Rage filled him. That this would happen, on leap property, infuriated him. Ryan’s words from the hospital floated through his mind unbidden. Could this be more than lost hunters? It had been two weeks since Ryan had woken, and nothing had happened. Why now?
He shook his head, dodging around trees to throw off the hunt. Now he sounded paranoid. More than likely, some hunters had spotted what they thought was a rare black panther and wanted its pelt. Unlike most leopards, Max had melanism, making his fur look black unless the sun shone directly on his coat.
Max dodged to the left, bullets trailing behind him. He wished there was a way to warn Laurie, but he refused to drag the hunters in her direction. He turned away from her location.
If he could get ahead, he could escape into the trees. If the hunters thought he was a jaguar, it wasn’t likely they’d look to the trees. Leopards weren’t exactly native to North America, so he doubted they’d be expecting him. All he had to do was climb and they’d be stymied. Then he could double back and bring Laurie to safety. Drag her, if he had to.
The bullets hit the ground fewer and farther between. The hunters must be flagging. But still not enough. His muscles stretched as he ran, jumping over branches strewn about his path. Still his pursuer managed to keep up. How? Even a fast human shouldn’t have been able to catch a shifter. Certainly not one in leopard. Yet, he’d been hunting for over an hour with Laurie, and leopards weren’t built for distances. In short bursts they were fast, but they tired easily.
Max swerved around a large tree and stumbled. Bark flew from the trunk, pelting him with wood, millimeters from his face. He roared, even as he instinctually turned and ran. If he hadn’t slipped in the mud, that bullet might have caught him.
No. He’d think about that later. Right now, he had to focus on surviving, and making sure the hunters kept far away from his mate.
Somewhere behind him, he heard a wolf howl. His blood froze in his veins. Laurie. Either responding to his roar, or merely seeking him. Whatever the reason, she sounded close.
He had to keep her out of this. Had to lead them away. No matter what happened to him, she could not be involved.
With a burst of speed, Max ran away from the wolf call. He heard his chaser pursuing him, their own stealth sacrificed in their haste. But he no longer wanted to lose them. Not until he led them as far from Laurie as possible.
The hunter swore behind him, the words a mere breath of a whisper. Not enough to distinguish between man and woman. Damn. If he survived this, he’d have to warn the other shifter groups who shared this land. Unless it wasn’t random.
His limbs tired, and the trees zipped past him slower than before. He might be one of the faster predators out there, but if he didn’t lose the stalker soon, he’d be in real trouble.
Up ahead, he saw one of the trees had fallen into another, creating a perfect ramp to the high braches above. He noted their location and passed by them. The hunter was close, but beginning to trail behind. He swung to the left to circle back around. If he did this right, maybe he’d even be able to catch of glimpse of his pursuer.
A few minutes later, he found the tree again. Using the last of his energy, he dashed up the branch, his claws extending to grip the limb. A few moments ago, he’d lost track of the hunter’s footsteps. He crouched on the branch, hidden by the leaves, and froze. His eyes scanned the ground beneath him, but nothing moved beyond the occasional breeze through the bushes.
Another wolf howl sounded in the distance, thankfully still a ways away. Indecision plagued him. His desire to pursue his attacker warred with his instinctive need to seek his mate, make sure she was untouched, and lead her to safety.
He turned toward the last direction he’d heard the hunter pursuing. If this had been what Ryan tried to warn him about, he needed to know what he was up against. Who he was up against. Laurie was strong. She could wait.
His feet wouldn’t obey the command to leap to the next tree. He turned to stare in Laurie’s direction. If the hunters went after her while he pursued them, it wouldn’t matter who they were. Nothing would matter if something happened to Laurie.
Max almost fell out of the tree at the thought, his imbedded claws clinging to the branch. Did he truly believe that? He searched inside his heart and found her planted firmly at the center. His eyes widened. Hot damn. He loved her. Both as man and leopard. The woman had firmly captured his heart.
