Under Your Protection

Alpha Male Incorporated: Under Your Protection A novel of erotic romance by

Marie Rochelle

Published by Phaze Books Also by Marie Rochelle A Taste of Love: Richard Closer to You: Lee My Deepest Love: Zack All the Fixin’ Caught Caught 2: Anja’s Return Closer to You: Lee My Deepest Love: Zack Crossing the Railroad Desire The Men of CCD: Loving True The Men of CCD: Tempting Turner The Men of CCD: Slow Seduction The Men of CCD: Help Wanted Lucky Charms So Much Better Taken by Storm Roped Into You

This is an explicit and erotic novel intended for the enjoyment of adult readers. Please keep out of the hands of children.

www.Phaze.com

Alpha Male Incorporated: Under Your Protection Copyright © 2011 by Marie Rochelle ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Edited by Judy Bagshaw Cover Art © 2011 by Trish Schmitt First Edition February 2011 ISBN-13: 978-1-60659-590-9

Published by: Phaze Books An imprint of Mundania Press LLC 6457 Glenway Ave., #109 Cincinnati, OH 45211 All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher, Mundania Press LLC, 6470A Glenway Avenue, #109, Cincinnati, Ohio 45211, [email protected]. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without permission from Mundania Press LLC. Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/). Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted material. Your support of the author’s rights and livelihood is appreciated.

Dedication Until you spread your wings, you will never know your full potential. Marie

Chapter One Jax Irizarry leaned back in the leather chair and stared at the mortal in front of him. “You have to protect her,” Frank demanded as he slammed his hand down on the desk. “You’re the best bodyguard in town. I’ll be willing to pay you extra if I have to, but I won’t accept no as an answer. With all of your powers, you’re the best and most capable person for the job. I don’t want anyone else looking after my goddaughter but you.” Frank leaned in and pointed his index finger. “You owe me. For years, I’ve kept your secret about being a vampire because we’re friends. I would never betray your trust like that. “I understand that you don’t advertise your ‘special’ nature and skills. I wonder what your other clients’ reactions would be if the truth got out. I mean, I know not to believe in the Hollywood hype about vampires because you’ve told me numerous times all of those aren’t accurate accounts of real vampires, but do you think your other cliental would so be understanding and not run from you screaming in fear?” Jax glared at his closest human friend. “Is that a threat?” Frank flopped into a chair and wiped the perspiration off his brow. “I’m desperate. Come on, Jax. Man, do this for me as a favor? It’s not like I think you’re going to harm Sahara or anything. You’ve told me you don’t feed off of humans for food and I believe you. So, what is it going to be?” Jax Irizarry had been a vampire for over three hundred years and Frank Chantel had been his friend for the last fifteen plus years. Granted, he hadn’t seen much of his friend while he’d been overseas, and certainly all the time he’d been spending building his business since returning had kept him from being overly social. And Frank was as much to blame with his frequent business trips and his focus on his goddaughter’s budding career. But Jax would do anything for his buddy, just not this. He was retired for a reason and he was going to stay that way. It didn’t matter how much Frank wanted his help. He wasn’t going to do it. There was nothing Frank could tell him that would make him change his mind. The last time he was hired to be a bodyguard someone very close to him got hurt and he

wasn’t going to allow his job to put another person he cared about in danger. “Frank, you know I think of you like a brother, but I haven’t been a personal bodyguard for over five years. I like working behind the desk now. I’d be more than happy to recommend some other excellent bodyguards that could do the job as well as me. Hell, I think they might even be better since I’ve been out of the field so long.” “I can’t believe you won’t help me after everything we have been through with each other,” Frank snapped as he jumped up from his seat. “Some psycho is threatening to kill my goddaughter, and I thought my best friend wouldn’t think twice about helping me out. But, I can see that I was wrong. Never mind. I’ll take care of it myself.” Storming away from the desk, Frank went out the door slamming it shut behind him. “Frank. Wait one damn minute. You don’t have a clue how to be a bodyguard!” Jax jumped up from his chair to go after his friend but ended up sitting back down. He wasn’t going to bother Frank now—not while he was so pissed off at him. Later on he’d stop by Frank’s house on his way home and talk to him about finding another bodyguard for his goddaughter. Hopefully, Frank would have cooled down by then and be more open to taking his advice. He would never recommend anyone that he didn’t think could handle protecting Frank’s family member. He only hired the best at Alpha Male Incorporated. Honestly, sometimes a part of Jax hated that Frank knew about his secret because he liked it better when his friend had only thought of him as human. Frank found out quite by accident. He had invited Frank over to his house to watch a football game and during half time Frank asked him for something to drink. Before he could give it to him Zander had called him on the phone about a business problem and when he left the room to talk to his brother, Frank wandered into the kitchen to get the drink himself. When he opened the fridge he found human food along with the bags of blood that Jax bought from a vampire owned business that supplied it to vampires who no longer wanted to feed off humans. . It was Frank’s terrified screams that had alerted Jax to the problem. God, it had taken almost all of his strength to hold Frank down when he tried to leave the house while he explained why he had the bags of blood inside his fridge. Against all odds, Frank finally accepted the truth about Jax and his strange family, and that acceptance had cemented their friendship.

Jax shook his head. It was hard to say no to Frank, but he had to stay firm. Was that Frank I saw leaving like he was furious at everyone in the world? What in the hell is wrong with him? He’s usually in such a good mood. The words touched Jax’s mind about two minutes after Frank left his office. Swinging his eyes over to the open doorway, Jax found his younger brother Zander standing there with his shoulder braced against the door jam. He hated how his brother could ease up on him without making a sound; it was one of Zander’s vampire powers that his sibling was very proud of and constantly did to bother the hell out of him. “Yeah, we had a disagreement and he’s mad at me. I’ll go to his house later on and apologize,” Jax answered. “Also, can you stop talking to me telepathically when no one else is around? You know that I like having a real conversation whenever possible because it makes me feel a little more human. “Fine, I hear you about the telepathic thing. I might stop. I might not. You never know with me. Care to tell me what he wanted you to do?” Zander came into the room and took a seat in front of his desk. “Frank isn’t the type of guy to ask for help unless it was something very important.” Running his fingers through his blond hair; Jax fell back in his chair thinking about what Zander was telling him. He hated to admit it, but his baby brother was right. In all of the years that he’d known Frank, he’d really never asked him for any kind of help. And the one time that Frank had, he blew him off like it wasn’t important enough. “His goddaughter is getting threatening emails and letters from a crazed fan,” Jax said as he thought back to the conversation with Frank. “Yeah, she’s a singer or something, right?” Zander said. “Right. He wanted to hire me as her personal bodyguard, but I told him no, that I was no longer in that line of business. I suggested I would be more than happy to recommend someone else who was as good as me.” “You have to realize because Frank knows you’re a vampire that he believes you have the ability to protect her better than anyone else. He’s right. You’re the best man for the job and you know it too. You shouldn’t have been so quick to blow him off. I think you should take it him up on his offer. All you do is spend most of the day behind that desk telling other people what to do. Was that really your vision when you started Alpha Male Incorporated ten years ago?

“Didn’t Thorsten and I both sell our own places of businesses and relocate here with you, so we could have a family business under one roof?” Zander questioned. “We wanted you to achieve your dream just like we did ours. At first, it was a huge change for us but we worked it out and everything runs smoothly now.” Jax frowned at his brother’s jibe. Alpha Male Incorporated was born because he wanted to still stay in the field of personal security even if he wasn’t out there in the field anymore. With his unique abilities, he would be able to train other bodyguards to protect their clients almost as well as him. Ever since he could remember his true calling was to protect people and he didn’t want to let it go because of one bad experience from his past. In addition, he wanted to have a business that involved his brother’s security firm and cousin’s growing business. Alpha Male Incorporated was that for him. “My vision for my business has changed over the years and you know it has. What’s so wrong with that?” he demanded. “I still make a good living behind the scenes instead of being front and center all of the time.” “Nothing,” Zander sighed getting up from his seat. “I just never thought of my one and only brother as a coward, that’s all. Well, I better go. Thorsten is expecting me for an early dinner and you know how our cousin can get when he doesn’t get enough food to eat.” His brother gave him a long searching look. “I really do think you should take the job because who knows, you might actually end up liking being back out there in the thick of things.” Zander waved at him and then left the room closing the door behind him. Damn Zander! He knew how much he hated being called a coward. Now, Jax was actually thinking about taking Frank up on his offer. **** “I can’t believe you tried to hire me a bodyguard.” Sahara “Coco” Chantel complained as she closed the journal in which she wrote all of her song lyrics. Tossing the thick black book on the mattress, she got off the bed and stood in front of her godfather. She was upset as hell that Frank had gone behind her back and talked to another person about her stalker, especially a bodyguard. Why did he go and do that to her?

“The letters and emails are probably just from an overzealous fan, at the most just a lonely person who wants to get some attention and decided to pick me. I’m not taking any of the threats seriously and neither should you.” . This wasn’t a crazy person who was going to be hiding in the bushes watching her every move. She was getting more fame with her new song, but she wasn’t anywhere near Alicia Keys fame yet. “Don’t read more into it than there is, Uncle Frank.” Frank was her godfather, but she felt more like his daughter than his goddaughter. She’d moved in with Frank when she was thirteen years old because her parents died in a car crash. Sahara never thought that she would get over the searing pain of losing both of her parents at the same time, but she did with the help of her Uncle Frank. He was the one who introduced her to music and her love for it had grown. Now, she was on her way to being on the Top 100 Billboard charts. She had already performed on a couple of local televisions. If everything worked out okay she was scheduled to be on Saturday Night Live at the end of the year. So, why couldn’t her Uncle Frank understand that she wasn’t concerned about the threats? Yeah, she might have an overly attached fan at the moment, but that didn’t mean the person was really going to come after her. Most of the time letters like she had been receiving came from a person with too much time on their hands. Sahara believed that everything would die down in a couple of days and then she could get back to doing what she loved the most...writing and performing music. “Can you please call and tell this Jax not to come?” Sahara complained. She wasn’t ready to deal with a strange man watching her every single move all of the time. “I really don’t need a babysitter. I’m almost twenty-six years old. I can handle anything that comes my way. Don’t you remember how you raised me to be independent?” Frank eyed her as he rubbed his hand across his bald head. “Yes. I remember that conversation quite well. But, I didn’t think you would decide to take my advice and use it now. However, you don’t have to worry. Jax turned down my job offer.” “Thank God!” Sahara mumbled under her breath as she sat back down on her bed and picked up the journal. “I’m glad he did because I might have turned up my bitch meter another notch and scared him off.”

Laughing, Frank shook his head at her as he turned to leave the room. “I don’t think you would have caused Jax to do anything that he didn’t want to do.” “How can you be sure?” Sahara asked looking up from the newest song she was writing. “I’ve known Jax a long time and nothing rattles his cage. Sometimes, I think he has ice water running through his veins. I swear I’ve never seen him blink an eye at any sign of danger. And he has special...abilities. That’s why I thought he would be the perfect man to watch over you while you were out on the road performing.” “If you say so,” Sahara said as she looked away from her uncle and back down at the current lyrics she was having a huge issue with. “I still think you need to get someone to watch over you, sweetheart. You’re getting more and more famous since doing those two late night talk shows and you know I’m right. This person could be very dangerous. Please let me help you,” Frank pleaded. He paused at the bedroom door. “It would kill me if something happened to you. You’re the only family I have and I want to keep you safe to the best of my ability.” Sahara heard the fear in her Uncle Frank’s voice and she felt bad. He was only trying to help her and she was fighting him so hard. She should give this more thought because he wouldn’t be this worried about her safety if a real threat wasn’t involved. “Okay, how about I think about it tonight and give you my answer in the morning?” Sahara suggested, hoping Frank would agree and let it go for the rest of the night. Frank turned away from the door and looked at her like he didn’t quite believe her. “Are you telling me the truth? Will you really think about getting a bodyguard? If you are, I’ll call Jax and see about talking him into taking the job. I know I can get him to take the position despite the problems he gave me earlier.” Sahara wasn’t ready to give Frank her answer, but if she didn’t tell him something right now he wasn’t going to leave and she needed time alone to work on her music. He was becoming too much of a distraction to her thought process. “Okay, call Jax and see if he can come by here tomorrow. After I talk to him, I’ll make a decision but I need to finish working on this new song.” Sahara tapped her pen against the journal hoping her uncle would finally get the hint and leave.

“Alright, good. Have fun working on your song and don’t worry so much over it. I know it will be wonderful just like the rest of them.” Uncle Frank walked out the door shutting it with a click behind him. Sahara laid her pen down on the bed next to her leg. She wasn’t going to be able to think about a song now, not with her mind on this Jax person her Uncle Frank wanted to hire. She could only imagine what he would look like. He probably looked like he would belong with the secret service—dark suit, military haircut, and shades. Maybe the addition of a bodyguard would piss off her ‘fan’ even more than the person already was. Truly, before now; she wasn’t taking all of the letters, cards and emails seriously, but after hearing the alarm in Frank’s voice she might have to rethink her decision.

Chapter Two Walking around Frank’s designer decorated den, Jax’s eyes wandered over the numerous honors on the wall his friend had received over the years because of his dedication to his former neighborhood as a community activist. Jax would never forget the first time he saw Frank Chantel. He’d been on television campaigning for a city commissioner seat. His speech had been so inspiring and uplifting, it sent Jax down to Frank’s campaign headquarters and he instantly volunteered his help. They’d hit it off instantly as friends and their bond had only grown over the years. Frank was one of the few people that he trusted with his secret. He knew Frank wouldn’t betray him and he was right. His deep friendship with Frank was the only reason that he was even considering taking the job as his goddaughter’s bodyguard. . If he was honest with himself, at first he had missed being out with clients and protecting them, but now he liked running his business instead of being out in the ‘heat of the action’ anymore. Are you sure it wasn’t Zander calling you a coward that made you come here today to see Frank and his goddaughter, his mind taunted. Jax shoved the unexpected thought from his head when his keen hearing picked up on footsteps coming towards the den. Spinning around, he was expecting to see Frank but his heart caught in the middle of his chest when he spotted the most stunning woman in the world standing behind him. She was a little bit below average height, maybe around five feet five inches. Short black hair framed an oval face covered at the moment by an oversized pair of sunglasses. Her lips, however, were full and lush and her skin was the perfect shade of mocha brown that made him want to reach out and touch it. Her sleeveless white t-shirt was tucked into a pair of black jeans that molded her hips and thighs like a second skin. The look was finished off by a pair of black leather thigh high boots. Jax hated that he couldn’t see his mystery woman’s eyes because of the dark sunglasses perched on her cute nose. He wanted to walk over there and take them off her face, but he couldn’t so he just pushed the sudden and surprising impulse back down. Frank might not like hearing

that he touched some woman in his house that he didn’t know. This woman could be Frank’s girlfriend for all that he knew because his buddy was known to date younger women. “Are you Jax?” she asked in a soft smoky voice that gave him an instant hard on. Who in the hell was the woman and why was her presence having such a strange effect on him? “Yes, I am. Who are you?” Jax answered as he came across the room and extended his hand for a handshake. God, he was dying to touch her. He needed to touch her for some odd reason and this was the only way he could think of doing it without completely freaking her out. Taking off her sunglasses, his mystery woman met him halfway and shook his hand. The moment their hands touched his got an electric shot that raced through his body making his cock swell and grow another inch in his jeans. Jax had gotten so utterly lost in the sensation along with her captivating rich chocolate eyes that he almost missed hearing her name. “Hi, I’m Sahara Chantel, but my professional name is Coco. I’m Frank’s goddaughter. I believe he wants to hire you as my bodyguard.” Jax’s eyes narrowed at the beautiful young woman standing before him as her name started to register in his head. He’d just heard one of her songs on the radio on his way over here. With a voice like hers, Sahara was a very talented singer with a promising career in her future. It was a shame that she already had a stalker before she even got her feet wet in the deep end of the pool. “What do you think about that?” he asked as he brushed his thumb over her pulse trying to test to see if she was attracted him. He got the answer that he was waiting for when her pulse skipped a beat. The corner of Jax’s mouth lifted up into a smile as he continued to stare into her eyes. Good, the attraction was mutual. He usually didn’t take a job when he was sexually attracted to a female client, because it was hard to maintain a professional distance when he was drawn to the person he was hired to protect and he could make mistakes. But he might have to make an exception for Sahara. There was something about her presence that was pulling him to her and he couldn’t let it go. He had to find out the reason and the only way to do that was to spend time with her. Now, he wasn’t too sure what Frank would think about his interest in his goddaughter, but it wasn’t like he was going to toss Sahara down on the nearest bed anytime soon...unless she wanted him to.

Jax couldn’t believe the little girl Frank took in and then adopted all those years ago had grown up into such a beautiful woman. He’d only taken a quick glimpse of Sahara once when he had come over to tell Frank he was leaving town for a while. She’d been inside the living room sitting on the couch reading a book. Sure, she’d been a cute kid back then but nothing close to the breathtaking woman standing in front of him. “Honestly, I don’t think I need a bodyguard,” Sahara said as she removed her hand from his. He missed her warmth instantly. What was going on with him? Why was his body reacting this way to her? He was never this attracted to a woman after a first meeting and in his three hundred plus year he had met a lot of females Jax thought about grabbing Sahara’s hand again, but he didn’t do it. No...he wouldn’t move too fast. He didn’t even know if Sahara had boyfriend or not, but it didn’t matter because he wanted her and he would get her. After meeting and talking to Sahara, the idea of being a bodyguard again after so many years made him realize he didn’t want to be doing anything else with his time. “Uncle Frank is worrying about nothing,” Sahara complained. “I really don’t think I’m in any real danger, but he won’t listen to me. I was surprised when he told me that he’d spoken to you. I’m sure that after the two of you talk again in a few minutes you’ll both see how right I am about not needing any kind of protection.” Sahara didn’t understand the real and serious jeopardy her life might actually be in from this stalker. There was an aura about Sahara that made his need to protect her greater than it should have been since she was virtually a stranger to him. ”Why don’t you tell me about the threats and then I can decide if you should be scared or not?” Jax suggested. Moving away from him, Sahara sat down on a seat by a bay window and placed her sunglasses next to her. “The first letter I got in the mail over two weeks ago stated a voice like mine should be kept close and not shared with anyone else.” “That does sound like a threat to me,” Jax said. Sahara glanced at him from the corner of her eye and then shrugged her shoulder. “I got another email a couple of days ago. He promised me that he wouldn’t let anyone get too close to me, because he was protecting

me from the bad guys. It didn’t matter that I didn’t see him because he saw me.” The hair on the back of Jax’s neck stood up at the last comment. The threat meant that Sahara’s stalker knew her routine and most likely had known it for a while. “I have to agree with Frank again about this. You do need protection from whoever is sending those emails and letters to you. Honestly, you should have hired a bodyguard a long time ago.” Sahara shook her head. “I don’t agree at all. I think you and my Uncle Frank are both wrong. I think I’m pretty safe. I haven’t had anyone approach me yet when I’m out with friends. I’m not famous enough to warrant a stalker.” She looked at him like she was trying to make him understand her logic despite the fact it truly didn’t make one bit of sense. “Sahara...” “Coco, I would rather you call me Coco,” she corrected. No, he wasn’t going to call her by her stage name. Coco was an illusion and he liked the way Sahara’s real name felt coming off his tongue. “Sahara,” Jax continued and gave her a sharp look not to correct him again, “those letters and emails are the beginning stages of a stalker and you do need to have a─” “Why don’t you listen to him sweetheart?” A voice cut in preventing Jax from finishing his sentence. “He knows what he’s talking about. He’s been in the bodyguard business for a very long time.” Turning his head, Jax found Frank standing in the doorway with a stack of papers in his hand. “I heard you talking to Sahara about her stalker, so I printed out these emails off her computer. You really should take a look at them. “She’s been hiding some from me because there are at least three new ones in there since I talked to you.” Coming further into the room, Frank handed all of the paperwork to him. Taking the emails from Frank, Jax immediately flipped through them. He was surprised by the sheer volume of them. He couldn’t ever recall seeing this many threats towards one person. Sahara better come to grips with what was going on with her. After seeing all of these, Jax knew he was going to take the job as Sahara’s bodyguard and he didn’t care if she liked it or not. She needed his protection from the nutcase after her.

“I knew that once you finally read those you would absolutely see what I was so disturbed about,” Frank told him. “Sahara is good a blowing things off, but she can’t push this under the carpet anymore.” Jax would read over the threats more in depth when he got home later. Right now, he was more interested in talking to Sahara about them. He wasn’t going to admit how the sound of her silky voice was very soothing to him. He honestly could listen to her talk all day. “Uncle Frank, I’m going to leave so you can talk to Jax. Whatever the two of you decide, I’ll think about going along with it. I can’t promise I’ll give up my independence so freely,” Sahara warned. “You know how much I love my freedom. I don’t know how I could handle Jax following me around twenty-four hours a day.” Picking up her glasses off the seat, Sahara looked at him and then Frank before sliding them back on her nose. “I’m going to pick Raya up so we can have a girls’ day at the mall.” “I don’t think you should leave,” Jax stated as he moved to stand in front of Sahara. He hadn’t even officially gotten hired yet and she was already testing his patience. Lord...this woman was going to keep him on his toes. “If what Frank and you are telling me is true then it’s not safe for you out there,” he pointed out. Taking off her sunglasses, Sahara tilted her head back so she could look him directly in the eye. “Thank you for the advice Jax, but I’m pretty sure that no one is going to snatch me from the mall,” she laughed and then patted him in the middle of his chest. The instant Sahara’s soft hand stroked his body, her unexpected touch intensified his desire to yank her to him and kiss her senseless. It was almost like his body was on fire for a simple taste of her. Sahara gasped when his hand shot out and wrapped around her slender wrist as she tried to step away from him. He saw the fear in her eyes—her desire to run from him. No! She couldn’t leave him. He had to keep her safe and close to him...for what reason he wasn’t sure of just yet, but he would find out. “I’m really advising you to stay at home. Why don’t you invite your Raya friend over here instead? I’m sure that if she’s really your friend then she wouldn’t mind your change of plans.” Jax spoke low enough so only Sahara could hear him. Slowly, Sahara licked her bottom lip and his eyes followed the small movement. His cock twitched and grew against the front of his jeans to the point he thought the fabric might actually rip.

“Stay,” he whispered again. “Jax, is everything okay over there with you and Sahara?” Frank asked, breaking into their private cocoon. Sahara shook off his touch but it only happened because he allowed it. She took a step back from him like she couldn’t wait to get away. “Thank you for your concern, but I’ll be fine,” she said and then rushed out of the door. Jax stared at the empty doorway still wondering why he was so drawn to Sahara. Just the thought of someone hurting Sahara sent him into instant battle mode which was strange because he’d never felt like this when it came to protecting any of his clients in the past and that was a good thing. Yes, he was professional and vowed to protect them, but he didn’t possess the same burning need to keep them safe. “Jax, are you okay?” Frank questioned, coming to stand next to him. “I’ll take it.” “You’ll take what?” Frank frowned, looking at him. From the corner of his eye, Jax noticed that Frank was watching him very intently with a bewildered look on his face. “The bodyguard job,” he answered. “You’re right about Sahara. She does needs protection because if she doesn’t get it soon she’s likely to get herself hurt. I have a very bad feeling about this stalker.” “You’re right. She isn’t taking the threats very seriously, but she should. Let me clear up a few things at work and then I’ll be back to move in.” “You’re moving in?” Frank sounded really surprised by his comment. “Yes, that’s the only way that I can give Sahara the around the clock security that she needs.” There wasn’t any reason to tell Frank the true reason he was going to move into the house with him and Sahara.

Chapter Three “Tell me more about Jax. Is he as hot as his name sounds?” Raya August, Sahara’s best friend since middle school asked her before she snatched an onion ring off her plate and took a huge bite out of it. “He’s okay,” Sahara mumbled, trying not to remember how Jax’s eyes grew a deeper shade of green when she touched him on his hard chest earlier. “Okay, let me rephrase. Is he sneaking out of your bedroom hot if you were still a teenager or you would give him your virginity hot?” “What the hell?” Sahara snapped and burst out laughing. “Raya, I can’t believe you’re still using the hotness scale that we used way back in high school. I’m too old to be using that... and so are you.” “Come on, you know you want to still use it,” Raya laughed as she waved another onion ring in her face before shoving it into her mouth. “Don’t act like I don’t know you’re still a virgin.” Sahara allowed the smoking image of Jax standing in the living room with his tight jeans and muscle shirt slip in her mind. Yeah, Jax could fit pretty nicely into both categories. He was one fine ass man. “Since you’re forcing me to pick I guess that he could fall into either category,” Sahara finally admitted. “Plus, you are still in the ‘Big V’ club too. So, stop pretending that you aren’t.” “Oh, he’s a double dipper,” Raya grinned, leaning back in the booth totally ignoring her last comment. “So, when does this new bodyguard of yours start? I want to come over and meet the man that has you not tearing into your famous double cheeseburger with extra pickles and onions.” Sahara glanced down at the burger on her plate like it was her first time seeing it. What was wrong with her? Usually when she ordered from this fast food place she took a bite before the waitress walked away from the table. God, Jax had already messed with her mind so much that she missed eating her favorite junk food. “I guess I wasn’t as hungry as I thought I was.” Sahara sighed pushing the cold plate of food away from her.

Taking off her favorite pair of black sunglasses, she tossed them on the table and pinched the bridge of her nose. She should be at home working on her music instead of out with Raya talking about a hunky bodyguard with the killer green eyes that she wasn’t going to ever see again. She wouldn’t think why the thought of never seeing Jax again bothered her so much. “Sahara, what’s wrong? Have you gotten any more letters from that crazy fan?” Raya asked, placing her food back down on her plate. Dropping her hand, Sahara stared at Raya because her best friend only stopped eating her favorite fattening fried food when she was concerned about her. Was she wearing her fear on her face that clearly? A huge part of her was worried about who was threatening her, but she couldn’t put her concerns on Frank’s shoulders. He had already done so much for her over the years. She wasn’t going to allow him to take anything else on because of her. “Nothing’s wrong,” she lied plastering on a fake smile. “I was just thinking about Frank. He worries about me way too much. I want him to get a life of his own. He gave up over ten years of his life to look after me and it’s time that he stopped.” Reaching across the table, Raya grabbed her hand. “Now, you know that Frank doesn’t feel that way. He loves you like you were his own daughter. He doesn’t harbor any resentment towards you about anything.” “Are you sure about that?” Sahara demanded. “Uncle Frank was going to get married until I came into the picture. His fiancée dumped him two weeks after he took me in. She didn’t want kids, especially a damaged female teenager.” “Carmen was a bitch. You should be happy that you didn’t get stuck with the hag. I swear I never met a more unhappy or evil woman in my life. ”Anytime I came to visit you those first two weeks at Frank’s house she always gave me this hateful looks. Did she really think I couldn’t see how she felt about having you there because I was a kid? Well, I saw it and she should have been ashamed of herself for not giving you comfort. You were a kid and she was the adult.” Sahara removed her hand from Raya and played with her sunglasses on the table. “My opinion of her didn’t matter at all. Frank loved her and she left because of me and we both know it.”

“Okay, maybe Carmen did leave because of you. However, you didn’t hinder Frank’s life. Wasn’t he the one that brought the love of music into your life and if I’m not mistaken he was dating one of our backup singers until a couple of months ago.” “Yeah, he did, but they broke up after she got her own record deal.” “So, it doesn’t seem that Frank’s life has been so horrible after all, does it? How about we forget about you taking all of the blame for everything going wrong in Frank life? You need to tell me more about Jax. I know you and I can tell you’re leaving something out,” Raya teased. “Is he handsome enough for you to write a song about?” “Yes,” Sahara answered without hesitation. **** “Are you sure that you should be moving into Frank’s?” Zander asked Jax as he packed up his two black bags. One was full of his clothing and the other contained the items that made him the most wanted bodyguard in the county. He never went on any job without his three custom made guns. They were like his third arm. “Earlier you were all over me telling me how I needed to get back into the field, if I recall correctly,” Jax complained “I was,” Zander agreed, “and you were totally against it, so what happened in the span of eight hours that you feel the need to drop everything and move in to Frank’s house?” Jax glanced at the phone by his bed as he grabbed his gun box from his closet that held his favorite gun. He never thought he would be pulling out this beauty again. “I can feel your glare over the phone,” Zander laughed. “Stop it. I only asked you a question. You don’t have to get all pissed at me.” Jax checked the gun before he slipped it into the smaller black bag on this bed. He wasn’t upset with Zander. He was just mad that his brother had picked up on what he was thinking. It was a horrible connection to have sometimes with his younger and obnoxious sibling, but it was part of their vampire make up making the brotherly bond even stronger. “I can’t tell you what it is about her but anytime I got around Sahara today all I wanted to do was wrap her up in my arms and keep her safe.

Until I figure out what’s going on, I’ll be by her side and don’t forget that I’m also doing this as a favor to Frank.” “Sure you are,” Zander said. “From what you just told me, you’re protecting his goddaughter because you’re attracted to her.” ”You’re wrong about that. Frank has been there for me since the beginning of our friendship and it’s time for me to do the same for him. I don’t know why you’re making such a big deal about me going over to his place. It isn’t like I haven’t lived in someone’s home before to protect them,” Jax complained. “Yeah and the guy was pushing eighty years old. If he wasn’t the CEO of one of the most downloaded software games companies in the world you wouldn’t have stayed there with him. However, this time Frank might be ten percent of the reason you accepted this job, but shouldn’t you admit that your attraction to Sahara is the other ninety percent? “I found a picture of her on the internet and she’s very cute,” Zander continued. “Totally not the type of woman I would think could get my big brother all hot and bothered at your old age.” “How about you stop talking about Sahara like you know her?” Jax snapped. He wasn’t in the mood for his brother’s unwanted opinions tonight. There was nothing wrong with Sahara. She was perfect and it was a damn good thing that his little brother wasn’t interested in her or he might have to straighten Zander out. “Anyways, I only told you what I was thinking when it came to Frank’s goddaughter. I never said I was going to act on my attraction for Sahara. You know that I never get involved with a client. It’s bad politics.” “Are you sure that you’re telling me the truth?” Zander chuckled. “What happened to the probation period where you check out the information before agreeing to take the body guarding job?” How did his brother come to know so much about his business? They worked in the same building but on totally different floors and they seldom discussed their work policies with each other. Zander owned his own security firm on the second level while their cousin Thorsten’s office was located on the third floor. They’d gone into business together and named their business Alpha Male Incorporated because of their strong personalities. Jax wasn’t ready to admit to Zander yet that there was something very special about Sahara. For the time being, he was going to direct all of his

attention on figuring out who Sahara’s stalker was before he decided to take it to the next level. “Zander, I can’t talk to you anymore. I need to finish packing and then head on over to Frank’s. I want to get a look around the property. I might call you later on tomorrow or the next day to set up some surveillance inside and outside of the house.” “Do you think it’s that bad you’re going to need cameras already?” Zander questioned, the joking tone completely gone from his voice. Jax didn’t think it had moved to that point already, but he wanted to have everything in order just in case. He hated to be unprepared when it came to his job. “Like I said, let me check the entire place and then I’ll get back to you.” “Fine, I’ll be waiting for your call.” Walking over to the phone, Jax pressed the end button and then made his way back over to his bed to finish packing. Slowly, he looked over everything spread out across the mattress making sure that he had everything he needed for his trip. Seeing the remaining items out in the open had his long buried memories of why he’d retired from being a bodyguard in the first place rushing back If he hadn’t been overseas on an assignment none of it would had happened and she would still be alive. He should have turned down that last assignment and he would have been home to protect her. The entire incident would be something that would haunt him for the rest of his life.

