was not good. Jasper was not focused at all.
He should not be on assignment. He should be home. Hell, Jasper wanted to be home. To spend whatever remaining time his old man had with him. But no, he was going to be stuck on a mountain with some stuck up, snobby little grrrr, he couldn’t even say it.
Immediately, he felt ashamed of himself. If Arthur Wessex had taught him anything, it was to do his duty with pride, to treat women with respect, and to never, ever let his personal life or feelings interfere with what needed to be done.
“Fuck,” Jasper snarled, and slammed his hands down on the steering wheel.
He had no choice. Christmas or not, illness or not, he would finish his assignment, execute his duty as he’d been taught, then he’d return home to be with his father.
Even Arthur Wessex couldn’t fault him then.
Usually, it took four or more hours to drive to Indian Lake from his New Jersey home. Today, it only took three. Blame it on his foul mood. Sure, his foot was a little heavy on the gas pedal, he supposed, but hey, that was only because he could get away with it.
Along with his more than awesome driving skills, was a little magical bonus that only he could claim. Jasper could cloak his vehicle using his Wyvern powers, keeping him hidden from any police cars he’d passed along the way. Another benefit of being him.
WOOT WOOT.
Oh man, he was losing his mind. Jasper cranked up the radio and sang along with Elvis, Axl, and Jagger before he hit the private road that lead to Jennifer’s cabin. It was just twenty minutes from there.
He couldn’t wait to get out and stretch his wings, weather permitting. The radio mentioned impending inclement weather, but he could handle it. He was a Wyvern.
Maybe after he set up a perimeter around the cabin to protect his client, he could do just that. Sometimes, being a bodyguard was a lot like being a glorified babysitter.
Whatever.
He’d brought a box of gingerbread, some hot cocoa packets, a full bottle of whiskey, the good stuff, and a brand new deck of cards—an X-rated pack Dor had got him from Vegas featuring boobs.
Yep. He was gonna make the most of this weekend. Hell, he’d just been up this way not too long ago to fix a situation involving some pretty bad dudes who were after a Grizzly Shifter couple and their sweet cub.
They were nice, the Pax family. He’d even managed to score some pretty sweet seats for the man’s next Broadway show. He was a composer or some shit.
Jasper wasn’t exactly into the arts, but hey, he wasn’t going to say no to free tickets. Besides, women loved musicals, and it had been months since he’d had a good date. He made a mental note not to forget them. What? He wasn’t off women just because he didn’t want a mate.
Jasper loved women—all types. He liked them tall, short, thick, thin, pale, tanned, brown, blonde, redheaded, or brunette. But mainly, he liked how they felt wrapped around him.
Sex was good. He liked it. A lot. Even if it had been a bit of a dry spell for him.
Truth be told, the beast inside of him had been a little bit finicky about his choice in females as of late. Maybe he just needed to pay more attention to his Wyvern, go out for a few flights, a little hunting maybe, and then his old beastie would let him get laid.
Sounded like a plan.
That would have to wait till after he was finished with the job, of course. Speaking of which, Jasper grabbed the file he’d flung carelessly on the passenger seat and flipped it open while taking the one-car lane faster than any normal could have and lived to tell the tale.
“Holy fuck,” he whispered as the folder opened, revealing his client’s picture.
His eyes widened, and his pulse started racing. Thunder roared in Jasper’s ears. Even his Wyvern was paying close attention. He felt as if he’d been struck by lightning. His chest was so fucking tight, his heart threatened to beat him to death.
Jasper almost swerved off the road. Big blue eyes in a heart-shaped face stared up at him from the tiny photo clipped to a piece of newspaper.
This was the woman he had to guard? Protective instincts he didn’t even know he had roared to life. Whatever or whoever threatened this creature was good as fucking dead, as far as he was concerned. He would find it and fucking end it on principle alone.
“So, you’re Jennifer’s friend, Carolina Moore,” he spoke out loud, testing the weight of her name on his tongue.
He was shocked by how much he liked the way it sounded, felt on his tongue. Hell, he liked her.
Even more, he mused, his growls and purrs filling the inside of his vehicle. She was fucking gorgeous.
Jasper did not know his handler knew women like that. Not that Jennifer wasn’t hot in her own right. He liked that sexy librarian, naughty schoolteacher thing she had going on, but the woman staring back at him with the article titled ‘Local artist makes Heaven on earth’ clipped to it was a certifiable knockout.
An angel for sure, he thought, and touched the image with his fingertips.
She was simply beautiful. Pale blue eyes and olive-toned skin, with her hair like a dark velvet curtain draped around her shoulders. She was wearing some sort of flowy dress in the picture, but it did nothing to hide the ample curves underneath.
His Wyvern scratched against his skin. The beast was curiously agitated, pushing him to drive faster. And he did. His own curiosity and something else propelled him forward.
Jasper had the windows open despite the chill to enjoy the fresh mountain air. It was even colder in upstate New York, about average for late December. As he rolled to a stop on the newly snowed on graveled driveway, he filtered through the familiar scents of cold, ice, and mountain.
Pine trees were the strongest, mixed with the faint scents of oaks, beeches, and walnuts, and the compact, snow-covered dirt of the shore that led to the huge lake just behind the cabin. Deer, squirrels, and the faint smell of coyote, too. All of them ticked off and identified until he reached one unfamiliar scent.
