“Dammit, female.” Raphael grasped her hand and turned her toward him. “Enough.”
Ashe stared up into his handsome face. His eyes were glowing. Fierce. Otherworldly. That look always had the power to make her both quake with unease and come with abandon.
“Please don’t make me guess,” he said, his control wavering. “You know how bad I am at that.” His cat was lurking close to the surface, spicing the air with his heat and hunger. “And I refuse to fail you again tonight.”
His words speared her heart. It was juvenile that she didn’t want to have to tell him what was wrong—that she wanted him to instinctively know. Granted, he had many amazing qualities. He was loyal, protective, honorable, and sexy as hell. But he was no mind reader. He was a cat. And seven years ago, he’d claimed her as his mate. As far as he was concerned, their relationship was settled. Clearly he found it difficult to understand why Ashe needed his constant reassurance that he loved and needed her.
Maybe it was because she was a human. Or maybe it was because she was a woman.
Whatever the case, she needed more.
“Look,” she said finally. “Here’s the thing. Soyala isn’t the only one you made promises to.”
Raph tilted his head, no doubt searching his memory for what he might have promised. “…I did say I would take you someplace special for our anniversary.” Raph frowned in confusion. “But our anniversary isn’t until… Oh, fuck.”
“Yes.”
“Last week.” His gorgeous face twisted with regret. “I’m such an ass. I’ll make it up to you, sweetheart, I promise,” he rasped, his fingers skimming up her arms to gently cup her face in his big hands.
Her gaze fell. “It’s fine. Just please don’t make any more promises. It hurts too much.”
“Ashe—”
“Maybe you’re just not into me anymore or something,” she said with a forced laugh.
“What?” Sudden fire flashed in his eyes.
“Maybe you’re not attracted to me…”
He snorted. “Not a fucking chance.”
“It can happen after years together—”
“Not with us it can’t. And definitely not with me.” He lifted her face to meet his and gave her a gentle, almost teasing grin. “I would ask you the same…if perhaps you’re no longer attracted to me, but…” He inhaled deeply, then growled low in his throat. “My nose always tells the truth. And I scent your sweet cream even now, ma cher.”
Ashe gasped at the endearment, tears pricking her eyes.
Raphael’s expression clouded with sudden concern. “What’s wrong? What did I say?”
Emotion filled her throat, nearly cutting off her breath. She couldn’t stand there anymore, his hands on her, his eyes searching hers for answers. It was too much. It had been too much for a while now. She pulled free of him and started to run.
“Ashe…wait!”
But she was off. Granted, she was no Pantera, but when she wanted to be—when she needed to be—she was fast. And, even in the darkest of nights, she knew this land like the back of her hand. Every tree, every hill, every flower.
“Ashe!” he called again.
No! No…
The cool, perfumed air rushed her face as she ran toward the shoreline, her tears drying just as more took their place. But in the end, she was no match for the leader of the Pantera. He was on her in seconds, and with a frustrated growl, lifted her up and pressed her back against a massive willow tree near the water’s edge.
“Talk to me,” he demanded, his gold eyes blazing under the light of the purple moon. “Please. You’re scaring the shit out of me.”
“I just…can’t…” she said through a choked sob. “You haven’t called me that in…I don’t know how long.”
“Called you what?”
“Ma cher.”
He stilled, the sounds of the wind in the grasses and the lap of water against the bank the only things competing with their ragged breathing.
“Ashe…sweetheart…”
She shook her head.
“Ma cher…” he whispered with a hint of a growl.
Tears streamed down her cheeks and she swiped them away. “I hate you.”
“I know.”
“And your nose was wrong, by the way…completely wrong. I’m not turned on. And I’m definitely not attracted to you.”
“I understand.” He reached up and cupped her cheek.
He was playing with her, but gently, teasingly, lovingly. His palm was so warm…
Damn cat.
Damn sexy, wonderful, frustrating cat.
“Maybe I can earn back your attraction?” he suggested, the heat coming off those gold eyes hypnotic. “After all, it is a very precious gift to me.”
“How do you propose to do that?” she asked with a sniff, lifting her chin ever so slightly.
A hint of a grin touched his lips. “Well…first…” His hands found her waist and his thumb played with the top button of her jeans. “I’ll be taking these off.” He leaned in and kissed her softly. “You wore these to torment me, didn’t you?”
Her breathing changed instantly, as it always did when he touched her. “Maybe.”
He chuckled softly. “Well, it worked.”
He kissed her again, but this time it was a slow, drugging kiss that made her only partly aware that her zipper had descended, quickly followed by the offending jeans.
“We’re in the middle of the Wildlands, Raph,” she uttered.
He nuzzled her neck in response. Ashe groaned at the feeling of his lips on her skin, his teeth scraping gently against her pulse point. His hand…
A snarl vibrated in her ear and she gasped.
“You’re not wearing underwear,” he said darkly, cupping her shaved pussy. Her very wet pussy. “You truly did come prepared to torment me.”
She whimpered and thrust herself against his palm.
“You will bring my cat to the surface if you’re not careful,” he warned, sliding two thick fingers inside her.
“Good,” she replied breathlessly. “I have no issue with him.”
He drew out and thrust up hard and deep inside her. “Just don’t forget who you truly belong to.”
She gasped. “You’re right. Here, kitty…kitty…kitty.”
On an irritated snarl, Raph dropped to