Chapter Four “Jax, I truly can’t tell you how much this means to me,” Frank told Jax as he walked into the house an hour later carrying his bags. “I’ll be able to rest a little easier now since I know Sahara will be in safe hands.” Placing his bags down near a living room end table, Jax turned around and waited while Frank closed and locked the front door. After reading all of the threats before leaving his house, he was glad that he decided to take the job too. The pull he felt towards Sahara was something unexpected and he wanted to explore it more and he was positive this was the best way to do it. He’d been around other good-looking women before. There was just something about Sahara that made her different...and it had some kind of hold on him. “After thinking about it some more, I decided it would be for the best if I moved in your place tonight and that’s why I’m here,” Jax said. “I’m thrilled you accepted, but I can’t tell you if Sahara will be as happy as I am,” Frank admitted. “No, I’m positive that she won’t share the same opinion,” Jax admitted. Looking around the living room, Jax suddenly noticed that it was awfully quiet. He didn’t hear other noises going on inside of the house. Where was Sahara? Why did he get the feeling that she wasn’t at home? She should have been home from the mall hours ago. Damn it! He wouldn’t be able to guard Sahara if she truly didn’t believe her life wasn’t in serious harm. “Where’s Sahara? After I get unpacked I need to talk to her about her schedule and how some things might have to change. She needs to understand that with all of these threats hanging over her head she can’t go wandering around all over town by herself.” Jax could already tell he was going to have a battle of his hands with Sahara. “Sahara is a very stubborn young woman when she sets her mind to do something. It’s very difficult to change it,” Frank told him as he moved away from the door. “How about I show you to your room and then you

can take a better look around the property until she gets back home from her shopping trip?” “That’s fine with me,” Jax answered as he turned and followed Frank up the staircase. He had to figure out the layout of the house so he would be able to protect Sahara more effectively. She would go by his rules and learn to like them because disobeying them might cost her life. Jax continued to walk closely behind Frank until his friend stopped at a door at the end of the hallway. “Here’s your room,” Frank said, pointing to the door behind his back. “I had the housekeeper change the sheets and add fresh towels to the room before she left. If you need anything else just let me know and I’ll get it for you.” Jax glanced at where his room was located to the end of the hallway figuring out the distance. He needed to be on guard at all times while he was doing his job. “Where’s Sahara’s room?” he asked. Jax didn’t think that her stalker would be bold enough to break in the house, but he wasn’t going to take any changes. “How far is it from mine?” “It’s right across from yours,” Frank said. “I thought it might work better if the two of you were close together. I want Sahara to get the best possible protection from you.” Wonderful! To have someone who was actually on the same page as him for a change was a good feeling. Now if he could get the person who needed to be to see things his way. “Good,” Jax stated. “Now, let me get everything put away in my room and then you can show me around. I want to see how the property looks at night and then I’ll take another look in the morning. I want an image of both ways in my head.” Frank nodded at him. “Get yourself settled in and I’ll go out and pick us up something to eat. Do you have anything special you’d like?” Jax had been so caught up in getting ready for this new assignment that he just realized that he hadn’t eaten since breakfast. “Is that chicken place still open called ‘Twelve in a Bucket’? I haven’t eaten from there in months.” “Yeah it is. It doesn’t close until nine on Friday nights. Let me go and pick something up. I’ll get something for Sahara too. I seriously doubt that she thought about eating anything on her shopping trip with Raya. When those two are together they aren’t thinking about anything except buying clothes and having fun.”

“I’ll be back as soon as I can.” Frank walked away from him and then went back down the stairs. A few minutes later, Jax heard the front door open and then close. Grabbing his bags off the floor, Jax opened the door to his bedroom and walked inside. The bedroom was beautifully decorated with dark mahogany furniture with a dresser night stand and thankfully a king size four poster bed which was actually big enough for his entire six foot six inch frame. Going over to the bed, Jax placed his black bags down on the mattress. Unzipping the smaller bag, Jax removed his gun, checked it for bullets and then slipped it in the back of his jeans pulling his white t-shirt down over it. Most bodyguards didn’t carry a weapon unless the danger to their clients was high enough to call for one, but he wasn’t like most bodyguards and he liked carrying a gun. It was best he started being prepared now because he didn’t know what her stalker’s next move was going to be. He wasn’t about to take any chances with Frank’s or Sahara’s lives while they were on his watch. Just in case anything came up, he would like to be ready for it. Jax finished getting unpacked and arranging the bedroom the way he required it before placing his two bags in the very back of the closet. Later, he would check with Frank and see if he could get him a small refrigerator inside his bedroom. Yeah, Frank knew he was a vampire, but his buddy didn’t know how many times a day he needed a liquid boost compared to eating regular food. It was just one of the things about being a vampire he kept to himself. Since he was done getting his room in order; now, it was time for him to check out the rest of the place. The first space he would investigate would be Sahara’s bedroom. He had to see if there were any hidden dangers in there that should be taken care of as quickly as possible. Leaving his bedroom, Jax headed across the hall. Without a doubt, he would bet money there would be something inside there he would consider dangerous and request it to be changed. Sahara might not like him looking around her personal space without her permission, but it was part of his job and it had to be done for her safety.

Chapter Five Jax noticed that the enormous amount of space in the room allowed him to maneuver easily around the large four-poster bed. This was good if the worst happened and he had to protect her from inside of here. The height drew his eyes upward, drawing out the rooms perfect proportions. The lavender bedspread was a brilliant shade for the bed and the room, giving the area a disarming and charming effect. Over at the left side of the room was an heirloom chest topped with a runner and it was just a shade darker than the bedspread adding something personal to the room. Other little accessories hung on the walls like a framed hand-written song by Sahara with a butterfly picture underneath it. On the night stand was a pair of reading glasses along with a couple of books placed next to them. Towards the open patio doors was a sitting area with a keyboard, a guitar and a few other musical instruments. Moving closer, Jax picked up a black spiral notepad off of a small white table and flipped through it. He noticed several songs lyrics written inside. He couldn’t help but read some of the words and was very impressed by how deep and meaningful some of the songs were. Sahara has more talented than I was giving her credit for, he thought. It takes a gifted person to write some of the thoughts she has down on those pages. Jax placed the notebook back where he got it from and then walked out the opened French doors. Standing out on the patio, he saw numerous hazards that would have to be addressed beginning with the fact that Sahara couldn’t leave her patio open like this when she left the house. Leaning over the edge, he saw additional problems for Sahara in the backyard. There were several bushes and overgrown trees that any stalker could find pleasure in hiding behind while watching Sahara inside her bedroom without ever being noticed. Jax doubted Sahara ever thought about locking the patio doors at night while she was sleeping. Since she was on the fourth floor of the house, she probably thought that she was safe and sound. But, in reality

she wasn’t, since a stalker would find a way to get up here to her no matter how long it took. Before retiring from being a personal bodyguard, Jax worked a lot of cases with numerous clients, but hands down this had to be the most unsafe environment he had ever seen. Sahara’s bedroom as well as the rest of the house would have to go through several changes before he would feel like it was completely safe for her to be living here. Walking back into the bedroom, Jax stopped in his tracks when he heard a sound outside in the hallway. The footsteps were too light to be Frank’s and Jax knew that they weren’t Sahara’s because she had more of a bounce to her footsteps than the person who was coming. Moving quickly behind the bedroom door, Jax pulled his gun from behind his back and waited quietly for the person to enter. A second or two later, a figure walked inside the bedroom and made their way over to the bed. Jumping out from behind the door with his gun raised, Jax hollered. “Stop right there! Who in the hell are you?” “Oh my God!” A petite young African American screamed as she dropped the two shopping bags and spun around. Fear was clear in her light brown eyes and all over her pretty face as her big eyes swung down to the gun in his hand and then back up to his face. `“Answer me!” Jax yelled again. `“Sahara! Help me!” she yelled instead of answering his question. Jax heard the sound of feet running up the stairs and smelled the scent of Sahara’s perfume way before she even entered the room. Seconds later, she burst in. “Raya, what’s wrong?” Sahara asked. “Why are you screaming?” “He has a gun,” the girl whispered pointing a shaky finger in his direction. Sahara’s head snapped around and she gasped as her eyes landed on the gun then her shocked eyes connected with his. “Jax, what in the hell are you doing in my bedroom with a gun?” Sahara demanded. “Who is she?” he asked not looking in Sahara’s direction keeping his gun on the girl who looked like she was poised and ready to run any second if he allowed it. “It’s my friend Raya August. God, I’ve known her since we were both thirteen years old. Put the gun down and tell me why you’re in my house

but more importantly my bedroom,” Sahara demanded again. “Good God, she isn’t my stalker!” Jax slowly lowered his gun, put the safety back on and slid it back behind his back. “Sorry, I heard someone coming and I thought it might be your stalker. I was only doing the job that Frank hired me to do which is keeping you safe.” “You pulled out a loaded gun on my best friend because you thought she was going to hurt me?” Sahara snapped. “Are you out of your mind? I want you out of my house now! I don’t care if Uncle Frank gets upset with me or not.” Sahara rushed over to her friend who looked like she wanted to get away from him as quickly as possible. He didn’t feel bad at all about pulling the gun. He couldn’t let people he didn’t know get close to Sahara; until he was positive they wouldn’t be a threat to her well-being. Now that he knew Raya was Sahara’s friend she wouldn’t get the protective bodyguard treatment from him anymore. “Are you okay, Raya?” Sahara asked her friend before tossing him a hard look. “Jax is an asshole. Don’t pay any attention to him.” Raya nervously glanced in his direction and then quickly looked away before she answered. “I’m okay,” she whispered, “but I think I’m going home. It’s not every day that a guy jumps out of the shadows and pulls a gun on me. I need time to calm down and stop my heart from trying to beat out of my chest.” After hearing Raya’s comments about him, Jax started to feel a little bad about his actions as he moved closer to Sahara and her nervous friend. Sahara might have a valid point. He couldn’t go around pulling out a gun on everyone he saw around her. Every single detail of bodyguard work was very challenging which made the job more demanding than it should. However, he didn’t get to the top of his game and able to open Alpha Male Incorporated by jumping out from behind doors scaring the shit out of women. Now that he was back out in the field, he would have to take his own advice he gave his employees. His number one rule was all bodyguards needed the ability to blend into any situation or event with their client while keeping his eyes and ears open. He’d broken one of his golden rules tonight with Raya which meant the years he spent out of action were showing and not in a very good way.

“Raya please let me apologize for scaring you. I’m Jax Irizzary, Sahara’s new bodyguard. I hope we can get past this unfortunate incident.” He extended his hand and waited for Raya to take it. Raya eyed his hand for a second or two before she gave it a quick shake. “Yeah, maybe we can,” she answered and then took a step back from him. “I’m still going to leave so you can talk to Sahara in private.” Raya eased around him and practically ran from the room. Sahara shot him an evil look right after Raya bolted from the bedroom. “Raya, wait!” Sahara yelled as she tried to run after her, but Jax heard the front door slam shut before Sahara even made it to the bedroom door. “She’s gone,” he told Sahara. Spinning back around, Sahara charged back up to him. “Have you lost your mind completely? You scared the shit out of Raya. How can I possibly apologize for your behavior? God, you are so fired! I can’t believe Uncle Frank actually went behind my back and hired you. Where is he anyway?” Staring down into Sahara’s beautiful face, Jax liked how her dark eyes blazed with such fire. Secretly, he wondered if she got this passionate about everything that went on in her life. He might just have to find out for himself. Not now, but definitely later on when he got the chance...and he would make sure that he got the chance. “Your friend will be okay,” he said, walking around the room. “I didn’t mean to frighten her. How about I apologize again when I see her? However, my main job isn’t to be concerned about her hurt feelings. I’m being paid to watch over you and that’s what I’m going to do. So, if I come on too strong with some of your friends they’ll learn to deal with me until this situation in your life is gone. Also, don’t bother Frank with this when he comes back home with our food. He doesn’t need to be bothered about something that wasn’t a big deal in the first place.” “I don’t want your protection or help,” Sahara retorted. “I’m fine without you and if I do need some help it wouldn’t involve me coming to you.” “You’re going to be even better with me guarding you,” Jax informed Sahara as he headed for the door. “I’m going to leave so you can put these bags away and then I need to go over a few things with you.” He stopped in his tracks and glanced back at Sahara. “I know you’re used to doing things your way, but all of that has to change.” Jax continued out of the room.

A tiny part of him couldn’t help but wonder what else was going to happen with Sahara before she ultimately decided to listen and follow his rules.

Chapter Six “You have to get rid of Jax. I don’t want or need him as my bodyguard.” Sahara complained to her Uncle Frank as they waited for Jax to join them in the dining room. “He had no right to be upstairs in my bedroom without my permission with a gun. God, he could have killed Raya,” “Sahara, I know you were upset when Jax had the incident with Raya, but he told me that he apologized to her. Sweetheart, please try your best to get along with him. I hired him to look after you. I wish you would get it into your head that your life might be in danger and stop fighting me at every turn about Jax.” Sahara wanted to agree with her uncle that she did need a bodyguard, but she was used to coming and going as she pleased. Having an attractive bodyguard following her every move was going to be hard for her to deal with. It wasn’t like Jax would be able to blend into a crowd with his blond good looks and muscular body. God, she would notice him in a hot minute and so would anyone else with a good pair of eyes in their head. Yeah, she was having a hard time hating Jax when she was fighting off the impulse to kiss him anytime he got within touching distance of her. Jax was a ‘bad boy’ from the top of his golden head all the way down to his black biker boots. She was torn between still having her independence and learning how to deal with a six foot six inch hunk as her shadow. “I’ll try to deal with the Ultimate Fighter wannabe, but I still want some of my freedom too,” Sahara said. “It’s only fair to me. I’m not a child and I shouldn’t be treated like one.” “How much freedom do you expect to receive from me?” a deep sensual voice asked behind her. Twirling around in her seat, Sahara ran her eyes over Jax noticing that he had changed out of his blue jeans and white t-shirt into an all black outfit. His thick blond hair was pulled back at the nape of his neck. Everything about Jax screamed sex, sex and more sex and his entire package was enticing her in a way no man had before. Usually she was

focused on her music career and not much else but Jax was drawing her to him like she almost didn’t have control over her own body. He possessed this aura around him that she couldn’t resist. Also, he had this way of easing up on her without making a sound and it was a little creepy. Who moved that silently? There was something about Jax and she was going to find out what it was. Her curiosity was piqued and she was the kind of woman who didn’t give up until she got the answers that she wanted. “It doesn’t matter,” Sahara said finally answering Jax’s question. “Whatever I want will be too much for you. I can tell after talking to Uncle Frank that I’m stuck with you for better or worse.” “Sahara, don’t be upset,” Frank told her jumping into the conversation. “All Jax and I want is to make sure that this guy never has a chance to get his hands on you. I know that you’re obstinate and like to have your way but this is one time that you will listen and do what is the best for you.” “I don’t want to get into this right now. I have to check on Raya because after her experience with Jax she might not ever come back over here again and I wouldn’t blame her if she didn’t.” Getting up from her chair, Sahara tried to walk out of the room but Jax stepped in her way. “If you leave the house again I’ll have to go with you,” he said staring down at her with his watchful green eyes. “Don’t worry,” she said brushing past Jax. “I’m going upstairs to call Raya. I think I can handle a phone call without you at my side.” Sahara headed on out the door. She didn’t even bother to look back to see if Jax followed her, because right at this second she was fed up with him and her domineering uncle. **** Standing near the dining room door, Jax stared after Sahara as she stormed upstairs to her bedroom loving how the tight jeans cupped her round perfect ass. She was going to be more difficult to get under control than he first thought and he was truly looking forward to the challenge. In the end, she would be listening to him because he was more experienced and knew what he was doing when it came to keeping her safe and protected.

“Come on over here and get something to eat,” Frank hollered at him. “Don’t let her attitude bother you. She’s upset now but she’ll get over it like she always does. Sahara doesn’t hold a grudge for a very long time anyway.” Jax turned away from the door making his way over to Frank. Sitting down at the table, he picked up a paper plate and then grabbed a couple pieces of chicken out of box placing them on the plate in front of him. “I’m not worried about her being upset with me. I’m used to clients hating the sight of me until they get used to my rules which usually takes about two weeks, but what really concerns me the most about Sahara is her attitude. She doesn’t want to listen to what I tell her. She can’t continue to go off by herself like she did today with Raya. “Anyone could have come up on her today and she wouldn’t have known if it was her stalker or not. She doesn’t think she’s famous, but she it. Her stalker isn’t doing much right now except sending emails and letters, but it will get worse for her before it gets better. “Sahara really needs to understand the seriousness of the situation. If she listens to me now, it will help her out in the end later and she’ll be glad that she did.” Picking up the chicken breast off his plate, Jax took a huge bite and then quickly placed it back down when he felt Frank staring at him. “I totally agree with you Jax, but Sahara gets her spunkiness from her mother,” Frank agreed glancing at the food on his plate then back at him. “Let me talk to her again. I know that I can get through to her this time.” Jax wondered why Frank was staring at him because his friend had seen him eat food before, but today Frank was acting like it was something so shocking. “Frank, what’s wrong,” he asked. “You’ve got this strange look on your face?” Frank glanced away with an embarrassed expression on his face while rubbing the back of his neck. “I know I have, but I still find it so odd that you can eat regular food. From everything I read in books and saw in movies, I truly thought vampires weren’t real and could only survive by taking blood from humans.” Jax laughed “You’ve watched way too many movies about vampires. Yes, I can eat food and I can even go out in the sunlight without bursting into flames.” He grabbed two biscuits out of the box next to the chicken and tossed them down on his plate. God, he was starving and this would hold him over for now but he would have to get something else later. He

still needed to mention to Frank about the small refrigerator that he needed in his room. “No, I need to be the one who talks to Sahara. We need to understand who is in control and who isn’t. By the way, do you think you can find me a small refrigerator for my bedroom? I need to keep a few items close at hand.” Frank chuckled like he had said something funny. “She isn’t going to allow you to ever think that you’re in control of her. My goddaughter hasn’t gotten this far with her career by allowing anyone to rule her body, mind or anything else about her. Oh, getting the refrigerator won’t be a problem either. I think there’s one down in the basement. It used to be in my office, but I took it out a few months ago. I’ll put it in your room for you before I leave for my next trip.” Instead of answering Frank, Jax reached for his biscuit trying to think of ways to watch over Sahara while keeping his attraction for her away, but right now all he could think about was finding a way to kiss her and still stay her bodyguard.

Chapter Seven “Are you sure that you’re okay?” Sahara asked as she closed the door to her bedroom so Jax and her uncle wouldn’t hear her on the phone. “I still can’t believe that Jax thought you were my stalker. I’m going to have a talk again with my uncle. If he found Jax, I know that he can find another bodyguard to protect me.” “Don’t you dare get another bodyguard,” Raya yelled at her. “Yeah, Jax scared the hell out of me earlier tonight but I’m good now besides he’s HOT as hell. Why didn’t you tell me his eyes looked like that?” “What are you talking about?” Sahara questioned. “Jax’s eyes are just green eyes. I don’t see anything unusual about them.” “No, I swear when he had that gun on me they changed to a different color. They were kind of like an amber color....hell, I don’t know actually but I swear they changed.” Laughing, Sahara walked over to her writing desk, grabbed her lyrics journal and made her way back over to the big bed in the bedroom. “Are you sure that you still aren’t shaken up?” Sahara was still a little worried about her best friend’s state of mind. “I’m good,” Raya assured her. “I came home and took a shower and now I’m relaxing in bed. I’ve a big day tomorrow at work.” “Have you heard anymore about who’s been checking your financial reports?” Sahara asked Raya. “I thought your family’s hedge fund was doing better since you took over the business from your brother?” “No, but it’s going to be the main thing I do when I get to work tomorrow morning. I don’t have time for any kind of problems appearing out of nowhere. The main reason I had to take over the business from Cedric was he never wanted to do the work. I like to stay on top of things and this problem has caught me off guard and I hate it. “However, I don’t want to discuss me. I want to know what you’re going to do about Jax? You have to admit he is one sexy man and you get to be around him twenty-four hours a day. I’m so jealous.” Sahara sat down on the bed and folded up her legs yoga style. “What do you mean by ‘what am I going to do with Jax?’”

“Sahara come on.” Raya sighed. “When was the last time you were around a guy who looked like him? Yeah, he did almost make me pee my pants with the Dirty Larry thing and all, but I still saw how gorgeous he was. You know that you’ve noticed it too. God, you would have to be crazy not to see it.” Sahara wanted to lie, but she couldn’t. Yes, there was something mysterious and dangerous about Jax that had grabbed her attention from their first meeting. Raya was right. Jax was one fine ass man and he knew it, but it wasn’t like he cared he was sexy. “Are you listening to me?” Raya shouted snapping her back from her daydream. “Sahara, did you hear a word I just said or were you thinking about Jax?” She loved Raya dearly but sometimes she wished that her best friend didn’t know her so well. “Honestly, I was doing a little of both,” Sahara confessed. “Good, it’s past time that you learned to separate the men you meet in your career from the men you need to have in your personal life. Sahara isn’t Coco and vice versa.” What was Raya talking about? She tried not to be offended, but she was. She knew the difference between her and Coco. Anytime she was at home or around her good friends she was Sahara. Coco was only the image she had on stage when she was singing and it never boiled over into her personal life. “Raya, you know that I do know how to separate my singing career away from my regular life. Why would you imply that I don’t?” Sahara asked and the hurt was clear in her voice. Her best friend sighed on the other end of the phone. “Sweetie, I know that you try but sometimes you don’t do it. Sure, I can tell Coco from you; however, this stalker can’t do it and maybe you’re having a hard time realizing that there’s a part of Coco in you. If there wasn’t you wouldn’t be able to perform on stage the amazing way you do.” Sahara had loved being a singer from the second that she realized she had the talent to make a living out of it. Uncle Frank pushed her by making her work long hours until she had everything down perfectly and she loved it. Singing was a part of her soul and she wanted to do it for the rest of her life; however, she still got a little embarrassed when people close to her gave her compliments about her talent. “Thank you Raya, but you know that I don’t need you to tell me any of those things. We’re friends because you’re the only person who doesn’t

want to be around me because of my fame or have me get them something expensive.” Over the years, she’d had to drop a lot of her so-called friends because they wanted her to take them to events and then brag about it to their friends or even the tabloids. She couldn’t afford to have people like that in her life. She worked each and every day to keep untrue people out of her life. “I know but I was being honest. So, what are you going to do about Jax? I’m telling you not to ask for another guard. I think Jax will be good for you. You need someone like him around you.” Sahara could only guess what Raya meant by her off the wall comment. She knew that she shouldn’t ask, but she was going to anyway. “What do you mean by someone like him?” “Jax is the kind of guy who would throw a woman against the wall and have his way with her. I mean if Jax looked at me like half the way he was staring at you I wouldn’t be on the phone talking to you,” Raya teased. “How about you try to find yourself a man instead of tossing Jax at me?” Sahara suggested trying to ignore the hint of jealousy she felt towards Raya for noticing Jax in the first place. “Sahara, you know that I don’t have time for a relationship,” Raya complained. “Not with the way work has been going lately. If I find a man he might have to drop at my feet and then I might have to walk over him to get more done at work. I stay so busy now. I don’t have much free time for anything else.” Sahara loved how dramatic her best friend could be sometimes. It provided a lot of entertainment. Raya always had men asking her out on dates, but she constantly found reasons not to go out with them. Raya had a comment or opinion about everything and that could be the main reason none of her past relationships worked out. “Don’t worry,” Sahara said. “Your man is probably just around the corner so you better be ready.” “Well, he’ll have to come after I’ve handled this problem at work. I won’t be able to deal with a guy until after that, but don’t let my man problems keep you from going after Jax.” “I don’t want Jax,” Sahara denied. “Sure, you don’t. I would love to talk to you more about this, but I have to finish getting my PowerPoint presentation ready for my meeting

tomorrow. I probably won’t be able to come out to the house for several days.” “That’s okay. I need to finish up a couple of songs and then work on a new dance routine with Tomas. You know how much of a perfectionist he is when it comes to my dance moves.” Raya chuckled in her ear. “I would love to be there to see Jax’s first meeting with Tomas. I know it’s going to be funny. Have fun. Maybe you can get Jax to help you with some of your sexier moves,” her best friend teased. “Raya,” Sahara warned, softly. “Okay, I’m done teasing you.” Raya laughed again. “Have a good night and I’ll talk to you later.” The phone clicked off before she could tell her friend anything else. Sahara pushed the end button on her phone before tossing it on the bed. She picked up her writing journal and flipped through it until she got to the newest song she was working on called ‘Vanished’. She was scheduled to perform it in a couple of weeks and she was still putting the finishing touches to it. She had been working on this for about two weeks now, but it wasn’t going in the direction she had hoped for. She was sure that she was pushing too hard to get it done. Sahara was positive that once she calmed down and relaxed that the words would come to her...at least she hoped they would. Maybe Vanished would be big enough of a hit that she could finally get that ugly birthmark removed off her chest. She hated the thing and wanted it gone as soon as possible. Getting up from the bed, Sahara made her way over to the floor length mirror in her bedroom and pulled her t-shirt over her head tossing it to the ground. Taking the tips of her fingers, she ran them over the birthmark that covered about half an inch of the top of her left breast. The birthmark wasn’t even pretty enough to call a ‘beauty mark’. Truthfully, it resembled an ink blotch that a psychiatric doctor would have a patient looking at in their office. Yeah, when her schedule cleared up she was going to have it removed. Because even a man as super hot as Jax wouldn’t be able to make her think this thing was worth keeping on her body.

Chapter Eight “Are you ready for me to go over the rules of protection with you now?” a voice asked from the open doorway of her bedroom the next morning. Sahara glanced up from the writing pad and found Jax standing in the entranceway to her room. He was wearing a dark green t-shirt, tight jeans pulled down over a pair of black boots. With a gun holster on his shoulders he looked more gorgeous than a man had the right to look. Staring at Jax almost made her forget her life might be in danger from an overzealous fan. “I know that I’m not going to like them, but I’m ready to hear them,” Sahara said getting up from her desk. “Let’s take a walk outside. I usually do it every day about this time. It helps me clear my head so I can write.” “Frank told me that’s what you like to do, so that’s why I’m here,” Jax informed her. “I can talk to you while I check the grounds of the house again. Frank’s house isn’t safe enough and I have to see where I want Zander to set up the security cameras.” “Who’s Zander? Are you sure that Uncle Frank is okay with you invading his privacy like this?” “Frank is all about doing what needs to be done to keep you safe. He won’t fight me on adding extra security around this place because right now it isn’t near safe enough. Anyone could get in here without even breaking a sweat. So, that’s why my brother Zander is coming over to install cameras and other devices that I requested.” Sahara brushed past Jax trying not to notice how her heart skipped a beat when her bare arm rubbed against his. Darn Raya and her stupid comments about how attractive Jax was. It was already hard enough for her to block out her attraction to him without Raya’s unwanted opinions in her mind. “I think we should start with the back of the house near your bedroom and then make our way around the front,” Jax suggested as he followed her out of her bedroom into the hallway and then down the stairs. “Are you sure all of this can be done by tonight?” Sahara asked as she walked towards the kitchen.

“I talked to Frank this morning before he left for work and he pointed out to me you have a press tour coming up for a new single coming out.” “Yes, I do,” Sahara said glancing over her shoulder at Jax. She noticed how his well-worn jeans cupped him in all the right places. She quickly looked back in front of her before her wayward thoughts made her run into something. “I’m going to perform at a local club pretty soon before I do a small promotional tour for my song ‘Vanished’. I’m working on finishing up the last of the lyrics now.” Sahara was almost to the kitchen when Jax wrapped his hand around her upper arm stopping her. “What?” she asked looking down at his hand then back up at his face. “When were you planning to tell me this?” Jax demanded. “I need to know about these things ahead of time so I can plan for them. Short notice isn’t good enough, Sahara. You can’t play around with me like this. I have to check out the club several times before you can make an appearance there.” “Calm down. It isn’t that big of a deal.” Sahara stared up into Jax’s gorgeous eyes watching as they darkened with anger and something else she couldn’t put her finger on. “It isn’t that big of a deal?” Jax backed her up against the nearest wall pressing his hard body into hers. He yanked her arms above her head holding them in place with one of his larger ones. Desire like she had never known before raced through her as she got lost gazing into Jax’s face. He had her dying to know what it felt like to have his firm lips pressed against hers. She knew that Jax was probably trying to teach her a lesson, but all she was paying attention to was how good his muscular body felt brushing against hers. “Now, if you get caught by your stalker like this how would you defend yourself?” Jax demanded. She wasn’t thinking about getting away from Jax. Honestly, she was trying to think about a way to get even closer to him. Jax had to know he had this pull about him that was hard to resist. “Sahara, are you paying attention to anything that I’m telling you?” Jax questioned as his hold on her wrists grew tighter. “The advice I’m giving you is very important,” “Yes, I’m listening to you,” she answered struggling against the weight of Jax’s hard perfect body. Sahara tried to get her hands free, but

Jax’s grip was too unyielding. She couldn’t get loose no matter how hard she fought. “Let go of me!” “No,” Jax growled back as he pressed his body completely against her until they were chest to chest and thigh to thigh. Anger started to set in as Sahara got pissed that her body was burning up for Jax while her mind was trying to fight her growing desire for him. She struggled some more hoping that he would let her go. She desperately needed some space away from him. He had to move back and she meant now! “Jax, I’m done playing around with you. Step away from me and I’m not going to tell you again.” Jax watched her closely as seconds turned into minutes and then he slowly stepped back until their bodies were no longer touching. Sahara was relieved Jax finally moved away, but she did miss how wonderful it felt to have him against her. “The only reason I moved away from you was because I could see how much I was upsetting you. But whoever is stalking won’t be so accommodating. So, you should understand that this is rule number one. Try hard as you can to never let your stalker get within touching distance of your body. “I know that you don’t have a clue what he looks like but any stranger could be a danger to you. You have to be very careful about allowing people to run up on you. I’ll be there to keep you safe, but you need to have a feel for a fan who seems just a little too involved in you.” Jax turned away from her and went towards the kitchen patio. He paused halfway there and glanced back at her. “Come on. There are some areas around the house that I want to point out to you outside. Especially the places I’m planning to hook up the cameras if Zander can find a way to do it. In, addition, you need to show me the other sections where you spend most of your time.” **** Walking around the huge backyard next to Sahara, Jax only half listened to her as she pointed out certain places on the property where she

spent the majority of her day. He couldn’t rid his memory of how wonderful her body felt pressed against his in the kitchen. The reason he forced her against the wall was to make a point, but his plan backed-fired on him big time. He was the one walking around with a massive hardon the size of Texas while Sahara was acting like she didn’t have a damn care in the world. Every time he was in Sahara’s presence all he wanted to do was find out more about her and he sensed her attraction to him too. He wasn’t supposed to be thinking about how to seduce his new client into his bed, but that was what he wanted. God, even the smell of her perfume was driving him up the walls. The warm vanilla scent was wreaking havoc on his body. Could he hold onto his willpower and not let it slip? Because if it did he would find a place to drag her, so he could sample her full luscious lips. No! He wasn’t going down that road again. Jax shoved the thought from his mind hoping to get his head straight. He was here for one reason and one reason only. It was best for him to remember he was her bodyguard and nothing else. He couldn’t lose his focus and end up making love to her all day and night if he was given the chance. When Zander came by later, he would bring up his wild attraction to the woman walking beside him and maybe get his brother’s opinion about how to fix it. Sahara was showing him around her property totally clueless to his inner thoughts and it would work out for the best if it stayed that way. Sure, he’d had sizzling relationships with women in the past, but it was more than that when it came to Sahara. She captivated him and it was making him act unlike himself. Something wasn’t right and he had to find out what it was before it obstructed his job performance.

Chapter Nine Stopping underneath Sahara’s window, Jax noticed the white ivy trellis that could be used as a perfect tool to get into Sahara’s bedroom. The trees around the yard provided perfect coverage for a stalker to use to climb up without anyone ever noticing he was on the property until it was too late. “The trellis is the first thing that will come down along with some of the trees around the front and back of the house.” “Have you lost your mind?” Sahara asked. “I love my ivy trellis. The fence has been here ever since I was a teenager. You need to find a way to keep it. If I’m going to follow your rules then you can do something for me. I don’t think that I’m asking too much.” Jax shook his head. “I don’t see a way to keep it, but I’ll ask my brother Zander when he comes in a few minutes. He might be able to install something on there that might provide you some kind of security.” Sliding her hands in the back pockets of her denim skirt, Sahara glanced up at him. He tried not to get caught up in her eyes but he couldn’t help it. They drew him in. God, he had to get to the bottom of his fascination to her or he really might act on his feelings right here in the backyard. “How long do you think this guy is going to keep sending me threats? Did I do something to encourage him in the first place?” Sahara asked, a hint of fear in her soft voice. Jax heard the concern in her voice and was surprised by it. He hadn’t thought she was taking this situation very seriously. Now, maybe since he had her attention he might be able to get through to her some more. “Sahara, you did nothing to make this guy focus on you. Some stalkers develop an obsession for another person with whom they have no personal relationship. It’s all in his mind. You can’t do anything to change the image that he has of you in his head. “Every stalker is different. This makes it virtually impossible to devise a single effective strategy that can be applied to every situation. All of this is happening to you because of his fantasy and how he thinks things need to be.

