Promising himself an entire month alone with Sage once the scrolls were translated and the threat from Shakpi ended, Lian made his way through the safe house into the attached garage.
He caught the scent of the waiting Hunters before he ever pushed open the door. Which meant he was prepared to discover Mercier standing in the center of the cement floor. The dark, sable-eyed male had a broad, heavily muscular body that was currently covered by a white tee and camo pants. It took a second, however, to locate the other Hunter who was hidden beneath Jean-Baptiste’s Lamborghini.
“Any problems?” he asked Mercier, ignoring the older male’s narrow-eyed gaze.
There was no disguising the scent of sex that clung to his body, but he wasn’t prepared to discuss his bonding with Sage. Not until she’d accepted that she belonged to him.
With a shrug, Mercier conceded to the unspoken warning.
“Nothing obvious, but…” The male scowled, giving a shake of his head. “Something’s out there.”
Lian knew exactly what he was talking about. It wasn’t a precise smell, or a tangible sound. Just a vague sense they were being watched.
“Yeah, I’m getting the same vibe,” he muttered.
Dammit. He wasn’t afraid of his enemies. But how the hell did you fight them when they lurked in the shadows?
There was a muffled growl before Rosalie was sliding from beneath the car, holding her hand up.
“I found it,” the tall, golden-haired beauty proclaimed, her pure green eyes smoldering with grim satisfaction.
The two males moved to inspect the tiny tracking device that’d been hidden on the undercarriage.
“Shit,” Lian muttered, wondering if it’d been attached to the car while he was at The Cougar’s Den or if it had happened while he was in Sage’s cottage. Either way, he now knew how they’d followed him. “That didn’t come from Radio Shack.”
“No.” Mercier’s expression was hard as he plucked the device from Rosalie’s fingers to inspect it with an expert eye. He was one of the Hunters who worked closely with the Geeks to develop weapons to protect themselves in the event the magic surrounding the Wildlands ever failed. “Military grade.”
“Our enemies seem to have stepped up their game,” Rosalie said, her puzzled expression reflecting her companion’s growing confusion.
The disciples of Shakpi had always shown a preference for low tech, using the mystic power of their evil goddess to destroy the Pantera.
When had they gained access to this sort of equipment?
Lian made a sound of annoyance. “What the hell are they up to?”
“I don’t intend to find out,” Mercier snapped, taking charge. “Rosalie and I will drive your car along with the tracker and head west. Wait an hour, then go south with your cargo,” he commanded. “We’ll meet you back at the Wildlands.”
Lian resisted the urge to argue. As much as he hated putting anyone else in danger, he had to concentrate on making sure that Sage was safe.
Besides, there were few things the two Hunters couldn’t handle.
“Don’t take any unnecessary risks,” he ordered.
“Moi?” Mercier widened his eyes with a faux innocence. “Would I do that?”
“Don’t worry,” Rosalie said before Lian could remind his fellow Hunter of the day he’d leaped in front of a human poacher who’d been about to shoot a red fox who was nursing her young. Mercier had taken the shot to his chest, but had never halted as he grabbed the gun from the human and broke it in two. “He does anything stupid and I’ll put his balls in a vise.”
Mercier sent his a companion a heated glance. “I have a better place for my balls.”
Rosalie leaned forward to nip the male’s chin with an astonishingly intimate gesture.
“Keep it up and you won’t have any,” she warned in a throaty voice.
“Ouch,” Mercier breathed, looking as shell-shocked as Lian felt.
Holy hell.
He hadn’t seen that coming.
“Just be careful,” he said, not surprised that neither noticed when he walked out of the garage and headed back to his waiting mate.
CHAPTER 6
The morning sunlight streamed through the open windows as Sage made her way down the narrow staircase of the large three-story house.
It’d only been two days since she’d arrived at the Wildlands, but she’d already been overwhelmingly welcomed into Lian’s family, even as he’d been condemned to reside at the communal home of unmated Hunters.
She smiled at the sound of half a dozen voices all speaking at once that greeted her before she ever stepped into the large kitchen.
She’d lived alone for so long the noise and constant chaos that filled the Pantera home should have been overwhelming. And, at times, she couldn’t deny it did make her head spin. But overall, she savored the warmth and companionship that surrounded her.
Sensing her arrival, the crowd of people that included Lian’s grandparents, his parents, his eldest sister and her mate, all turned to regard her with blatant interest.
“Here she is,” the silver-haired grandmother said, wiping her hands on a flower-patterned apron.
Lian’s father moved forward to press a cup into her hand, his lean face that reminded her strongly of his son wreathed with a kind smile.
“Your coffee, just as you like it.”
She wrapped her hands around the cup, a dangerous stab of pleasure warming her heart.
No one had ever known how she took her coffee.
Not ever.
“Thank you.” She sipped the hot liquid. “It’s perfect.”
Lian’s mother wasn’t about to be outdone as she handed Sage a large bagel that was fresh from the oven.
