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She brushes the dirt from her shorts. “I think that’s a bit dramatic. I just pulled the dart out. Anyone could have done that.”
One more step closer and I’m only an arm’s length away from everything I’ve always dreamed of having. “But no one else found me in the three days since I was in that state. If I’d stayed in that form much longer, I wouldn’t have been able to shift back. I was losing my humanity. You saved my life. I don’t know why someone poisoned me or even how they knew about me, but I shudder to think about what might have happened if they’d been able to keep me a manticore forever.”
“Why would anyone want that?” She steps away from the protection of the tree, which brings her even closer.
I shrug. “My kind live a long time. Maybe they wanted to kill me and prove my existence.”
“What’s your name?”
I hold out my hand. “Cade Petroyan. I’m forever in your debt.”
After a short hesitation, she shakes my hand and her cheeks pink. “Leona DeRosa. There’s no debt. I’m glad I could help.”
“May I at least buy you lunch?” My heart is pounding with worry that she’ll turn me down. I’m already thinking of other ways to be in her company.
She glances back toward the tent, then at me. “Can you get me away from this fucking place for a few hours and do you promise not to turn into a beast and kill me?”
“Man or beast, the last thing I want to do is kill you, Leona.”
Her mother’s fake laughter carries across the lake. Her sister and a male voice talk above the din of the group about how glad they are their friends and family could join them for the start of their married life, and wishing everyone a safe journey home.
Looking through the tree’s canopy, she looks at the sky. “I just need to be somewhere else for a while. Maybe I can borrow Mr. Baker’s car.” She says the last to herself.
Suddenly, my good friend Brian is on my not-so-friendly list. Has he been flirting with my Leona?
I take a deep breath. “Brian is a nice enough guy and I’m sure if I asked him, he’d loan you his car. He and I have been friends for ten years. However, I’d be honored if you’d allow me to assist you in running away for a few hours.” I offer my arm.
It’s adorable the way she sets her jaw before she threads her hand through my elbow. “No killing me or eating me or stabbing me with that tail.”
“I will only do what you allow, Leona, and never will I harm you in any way. I promise you that on the graves of my parents and their parents.” I caress her fingers with my other hand and have to close my eyes for a moment as a wave of purposiveness floods me.
“You’re kind of formal, Cade. I like it.” She takes a deep breath, which lifts her breasts high, and her shirt stretches to contain them. When she lets it out, she nods and we walk.
My cock thinks the top and shorts should go altogether, and the woods were a good private place to remove them. My monster agrees. I quell both and enjoy walking her to my car.
She keeps her gaze straight ahead and never looks over at her family.
“You don’t want to tell them where you’re going? Won’t they worry?” I open the passenger door.
“They won’t even notice as long as Melony is the center of attention and Derek is making money selling his vitamins. If anything goes wrong, they’ll regret I’m not there to blame it on.” She sits and buckles her seatbelt before crossing her arms over her chest and staring blankly out the windshield.
Gently closing the door, I’m quickly growing to dislike the picnickers. I round the car and get in. “I know a great place for burgers unless you want something fancier.”
“No. I’m not dressed for fancy. I love a good burger and fries.”
I get on the road toward town and call Brian.
“Hi, Cade. Where have you been?” Brian’s chipper voice asks through my car’s speakers.
Leona’s shapely brows pull together, and she opens her mouth as if to scold me. She points her finger at me.
I wrap my hand around her finger and bring it to my lips.
She gasps at the touch but doesn’t pull away.
“I had a bit of a cold, but I’m fine now. I’m taking one of your guests, Miss DeRosa, to lunch and a tour of the area. Just wanted to let you know in case her family asks about her. I wouldn’t want you sending the police looking for her when we’re at the Burger Barn.”
Brian laughs. “Have fun. I think they’re planning to play games on the back lawn until the bulk of the guests leave. They’ve booked a formal dinner for the immediate family before the show tonight.”
