That would come later, though. For now, she couldn’t leave until he knew she’d be safe.
And maybe not even then.
Surprised by the thought, he felt his eyes narrowing. He knew he was attracted to her—she was fucking gorgeous, and she acted like a magnet, pulling him in while he was helpless to resist.
That part pissed him off a little. He wasn’t fucking helpless, not when it came to anything. He thought maybe he was to her though, and he didn’t like it.
But since when was he so attracted to a woman that he wasn’t sure he could let her leave?
His leopard rumbled softly inside him, and he waited for him to speak, to help untangle the emotions inside him, but the damned cat was silent. Fucker wasn’t going to help. Typical of the asshole.
“You promise?”
Ana’s soft voice pulled him out of his thoughts, and he frowned, not liking that she was questioning his word. But hell, she didn’t know him, and she’d clearly been through some shit at the hands of the fucker from the gas station, so he couldn’t fault her for needing more assurances.
But he still didn’t fucking like it. He wasn’t used to his word being questioned—by anyone.
“When I say something, I mean it. You have my word. No one will hurt you while you’re here.”
Closing her eyes briefly, she blew out a breath. “Okay then. I guess I don’t have any other options right now. I’ll trust you—on this.”
Swallowing back his growl at her qualifier, he held out his hand, gesturing for her to walk toward the clubhouse. She studied the tats on his hand, her expression unreadable, before moving slowly toward the door. The set of her rigid shoulders made him think she was walking toward her death, and he fought back the irritation trying to wash over him.
She’d clearly been through something traumatic—maybe not today, although she’d come close—and she didn’t know him from Adam. It didn’t really matter that he’d saved her.
She was right to be cautious.
She was smart to be cautious.
So why was he so irritated over the fact that she wasn’t immediately ready to trust him? He didn’t know, but he did know he was getting frustrated as fuck—at himself, for even expecting her to.
When they reached the door, he moved in front of her to swing it open, and she hesitated before walking in. He followed, wincing at the loud music and rowdy bikers crowded around the bar. He fucking thrived off this atmosphere, but he fully expected her to run screaming from the building, threat bedamned.
Ana surprised him, though. She straightened her spine and kept a curious but serene look on her face as she glanced around. The only sign of her nerves was the death grip she had on her bag.
That’s my girl, he thought, beyond caring that he’d just called her his. She wasn’t, not yet, but as he gazed at her, keeping her calm despite everything that had happened and where she’d found herself, he decided she would be.
For today, for the time she was there while she tried to find a way safely out of town, for… well, ever.
He wasn’t sure where the hell all these feelings and emotions for her were coming from, but he wasn’t going to fight them. They just met, but he already knew he wasn’t going to let her go.
He was going to teach her to trust him. To want him as much as he already wanted her. Once he had those two things, he was going to keep her.
That’s what I was waiting on, his leopard said with satisfaction.
Bolt frowned. What are you talking about?
I wanted you to admit how much you already want her.
Because…
Because she’s our mate, and I didn’t want to fight with your stubborn fucking ass when I told you. Since you already know you want to keep her, I figure you’ll accept it easier.
Breath catching, he felt his eyes widen as he looked at Ana closely, seeing her with new eyes. Everything he was feeling—the attraction, the lust, the insane protectiveness, even the irritation over her not trusting him—all made sense now. If she was his mate…
She is, his cat said with conviction.
He nodded slowly, roughly shoving his fingers through his hair. He felt like his whole world just flipped upside down, and he was standing in a new reality. But if the new reality included Ana, he’d fucking take it.
He was definitely keeping her now. He only hoped she could catch up and hop on board quickly. He didn’t want to fight her when she decided she was ready to leave.
Cocking his head, he eyed her curvy frame, reconsidering. He wouldn’t mind fighting with her, especially if things got physical and he got to feel her squirming against him.
Even more so if they somehow managed to lose their clothes while they were at it.
Fuuuuuck. Reaching down, he subtly tried to adjust his suddenly straining cock before she noticed. He had to stop thinking like that or he was going to bust right through his zipper, but damned if he cared. The fact that a two second thought of having her naked in his arms could produce that kind of instant reaction was pretty fucking mind blowing.
And he was kind of reveling in it.
She’d probably call him a perverted pig if she heard the direction of his thoughts, but he gave zero fucks. They were mates, so he knew she had to be feeling the same pull he was, even if she didn’t understand it.
She would soon enough, and then she’d be having the same kinds of thoughts—if she wasn’t already. He hadn’t missed the way she stared at him outside with banked hunger in her sky-blue eyes.
Placing a hand on her lower back, he led her through the room, only pausing next to Blaze and his mate.
