by Terra Wolf
“I have plans tonight.” I pursed my lips together.
“Plans?”
I nodded. “Maybe another time, Josh.” I moved to close the door.
“Hey, you can’t…”
I quickly locked it, knowing that with the amount of strength he had, he could kick it in if he wanted within seconds.
I ran up the stairs and locked myself in my apartment, listening for the sound of his Jeep pulling out of the gravel lot. As soon as he turned onto the road, I finally let myself breathe.
Shit. I couldn’t believe this was happening. I started to shake. My fated mate had shown up at my door and I kicked him out like yesterday’s trash. What in the hell was I thinking? I was breaking laws left and right. I might as well have spit in his face.
Those eyes. Those arms. I shook my head. No. I wasn’t ready to give up everything. I wasn’t ready to be someone’s wife. I didn’t know how I kept it together in front of him, but now that he was gone, I was falling apart.
3
Josh
There’s wounded pride, and then there’s the absolute worst kind of insult to a man. The kind that makes you see red. She might as well have punched me in the nose the way she slammed the door in my face. Fuck, that was a disaster.
My first encounter with my mate and she wouldn’t even let me inside. She wasn’t shocked to see me, but she wasn’t happy about it either. I didn’t know how to take it. She was calm. It was almost eerie.
In the few seconds I did get to see her, I noticed how undeniably gorgeous she was. Pink, luscious lips. Rounded hips. Hair black as night, piled on top of her head. There was an innocence to her green eyes, but I knew better. She was a she-panther, and apparently, there was nothing keeping her from making her own decisions.
I thought she was supposed to bow down to her mate. Listen to me. Want to succumb to my demands. I had always heard panthers were waiting for the day their mate would arrive. As if he could deliver the perfect happy ending to her story. Yeah, I had it wrong. Tessa wasn’t that kind of girl. She wasn’t looking for me to give her anything.
I’d give her another chance. Only one. Tonight, I’d sleep in a hotel in town, but tomorrow night, I expected to take my mate out on a date. We needed to get to know each other. And that couldn’t happen with a slammed door between us.
I stopped at the first motel I saw on the side of the road, checked in, and settled into my room. Days of driving and searching didn’t prepare me for this. I had built up some kind of scenario that my mate would be happy to see me. It hadn’t registered that Tessa might be a dream girl to look at, but she was possibly a nightmare mate. She wanted nothing to do with me.
I thought about calling Drew or even Case, but I didn’t want them to know what happened. I needed to figure this out on my own. Tomorrow was another chance. Another day to give us a do-over. Because if there was one thing my mate and I needed, it was a chance to meet each other for the first time again.
The next morning, I stopped at a local bakery and chose a few pastries and ordered two cups of coffee. This time, I’d show up with a peace offering.
I parked next to a row of cars and strolled inside the garage.
“Good morning, gorgeous.” I extended a cup of coffee in her direction.
She looked up from the stack of papers she was working on. “Is there something you need?” Her voice was clipped.
“Just wanted to bring you breakfast.” I placed the bag of pastries on her desk. “I got a little bit of everything. I don’t know what you like, yet,” I added.
She rolled her eyes. “This isn’t necessary.”
“What?”
“The wooing. The seduction. The whatever you’re trying to do to get me to like you.” She slammed the binder closed and walked around her desk.
I stopped her at the door. “Don’t you think we have some business to discuss?”
Her eyes flared. “I’m actually running a business here. I don’t have time for personal issues at work.”
“And how is it that a beautiful girl like you is a mechanic or whatever you are?”
Her nostrils flared. It was hard to ignore that she was sexy when she was mad. There was a need in my fingers, dying to touch her. I shoved one hand in my pocket and gripped my coffee in the other so I wouldn’t pull her into my arms.
“I inherited the garage from my family. If I don’t keep it going, there’s no income.” She raised her eyebrows. “Would you feel more comfortable if I had brothers to run it for me?”
“No. No, I’m just curious. It’s not everyday you see this kind of thing.”
“Well, this kind of thing pays the bills and takes care of my mom.” She tried to move past me again, but I stepped to the side, corralling her in the office.
“What’s wrong with your mom?”
“I don’t want to get into it. I have work to do, and you’re going to make me get behind schedule.”
I looked around the garage. The place was immaculate. Her office was clean and professional, as if she was an accountant, not a mechanic.
“Do you run the whole shop by yourself?”
She nodded. “I can’t afford to hire help right now. So I do it. Okay? Does that answer enough of your questions?”
I moved out of her way so she could walk into the shop, but I followed her.
“Tessa, why don’t you let me help?”
She scoffed. “You? The one who drives the Jeep that’s about to fall apart?”
I shrugged. “I can do something. I might be handier than you think.”
For the first time since meeting her, I saw a smile. “I doubt it.”
I had to admit the sparring was fun. It was kind of a turn on. A dance for what we both knew was eventually going to happen. But she was making it clear it wasn’t going to happen easily. I had a challenge in front of me.
She was the one who would have to evoke our bond. And for that to happen, she was going to have to want to be with me.
