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Staring at him with wide eyes, Megan mumbled, “Better not tell you about my ex then.”
“What about your ex?” He narrowed his gaze and watched as she cringed.
“Shit. Didn’t mean to say that out loud.” She tried to pull her hand from his and start walking again, but he didn’t let go of her hand.
“Megan,” he said as he walked at her side, “I won’t try to force you to tell me, but… if there are… triggers I need to be aware of, that would be helpful information.”
“Just don’t hit me or cheat on me. Okay?”
And just like that, his lion was roaring inside of him, and Arbor was ready to burn the fucking world down just to make sure that fucker got what he deserved.
“Arbor?”
“What?” This time, he didn’t look at her.
“Your… eyes.”
Arbor slammed his lids closed and internally cursed. He was pissed to the point his eyes were glowing, and he hadn’t even realized it.
“You want me to tell you shit, so… what thefuckwas that?”
He sighed, and once he had himself back under control, he opened his eyes and continued walking. “I’ll explain everything as soon as I get the steaks on the grill. Okay?”
“Are you about to tell me you’re an alien species sent to recruit women to help repopulate your planet?”
Arbor snort-laughed and replied, “No.”
An audible sigh of relief came from Megan. “Then, yes, okay.”
Arbor took his time preparing the steaks for the grill and prepping the potatoes for the microwave. He didn’t have an oven in his small house in the trees, but he was able to make do with what he had. He used the time to gather his thoughts and figure out how to tell Megan about his kind. He’d never had to do that before. No woman had ever gotten close enough or was important enough to him for that. From what he knew, Whiskey had never told a woman about their kind, either. While Arbor was a lion shifter, Whiskey was a black panther shifter. It wasn’t common for different types of shifters to congregate, but they often banded together when faced with a common enemy, and they all believed in keeping their true nature quiet.
About eight months ago, videos of the shifter kind were released into the world, announcing their existence to humans. Most humans figured they were doctored or edited in some way, but there were enough humans who believed it to be considered a threat. Luckily, he wasn’t in a well-populated area. It was easier to keep that part of himself a secret with fewer people around.
“I’m pretty sure those steaks are ready… and you’re stalling.”
Looking at the steaks on the platter sitting on the small counter, seasoned to perfection and ready for the grill, Arbor sighed and turned around to face Megan. “They are ready for the grill. I’m just not sure I’m ready to have you look at me differently.”
She rolled her eyes and stepped closer, lifting her hands and resting them on his abdomen. “After what I’ve been through in my life, I doubt whatever you have to tell me is going to do that. I mean… I am fully aware that normal people can’t make their eyes glow, so… I ama littleprepared for whatever it is.”
He hoped she was right. Wanting one more moment of affection before he blasted his secrets, he cupped her face in his hands and pressed his lips to hers. Just the simple touch of lips had his gut clenching with need, but he couldn’t give into that yet. She was right. He couldn’t expect her to tell him everything without giving her that in return.
Pulling back, he quietly said, “I’ll tell you, but I have a request.”
“Lay it on me.”
“Don’t go running from here. I don’t want you falling down the stairs and breaking your neck. I won’t hurt you, so you don’t need to be afraid. Okay?”
Her eyes narrowed with curiosity, but she nodded. “Okay. I won’t run out of here. And if I leave, I’ll make sure to walk slowly and to hit each step.”
He chuckled. “Not what I meant, but thank you.” After releasing her, he twisted at the hips and grabbed the platter. “I’ll put these on the grill. Will you toss the potatoes in the microwave for six minutes? Once they are both going, I’ll bare my soul.”
“Dramatic much?” Megan winked at him, picked up the plate that the bagged potatoes were sitting on, and headed for the microwave a few feet away.
Chuckling, Arbor was feeling a little better about it all. She seemed like she was going to do her best to be understanding, and that’s all he could ask for.
He stepped out onto the small deck off his living space and approached the grill he bought that was barely big enough to cook for two. When they first arrived at his house, he started it and got it going, so it was ready for the steaks. He used the tongs to transfer the meat from the platter to the grill and set the platter aside.
“Okay. What’s the big secret, Arbor?”
