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He stared up at the dark house, his body taut as a slow anger pumped through him.
He’d expected her to run home. Expected herguardto be there, standing watch again. He’d planned for the asshole. He’d been more than ready to rip the hunter wide open.
But she wasn’t there. Neither was the hunter.
A growl built in his throat.Not part of the plan.
This wasn’t the way things were supposed to go, dammit. Why couldn’t she ever show her appreciation? Why the hell did she keep jerking him around?
And if she’d let that cat touch her...
His teeth snapped together.
The tiger shifterwouldbe dying soon. And it would be a long, painful death.
This time, he’d let Erin watch every moment. She’d understand then. She’d realize how much he loved her. She’d see that he would do anything for her.
When he offered her the tiger’s blood, she’d smile that slow smile, and be his.
Forever.
ChapterTen
Jude’s fingerstrailed over her breast, skimming the nipple gently, then sliding under the round globe. Slowly, softly, then he touched her scar.
Erin didn’t flinch and she didn’t even pull away—pretty impressive, she thought. Swallowing, she stared up at the ceiling of Jude’s bedroom. He was all around her, surrounding her with his scent and his body. A dangerous shifter. A man who could rip apart his enemies.
But she’d never felt safer.
His thumb brushed over the raised flesh. “Tell me.”
No more running. She’d decided that. No more running, no more hiding.Better start now.“He caught me once, broke into my home, reached my bedroom.” She’d woken to his touch. Cold claws sliding down her face.
Jude tensed against her, but he didn’t speak and his hands didn’t fall away from her.
Not yet.
“I don’t really know how he does it but, he can hide his scent.” Tricky bastard. “Maybe herbs or something. Hell, maybe he can just control it at will. I don’t know.” A light chill seemed to cover her skin. “Today, I caught his scent because hewantedme to. That’s the way he plays his games.”
“He was luring you out, and you walked right to the bastard.” Anger there, vibrating in his voice.
“I’m tired of running,” she said simply. “I can’t keep doing this. He’s not going to stop. He’ll just keep killing and hunting me,and I can’t keep running.” The rules in this twisted game were changing. One way or another.
She wanted the warmth of Jude’s body against her, but she couldn’t just lay there anymore. She rose, pushing from the bed, pushingawayfrom him, and tugged a sheet with her. Erin wrapped it around her body and stared down at him. “You know I can’t shift.”
A nod. He sat up, the bed covers draped over his naked groin.
She licked her lips. “I don’t—I don’t have all of a shifter’s enhanced senses either.”Flawed.“My sense of smell—yes, it’s strong.” Actually, she’d learned it was stronger than most shifter’s. “But my hearing is just like a human’s, so that bastard was able to sneak right up to me, and I didn’t even know he was there until it was too late.”
Blue eyes held hers. “Too late?” No emotion there. Flat and cold.
Her gaze dropped to the bed and she saw that his claws were out.
Not really so cold after all.
“I never saw his face.” Now she was the one without emotion. “As soon as I woke up, he shoved some kind of hood over me.”
Darkness.
