“Funny you should say pussy. What do you know about shifters?”
“Argh, don’t do that. Don’t answer a question with a question. Just spit it out so we can move forward.” She tried not to inhale his intoxicating scent; she really did. The man was seriously hard on her good girl senses.
He pulled back, shaking his head. “I’m a shifter, which you’ve obviously already figured that out. However, I’m a Panthera pardus, or a leopard.”
She’d known he was going to tell her he was some kind of big predator, but a leopard, her absolute favorite animal, shocked her. She worked to keep the amazement from showing. Heck, if he had been a mind reader, he’d see all the drawings she’d done in her captivity of Panthera pardus in all their forms, from leopards, to the black panthers. They fascinated her with their sleek bodies and their ability to stalk their prey for hours, sometimes days without giving up.
“Can I see your leopard?” she asked.
“Why are you not freaking the fuck out? In fact, why are you not demanding I take you home right this minute?” he asked with a puzzled frown.
“Well, I’m not without my own abilities. I may not be able to shift into an animal. Well, that’s not technically correct.” She dropped her gaze down at her hands, focusing on what a leopard paw would appear like.
“What the fuck?” Ridge jumped to his feet.
Noelle held her hands up. “I can shift into animals if I know what they look like and concentrate.”
“So, you can shift to a leopard if you wanted?” he asked. He took her paw into his hand.
Noelle shrugged. “Yes. I know the ins and outs of the leopard. I’ve studied the physiology of...well, anyway if I know the animal, I can shift into it. I’m sure Zelda and Sassy can as well.”
Ridge got to his feet, pacing from one end of the bed to the other. “How’re you feeling?”
She hated to hear the distance he was putting between them. There was a connection between them, something like...nope, she wasn’t putting a name to it. She scooted to the opposite side of the bed, hurrying to put her own physical space there to keep her from making a fool of herself. “If I could borrow your phone, I’ll call my sister for a ride.” Not that she would come and get her. Shoot. No, she’d call for a cab or an Uberlift. They’d charge her an arm and a leg, but they’d come. Her neck heated, the amethyst lighting up.
“Where the hell do you think you’re going, and what the hell is that, some kind of beacon?” Ridge came around the bed, towering over her.
Noelle glared up at him. “Listen, buddy. I’m tired, and I’m cranky. I overextended myself tonight, but I can still kick your furry butt if you try to do anything stupid.”
Her hand holding the necklace shook.
Ridge peered down at her. One corner of his lips lifted in a smile. The man oozed danger and sex appeal, but he had dimples that softened his hardness some. How was that fair to women and their sanity?
“Ah, my little Katjie has claws. I like knowing you can kick ass, even if it’s mine, you’re threatening.” He ran a hand down her cheek.
“You’re a very strange man, Ridge.” She let her head lean into his palm for just a moment.
“Hmm, I’ve heard that before. Come on, I’ll drive you home.” He moved back, taking his heat with him.
It was irrational to feel rejected by him; Noelle admitted to herself. Heck, she’d been preparing to ask him to take her home anyhow, but him offering was like a slap in the face. He’d been calling her his kitten, and she didn’t think that was something he called every woman he met. But what did she know about him? She’d seen shifters and their mates, well, at least she’d been around Zelda and Mac and Sassy and her mate. They didn’t seem to be able to keep their hands off of each other. Of course, that could be a Mac thing, but she didn’t think so. Goddess, she needed her head examined. Here she was, building dreams and fairytale relationships with a leopard man she’d only met hours ago. Get a grip, girl.
Noelle schooled her features into an expression of calm and remote. An guise she’d perfected in her years as the prisoner to a madman. “Thank you. I’d appreciate that. Where are my shoes?”
She took a step around Ridge’s hulking form, careful not to touch him with any part of her body. Already feeling a connection to him, she didn’t want to build anymore hopes and dreams on stupid foolish fantasies. It wasn’t like there weren’t other men out there. Of course, she needed to get out and allow herself to see them, like her sister Merry suggested. Merry didn’t understand why she didn’t just find a guy and settle down.
“Hey, what’s wrong?”
For such a big guy, Ridge moved fast and quiet. It must have something to do with his Panthera inside him. She would love to ask him some questions but held her tongue. “I was trying to find my shoes.”
She could’ve sworn he growled but then he moved away, coming back with her shoes in one hand, a scowl on his face. “Here you go. Do you need a few minutes to get ready?” He nodded toward the bathroom.
Thankful for any excuse to get away from his penetrating stare, she accepted the shoes and fled. It didn’t matter that she might appear like a wuss, she needed the respite from his too-knowing eyes and his too-masculine presence before she hopped into an enclosed vehicle with him. Now that she was thinking clearer without him muddying her mind, how did she get to his house. For another, why hadn’t her sister been blowing up her phone? A bigger question that really bothered her was, why
