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"Don’t what? Decorate ht…" He shook his head, relieved "What’s next, after the lights?"
"Ornaet the kids to round and picked up the last rope Stringing that took far too little ti for him when he jumped down the second ti the delicate line of her profile "You going to turn it on?"
"Not until it’s ready" She shoved her own hands into the pockets of her jeans "I better get inside It’s chilly"
He was one step fro, would have done so for any other packmate who needed it--touch was the cornerstone of who they were But if he touched Ta He’d take all of her, clai extra time on every seductive feh when he asked, "What are you doing to over soht, Nate"
He frowned "You’re still angry"
"No" She gave hiht sht have had years to get used to resisting the full brunt of theheat, but I haven’t So help me out and keep your distance"
"KEEP MY DISTANCE" NATE PACED ACROSS THE LENGTH OF his living rooed to hirowled deep in the forests that surrounded his ho under the hn, or maybe both The tere still juveniles, but both had already seen death firsthand, been scarred by their losses Now they waited to grow up so they could claio with theerfor hisdark and alht of her, a sense of co his soul She was his, wouldn’t ever be anyone else’s The reer of his beast
He would never forget the moment when he’d realized what she was to hies, they had had different friends, moved in different levels of the pack But he had always knoho she was, adored her in a way that was everything good--her laugh soothed the rough edges of his beast, her sht of her fifteenth birthday, she had hosted a small sleepover party at her parents’ home He’d dropped in to wish her a happy birthday It had been no fleeting i by to check if she was okay, especially during the times when her parents were out As soon as she had opened the door, he’d felt the bond snap taut The knowledge had been in her eyes, too, shocked and bright
He’d touched her then, cupped her cheek with his hand She had leaned into hi he had ever wanted He’d known that, at that ive it to him That hat had made hi the contact
It was a pro cruel She hadn’t seen what he had with his parents HisWithin a decade, they had destroyed each other and thehtmare Because he kneas too much like his father--he would not be an easy man to mate with He’d expect total devotion, demand coht, his body hungered for her with a fury that was more animal than man The cat had wanted her from the first To the leopard, she’d smelled mature at fifteen, but the man had known she was nowhere near ready No he could have her--if he illing to look into her eyes for the rest of his life and know he’d stolen what little freedom she could have had
"No" He would not do that to her She ive him It hat mates did
TAMSYN WAS NEVER GOING TO FORGIVE NATHAN FOR PUTTING her through this! "I can’t stand it!" Her skin was so sensitive even the sheets felt abrasive The flesh between her legs ollen with need and there was only oneshe wanted to do Unfortunately, Nate didn’t want to play
Why had he turned up tonight? To torture her? Her beast had become drunk on his scent, addicted to the proud masculine taste of him It wanted more So much more Maybe that hy he’d co, too? She snorted More likely he’d co to turn her back on him this afternoon
Nate was used to obedience Particularly fro he said as gospel At sixteen, she’d given him the occasional moment of lip but had always accepted his decisions in the end And he’d never let her down He’d been her rock…especially after that dark day two years ago when she had failed to save Lucas’s father
"Carlos wanted to die," Nate had whispered in her ear, holding her tight as she sobbed over the loss He’d still held her then "He didn’t want to live without Shayla"
It hadn’t taken away her sense of failure, but she’d understood The bond between mates was beautiful, powerful Separated mates could live without each other, but it hurt As she knew too well And she shouldn’t! Unlike those whose mates had been lost to death, Nate was alive but wouldn’t touch her
That was so incredibly wrong Changelings weren’t Psy Touch was as necessary to the and kissing a fellow packive her that…