On Jason's Watch [Paladin Protection Agency 2] (Siren Publishing Classic) by Susan Hayes

understand.” Jazz knew somewhere along the way this conversation had turned into something much more important than she’d intended. It was a glimpse into the man beneath the armor.
    “I’ve seen and done things, things I’m not proud of. Paladin is a chance for me to balance the scales.”
    “You’re a good man, one of the best I’ve ever met,” she protested, dipping her head to nuzzle against his hand.
    “No, sweetheart, I’m not. I’m learning to be a good man. That’s what Paladin is, a second chance. We’re all there for our own reasons, but every member of that company is either ex-military or the family of someone who served. Remington built it that way.”
    “It’s nice to know I’m not alone.” She smiled, suddenly understanding why the fates had brought her to Paladin. “I’m trying to redeem myself, too, trying to make up for the monster.”
    “I keep telling you, you’re not a monster.” He drew her in and kissed her softly.
    When he finally stopped long enough for her to think again, she just shrugged and pushed him back onto the bed so she could finish treating his wound. “And I told you, I think you’re a good man. We’ll just have to keep working on convincing each other.”
    “You have yourself a deal, Miss Masters.” His smug grin faltered as she poured a generous splash of hydrogen peroxide over the bite. “Ouch.”
    “You’ll be fine. I did promise it kiss it better, didn’t I?” She dried the area and applied a dab of antibacterial cream and then stuck a Band-Aid on top for good measure.
    “Where’s my kiss?” He was almost pouting now, his eyes gleaming with humor as he lifted his arm and did an amazingly good impression of a sad puppy.
    “First I clean this mess up. Then you get a kiss. I suspect if I try to do it the other way around I’ll regret it.”
    She gathered up the contents of the first aid kit and tried not to yawn. Suddenly she was tired again. What she wanted more than anything else was to curl back into Jase’s arms and sleep.
    He must have read her mind because when she returned from the bathroom, he was already switching off the light, and the moment she was back under the covers, he had her in his arms. “I still want that kiss,” he whispered.
    She snuggled herself in close and brushed a soft kiss to side of the bandage, quickly followed by several more. “All better now?”
    “For now, yes. I may need more of those come morning.”
    “For you, I’ll even make house calls,” she quipped and then asked him the question that had been on her mind since he’d woken her so violently. “How often do you get these nightmares, Jase?”
    “I used to get them all the time. Now, maybe once or twice a week. I really am sorry.”
    “Don’t be sorry.” She reached up to stroke his cheek. “I just wanted to know how many times a week I can expect to be woken up like that, so my wolf doesn’t freak out next time it happens.”
    “Miss Masters, are you planning on spending more nights in my bed, then?” She heard the laughter in his voice, as well as a note of relief.
    “I guess that’s up to you. After all, you’re the one who would be sleeping with a werewolf.”
    “No, sweetheart. I’d be sleeping with you. And I’d like that very much.”
    “Me, too,” she whispered and then closed her eyes with a contented sigh and wished for sleep to come quickly. It did, and as morning came, she began to dream.
    She was running through the city streets. It was dark, but she knew dawn was coming soon. She could feel it. The streets were wet and heavy with a hundred different scents. People and machines. Rain-soaked asphalt and alleys full of forgotten trash, some of it human. None of those scents were the one she was seeking. Not tonight. Tonight she needed to find one scent. One among thousands. She lifted her muzzle and inhaled. There! That one!
    She followed her nose, running hard. The wind blew gusts of rain into her eyes and made her nose