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“One of these times, you might not walk away.” She didn’t know why she said that, because really it wasn’t her business. He wasn’t her business. But even thinking that last part had a sour taste forming in her mouth.
Her deer wanted to curl up beside this primal animal, become vulnerable, and let her trust go totally into him. He was the alpha to her submissive, and she wanted the protection and safety she knew he would give her. Kenzie could feel that coming from him, and it took her breath away.
Those were scary and dangerous thoughts, and Kenzie wouldn’t think about them any longer. None of that stuff was what would be in her future, and pretending like she didn’t have a shitty past and an even shittier present wasn’t an option. Bram had saved her life, taken her into his home even though he didn’t know her or the ruined background she carried. She needed to leave, disappear, and stay under the radar so Rook could never find her.
“That won’t happen.” His cockiness wasn’t that much of a surprise, but she still looked up at him and raised an eyebrow.
“Oh, and why is that?” She could hear the breathy way she phrased the question and quickly cleared her throat. Kenzie would be lying if she didn’t admit his masculinity was a turn-on. He slowly leaned forward, so their faces were once again only separated by inches. Kenzie forced herself not to move.
She wasn’t scared of him, which was shocking. It was strange that her deer wasn’t cowering, but then again, she assumed that was one of the gifts of a mate. He showed outward signs of his interest for her, but he still kept this stoic expression in place. He lowered his eyes to her chest and then slowly lifted them back up to her face.
“Because, little deer.” He moved in another inch, and she swore his lips brushed gently against hers for the briefest second. She should move away, feel some kind of terror that this unknown man was in her personal space, that for all she knew he could hide who he was from her, but all she could do was grip the edge of the couch and wait for him to continue. “I never lose a fight. Ever.”
He sounded so sure, so positive that there was no doubt in her mind he told the truth. For a pregnant pause, neither of them spoke or moved, and she found herself closing her eyes and waiting for the inevitable kiss. She waited and waited, but instead of his lips pressing against hers, he said, “You should get some rest, and when you’re feeling better, I want to know what the panther is to you.”
She opened her eyes and got lost in the blue pools.
“And if he is still alive, I’m going to hunt him down and rip his throat out.” He lifted his hand and cupped her cheek. “And do you know why I want to kill him?”
She shook her head, not knowing what he would say, since he knew nothing about her.
“Because he hurt what’s mine, and you’re mine, Kenzie.” He looked down at her mouth, and she licked her lips, which had him groaning deeply. “But you know you’re mine, don’t you, little deer.” He didn’t phrase it as a question. “Yeah, you know it. I can smell your realization as well as I can smell how much you ache for me.”
Oh. God. He was too much for her, saying things she couldn’t handle, and too male. He didn’t mince his words and made no apologies.
He stared into her eyes for several long seconds and then let his hand drop from her cheek. He gently gripped her arms and slowly eased her away from him as he stood. For a moment, all Kenzie could do was stare at his retreating back. Immobilized from her lust and disappointment at their almost kiss, she felt like a puddle of liquid on the ground. Right before he stepped into the hallway, he stopped, keeping his back to her. The light created shadows across the muscular, inked expanse.
“And, Kenzie?”
Blinking past the haze that had overcome her, she slowly stood. He looked over his shoulder at her.
“I’m not letting you run from me. I want you here. I need you here.” He pierced her with his striking blue eyes. “I can keep you safe, and I know you know this, too. You’re mine, Kenzie.” Her chest rose up and down frantically. “You know it, and I know it, and before this is all said and done I’ll have you under me, my cock buried in your sweet little body, and my mark covering your flesh.”
Her hand landed on her throat at his blunt, distorted, and obscene words. At that moment, she was looking at the animal, speaking to his bear, and he was letting her know that she was his. That should have scared the shit out of her, had her running in the opposite direction and reminding her of the horrors she faced at the hands of Rook, but she didn’t move a muscle.