“Give me something to do. Anything.”
“All right.” She twisted her lips together. “Can you handle changing sparkplugs?”
“Sparkplugs are my specialty.”
I saw that sexy smile again. “Follow me.”
I tossed my empty coffee cup in the trash and listened to her instructions as she gave me the lineup for the day. It didn’t take five minutes around her to realize she knew exactly what she was talking about. I was impressed. My mate was sexy and brilliant.
“You think you can manage not to destroy my garage?” she asked.
“I will be the best assistant you’ve ever had in here.” I winked in her direction.
I could hear the exasperated sigh she exhaled. “Just don’t make a mess. Okay?”
“Got it.”
I watched her walk back to her office where a new customer was waiting. She greeted them with a cheerful smile. I scratched my head, trying to figure her out. My phone rang and I reached into my pocket.
“Case, hi.”
“Calling to see how things are going.”
I felt the lightness in my lungs disappear. The king didn’t call for regular check-ins like this.
“Actually, really well. I’m working with Tessa right now.”
“Tessa? Pretty name. Pretty girl?”
“Oh yeah.” I smiled. I was tempted to click a quick picture of her and send it to prove my point. But I knew he didn’t care. He wanted updates and results. I was part of his army, after all.
“Make the most of your time, Josh. It’s not unlimited.”
I held back the smartass comment on my tongue. He might be Drew’s brother, but he was the ruler of my line. “Yes, of course.”
“You can let me know when the territory is secure and when you’re headed to the next region.”
I nodded. “I will do that.”
“I know I can trust you. Drew does. You’re a strong member of the Tribe. I wish you were with us in Sullen’s Grove right now.”
“Really? Somet
hing you need help with?” I asked.
“I’ve got it taken care of, but if things change you may be asked to support the effort here.”
Tessa was taking the keys to a truck and eyeing me from across the garage. I guessed talking on the phone was against one of her work policies.
“I’ll let you get back to your mate,” Case stated. “Keep me updated.”
“Will do.” I shoved the phone back in my pocket.
Something wasn’t right. I felt more pressure now than when I first started this journey. Case was keeping something from me. If I didn’t have my hands full with Tessa I might try to figure out what it was. She needed all my attention right now.
4
Tessa
He had worked all morning doing anything I asked him to do. I knew what his motives were. He’d worm his way into my world and secure his place in our relationship. By the time he was finished, I would be begging for him to marry me. That’s what he thought would happen. I had a different plan.
I wasn’t ready to give up what my family had built. I wasn’t ready to be someone’s wife. I didn’t really give a damn about the shifter laws. They didn’t account for life circumstances. My mom needed me to run the garage. And I couldn’t do that as a newlywed, and especially not as a pregnant she-panther.
Josh wanted everything I could give him. My territory. My name. My body. I could stay strong a little longer. Long enough for him to give up and move on to the next she-panther he was supposed to marry.
I hadn’t even asked where I fell on his list, but I wasn’t stupid. Every jaguar would have multiple wives. I was only one of many. It didn’t matter if I was first or third. He’d want to change me. He’d want me to give up my power. I hadn’t worked this hard to hold on to what my parents gave me to throw it away for a hot guy.
“So what do you think?” Josh strolled toward me with a grin on his face.
“I think you’re kind of dirty.” He had streaks of grease on his cheek and his hands were black on the tips.
“Oh? And what do you think about dirty?” He waggled his eyebrows.
My heart fluttered enough for me to have to take a step away from him. Damn mate bond. I straightened my shoulders and pretended not to notice how irresistibly sexy he looked with grease stuck to his strong jaw line. Yeah, I couldn’t pay attention to that.
Why did this one have to be my mate? Why couldn’t he be human? Someone I could have fun with when the lights went down?
“All I want to know is if you’re finished.” I was harsh with my answer. I seemed to answer him that way every time. I had to keep the wall up.
He hung his head. “Yeah, yeah, I’m finished. I did four cars.”
“Good.” I walked around him, almost gasping for air when I passed him. There was an electric charge in the space around his body. It was tangible and sent a current through my limbs. I knew I was responsible for half of that connection.
I raced to my office to write up the tickets. I needed clean air. Air that didn’t involve my mate’s breath. My mate’s energy. God, I was even saying mate.
He stood in the doorway after a few minutes.
“Don’t come in here,” I ordered. “It’s clean in here. Not a speck of oil or grease.”
“I noticed. You’re probably the cleanest mechanic in the state of Georgia. And the only one who puts flowers in her office.”
“I’m a girl, not a Neanderthal,” I shot back. I didn’t know how long I could keep it up. “Why don’t you just go? I’m almost done here.”
“Then why don’t you let me take you out to dinner? Or at least for a drink?”
I felt my heart unexpectedly flutter again and growled. One day wasn’t enough to deter him. He was going to keep asking and hanging around until he knew I’d accept him as my mate.
“Why?”
“So we can get to know each other better. I want to hear about your life. I want to tell you about mine.”
“Look, Josh. I think we should get this out in the open, and that way you can stop wasting your time.”