“And a warm bagel to tide you over until breakfast,” she said.
Lian’s sister had the same dark hair and eyes as her brother although her face was far more rounded, with pretty features. Currently she was standing at the stove, frying bacon.
“Yes, we had to hold back the meal until Lian could get here,” she informed Sage.
Sage’s brief sense of cozy comfort was shattered.
Being surrounded by his family had offered her an unexpected comfort, but spending time with Lian was just the opposite.
The minute he walked into one of the shabbily comfortable rooms her entire body prickled with a fierce awareness that was downright embarrassing. For god’s sake, everyone in the house could catch the scent of her arousal.
It was humiliating.
And worse, she was beginning to feel as if something vital was missing when he wasn’t nearby.
How could he have become such an important part of her life in just a few days?
It was obvious she needed to limit the time they spent in each other’s company.
“Oh, he’s coming for breakfast?” she asked in what she hoped was a casual tone.
Lian’s mother sent her a teasing grin. “After being on duty during dinner last night you didn’t think he would miss the opportunity to see you first thing this morning?”
“That boy can’t keep himself away,” Lian’s father agreed.
“Like you could?” The silver-haired grandmother gave a roll of her eyes. “I remember having to lock the windows at night to keep you out of the house.”
With an unrepentant grin the male moved to wrap his arm around his mate’s shoulders.
“How could I resist?” He pressed a kiss to her dark hair. “She’s still the prettiest girl in the Wildlands.”
Lian’s mother tilted her head back, regarding her mate with an open devotion that made Sage’s heart ache.
“Flattery will get you whatever you want, my love.”
Sage backed toward the door. “You know, I think I should be working on those scrolls.”
“But what about breakfast?” Lian’s sister demanded.
She took another step back. And another. “This bagel is really enough, thank you.”
“Lian is going to be disappointed,
” his mother sighed.
“Nonsense. He’s a cat. He likes the chase,” his father announced, sending a Sage a nod of approval. “Smart girl.”
Sage gave a choked cough, her entire body sizzling at the thought of being chased by the dangerous puma.
“Yes…well, I’ll see you later.”
Turning on her heel, Sage bolted from the house, swiftly making her way to the communal center.
The first day she’d been amazed by just how civilized the Wildlands truly was.
The few books that had mentioned the Pantera implied that they were savages who lived like animals in the bayous.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
There might be a large part of the secluded lands that remained gloriously untamed, but the Pantera lived in beautiful homes that were cleverly built to incorporate the thick cypress trees, and were draped with Spanish moss. There was also a communal area where the land had been cleared to create a manicured park where they shared meals or enjoyed lazy games.
Perhaps most shockingly, there was a modern medical facility, a guest house, and a mansion straight out of “Gone With the Wind” that served as the headquarters for the Diplomats as well as the computer whizzes known as Geeks.
She’d been amazed when she’d entered the large plantation-style structure with fluted columns to discover it was filled with high-tech computers and monitoring equipment.
Thankfully, she’d been shown to the top floor that held the Pantera’s most fragile books and scrolls. She wasn’t a complete idiot when it came to technology, but she preferred to feel the weight and texture of a book. To smell the leather and dust and crumbling paper.
It was like holding history in her hands.
As she entered this morning, however, she was careful to spread the five ancient scrolls across the long table that Xavier had shoved to the middle of the wooden floor.
Not only was the fraying linen too fragile to be handled more than necessary, but she’d at last realized that the scrolls weren’t individual texts, but instead, they were each a part of a whole.
Now a sense of…rightness…flowed through her as she studied the lines of glyphs.
It wasn’t just her years of research, or even a natural intelligence that allowed her to decipher complex symbols.
She possessed an instinctive gift that went way beyond most scholars.
Yet another secret she kept hidden.
Losing track of time, she was bent over the scrolls when a low, male voice whispered directly in her ear, shattering her concentration.
“Any luck?”
Straightening, she turned to discover Lian standing mere inches away. Instantly her heart lodged in her throat and a vicious hunger twisted her gut.
Even after three days in the company of the large, outrageously gorgeous man, the sight of him was still a punch to her gut.
It wasn’t just the perfect, bronzed features, or the whiskey-gold eyes that smoldered with wicked charm, or even the chiseled body she seriously wanted to lick from head to toe.
It was the sheer…maleness that stirred her on a primitive level.
She wanted to crawl into his arms and never leave.
And the knowledge scared the hell out of her.
Not because she thought he would ever hurt her. She understood the dark possessiveness that he felt for her would ensure he’d always protect her, even from himself.
But her past had taught her that she was asking for pain to open herself to another.
People left. They always left.
And then she was alone.
Far better to keep her heart well-guarded.
And of course, there was that embarrassing problem of wanting to climb on top of him the minute she caught sight of him.
It took only a glance, however, to realize that Lian had reached the end of his patience.
“You startled me,” she muttered, absently pulling off the gloves she always used when dealing with fragile texts.