A smile split his face. She brought humor to his life, and joy. He even loved the way she refused every pet name he tried to give her. Even when she drove him nuts, he adored her. Life with Laurie would never be boring, and that, in itself, was a gift.
If only he knew how she felt. He had an inkling. There was still a piece of her held back. He could feel her hesitation through the bond. She cared for him, of that there was no doubt, but she didn’t love him. Not like he loved her.
But not for long, if he could help it, he vowed. Given enough time, he would win her heart. And lucky for him, he had all the time in the world.
In the end, there was no choice between his pursuer and Laurie. Instinct took over, and he found himself flying between trees toward his mate.
This incident was not over. He would not let it rest. Not when other members of the leap came here with their mates and children. But for now, he had the more pressing concern of keeping his mate safe. He’d start making calls tonight to warn the other groups using the land. Then he’d figure out whether the person had been hunting animals, shifters, or him.
That night, Max lay on the floor where they’d settled on the rug in front of the fire, and listened to Laurie breathing. Her body melted against his in slumber, one hand resting on his chest.
She’d yelled at him something fierce once they’d gotten back to the cabin and changed into their human form. The memory brought a smile to his face. Oh boy, had she yelled for, as she put it, scaring the ever-loving hell out of her. Apparently, she hadn’t realized he’d left at all until she heard the gunshots. Then, she’d been unable to find him, chasing his scent until it mingled with the scent of gunpowder and something else she’d been unable to identify.
The thought that she’d been tracking him, and in turn the hunters, terrified him. What if she had caught them? What if the gunman had turned on her? Chills skittered down his spine. He might very well have lost her.
To comfort himself, he ran his hand over her bare back. In her sleep, she cuddled closer against him, easing the throbbing in his chest.
When had it happened? When had he fallen so head over heels for her? He ran back through the past month. Had it been watching her sleep in the hospital visitor chair? Or had it simply snapped into place? Her inner strength, her humor…he admired at all.
Whenever, however, it had happened, he loved her with a ferocity so fierce it made his heart stumble just thinking about her. Even with her in his arms, he ached for more.
Rubbing his hand absently over her naked back, he reveled at her smooth skin, velvety to his touch. She moaned in her sleep, her hand absently petting his chest, causing his heart to stumble before picking up speed.
He loved her.
It still shocked him how simple and brilliant the thought. It rang true in every fiber of his being. He swept the back of his finger down her cheek, marveling at the revelation.
His heart urged him to tell her, to share his newfound devotion with her. But his head preached caution. He knew she didn’t feel the same way. Yet.
His heart sunk, recognizing the truth. Oh, she cared for him. That much was clear. But she didn’t love him. Or, if she did, she hadn’t come to realize it yet. That was okay, no matter how much his heart hurt, because he’d make sure it happened eventually.
Chapter 10
The glow from the fire cast flickering shadows around the room as Laurie opened her eyes. Darkness had settled around them. She must have fallen asleep. Under her cheek, the beat of Max’s heart thumped a steady rhythm. She closed her eyes and breathed the scent at his neck.
Sage and a scent distinctly his own, masculine and woodsy.
His hand glided over her back. She glanced up and saw his gaze on the ceiling. Lost in thought. She placed a kiss against his chest, and looked up to find his gaze now on her.
“Feeling better?” he asked.
After their hunt, they’d come back to the cabin and attacked each other on the bearskin rug next to the fire. Moments later, she’d been putty as he proceeded to lick her everywhere, shoving her over the edge with his fingers and tongue before plunging his cock inside and taking them both to ecstasy. Their moans had mingled as he built her passion back to the breaking point.
Now, both wolf and woman were sated.
“If you have to ask…” she murmured sleepily, not bothering to finish her reply. Now that the anxiety had gone, her body and mind protested her marathon workout.
“Sassy.” Max pinched her hip.
“I’m hungry.” But she was too tired and content to move.