“But I can promise you that I won’t allow this guy to hurt you.” He placed his hand on Sahara’s shoulder. “He has allowed his self-esteem to come from you and it will stop once we get him behind bars.” “See, that’s why I didn’t want to get caught up in all of this drama,” she said. “I liked how I was just singing and having a good time interacting with my fans without any worries about one of them having an unhealthy fixation on me. This guy is ruining my life when I need to be enjoying everything that’s going on. I know if someone would trade places with me for one day that they would give it back, but I love my life and want it to be the way it was before all of this happened.” “You can still get pleasure from all the fame that’s coming your way,” Jax said trying to make the best of the circumstances for Sahara. “Now, we only have to be more careful about who is around you. It won’t be as bad as you think.” Sahara shook off his touch and took a step back from him. “I shouldn’t be the one with a bodyguard following my every move or on lock down because my life is being threatened. It isn’t fair and you know that I’m telling you the truth. I’m going back upstairs. I need to write. Do you need to come with me?” “No, you’ll be fine inside the house. Just don’t leave the property without telling me first. I do have to accompany you any place outside of Frank’s house from now on. That does include when you go to dance rehearsals or you decide to take a last minute shopping trip with Raya.” “I won’t leave again without telling you.” Sahara sighed as she brushed past him and walked back into the house leaving him alone outside. Jax felt her pain and started to go after Sahara, but stopped in his tracks when his cell phone went off. Pulling it out of his pocket, he flipped it open before it rang again. “Hello,” he answered, still looking at the empty doorway worried about Sahara. “Jax, I’m out front in the driveway. Will you get your lazy ass out here?” Zander complained with a hint of laughter in his voice. “I do have other things I need to get done today. I actually have more jobs than yours on my calendar.” “Hold on. I’ll be there in a few minutes,” Jax told his brother before hanging up on him. Going back into the house, Jax strolled through the kitchen and went toward the living room but he stopped at the bottom of the stairs when he

heard Sahara moving around in her bedroom. He didn’t doubt that she was pissed at him because she couldn’t leave the house without him, but it would be like that until her stalker was caught. What’s keeping you? Are you coming or not? Zander communicated telepathically with him from outside. I’ve already told you that I don’t have all day. Hold on, I’m coming! Jax snapped back. Talking one last look upstairs, Jax walked away so he could let Zander in or his brother might throw another fit. They had a lot of areas to go over and he wanted to make sure that Zander got everything done he needed for Sahara’s safety.

Chapter Ten “What took you so long?” Zander complained as he walked into the house carrying several black bags with Alpha Male Incorporated printed in silver lettering across the front. “It seemed like I’ve been standing out there for hours waiting for you to answer the door. Did you forget about me?” Slamming the front door, Jax joined Zander in the entrance way. He would keep his cool since he wanted his brother’s help, but Zander needed to learn the meaning of the patience. “How could I ever forget about you with your voice screaming in my head?” Jax tossed back. “I knew you were still outside. I hadn’t forgotten about you. I was worried about Sahara and thought about checking on her before letting you in.” “Why don’t you just touch her mind to see what the problem is? Wouldn’t that save you so many problems?” Zander asked placing the bags down on the floor. `“I don’t go around slipping into people’s personal thoughts all the time. Just because I have the ability to do it doesn’t mean that I have to do it,” Jax complained, angry that Zander even suggested it in the first place. As a vampire, Jax could read Sahara’s thoughts anytime he got the urge but he would rather she tell him what was going on with her. He wanted to respect her privacy, but if she was planning on doing something that might put her life in danger then he would do what he had to do without question. `“Would you read Sabrina’s thoughts?” Jax tossed out to Zander. Sabrina Watley was the woman that his brother had been in love with for the past two years, but Sabrina only saw Zander as her dead brother’s exsecurity partner and best friend. “Did you have to bring up Sabrina?” Zander growled giving him a hard look. “You know that I wouldn’t do that, but it’s getting harder to fight my desire to be with her. My dreams about Sabrina are getting more and more real every day. Truthfully, I don’t know how much longer I can keep from yanking her to me and having my way with her. Yesterday, I saw her and she looked so breathtaking.”

Jax knew exactly how Zander was feeling. Every day he was around Sahara was torture on his body. Earlier when he was in the hallway with her, it had taken everything in him not to take a bite of out of her delicious looking neck. `“Sorry, I know that you’ve been having a difficult time with her. Do you know if she’s ready to sell her share of Watley Security to you yet?” Zander ran his hand over his closely shaved head. “I’m not sure if Sabrina’s even looked at my offer. She’s still mourning over her brother’s death. I hate approaching her, but I will as soon as I have enough free time. I want her and I will get her. The women I’ve been sleeping with aren’t easing the ache my body has for her. How about we move on from me and you can show me the places for the cameras?” Zander suggested, grabbing the bags off the floor. “While you’re at it you can fill me in on Sahara and why she has you so off balance. You usually don’t get this personally involved with your clients, so there has to be something special about her.” Jax liked how Zander could sense what was going on with him. “Follow me and I’ll fill you in on the way.” Turning around, Jax led his brother outside hoping he could fix the various problems he had spotted there. **** “Are you sure that it isn’t a bad case of lust?” Zander questioned as he installed a camera on the wall near the garage to the main house. “I mean it has been a while since you’ve gotten laid. Maybe sleeping with Sahara a couple of times will get this need out of your system.” The idea had crossed his mind but it was more than a quick hot night of sex when it came to Sahara. Her presence made his body get hotter and all of his senses raced into overdrive. The feel of her skin against his earlier had his blood racing through his veins. He was a fool to think touching Sahara might have a calming effect on him. If anything the incident in the kitchen proved how close he was to his breaking point with her. “Zander, it’s more than just sleeping with Sahara. My body is tuned into hers. It’s like she’s the other half of me or something. God, I got so crazed about Sahara a couple of days ago that I almost shot her best friend

in her bedroom. There’s something more going on here and I need to get to the bottom of it. I’ve been drawn to a variety of women over the years, but it has never been this bad or intense.” Zander finished hooking up the camera before tossing his tools back into the tool kit by his foot. “How long have you sensed this attachment to Sahara?” his brother asked, his voice now heavy with concern. “From the first moment that I laid eyes on Sahara I felt like she was mine and the thought of another man touching her makes me see red,” Jax confessed. “It’s strange because she isn’t the usual type of woman I’m attracted to or have dated.” “Jax, have you given thought to Sahara being a Unique?” Clenching his teeth, Jax fought down the instant urge to shove his brother against the garage door. He was furious! How could Zander even think or voice the words after Colleen? She had been his true mate and the love of his life in every sense of the word. No! Sahara wasn’t a Unique and they didn’t even have the proof that Unique women even existed in the world. They had been hearing about these special women for centuries and not one vampire he had ever run across had been mated to one. Most vampires he knew ended up being mated with a special woman they found irresistible but none of them ever turned out to be what Zander what talking about. It was something that had been around ever since he could remember and would be around for centuries after him. “Sahara isn’t what you’re talking about. How could you ever think that Colleen wasn’t my life mate?” Jax demanded. “Jax, you act like you don’t believe in the rumors about the Unique women, but you do. Why are you lying to me and yourself? Weren’t you the one that told me Colleen never had the birthmark that truly made her your mate?” “Zander, leave it alone,” Jax warned in a low voice. “I loved Colleen and almost went crazy after she was killed.” “Yes, you loved her with everything you had in you and it was horrible that she died before you could turn her, but you have to see that it might not have been meant to happen...” Zander didn’t have time to react before Jax came across the yard slamming his younger brother against the garage door putting a small dent in it. The sound echoed through the backyard, but Jax didn’t care. He was fed up with Zander giving his opinion about something that he didn’t have a fucking clue about.

“If you weren’t family, I would kill you for speaking about Colleen like she was nothing to me. I loved her and she died because I wasn’t protecting her like I should. Do you know how long it took before I was able to sleep through the night without seeing her dead lifeless body?” The blood was pounding through his body as his fangs started to descend until they were completely visible to Zander. All Jax wanted to do was defend the woman he had loved all those years ago with everything he had in him. Zander was wrong and he had to understand he didn’t have the right to bring up Colleen ever! “Jax, calm down and let go of me,” his brother said, softly touching the arm lying against the upper part of his chest. “Why should I?” Jax growled back showing his fangs. “I hear someone coming and if my guess is right it’s probably Sahara. Do you really want her to see you like this? I seriously doubt you’ve told her that you’re almost a four hundred year old vampire.” Damn it! How did he allow Zander to rile him up like this? Jax slowly pushed down his boiling anger and finally heard the sound of Sahara’s feet pounding towards them. The closer she got the scent of her perfume filled his nose making his body grow even warmer with his need to have her. Sahara couldn’t see him with the glowing eyes and fangs. It would scare her into a screaming panic and that was the last thing he needed. “Keep her away from me until I’m back until control,” Jax said before he moved away and out of sight seconds before Sahara’s body shot around the corner.

Chapter Eleven “Who in the hell are you?” Sahara asked stopping in her tracks as soon as her stunned eyes locked with the stranger standing in her yard. The man stood around six feet four inches, with the closely shaved head and gray eyes. He watched her with a scary unblinking stare. A huge black tribal looking tattoo was visible on the upper part of his left arm. Was this her stalker? Where was Jax? Why wasn’t he here to protect her? Sahara slowly took a step back from the man, secretly wondering if she had a chance of out running him, so she could get back into the house. He might have several inches over her, but she was going to give it her all if the creep tried anything with her. She wouldn’t go down without a serious fight. “I’m Zander Irizarry, Jax’s younger brother.” He moved closer and extended his hand but she took another step back from him. “How do I know that you’re telling me the truth?” Sahara demanded taking yet another step back from the hypnotic man trying to draw her to him. “Look into my eyes and see that I’m telling you the truth,” he whispered softly as he inched closer to her. **** Zander sensed the pull that Jax was so captivated by when it came to the attractive woman standing in front of him. He had been in the company of Jax’s first love Colleen. She was sweet, caring and beautiful, but she didn’t have the presence that Sahara did. No...this woman in front of him was supposed to be with Jax and he had to make sure that Jax didn’t mess it up by living the past with a memory he needed to bury. As Sahara continued to look into his eyes, he could see and feel the fear leaving her petite body. Moving closer, he reached out to place a hand

on her arm when Jax suddenly appeared behind her placing a protective hand on her shoulder. Stop it now, Zander, Jax threatened touching his mind. Don’t mess with Sahara unless you want me to return the favor with Sabrina. You wouldn’t dare! Zander shouted back with his thoughts without breaking eye contact with Sahara. Try me. Jax warned. Doesn’t she still walk in the park every Saturday morning? It’s been such a long time since I talked to her. Fine! Zander snapped before he took Sahara out of the mini trance he had her in. “Jax, I see you found us,” Zander said the second he saw Sahara’s eyes clear up. Sahara blinked a few times before frowning at him and then looking back over her shoulder at Jax as he removed his hand. Zander knew now for sure that he was right about Sahara being his brother’s true soul mate. The electricity between them was so hot that it was burning him up. “Jax, where were you?” Sahara asked his brother as she put more distance between them to stand beside Jax. “This guy told me that he was your brother, but I wasn’t sure.” “Tell Sahara that I’m not lying to her, Jax,” Zander cut in, “so I can finish hooking up these cameras outside and then on the inside of the house. I have to meet Thorsten for lunch and I don’t want to be late. You know that he’s always on time and hates when anyone else isn’t.” “He isn’t lying to you. Zander is my younger brother,” Jax finally answered glancing away from him and down at Sahara. “After he’s finished up out here I’ll have him start on the inside with the cameras and motion alarms.” Sahara glanced away from Jax and then eyed him like she wasn’t quite sure how to take the information. So, Zander decided to do what he did best when it came to the opposite sex. He flashed his winning smile at her. “I’m sorry again for scaring you. I didn’t mean to put you on edge when you first came outside and saw me standing by the garage. Will you accept my apology? I would hate to have such a beautiful woman mad at me. It truly would ruin the rest of my day.” Sahara’s face lit up as she returned his smile. “That’s okay. I’ll forgive you. I just heard a loud noise out here and I wanted to know what it was, but after thinking about it maybe it wasn’t such a good idea. I’m glad it was you and not my stalker.”

Zander glanced over past Sahara’s shoulder and up at his brother’s angry face noticing the disapproving look Jax was tossing at him. For a man who wasn’t ready to think of Sahara as his mate, his brother was acting awful jealous of the attention he was giving Sahara at the moment. “Jax and I were having a misunderstanding, but we’ve worked it out.” Zander grinned as he continued to look at his brother. “Haven’t we put our problem behind us?” Jax’s eyes narrowed at him like he was about to shove him back against the garage door, but at the last minute decided against it. “Yes, everything is great now.” Jax practically hissed the words at him. “How about you get done out here and then you can meet me in the kitchen later? I need to talk to Sahara, so I’ll walk her back inside.” Jax wasn’t fooling him at all. Zander knew the real reason Jax was taking Sahara away from him, but his brother had no need to worry. The only woman he wanted was Sabrina Watley. “Okay, that’s fine with me,” Zander said. “It was nice to meet you, Sahara. I heard your newest song on the radio last night. You have a beautiful tone to your voice.” “Thank you,” Sahara grinned. “I enjoyed meeting you, too.” She barely got the words out of her mouth before Jax wrapped his hand around her arm dragging her back into the house. Zander couldn’t keep the huge grin off his face. Yeah, his big brother was already gone and he was too obstinate to even see what was right in front of his face.

Chapter Twelve “Zander has a certain charm about him, doesn’t he?” Sahara asked him the minute they got back inside the house. The spark of sudden jealousy that Jax felt surprised and angered him. He had never been envious of a woman’s interest in brother instead of him, but he didn’t like how enthralled Sahara was with Zander. Was his brother correct? Was Sahara really a Unique and he didn’t know it? Could she really be the woman born to be with him for the rest of his life? No! It couldn’t be. Colleen was the woman who was supposed to be with him and he mourned her death until he thought that he wouldn’t be able to go on. Sahara was only a beautiful distraction in his life at the present and after this case was over he would go back to his life running Alpha Male Incorporated and Sahara would return to being an up and coming star minus one crazy stalker. “You shouldn’t get too hooked up on my brother. Zander is in love with another woman. My brother may be very charming and flirtatious, but he isn’t interested in starting a relationship with you. I know that you don’t like me being your bodyguard, but you can’t change me for him. You’re stuck with me until this stalker is caught.” Sahara glared at him before she took a step back. “I never said that I wanted your brother. Yes, Zander has a charisma about him but I wasn’t thinking about having sex with him. God, why are you such an asshole? “I came downstairs to check on you because I thought you were hurt and you’re giving me a lecture about your brother who I only talked to for less than twenty minutes. I’m going back upstairs to finish my song. Later, my dance coach is coming by so I can practice my routine for my upcoming appearance.” Sahara tried to walk past him, but he hauled her close to his body until not an inch separated them. Jax wanted to be pissed that Sahara hadn’t given him enough warning once again about the people coming over, but he couldn’t fight down the need to kiss her. Watching how well Sahara got along with his sibling made him want to punch his brother and he’d never had gotten that urge before. He’d

never thought about fighting with his brother over a woman and he wasn’t about to start now. Zander wasn’t only family to him but also his best friend. “Did you flirt with my brother on purpose so I would get jealous?” Jax brushed his thumb over Sahara’s full bottom lip smearing her lip gloss. “I wasn’t trying to make you jealous,” Sahara denied, staring up at him. “I heard a loud noise and I came to check on you. I didn’t know what was going on. Someone could have been trying to hurt you, so I was coming out to help.” “You were concerned about me? I thought you hated me.” “Listen, if you rather that I stayed inside the house then I won’t check on you next time. But you don’t have to accuse me of throwing myself at your─” Sahara got cut off in mid-rant. Jax pressed his lips against Sahara’s capturing the last of her protest inside of his mouth. Sahara squirmed in his arms trying to push him away, but that only fueled his desire to kiss her even hotter. His semi-erection grew into a full blown hardon when he slipped his knee between her thighs and the palms of his hands cupped her full ass. Moaning in the very back of her throat, Sahara raised her arms and wrapped them around his neck as her tongue dueled with his, matching it stroke for stroke. Jax couldn’t control the heat raging through his body. Tearing his mouth away from Sahara, he moved his lips over to her neck at the same time his fangs started to descend. He had to taste her. He didn’t care about anything else but finding out if her blood was as hot and sweet as the rest of her. Lowering his head, Jax was inches away from sinking his fangs into Sahara’s smooth tempting skin until a voice blasted into his head. Jax stop! What are you doing? You can’t bite her! Zander shouted. Calm down. You know this is wrong. I could feel what was going on with you and I had to come in here and put a stop to it. Shut up! Jax threw back as the tip of his fangs touched Sahara’s delicate neck. He could smell the sweet scent of her blood. All he needed to do was take a small taste of Sahara then he would be able to control this raging need, this urge he wasn’t able to control when she was within touching distance of him.

Jax, this isn’t you. I would expect this kind of thing from myself or hell even Thorsten, but not you. Take a breath and move back from her. Seconds later, Zander appeared at his side and touched him on the shoulder. Take a deep breath and move back from Sahara. You’re right, Jax agreed as he slowly allowed his overly sensitive senses to gradually get back under control. He took a glance at Sahara and her eyes were closed, but he felt the desire still racing through her sexy little body calling to him to finish what he wanted. Are you okay? He looked at his brother and then back at Sahara standing there looking so perfect and beautiful in his eyes. Shit! He’d almost ruined everything by losing control with Sahara. God, if Zander hadn’t been here he hated to think what might have happened. Yes, I’m okay. Leave before Sahara opens her eyes. I don’t want her to see you here with us and have to explain anything. “Are you sure that you’re steady enough not to get drawn back into biting her?” Zander asked with lingering concern in his thoughts. “Yeah, you can go.” In a flash Zander was gone and Jax was grateful that his brother had been there to stop his craving from taking him over. Lowering his mouth, he recaptured Sahara’s full lips with his making sure this time his fangs weren’t present. “God, I love your mouth,” Jax whispered against Sahara’s lips as he lifted his mouth away and rested his forehead against hers. “I have never been kissed like that before,” Sahara said softly as her small hands gripped the front of his shirt. “It was amazing and hot!” Sudden anger pounded through his body at the thought of other unworthy men sharing the experience of knowing Sahara’s delicious mouth the way he just had. Well, it wasn’t ever going to happen again. Grasping her chin, Jax forced Sahara to look at him. “You aren’t going to be kissing other men. Do you understand me?” he growled as his emotions swirled around in his body until he swiftly got them back under control. He didn’t want Zander making another appearance in his mind. “Listen, you’ve no right to tell me what to─” Sahara instantly stopped talking when he licked the corner of her mouth with the tip of his tongue. Sweet Jesus! He loved how she tasted! “You taste so fucking sweet,” he growled. “I could make a meal out of you and I would never get a full stomach.”

His hands grabbed the hem of Sahara’s short denim skirt and then he pulled it up until it rested at the top of her toned thighs. Stepping between her smooth legs, Jax brushed his cock against her damp underwear. The scent of her body was pushing him again to take a nibble out of the soft skin right where her neck and shoulder connected. “Do you know how badly I want you? It’s killing me not to take this further.” Dropping his head, Jax breathed in Sahara’s hot scent before he moved completely away from her and the temptation she was becoming for his weakening body. He wasn’t acting like himself and he didn’t know if he would ever be the same after kissing her. Fuck! He was losing control. He was too old, and he meant truly too old, not to be able to get a better grip on his need to carry Sahara off and make love to her for the rest of the day. Jax took another step back and stared at the sizzling picture that Sahara made. She was leaning against the wall with her skirt up high around her waist showing off her sexy yellow underwear. He was dying to know if she was wearing a matching bra. Shit! It was almost too much for him to handle with the state he was in. God, he was so glad that Frank wasn’t around to stumble in on them making out. He wasn’t too sure what his friend’s attitude would be about him coming on to his goddaughter. “I’m sorry about this,” he apologized watching as Sahara’s desirefilled eyes raked over his body. “Are you okay? I didn’t mean to manhandle you like I did a few minutes ago.” Sahara blinked a couple of times like she was trying to clear her head before she pulled down her short skirt. Jax instantly missed the free peep show and secretly wondered when he might get another chance to see it again. “I’m okay,” she finally whispered. “Hmm...I need to get upstairs so I can get ready for Tomas. He’ll be here in about an hour. We need to get my new dance routine down.” Sahara started to walk away from him, but he wasn’t ready for her to leave yet. He was beginning to think what Zander told him might be true but he had to find out more about Sahara before he could believe it. “This is the last time you can have anyone come by unexpectedly after Zander has all of the cameras hooked up and I hire the security guard for the front gate. I’m going to need a list of everyone around you to give to the guard when he starts tomorrow. I can’t allow any more surprise appearances from your friends or anyone else. It will stop today.”

“Okay,” Sahara mumbled under her breath. “I mean it. Don’t let the image of Coco you have to promote get Sahara hurt,” Jax snapped. “When are you really going to understand I can’t protect you if all of the people you know keep showing up out of the blue and come inside your house anytime they please?” Jax knew that he was only bringing this up again so he could spend more time with Sahara. But he didn’t care because she was getting under his skin and he wanted to explore this idea Zander placed in his head about Sahara being a Unique woman. “Fine, I’ll make you a list of everyone who is a part of my career from my singing and dance coaches all the way down to my make-up artist. Now, can I please leave?” Sahara asked, staring up at him with her big chocolate eyes. Jax moved out of Sahara’s way. He didn’t want to make her any more nervous of him than he had already made her. Sahara took one last lingering look at him before she eased past his body and out into the hallway away from him. He wanted to go after her but he knew that he couldn’t because he had to finish up the security detail with Zander outside. He would have time later to explore his growing feelings about Sahara, but one thing was for sure. If Sahara was meant for him he wouldn’t let her slip through his fingers. He wasn’t the type of man or vampire to let what was his go to another man.

Chapter Thirteen Why in the hell does that bitch get to live her life after she’s destroyed so many other people’s lives with her lies? Eyes scanned over the piles of magazines containing multiple stupid articles about Sahara “Coco” Chantel. It’s just plain ridiculous the way the public is beginning to fall all over this little nobody, but things are going to change very soon once I have my way. Snatching a pair of scissors off the table, long thin fingers held them in a death grip as they cut out the small article and picture of Sahara and tossed it on the growing pile near the edge of the table. It isn’t fair that she’s getting all this fame and glory while my loved one isn’t allowed to achieve everything like her. Why can’t the world see her like I do? Are they all really looking through rose-colored glasses? Or are all of them being lured in by a pretty face and okay singing voice? Well, I know the truth and soon everyone else will too. I’ll make sure of it. Oh, Sahara was going to get hers and it would be so good to see the stunned look on her face when it happened. Time wasn’t important because no matter if it took seconds, minutes or hours. Sahara Chantel was going to die a slow and painful death. The person reached over and grabbed another magazine flipping open to the already pre-marked page with an eight by ten photo promoting Coco’s new song called ‘Vanished.’ It was quickly cut out and place over to the side by itself. This is the one. It will be perfect to send with the message. Well, pretty soon in the very near future she was going to vanish and no one was going to be able to find her; she didn’t deserve to live not after what she had done. All that mattered was it had to be done, and done correctly. The only problem might be getting close enough to land the blow that would be needed to end it all. Sahara was already overly protected by her Uncle Frank. How could people look into her face and not see what a lying slut Sahara was? She was worse than a wolf in sheep’s clothing. She had

turned so many lives into a living nightmare and she was going to pay dearly for the day she came into their lives. Snatching up the scissors, the stalker grinned and stabbed them through the larger picture of Sahara. Oh, the rush was exhilarating, but the pleasure would be ten times better when finally coming face to face with Sahara and putting an end to her miserable life.

Chapter Fourteen “I’m here to see Sahara. Can you please move out of my way? You’re going to make me late and we need the entire three hours to practice.” Tomas went to push past Jax, his thoughts on his client. I can’t wait until I get my hands on Sahara’s hot little body. She’s too fine! Crossing his arms across his chest, Jax narrowed his eyes at the man standing in the open doorway with a gym bag on his shoulder. Why does this idiot think that he’s getting anywhere near my Sahara? Yes, he could smell the scent of another woman on this guy’s body, but after reading this jerk’s thoughts, Jax knew his interest in Sahara went deeper than teaching Sahara a new dance routine. “Who are you?” Jax demanded despite knowing the answer. Sahara told him less than thirty minutes ago that her dance instructor Tomas was coming over to help her. How Frank was fooled into hiring this asshole he would never know. “I didn’t know Frank had hired any new workers,” Tomas said, his words tinged with a faint European accent. “I’m here to see Sahara. I’ve already told you this, so why aren’t you allowing me inside the house?” Jax was getting fed up with this man. If he didn’t leave soon, he would give him a not so friendly helping hand. “You still aren’t answering my question.” Jax pushed his sunglasses up on the top of his head making sure to look the guy directly in the eye. “Look, I’m Tomas, Sahara’s dance instructor. Why are you making such a big deal out of this? Just step to the side and let me do my job. Sahara knows I’m coming because I called her to let her know I was on my way.” Unfolding his arms, Jax moved closer until only a few inches separated them. He wasn’t about to allow this bastard to disrespect him like this. “I’m not going to do a fucking thing you want. I’m Sahara’s bodyguard and when I tell you to leave that is what your ass will do. Am I making myself clear?” Sahara’s dance coach eyed him like he was thinking about arguing with him, but took a step back from him instead.

“Look man, I’m not going to get into an argument with you. Can’t you go and tell Sahara to come downstairs? She needs this last practice before her appearance. Are you going to tell me you’re willing to mess with her career? If you know anything at all about Sahara, you know how much this upcoming show means to her. Are you really going to be the one who makes it not happen?” The idea of not moving crossed Jax’s mind, but then he remembered how Sahara’s eyes would light up anytime she mentioned her singing career. Sahara loved being in the limelight and he would do everything in his power to make sure he caught the person sending her the letters before this psycho ended up hurting Sahara. He didn’t want her worrying about her future. He wouldn’t let this guy’s unhealthy fixation on Sahara ruin her dream. “Fine, you can come in but I’m coming to watch your practice with Sahara. I’m going to make sure that it doesn’t get out of hand,” Jax warned. Stepping back, Jax waved Tomas into the house knowing he wasn’t going to like what was about to go on. Tomas would have to touch Sahara and he wasn’t pleased about another man touching his woman. Finally...I thought that big steroid Frank hired wasn’t ever going to move,” Tomas thought, pushing past the big man, not knowing Jax could hear every word loud and clear. Growling in the very back of his throat, Jax stepped towards Tomas and was reaching for the back of the dance instructor’s shirt so he could toss the asshole back outside when the sound of Sahara’s feet running down the stairs made him drop his hand away. Shit! Why did Sahara have to show up at this very second? Jax thought. He was about to give this cocky SOB everything he deserved and so much more, but he couldn’t now. “Tomas, I thought I heard your voice,” Sahara said, grinning ear to ear as she rushed into the room. She gave Tomas a huge hug, and then stepped back ignoring Jax totally. Jax shoved down his inclination to snap Tomas in half for having his hands on Sahara. He would just wait because he knew this guy was going to get kicked out of Frank’s house before the day was over. “I would have been in here sooner, but your attack dog here wouldn’t let me in,” Tomas complained, casting him an evil look. “Jax is like that, so just ignore him the best that you can,” Sahara replied. “He takes his bodyguard job very seriously. Now, how about we

head downstairs so I can practice? I have a question about changing a move. I think it will fit the image of Coco better.” Turning away from him, Sahara and Tomas made their way towards the basement but he wasn’t far behind them. He might have to end up protecting Sahara from Tomas as much or more than from her stalker. He hated the sleazy dance instructor and he wasn’t about to keep his opinion to himself.

Chapter Fifteen “I didn’t think you would be coming by today. I thought you were still visiting your parents,” Zander said, watching as the petite, sexy African American woman cleaned out the desk placing stuff into a banker’s box on the swivel chair. “I got back late last night. I couldn’t put off doing this any longer. My brother isn’t coming back,” Sabrina Watley told him without stopping what she was doing. Coming further into the office, Zander closed the office door behind him. Sabrina had been in his thoughts since her brother’s fatal race car crash two months ago. He’d warned Avery about taking up car racing as a hobby, but his best friend hadn’t listened to him. Then unfortunately his car exploded on impact when it hit a cement divider at the racing track, and Avery was dead. “I would have done this for you. All you had to do was give me a call. You know how much I care about you and your family.” Honestly, he was totally in love with Sabrina and had been for the past two years, but she never acted like she saw him as anything more than her brother’s best friend and business partner. Unlike Jax who didn’t want to believe Sahara was his mate, he knew Sabrina was his mate because being in the same room with her drove him out of his mind with longing and need. Anytime he was around her all he could think about was sinking his teeth into her smooth, creamy caramel skin making her his forever, but she wasn’t ready for that step just yet. However, it had to be soon or he was going to lose his sanity or life whichever came first. “I know you would have Zander. I think that’s one of the reasons Avery loved you so much as his friend and business partner. You were like the light to his darkness. Avery was constantly on the move looking for a new thrill, living on the edge. But you have this calmness about you which seemed to work well with my brother,” Sabrina whispered as tears filled her eyes.

Moving closer to Sabrina, Zander took the paperweight out of her hand placing it back next to the rolodex on the desk. He tugged Sabrina against his chest breathing in the sweet floral scent of her hair. “Sabrina, I’m so sorry about Avery,” he whispered against Sabrina’s temple. “I miss his crazy, fun-loving ass too.” Sabrina snuggled closer wrapping her arms around his waist. The feel of her breasts brushing against his chest made his cock twitch and harden inside of his jeans. Shit! Now wasn’t the time for him to get a hardon with Sabrina, she needed his comfort not his body. “I still can’t believe he’s gone. I miss him so much. What am I going to do without my big brother?” she cried as her tears dampened the front of his t-shirt, but he didn’t care. He loved being this close to Sabrina way too much. “Oh, sweetheart,” Zander whispered before he picked Sabrina up in his arms carrying her over to the couch near the office door. Sitting down, he held Sabrina’s soft body against him as he listened to her cry. It was tearing his heart out that he couldn’t take her pain away right now. Zander wanted to tell Sabrina that she was destined to be with him for the rest of her life and she wouldn’t be alone. But for now, he would keep his mouth shut and only hold her, because later on he was going to promise her forever as his mate.

Chapter Sixteen The words from Sahara’s song Vanished played around them as Jax watched Tomas place his hands on Sahara’s hips showing her the right way to move them to the beat. He had been quiet about all of the unnecessary touching for the past two and a half hours, but it was enough now. Tomas was getting off touching Sahara and it was going to stop. Right now! “Do you have to touch her like that?” Jax snapped, his voice ringing out above the music. Sahara and Tomas both stopped in mid-step and stared at him. He was done with all of this. Sahara’s dance lesson was over whether she knew it or not. “Jax, I can’t get anything done with you standing guard like that. Can’t you go and do something else. I’m not in any danger from Tomas. I’ve known him for a while.” “No, I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying here until you finish with Tomas.” He wasn’t fooled. He knew Tomas wanted him gone so he could make a move on Sahara and that wasn’t going to happen. He already allowed Tomas to touch his mate longer than necessary because she wanted the dance lesson, but they were over as of right now. “I can’t work like this,” Tomas complained moving away from Sahara. “I get paid a lot of money from people who want my help. I’m sorry Sahara. Until this guy is gone, I won’t be able to help you any longer.” Jax couldn’t keep the smile off his face. He was beyond pleased. Tomas and his hands were about to leave which was a very good thing in his humble opinion. Because if Tomas’ wandering fingers moved any closer to Sahara’s breasts, he would make damn sure that he lost them very painfully. “No, don’t go,” Sahara begged. “I need your help. I don’t have these moves down yet.” Tomas moved away from Sahara and grabbed his bag off the floor. “Sorry, I’m not going to work under these conditions. My time is too

valuable to have someone standing over my shoulder. I have a waiting list of clients dying to have me teach them.” “I agree it’s time for you to go.” Jax moved away from the wall over to the door. He opened it, a huge grin on his face. “You have the right idea about finding another client. I’m sure Sahara won’t require your attention anymore after today.” Tomas stormed toward him, but stopped a few inches away. “You need to get yourself in check or your piss ass attitude is going to ruin Sahara’s career before it even gets off the ground.” The words were spat at him and then Tomas stormed out the door. Good riddance. Jax slammed the door shut already pushing Tomas out of his mind. Tomas was wrong. Sahara didn’t need him teaching her anything else. She could find another more qualified person to be her dance teacher. He would have a talk with Frank about it. He understood Sahara’s support team was important to her growing career, but Tomas wasn’t a good fit. “How could you embarrass me in front of Tomas like that?” Sahara shouted and followed by hitting him in the middle of his back with her hand. Before Sahara could hit him again, Jax spun around grabbing her wrist with his hand. “Don’t hit me again unless you want to face the consequences,” he warned softly. Sahara was testing his patience without even knowing it. He saw the desire lurking in Sahara’s dark eyes. He was cocky enough to know it was for him and not Tomas. Without a second thought, he could give her what she wanted, but he wouldn’t be able to without wanting to take a bite out of her. Lowering his voice, Jax cupped Sahara’s chin in the palm of his hand. “Are you trying to test my patience, sweetheart?” Sahara tried to move her head, but he only tightened his grip. Jax tilted her head back until she couldn’t look away from him. “I’m not trying to do anything with you,” Sahara denied. “I just want you to let me breathe a little. I know my Uncle Frank hired you to watch me, but I didn’t need you in here with Tomas.” “You’re lying,” Jax exclaimed. “I’m not,” Sahara denied. “Sahara, I know you want me. I can see the desire in your eyes. It’s hard to deny, so why are you trying to fight it?”