He leaned against the door and crossed his arms. His T-shirt clung to his biceps and I almost whimpered. He was built like a damn wall of stone. Every part of his arm was chiseled with perfect lines. Why couldn’t I get some geeky, wimpy guy I could toss out on his ass? Instead, I had the one who took my breath away and looked hotter than hell with grease streaked across his shirt.
A quick vision of ripping it off of him and letting him take me on my white desk entered my head for a second before I regained control of my senses. That was the panther in me drawn to him. It wasn’t me.
“What is it?” His voice was deep.
“It’s just. It’s… it’s not going to happen between us. And I thought I could save you some time. Save your energy, you know? Coming up with ways for us to hang out. It’s not going to happen.”
His eyes widened. “Really?”
“Really.” I nodded my head, needing to swallow. His chest puffed out and the bulge in his arms expanded. I was struggling to fight my animal instincts.
“What you’re saying is that you don’t want to be my mate?” He took one step inside my office.
I nodded rapidly. “Exactly what I’m saying.”
He took another step. I could start to feel the air charge, but there was nowhere for me to go to get away from the cloud of lust he carried wherever he moved.
“It’s not you. I mean, it is you because you’re my mate, but it’s not you. I made this decision before you even showed up. So, technically—not you.”
“I don’t see how you can make that decision, Tessa. You haven’t even let me kiss you yet.”
The flutter under my ribs was out of control. Suddenly, all I could do was focus on his lips and how damn kissable they were.
“Don’t come any closer. You’re dirty. And my office is a safe zone,” I whispered as I felt the restraint I had loosening by the second.
“And you don’t want me to ruin this perfect life you have.” His hands landed on my desk, marking it with smudges.
“Yes, that’s right.”
“But what if you like life messy and don’t know it yet?”
I shook my head. “I know what I want. And it’s not…” Before I could tell him he was the one ruining everything, he pulled me over the top of my desk, tangling his hands in my hair and kissing me with rough and wild abandon.
His mouth moved over mine, sucking at my lips before slipping his tongue inside. I groaned as it twisted along mine. The purring was spontaneous, but it came from the back of my throat as his hands moved to the sides of my face, holding me steady, while he kissed the hell out of me.
He stood back, eyeing me with the cockiest expression I’d ever seen.
He grinned. “You’ve got a little grease right there.” He touched the side of my cheek where his thumb had been.
I felt the fire I had for him switch to instant rage. “Get out,” I roared. “Get out!”
“See you tomorrow?” He chuckled as he backed out of the office.
I wanted to claw his eyes out. Kick him in the gut. Go full panther on him for what he had just done. I spun on my heels to catch a breath, placing my hands where he had smudged my white desk.
My heart was beating, and all I could hear was the thump of my blood in my veins. I closed my eyes. He had done exactly what he wanted. He had won the first round. I suddenly had a thirst for messy.
5
Josh
Tessa. She drove me mad. She drove me crazy. She made me want to destroy things. Tear apart her office. Rip her desk to shreds. But the second I heard her purr, I wanted to carry her up those stairs and take what was mine. The softness of her skin. The silkiness of her hair. It was making me unravel, like a fucking love struck kid.
She was combustible in my arms. She had to feel it too. There was no way to ignore what was humming between us.
I saw it in her eyes. I felt it on her lips. She wanted me too. Only she was going to make the ch
ase harder for me. Tessa wasn’t giving in to her panther.
With a girl like her, I was going to have to prove I was worthy of being her mate. That was the only way. I had to show her I was the kind of man she could count on. The kind that was the jaguar she’d always heard about growing up. A hero. A rescuer. A partner in our bond. Only I had no idea how to do all those things.
But I was in her town. Surrounded by people who knew and loved her. I’d seen the way they hugged her when they picked up the cars. Or how she spoke to the customers about their children, or how their gardens were doing. She knew these people. And that meant, they knew her. There was a way to find out how to get under her skin.
She had mentioned her mother more than once. I figured that was the best place to start.
The house was small, tucked in a grove of fruit trees. I closed the door to my Jeep and surveyed the terrain that was part of Tessa’s family land. At least that’s what I had put together. Her family had owned this land for generations.
It was picturesque. The wraparound porch. The peach trees budding with blossoms. I took a whiff of the air and it reminded me of Tessa. The wildness whipping off the grass smelled like her hair.
I walked toward the house and stopped when I saw the ramp leading to the front door. I knocked a few times before I heard someone call on the other side.
“On my way.”
The door opened, but my eyes darted low to the woman sitting in a wheelchair in front of me.
“Mrs. Cunningham?”
“Yes?”
“I know this visit is probably a surprise to you, but I was wondering if we could talk about Tessa for a few minutes.”
“Tessa?” Her hands clamped on the wheels of her chair. “Wait, you’re…”
I smiled, trying to look reassuring. “Yes, I’m Josh. Her mate.”
“I don’t know that we have anything to discuss.”
If I thought I was going to have an ally here, I might have miscalculated. Tessa’s mother wasn’t the definition of a gracious hostess.