“Why am I not surprised?”
Laurie groaned as Max shifted beneath her.
“No, stay there.” She nuzzled his chest in contentment once he settled back down.
“Bossy.”
“Knew that already.” She patted his arm. His laugh made her smile.
“I think we have a pound of bacon in the fridge.”
Bacon? Her eyes opened, staring into the flames in front of her. Crispy bacon flashed into her mind. The kind that broke apart easily in her fingers and tasted like salty heaven. She could almost smell it. Her stomach rumbled at the idea.
“Was that a yes?”
“Smart ass,” she mumbled, pushing against him to stand. Her body protested the move.
Laurie settled on one of the bar stools as Max took the bacon out of the fridge. The man had a fine ass. Everything about him was sexy, but every time she saw the dimples at the small of his back leading into his firm cheeks, she got the urge to bite him. Yum.
He’d scared the hell out of her today when he’d gone chasing after those deer hunters. Or so he claimed. Some sixth sense told her there’d been more to the story than he’d shared. When she’d heard the gunshots, she’d felt fear from the connection between them. Her ability to read his emotions was still weak, but that one had barreled down and rammed into her mind with the force of a freight train. When it had, she’d known her mate was in danger. She’d been frantic to find him, but no matter how hard she’d run, she couldn’t catch up.
Chasing off some deer hunters, her ass. Deer hunters wouldn’t be able to outrun her. But she let him think she believed his lie. What good would come from pressing the issue? She knew he wouldn’t tell her anything he didn’t want to. Typical stubborn man.
She frowned at his back as he stood at the stove. It bothered her that he still didn’t rely on her. Still hid things from her. Weren’t mates supposed to be a team?
She wanted to be the one he relied to. Wanted him to lean on her at least a little bit. He turned and caught her sour expression.
“Frowning when bacon’s cooking? I figured the stuff was greasy gold to you.”
His breezy attitude and wicked smile made her frown deeper, her desire to join his easy banter warring with her need to figure out his secrets. To keep him safe.
He held out a hand and she was helpless to resist, crossing to him and cuddling into his chest. She felt his lips brush the top of her head. She ran her nails up the crease of his spine and smirked when a shudder wracked his frame.
“Keep that up and you can forget about the bacon. I’ll bend you over this counter right now and have you screaming my name.”
The image of him doing just that flashed into her mind. She shivered in anticipation. Why did the idea of him dominating her hold such appeal? She’d never been one to give up control before. But with Max, everything was different. She craved his strength. Needed her mate to be strong. Some animal instinct seeking confidence that no matter what happened, he’d be able to protect her.
Not that she was defenseless. Just as she wished to be protected, she yearned to protect him. And she had the strength to do so. If only he’d rely on her. How could she protect him when he kept the dangers from her?
That only led to more questions. Did he not trust her? A pang flashed in her chest.
Laurie might still have reservations about their mating—although even those were disappearing quickly—but beyond that she trusted him implicitly. She knew he’d do everything and anything to protect her. To help her when she was in trouble. But trust was a two-way street, and it was becoming increasingly obvious Max either didn’t see it, or continuously chose a different path.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Max whispered into her hair, bringing her back to reality. The muscles under her cheek rippled as he flipped the bacon in the pan. Pops and sizzles filled the air along with the smell of salty, fatty, goodness.
“They’re worth way more than a penny.” She smiled into his neck. “Cheapskate.”
As intended, he laughed. “Cheapskate, huh?”
His fingers squeezed her side until she squirmed against him, crying mercy. She’d gone thirty years thinking she wasn’t ticklish, but Max had proven her wrong one night, to their delight.
She shook her head, rubbing her forehead against his shoulder. Tonight had been perfect. She wasn’t about to ruin it with an argument. And maybe she was simply being paranoid. Yes, she’d felt his fear along their bond, but she’d also seen a glimpse of herself in his thoughts. It was possible he really had been chasing some deer hunters away, and had only worried for her safety. Maybe the danger was in both of their heads.