Jax wanted to make Sahara submit to him. Lowering his head, he sucked the tip of her earlobe into his mouth and nibbled at her ear. “Keep fighting me all you want, but I’m going to have you, sweetheart. I don’t care about anything else but getting you upstairs in my bed.” Shocked, Sahara shook her head. “We aren’t going to do that!” “Oh, we are going to sleep together, beautiful.” Indecision filled her dark brown eyes. “I hate to break the news to you, but I’m not ever going to share a bed with you...not even in your dreams.” A predatory smiled pulled at the corners of Jax’s mouth. Oh...he was going to love teaching Sahara who was the boss. She may not want to submit to him, but in the end she would surrender. Zander was right. Sahara was his true mate. He had never felt this possessive of another woman. He spent almost four hundred years sleeping with endless women for this moment to finally know what true love felt like. Sahara was his and he would kill anyone who tried to take her away from him. Easing her legs apart, Jax moved his hand down Sahara’s hips to hold her in place when she tried to move away from him. He eased his hand underneath Sahara’s skirt and palmed her damp underwear breathing in the unique, sweet scent of her body. Her skin was so hot that it burned his and he loved it. “How long do you think you can fight this attraction between us? One day? Two weeks? A month?” “Longer,” she swore as his index finger traced her hot core through her panties. “Because I don’t want─” Sahara’s voice trailed off as he eased the delicate fabric of her panties aside and slipped two fingers inside her. “Are you sure you don’t want me?” Jax taunted, softly. Sahara’s beautiful face betrayed her words as her body succumbed to the magic of his fingers. Purring in the back of her throat, she ground her lower body against his hands like she couldn’t get enough of him. Spreading her legs wider with his knee, he moved his thumb over her in a slow, tempting circular motion. “Come on, beautiful. Let me hear how much you want me.” Jax squeezed in a third finger making Sahara whimper softly as her head fell against his chest. He felt how her body sucked at him signaling that her orgasm was fast approaching. Speeding up his movements, he

tried to give Sahara what her body was craving as the sweet smell of her wetness was nearly driving him to sink his teeth into her neck. If Sahara moved her head just an inch off the middle of his chest and looked up at him, she would see his fangs were descended more than ready to sample a taste of her. He held her closer with his free hand as her muffled screams of pleasure filled the room. For a long time, Jax stood there not moving before he slowly eased Sahara away from him and quickly made his way to the other side of the room. He had to get Sahara away from him before he lost complete control. Shit! Jax couldn’t believe he’d allowed things to go so far so fast between them. Sahara had to leave before he took her right here and right now. She wasn’t ready for the truth yet. Jax prayed that Sahara stayed away from him, but he felt her presence as she made the distance between them smaller. “Jax....Jax...Are you okay?” “Get away from me!” his voice rumbled. “I can’t have you near me.” “Jax,” she whispered again, closer this time. God...why wasn’t she listening to him? He was barely controlling himself. If she touched him in the slightest way, it was going to be all over for the both of them. “Can’t you listen?” he growled. “I told you to get away from me.” “You son of a bitch!” Sahara screamed. “I can’t believe you did this. I told you I wasn’t interested but you couldn’t listen. You had to prove a point.” “Sahara, I’m losing control fast and unless you want to be on your back with my cock between those lovely brown thighs of yours, you should get out of the room and the hell away from me.” “Fine! “She tossed back. “I’ll make sure to─” “Leave now!” Jax shouted, trying to hold on to the last piece of his self control. Jax heard the sound of feet running followed by a door slamming shut as Sahara left the dance studio. He was too close to the edge to deal with her at the moment. He had to stop the need to mark her as his before he saw her again. Turning away from the wall, Jax’s perfect hearing picked up on the sound of Sahara moving around upstairs in her bedroom as he pulled the rubber band out of his hair. He ran his fingers through his hair trying to

think of anything else but how extraordinary it felt to have Sahara come apart in his arms. She was so right—so perfect— as if her body had been truly made for only him. Shit! He needed a shower. He had to clean up and get away from the delicious scent of Sahara that still lingered on his body and in the air around him. If he didn’t, he would forget that he needed Sahara’s permission to turn her, and take matters into his own hands. Storming out of the basement, Jax hurried up the stairs to his bedroom pulling his t-shirt over his head as he got closer to his bedroom door. The sooner he got into a cold shower the quicker he could take care of his raging hard-on.

Chapter Seventeen Pacing the length of the bedroom, Sahara tired not to remember how good Jax had made her feel downstairs less than ten minutes ago. He’d touched her in ways that she would have never allowed another man and she didn’t have to guess why. Sahara knew that she was going to have to finally admit the truth about Jax. She was attracted to her handsome bodyguard. As much as she wanted to refute it or pretend he bothered the hell out of her none of those things were the truth. She desired Jax in a way that made her want to strip his clothes off and have hours of hot, sweaty sex with him. There was something about him that drew her when he was in the room with her. She couldn’t take her eyes off him. However, none of that mattered at the moment because his overprotectiveness drove Tomas away today and he couldn’t keep doing stuff like that. Tomas was one of the top dance instructors in the county and her Uncle Frank was lucky enough to get him to take her on as a client at the last minute. Now, after the way Jax had practically tossed Tomas out on his ass he wasn’t ever going set foot in this house again. How in the hell was that going to help her with her career? It was already bad enough Jax’s brother Zander was installing the last of the cameras tomorrow which meant a huge chuck of her privacy was going to be gone. She was beginning to miss the days when she was struggling to get her name out there and have her songs played on the radio. Along with getting used to the cameras being around the house, she had to make Jax understand he couldn’t chase away every person who came in contact with her. Dancing was a huge part of her being Coco and sometimes the male dancers had to touch her body. It added to the sexiness of some her songs. Jax was only hired to protect her from her stalker and nothing else. The sooner she got it through his thick skill the quicker she could beg Tomas back here with some of her male backup dancers. Her TV

appearance for Vanished was coming up soon and she wasn’t anywhere ready to perform it live. Sahara thought about waiting until tomorrow and confronting Jax then but after a few minutes she decided against it. She wouldn’t be able go get any sleep at all tonight. Because all she would be thinking about was Jax and how sizzling hot he was, but his attitude would end up ruining her career if he didn’t get himself under control. Forget being nice to him. She was going to confront Jax tonight and then have a talk with her Uncle Frank as soon as he got back home from his business trip. I’m going to do this. I can’t talk myself out of it, Sahara thought as she stopped pacing. Jax worked for her and he would do as she told him or his gorgeous butt was out of a job which meant he could find another person to guard. Squaring her shoulders, Sahara stormed towards her bedroom door and flung it open. Jax was done ruling her life with a heavy hand especially when it might start messing with her ultimate dream...her career. Without bothering to knock on Jax’s bedroom door, Sahara went on inside to look for him. If he wasn’t in here then she would go downstairs to find him and get certain things out in the open between the two of them. The sound of the shower caught Sahara’s attention. She didn’t care if he was in the shower or not. This couldn’t wait any longer. Right at the moment, she wasn’t thinking about how she shouldn’t invade Jax’s privacy. The only thoughts in her mind was telling Jax to back off or else. Flinging open the bathroom door, Sahara opened her mouth to tell Jax to get out of the shower, but the words lodged in her throat as her eyes landed on Jax through the standing glass shower door. His hard tan muscular body glistened as the steamy water poured down over his wet skin. She bit down a moan as she silently stared at Jax as his hands pushed his wet hair back off his face. Beads of water danced over the light dusting of blond hair that covered his chest, down his rock hard abs making her eyes widen at the long, thick erection between his hard thick thighs. Her body tingled as she took a small step closer to the shower door because she couldn’t seem to find the energy or strength to turn and leave the room. Shit! She wanted to tear her eyes away from Jax’s beautiful body but she couldn’t.

Jax was so enthralled by his shower that he didn’t know she was even there staring at him which was perfectly fine with her. He couldn’t know because he wouldn’t have wrapped his hand around his cock then brushed his thumb over the large mushroom head.

Chapter Eighteen Biting her bottom lip, Sahara watched in awe as Jax pleasured himself making a pool of moisture rush into her already soaked panties. Her eyes darted back up to Jax’s handsome face watching his jaw visibly tense as he got lost in what he was doing. Tossing his head back, Jax opened his mouth and Sahara’s heart skipped a beat as her eyes laid on a perfect set of vicious looking white fangs. Fangs! What in the hell! Sahara’s mind struggled to understand what her eyes were seeing. Jax had fangs . “Oh my God,” Sahara shrieked as her fear set in. “Why are there fangs in your mouth?” As her terrified screams echoed in the bathroom, Jax’s head suddenly spun in her direction. Her eyes locked with his shocked ones before she turned and made a mad dash out of the bathroom. Her heart pounded in her chest like a trapped bird as Sahara raced for Jax’s bedroom door; she had to get out of here before Jax caught up with her. He was crazy! She couldn’t stay in here with him. She had to get completely out of the house and some place safe before he could catch her. Sahara’s hand was about to reach for the door handle. It was right within her grasp before her body was spun around and pressed against the wall by Jax’s wet one. Shit! He had her! What in the fuck was he going to do with her! She had to get away from him! He was out of his mind. “Let go of me,” she screamed struggling against Jax. She had to get away from him. He was supposed to be protecting her from her stalker, but he could be the one stalking her for all she knew. She hadn’t gotten any new threats since Jax had moved into the house. Her uncle Frank could have been wrong about Jax wanting to protect her. He could be the one trying to harm her. He had damn fangs like he thought he was a vampire. What in the hell was wrong with him? A person with all of their marbles wouldn’t have fake teeth in their mouth.

“Sahara! Fuck! Stop screaming!” Jax snapped, his voice deeper than usual as his bare chest brushed over the t-shirt she was wearing. “Have you lost your mind?” she snapped. “You have damn fangs! Let go of me!” Sahara tried to shove Jax away from her. All she had to do was get to a phone and call the police. They would help her. She only had to find a way to get Jax off of her. “Sahara, you aren’t going to call the police,” he said in a low voice. “Sweetheart, just calm down. I promise you that I’m not going to hurt you. I could never do that. You need to believe me.” Her stomach clenched tight from fear as a panic like she’d never known before welled in her throat. How in the hell did Jax know what she was thinking? Oh God! Maybe she was losing her mind. She’d landed a crazy stalker out of nowhere and now she was going to lose her mind as the icing on the top of an already horrible cake. She blinked back tears of despair as they pooled in her eyes. “Please don’t cry. It’s going to be all right. I need to tell you something,” Jax said, running the back of his hand down the side of her cheek. “After you hear this, everything will make a little more sense to you or at least I hope things will become a little clearer.” “I don’t want to hear it,” Sahara whispered, desperate to get away. “How about you let me leave your bedroom and I’ll forget about seeing you wearing those fangs? I swear I won’t tell anyone about them. Just let me go. I’ll just tell Uncle Frank you got called to do a more important job than mine. He’ll believe me. I swear I’ll make him.” Chuckling, Jax lowered his head and nibbled gently at her neck. Sahara flinched when she felt the fangs pressed against her skin. Shit! He was actually going to try to bite her with those fake things. “Sweetheart... my fangs are very much real. I’m a vampire and you’re my mate.” Sahara stared at Jax and then burst out laughing. If she’d ever doubted it she now had proof Jax was out of his mind. He was CRAZY! God, he was pressed against her wet and naked with his erection poking into her stomach. Or maybe she was the one who was out of her mind and she was having a hallucination after all. What sane man would think or tell anyone he was really a vampire? She had to deal with this very carefully and calmly, so Jax would move and let her leave the room. He outweighed her by at least a hundred plus

pounds and was at least a foot taller than her. This situation needed to handled very carefully or things could get out of hand fast. “Jax, you’re not a vampire,” she said slowly like she was speaking to a child, “and I’m not your mate. You need some professional help and I’m sure my Uncle Frank will be more than happy to get you an excellent therapist.” Bracing his hands on either side of her head, Jax leaned into her. There was a lethal calmness in his eyes that lured her in and made her unable to look away. “If you weren’t my mate how in the hell do I know about your harp shaped birthmark? It makes you a Unique woman and my mate from birth” Sahara’s heart began to beat erratically at the words coming from Jax’s mouth. The silence lengthened between them making her even more scared. Jax knew about her birthmark? How was that possible? She made sure not to expose it to anyone. “I don’t believe you,” she shouted resuming her struggles against Jax. “I’m not sure how you know about my birthmark but it doesn’t mean a thing. Get away from me.” Jax’s extraordinary green eyes blazed and glowed as he studied her closely before he pushed his body away from hers totally comfortable with the fact his beautiful body was still completely naked. Seeing this as her chance to escape away from Jax and get help, Sahara made a dash for the door only to be stopped by Jax wrapping his hand around her arm. “Sahara, you’re mine and I won’t let you deny us. I haven’t spent a lifetime thinking you didn’t exist only to find out you did and then to let you go. I won’t allow it. I love you and you’re mine. ”Sweetheart, I know you’re scared. I completely understand, but I can give you time and eventually you will be calmed down enough to listen to me. When you’re composed enough and ready to accept me I’ll bite you and turn you into my mate for eternity. “Yes, it might be hard to leave your human side behind, however; we are meant to be together forever and I won’t let you push me away.” Jerking her arm away, Sahara raked her eyes over Jax shaking her head as she backed up. What in the hell was Jax talking about leaving her human side behind to become a vampire! This wasn’t happening to her. “I’m sorry you believe this, but I don’t. It’s craziness.”

Twirling around, Sahara raced from the room, down the steps and out the front door. She needed some time to think and she wouldn’t be able to do it with Jax trying to convince her something that couldn’t be true...vampires weren’t real. She only had a birthmark and the two things didn’t have a thing to do with the other. Who in the hell could she tell about this?

Chapter Nineteen Snatching the red marker off the desk, the person drew a huge red X across Sahara’s face before writing the words DIE BITCH in huge letters across the eight by ten photo before sliding it into the envelope with the letter that was already inside there. Sahara... no Coco wasn’t going to be making anymore chart topping songs because her future was about to be over. It didn’t matter that the tall blond man was inside the house now. He wasn’t going to stop things from getting done. His presence wouldn’t stop that lying bitch from getting what she deserved. The plan wasn’t ready to put into motion yet, but it was going to happen very soon. Why did anyone think revenge wasn’t coming to Sahara? Oh, she was going to get it and when it finally came it was going to taste so fucking good after waiting so long for it to happen. The envelope was closed, turned over, and inspected to ensure it looked innocent and flawless. No one would know the destructive contents on the inside by glancing at the outside which made the plan so brilliant! After the letter was sent a few days would have to pass before a call could be made to make sure Sahara got it instead of her stupid uncle or the new man living in the house. This time her cell phone number had been harder to get but it was amazing what a computer geek would do for three hundred dollars. Money was a great way to buy people off to get something...no matter how personal it might be. Humming softly, the individual got up from the table and sauntered towards the door. It was time to get the first part of the plan into motion. Everyone had been expecting more things to come before now and that was the main reason for waiting to send something new. No one was going to be able to guess when something was sent and when it wasn’t. Sahara shouldn’t be able to ever guess when she was going to get a new little gift. Now was the time to give Sahara something special and not a day before. Sahara’s biggest desire was to be famous and she was going to get that little treat and everything else which came along with it.

Who knows, maybe the last gift for Sahara would be the one that would literally blow her mind.

Chapter Twenty “Sahara has been avoiding me and I’m about to put a stop to it. She’s mine and the faster she comes to terms with it the better off she will be,” Jax complained staring out the kitchen window at Sahara training with the self-defense trainer he’d hired. Since he had revealed his eventual plans for them, Sahara had made sure never to be alone with him, and yet she hadn’t told anyone. That gave him some hope, even as it frustrated him. “You can’t rush this with her. She wasn’t happy having you as her bodyguard at first, but she got over it. What makes you think she’ll jump for joy at having you as her mate for the rest of her life?” Zander asked, hooking up the last of the security cameras on the wall. “Damn it. I can’t give her anymore time to get used to ‘the idea.’ Sahara’s life is in danger from the psycho fan watching her every move. I’m even more worried that the stalker hasn’t tried to make contact with her in over a month. “I can’t wait much longer. I need to know that she’ll be safe from harm and turning her is the only way I know she’ll be safe for sure if she gets hurt.” Jax glanced away from the window over at his brother. Zander stopped working and looked at him. “Jax, you know the rules. You can’t turn a Unique woman until she agrees to leave her human side behind to become a vampire and from what I’m hearing Sahara isn’t going to allow you in the same room as her. Does she even know that you have to do it before your four hundredth birthday or the sleep of the dead will take you over?” “Sahara will come around when she gives me a chance to get her alone again. All I need is for her to stop fighting me so hard. None of this would be going on at all if she hadn’t surprised me in the shower.” “Shit man. I still can’t believe how she found out about you being a vampire. How did you not hear her come into the bathroom?” Jax knew he was never going to live this down. He wondered how fast Zander had told Thorsten about what happened.

“I was more focused on pressing matters at that moment. So...no little brother, I didn’t hear Sahara come into the bathroom,” he snapped before returning his gaze back to Sahara in time to see her finish up her lesson. Zander chuckled. “More pressing matters...” His chuckle turned into a throaty laugh. Jax shot him a steely glare. He watched as Sahara started to walk toward the house. This might be the only chance he got to get Sahara alone and he was going to take it. “I have to go,” he said, moving away from the window. “I’ll call you later.” “Jax, don’t do anything to ruin Sahara accepting her fate,” Zander yelled after him as he strolled from the kitchen. **** Walking into her bedroom, Sahara congratulated herself on keeping away from Jax again because every time she turned around he was in her face since his confession to her about being a vampire which she was still finding very hard to believe. Vampires weren’t real. Yeah...there were a load of vampire movies out along with television shows like True Blood, but those were actors portraying a part. None of them really had fangs in their mouths like Jax. However, Jax’s fangs had looked and felt very real last night. He must have paid a lot of money to his dentist to make those accessories because they weren’t in his mouth all of the time. So he must just put them in when he was in the mood for them. Hell, she didn’t care as long as Jax stayed away from her. She wasn’t his mate! Where in the hell had he gotten that crazy idea? She would never know. She was her own woman and she would be the one who picked her future husband... and it wasn’t going to be Jax Irizzary. “Sahara, I would stop thinking about bringing another man into our relationship unless you want me to hurt him which means I will kill him without a second thought,” Jax threatened from behind her. Gasping, Sahara spun around to find Jax lounging against the wall next to her bedroom door. How had she not sensed him in her bedroom? “What in the hell are you doing in my room?” she demanded. “You need to leave now.”

“No. I’m done with you pushing me away. We need to talk and that is what we’re going to do, sweetheart.” Jax closed the door and then locked it behind him. “I know you want me. Why are you fighting it so hard? It’s not like I don’t want you too. It’s only natural for you to be a little nervous, but I promise I’ll make you my mate as painlessly as possible.” “That’s a damn lie.” Sahara took a step back when Jax moved closer. “I don’t want you and stop with all of this ‘I’m your mate’ crap. Do you know how crazy you sound?” Jax chuckled. The deep masculine sound filled her bedroom turning her on. Damn it. What was wrong with her? She was supposed to be scared as hell of him not turned on. How had the situation changed? “Baby, I have been a lot of things over my long life, but a liar isn’t one of them.” Sahara snorted. “There’s a first time for everything.” With one hand, Jax reached out and jerked her against him holding her close. “I agree. There is a first time for everything and you will experience every single one of them with me.” Holding her lower body to him, he rocked his erection against her sending tiny shivers racing throughout her body. “I don’t mind teaching you everything that you need to know,” Jax whispered as his mouth lowered to her neck. Sahara flinched the second she felt his lips touch her skin. “Don’t,” she begged. “I’m scared.” Jax slowly lift his mouth away from the side of her neck. She placed her hand against the spot where his mouth had been. “Why can’t you just leave me alone?” “Sahara, I’ll never hurt you. You understand that don’t you? I’m your mate. It’s my job to care for you.” Dropping her hand Sahara pushed Jax away from her. “Yeah, you have to protect me because of Uncle Frank and that’s it. Why hadn’t you mentioned this mate stuff before yesterday if you care about me so much?” “I felt it, but I was fighting it. I knew we had this connection from the second I met you in the den, but I didn’t want to admit it. I thought that Colleen─” Jax stopped talking at soon as the other woman’s name left his mouth. “Who’s Colleen?” Sahara asked instantly wondering who the other woman was.

Silence filled the room while Sahara waited for an answer from Jax and a bit of jealousy started to ease into her body. What was so special about this woman that Jax couldn’t talk about her? Was she a past lover or a woman he’d loved and lost? “Jax, are you going to give me an answer or not?” Sahara asked again but more forcefully this time. “She was someone I knew a long time ago, but she has nothing to do with us,” Jax insisted. “She’s a part of my past. I’m only concerned about my future and you.” “Yeah, right.” Sahara snickered. “You don’t care about me. I don’t know what you’re up to but I don’t want to hear anymore about how you’re a vampire and I’m your one and only. I want you to leave.” Instead of leaving like he usually did when she demanded him too, Jax sauntered towards her as the corner of his mouth lifted up into a predatory smile revealing perfectly white teeth. “You’re jealous, which means you feel something for me. You keep telling me to get away from you, but you really don’t mean it at all. The problem with you is that you don’t like not being in control. It’s hard for you to allow someone else to be the leader, isn’t it?” “Jax, you’re so wrong. I’m not a control freak. I can handle not being in control of things very well,” Sahara said. “Really?” Reaching out, Jax slipped his index finger into the loop of her skirt. “How about you prove it to me?” “Why should I prove anything to you? I know the truth and that’s all that matters.” Sahara was so carried away by her own response she failed to notice that Jax was making them move backwards until her lower back hit her dresser against the wall. “I want to show you how much you want me despite the fact you listen to your mind way more than your heart,” Jax said as he picked her up placing her on the dresser behind them. “What are you doing?” Sahara asked. “Put me back down on the floor. I don’t have time for this.” Touching her legs, he spread them further apart so he could step between them. “I wanted us to be the same height, so I’ll be able to touch you the way I’ve been dreaming about since I realized you’re my forever.” Sahara wished that Jax would stop saying she was his mate because, instead of bothering her like it used to in the past, the more she listened to the words coming from Jax’s lips, the better it sounded to her ears.

What would it be like to have someone as gorgeous as Jax into her, but she couldn’t allow herself to get caught up with someone who thought he was really a vampire. It just didn’t make any sense at all. She truly wondered if her Uncle Frank knew about any of this. Surely, he wouldn’t have hired Jax if he knew his closest friend was this way. If she fell into the sexy way Jax had of talking to her she wouldn’t ever be able to shake off his way of seducing her with his words. She already had a hard enough time keeping him in the category of her bodyguard and not potential boyfriend. It wasn’t like her at all to think of any attractive male who worked around her as a future love interest. “Jax, you really need to─” Sahara words were cut off in mid-sentence when Jax dipped his head running his tongue down the side of her neck. “Shhh...” he whispered softly. “Just let me taste you and love you. I can promise you that it will be so good...better than anything you have ever experienced in your life.” “How do you know that I haven’t already come into contact with all those wonderful experiences with another man?” Sahara tossed back trying to hold on the last of her slipping control. Raising his head, Jax’s eyes slowly went from a beautiful shade of green until they looked almost pitch black. “I can smell that there hasn’t been a man before me on your sweet body. In addition, you never will have another man’s scent on you because I’ll tear him to pieces without a second thought.” Sahara felt a warm glow flow through her at that moment. She had never in her life been so wrapped up inside a silken cocoon of euphoria before and the hunk in front of her was the person causing it. This was one of the rare times in her life that she wasn’t totally focused on working on a new song or a dance routine for an upcoming appearance. “How do I smell?” she asked, secretly holding her breath as she waited for Jax’s answer. “Sweet, spicy, sinful and untouched,” Jax murmured in a low silky voice sending tiny tremors down her spine. “All of the qualities that my mate should have and I want her to have. Now that’s enough talking about me. Let me get back to what I was doing when you stopped to ask me that question.” Drawing her earlobe into his mouth, Jax slipped his hand between her thighs moving her panties to the side then easing two thick fingers into her

while his mouth didn’t stop making love to her ear steadily driving her out of her mind. Placing his left hand on the dresser behind them, Jax used the position to gain more leverage as he pushed his digits further causing her body to welcome the slight penetration and fullness. “That’s right, sweetheart,” he encouraged softly as her breathing sped up. Moving his thumb around in a circle, he stimulated her already highly aroused body with the added movement of his fingers. Suddenly, Jax worked in a third finger sending her over the edge. The sound of her panties ripping filled her ears the second before Jax dropped down to his knees and his mouth covered her sensitive area shooting her orgasm through her body. Moaning, Jax pressed his face closer as his finger dug into her thighs and he lapped up her juices. “Let go,” he whispered softly against her skin as his lips moved away from her. “Come for me, baby.” Tossing her head back, Sahara screamed as another orgasm tunneled out of her soul then all over the rest of her trembling body. Suddenly shock set in, Sahara gasped when Jax’s fangs pinched her inner thigh, breaking through the skin. The memory of the amazing orgasm Jax had exploding from her was gone as she felt the run of blood leaving her body going into Jax’s waiting mouth. It was one of the scariest and sexiest things Sahara had ever experienced in her entire life, but in the end fear won out. “Stop,” she pleaded pushing at Jax’s shoulder. “I don’t want this.” She continued to plead with Jax until he finally lifted his head licking a drop of her blood from the corner of his mouth. She watched as his eyes turned from two black pools slowly back into the vivid green eyes she loved looking into so much when they got into one of their usual disagreements. “Sahara, you’re a step closer to being mine. Now that I’ve had a taste of you I would truly kill any other man who might try to take you away from me.” A momentary slither of panic swept through her as a thrill of frightened anticipation touched her spine. How was she supposed to answer him after a statement like that? Jax was acting too possessive of her and she didn’t know how to handle those emotions or him. “Look, you don’t know what you’re talking about,” Sahara said as she eased off the dresser stumbling a bit when her feet touched the floor. Her

mind was so cloudy she could barely form a complete thought on her own and it felt completely out of her character for her. Jax’s hand instantly shot out to catch her but she sidestepped his touch. She was already wound too tight as it was and if he placed his hands on her body again she might not be responsible for her actions. “No, I can do it myself. I’m pretty sure you touching me right now isn’t the best idea for either one of us. I think I need some time away from you.” Jax’s expression darkened with an unreadable emotion as he advanced towards her. “Sahara, you aren’t going to run from me this time. I won’t allow it. I know what just happened between us scared you, but there is nothing to fear from me. I love you and once you allow your mind to believe in me and what we are to each other things will be a lot clearer for you.” Oh God, Sahara thought watching as Jax continued to advance towards her. I’m in so much trouble now. Unsure of the appropriate way to handle Jax now after the experience they’d just shared, Sahara held up her hand hoping to hold him off but he kept coming like he wasn’t paying a bit of attention to her. Sahara would have taken another step back but she couldn’t. Jax had her too locked in place with the determined look in his gaze. He looked more like a predatory animal than an accomplished and well-known bodyguard. His intensity was scaring the shit out of Sahara so much that she was at a loss for words that would keep from coming any closer to her. “Stop!” she cried.

Chapter Twenty-One “Do you know that I’ll always find you? It doesn’t matter where you might try to go and hide from me. You’re the woman I love and I’m never going to let you go.” Jax shoved down the urge to bite Sahara again. He couldn’t get the sweet taste of her blood out of his mouth or mind. Sahara was his for eternity and she wasn’t going to find an excuse to keep denying how much he turned her on. Sahara might think she was good at hiding her desire from him, but honestly the more she fought the more intense the signs were to all of his senses. The way Sahara’s breathing hiked up another notch when his body was only one short foot from her. Even the way the pulse throbbed at the side of her slender neck was a dead giveaway her words to him weren’t truthful at all. Confidence was a huge part of his being a vampire and he was very confident Sahara wanted to be in his arms again, but she wasn’t ready to ask him. Sahara was fighting hard for a distance that he wouldn’t ever be able to give her as her mate or bodyguard. She didn’t understand that once a vampire found his Unique female human mate there was NO separating them. They were linked to each other for the rest of their lives. A Unique woman was born solely to mate with a vampire and never a human male. Sahara wasn’t ever supposed to marry, love or produce children with a human male. Caring for her was his ultimate duty in his life and he wasn’t about to shy away from it. “Jax, I don’t doubt that you’ll follow me anywhere I go. However, I want to spend some time with Raya tonight. I haven’t spoken to her in a while. We usually talk three times a week and now with everything going on in our lives our friendship is taking a blow. I don’t want to lose my best friend.” Hearing Raya’s name made some of the protectiveness leave Jax’s body; he wasn’t concerned about Sahara’s friendship with her outspoken friend. Besides, he still hadn’t gotten a good chance to apologize about what had happened between them several weeks ago. He didn’t want his

sudden presence in Sahara’s life to ruin her closeness with her pint-sized friend. “How about you call Raya and see if she wants to go out to dinner with us,” he said. “Of course, it will be my treat. I can’t remember the last time I had the chance to dine in the company of two beautiful women.” Sahara watched him closely before walking away from him and sitting down on the bed. Leaning back on her hands, she crossed one leg over the other as he continued to stare at her. There wasn’t a doubt in his mind that Sahara knew what she was doing to him. He wanted to read her mind, but he held back. His cock twitched in his jeans as the short skirt slid further up her smooth brown legs making his mouth water at the mere thought of tasting her again. He felt his fangs descending and ran the tip of his tongue across the tip. If she kept doing what she was doing, he would forget all about eating any food and make a meal out of the bundle of sexiness tempting the hell out of him. “Raya might be nervous about having you around since your gun pulling stunt on her. I know she told me she’d gotten over it, but she hasn’t been back here to see me since then. How about you invite Zander along with us? I like Zander and I’m sure Raya will too. He’s a very goodlooking man.” Before Sahara could give his brother another compliment, Jax had crossed the room and stood in front of her. “You need to stop complimenting my brother. He’s isn’t your mate,” he growled. “I am and if you need me to prove it to you, I won’t have a problem with it at all.” “Jax, I never said I wanted Zander. Where did you get that crazy idea?” Cocking her head to one side, Sahara stared at him with a slight smile on her full mouth. Oh, if she doesn’t stop teasing me, Jax thought, she’s going to get everything she keeps telling me she doesn’t want me to do. “You asked about him and a woman only inquires about a man when she’s interested in him. Don’t make me confront my brother about you. If you didn’t get it by now then you should. You were made for me and no one else. That’s the reason you’re still a virgin. Your body wasn’t interested in accepting any other’s man cock but mine.” “How do you know that I’m still a virgin?” Sahara asked. “Sweetheart, I can tell from the way you touch and kiss me that you haven’t been with a man. Am I wrong? Have you allowed another man to do what I did to you a few minutes ago?”

Jumping up from the bed, Sahara stood in front of him with her lips pressed together in anger. “Why do you feel that you can say these comments to me anytime they come into your head?” she hissed. “Because it’s the truth and we both know it. Don’t you already find it hard enough to think straight when I’m only looking at you?” Jax asked in a low voice. “Did you forget I can read your thoughts, but if I couldn’t I can see and feel the struggle inside of you, sweetheart.” “I don’t think you should be reading my mind. My inner thoughts are personal and for only me to know about,” Sahara complained. “Sahara, I can’t let you be in such control of everything when I know this is right for us. The only way I can let you know how I feel about you besides tossing you back on the inviting looking bed and having my way with you for the rest of the night, is by being very vocal and telling you how much your touch turns me on. My cock gets hard just from the sound of your voice. I’m not about to keep that bit of information to myself. Why should I?” Sahara gasped. “Jax, you can’t say things like that to me. It isn’t right.” “Let me show you how right it is.” Leaning down Jax tugged Sahara’s body to him and kissed her. He plunged his tongue into her mouth licking the side. Electric shocks worked their way up and down his spine as Sahara wrapped her arms around his neck. She rubbed her hard nipples against his chest and he grabbed her hips rubbing his cock against her stomach. Jax felt Sahara’s orgasm fast approaching and just as she was about to get what she was dying for from him he removed her arms from around his neck and stepped back, a tiny grin on his mouth. What in the hell? Jax read the thought as soon as it appeared in Sahara’s head. Great! He had Sahara exactly where he wanted her...Hot and horny with the need for him to make love to her. Now he decided it was time for him to leave her alone just like she kept asking him to. It would be only a matter of time now, before Sahara was begging him to make love to her. Spinning around, Jax made his way towards Sahara’s bedroom door wondering how long it would be before she was naked and a willingly participant in his bed. “Where are you going?” she demanded.