“Sorry.” He crowded her against the edge of the table, his finger reaching to smooth a stray curl behind her ear. “I did knock.”
She sucked in a deep breath, savoring the spicy musk that sent heat jolting through her body.
Good lord. If he could bottle that scent and sell it as an aphrodisiac he could make a bazillion dollars.
She cleared her throat. “I tend to become lost in my research.”
His lips twitched, his fingers stroking a decadent line of fire down her throat.
“Lost or hidden?”
She stiffened. Did he know she was deliberately trying to keep a distance between them?
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she tried to hedge.
His fingers circled her neck, blatant ownership in his light grasp.
“I warned you that you’re a terrible liar, Dr. Parker.” He brushed his lips over her forehead. “Not that I blame you. My family can be—”
“Terrifying?” She cowardly latched onto his unintentional excuse for her elusive behavior.
“That’s one way of putting it,” he said wryly.
She felt an instant pang of guilt. “They’re very kind,” she forced herself to admit. It was the truth, after all. “And they’ve made me feel very welcome.”
His lips skimmed down the narrow length of her nose. “Yes, they adore you, but they tend to overwhelm the unwary.”
She shivered, her hands clenching against the temptation to run her fingers through the long, glossy strands of his dark hair.
Why did he leave it free to flow down his back? It was a constant temptation.
“Is there something you needed?”
“Just to be near you,” he said with his usual blunt honesty. Then he held up a hand that held a wicker basket. “And to bring you this.”
Suddenly Sage’s stomach growled as she was hit by the most delicious aromas.
Spice, and shrimp, and vegetables combined with a heady scent of freshly baked bread.
“It smells divine.”
“My mother’s gumbo and corn pone, still warm from the oven,” he revealed. “She was concerned that you didn’t eat enough breakfast.”
“I wanted to get back to work,” she said, turning to point at the scrolls she’d unrolled and aligned side by side. “During the night I realized that I’d been looking at the hieroglyphs all wrong. You see, it doesn’t read from top to bottom, but across each scroll.”
“Fascinating,” he murmured.
She glanced up to discover him studying her with an unwavering focus.
“You’re not even looking.”
“Of course I am.” Hunger shimmered in his eyes as they lowered to her lips. The air prickled with a heated arousal as he grabbed her hand and led her across the floor and through the French doors. “I just happen to be interested in something other than musty scrolls.”
“Lian, I’m supposed to be translating,” she protested even as she crossed the balcony and allowed herself to be seated at the small wrought iron table.
He efficiently emptied the wicker basket, taking the lids off the bowls of steaming gumbo and divvying up the corn pone. Then, pouring them each a glass of wine, he settled in the chair next to her.
“I admire your dedication, Dr. Parker,” he said, taking a sip of the wine, the gentle breeze tugging at his hair. Even in the afternoon sunlight he looked dark and dangerous and entirely edible. “And I swear I’ll do my best to give you all the freedom you need to pursue your interests so long as you give me permission to distract you when I think you need a break.”
Anticipation licked through her body. “What sort of distraction?”
A slow, sinful smile curved his lips as he easily caught the scent of her arousal.
“First, we eat.”
Sage sucked in a deep breath, grabbing for her spoon.
Yeah. Eat.
No jumping on top of the yummy Pantera and having her wicked way with him…
Concentrating on the food, Sage cleared
her plate, giving a small groan at the savory burst of flavors. After years of surviving on salads and frozen dinners she could pop in the microwave it was a delight to indulge her senses with homemade meals.
Watching her lick her fingers with obvious satisfaction, Lian lounged back in his chair.
A big, lazy cat with the eyes of a lethal predator.
“More wine?” he asked.
“No.” With an abrupt motion she was on her feet. She wanted to rub her cheek over his unshaven jaw so badly it was a physical pain. “I’ll fall asleep.”
With a fluid motion he was standing next to her, threading their fingers together.
“I know how to wake you up.”
Instead of heading back inside, he pulled her toward the edge of the house where a narrow staircase led from the balcony to the ground.
Sage frowned, but made no effort to pull away. “Where are we going?”
“I intend to take you on a tour of the Wildlands.” He led her away from the communal area into the lush vegetation of the wetlands. “It’s too beautiful a day to be locked inside.”
“I’m really close to a breakthrough on the scrolls,” she weakly protested.
He shrugged, following the narrow path that weaved between the cypress trees.
“An hour or so away from them will help you clear your mind.”
“But I thought you brought me here to decipher the scrolls?”
“I did.”
“And now you want me—”
“Yes.” He came to an abrupt halt, bracing Sage as she slammed into his hard body. Framing her face in his hands, he regarded her with the raw hunger that made her toes curl. “I want you.” His fingers traced down her cheeks and along the line of her jaw. “Your delectable body. Your daunting brain.” He offered a rueful smile. “Your wary heart.”
An aching need raced through her.
She wanted to believe.
She truly did.
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