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As she hesitated, he swung out of the car, shut his own door, and started up the brick walk to the wide front stoop alone With a sigh, Faith let herself out of the car, glancing at Maxi back with a stab of uncertainty Was he just preoccupied? Certainly that would be understandable under the circumstances Or was he embarrassed by her? Heaven knew she wasn’t of his class Not even close

As her gaze tracked farther, she caught sight of ain the open doorway, a h perhaps not quite as broad through the chest and shoulders Sunlight struck short brown hair that curled just a little at the edges, weaving into it fine threads of gold that set off a handsome face with sharply arched brows over dark eyes

As Maxim reached the steps to the front porch, the man stepped forward and thrust out his hand - too far, nearly to Maxim’s jacket button

"I’m Hawke Welcome to Feral House"

Another Feral Warrior But she’d suspected as much

Maxi no lish?" The Feral’s tone reh it had lost that layer of warmth

"I do"

"Grasp reet one another"

Maxi sorasped one another’s forearms, Maxim lifted his chin "I wish to confer with the Chief of the Feral Warriors"

Hawke gazed at hi more, just as Vhyper’s had

Faith’s heart sank at Maxi like a prince forced to consort with peasants She wanted to like and respect this man who it increasingly hard to do so

Hawke lifted one arched brow "Lyon is in the foyer" As Maxim brushed past him, Hawke shook his head, then descended the steps and started toward the vehicle His gaze swept over her,to where Vhyper pulled Maxiain The friendliness returned to his expression, along with a hint of curiosity Her blue-tipped hair tended to bring that out in people

She sat the edges before his mouth spread It was a small smile, a close- A fluttering arose in her stos As he drew nearer, her faceher entire bodybegan to flush with a heat that had her wishing she could peel off her sweater With a face that was perhaps a bit too long and a nose that was a tad too pronounced, he wasn’t movie-star handsoh with flecks of gold, were kind, his mouth beautifully sculpted And the overall effect was breathtaking

Dismay seized her heart, a deep disappointment that she felt no such physical attraction to the man fate had chosen for her But physical attraction wasn’t everything Deep inside, that pull ree that she belonged to Maxi and blank, his pulse thru, with dark hair painted bright blue at the ends and one ear entirely enclosed in earrings, yet she wasextraordinary That s theht, her features were s her beauty a pixieish char

He told hiaze on her face, but his eyes had athat her thin sweater, the sa to small, sweet curves, and that the sleeves half covered her hands On slender legs she wore holey jeans On her feet, badly worn sneakers

Slowly, he forced his gaze back to her face, to the sain, then up to eyes that held an odd hter, and shadows And a wisdoe Perhaps she wasn’t as young as she looked

Relief had his san to sparkle, her voice light andas her saze away and went to help Vhyper with the luggage, close enough to catch a whiff of soft female and raspberry sweetness

She followed "I’e suitcase Vhyper already had four of the on the pavement "I think he’s used to servants"

"We’ll break hirunted Maxiht they’d put up with that kind of attitude Perhaps it was a defense mechanism that would ease once he felt like he was one of thee pieces of luggage and started toward the house The woone, her brows dipped in worry

Hawke felt the need to ease her mind "Don’t worry about Vhyper Or Maxim, for that matter Newly marked Ferals are rarely at their best While their bodies come to terressive, quick-te her nose

Adorable

"For how long?"

"The worst of it will pass when he’s brought into his animal - his first shift But for sorinned at her "I’htful speed, awe lacing her gaze and her words "You’re the hawk shifter"

"I aht you be?"

"I’h I’ I want to admit at the moment"

With Maxihter?" he asked hopefully

She laughed "I was born in 1899 I just try to look like a teenager"

Not too young at all Which would be beside the point if she was truly with Maxim Ferals never, ever poached another Feral’s female

He held out his hand "It’s nice to meet you, Faith"

Her eyes sparkled as she slid her slender hand into his on a rush of soft pleasure "It’s nice to meet you, too"

Hawke found himself suddenly torn between modern manners, which dictated he si desire to raise her knuckles to his lips in the old way The desire to inhale the scent of her skin, to feel her flesh beneath his lips, was disly powerful But until he knehich way the wind bleeen her and Maxim, he’d be wise to err on the side of caution