“I’m going to get ready for our date. You only have an hour to get ready and make sure Raya knows that we are going out and yes, even before you ask, I’m coming with the two of you like I said earlier.” Looking back over his shoulder, Jax held Sahara’s eyes with his. “I’ll invite my brother too, but don’t get any ideas about him. Zander is off limits and I’m not going to budge on this. He’s in love with someone else and it will stay that away. Do you understand me, Sahara?” “Okay, I understand, but you need to also understand too that I’m not interested in Zander at all. I just think he’s nice. Is there a crime with that?” “No, there isn’t a crime with that at all. I’m glad you think my baby brother is nice as long as that is as far as it goes, because you would be the first woman that I would fight my brother over.” Jax gave Sahara one last look before heading out the door.

Chapter Twenty-Two “How are you doing?” Raya asked glancing away from her over to Jax who was sitting with his brother a booth away from them. “You sounded so upset on the phone. I almost turned down your dinner invitation, but I didn’t after hearing your voice. What is going on with you and Jax? Is he giving you problems about your appearance next week at that club?” Sahara picked at the salad in front of her wondering if she should tell Raya the truth or lie to her best friend. They usually told each other everything and she meant everything, but she wasn’t quite sure how Raya would react to this shocking news. God, if she hadn’t seen and felt the proof for herself she might have a hard time believing Jax was what he really told her he was. No, this was something she wouldn’t be able to keep to herself. She needed to tell someone, namely Raya, about Jax. The only thing that bothered her was how Raya might take the information. Raya was so level-headed and making her believe a vampire was real might be hard for her to do, but she was going to give it a shot. “I’m not doing all that good. I learned something about Jax and I don’t know how to tell you about it. I know if I hadn’t seen the proof with my own eyes I wouldn’t have believed they were real.” “Sahara, you aren’t making any sense,” Raya complained as she leaned across the table towards her, concern in her hazel eyes. “You know we’re best friends and have been since we were thirteen years old, right? I’d never lie to you about anything really important.” “Girl, you’re really scaring me now. Please tell me what’s going on with you? Are you sick? Are you dying? God, you can’t keep something so important from me. You’re like my sister. If there was something going on with me, I wouldn’t think twice about telling you anything so important. Tell me what it is.” Raya was right. She could tell her about Jax and her best friend would understand and help her through this. Raya ability to listen to her problems was one of the reasons she loved her so much. “I really don’t know where to even start,” Sahara sighed.

She took a quick peek at Jax and found him watching her. She was certain he knew what she was about to tell Raya. He had a bad habit of reading her mind now and wouldn’t stop. So, he would just have to deal with another person knowing about him. Sahara slowly dragged her eyes away from him looking back at Raya who now had a frown etched in the center of her forehead. Well, here goes nothing. Blowing out a deep breath, Sahara ran the palms of her hands down the front of her jeans. She knew after this was out in the open, there was no going back. So, the cat was about to get out of the bag. “A few days ago, I walked into Jax’s bedroom and caught him in the shower. I know that I shouldn’t have busted in on him in the bathroom, but I couldn’t help it. I was still pissed at how our argument ended. So, I barged in and saw something shocking. I mean I never expected to see what I saw.” The words hung out in the air because Sahara wasn’t sure how to tell Raya the rest. “What did you see?” Raya asked, tapping her hand on the table. “You can’t tell me you saw your hot ass body guard buck naked in the shower and then stop talking. What is wrong with you? I bet you did see something unexpected. I mean a guy that big had to be packing something extraordinary between his legs. Please tell me you didn’t scream and run away from him.” “Yeah, I screamed and ran away but it wasn’t because of seeing his cock,” Sahara whispered, thinking back to the vision of Jax’s glistening body in the shower before she noticed the extra addition to his body. “If Jax’s cock didn’t shock you then what had you racing from the bathroom?” Raya asked. “Hmm...I’m wondering how to tell you this so you won’t think I’ve lost my mind. I know it’s still a shock to me and I’m trying to process it.” Idea after idea raced through Sahara’s mind at how to address her new found info and in the end she decided being truthful would work out for the best. “Jax is a vampire,” she blurted out. Raya’s eyes widened in astonishment and then she leaned away from her like she’d just spoken in a foreign tongue. “Did you just tell me you think Jax is a vampire? Sweetie, have you lost your damn mind? I know you haven’t been getting enough sleep because you never do when you’re working on a new song. But Jax isn’t a vampire because there are no such things as vampires. You can’t really believe what you’re telling me.”

“Raya, I’m not lying to you. I saw the fangs in his mouth. Hell, he bit me on my thigh before I asked you to join us for dinner tonight. I’m not having any kind of hallucinations from lack of sleep. God, why would I lie to you about this?” Sahara asked. Raya shouldn’t doubt what she was telling her. They’d been through too much for her friend to think she would be anything less than truthful to her. Raya stiffened from her outburst as though she’d struck her. They stared at each other across the table with a sudden ringing silence. “You have to know how crazy this sounds. I knew you never missed an episode of Buffy or Angel, but he wasn’t real. How can you expect me to believe there are vampires walking around? What you are telling me just doesn’t make any sense at all. Are you positive that Jax hasn’t done anything to you? I mean I know you told me that he’s been friends with your Uncle Frank for a very long time, but that doesn’t mean there couldn’t be something mental going on inside of his head.” Sahara understood Raya’s uncertainty and misgiving, but she needed her friend to snap out of it. Raya was the only close friend she could confide in about this new development in her life. “Raya, please calm down and listen. I have so much more to tell you.” “Fine, I’ll give you five minutes but if you don’t start making any sense I’m out of here. I have too much going on at work to get pulled into this,” Raya complained with a stubborn line to her chin. It was a look Sahara knew only too well.

Chapter Twenty-Three From booth Jax listened in on the girls’ conversation and was getting more and more angry at how Raya resisted believing what Sahara was trying to tell her. It was the truth. Why was it so hard for her to comprehend? “I can’t believe you’re allowing Sahara to tell Raya about you being a vampire. I thought you didn’t want anyone to know about her being your mate until you got to turn her?” Zander questioned. “Sahara was having a hard time coming to grips with what happened between us in her bedroom. I didn’t see any harm in her talking to Raya about it.” The only thing that worried Jax was if Sahara would let her guard down again so he could continue to make her see she was destined from birth to be with him. “How was it?” Zander asked cutting into his thoughts. “You’ve told me a lot but you didn’t tell me that part.” “How was what?” Jax questioned as he dragged his attention away from the disagreement Sahara was having with Raya. He wasn’t quite sure what Zander wanted him to tell. “Tasting the blood of your mate, a Unique woman, did it feel different on your tongue than a regular human woman’s blood?” Thicker and sweeter...Hell, everything about his mate’s blood was more sensual than any other woman’s he’d had in the past. “Sahara’s blood was sweeter than the richest chocolate money could buy. At the first drop of it on my tongue and against my lips there was a hint of an aromatic that made me want to turn her instantly, but I pushed the impulse back down.” “I’m going out on a limb and guess Sahara didn’t feel the same intense connection at the taking of her blood?” Jax quickly thought about Sahara’s panic reaction in her bedroom. No, she wasn’t in the same euphoria state as him when it came to him sampling her blood, but her reaction would change once they made love. “Virgins are delicate little things and Sahara is the first one I’ve ever dealt with. I can feel how much she wants me, yet she’s fighting us being

together at every turn. Sahara doesn’t comprehend that her future is to be with me and to have my children.” “She has so much going on right now in her life. Next week she has a performance at a local club here, plus every day this week she’s been up working on songs for her upcoming CD at the end of the year. Lastly, her stalker has been lying low which is a huge concern for me. I’m not getting a good vibe about this at all.” When he got Sahara back home he would have another talk with her about the schedule for all of her upcoming appearances because they were going to be her first big outings since the stalker had made his hatred for her known. “No! I’m not going to sit here and listen to anymore of this nonsense.” Raya’s voice suddenly rang out jerking Jax’s attention away from his thoughts about Sahara’s safety. He watched as Raya snatched her purse and then jumped up from the table. His chest felt like it would burst from anger when Sahara reached out to touch Raya but she stepped back from his mate’s hand. His hawklike eyes saw the sudden tears in Sahara eyes and he tried holding his temper in check before he lost control. Jax didn’t care who Raya was to Sahara. She wasn’t going to make his woman cry, not if he had anything to do with it. Calm down. Don’t lose your control. Zander’s calming voice suddenly appeared in his head. How can I stay calm when Sahara is so upset? You can do it because you love her. Don’t make this situation any worse by rushing over there. Turning away from the table, Raya hurried in their direction but instead of going past them she stopped next to him. She leaned down and got closer to his face. “I was so was thrilled when Sahara’s uncle hired you to protect her, because she wasn’t taking those threats on her life seriously. However, now I’m beginning to think you’re worse than him. “How could you fill her head with that vampire nonsense? I don’t know what you’re giving her, but when I find out your ass will be so sorry you messed with my best friend.” Raya shot his brother an over her shoulder look before she stood back up and stormed away from the table. “Damn, she told you,” Zander laughed. “I wouldn’t push her any further if I was you. She’s very protective of Sahara. They must have a very good friendship. Maybe Frank should have hired Raya to protect Sahara instead of you.”

Ignoring his brother’s comments, Jax’s senses zoomed in on Sahara’s pain even before he looked at her sitting alone at the table with a crestfallen look on her beautiful face as she watched her best friend storm out of the restaurant. Fuck! He was the cause of Raya’s anger towards Sahara, but he wasn’t going to let Raya leave in the state she was in and visibly angry at Sahara. He would prove to Sahara’s best friend she was telling her the truth. “Can you stop being a pain in my side and go over there with Sahara?” Jax asked. “I need to stop Raya and bring her back. She can’t do this to Sahara. I won’t allow it.” Zander instantly sobered up and stopped laughing. “I’ll protect your mate with my life. Go and bring her friend back. I can only guess what you’re going to do to prove Sahara isn’t a liar.” Flashing a grin, Jax got up from the table. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to scare her to death. I’m only going to prove to Raya that Sahara wasn’t drugged or being abused by me. I promise I won’t do anything to make her hate me any more because if I do that, it will alienate Sahara from me and that is the last thing I want to happen.” Jax walked away from the table towards the front door at the same time Zander headed over to Sahara’s table. Once Jax got outside, he instantly spotted Raya in the middle of the parking lot on her cell phone. He knew without listening in that she had to be calling for a cab since he drove all of them to the restaurant. Shaking his head, he wondered what man was going to be strong enough to handle Raya. He only hoped he could be around to see it happen, because Raya was tougher than she actually looked. Silently, he made his way over to her and stopped walking when he was directly behind her. “Raya, we need to talk,” Jax said. “Shit! You scared the hell out of me, Jax,” Raya snapped as she spun around. “I think I said enough to you inside. Sahara is my best friend and I’m not going to back down on my promise.” “I wouldn’t want you to. I think it’s wonderful how you want to protect her, but you have to understand that it’s uncalled for now that I’m in her life.” Reaching out, Jax took the cell phone away from Raya. “Sahara has nothing to fear from me because I love her. We are meant to be together.” “Yeah, Sahara told me all of that crap about you being a vampire and I’ll tell you the same thing I told her. Vampires don’t exist. Now, give me

back my phone. I need to get a ride back home.” Raya reached for the phone, but he slipped it into the back pocket of his jeans. “You aren’t going anywhere. You really are too young to be so doubtful about things you know nothing about, but if you really need proof. I’ll be more than happy to give it to you.” “What kind of proof are you going to give to me?” Raya snickered, arching an eyebrow at him. Without any kind of warning, Jax’s hand shot out and caught Raya by the elbow. “Look at me,” he commanded in a low voice. “Don’t scream. I’m only doing this for Sahara because I hate seeing her upset over something I can fix.” “Listen, I’m not going to fall into the craziness like Sahara,” Raya hissed, tugging at her arm. “Now, let go of me.” Jax tightened his fingers around Raya’s arm enough to make her stop moving. “You will stop arguing with me and do as I tell you to do.” He waited until Raya stopped fighting him and then he opened his mouth wide enough for her to watch as his fangs descended until they were completely visible. “Oh my God!” she screamed, struggling against his grip. “Let go of me. You really are a fucking vampire! Sahara wasn’t lying, but that isn’t possible. Vampires aren’t real. They’re mythological or something from folklore.” “As you can see and feel I’m very much the real thing,” Jax pointed out as he slowly let go of Raya. He sensed that Raya might be a little shocked, but she wasn’t going to run or hit him. He sensed that she was calmer than she had been a few seconds ago. “You have to stop fighting me. This isn’t about me, but Sahara.” He wasn’t sure if showing her the truth would make the situation better or worst, but it was something he had to do. “I should have believed Sahara,” Raya whispered softly. “As long as I’ve known her she’s never lied to me about anything. She’s the only person I know that would get a vampire in love with her. I still can’t believe this.” Jax smiled. Since he’d made his point, he had retracted his fangs. “Sahara is unlike any woman that I’ve ever known. I’m in love with her but she’s going through a lot right now. She can’t have you pushing her away. She needs your love and support while all of this is happening to her.”

Jax was sure Sahara wanted Raya to be at her side for her performance next week. Sahara’s career was the most important thing to her and it would only make it better with her childhood friend there cheering her on. He would do everything in his power to make sure Sahara got everything she craved out of her life. “Do you think you’re calm enough to go back inside now?” Jax removed Raya’s cell phone from his back pocket holding it out for her to take. He wouldn’t have Raya going back inside if she wasn’t mentally ready. Grabbing the phone from him, Raya shoved it back into her purse. “Stop talking to me like I’m a child. Sahara and I have been through a lot. Once I apologize we’ll be back on the same track. Our friendship will be stronger than ever.” Jax had to admit he was impressed with the way Raya was handling everything. Most women would still be in a panic over learning his secret. Sahara knew how to pick the right kind of person to have around her. “Let’s go. I need to get back inside because I don’t want Zander spending any more time with Sahara than he should.” Spinning away from Raya, Jax headed back towards the restaurant and his mate. “Sahara doesn’t need to get hurt and if you hurt her, I’ll get you.” Raya warned as she followed him back to the building. “I don’t care if you’re a vampire or not. I won’t allow you or anyone else to hurt her. She has been through enough as it is. She’s survived a lot to become the strong woman that she is. You can’t go demanding things from her and sending her back to that dark place she fought so hard to overcome.” Stopping in his tracks, Jax turned back around and faced Raya. “All I want to do is love Sahara and that’s it.” “For your sake, you better be telling me the truth,” Raya said before walking around him.

Chapter Twenty-Four The next morning Sahara rested her shoulder against the doorframe of Jax’s bedroom door watching as he picked up his t-shirt off the bed and admiring how the muscles moved in his sculptured back. This was the first time he had worn his hair down and she loved how it brushed against his shoulders. She wondered what it would be like to run her fingers through the thick, blond strands. Last night when Jax went after Raya after seeing how upset she was and brought Raya back to the restaurant the gesture touched a part of her that she purposely kept hidden from a lot of people, but he was slowly working his way through it. She wasn’t used to having boyfriends because she had focused so much of her life on making a mark in the music industry but she was smart enough to realize most men wouldn’t have done that for her. As much as she hated to admit it, she was noticing that Jax possessed a warm heart and did want the best for her. He might be a little on the controlling side, but it was because he cared about her. One of the big reasons Jax was beginning to win her over was he was totally ‘what you see is what you get.’ Yes, he might have kept the vampire secret from her but he did eventually tell her. “How long are you going to stand there daydreaming? Did you come to tell me something? Or did you just miss me so much that you couldn’t stay away?” Sahara blinked, drew herself away from her inner thoughts and stared at Jax who was now standing by the side of his bed watching her. She hadn’t even been aware that she’d gotten so lost in her own mind like that. She wondered how long he’d been standing there watching her with those intense green eyes of his. Pressing the mail in her hand against her chest, Sahara eased further into his bedroom. “I wanted to thank you for going after Raya last night. She told me what you did to prove I wasn’t lying to her.” “I couldn’t stand seeing you so upset when I knew I had the ability to fix it,” Jax replied as he moved closer to her. “Raya is very protective of

you. She warned me about hurting you and if I did what would happen to me.” “Raya is very protective of everything in her life, so it doesn’t surprise me that she told you that,” Sahara answered. “What she doesn’t understand is that I would never do anything to hurt you. You make my life so much more important. I was only going through life not really caring about anything until I saw you.” Reaching out, Jax gently pulled her completely into his bedroom closing the door softly behind them. “I’ve been thinking and since I proved to Raya I was really a vampire I should get a reward from you. What do you think?” Sahara’s heart pounded in her chest as her dark brown eyes connected with Jax’s. Everything about him was so sensual and sexy. He reminded her of a jaguar instead of a vampire. It was like he was about to pounce on her at any minute. Licking her bottom lip, Sahara swallowed hard without breaking eye contract from Jax. “I’m nervous to even ask what you want me to agree to since you want so much from me.” “Baby, it’s nothing we haven’t done before. I only want a kiss,” Jax whispered softly as he traced her bottom lip with the tip of his finger. “Is that really it?” Sahara asked, skepticism in her voice. “Are you saying that you don’t want to bite me and make me your mate? Does that mean I can find another man to be with now?” Before she had time to react Jax snatched the mail out of her hand and flung it down on the dresser next to them. “I will kill any man who thinks about taking you away from me. I thought I was in love once, but I see now she wasn’t my forever, you are. I can’t sleep or eat because you’re constantly on my mind. Do you know how many times I’ve come into your room at night just to watch you sleep? The only reason I haven’t pressed the issue about you completely becoming mine is you,” he confessed. “What do I have to do with it?” Sahara thought she had no choice in her fate with Jax. Now, he was telling her she did which was confusing her more than she already was. “You’re uncomplicated. You don’t indulge in too many material things. I love how you speak your mind. I’ve noticed there isn’t a huge difference between what you do and want out of life compared to your actions.” Wow. Sahara was stunned and very pleased at how much Jax knew about her. He really did know her almost as well as Raya which was really

rare. Even her Uncle Frank didn’t know all of her hopes and dreams. Some things like that a woman only shared with her best friend and not family. “Well, I’ve never seen the point of complicating the obvious with too much fuss. My mother was the same way; I can’t remember her ever stressing over anything.” Pulling her closer, Jax rubbed his hands up and down her back. “I’m sorry that you lost your parents at such a young age. Do you think about them a lot?” Sahara couldn’t stop the sudden tear that slipped from the corner of her eye. “Sorry,” she whispered when Jax brushed the tear away with the pad of his thumb. “I think about them all of the time. I felt so lonely for years until Uncle Frank introduced me to music.” Lowering his mouth, Jax brushed his lips across her. “Sahara, you aren’t alone anymore. You have me and I can promise you I’ll be here for you.” His warm breath brushed against her neck. Lord, help her. The low soft way Jax was talking to her made her weak in the knees every time he got near her like this. Her mind seemed to lose the ability to function properly. “I had a lot of people tell me that after my parents died, and the only two people who’ve stayed were Uncle Frank and Raya.” Most of her parents’ friends had slowly disappeared over the years. “Sahara, I’m not most people,” Jax corrected staring into her eyes. “I want you to understand the special connection we share. It doesn’t ever go away. You are mine forever and I’m yours. So, you better get used to seeing my ugly face for the rest of your life.” Ugly... Jax had to be out of his mind if he thought he was unattractive. God, he was sexy as sin. “Thank you, baby,” Jax grinned. “I’m glad you think I’m sexy.” “Do you know how strange it is when you read my thoughts?” Sahara placed one of her hands on Jax’s chest and ran the other one through his thick blond hair. “I like your hair like this. This is the first time you’ve worn you hair down since you started working here. I like the way it brushes past your shoulders. It makes you hotter.” Jax smiled. “Sorry... I can’t help it sometimes when I read your mind. When I see that hurt look come on your beautiful face I have to know what is going on inside your head. However, do you know that this is the first time you’ve given me a compliment about my looks?” Jax ran the tip

of his fingers down her bare arm. “I like that my woman finds me attractive. It will help our relationship develop into something even hotter and sexier which is the level I want with you.”

Chapter Twenty-Five Sahara tried to deny the words Jax was saying, but she couldn’t find the energy to move away from him. His eyes were like polished green jade which constantly had this inner glow that came out anytime she was around him. Being this close to Jax was making all of her senses go into overdrive. She’d only come in here to tell him thank you for all of his help last night. But, once again Jax found a way to get her off track. If she didn’t leave now, she might not be able to do it later. “I should go. I need to work on my dance routine for my performance next week. After I’m done we can go and take a look at the club. I got permission from the club owner last week. So, I need to head downstairs to the basement and give my steps a once over.” Sahara tried to move, but Jax rested his hands on her hips preventing her from leaving. “Wait...you can’t leave just yet. I need something from you. Remember I asked you for my reward earlier and I still haven’t gotten it.” “Will I like what you want?” she flirted getting drawn into the closeness she was experiencing with Jax. “If you don’t, I can promise we’ll keep practicing until you love what I’m going to do to you.” “I was always taught that practice does make perfect,” Sahara admitted. “How about we start practicing right now?” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her, softly pressing his tongue into her mouth stroking the sides with the tip then capturing her tongue with his. With a low moan in the back of her throat, Sahara wrapped her arms around Jax’s neck. Her tongue played with his matching his stroke for heated stroke while her fingers played with the ends of his hair. Jax sucked her bottom lip and then bit down on it gently. Standing on her tiptoes, Sahara pressed her hard nipples against the wide expanse of Jax’s chest hoping to ease some of the ache. The kiss grew even deeper when Jax slid his hand to her ass lifting her up so she could wrap her legs around his waist.

“God, I love the taste of you. I’m not ever going to get enough of you.” Jax breathed against the corner of her mouth. Spinning around, Jax carried her back towards his rumpled bed and laid her on the cool sheets covering the mattress. He moved her thighs from around his hips and pressed them down. “Do you know how crazy you’re making me with these short skirts you keep parading around in all the time? I mean all I want to do is strip you out of them and make love to you.” Nibbling at her bottom lip, Sahara stared at Jax from underneath her lashes noticing the huge bulge in the front of his tight jeans. “How do you know I want the same thing?” she asked. “I can smell how much you want me when you get within ten feet of me. It’s very hard for you to hide and I’m glad you can’t.” “I don’t believe you.” There was no way she smelled. “Sahara, your body gives off your attraction to me every single time we’re together.” Placing his knee on the bed between her spread thighs, Jax slid his hands underneath her skirt and pulled her damp underwear down her hips, legs and then off her body. Jax held them up to his nose and took a long whiff. “I love the smell of my woman. All of this is for me and no one else.” She wanted a snappy come back but she was at a loss for words because all she was dying for now was Jax to kiss her again. God, she was so affected by him that she had no control over herself at all. “I want to look at you,” Jax said tossing her underwear next to her body on the bed. “Let me see what’s mine.” “What?” Sahara rose up on her elbows and stared at Jax. What was he asking her to do? “Take off your shirt. I want to see your beautiful breasts. Show them to me,” he coaxed softly. Apprehension crept into Sahara’s mind; she wasn’t used to stripping down in front of a man. What if Jax didn’t like what he saw? “Sahara please stop worrying about what I think. You’re stunning and I’ll love every inch of your body. Now show me what I requested.” Taking a deep breath, Sahara repositioned her body so she was kneeling on the bed. Her fingers grabbed the hem of her t-shirt as her eyes locked with Jax’s green ones and she noticed how they were slowly changing to a deeper shade of green.

“Do it,” he encouraged in a much deeper voice than he’d used earlier. “Show me.” Before she changed her mind, Sahara slid the fabric up her body, pulled it over her head dropping it behind her. Slowly, Jax’s hot gaze raked over her breasts, unfettered by a bra, before his fingertips traced the birthmark on her left breast right above her nipple. “Do you know what this is” Jax asked as he cupped her breast in the palm of his hand. “I can tell you if you want me to because every vampire knows what his Unique woman’s mark is and the true meaning behind it.” “There is no special meaning behind that thing. It’s just an ugly birthmark that I’m going to have removed as soon as I’m done promoting my new upcoming CD. I’ve hated that thing for years.” “Don’t you dare have it removed,” Jax snapped, brushing his thumb over it. “This birthmark makes you very special. Every Unique woman has a different one only meant for her. This mark symbolizes what makes you who you are. It’s a harp. “The harp is the symbol of love in the form of a lyrical art, poetry and music. The harp shares a mythical connection with the bridge of love between heaven and earth. It’s like the purest form of devotion and love.” Sahara loved how Jax was trying to make her birthmark more than it was but she was going to still have it removed because there was no way that quarter size blemish on her breast truly meant all of what he just told her. There was no way. Lowering her down to the bed, Jax removed his hand from her breast and ran his tongue over it. The light brush of his tongue made her birthmark tingle like your fingertips did after being out in the cold too long. “Oh, what did you do?” Sahara moaned, softly. She had touched the birthmark several times, but never gotten that prickling feeling before. “When a vampire finds his mate he licks her mark to bond their connection making it even harder for her to reject him or their future together. It’s the first and most important step in marking her as his,” Jax said. Sahara found it hard to believe all of this stuff Jax was telling her. Jax might believe he’d get control over her but he was wrong. She was her own woman and did what she wanted to do. She didn’t have time to be bonded to him or any other man because her profession was the most imperative thing in her life at the moment.

“You may think you have marked me but you haven’t. I can fight my desire for you anytime I want.” Sahara only hoped Jax wasn’t reading her mind, because he would find out what a big fat liar she was. “I have total control over my mind, body and soul.” “Is that what you really believe?” he questioned, softly. Jax didn’t give her a chance to answer him before he trailed his mouth down the side of her neck inching his way over to her nipple. His tongue flickered over the tight bud a couple of times before he sucked it into his warm mouth shooting sparks of desire from her breasts down the entire length of her body. Dizziness swirled around in Sahara’s head as Jax continued to kiss and lick his way down her skin until his mouth hovered above her belly button. “Shit, I’m not even there yet and the scent of you is driving me to take a bite out of you this very moment, but I have control. I can wait until I get to the sweetness I want more than anything in the world. Do you want me to lick all of this stickiness away from between your beautiful thighs?” Pushing her skirt up further, Jax spread her legs until the bottom of her feet were flat against the mattress. Sahara tried to speak but the words got lost as she watched Jax’s tongue come out and lick his fuller bottom lip. “Baby, do you want my touch...or better yet my tongue?” He glanced up from between her legs and his eyes locked with her. His look was so intense...so hot that Sahara grabbed the sheets with her hands to keep them from reaching for Jax. “Surprise me,” Sahara finally whispered when she regained her voice. With a masculine smile that spread from ear to ear, Jax lowered his head and inserted one long thick finger inside of her.

Chapter Twenty-Six Closing her eyes, Sahara loosened her grip on the sheets allowing her limbs to relax as Jax continued to wrap her up in his allure. He worked two more fingers into her wetness stretching her to the limit. “Oh God,” she moaned softly as Jax’s long, thick digits worked at making her fall for him more than she already had. This is so wrong. Sahara thought about stopping him for a second then shoved the idea from her mind. The way Jax was touching her felt too damn amazing to end. “Please...I need...” She wasn’t quite sure what she was pleading for, all she knew was Jax would be the only man who could give it to her. “Sahara, you don’t ever have to beg for what I want to give to you freely.” Moving away from her trembling body, Jax slowly stood up. He quickly removed his shoes, pulled his t-shirt over his head then finally shed his pants adding them to the rumpled pile on the floor. Sahara’s breath caught at the sight of Jax’s powerful, well muscled naked body. He stood in front of her as if he knew he looked good and didn’t have a problem showing it off. She didn’t know where to look first, so she decided to work her way from bottom to top. His confident stance emphasized the force of his strong thighs and the slimness of his hips. Her eyes widened as they continued to travel the length of Jax’s hot unclothed body and all her mind could focus on was how his long, beautifully made hard cock curved against the blond sprinkle of hair on his washboard abs. His shoulders were wide and a mouth-watering golden tan like the rest of his flawless body. “You’re beautiful,” Sahara whispered as Jax closed the distance between them rejoining her on the bed. “No, baby. You’re the beautiful one,” Jax complimented as he unsnapped her skirt and pulled it off her sweaty body. “I never thought my mate would make my blood sizzle the way you do without even trying. I can barely control myself. Are you ready for me?”

Biting her bottom lip, Sahara nodded then moaned when Jax eased the tip of his cock into her body and she hissed at the invasion of his thickness. She never imagined how it would feel to have Jax inside of her. Her hand shot out and touched him in the middle of his warm chest. “Can you please wait? You’re so big and I need a few minutes.” “Oh damn...you’re so snug and hot,” Jax hissed. “It’s hard for me to put into words how good you feel, but I can wait.” Sahara squirmed around on the bed trying to get used to having Jax’s cock in her for the very first time. God, Jax wasn’t even all of the way inside of her and she already felt stuffed. “Baby, stop moving like that or I’m going to lose what little restraint I have,” he growled as he reached for her hips holding them still. “Sorry,” Sahara apologized. “Not a problem. Are you ready now?” “Yes”, she nodded. Jax held her hips a little tighter as he slipped more of his cock into her and then he suddenly stopped, pulling completely out of her. “FUCK!” he snapped as he jumped off the bed. What in the hell was going on? Sahara watched as Jax grabbed her clothes off the floor. What in the world was Jax doing? They were so close to making love. She was about to give him her virginity and then he just stopped and jumped off of the bed. There better be a damn good reason for him stopping like this. “You have to get dressed. I hear someone coming and I think it’s your uncle.” “Oh my God,” Sahara screamed as she bolted off the bed. She snatched her clothes out of Jax’s hand and hurriedly put them on. “He can’t catch me in here with you. What was I thinking? He’ll be pissed as hell. This can’t happen again.” She slipped on her shoes at the same time Jax pulled his t-shirt over his head. She ran past him towards the closed bedroom door, but only got halfway when Jax’s hand shot out and latched on to her wrist. “What?” “Sahara, you aren’t going to pretend this didn’t happen. If your uncle hadn’t come home from his trip early, my cock would be in your soft, tempting and very welcoming body right now. We will make love and sooner than you think. “Now, don’t forget your mail on my dresser before you hide in your bedroom. I’ll be back up here to get you in an hour so we can go to this

club you’re performing at on Friday.” Jax slipped his hand under her skirt, cupped her ass and then planted a soft kiss at the side of her neck. “Remember you’re mine and I’m yours. What we shared in this room will stay here.” Jax removed his hands from her aroused body and sauntered over to the door, opened it and walked out without even looking back at her. Standing alone in the now empty bedroom, Sahara for the first time in her life hated that her Uncle Frank had come home earlier than expected from one of his business trips. He’d just ruined her day without even knowing it. Sighing, she made her way over to the door and picked up the mail off the dresser as she walked out of the room wondering if she’d gotten any new mail from one of her fans today.

Chapter Twenty-Seven DIE BITCH!!! The large threatening words were written in red ink across the face of her picture from the interview she did a couple of months ago with Cosmopolitan about being an upcoming star in the world of music. Sahara dropped the picture on her bed and covered her mouth quickly with her hand before the scream worked its way from her body and exploded from her tight throat. No! This couldn’t be happening to her. Not now. Not with her performance tomorrow at the Kitty Kat club, the hottest club in South Beach, Florida. Why did she get this picture now? She thought this lunatic had forgotten about her and moved on. She had to get rid of this picture because if her Uncle Frank, or worse Jax, laid eyes on it there was no way in hell that either of them would let her leave the house until this psycho was behind bars. The instant fear she felt at seeing the picture eased its way from her body only to be replaced by boiling anger. How dare someone do this to her? They wanted to take her dream away, but she wasn’t going to allow it to happen. Performing at the Kitty Kat club Friday would be a huge step in her career. Sure, a couple of her songs had landed in the Top 40 but she had to keep them there and rising. She didn’t think she was putting her life into danger by keeping this a secret. She was protecting her career and at the same time showing this person that they didn’t scare her. Picking up the photo, she slid it back into the envelope and hit it underneath the pillow on her bed. She would find a better place to store it later and then she would give it to Jax after her performance on Friday. Okay...Sahara knew she had to calm down because the hour Jax had given her was almost up and her bodyguard was very punctual. He would be back any minute to get her. She only hoped Jax wouldn’t have a huge problem with the location. The Kitty Kat Club was located on a dead end street next to an alley, but it was truly the hottest place to be on Friday nights. The Kitty Kat club was so ‘exclusive’ that the bouncers at the door could turn you away based

on your age, clothing or anything else they might not like. Some night performances at the club only allowed fans or people entrance if they are on a guest list. Last month, Sahara had almost dropped her cell phone when the owner Archer personally called and invited her to sing there. Archer wasn’t big on wasting his time with anyone. He only called singers when he was a fan. This could be a life-changing step in her career and she wasn’t about to stop living or achieving her ultimate goal because of a stalker. What Jax didn’t know for the moment wouldn’t hurt him because if he saw the frightening picture now, without a doubt in her mind, Jax would make her cancel her show. Sahara knew she could handle this without involving Jax. All she had to do was keep all thoughts of the picture out of her mind and Jax wouldn’t be able to read her mind. He was already possessive of her but he wasn’t smothering...a trait she couldn’t and wouldn’t have in a man. “You changed clothes,” a familiar voice commented behind her. Picking up her purse and sunglasses off the bed, Sahara spun around and smiled at Jax. Her body instantly got warmer as the memory of what they had done an hour ago filled her mind. She could still feel Jax’s body inside of hers. “Yes, I thought I would be more comfortable in jeans since I have to get in and out of that monster SUV you drive. It definitely wasn’t made for a woman at all.” Walking up to him, she kissed him on the mouth and stepped back. “Where’s my Uncle Frank? I thought he’d come up here and see me.” Jax touched her on the side and tugged her back against him. “I like that you kissed me first. How about we finish what we started earlier? Frank only stopped by the house to change clothes and check in with us before heading back to the office. He wanted to know if the stalker had sent any more letter or emails and I told him no.” “Isn’t that a good thing?” Sahara hedged, placing her hand on Jax’s chest over his heart. “Hey, I thought vampires didn’t have a heartbeat because they’re considered the walking dead?” “You watch way too many movies,” Jax sighed before giving her a quick kiss. “Baby, please don’t get caught up in the nonsense from movies because those vampires aren’t real. Yes, I have a heartbeat. I can eat garlic and I can even see my reflection when I look in a mirror which is a good thing since I need to shave every morning.

