When she took a step back from him, he reached out and took hold of her arm. “There’s nothing to be frightened of. It’s not like when we get somewhere safe I’m going to throw you over my shoulder, carry you to the bedroom, and have my way with you.”
“You’re not?”
“Well, angel, if you want me to, that can always be arranged.” He wiggled his eyebrows at her, suggesting he’d be more than willing. “Though it wouldn’t be with force. It would be because you wanted me.”
“Don’t you have to stay with your own species? I mean, isn’t that like inbreeding?”
“We’re not that different. Except for the fact I can shift into a lion, there’s nothing else that separates us.” He cupped the side of her cheek, using his thumb to push away a stray hair that had fallen from under the cap. “We can mate with anyone, it doesn’t matter if they are human, or another breed. It’s just like a human relationship. It might grow from instant attraction, but for it to work both parties have to want it to. There has to be love between them, not just sexual attraction.”
“Patrick, we’ve got to go,” Blake called.
“He’s right. Come on, angel.”
“Maybe this is a mistake. I want to help, but I’m not sure that I should get romantically involved.”
“One step at a time. Let’s get you out of these woods, to the SUV, and then back to Forever Creek. As for the mating, nothing will happen unless you want it to. I would never force myself or my second nature lifestyle on you.”
With a nod, she turned toward Blake and started forward. Patrick wrapped his arm around her shoulder and they caught up with his brother in silence. This was all new to her, so he’d have to be patient and give her time to adjust. She had been tossed into the world of shifters, on the run, and now had a cold bucket of water tossed over her with this mating idea. He didn’t doubt she’d come around because no matter the differences between them, she could feel the draw to him. The mating was working its magic between them, and for her it would feel like an instant attraction. She would find herself drawn to him, thinking about him, and eventually seeking his touch, but she wouldn’t completely understand why until the mating ritual was complete.
She had been through enough, and he’d have to take it slow with her to avoid pushing her away. Eventually, he’d have his mate. Mate. He still couldn’t get used to the idea. It was a dangerous time to be mating, and it was even worse that his mate would be human. If he were ever caught and placed in one of those labs, she’d feel what was happening to him. He might be able to shield her somewhat, but ultimately they’d break through all his defenses and she’d experience some of the pain through their connection. He couldn’t let that happen. Now, more than ever, he had to make sure he was never captured. He’d die before he’d let them imprison him.
They arrived back at the SUV, and Patrick took the wheel, with Blake in the passenger side. Clarissa sat in the back, low enough no one would see her through the dark tinted windows. They had a several hour drive ahead of them, and every minute of it would be torture for him. To have his mate so close but be unable to touch or claim her, would be agony.
He wasn’t sure how long he drove with the silence hanging in the air. But it had been long enough that he began to think she might have fallen asleep. Not that he’d blame her after the days she’d had lately. Exhaustion must be taking its toll. Even with the adrenaline and his shifter abilities, he was worn out from the last two days, ready to crawl into a nice warm bed.
Even though the hour was late, he took the back roads, avoiding anywhere the population was too dense. They’d take no risks, at least not until they got the information they needed. Then the risks would be on him and his brothers. They’d go to Hathaway Medical, rescue those they could, gather
“You’re not?”
“Well, angel, if you want me to, that can always be arranged.” He wiggled his eyebrows at her, suggesting he’d be more than willing. “Though it wouldn’t be with force. It would be because you wanted me.”
“Don’t you have to stay with your own species? I mean, isn’t that like inbreeding?”
“We’re not that different. Except for the fact I can shift into a lion, there’s nothing else that separates us.” He cupped the side of her cheek, using his thumb to push away a stray hair that had fallen from under the cap. “We can mate with anyone, it doesn’t matter if they are human, or another breed. It’s just like a human relationship. It might grow from instant attraction, but for it to work both parties have to want it to. There has to be love between them, not just sexual attraction.”
“Patrick, we’ve got to go,” Blake called.
“He’s right. Come on, angel.”
“Maybe this is a mistake. I want to help, but I’m not sure that I should get romantically involved.”
“One step at a time. Let’s get you out of these woods, to the SUV, and then back to Forever Creek. As for the mating, nothing will happen unless you want it to. I would never force myself or my second nature lifestyle on you.”
With a nod, she turned toward Blake and started forward. Patrick wrapped his arm around her shoulder and they caught up with his brother in silence. This was all new to her, so he’d have to be patient and give her time to adjust. She had been tossed into the world of shifters, on the run, and now had a cold bucket of water tossed over her with this mating idea. He didn’t doubt she’d come around because no matter the differences between them, she could feel the draw to him. The mating was working its magic between them, and for her it would feel like an instant attraction. She would find herself drawn to him, thinking about him, and eventually seeking his touch, but she wouldn’t completely understand why until the mating ritual was complete.
She had been through enough, and he’d have to take it slow with her to avoid pushing her away. Eventually, he’d have his mate. Mate. He still couldn’t get used to the idea. It was a dangerous time to be mating, and it was even worse that his mate would be human. If he were ever caught and placed in one of those labs, she’d feel what was happening to him. He might be able to shield her somewhat, but ultimately they’d break through all his defenses and she’d experience some of the pain through their connection. He couldn’t let that happen. Now, more than ever, he had to make sure he was never captured. He’d die before he’d let them imprison him.
They arrived back at the SUV, and Patrick took the wheel, with Blake in the passenger side. Clarissa sat in the back, low enough no one would see her through the dark tinted windows. They had a several hour drive ahead of them, and every minute of it would be torture for him. To have his mate so close but be unable to touch or claim her, would be agony.
He wasn’t sure how long he drove with the silence hanging in the air. But it had been long enough that he began to think she might have fallen asleep. Not that he’d blame her after the days she’d had lately. Exhaustion must be taking its toll. Even with the adrenaline and his shifter abilities, he was worn out from the last two days, ready to crawl into a nice warm bed.
Even though the hour was late, he took the back roads, avoiding anywhere the population was too dense. They’d take no risks, at least not until they got the information they needed. Then the risks would be on him and his brothers. They’d go to Hathaway Medical, rescue those they could, gather
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