The Seduction of Jac Frost (by Tatienne Richard) novel Chapter 120

Walking Home

Jacqueline waited until all her priestesses were gone before

she took the hands of her mates and walked away from the

spring.

“Jacqueline.”

Bjorn’s voice called as they reached the edge of the clearing.

She turned back to look at him, “yes Bjorn.”

“Thank you. Thank you for everything. I know my brother wouldn’t give me the time of day if it weren’t for the love he has for you in his heart. I will not let you or the Queen Mother down. I pledge this to you and to my brother and her.

I swear.”

She nodded. “I’ll hold you to that.”

Bar called out, “Dana, you and I will have a chat later, but

you should know, he wasn’t a complete twat most of our

lives. He was actually a pretty decent big brother most of my

life. His beast is actually really cool, despite the casing it’s

currently in.”

1/11

11:43

C

Walking Home

+14 Bonus

Jacqueline tucked her arm in the crook of Bar’s elbow and pulled him to begin walking with her and the twins towards

the cabin.

“Why are we walking?” Rafferty questioned.

“I think while we walk we can have a good talk,” Jacqueline said seriously. A scream from behind them made her footsteps falter but Bar pushed her to keep walking.

“Bjorn isn’t wasting time. He claimed her. You do not want to turn around unless you want to see him throwing her down and tearing her clothes off her while she begs him to fuck her.” Bar snorted when she tried to look over her shoulder. “What do you want to talk about?”

“Last night,” she shrugged as she fought her curiosity as a loud roar bellowed out from the direction of the spring. “We

were that loud?”

“Louder,” Wilder grinned at her as he hooked his arm

around her neck. “You were in the midst of it, and you were wailing as well. It was very sexy. One of my all–time favorite memories is when Bar sunk those canines into you and we

were somehow all joined.”

2/11

11.43

*14 Bonus

< Walking Home

“Same.” Rafferty nodded as he slapped Bar on the shoulder as he walked on the other side of him. “The only memory which tops that is the very first time I touched Jacqueline and

saw that gold band wind around our wrists.”

“Even with me not feeling it?”

“Even then because I knew, in front of me, was the person the Queen Mother created special for me.” Rafferty insisted. “It was the best day. To see you there and to know you would be

mine, it was exhilarating.”

“I agree.” Bar said, “though I admit unlike Rafferty I was bloody terrified when you didn’t feel it. Best feeling in the world followed by my stomach plummeting to my feet. But I knew you’d come back to see me. I knew the bond would pull

you.”

“She mentioned going to you to fuck around several times.” Wilder grunted, “we weren’t aware at the time why she was still thinking of another man when we were so close to her. Now it makes so much sense. We were meant to be together.

All of us.”

“Yes, we were.” Bar agreed as he let his hand rest on Rafferty’s shoulder. “Forever.”

3/11

11.43

< Walking Home

434 Bonus

Jacqueline smiled at their words, “we’re lucky.”

“We are.” Bar nodded and then spoke softly, “I owe the three of you apologies for last night. I’d intended to apologize this morning but all of this,” he waved behind them at the spring

which was now in the distance, “came up far sooner than I

was expecting. However, I want you all to know how sorry I

am.”

“Me too,” Jacqueline whispered.

“You have nothing to be sorry for, mate,” Bar commented

seriously. “You did nothing wrong.”

“I let my own fears and insecurities keep me from coming after you. I,” she took a breath, “I was scared if we went after you, you would tell me you’d made a mistake. I knew you were hurting and while I knew you shouldn’t be alone because of how angry you were, but I was scared of your temper and what might come from it.”

“Jacqueline,” he stopped walking and pulled on her arm. “You are afraid of my temper? Did you think I would cause you or

Wilder or Rafferty physical harm?” The concern on his face.

was obvious as his voice strained with emotion.”

4/11

11:43

+34 Bonus

< Walking Home

“I was afraid of the words you might speak.” She admitted

looking into his dark eyes, chagrin rolling through her. “I was being a coward. I was so afraid of rejection that I let it control doing what was best for you. I convinced Wilder and

Rafferty that since you demanded to be left alone, we should

let you be.” She bit her lip, “but you never actually said you

wanted to be alone.”

“What?” Rafferty commented. “Yes he did.”

“No. He said he needed to go for a walk and get his head on

straight. I asked if he wanted company, but he didn’t answer. He left the booth, but he didn’t say anything. I took it as a

rejection and I didn’t want to hear him say the actual words, considering he’d just called me an appeasement,” she looked at Rafferty who was clearly trying to recall the conversation. “Then I convinced you both to come with me and told you he said he wanted to be alone, but he never actually said it.”

“You lied.” Bar cocked his head to one side. “Why?”

“I was scared!” she yelled and then blinked away her tears.

“You called me an appeasement, and it was, it is clear, you have your first mate on your mind. You didn’t have to share. her. You were trying to make a family with her, and you loved

5/11

11:43

+34 Bonus

< Walking Home

her so much, so deeply and I was jealous, yes but I am terrified I won’t measure up.”

“How could you not measure up, my mate?” Bar asked softly as he slid his hand up her bicep, over her shoulder to cradle her nape softly.