“But let’s get back to your first question,” he said, changing the subject. “No, it’s never a good thing when a stalker suddenly stops sending threatening material. No contact usually means he’s plotting something more dangerous. Starting tomorrow I’ll start going through the mail and making sure nothing is in there. Have you gotten any emails since we changed all of your old accounts to new ones?” “No, I haven’t,” Sahara answered a little worried now about keeping the new photo a secret from Jax, but it was done and she’d show him the picture eventually. Just not right now. She was still confident she was making the right decision. “Why is this crazy person bothering me? What did I do to attract their attention?” “Most stalkers aren’t psychotic and I seriously doubt yours is either. Stalkers are isolated and lonely. More than half of the time stalking is triggered by some kind of trauma in the person’s life which makes them latch onto something else.” “I haven’t caused any trauma to anyone,” Sahara said, moving out of Jax’s arms. “All I want to do is write songs and perform.” “Baby, I know,” Jax replied, touching the side of her face. “This person could also be suffering from some kind of psychiatric condition like depression, substance abuse or a personality disorder. All you have to know is I won’t ever allow them to get close enough to hurt you.” Sahara felt the passion in Jax’s words. She knew he cared about her and would do everything in his power to protect her, but she shouldn’t have to live in fear because of someone else. “I know you will.” She touched the back of his hand moving it off her face. “We need to get to the Kitty Kat club before it gets too crowded. There’s always a ton of people there no matter the time of day. Plus, I can’t wait for you to meet Archer. I know you’ll love him as much as I do. He reminds me a lot of you.” Moving around Jax, Sahara headed for the bedroom door secretly waiting for the question she knew was coming next. “Who in the hell is Archer and why do you think you’re in love with him?” Jax demanded.

Chapter Twenty-Eight The soft wonderful sound of Sabrina’s laughter hit Zander’s ears the moment the elevator doors closed behind him. He’d gone by her house to check on her, but she hadn’t been at home. He had gotten worried and called her mother on his cell phone. Sabrina’s mother informed him that Sabrina was at Alpha Male Incorporated picking up the last of her brother’s personal belongings. After Zander got off the phone with Sabrina’s mother, he decided to head over to his office and see if Sabrina needed any help. He was more than a little disappointed she didn’t call him to help getting the last of those items they’d left there. She was so important to him more than she truly knew, but every time he tried to bring up how he felt Sabrina would quickly change the subject or find a way to leave the room. Well, the days of her avoiding him were over! He wasn’t as patient as Jax constantly teased him about when it came to Sabrina. She was his mate! His woman! They were supposed to be together and he wasn’t going to lose her. He would make damn sure Sabrina understood that she really didn’t have any more excuses left when it came to them spending the rest of eternity with each other. Sabrina might put up one hell of a fight, but like always he would win in the end. Zander was walking in the direction of Sabrina’s brothers’ office when he heard her laughter again and a few seconds later male laughter joined in. What in the fuck was going on? Who was in there with Sabrina? He’d never heard her laugh with such fun and ease around him. To say he was jealous would be a lie! He was irate! “Stop it!” Sabrina chuckled again. “You have to stop or I won’t be able to take it much longer.” Oh, he was about to put a fucking stop to what was going on in that office.

Hurrying the rest of the way down the hallway, Zander rushed into the room stopping in his tracks when he saw a tall, slender man with sandy brown hair bent over Sabrina with his hands all over her tight body. “Who in the fuck are you? Get your hands off Sabrina!” Closing the distance in two quick steps, Zander grabbed the guy off Sabrina and flung him so hard in the nearest chair that it fell over along with him in it. “Shit! Keep your damn hands to yourself!” The guy shouted at him as he struggled to get up off the floor. “Who in the hell are you? Don’t make me ask you again.” Zander snapped taking a step towards the guy who was now staring at him with a stunned expression. “Zander stop!” Sabrina said. Running around him she placed her small hands in the middle of his chest. The light touch of her hand eased some of the boiling anger from his body, but not all of it. “Somebody better tell me what in the hell is going on before I toss this bastard out of this building and I might not be nice enough to use the door.” He glanced away from Sabrina back to the stranger with the overly touchy hands who was finally pulling himself off the floor. “Zander this is Brent Kelley. He was one of the guys who used to race against my brother. He was helping with the last of the boxes. You know I told you I would be back to get them.” Sabrina was way too trusting. She didn’t know when a guy was trying to cop a feel on her gorgeous body, but he did. “The hell he was. When I came into the room his hands were all over your body and I want to know why.” “I was only tickling her,” Brent said, speaking up. “I remember seeing her brother doing it once to make her laugh.” Zander’s blood started to boil again at Brent’s lie. He wasn’t tickling Sabrina to make her laugh at all. He could have told her a joke and gotten the same result. The guy wanted an easy way to feel Sabrina up and that was the lie he used. Sabrina couldn’t read Brent’s thoughts like he could and Sabrina might not believe him if he told her the truth about Brent since he had been friends with Avery. “You’re lying and we both know it.” Gently moving Sabrina to the side, Zander took a step towards the smaller man. He had at least eight inches and eighty pounds over him causing the man to stumble back. “I’m not lying,” he stuttered.

“Listen Brent, this is the only warning I’m going to give you. Stay away from Sabrina. She isn’t interested in dating you. If I catch you anywhere near her, you’ll be reminded in a not so nice way about this little conversation. Do you understand me?” His threat was loud and very clear. Zander seriously doubted Brent would ever speak to Sabrina again let alone touch her. “Oh, I understand completely,” Brent answered as he walked backwards towards the door. “I guess I should get going since you’re here now. I know you can finish helping Sabrina remove boxes.” “Brent, you don’t have to leave. Zander isn’t going to hurt you. He’s just a little overprotective of me like any family friend would be. He’s almost like another brother to me,” Sabrina insisted. Zander’s head jerked around and he stared down at Sabrina in utter disbelief. She was out of her mind if she thought he saw her in any form of a sister role. God, was that the reason she was constantly running away from him? From the corner of his eye, he observed how Brent glanced back and forth between him and Sabrina. “Hmm...I think I’m still going to leave because I’m getting the impression Zander doesn’t feel the same way. Anyways, I’m not worried about you finding a ride home with him here. I can see he’ll take excellent care of you.” Spinning around, Brent practically raced out the door leaving the two of them alone. “Brent...Wait...” Sabrina started after her friend, but Zander stepped in front of her blocking her path. Did she truly think he would allow her to leave him to chase after another man? “Let him go. We need to talk about what you told him. Do you really think of me as a brother?” He couldn’t believe this at all. Sabrina’s attraction to him was right in front of his face, but she was fighting it hard. This meant, getting her to admit to him how she truly felt was going to be harder than he first thought. Dragging her attention away from the office door, Sabrina looked up at him before walking around him back over to the banker’s box on the desk. “I need to get the last of my brother’s stuff and leave. We shouldn’t be having this conversation.” “Sabrina, answer my question. It’s very important that I know.” Zander knew Sabrina so well. He didn’t even have to see her beautiful face to know she was nibbling at her bottom lip something she only did when she was extremely nervous about answering a question.

Yeah, she wanted him. Now, all he had to do was make Sabrina understand her need to have him was okay. He wouldn’t be able to achieve his goal if he pushed her too far. Taking a step back might work better in this situation. “Never mind,” Zander said. “I shouldn’t have pushed you like I’ve been doing. How about after we take the banker’s box out to my car I treat you to lunch? You can tell me how things are going at work.” Sabrina’s entire body visibly relaxed as soon as the last of his words left his mouth. “Are you sure?” She picked up the box and faced him, clearly calmer than she’s been a few minutes ago. Coming over to her, Zander took the box and kissed Sabrina on the cheek. “I’m positive. We can stop at the new Italian place a couple of blocks from your house.” Sabrina’s beautiful face lit up with pleasure making Zander fight down the urge to drop the box and yank her into his arms. With her confession, he knew now how extremely nervous Sabrina was to be around him. If he moved too fast, he would lose her which he couldn’t allow to occur. She might not understand it now, but she would later on after she’d given him the chance to explain clearly and completely what a Unique woman meant to her vampire mate. “I love Italian food.” Sabrina grinned brushing past him. “And I love you that’s why I’m doing all of this for you,” Zander whispered under his breath enjoying how the tight skirt hugged Sabrina’s perfect ass as she left his office.

Chapter Twenty-Nine The dusky, dingy, and dank little nightclub assaulted Jax’s senses the second he stepped inside. Standing close to Sahara, he heard the clinking of glasses along with the chatter of people in the background as the smell of food, sweat and liquor touched their noses. He couldn’t believe this was the Kitty Kat Club, the place Sahara was positive would launch her career further up the billboard charts. Sahara’s voice was fantastic. She didn’t need this out of the way place to help promote anything with her. “Isn’t the Kitty Kat Club amazing?” Sahara asked as she grabbed him by the arm pulling him over towards the bar. “I can’t believe I’m going to be performing here on Friday.” He wouldn’t go that far as to agree with her. The Kitty Kat club had only two windows. One was located right next to the front door and the second one to the far right a little ways from the bar. Neither one of the windows had any bars on them. In addition, they were large enough for anyone to climb through if there was an incident. The rest of the Kitty Kat club was set up like a regular nightclub with a dance floor in the front with the DJ booth at the back. Several bright spots were created by the neon signs on the wall, but he didn’t like how about eighty percent of the club was in semi-darkness. None of the surroundings were safe enough for Sahara in his opinion. “I don’t think you should perform here. The area isn’t big enough which will make it hard for me to protect you. You need to tell Archer you’re going to cancel your show.” Sahara’s head whipped around so fast, Jax thought she might have gotten whiplash. He could see the passion building up in her face and knew he was in for a fight about this with her. “Are you crazy? The Kitty Kat Club is the hottest place in Florida. I got a personal invite to perform here. I couldn’t turn it down if I wanted to. Now, you’re supposed to protect me while I’m Coco. I know you can do it. I have all the faith in the world in you. Don’t ruin this for me, please.”

“Sahara, you know the danger you’re in. There’s a good chance your stalker will make an appearance here tomorrow night,” Jax warned. “I know I can keep you safe from him, but I’ll just feel better if you told Archer no. This club isn’t equipped enough for you and if I didn’t tell you this then I’m not doing the job Frank hired to do.” “Jax, I can’t do what you’re asking. Archer ─” Sahara was cut off mid-sentence when someone called her name. “Coco, I’m so glad you made it,” a man gushed rushing up to them, but Jax stepped in front of Sahara blocking him from touching her. Stopping in his tracks, the tall dark-haired man with chiseled features and a dimple in his chin glanced at him with a slight frown on his face. “Oh, when did my little Coco hire Tarzan to protect her?” the guy asked. “Don’t worry, I’m Archer Nash. I’m the owner of the Kitty Kat Club. My only interest is Coco is purely professional, but I have to say that you’re a very handsome addition to her entourage.” “Jax, will you please move?” Sahara asked, tapping him in the middle of his back with her finger. “I need to talk to Archer about my song and when I’ll be going on.” Instead of moving, Jax crossed his arms and took a step closer to Archer. He wasn’t fond of the smug look or the way the club owner talked to him. It was like Archer knew something he didn’t, but he tried to read his mind and it came up completely blank. “Why are you calling her Coco? That isn’t her name,” he demanded. “Listen, Goldilocks, I’m a club owner/promoter. I call all of my singers by their stage name to keep things very professional. I know Coco’s real name is Sahara, but I’m not paying Sahara five thousand dollars to be here on Friday night. I’m paying Coco, so that’s what I’m going to call her. Now, can I please finish our conversation? I want to have an idea of how Coco wants the stage set up for her performance,” Archer said, glaring at him. He wasn’t going anywhere especially not across the room. Archer could speak with Sahara with him right there at her side. “You can talk to her with me here. It’s not like I don’t know what’s going on. I’m Sahara’s bodyguard and where she goes, I go. Do you have a problem with that?” “Jax, will you please stop it!” Sahara complained, moving to stand next to him. “I can’t afford to lose this show tomorrow. Please calm down and let me talk to Archer.”

The need to argue with Sahara was there, but she was right. He couldn’t keep being so overprotective when it came to her music. He was supposed to be helping her with it not ruining it for her. Yet, it was hard for him to just stand back and allow someone like Archer to have alone time with his woman. “Fine, I’ll let you talk to him, but I’m not leaving,” Jax said. Stepping back, Jax took a seat on a barstool so he could keep his eye on Archer. He still wasn’t sure the Kitty Kat Club and Archer were the best things for Sahara, but he was going to support her. No psycho was going to keep his woman living in a panic about everyday of her life making it impossible for her to live out her dream of becoming a star. He would make sure Sahara got everything she wanted out of her life. “Will you be able to keep your temper under control?” Sahara asked, watching him very closely. “I can’t have you jump in every time you feel the need.” “I’m willing to show you how good I can be here so maybe later you’ll give me a reward. You know how much I love the time we shared earlier before your uncle came home.” Sahara took a quick glance at Archer and then back at him. “Oh, you’re so bad. I can’t believe you brought that up here. Let me get done with this and I’ll see what I can do.” Coming up to him, Sahara gave him a quick kiss and then tried to move back, but he hauled her back against his chest then deepened the kiss with his tongue. The sweetness of her mouth made his cock instantly leap to attention. Shit! Jax suddenly wished that they were any other place but here. The need to take a tiny little bite out of the side of her neck was driving him insane. God, how much longer was she going to make him wait before she ultimately became his forever? “Do I need to leave the two of you alone?” Archer asked, cutting into their private moment. Slowly, Jax separated his mouth away from Sahara. “I’ll never do anything to hurt you please remember that. I always have your best interests in mind. Now, finish talking business with Archer and I’ll wait until you’re done.” Sliding his hand down her back, he hit Sahara on the ass then moved her away from him before things got out of hand. Sometimes Jax wished

that he could just take Sahara and disappear with her for about two months and leave all of this behind them. He was dying to show Sahara his home, but now wasn’t the time but it would be soon. He needed a quiet place to tell her about the sleep of the dead. How if he didn’t turn her by his birthday on Valentine’s Day it wouldn’t be good for him. Sahara might be surprised by the ‘curse’ on his family, but with her being a Unique woman she should know everything about what her future would entail when it came to their relationship. “Sorry about that sometimes we can get a little carried away,” Sahara to Archer as she stepped away from him. ”I really want you to know how excited I am about singing my song Vanished here tomorrow night. I hope it’s the hit I want it to be.” “With your beautiful voice I don’t have any doubt that it will be,” Archer praised. “I’m just a small stepping stone in the path to your career. I just hope you remember me when you’re on stage accepting your first Grammy award.” Sitting back on the barstool, Jax listened quietly and fought down the dislike that boiled in his gut at the way Archer was kissing up to Sahara. He hated being here with her; but he wanted to know everything that this jerk wanted her doing on Friday. Sahara might have gotten relaxed, but he hadn’t. He wasn’t good at his job being a well-paid bodyguard for nothing. He’d spent years training and teaching other bodyguards the signs to look out for. Sahara’s stalker was up to something bigger than the things he had done in the past. Without a doubt, he was going to make an appearance at the Kitty Kat club. Jax wasn’t dumb enough to believe that he wasn’t, but as soon as he showed his face and approached Sahara that is where his miserable life would end. Once Jax got his hands around the sick SOB who was making Sahara’s life unbearable, the bastard would learn the true meaning of the words fear and pain. Nobody threatened who or what he loved and he meant...nobody.

Chapter Thirty “Sweetheart, are you excited about tomorrow night? Placing the pen back in her music journal, Sahara glanced at her uncle standing in the middle of her bedroom. She hadn’t spent much time with her Uncle Frank since he’d come home from his trip the other day and he was leaving again to go overseas in a matter of hours. She never remembered him traveling this much before Jax came into their lives. Was something going on that she didn’t know about? “I’m very nervous. I know I’ve performed at other places, but tomorrow is a huge step for me. It’s going to be an intimate setting with all eyes on me. I mean people are paying to come and see me. I’m not the opening act for anyone this time.” “Besides having to deal with making sure my performance is kick ass, Jax has me worried about my stalker showing up and trying something with me. So, I’m trying to push that aspect to the back of my mind. Where is Jax anyway? He was supposed to come and show me some defensive moves just in case we got separated.” “You have feelings for Jax, don’t you?” her Uncle Frank asked shocking her. “I can hear the difference in your voice when you say his name.” He came across the room and took a seat on the edge of the bed and stared at her waiting for an answer. “It doesn’t bother you?” Sahara nibbled her bottom lip, hoping for the best. “Of course it doesn’t. Jax is a great guy. I think he’s the perfect match for you. If you were with him, I would never have to worry about you. I know nothing would happen to you with Jax as your side.” Sahara was happy to hear this but thought, I wonder if Uncle Frank would feel the same way if he knew Jax was a vampire. No matter how much her Uncle Frank was busy with his community projects or was out promoting her career he never seemed to miss what was going on in her life. How did he even know her feelings towards Jax were changing?

“We’re getting along better now than we did several months ago. I mean it was bound to happen eventually since we spend so much time with each other.” Uncle Frank smiled at her words. “I just want you to be happy.” Sahara smiled back. “I am. Now, are you going to answer my question? Where is my bodyguard?” “Jax went to Alpha Male Incorporated to take care of something for his brother, so he wanted me to stay here with you. I’m sorry I won’t be here tomorrow night for your performance at the Kitty Kat Club, but I’m hoping this will be the last trip I have overseas for a while.” Getting up from her seat at her writing desk, Sahara joined her uncle on the bed. “I’m not upset with you at all. I know everything that you’re doing is for me and my career. I’ve understood your dedication to my singing for a while now and I love you for it.” “Does Jax know what tomorrow is for you? Was that the real reason you were pushing so hard to be doing something on Friday?” Placing his hand on top of hers, Uncle Frank gave it a light squeeze. “I think you should tell him.” Snatching her hand away, Sahara got up from the bed and started pacing around the room. Why did he have to bring up the anniversary of her parent’s death? God, she was trying to actually make it through this year without breaking down into tears. They’d been dead ever since she was thirteen but every year at this time the pain was just as deep as when her Uncle Frank had picked her up from middle school and told her the earth-shattering news that changed her life forever. “Do we have to talk about this? You want me to tell you how I’m doing every year around this time and my answer never changes. I love that you’ve taken care of me for so long, but I’ll never forget the day Tyler Edwards killed my parents. It was absolutely the worst day of my life. “I can’t stay in this house tomorrow reliving the memory of that day. I need to be on stage singing. Jax is wonderful. You’re right. He has become more than a bodyguard to me. He’s always been there for me anytime I needed him. I’m so thrilled I stopped being so stubborn and allowed him into my life,” Sahara confessed as she continued pacing around her bedroom. “Sahara, stop pacing. You always do it when you get nervous. Please talk to me. I’m here to listen to you. I know the pain you still feel about

your mother and father. If you don’t want to talk to me, then talk with Jax.” “Uncle Frank, you know how hard it is for me to express my feelings to people. I’m so independent and Jax is so dominating sometimes. He wants to fix everything that goes wrong for me.” “Honey, I think you should really open up to Jax more. I’m not going to be here forever. One of the main reason I hired Jax was I believed he would be a good boyfriend for you as well as a bodyguard. If I didn’t think Jax was the man for you, I would have never invited him into our home.” The shock of her uncle’s confession hit her full force. She stood there, amazed and stunned. “So, are you confessing to me that when you hired Jax you were hoping we would hit it off on a personal level as well as a business one? Were you playing matchmaker?” A devilish look came into his eyes. “Yes, I was. You and Jax are so similar which makes it hard for the two of you to see it. Jax is perfect for you and you’re perfect for him. I can’t understand how neither one of you can see it.” Standing up, her uncle gave her a quick hug and then a kiss on her cheek. “Sweetheart, you know that I only want the best for you and I think Jax will give you everything you’ve been looking for since your parent’s death. Yes, you have your career, but that isn’t enough and you know it. “Now, how about we go back to my room and you can keep my company while I finish packing? Tell me about how well Archer and Jax got along today. I wish I could have been there to see their interaction with each other.” Laughing, Sahara linked her arm through her uncle’s as they walked towards her bedroom door. “I don’t think Jax was prepared for Archer at all. For a while there, I thought I might have to pull Jax out of the Kitty Kat Club, but I was able to calm him down.” “Isn’t it funny the way a guy as big as Jax becomes like Play-do in your little hands when you ask him to do anything?” Sahara faltered in her steps and stared up at the man next to her. “What are you telling me?” “Sahara, I’m glad you’re cautious about letting people in and I understand that you have to be. However, don’t let your fear of loving someone stop you from seeing what is in front of your face. Jax is in love with you. Allow your heart to open up to his love.”

Removing her hand off his arm, Uncle Frank touched her on the shoulder before continuing on out the door leaving her alone with his comments and her own inner thoughts about Jax and their future together.

Chapter Thirty-One “Jax, I’m surprised to find you here at the office this late at night. I thought you were hired to protect some singer named Sahara or Coco. Is what Zander told me yesterday true? Is she a Unique woman?” Grabbing some files about stalking out of a top drawer of his desk, Jax shoved them into the briefcase on his desk. He glanced at his younger cousin Thorsten standing in front of his desk. Thorsten spent so much time out of the office he couldn’t recall the last time he’d laid eyes on him. “You’ve been talking to Zander a lot. Why is that? I seldom see you anymore Thorsten. How are things going with the hedge fund you’re thinking about buying? Have you gotten a chance to talk to the woman yet? The last time we spoke you told me she had been brushing off all of your phone calls.” “Nice try Jax, but I’m not talking about me until you’ve answered my question first,” Thorsten said. “We both know that Zander is positive Sabrina is his mate. So, I want to know if you’ve found yours. Does she have one of the distinctive birthmarks we were told about?” Slamming the briefcase shut, Jax locked his top desk drawer slipping the key back into his pocket. “Yes, Sahara has the harp birthmark on her left breast. She’s my mate, but I’m having a hard time making her believe it. She’s so self-reliant that it’s frustrating. I get so close and then she finds a way to push me away. I’m beginning to think it’s a defensive move on her part.” “Doesn’t she understand that you have to turn her two weeks after your four hundredth birthday or the sleep of the dead will slowly start to take you over?” Thorsten demanded. “Damn it, Jax, your birthday is fast approaching! You have to take control and take off the kid gloves with her. She’s yours and has been since birth. Take her!” “I’m not going to do that. I love Sahara and I want her undying trust and love when I make her mine. I just can’t bite and then turn her against her will. Your hot-headed suggestion goes against everything we were taught about a Unique woman.” Thorsten cursed underneath his breath. “What is it with you and Zander?” His cousin shoved his hands into the pockets of his slacks and

glared at him. “Both of you believe that you’ve found your mates, but neither one of you are man enough to take control of the situation. “When I find my mate, I’m going to bite and turn her as quickly as possible. She isn’t going to have me running around in circles the way Sahara is doing to you. Hell, even Zander’s allowing Sabrina to have her way when it comes to them.” Picking up his briefcase, Jax walked around his desk and stood directly in front of his cousin. Thorsten had always been the type to jump into things with both feet without testing the waters to see if it was filled with sharks. Maybe it was youth or a lack of willpower. He wasn’t quite sure which one it was. All he knew was, Thorsten had to get it under control and soon or he might miss out on his mate. Or worse, scare her away from him so badly; he’d never have a chance at winning her heart, let alone have any chance of spending the rest of his eternal life with his mate. “See, that’s where you’re wrong,” Jax corrected. “Sahara doesn’t have me running around in circles. My love for her is allowing me the patience to wait while she comes to terms with how the rest of her life will be spent. You only get one love in a lifetime and Sahara is mine. Your views will change once you meet your mate.” Thorsten gave him a skeptical look. “I know I’m a different man from you and Zander. So, I seriously doubt I’ll change once I find my mate. She will succumb to me and that’s it.” Surely, Thorsten wasn’t so cocky he believed it would be that easy to win over a human woman. Jax wanted to say more but he could tell his words of wisdom would fall on deaf ears. Thorsten was the type of man who would always have to find out the hard way. He only trusted when his cousin decided to change his ways it wouldn’t be too late for him. “Alright, I’m done. I can see this conversation isn’t going anywhere. I’m missing my woman and I need to get back to her before Frank leaves for his trip overseas. Are you going to be at the Kitty Kat Club tomorrow night to see her perform? Zander’s coming.” Thorsten shook his head. “I wish I could but I’m meeting with two investors tomorrow night about that hedge fund I want to buy. I swear this woman is really beginning to piss me off. Her business is losing stock everyday and I have the skill along with the money to save it, but she keeps telling me no when I contact her about taking it off her hands. Hell, I can even give her a nice fat check in the end, but she refuses to have a meeting with me. We only communicate through emails or phone calls

which are going to stop. We are going to have a face to face meeting sooner than she thinks.” “Thorsten, don’t bully this woman into doing something she doesn’t want to. Find a way to work things out with her. Remember you always get more bees with honey,” Jax warned as he turned to leave his office. “Jax you just worry about Sahara. I can take care of this woman and if all else fails I’ll use my Irizzary power of persuasion to win her over. She’ll eventually see things my way.” Thorsten using his ‘power of persuasion’ was what had Jax worried. His cousin’s way of talking someone into doing what he wanted was like a bull in a china shop. Thorsten wasn’t a small man and sometimes his towering height and personality threw people off. Yet, he couldn’t focus his energy or attention on his cousin at the moment. His time could be used in such a better way and he would give all of it to his Sahara.

Chapter Thirty-Two “Frank is there a reason you’ve been going on these numerous trips since you hired me as Sahara’s bodyguard? Why have you been leaving me here alone with her so much lately,” Jax asked, handing a black suitcase to his friend. “I know you can’t be having this much business going on.” Taking the suitcase from him, Frank placed it in the back of the limousine and then looked at him. “I was hoping you would take advantage of this time you had alone with Sahara,” Frank admitted, shocking him. “You know that I have feelings for your goddaughter?” The surprise was very clear in Jax’s voice. “You aren’t against me being into Sahara?” he questioned. “You’ve been very accepting of my secret, but I’m finding it hard to believe you want Sahara with a vampire.” Slamming the trunk down, Frank faced him crossing his arms over his chest. “Ever since I adopted Sahara when she was thirteen years old, all I’ve ever wanted for her is to have a good life with someone who loves her. “I see how you look at her when she walks into a room. I hear the passion in your voice when it comes to your need to protect her. You’re in love with Sahara. Now, I can’t say I wasn’t a little concerned about how she’ll react to finding out you’re a vampire,” Frank admitted, honestly. “However, I can’t live her life for her and if Sahara wants you in her life then I’m not going to stand in her way. I mean she could do a lot worse than a man who will love her as long as he’s alive and since you’re immortal that’s a pretty long time.” “Aren’t you concerned that I’ll have to turn Sahara to be with me?” Jax questioned. He knew Frank was accepting of him being a vampire, but it might be an entirely different picture when it came to Sahara. Frank glanced over at Sahara standing over to the side then back at him. “I can’t say I’m very fond of the idea, but it isn’t my choice to make. It will be Sahara’s,” Frank said. “All I want for her to be happy.” All of the stress and concerns Jax had been harboring left his body after hearing Frank’s words. He was a little worried that he might have to

fight Frank about Sahara, but now he saw that he was wrong. Frank was as good of a man as he first thought. Now, all he had to do was get Sahara on his side and talking her into letting him turn her before time ran out. “I’ll always protect Sahara with everything that I have in me,” Jax swore. “I promise I will make her more happy than she could have ever imagined.” Uncrossing his arms, Frank hit him on the side of his arm. “I know that you will. If I didn’t believe that, I wouldn’t be heading out on this trip. I’m trying to get Sahara’s music in the overseas market with this new record label.” “I’m hoping this trip will do the trick. I might even stay a little longer and take it as a mini-vacation. Who knows? I might even find an attractive woman over there. Come on and walk me to the backseat. I’m going to tell you something else you can do to win over my goddaughter.” Walking behind Frank, Jax wondered what kind of advice his friend was going to give him to capture another piece of Sahara’s heart. Whatever it was, he was going to do it. He loved her too much not to give it a try. **** Standing outside in the circular driveway later that night, Sahara waited while Jax helped her Uncle Frank put the last of his bags into the back of the limo. She didn’t doubt her uncle was giving Jax a few last instructions about her. While she waited for Jax to finish talking about business, Sahara thought about how much the tall, blond gorgeous man had changed her life in a few short weeks. Before he burst into her world demanding that she listen to every single lecturing word that came out of his mouth, her very essence was geared towards promoting and pushing her song more into the public eye. Truly, Jax coming into her life made her take a step back because she wasn’t used to getting a great deal of interference from people. Sure, she was willing to take advice but not to the point it hindered her natural desire to get on with her existence.

Over the years, Sahara had come out of the shell in which she’d placed herself after her parent’s death making herself more of an outgoing person. So, she still didn’t understand why someone was threatening her. Shouldn’t this time in her life be enjoyable instead of filled with guards at the security gate that she hardly ever saw, but knew were there watching her every move? She missed the freedom of reading her own mail and going for walks around the neighborhood anytime the urge hit her. Now Jax checked every piece of mail including fan letters to make sure nothing suspicion was inside of them. He was even at her side when she went for her afternoon walk. The only thing that made all of Jax’s demands tolerable was she was falling in love with him. She had never been in love before and she didn’t think she could have picked a better man to love. Everything about Jax was new and an exciting experience for her. She never wanted to give him up. The way he had almost made love to her had her dreams filled with him stripping her naked and her allowing him to have his way with her again and again. Fantasies about Jax completely making love to her had filled her thoughts so much that she wasn’t even thinking about writing new songs anymore. Sahara hated to admit how Jax made her come out of her song writing bubble to take a look at what was going on around her in the real world. She might even consider her personality a little more adventurous now, but what woman wouldn’t be with a hunky vampire in love with her. How well she was beginning to accept Jax’s little fang secret surprised her. At first, it had scared the hell out of her, but now the thought of him biting her again was turning her on. Sometimes she looked for it to happen again, but unfortunately it hadn’t Unconsciously a smile tugged at the corner of Sahara’s mouth as she thought about Jax. She had been content before but she knew the true meaning of the word happiness. She was so full of life anytime Jax was around her and none of her songs had given her this sort of euphoria. “Do you want to tell me what you’re thinking about? Should I be jealous it put such a beautiful smile on your face that you didn’t notice me standing here?” Jax asked touching her arm and gently tugging her towards him. “Do I need to go and have a talk with someone?” “Do you want an honest answer?” Sahara asked.

