Except we used the wheat and cornfields. And the winner was whoever managed to sneak up on the other and scare the bejesus out of them. Want to play?”
The snort was reply enough.
“When I say go, you close your eyes and count to sixty. Then, come find me.”
A laugh fluttered free from Arabella again as he dropped to the ground, ducked his head, and put his paws over it. His tail swished.
Tic. Toc. Damn, she should get moving and not stare at the hypnotic sway of his tuft.
She weaved through the wheat, moving quickly while doing loops and crisscrosses over her path. Anything to muddle her scent trail. She also snagged stray flower weeds on her way. When she had a handful, she rubbed them on herself, her clothes, her skin, masking her scent and matching it to that of the field. Then she circled back, moving toward Hayder’s position.
It was a good thing she played close attention because she almost didn’t spot him slipping through the waving strands. Only the feathery tips of the wheat and their agitated sway let her know his position, a position she stalked.
And got closer. Closer.
His tail twitched, just in front of her, and the imp in her couldn’t resist. She grabbed it and yanked.
Chapter Thirteen
There were a few things that really peeved a lion.
Stealing his sunny nap spot.
Messing up his mane.
Eating the last donut.
Yanking his fucking tail!
Reflex had him spin on the brat who’d sneaked up on him. Well, sneaked up if he ignored the fact he knew she was behind him. Let her think she had him. He was so enchanted by the emergence of a playful side that he didn’t want to ruin her fun.
A fun that ended when she yanked his tail.
Rawr !
He spun and shot her a baleful glare.
For a moment she froze. A tremble went through her.
She was scared.
Ah hell. Surely she knew by now he’d never hurt her?
But then again, could he expect years of abuse and habit to disappear after spending just over a day with him? He wondered what she’d do. Would she run or give him the broken puppy eyes?
Why did this have to happen at all? Why did he have to look so fearsome? Was it his fault his lion was so impressive and scary? Was it—
Wait a second, was she laughing?
He eyed her. Yup. She was. Laughing and snorting.
Now he glared for real.
She chortled louder. “Oh. Oh.” She gasped. “If only you could see your expression.”
He’d show her an expression. He shifted into his human self, but even his impressive nakedness couldn’t stem her mirth. He stood and then stalked, each long stride bringing him closer, and her laughter dampening until it stopped altogether. He almost applauded when she peered at him instead of staring at her toes.
“Am I in trouble?”
“Nothing a kiss wouldn’t fix.” Blackmail? Hell yeah. He’d do anything for a kiss.
“If you want a kiss, you’ll have to catch me. Tag, you’re it.” She shoved him, open-palmed against his chest, before bolting, her lithe body a quick blur that soon disappeared from sight.
Seriously? She was just awesomeness wrapped in a layer of perfection with a dab of naughty he was really loving.
“I’m coming to get you, baby.” Off he dashed, a steady lope that would allow her a moment to think she’d escaped. Meanwhile, he’d end up catching her and taking that kiss.
Once he found her. His baby was quick on her feet. Not only that but she didn’t move as expected. Her trail moved in a straight beeline, from the field to the edge then the forest.
For a moment, he debated changing shapes again. The fact that she’d left their play area worried him. While he’d told her this area was safe, that didn’t mean something couldn’t happen.
He needed to find her.
Head angled, he inhaled deeply and caught a whiff of her scent. Faint given her camouflage efforts earlier, but enough for him to follow it to the gurgling stream that ran through this part of the property. He followed her trail, walking the wet, rocky bank, trying to catch a
The snort was reply enough.
“When I say go, you close your eyes and count to sixty. Then, come find me.”
A laugh fluttered free from Arabella again as he dropped to the ground, ducked his head, and put his paws over it. His tail swished.
Tic. Toc. Damn, she should get moving and not stare at the hypnotic sway of his tuft.
She weaved through the wheat, moving quickly while doing loops and crisscrosses over her path. Anything to muddle her scent trail. She also snagged stray flower weeds on her way. When she had a handful, she rubbed them on herself, her clothes, her skin, masking her scent and matching it to that of the field. Then she circled back, moving toward Hayder’s position.
It was a good thing she played close attention because she almost didn’t spot him slipping through the waving strands. Only the feathery tips of the wheat and their agitated sway let her know his position, a position she stalked.
And got closer. Closer.
His tail twitched, just in front of her, and the imp in her couldn’t resist. She grabbed it and yanked.
Chapter Thirteen
There were a few things that really peeved a lion.
Stealing his sunny nap spot.
Messing up his mane.
Eating the last donut.
Yanking his fucking tail!
Reflex had him spin on the brat who’d sneaked up on him. Well, sneaked up if he ignored the fact he knew she was behind him. Let her think she had him. He was so enchanted by the emergence of a playful side that he didn’t want to ruin her fun.
A fun that ended when she yanked his tail.
Rawr !
He spun and shot her a baleful glare.
For a moment she froze. A tremble went through her.
She was scared.
Ah hell. Surely she knew by now he’d never hurt her?
But then again, could he expect years of abuse and habit to disappear after spending just over a day with him? He wondered what she’d do. Would she run or give him the broken puppy eyes?
Why did this have to happen at all? Why did he have to look so fearsome? Was it his fault his lion was so impressive and scary? Was it—
Wait a second, was she laughing?
He eyed her. Yup. She was. Laughing and snorting.
Now he glared for real.
She chortled louder. “Oh. Oh.” She gasped. “If only you could see your expression.”
He’d show her an expression. He shifted into his human self, but even his impressive nakedness couldn’t stem her mirth. He stood and then stalked, each long stride bringing him closer, and her laughter dampening until it stopped altogether. He almost applauded when she peered at him instead of staring at her toes.
“Am I in trouble?”
“Nothing a kiss wouldn’t fix.” Blackmail? Hell yeah. He’d do anything for a kiss.
“If you want a kiss, you’ll have to catch me. Tag, you’re it.” She shoved him, open-palmed against his chest, before bolting, her lithe body a quick blur that soon disappeared from sight.
Seriously? She was just awesomeness wrapped in a layer of perfection with a dab of naughty he was really loving.
“I’m coming to get you, baby.” Off he dashed, a steady lope that would allow her a moment to think she’d escaped. Meanwhile, he’d end up catching her and taking that kiss.
Once he found her. His baby was quick on her feet. Not only that but she didn’t move as expected. Her trail moved in a straight beeline, from the field to the edge then the forest.
For a moment, he debated changing shapes again. The fact that she’d left their play area worried him. While he’d told her this area was safe, that didn’t mean something couldn’t happen.
He needed to find her.
Head angled, he inhaled deeply and caught a whiff of her scent. Faint given her camouflage efforts earlier, but enough for him to follow it to the gurgling stream that ran through this part of the property. He followed her trail, walking the wet, rocky bank, trying to catch a
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