“Because if you take away the Queen of Kings and Queens thing, I’m nothing special.” She blinked tears of frustration. “I’m just a kid from New York who grew up in the foster system who doesn’t know how to love or be affectionate. I’m not rich like the twins. I’m not a shifter with a beast. You had

a connection with another shifter, Bar. You had a mate Orson could actually mate with. You,” she wiped angry tears off her cheeks, “you had this once in a lifetime love with your true mate and I’m simply a consolation prize and a shitty one at

that.”

“Oh Jacqueline,” he pulled her into his arms and squeezed her tight as she snuffled against his chest. “No. Honey no.”

Wilder and Rafferty stood apart from them a few steps to

give them a moment as Bar rocked Jacqueline in his arms.

“I messed up so much last night, mate and that is on me and

not on you. Do not ever doubt my love, my dedication, and 6/11

11:43

+34 Bonus

< Walking Home

my gratitude for the wonderful gift of you and our bond.” He cupped her cheeks and he pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. “I love you deeply, Jacqueline and there is nothing or nobody who will ever make me stop. I will never reject our bond. I will never leave you.”

“I know but –”

“There is no but,” he reassured her. “I will not tell you that I did not love my first mate. I will not diminish her memory by saying she was less than, but it is comparing apples to oranges, Jacqueline.” He looked to Wilder and Rafferty, “do you love them?”

“Yes.”

“Do you love me?”

“Yes.”

“Who do you love more?”

She blinked at the bold question, “none.”

“Me because she met me first,” Wilder tossed out with a

teasing grin.

7/11

11:43

+34 Bonus

< Walking Home

She shot him an annoyed look, “that’s not true. I love you all equally. I can’t explain it, but I just do.”

“So, you don’t love him more because you met him first?”

“No.” she protested and then at Bar’s raised eyebrows made her mouth round out as she reached the conclusion they were leading her towards. “You’re saying just because you loved her first doesn’t mean you love me less.”

He kissed the tip of her nose, “exactly.”

“I do love you Bar.” She bit her bottom lip. “I’m not used to

feeling vulnerable or weepy or weak for that matter. I’m tough, strong, and independent.”

“I know that. I love this about you. You’re feisty, smart, and

beautiful,” he hoisted her up in his arm and her legs wrapped

around his waist as he resumed walking in the direction

of the cabin. “I will never belittle the love I have for you by

comparing it to the love I had for her. It isn’t the same and

if I am honest, the love I had for her is faded now, like one

of those old black and white photos. It’s a beautiful memory

but it is tied to a great deal of pain, frustration, and anger. I want,” he stepped over a log, “to let the bad part of those

8/11

11:43

34 Bonus

<Walking Home

memories go. I want to try to remember only the good stuff

because holding onto the bad is fueling that dark anger in

me which I need to let go of.”

She nodded as she rested her cheek against his shoulder.

“We can help with that,” Rafferty offered. “Last night Jacqueline wasn’t the only one who was worried for you. We love you too. I feel a deep emotional connection to you Bar and when your anger interferes with our bond in a way that you feel shut off, it makes my skin itch. I don’t like it.”

“I know. I needed away from Bjorn and from the pain of the memories. The last actual conversation I had with him was

the day of her burial and then he showed up yesterday and

found his mate and it hurt. Fuck it hurt. However, you three

need to understand that pain doesn’t mean I love you three less.” He took a deep breath as the cabin came into view, “I love you all so very much and I will never stop loving you.

There is room in my heart for all of you.”

Jacqueline squeezed him tightly. “I love you too, Bar. I’m sorry for lying and not coming to you last night. I will

never leave you alone again. Even if you ask for space, I’m probably going to intrude on your peace all the time.”

9/11

11:43

+34 Bonus

< Walking Home

“You are my peace, Jacqueline. You came into my bookshop like the first breath I’d taken in decades. I cannot express enough to you how much I was not living until you popped into my life again.”

“Is anyone else hungry?” Rafferty asked as they drew near to the front door of the home.

“Yes. How about I make us lunch and then we all climb back into bed,” he pushed the door open and gently set Jacqueline on her feet, “and have a nap?”

“And sex.”

Three sets of eyes focused on Jacqueline.

“What?”

Wilder laughed at her innocent blinking, “you are showing your mystical creature side, my mate.”

“Do you know how much pheromones were floating around that damn spring today? First, my parents. The minute Daddy Jack had his arms wrapped around Winika she was desperate to get him naked. Then River and Wraith, especially when I imbued power into him. He was ripe with it. 10/11

11:43

+34 Bonus

< Walking Home

Then Dana and Bjorn. Let’s not talk about my strong, sexy men kneeling at my throne. Even the priestesses were turned on by all the sexy smells. I need sustenance for all my basic needs please.”

She giggled as Wilder lifted her and tossed her onto the sofa and falling atop her.

“Bar, you make lunch and I’ll get out girl started on the other needs she has.”

“Salami sandwiches?” Rafferty offered jokingly.

As they all groaned with the joke, Jacqueline realized she was thrilled with the outcome of her day.

Now it was time for her to get hers.

8

Write your comment

11/11

ir Gifts

11:43

< The Seduction of Jac Frost