“Of course, I don’t want you to ever lie to me,” Jax told her. “I won’t ever be able to fix what’s wrong if you don’t let me in.” “I was thinking about what a pain in my side you were the first time I met you. I couldn’t believe my uncle hired you to control every aspect of my life,” she admitted. “I hated you with a passion. My dislike grew when you informed me that I was born to be with you as your mate. I couldn’t wrap my head around the idea you were really a vampire.” “How do you feel about me now?” Jax asked as his gorgeous eyes searched her face. “Do you still hate me with a passion?” Sahara wondered if Jax had already read her thoughts and found out the truth, but if he had it wouldn’t really matter because she was going to tell him anyway. She wanted to say the words because they would mean so much more. “No, I have new feelings about you. They eased up on me when I wasn’t expecting it, but I’m really beginning to like you.” “You only like me?” Jax inquired, grabbing her ass with both hands. “How about I do something to move that up to the next level?” “Care to tell me what you have in mind, Mr. Irizzary?” Sahara teased back. She could only hope Jax was thinking the same thing as her. She wanted him to make love to her so badly that it filled her mind every second of the day. “Do you own a pair of tennis shoes?” he asked, shocking the hell out of her. Why did he want to know about her footwear? Well, one thing was for sure, Jax sure wasn’t thinking about the same thing as her. “Sure, I do.” “Good go change out of those boots and put them on. I’m taking you out to have some fun because tomorrow is going to be stressful for you. I want you to get your mind off your performance. So, I’m making the rest of the night about you and nothing else.” “Oh, I love surprises,” Sahara grinned. “Do you want to tell me what it is?” “No...now do as I said, woman.” Spinning Sahara around, Jax slapped her on the ass before pushing her towards the front door. “Don’t make me wait too long or I’ll be up there to get you,” he warned her as she raced into the house.

Chapter Thirty-Three “Oh, you’re going down big boy,” Sahara teased as she waved the shoes in front of Jax’s handsome face before sitting down on the hard plastic chair. “Let me change into these shoes so I can kick your butt. Finally, something I’m good at besides music. Are you ready to lose?” The smell of nachos and cheese, hot dog and popcorn filled the air around them as it mingled with people’s laughter and the sound of balls hitting pins echoed in the distance. This had to be one of her favorite places and he wanted to bring her here to relax. He wasn’t sure if she would like it until he talked to Frank before he left for his trip. “Do you think you can really beat me?” Jax taunted, watching as Sahara got out of the seat and stretched her legs. His mouth went dry at how the black shorts hugged her perfect round ass when she bent over to pick up the purple bowling ball. Turning back around, Sahara held the ball against her chest and winked at him. “I’m the queen of this game. No one ever beats me and I do mean no one. So, I’m giving you fair warning right now that you’re going to bite the dust.” Jax perked up at the challenge in his mate’s voice. He couldn’t keep the smile off his face as he thought about a way to knock this up to another level. Yeah, Sahara was asking to be taught a good lesson without even knowing it. She could only tease a vampire so much without having to pay something in the end. “How about we make a little wager?” Jax suggested, walking up to Sahara. “I couldn’t do that to you, baby. Not when I know how good my game of bowling is; it just wouldn’t be right.” “I’m man enough to handle being beaten by a beautiful woman with stunning brown eyes and kissable lips, but if the reason you don’t want to accept my challenge is because you are scared then I totally understand where you are coming from and I’ll be more than pleased to take the offer off the table.”

Sahara placed the bowling bowl back down and met him halfway. “You’re on, green eyes. What do you want if you’re lucky enough to win?” Taking a quick look around, Jax made sure no one else was looking at them before he pulled Sahara closer to him and eased his hand down the front of her skimpy shorts easing a finger inside of her underwear. “What are you doing?” she gasped, reaching for his wrist. “Do you know where we are? You can’t get to third base like this out in public.” “Shhh...you’re going to draw attention to us.” He pulled Sahara’s soft body against him even more making sure his middle finger eased deeper inside of her. Bending his head, Jax nibbled at the side of her neck making sure not to nick her with his descended fangs. If he got a taste of his mate’s blood now out in public, he might not be able to control his burning urge to take her. His need was growing stronger and stronger each day; he only hoped that when he wasn’t able to fight it off any longer that Sahara would be ready for him. “I want you to spend the night in my bed. I’m tired of imagining what it will be like to have you next to me. I want the real thing. Baby, don’t you want the real thing too? Haven’t you lain awake at night wondering what it would be like if we’d finished what we started the other day? Do you think about how it felt to have me almost completely inside of you?” Jax whispered softly against Sahara’s ear. “I can’t lie. I still remember how hot and moist you were, plus how tightly your delicious little body wrapped around my cock pulling me deeper inside of you. I’ve tried using my own hand to get the same sensation, but it isn’t the same. I want you. Don’t you want me too?” Sahara’s short nails dug into his arms as she squirmed against him making his cock jump to life and grow another inch. The sweet scent of her arousal filled his nose. Fuck! He was going to lose what sanity he had left before Sahara let him back between her thighs. “Jax, we can’t,” she whimpered, not knowing how sensuous her voice sounded to his ears. A hint of huskiness was there pushing him to go against his better judgment not to bite her. It wasn’t like he would be doing anything wrong. Sahara was his! She’d belonged to him from the first moment he laid eyes on her...all she needed was a bit more encouragement to see things his way.

“Yes, we can,” he encouraged as he added two more fingers stretching her even further. “You know you want this as badly as I do. Give in to me. I swear I’ll make it a night neither one of us will ever forget.” Sliding his free hand down her back, he palmed her ass before giving it a light squeeze. “You aren’t playing fair, Jax,” Sahara moaned. “You know what your touch does to my body. You’re making it so hard for me to find any reason to turn you down.” “The only thing I want turned down is my bed right before I place you in it. So, is that a yes? If you lose, will you finally spend the night in my bed?” Jax slowly ran his tongue down the side of Sahara’s neck drawing the exceptional flavor of her back into his mouth. The spicy scent of her unique blood was calling to him to taste her. “Yes... I will spend the night in your bed if you win, but I have a little wager too,” she confessed, looking him in the eye. Lifting his head, Jax stared at Sahara wondering what her wager might be. It’s not like he was going to allow her to get away with too much since she was under his protection. “If I win, you have to stand in for my male dancer when I practice my next song at home. Your possessive attitude has made it hard for Uncle Frank to find anyone who wants to come to the house and practice with me. Do you know that every female singer has to use a male dancer at one time, so will you be mine?” “What will I have to do?” Jax frowned as he removed his hands from Sahara’s body. He wasn’t going to be bare-chested just wearing a pair of shorts on stage with her. He’d seen some of the male backup dancers out there and he wasn’t about to become one of them. “No, I’m not going to tell you that. All I want to know is will you accept my wager?” Sahara slowly took a step back from him and fixed her clothing, but he could still see the lingering desire in her eyes. “Yes, if I lose I’ll help you out with your next song.” “I knew you wouldn’t let me down.” Coming back up to him, Sahara kissed him and then ran her hand down his chest until her fingers brushed over his cock. “Maybe you’ll be good enough at bowling to win and we can take care of this little problem.” “Sahara you’ve seen me. You know from firsthand experience that there’s nothing little about me.” Jax planted a hard kiss on Sahara’s mouth and then stepped back.

“Ladies first,” he said, pointing towards the bowling balls. “Don’t get too cocky because I’m going to kick your butt.” Spinning around, Sahara walked over to her bowling ball. Picking it up, she moved over to their lane and stood there for a few minutes before throwing the ball down the lane and getting a perfect strike. Sahara did a little dance before facing him. “Are you ready to forfeit now?” Stalking up to Sahara, Jax looked down into his mate’s upturned face. He couldn’t stop the love he felt for her from filling his heart even more. “Baby you should learn that I’m not a quitter,” he warned before winking at her then picking up his black bowling ball. Without bothering to wait like Sahara did, Jax threw it getting a strike as well. Jax felt Sahara’s shock before he even turned back around to face her. “Should I be nervous that you got a strike this quickly in the game?” Sahara questioned. “The only thing you should be worried about is if I’ll wait until we get home to have my way with you. Or will I want a little foreplay in the parking lot? So, grab another ball and show me what you’ve got left,” Jax taunted as he stepped to the side so Sahara could bowl her next game. He might throw a few games to let Sahara think she had a chance, but in the end he would win like he always did and he was going to enjoy his prize more than Sahara could ever envision.

Chapter Thirty-Four “You know that you could have told me how good—no amazing— you were at bowling,” Sahara complained as Jax unlocked his black SUV. “Why would I want to do a foolish thing like that?” Jax asked. Turning around, Jax yanked Sahara into his arms as the warm night air blew around them teasing the end of his hair. The full moon gave him just enough light so he could see into Sahara’s eyes, but even without the moonlight his heightened senses allowed him to be able to make out her beautiful face. “I wanted to do something with you tonight that didn’t involve everything going on around you. I only wanted to be your boyfriend.” “I like the sound of that,” Sahara said, standing on her tiptoes running her fingers through his hair. “Are you ready to keep your side of our little wager?” Jax asked, rubbing his hands up and down her back. Resting his back against his vehicle, Jax realized that he’d never felt so complete until now. Over his life, he had used his natural wit, along with his keen intelligence and silver tongue to seduce women into bed for partially their pleasure but mostly his. However, with Sahara, every word that came out of his mouth he meant deeply. Since meeting her, he’d learned nothing that he could do really mattered without Sahara at his side. Being the oldest in the family, Jax was used to people following his lead when it came to anything and everything; he wasn’t really fond of being challenge by anyone until Sahara was dropped into his world. Sometimes it didn’t matter what he had to offer women of his time because they always accepted what little he had to give them; they wanted to be in his presence, but Sahara wasn’t like them. He wanted to make time for her out of his day. He wasn’t putting his needs first over hers. There wasn’t a doubt in his mind that he would lay down his life for this woman. So many women that he’d dated or slept with tended to be very complicated with their lives but Sahara wasn’t. She was uncomplicated and perfect in every single way that mattered to him.

“Truthfully, I’ve been ready since the day you stopped when my Uncle Frank came home early,” Sahara confessed, placing her hands on his shoulders. “But, I haven’t made any moves because we’ve been so wrapped up in getting everything together for The Kitty Kat Club.” Jax couldn’t believe Sahara’s admission! Why hadn’t she come to him? God, he’d been aching to be with her but held back out of respect to her. “Never wait this long to tell me you want me. I’m always ready to make love to you and I mean always. Let’s get home, so we can do what we both have been dreaming about.” His need, his desire to make love to Sahara right now scratched at his skin. He couldn’t wait until they were completely alone, so he could feel her soft lips pressed against his. Jax wasn’t quite sure how it had happened but he’d become addicted to the taste of Sahara and unless he got his daily dose his mind along with his body seemed to crash. “Jax,” Sahara whispered, touching his body with the tips of her fingers. “What is it, baby?” “How much longer at we going to stand out here? I’m ready to get home and make you live up to your promise.” “What promise is that?” Jax questioned as he moved Sahara away from his body his heart thudding in his chest. “You promised to give me a night I’ll never forget.” Images of Sahara spread out across his bed...not the bed in Frank’s house but his own personal bed inside his house flashed in Jax’s head. Tonight was the night. Sahara was going to share his bed and nothing or no one was going to disturb them. “Darling, let’s go. I have somewhere very special to take you.” Opening the driver’s side door, Jax gestured for Sahara to climb inside. Brushing past him, Sahara got into his truck and he couldn’t resist sliding his hands over her toned ass. “Hey, watch those hands,” Sahara laughed before sitting down on the passenger seat. “How about you watch what I do with them later when they’re on your beautiful body?” Jax tossed back as he got inside the vehicle slamming the door shut. Before driving off, Jax took one last lingering look in Sahara’s direction wondering if he had enough self-control to make all of her

dreams come true tonight. One thing was for sure, he was going to give it everything he had and more.

Chapter Thirty-Five “I can’t believe you brought me to your house,” Sahara said as she ran her hand across his black leather sofa. “For me to keep my promise to you, I had to bring you some place where we wouldn’t get interrupted like last time.” Jax set his security alarm before tossing his car keys down on the table. Instead of going up to his woman and pulling her into his arms, he stood back and just got lost in the sight of her in his home. Unlike Thorsten and Zander, he hadn’t slept with a lot of women since he came back home because it wasn’t fulfilling for him anymore. Having a different woman in his bed each night wasn’t attractive or appealing to him at this stage in his life. That is why he had been focusing so much on Alpha Male Incorporated. Working long hours was filling the void of coming home to an empty house and bed, but now things might change with Sahara being in his life. “You don’t look like the type of listen to old school Motown songs,” Sahara teased holding up a Jackie Wilson CD from the stand by his CD player. “Uncle Frank plays them all of the time.” “I’m a man of many talents and more secrets than you want to know about.” Coming across the room, Jax took the CD from Sahara and laid it down on his entertainment center. “How about I show you my favorite room in the house?” he suggested already envisioning how perfect Sahara’s mocha skin would look against his white sheets. “Please do. I can’t wait.” Sahara laughed as he lifted her up in his arms and carried her soft weight upstairs. Without a single light, Jax made his way down the hallway with Sahara securely wrapped in his arms. Halfway there, he stopped at a partially opened door and kicked it open with the toe of his black cowboy boots then walked inside. The moonlight shone through the open window down on the bed giving him all the light he needed or wanted for what he had to do tonight.

“Your bed is huge,” Sahara whispered as he stopped a distance away from the side of the black four poster bed with the covers and top sheet already turned back courtesy of his housekeeper Ms. Green. “I love this bed. I had it shipped from overseas about six years ago. I saw it on display in a window and I had to have it. The owner didn’t want to sell it, but after quoting a price he was more than happy to let me take it off his hands.” Jax slid Sahara down his body until she was standing in front of him. He liked how her head barely came to the center of his chest. Sahara was so small and feminine, but no one knew what a powerful opponent she could be when she was pushed. “I bet you’re able to talk most people into doing anything you want.” God, if Sahara knew what he had done in his past, she wouldn’t be here with him like this. “I can’t lie. I have to admit that I can be very persuasive when the time calls for it, but I don’t want to talk about me anymore.” Grabbing the hem of the graphic t-shirt, Jax slowly inched it up Sahara’s smooth body. He wasn’t in any hurry tonight. He wanted to remember every single second of this night. When the shirt finally passed over her head, he flung it across the room away from them. “Hey, I’m going to need my shirt later,” Sahara complained, staring up into his eyes. “No, you aren’t,” Jax corrected. “Once I get you naked and in my bed, you will be without clothes for the rest of the night because you aren’t leaving until I’m ready to let you.” Leaning down, he nibbled at Sahara’s neck loving the low moans coming from her throat when his fangs touched her mocha creamy skin. “Baby, I hope you’re ready for me because I’m more than ready to please every delicious inch of you.”

Chapter Thirty-Six Trailing the tips of his fingers over her body, Jax stopped at the top of her breasts. Her smooth, beautiful skin was taunting him to rip the skimpy lacy bra from her body and suck one of her hard nipples into his mouth. Jax unsnapped the front of Sahara’s bra with a flick of his finger. He slid it off her shoulders and then down her arms until it was completely out of his way. He felt his erection grow thicker and longer as Sahara’s stunning breasts came into view. He had dreamt about seeing her like this again ever since the day they’d almost made love in his bedroom at her house. “You’re so amazing. It’s hard for me to believe that you’re all mine.” Sahara’s breasts weren’t overly larger, but enough to fill his hands. Cupping them, he brushed his thumbs across the tip, smiling when Sahara sucked in a breath between her teeth. “God, that feels so amazing... please don’t stop,” she begged. “I wouldn’t think of it.” Jax lowered his head and sucked one of her hard nipples into his mouth working it over for a few minutes before letting it go. He kissed his way across the valley between Sahara’s breasts to give the other nipple the same loving care as the first one. **** Swallowing hard, Sahara allowed Jax to take control of her body. His mouth and hot tongue licked and caressed her skin until she thought she might lose her mind. His tongue lapped at the light sheen of sweat on her body until he dropped to his knees making him eye level with her black shorts. Grabbing her ass with both hands, Jax crushed his nose across the stop of her shorts. “How much do you like these barely there things?” he asked, glancing up at her from his kneeling position on the floor.

“I love them. They’re very cute and comfortable. I get compliments from men all the time...” Sahara stopped talking when Jax tore the shorts along with her underwear from her body. “They’re gone and I better not catch you in another pair. I won’t allow any other men to be staring at my mate’s perfect ass.” “Listen, I can... Oooooh,” Sahara moaned when Jax’s tongue darted out and licked her navel. She didn’t have time to do much else before Jax stood up and picked her up carrying her the short distance to his bed. He removed her tennis shoes making her completely naked while he was still fully clothed. “Jax, what are you─” “Be quiet,” Jax whispered as his eyes traveled the length of her body. “I want to look at what I have been waiting for centuries to have. You are absolutely the most perfect woman I’ve ever laid my eyes on.” “I bet you’ve told countless women the same thing. I’m not going to believe you haven’t.” “You’re right,” he admitted as he took off his shoes and then yanked the green shirt over his head. “But this time I really mean it.” Sahara licked her suddenly dry lips as Jax stripped naked in front of her. She wasn’t paying attention to any of the words coming out of his mouth anymore. All she wanted...all she needed was him on his bed with her. Once Jax was as naked she took in the fine specimen of man standing in front of her. Jax’s body was truly one of the finest looking she’d ever laid eyes on and her body grew wet at the thought that he was finally going to be making love to her. He stalked towards the bed, and grabbed her knees spreading her thighs wider before kneeling between them. The tip of his cock brushed against her wetness making more cream trickle slowly down her legs. His head lowered towards her and Sahara felt his cool breath against the side of her cheek, he was so close that the tip of her nipples brushed over the hardness of his chest. Sahara closed her eyes and swallowed as she waited in anticipation for Jax to kiss her.

Chapter Thirty-Seven Jax wanted Sahara so badly that his fangs ached from holding back. All he wanted to do was spread her smooth brown thighs further apart and fuck her senseless while taking a bite out of her neck, but he wouldn’t do it. He would show her that he could take his time and make her want him until she couldn’t think of anything else. It had been a while since he’d had sex with a woman...no, made love because that almost incident a few days back didn’t count. He wasn’t a three minute lover when he was with a woman. He wanted Sahara to know and remember who was making her feel good. So, he had to push it up another level for his woman. Lowering his head the rest of the distance, Jax ran his tongue along the corner of Sahara’s mouth. The sexy hint of vanilla splashed on her skin sent a jolt to his cock making it throb to the point of pain. God, he needed to be inside of Sahara and soon or he might not have much more control left. “Are you ready for me baby?” Jax asked by her ear. “I can’t hold back any longer. Do you want me?” He licked the side of Sahara’s neck. She nodded her head and Jax sent up a silent prayer of thanks. With the tiny amount of restraint he had left, Jax lifted Sahara’s thighs slipping his cock inside of her until he met resistance. Sahara tensed up and tried to move away from him, but he tightened his hold. Shit! She felt so incredible and he wasn’t even all the way inside of her. “It’s okay, baby. You can do this. Just relax. You’re meant for me and only me.” Raising his head, Jax caught Sahara’s eyes with his and saw the hint of fear there. He hated he was the one who caused it. “Do you trust me, sweetheart?” “Yes,” Sahara said without hesitation. “You won’t be sorry you do.” Jax lowered his head sucking Sahara’s plumb bottom lip into his mouth. He nibbled at it a few minutes before covering her mouth with his at the same time his body thrust into hers completely.

Sahara’s hand shoved at his shoulders as she tried to buck him off her body, but he grabbed her by the waist holding her still giving her body time to adjust to having him inside of her. This had to be one of the greatest nights of his life. His mate’s body was warm, slick, and tight and held him like a glove. It felt like he had found the other half of himself. Her scent filled his nose drawing him even closer to the edge. He had to be imagining how snug Sahara was...it had to be a dream. Slowly, he licked the inside of her mouth then coaxed her tongue back into his mouth as he withdrew and thrust his cock inside to the hilt. Jax knew he had to make this perfect for Sahara. He had to do it. Jax took a glance at Sahara noticing her eyes were closed and the faint traces of tears touched her silky cheeks. Ending their kiss, he ran his tongue over her tears drawing the salty taste into his mouth hoping Sahara would look at him, but she didn’t. Fuck! It was hard for him to keep from pounding into her, but he would. He couldn’t explode inside of her without giving her the pleasure he’d promised for weeks. “Sahara look at me,” he coaxed, softly. Having Sahara’s body surrounding him was like heaven, but he had to make sure it wasn’t hell for her. Sahara’s eyes slowly opened until she was staring into his green ones. The shimmer of unshed tears lurking there broke his heart. “Baby, are you okay?” he asked, touching her face with the back of his hand. “It hurt worse than I thought it would,” she admitted softly. She moved her hips and Jax fought down his need to work her over with everything he had in him. “I know. I’m sorry, but you were a virgin. You knew there was bound to be a little pain.” “I know,” Sahara sniffed and then smiled at him easing some of the heaviness from his heart. “I’m ready now. I’m getting used to having you inside of me.” God, she wasn’t going to tell him to leave her alone. She wasn’t mad at him. Jax leaned over her, his mouth trailing a hot path from her lips all the way down to the valley between her breasts.

His promise to be an attentive lover for Sahara was quickly slipping when she ran her fingers through his hair holding him closer to her damp skin. Every inch of his mate was so mouth-watering that he wanted to take a bite out of her. She was smoother and softer than the finest silk in the world. Her mocha perfection stood out against his cool white sheets like an artist’s painting. His throbbing erection was about to explode and he knew that he couldn’t hold back any longer. Planted between her thighs, Jax started to move inside of Sahara but it wasn’t enough. He had waited too long for this. He should be deeper. “Wrap your legs around my waist and lock them there. I need to feel you all the way around me. Keep me a part of you for as long as possible.” Sahara did as he instructed and Jax wrapped his arms around her body, so her hard nipples scraped at his chest and he resumed his frantic thrusts. The bed moved with the pounding he was giving Sahara, but he didn’t care. All his mind was focused on giving his woman ultimate pleasure. Jax continued to slide back and forth in Sahara moving their bodies across the sheets. He pushed faster and harder. His actions were spurred by watching Sahara come apart in his arms. Her gorgeous soulful eyes were closed while her short nails scratched at his back urging him to push even deeper. “Come for me, darling. Let me hear what I’m doing to you and your body,” he whispered provocatively inside the shell of her ear. “Jax,” Sahara screamed as her legs tightened around his hips. She cried her release which urged him to dip his head and sink his fangs into the side of her neck. He drank from his mate as his own release shattered through his body and his seed emptied deep inside of her. Lifting his head, Jax licked the puncture wounds on Sahara’s skin drawing the last taste of her blood into his mouth before rolling on his back pulling her on top of him. Sahara sighed, snuggled closer to him and within a matter of seconds she was fast asleep. Jax looked at the contented expression on her beautiful face knowing he was the one who made her feel like she was the most loved woman in the world. Smiling, Jax ran his hand down Sahara’s damp back before he grabbed a discarded sheet off the floor and covered their sweaty bodies. From the first day he’d laid eyes on Sahara in Frank’s den he had been perfectly aware of the attraction they both felt for each other. It was almost

like a lightning bolt had come down and struck right in the middle of the room. Since that one moment, Sahara Chantel had become his obsession and he wasn’t about to let her go for anyone or anything.

Chapter Thirty-Eight What in the hell am I going to do now? Jax thought as he lay awake in his bedroom. He’d already had it bad for Sahara before he found out she was his mate but now since they’d made love his need to protect her had grown to the level of possession...which was going to make his job of being her bodyguard even harder. All the years of him being a vampire, he made sure to stay away from virgins. He didn’t want to be their first, knowing he wasn’t ever going to commit to them. In his opinion, the more experienced the woman was the better until now with Sahara. His mate’s virginal state...well, former virginal state made her only more captivating in his eyes. Hell, he was growing hard again thinking about how he was her first and not some back up dancer or her lousy dancer instructor. Plus, Archer sure wouldn’t know how to please a woman the right way. Not one of those guys were meant for his Sahara and if they tried anything now he would snap them in half without a second thought about it. He thought he had found everything with Colleen when he’d first laid eyes on her coming out of her paint gallery. Something about her soothed a part of the restlessness in him, but if he was honest he couldn’t ever fully commit to her. Maybe that was one of the reasons her senseless murder still bothered him. She might still be alive if the guy hadn’t been looking for him that night. Sahara stirred on his chest and he planted a kiss on the top of her head. Yeah, Sahara was young and loved to get her way whenever she could, but her fierce independence was one of the reasons he loved her so much. How was it possible that women more experienced than the bundle of cuteness lying on his chest weren’t able to bring him to his knees, but Sahara was born to be his eternal love? Truthfully, he’d craved her before he understood who Sahara was to him. Why couldn’t things be easier for the two of them? Why couldn’t he

just turn her and be done with it? No, he had to be the bodyguard of his mate because some sick asshole had his sights on her. Jax knew making love to Sahara hadn’t cured his desire for her. God, it had only made it stronger... More intense. However, one thing was for damn sure. He wasn’t going to wait to make Sahara his for the rest of eternity. The second he got the chance he would go through the exchange of turning Sahara from her human body into his vampire mate.

Chapter Thirty-Nine Standing in front of the dressing room mirror, Sahara checked her outfit one more time making sure everything was in place and the way she wanted it. She would have been here forty-five minutes ago if Jax hadn’t decided he wanted to have sex in the living room one more time before they left the house. She should have told him no, but when he got that look in his eyes and his voice got deeper, those two things made it hard for her to deny him anything at all. He already had her heart and after her performance tonight, she would tell Jax how much she loved him. Spinning away from the mirror, Sahara looked at Jax positioned against the wall with his arms folded across his huge chest. It was his favorite stance when he was mad at her about something. Okay, what was wrong with him now? “How do I look?” Sahara did a little twirl showing off her legs in the short dress and black boots that stopped right above her knees. She thought she looked hot for her performance tonight. “The dress is too short. I don’t...no, I won’t allow you to go out there and show off what’s mine,” Jax snapped. “Plus the pink bow tied across your breasts is giving me ideas of unwrapping a delicious and tasty present. What do you think it will do to those half drunk and horny men out there?” “Jax, you’re making something out of nothing. I’m going to sing and then maybe sign a few autographs. It shouldn’t take more than two hours at the most. I’m going to be perfectly safe with you there to watch over me.” “You don’t know that for sure. I won’t ever stop worrying about your safety until you let me turn you. I could have done it last night when we made love. Even this stalker wouldn’t be able to hurt you once you’re fully my mate.” She wasn’t ready to take that step with Jax yet. The thought of her human side dying to become a vampire didn’t sit right with her.

“Can we not get into this now? I only have a few minutes before Archer comes to get me. I would rather be doing something more fun than arguing with you. Don’t you agree?” Walking up to Jax, Sahara stood on her tiptoes so she could kiss him but he turned his head away. The rejection hit her hard so that she stumbled back from him. She couldn’t believe Jax moved his head away from her kiss. Well, if he wanted to be an asshole he could just be one. Tonight was too important for her to allow Jax’s jealousy to get in the way. “Fine, you don’t want me to kiss you, I won’t and you don’t have to worry about me bothering you again.” Turning away from Jax, Sahara headed for the dressing room door. She needed some air and time away from Jax and his bruised ego. “Sahara...Fuck...Wait a minute,” Jax yelled at her the same time Archer opened the door and walked in. “Am I interrupting something?” Archer asked looking back and forth between her and Jax. “Do I need to come back in a few minutes?” “No, I’m ready to hit the stage,” she said walking up to Archer. “Let’s go and give this crowd a show that only Coco can do.” “Oh, I like how your pretty little mind thinks.” Archer placed his hand in the middle of her back as she went out the door. “Sahara, we need to talk,” Jax’s voice interrupted. “I only need five minutes.” “Sorry Jax. I need to go to people who want to be bothered with me,” she tossed back over her shoulder as Archer escorted her from the room. **** Silently Jax walked next to Sahara as she headed towards the stage with Archer at her side. He didn’t know what possessed him to move his head when Sahara tried to kiss him back in the dressing room. Yes, he was horny and craving another taste of her blood, but he shouldn’t have hurt her in that way because of his hunger and need. His birthday was fast approaching and he was scared he might fall to the sleep of the dead if Sahara didn’t admit she loved him and allowed him to make her his forever. He hadn’t told her about how she needed to be a

vampire after his four hundredth birthday because he wanted Sahara to come to him with her own free will and not out of pressure. The loud ringing chants of Coco touched his ears even more the closer they got to the stage. He couldn’t afford for his mind to be on anything else but watching out for Sahara’s stalker tonight. Everything in him warned him that the guy was going to be here lying in wait for the perfect chance to make his move. He stopped walking when Archer positioned Sahara in front of a black curtain. This was his chance! He would wait until the club promoter went out to introduce Sahara as Coco and then he would straighten out the misunderstanding between them. He couldn’t let her go on stage thinking he didn’t want her sexy mouth on his lips or anywhere else on his body. “Coco, stay here while I introduce you. After I say your name wait a few seconds and then walk out,” Archer instructed then disappeared through the curtain. “Sahara, you need to listen to me,” Jax said the instant they were alone. “You misunderstood what happened back in the dressing room.” “Jax, I didn’t misinterpret anything. I tried to kiss you and you moved your head away. It was pretty easy to understand. How about we just end things altogether? You can find me another bodyguard and I’ll find another man.” “The hell you will!” Jax growled as his hand shot out and he grabbed Sahara by the arm. He felt his fangs descending as his blood pounded through his veins. “You’re mine! If you didn’t think it before we made love know that you are now! I’m not ever letting you go. Yes, I was a bastard for what I did in the dressing room, but that doesn’t give you the right to torture me by saying you want another man in your life and bed.” “You’re right. I’m sorry, Jax,” Sahara said touching his face. “How could I want any other man when I love you so much?” At Sahara’s stunning confession, Jax let go of her arm as all of the heated anger evaporated from his body. “You love me?” “How could I not especially when you get all demanding and start showing a hint of fang to me. It’s very sexy...but I can’t get into it anymore right now. Archer is done introducing me.” Sahara gave him a quick kiss before stepping back and heading through the curtains.

**** Sitting at the table off to the far side of The Kitty Kat Club, the man glanced down at the flyer someone gave him this morning while he was walking along the beach. The image of Coco on the front was good, but it didn’t do her justice as he glanced at her walking out on the stage for her performance tonight. Oh, how the desire to hurt Sahara right this second pushed at him, but he had enough willpower to shove it back down. He couldn’t do anything with her new accessory standing not ten feet from her. Jax Irizarry was the best known bodyguard money could buy. He wouldn’t have a chance at Sahara unless she was away from that giant. The stalker crushed the flyer in his hand before tossing it down next to the chair. He wasn’t going to give up before the night was over. He would get a chance to be within touching distance of that lying bitch Sahara Chantel.

Chapter Forty “When I woke up this morning I expected to see Your handsome face and loving eyes, but to my Surprise you weren’t there in bed next to me. All I found was a cold empty space that left me hurt, Confused and wondering What went wrong between us? Why did you leave? Where did you go? How could you do this To me when I needed you the most? How could you toss me to the Side when I thought you were holding my hand? VANISHED You vanished from my life without a trace. Vanished. You disappeared leaving me wondering what I wasn’t even worthy Of a card or note. Baby, how could you take everything we had worked So hard for away and vanish without so much as A farewell good bye? Didn’t I support you the way I should have? Maybe it wasn’t me, but you were the one Who wasn’t strong enough to wake beside me every day. Instead of staying here you ran Away like a thief in the night. Could you not stay and tell me what went wrong before You decided to pack up and leave me. My mama warned me about your killer eyes and sweet smile, But I didn’t listen because I thought she was wrong and I was right. Now, I’m all alone because you weren’t man enough to Stay with me.

Vanished. You vanished from my life without a trace. Vanished. You disappeared leaving me wondering what I wasn’t even worthy Of a card or note. Baby, how could you take what we had away and vanish without so much as A farewell good bye? Days after you had left me baby, I didn’t know what I was going to do. I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t sleep. I was lost and alone. Before I realized that I Was strong enough to pick myself up And move on from you leaving me in your past. So, for the first time in my life, I wasn’t taken back by you walking out on me. VANISHED. You vanished from my life without a trace. Vanished. You disappeared leaving me wondering what I wasn’t even worthy Of a card or note. Baby, how could you take what we had away and vanish without so much as A farewell good bye?” **** Standing off to the side of the stage, Jax watched as the crowd went wild giving Sahara a standing ovation. He was still in awe at how Sahara could change into Coco once she hit the stage. He knew at the last minute Sahara had decided to sing two songs instead of one, so he was waiting like everyone else to hear what the

second song was going to be. He watched as Sahara waited for the crowd to stop screaming for her before she addressed them. “I want to thank everyone for coming out tonight to see me. I really appreciate everyone’s love and support. The next song I’m going to sing will be the first single off my upcoming CD at the end of the year. It has a special meaning to me, so I hope everyone loves it as much as I do.” Sahara glanced in his direction and then focused her attention back on the crowd before she started to sing again. “When I first met you I didn’t want to accept you into my life. I thought you were trying to take away my fierce independence and strength, So I resisted you at every turn. I had already been taking care of myself for so long that I resented the sudden appearance of you out of the blue. I wanted you gone as soon as our eyes connected because I Saw something in them that scared me. I saw security and someone I could lean on, so I tossed cruel words at you but through all Of my nonsense you never took a step away from me. When I needed you the most you were my protection. Protection, Protection. It never mattered how many times I shoved you away. You always came back and stood there at my side As my protection. Do you know how much I love you? Do you know how good you make me feel? You are the one that I have been looking for After all of these weeks. I love you more than words. I love you more than all the things that money can buy me Because you are...my protection. When I needed you the most you were my protection. Protection, Protection. It never mattered how many times I shoved you away. You always came back and stood there at my side

As my protection. All of the time I thought you wouldn’t be there for me. You proved me wrong. Time after Time. You took care of me through the Toughest times of my life. That is why I love you You are my man. When I needed you the most you were my protection. Protection, Protection. It never mattered how many times I shoved you away. You always came back and stood there at my side As my protection. Do you know how much I love you? Do you know how good you make me feel? You are the one that I have been looking for All of these years. I love you more than words. I love you more than all the things my money can buy me Because you are...my protection When I needed you the most you were my protection. Protection, Protection. It never mattered how many times I shoved you away. You always came back and stood there at my side As my protection.” **** As Jax listened to Sahara’s soft musical lyric, he couldn’t believe what she was telling him. How long had she known she was in love with him? Every lyric in her song was their relationship. She hadn’t left one thing out about how they came together as a couple.

