“Even if you could mate a shifter?”
“Nothing will change my mind.”
“How do I become your mate?’
“When we fuc—make love—I’ll bite you.” His finger traces the curve between my neck and shoulder. “Right here.”
“Will it hurt?”
“Babe you’ll be coming and screaming my name when I bite you, you won't even notice.”
“Why didn’t you bite me last night?”
“Because I didn’t want to rush you into this.”
“Will you mate me tonight?”
“I’d love nothing more but why wait until tonight?” He stands up, cradling me close, and walks into the house. Once we're inside the bedroom, he sets me on my feet. His rough hands cup my face as he lowers his face, his gaze searching. My heart pounds, butterflies in my belly as I place my hands on his wrists.
“You know I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe, right?” My eyes lower from the intensity of his. “We don’t have to do this right now. We can take our time.”
“I...” I swallow past the lump in my throat. “I’m. God, I don’t know anymore. It’s all too much.” He places a kiss on my forehead.
“We have all the time in the world. No need to make this decision tonight. Why don’t you take a nap? I’ll go out to the shop and work on the bike. The customer wants it finished by the end of the week.”
“Okay.” He turns to walk out the door. “Kellen?”
“Yeah babe?”
“You’re not mad at me, are you?”
His gaze softens. “No, of course not. I’ll admit I’m disappointed, but I’ll get over it. Get some rest.”
157
Slash
The last three nights have been hell. Being with her, loving her delectable body but resisting the cat’s urge to claim her has me on edge. Even the guys have commented on how short-tempered I’ve been. From my shop, I can see Molly sitting on the swing on the back deck, a book she scrounged up in her hand. I think Shyla may have dropped it off at some point when she brought Molly more clothes. I need to take her shopping and let her pick out her own stuff, but something keeps nagging me. Fear for her safety has kept her on lockdown. Not that she seems to mind. She had called her boss to let her know what happened, and the crazy old bat didn’t care and fired her for not showing up. If I ever get my hands on that old bitch, she’ll regret making my old lady cry. After a few minutes, Molly straightened her shoulders and said she didn’t need that job anyway if she was staying here with me.
The bruising on her face is fading to a sickly yellow green color, but the swelling around her eye is gone. Physically she seems fine, but I can’t tell where her head is. She hasn’t mentioned mating again at all but grills me about being a tiger shifter when we have dinner.
Thunder cracks overhead as the storm front we’ve been expecting moves in. Molly cranes her neck to look up into the darkening sky, tucking the book into the crook of her arm and heads into the house. It’s almost dinnertime as the heavens open up and the rain pounds down on the metal roof. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up, my cat pacing in my head. Something's not right. I put my tools back in the rollaway box and run to the house. My clothes stick to me like a second skin when I walk in the back door. The scent of spices fills the air, my stomach grumbling in appreciation.
“I thought we’d have fajitas tonight. Is that okay?” Molly asks as she cuts up onions and bell peppers.
“Sounds delicious. I’m gonna change right quick and I’ll be back to help.” Sliding off my wet clothes, I pull a t-shirt and a pair of shorts out of the drawer. Tugging the shorts up over my hips, the lights go out. Molly gasps as a glass breaks.
“Molly?” I ask, running out of the room.
“Sorry I knocked a glass off.”
“No problem. Stay put and I’ll get the broom.”
A howl breaks through the storm raging outside echoed by another, then another.
“Fuck,” I mutter, striding toward Molly, glass crunching under my bare feet. The metallic scent of blood fills the air as I throw her over my shoulder.
“Kellen, what the hell? You’re stepping in the broken glass. Why didn’t you get the broom?”
“Quiet Molly.”
“What?”
“Wolves outside. Keep quiet.” Hurrying into the bedroom, I drop her on the bed before throwing open the closet door.
“Kellen what the hell is going on?” She sits up, her hair a tangle around her head, glasses slipping down her nose.
“I’m not sure.”
“And you expect me to hide in the closet?” Her brow arches, and her lips pinch together.
Pulling back the carpet on the floor, I show her the trap door underneath. “If I tell you to, please go in here it’s a secret tunnel. It leads out to the old barn about three hundred feet away.”
“That barn that looks like it's about to fall down?”
“Yes, but I’ve reinforced it. It’s safe. Stay in the tunnel unless you have to come out. There’s a flashlight right inside this door. You’ll have to crawl.
“Kellen, damn it, what is going on?!” Her voice gets higher with panic.
“We don’t have wolves here, Molly. Not natural ones.”
“They’re shifters? Are you sure? Maybe it’s coyotes,” she offers hopefully.
“Maybe,” I agree placatingly.
“Stay here and if I