As much as she hated to admit it, she had no ground to demand he tell her the truth. Especially not knowing for sure that he’d lied. Starting a fight would get her nowhere. There was no proof. No reason to call him out.
Except her instinct still screamed that something wasn’t right.
“What if I offered you a dollar?”
Unsure how to respond, she shook her head against him with a small chuckle. She watched him reach out and check the bacon, listened to it sizzle in the pan.
If only she could share her thoughts with him. She craved the kind of connection her parents had. The kind her siblings had with their mates. But that depth of connection took time. They weren’t there yet.
Yet. Her mind stumbled over the word. She realized with a start, she wanted that kind of connection. Not with just anyone. She wanted it with Max. When she thought of the future, he was the only constant she could see. Sometime in the past month, he’d become an imperative piece of the equation.
She searched for the bond in her mind, found the piece of him fused with her and brushed against it. A brief encounter. Like a kiss.
He froze, stiffening against her. Then she felt him brush against their bond himself and her spirit danced at the contact. It felt as though he’d touched her very soul.
Unable to resist, she returned the bond kiss, lingering a bit longer this time and sending as much joy and passion through her mind as she could.
“You playing?” Max asked with a laugh. His voice sounded a bit huskier than before.
“Maybe.” She felt like a kid with a new toy. A big, handsome, ripped toy.
They played back and forth, Laurie wiggling with pleasure each time she felt his soul brush against hers, until the bacon finished cooking.
Laurie pulled away, grabbing the plate Max had prepped with a paper towel. He took it from her and piled the bacon on top. Laurie’s mouth watered at the sight. She did love bacon.
Turning away, she pulled a seat away from the table, but before she could sit, Max was there, pulling her onto his lap.
She reached for a piece of bacon to distract herself, but Max slapped her hand away.
“Hey!”
He hushed her by reaching for one himself and holding it to her mouth. She stared into his eyes as she leaned forward and bit into the crunchy bacon. The smoky flavor burst in her mouth as she stared into Max’s gaze. Her
insides clenched at the strangely erotic act.
This time, when Laurie reached for a piece, he let her, opening his mouth when she brought it between them. His white teeth flashed, and a moan slipped past her lips at the sight. Arousal, contentment, and happiness churned a potent mixture in her blood. Deliberately, she ran her tongue over her lip before scraping her teeth over his fingers as he offered her another bite.
As he hardened underneath her, she bit the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling, wiggling just enough to have him growling. The sound shot straight to her core.
They continued to tease each other with flashes of tongue, moans and growls, and scrapes of teeth as they fed one another bacon. Once the plate was empty, Laurie grabbed his hand and licked the salt from his fingers, then licked her own while he watched. The heat in his gaze fired her blood.
The last seemed to push him over the edge. As soon as she finished, Max swept the plate off the table, lifted her onto the edge, and plunged inside her. Without warning, he pulled out and thrust back in, hard. Exactly what she’d been hoping for. Wild. Frenzied. Powerful. Laurie held on to his back as he rode her until they were both propelled over the edge of ecstasy. Satisfied, they crawled back to their blanket haven by the fire and fell into a deep sleep.
Chapter 11
Laurie paced outside Max’s study doors. She tried not to bother him while he worked, but it had been a month and a half since she’d moved, and frankly, she was bored out of her ever-loving mind.
At first, the city itself had been a playground for her to explore. She’d seen all the touristy sights. Then moved on to the not-so-touristy sights, including the Fulton Street Fish Market. She’d even walked through Harlem and Washington Heights, although she hadn’t been forthcoming about those excursions.
Back in Colorado, she’d had her business to keep her occupied. Here, she had nothing. No job. No responsibilities. Sure, letting everything go had been fun for a while, but it was getting old fast.
Brink Of Passion (Alpine Woods Shifters) Page 14