He wasn’t the type to cry about anything, but he did feel his eyes getting a little moist. God, he was glad Zander wasn’t here to see this or he would never hear the last of it. What are you glad I’m not here to see? Zander questioned as his brother’s thoughts touched his mind. Where are you? Jax asked, looking around the packed bar. There were so many people that he could barely see anything at all. I’m over near the front door. Sorry, I’m late but I was with Sabrina. Was Sahara’s last song about you? I believe so. Come over here so I can talk to you the natural way. Let me make my way through the crowd and I’ll make my way over near the stage. I know that’s where you have to be. Zander said. Jax broke the connection with his brother and gave his attention back to Sahara who was standing up on stage taking a bow for the ecstatic crowd as applause broke out all around him for her final song of the night. From the corner of his eye, Jax spotted several fans getting up from their seat towards the front of the stage making their way towards Sahara. Moving away from the side of the stage, he made his way over to them and blocked their path from going any further. “Can I help you?” he asked the boy and girl who didn’t look old enough to be in The Kitty Kat club. “We want to take a picture with Coco and get her autograph,” the young girl told. “Can you please move out of our way?” “Yeah, Coco is smoking hot!” the boy chimed in. “Does she have a boyfriend?” “Yes! She has a boyfriend!” Jax snapped, making the two teenagers take a step back from him. Shit! He had to get himself under control before his fangs started descending or he was going to ruin this by scaring off her fans and that is the last thing he wanted to do to her. “Sorry about that,” he apologized. “Go ahead and get a picture and autographs from Coco.” Jax moved to the side allowing the two young people to rush past him like they were on fire. Standing back, he noticed the crowd of people around Sahara and the smile it brought to her pretty face. He could see this was the life for her. Maybe the fear of losing all of this was the reason she was fighting him so hard.

Did she understand none of this would change when she became a vampire? If anything her skills would get enhanced to the level of perfection. “I see you were able to control yourself from tearing that poor boy apart when he wondered if Sahara had a boyfriend,” Zander said behind him. Turning around, Jax glared at his brother. Sometimes he wished Zander wouldn’t make everything a joke all of the time. “I didn’t lose my temper with that kid,” Jax lied. “Sure you didn’t. I just made up the fear I sensed coming from the direction as I made my way over here to you.” Jax frowned at Zander deciding he would have to be the one who changed the subject because his brother wasn’t about to let it go anytime soon. Tonight was Sahara’s big moment and he wasn’t going to mess it up with an argument with his bothersome brother. “What’s wrong with Sabrina that made you run late? Raya had already cancelled on Sahara earlier because of a late business meeting, so I thought you would be here on time to support her and you weren’t.” “I don’t want to get into it,” Zander said. “It’s nothing I can’t handle.” Jax wanted to continue the conversation, but he suddenly noticed how more fans were beginning to crowd around the stage and rush on it pushing Sahara more to the edge. Taking off from his brother’s side and shoving people out of the way, Jax raced towards his mate sensing danger was close by. As more fans started taking pictures of Sahara with their cameras she held up her hand to block off some of the flashes. All of the attention and craziness from the cameras and the fans was replacing the happiness on her face with sudden fear. The only thought that raced through Jax’s mind as he hurried towards Sahara was why he had allowed her to be by herself for so long. If anything happened to her before he got there, he would never forgive himself.

Chapter Forty-One Sahara tried her best to stay calm and cool as the crowd of fans started surrounding her and asking for autographs plus snapping her pictures from every direction. Usually, she didn’t mind all of the attention from her fans, but everything going on with her stalker had put her on edge. One of these people could be the person who wanted her dead for no reason she could think of at all. The one who sent her the letter Jax didn’t know about yet threatening her life. “Sahara, we need to go!” Jax yelled at her as his towering frame broke through the crowd of fans and rowdy customers. “I’m coming,” Sahara yelled back as she shouldered her body through the mass of people on the stage. She was almost towards the edge of the platform when someone bumped into her from the back and hissed by her ear. “You’re going to pay for what you did. It may not be tonight or tomorrow, but I’m going to get you. I can promise you that your bodyguard won’t be able to save you once I get my hands on you.” Sahara froze in her tracks as the words penetrated her mind and body. Fear like she’d never felt before closed around her heart choking the life out of her. She was so scared stiff that she couldn’t even turn around to see who had just threatened her. What if the person wanted her to turn around giving them an easier chance to hurt, worse killed her, in front of Jax and everyone else inside of The Kitty Kat club? “Where in the hell is he?” Jax asked, suddenly breaking through the crowd and appearing in front of her at the edge of the stage. “He’s here,” Sahara choked out and then gathered up the courage to look over her shoulder into the group of fans still lingering around on stage. None of them seemed like a stalker to her, but sadly one of them was. “I know he is. I heard his thought. Do you know where he went? Did you get a look at his face?” he demanded pulling her close to the comforting warmth of his body as her heart continued to pound in her chest.

“He was right behind me. He promised to make good on his threats.” God, she wasn’t ever going to forget how his hot breath felt against her neck. “FUCK!” Jax spun her around and made a beeline for the front door. “We’re out of here! I can’t believe I allowed him to get that close to you. Well, it won’t ever happen again. I can promise you that.” “Jax, I can’t leave without telling Archer thank you or something,” Sahara protested. “The hell you can’t!” Jax continued to drag her through The Kitty Kat Club and out the front door. “We aren’t staying in that place a moment longer. I knew this was a bad idea, but I let you talk me into it. Shit! I should have listened to my instincts better. I knew I was right and giving into you almost cost you your life.” “Jax, what happened?” Zander asked, running out of the door and stopping next to them on the sidewalk. “My stalker is inside the club,” Sahara answered before Jax could. “Your brother blames me for putting myself in danger tonight.” The noise from inside the club filtered out through the opened door out onto the sidewalk as Sahara waited for Jax to deny what she just accused him of, but the only thing he did was look back at the club over his shoulder and then at his brother. “I need to check on things inside of the club and ask a few questions. Maybe someone in there saw something or at least maybe Archer got something on one of the video cameras he had on display in there. “Can you take Sahara home? Have her pack an overnight bag and then take her back to my house. The security is tighter there than at her house for the moment. I’m trusting you with the most important person in the world. Don’t let her out of your sight for one single minute until you get her under lock and key at my house. I’ll be there as soon as I get done here.” “Don’t worry, I’ll guard Sahara with my life,” Zander swore as Jax handed her over to him. Sahara was shocked at how Jax wasn’t going back home with her. He couldn’t leave her, not tonight out of all the nights. “Jax, I want you to take me home. Not your brother,” she protested, watching as Jax turned away from her. “Go with Zander. I’ll be at my house right after I’m done here, I promise you,” he told her before going back into the club closing the door behind him.

Taken back by Jax’s dismissal Sahara stood in the middle of the sidewalk hurt and pissed off all at the same time. Jax was her man not his brother Zander. He should be the one taking her back to his house reassuring her everything would be okay. But instead of doing that, he left her to go back into the club to look around for a stalker when he didn’t have a clue in hell how the guy looked. “Come on, we need to go,” Zander coaxed gently taking her by the arm. “I don’t want you standing out on the sidewalk late as it is. I’ll give you twenty minutes to pack when we get back to Frank’s and then we’ll go to Jax’s house.” Jerking her arm away, Sahara tossed Zander a hard look. “Why bother taking me back to your brother’s house? He just proved he would rather be away from me than with me. Maybe I was right when I suggested earlier tonight that we go our separate ways. Being apart might be the best thing in the end for the both of us.” “Have you lost your mind?” Zander shouted at her. “You can’t leave Jax. He’s your mate and I won’t lose my only brother to the sleep of the dead!” Sleep of the dead? Sahara didn’t have a clue what Zander was talking about. Jax hadn’t ever mentioned anything like that to her. “What’s the sleep of the dead? How will leaving Jax make him suffer from it?” she questioned as her current problem was pushed to the back of her mind. Her concern for Jax grew more and more; she loved him and didn’t want anything to happen to him because of her. Groaning, Zander ran his hand over his closely shaved head. “I can’t tell you. I’ve already said too much as it is. Jax has to be the one who fills in the blanks since you’re his mate. Can we just go now?” Sahara desired and wanted to find out more about this sleep of the dead, but she would save her questions for Jax when he got back to his house. “Fine, let’s go,” she sighed giving in. Now wasn’t the time to get into all of this. Zander wasn’t the person she needed to have this discussion with. ****

How in the hell did his plan not work tonight at the Kitty Kat Club? Picking up the glass off the table, he threw it across the room hitting the wall. Everything was going ‘perfectly’ at the club. He was right there within touching distance of Sahara and then out of nowhere her damn bodyguard showed up ruining everything. Shit! Tonight wasn’t supposed to turn out like this. Why in the hell didn’t he shoot her when he had the chance the second he got up on her? No, he had to say something to Sahara and that was the reason she was still walking around. Well, this wasn’t over. He was going to get a second chance and next time he wouldn’t change his plans. No. Sahara was still the person he hated most in the world and he wasn’t about to let her get away with what she did to him.

Chapter Forty-Two “How did everything go?” Jax asked after he had finished checking his house making sure everything was locked up and secure. He’d spent the last two hours at The Kitty Kat Club going over the videotape, but he couldn’t tell who had threatened Sahara. There were so many people around her in the video that he wasn’t able to pick out on a clear person and Archer wasn’t any more help to him but he knew the club owner/promoter wouldn’t be. “Sahara is upstairs in the guest bedroom, but I think you should know something before you go up and see her.” The odd tone of Zander’s voice kicked Jax into his fighting mood. What in hell had happened while he was at the club? “What’s wrong with Sahara?” Jax asked, narrowing his eyes. “Did something occur back at the club after I left you with Sahara or did it happen at Frank’s? Shit! Tell me.” “No, nothing went on at Frank’s. It was back at the club after you left me on the sidewalk with Sahara.” He wasn’t liking the sound of what Zander was trying to tell him. Had his brother made a move on his mate and now Sahara was hiding from him? That dress she wore tonight would make any red blooded male lose his mind, even his brother who was supposedly in love with Sabrina. “Tell me what you did to Sahara!” Jax demanded as he closed the distance between him and his sibling grabbing him by the shirt. “Did you do something to her?” “No, I didn’t do anything to your woman,” Zander hollered, knocking his hand off his shirt. “She started talking about leaving you and I told her she couldn’t because you’d fall into the sleep of the dead.” “WHAT!” Jax stepped back from his sibling, so he wouldn’t punch him in the face. “Why did you feel the need to tell Sahara anything? I want her to come to me on her own.” “How could I not tell her? She was threatening to leave you. I wasn’t about to lose you to that damn curse or whatever you want to call the thing when I had a way to stop it. Anyway, Sahara hasn’t made any advances towards you.”

He heard what Zander was telling him, but he still wasn’t happy Sahara knew about the curse and hadn’t heard it from him. “I’ll deal with Sahara. Why don’t you go ahead and leave? I have things covered now.” Jax was already thinking of a way to deal with the questions he knew Sahara had for him. “Hey, I’m sorry,” Zander said touching him on the shoulder. “I had to tell her. You’re my brother and I love you. You know you would have done the same thing for me.” He gave Jax one last pat on the shoulder, then picked up his black bag off the floor and left the house. Walking around downstairs, Jax got his thoughts together before going upstairs to deal with Sahara. He didn’t want to fight with her tonight. All he thought about on the drive home was how her stalker had gotten close enough to her and whispered his sick comments in her ear. This SOB was good which meant he would be dangerous and even harder to catch. He’d planned on making love to Sahara and then just holding her in his arms for the rest of the night. Now, he would have to go through explaining the looming curse to her and what it entailed for their future. **** “Get out!” The words were hurled at Jax the second he walked into the guest bedroom without knocking. “Sahara, we need to talk,” he said calmly as he closed and locked the door behind him. He was going to try his best not to let this turn into an argument between them. She had to listen to him and yelling wasn’t going to get them anywhere. “Why should I listen to anything you have to say? I thought the person you loved should be honest with you. When were you going to tell me about the sleep of the dead?” Jumping up from the bed, Sahara ran up to him. “Why was Zander the one who brought it up instead of you?” “What exactly did my brother tell you about it?” he wanted to stay focused on what Sahara was telling him, but he couldn’t take his eyes off the tight t-shirt and short boy shorts she had on her body. He was already thinking about different ways to strip them off her once their fight was over.

“Zander didn’t tell me much of anything,” she complained. “He told me to ask you and now that I’m trying to do just that you’re staring at my breasts.” Jax gave Sahara a sexy grin. “How could I not stare at the two most perfect items in the world?” “No, you aren’t going to sweet talk me into sex. Tell me what the sleep of the dead is. I want to know and I want to know now.” Great! He knew he wasn’t going to get what he wanted tonight unless he gave Sahara the information that she wanted from him first. Sighing, Jax ran his fingers through his hair tossing it over his shoulders. Sahara was right. He couldn’t expect her to agree to become his mate if she didn’t know everything about him and his life. “In my family, the sleep of the dead occurs when a vampire hasn’t found or turned his unique woman by his four hundredth birthday.” “What exactly is the sleep of the dead? What happens to you?” Sahara asked, some of the anger leaving her voice. Jax tried to think of a way to tell Sahara then decided the truth would be the best way for him to go. “The sleep of the dead means my body will start to get weak, my blood pressure with drop along with my heart rate until I go into a coma and within a week I’ll be dead.” “What do you mean you will be dead?” Sahara gasped. “I didn’t think vampires could die from a lack of mate.” “I’m not talking about other vampires. I’m telling you about my family.” Jax watched in silence at the display of emotions that played over Sahara’s face ranging from disbelief to finally shock. He sighed. “Look, it’s a long story, but basically my family had a curse placed on it far back before anyone can remember. Basically, each man in our family must find the woman who is his one true mate, and turn her by his four hundredth birthday. If not, he dies—for good.” “When will you be four hundred years old?” “Next week on Valentine’s Day,” Jax answered. “What!” Sahara gasped. “Why did you tell me this before now? Didn’t you think I had a right to know about this?” Enough with all of the questions already; he was done answering them. He had more important things he would rather be doing with Sahara tonight. “No more questions,” Jax whispered as he reached for Sahara. “I know of a better way for us to work off some of this tension between us.”

He wanted to get lost in every minute he had with Sahara for as long as he could.

Chapter Forty-Three “Jax, I really want you─” Jax pressed his finger against Sahara’s mouth cutting off the rest of her sentence. “No more talking. I don’t want to discuss the sleep of the dead or anything else. What I want to do is spend the rest of the night making love to you.” Sahara lifted his hand off her mouth. “No, Jax. You aren’t going to get all sexy and demanding on me tonight. Keep all your vampire aura to yourself. We aren’t done talking about the sleep of the dead.” “So, you think I’m sexy?” Jax asked as he brushed his lips along the side of Sahara’s jaw line. “You know I do.” She moaned softly as she placed her hands on his chest. “All you have to do is stand in the middle of a room and sex appeal pours from you making every woman within twenty feet want you in her bed.” “I guess it’s a good thing the only woman I want in my bed forever is you.” Jax slipped his hand underneath Sahara’s shirt and ran it down the length of her smooth back. Sahara wiggled her body against his and her movements sent a jolt to his already hardening cock. “You aren’t playing fair,” she whimpered as her hands tightened on his shirt and her nails scratched his skin through the thin cotton. “Nothing is fair when someone is in love, so it’s worse for me because I’m crazy in love with you.” Tilting her head back, Sahara’s eyes stared into his before a huge grin spread across her face making her dark eyes sparkle. “You sure do have a way with words. I’m thrilled they’re for me and no one else.” “Baby, you only get one love in a lifetime and you’re that for me. I’ll love you even if you decide not to let me turn you after or before my birthday on Valentine’s Day next week.” He lowered his head and nuzzled the side of her neck grazing her sensitive skin with his fangs sending electric pulses throughout his body until he couldn’t think straight.

Picking Sahara up, Jax carried her over to the bed and quickly stripped her out of the tiny outfit that barely covered her luscious body. “What are you...” Her words were cut off when he lowered his head and traced the seam of her mouth his tongue. Jax continued to kiss Sahara until all of the protest left her body and she wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him tighter against her. He couldn’t get enough of hers. Those were the words that popped into his head as the taste of Sahara worked its way into his blood and even deeper, into his heart. Trailing kisses down her neck, he made his way across the top of her breasts stopping at the harp birthmark on display so beautifully there for him and only him. Reaching his hand out, he trailed the tip of his fingers and traced over the birthmark. Sahara moaned at the light caress arching her body into his. Jax loved how Sahara’s body was in such harmony with him. The connection he shared with her provided him with a tremendous desire to give her all of the love and affection he had buried deep inside of him. He had never been a man who experienced much romantic love because he spent most of his existence protecting people from danger and harm. But now that he had found Sahara, he wanted to be ruled by all of the loves there were in the world: nurturing, friendship and of course the best of them all romantic. She was his everything. Their communication was an expression of hands-on love mixed with the physical and, without a doubt, sensual. Jax stood and swiftly shed his clothes until he was as naked as the woman waiting for him. He rejoined Sahara on the bed pulling her hands above her head holding them trapped within one of his larger ones. “Do you know how much I want you?” he asked, tracing the lines and contours of Sahara’s body with his fingers. “Once I got my sights on you I hope you realize you had no chance of escaping me...no, from us.” “Why would I want to escape from what we have with each other?” Sahara questioned. “Sweetheart, you don’t know how good your words sound to my ears.” Jax spread Sahara’s thighs further and pushed all the way into her until he was buried to the hilt. Sahara arched her back and tugged at her hands as low mewling sounds came from the back of her throat driving his need to brand her as his forever up to another level.

“Jax, you feel so hot and thick. I can’t get enough of you inside of me.” Jax stared down at the blissful pleased face of Sahara. Her bedroom brown eyes were slightly closed and her kissable plump lips were parted. He felt his cock swell and grow another inch knowing he was the man doing this to her. “Am I hurting you?” He craved all the pleasure he could get from Sahara, but not at the expense of hurting her. She gave a short nod pressing her hips up to his. With a low groan, Jax grabbed Sahara’s hips and began to thrust in and out of her at a slow leisurely pace. The wetness of Sahara’s body slid over his cock sucking at him shooting tiny sparks of heat from the tip of hard-on all the way through his body until it settled low in his gut. Jax grunted and then clenched his teeth when Sahara’s soft fingers glided through his damp hair, over his shoulders and then down his back stopping right above his hips. “Fuck!” He shouted out the curse when she wrapped her legs around him pulling his cock even further into her body. Being like this with Sahara was more powerful than all of his experiences combined. Nothing in the world was ever going to compare to this... Nothing! He dragged in and out of her and with each movement Jax lost more and more of himself to the woman beneath him. His body began to burn from the need to taste her and his nostrils flared as her natural scent surrounded them. Jax bent his head, ran his tongue over the side of Sahara’s neck then sank his fangs in her neck drawing the sweetness of her blood into his mouth. He fed off her for a few minutes before he withdrew his incisors. “Delicious,” he whispered against her skin. “Jax,” Sahara cried out as her orgasm ripped through her body. With sure and powerful thrusts Jax continued to rock into Sahara. He was trying to hold on because he didn’t want the sensations to end but eventually he lost the battle. Throwing his head back, the strands of his blond hair brushed his shoulders as Jax roared his release and his seed emptied into Sahara’s welcoming heat.

Chapter Forty-Four Jax curled his body against the back of Sahara’s and wrapped his arms around her waist. Tonight had been a rollercoaster ride for him, but it ended on a high note. Sahara was in his arms, but he was still pissed with himself for not keeping her stalker away from her at The Kitty Kat Club. “Jax,” Sahara’s soft voice whispered breaking into his thoughts. “Yes, what is it sweetheart?” “Tell me about Colleen. Who was she to you? Did you love her?” Hearing Colleen’s name coming from Sahara’s mouth momentarily shocked Jax speechless. Why was Sahara asking about her? He repositioned their bodies so Sahara was facing him. “Why are you asking about Colleen all of a sudden?” “I remember you talking about her once. It seemed like you loved her a lot. Is she the reason you became a bodyguard?” The thought of talking about a past lover with his mate made Jax feel a bit uncomfortable. Colleen was in his past and he would like for her to stay there. “I don’t think I should talk about Colleen with you,” he said. “Please, I already know she meant something special to you.” Sahara placed her hand in the middle of his chest over his heart. “Tell me about her. I want to know.” Jax covered Sahara’s hand with his and took a deep breath allowing thoughts of Colleen’s smiling face to fix in his head again. “No, Colleen wasn’t the reason I became a bodyguard. I had already been one for several years before I met her. The first time I laid eyes on Colleen she was coming out of her art gallery and something about her drew me instantly. “I mean she had this presence that would make anyone stop and take notice. We were together for close to a year before she was murdered and it was all my fault because the guy who did it wanted to make me pay.” “What are you talking about? How was Colleen’s death your fault?” Sahara questioned. “A guy I helped put away for stalking his wife got out of prison and traced me down. He saw me with Colleen and waited for the perfect

opportunity for her to be alone in her art gallery. He went inside and killed her in her office. He was caught a couple of days later and confessed to the police I was the reason he killed Colleen.” “Oh my God!” Sahara gasped. “Jax, that’s horrible but you have to realize her death wasn’t on your shoulders.” “I know,” he sighed. “But it took me a while to realize it wasn’t.” “Was she a vampire like you?” “No, Colleen was human and much as I wanted to turn her I couldn’t. Now I see why I couldn’t do it. She wasn’t the love of my life. You are.” Sitting up on the bed, Sahara held the sheet against her breasts and looked down at him with a serious expression on her face. “Jax, I want you to turn me. I want to be with you forever,” she said, staring into his eyes. “I don’t want you to suffer the sleep of the dead. I love you.” “No, I won’t do it!” Jax flung the sheet off his body and got out of the bed. “Wait! Why not?” Sahara demanded behind him still on the bed. “Isn’t this what you’ve been wanting for, for weeks now?” Spinning back around, Jax rushed back to the bed. He wrapped his hand around Sahara’s upper arm tugging her to him. “I don’t want or need your pity. Don’t ask for this because of what happened years ago to Colleen. I want you to be with me out of love or nothing else.” “Jax, I do love you. Didn’t you hear the words to my song tonight?” Sahara asked. “You may think you do here,” Jax countered tapping his finger against Sahara’s head. “But, I need it to be true in here.” He moved his finger and placed his hand over her heart. “Until you feel the love for me in your heart, I will never be able to escape the sleep of the dead. It doesn’t matter if I change you or not.” “Jax,” Sahara said. “Listen to me. I do love you with everything I have in my heart.” Jax shook his head. “I wish I could believe you, but I can’t.” Taking his hand off her chest, Jax snatched up his clothing off the floor and stormed into the bathroom to get dressed wondering how did his night had turned from something so good into something so bad.

Chapter Forty-Five Valentine’s Day “When I got dragged to the party by my friends; I thought it was just going to be another one of those nights. You know the kind I’m talking about. When you have to wear the typical Short dress and high heels to show off what you got. So, I just swallowed down my pride and did what I had to do for my music. Little did I know how my night would be forever changed when you walked Through the doors and then sauntered into the crowd room. My God, all I could think about was how I only wanted and desired Seven minutes of alone time with you. It only took seven minute for me to realize How I felt as soon as you walked through the doors. Seven minutes for me to know I wanted to make You mine for the rest of our lives. Seven minutes to know all of the people I have Dated in my past prepared me for only you And this one special moment. Seven minute wouldn’t pass without me getting up Enough nerve to walk across the crowded room And ask you to dance. So, all I need is seven minutes of your time. After I got you alone. I couldn’t get over How the sound of your voice and the direct Contact of your eyes mesmerize me

Almost as if you were hypnotizing me with them. Could you really read my most intimate thoughts about you? The way all I could think about the ways I might put you into my life? Or would it only be wishful thinking on my part? Because baby all I cave from you at this moment was. It only took seven minute for me to realize how I felt as soon as you walked through the doors. Seven minutes for me to know I wanted to make You mine for the rest of our lives. Seven minutes to know all of the people I have Dated in my past prepared me for only you And this one special moment. Seven minute wouldn’t pass without me getting up Enough nerve to walk across the crowded room and ask You to dance. So, all I need is seven minutes of your time. eye

Now years later when I catch a glimpse of you from the corner of my

In our home cooking dinner or doing what made you the man I fell in love with. I think back to the time I only desired seven minutes of your attention and Now you’re a part of my heart. I know that those first seven minutes I met you were the best of my life. It only took seven minute for me to realize How I felt as soon as you walked through the doors. Seven minutes for me to know I wanted to make You mine for the rest of our lives. Seven minutes to know all of the people I have Dated in my past prepared me for only you And this one special moment.

Seven minute wouldn’t pass without me getting up Enough nerve to walk across the crowded room and ask You to dance. So, all I need is seven minutes of your time. Standing in the back of the studio, Jax watched as Sahara finished practicing her song. Ever since the fight they’d had in his bedroom she really hadn’t said much to him. Mostly, Sahara had been hiding out in her bedroom or in her studio working on her dance moves. This was the first time he’d heard her sing since the night at The Kitty Kat Club and he missed the sound of her singing voice. “Is Seven Minutes going to be the second single released from your CD?” he asked. “It should because it’s very beautiful. Any man who heard it would think you are singing it directly to him and no one else.” Twirling away from the microphone, Sahara glanced back over her shoulder at him. She cut off the music before getting off the stool. “I didn’t know anyone was here. I wasn’t expecting to see you.” “I just got off the phone with Frank. He’s going to spend another week overseas. He’s having fun with some woman he met over there. I told him about the incident at the Kitty Kat club. He wanted to come back home, but I assured him everything was fine and I could handle things.” “Really...aren’t you concerned about the sleep of the dead about to come to you?” Sahara asked as she came towards him. “Isn’t today your four hundredth birthday? If I remember correctly, you only have a couple of days to live after it’s over. So, who is going to protect me once you’re gone?” Jax closed his eyes and tried not to think about what was going to happen to him. Sahara was right. Next week, the symptoms of the curse were supposed to start taking effect on his body. But he was here now and he was going to continue to protect her until he no longer had the ability to do it. “Jax, look at me.” Opening his eyes, Jax found Sahara standing directly in front of him. Against his will, his hand reached out and touched the side of her face. Why couldn’t she have meant the words she told him the last time they’d made love? He would have turned her that night, but she only wanted him to do it because of his history with Colleen.

“Why are you denying my love for you?” she asked, placing her hand on the top of his. “I want to be with you because I love you. Don’t you understand how my world will be completely and utterly over if you aren’t in it with me?” “No! You’re only telling me what I want to hear.” Jax jerked his hand away from Sahara. “I won’t allow you to torture me like this. Zander should never have opened his fucking mouth about the curse. You wouldn’t be here now in front of me pretending to be in love with me.” “Pretending to be in love with you...” Sahara shrieked. “How can a man as fine as you, be so damn dense? God, what else do I have to do to prove my love for you? Do you know the night I asked you to turn me was the anniversary of my parents’ death?” Surprise hit Jax’s body at Sahara’s news. He hadn’t had a clue. Why hadn’t she told him before now? “You told me that I couldn’t come back to you until I loved you with my heart instead of my head. Well, I’ve loved you with my heart for a while. My heart was in love with you way before my head even entered the picture. “Every time I was with you and you would look at me I knew I had something special because my father always had the same look in his eyes anytime he looked at my mother. The sleep of the dead isn’t the reason I asked you to turn me.” “So Zander was the reason wasn’t he,” Jax demanded. “He made you feel duty-bound to do it.” “Zander telling me about it didn’t have anything to do with it either. I wanted to be with you forever...because I love you and nothing else. Valentine’s Day is about love and promising forever to be with the one you love. How could I take this day and lie to you about my feelings?” Sahara asked, watching him, waiting for a reaction. For centuries, Jax had never believed in the rumors about a Unique woman, a human female who was out there and born for him and no one else. He thought his life would end because of the sleep of the dead...now he had a talented and beautiful woman confessing her love for him. A love he had fought for since the first moment Sahara introduced herself to him inside of Frank’s den. He already loved her so much and it was only going to get better once he turned her into a vampire. “Fine, if you’re too stubborn or blind to see what is right in front of your face, I’m not going to tell you anymore how I care about you.”

Sahara went past him, but with lightning speed his hand shot out and grabbed her arm. “You aren’t going anywhere. If I’m not mistaken today is my birthday and I believe you have offered me the gift I’ve been wanting for a while,” Jax said as he spun Sahara back around to face him. “What if I want to take the gift back?” Sahara asked, watching him. “You know I have the right to do that, don’t you?” “I believe I forgot to tell you the number one rule you don’t break when dealing with a vampire,” Jax teased. He tugged Sahara to him. She lifted her chin. “I don’t care what the rule is since we’re over.” He shook his head. “You’re a liar and we both know it. You want to know what the rule is; I can see it all over your face.” “You need to have your eyes check because you’re seeing things.” Jax couldn’t stop the full smile that spread across his face. “Baby, we both know that I have perfect eyesight. I can see very clearly.” Oh, how he was going to love spending the rest of his life with Sahara; every day was going to be an adventure. “Fine, tell me the stupid rule, so I can leave and get on with my life,” she complained. He leaned close. “Never promise a vampire that you will be his forever, because he might just take you up on the offer.” “Do you think you can handle me being yours forever?” Sahara asked a smile pulling at the corner of her mouth. “I mean I do love getting my way, but you already know that by now.” Oh, yeah! Jax knew he could handle anything and everything his mate was going to give him in the eternity they were going to spend together. “Darling, you bet that I can handle it and I’m going to enjoy every single minute of it.” Standing on her tiptoes, Sahara wrapped her arms around his neck. “Prove it,” she whispered against his mouth. “It will be my pleasure.”

Epilogue A month later “How are things with Sahara since you turned her? Has she gotten used to all of her heightened senses?” Zander asked him as he watched Sahara through the kitchen window outside playing with the German Shepherd puppy he got her as an early birthday gift. “I think she’s getting used to it, but I still don’t let her go out by herself since her stalker is still out there. She confessed to me the other day that she’d gotten a letter from the guy a day before her performance at the Kitty Kat club,” Jax said, glancing at his brother from the corner of his eye. “You mean she hid it from you?” “Yes and she finally showed it to me yesterday. It was a picture with a red X across her face with the words Die Bitch. I was so furious with her. I mean that night I could have lost her and not even known she had gotten a warning from the bastard. I’m having a hard time knowing the person threatening Sahara’s life is still out there.” “Do you have any clue how to find this guy? I mean he’s extremely smart and crafty. He knows not to do too much so you can track him. He just sends letters or threats at the perfect time.” “I’m trying not to scare Sahara because she’s just beginning to relax a little when she goes out with me. After the incident at the Kitty Kat Club, she had a problem even going out the front door without me even after I turned her.” “Frank wanted us to go with him to the mall a week after Valentine’s Day and she didn’t want to go. So, I had to stay at Frank’s with her and she invited Raya over for a visit.” Looking away from the window, Zander faced him completely. “What are you going to do about the guy?” “I’m going to find this jerk and make sure that he spends the rest of his life behind bars. I might not been able to save Colleen but I’m sure in the hell going to make sure Sahara is safe and well-protected. She’s living with me now instead of Frank and the wedding is in two months.”

“Enough about me. Tell me what’s going on with you and Sabrina? Have you made the move with her yet? Does she know she’s your mate?” Zander shook his head. “No, Sabrina has the misconception that I’m like a brother.” Chuckling, Jax crossed his arms over his chest as he rested his back against the kitchen sink. “Are you going to change her opinion of you?’ “Damn right I am. Sabrina is mine and I’m not going to wait any longer to make her see me as her lover and not a shoulder to cry on.” The End Coming Soon Alpha Male Incorporated: Access Granted *** All Songs © by Marie Rochelle***