The blanket of sleep slowly drew away, and Lena smiled. The details of the dream she’d had escaped her, yet a feeling of contentment remained.
Cool air bathed her skin. The sheets under her body were soft. And the heavy weight of a lover was pressed against her back.
Lover? What was she doing in bed with a guy?
She opened her eyes. The darkened room didn’t give her many details. Enough, though, to realize it wasn’t hers. Great. Not only had she slept with a stranger, she’d gone home with him. Not smart. When it came to sex and men, however, she had a long list of regrets.
She forced back the anxiety. There was no use berating herself. She knew the drill—discuss safety, then get out of here before her one-night stand got clingy. No way was she going to stick around and talk. Or worse, spend the day together. Not happening. She did not do relationships. Been there. Done that. Got the broken heart to prove it. Twice.
Her lover licked her arm. She sucked in a shaky breath. The swipe of his tongue skipped energy across her skin. She closed her eyes to enjoy his attentions—maybe she didn’t have to leave yet—but his beard tickled her and ruined the experience.
How had she ended up with a bearded guy? She hated facial hair.
He moved closer and the hair on his legs rubbed against her thigh. She frowned and focused on the sensation. It didn’t feel quite like hair, more like…fur.
The memories of the last few hours returned in a rush—the lion shifters who’d tried to steal her adopted sister, the promise she’d made to her dying stepdad, and him, the man who went on a rampage and clawed her stomach.
Her heart raced, fear replacing the budding desire. Her lashes stuck but she opened her eyes. Slowly, she turned and came face-to-face with a spotted cat, a jaguar, to be precise.
She swallowed hard and willed herself to remain calm.
The cat draped its paws over her, pinning her hips to the bed, then lowered its head to her stomach.
She screamed. One high-pitched shriek followed another.
The cat morphed into a huge, muscular, and very naked man. She caught a glimpse of wickedly long canines before he rolled their bodies and pressed her back to his chest. He clamped one big palm over her mouth and pressed the other over her hip, silencing and restraining her.
So nobody would hear her when he ripped out her throat, maybe?
“Quiet, woman.”
Her muffled cries embarrassed her. She couldn’t stop them, though. It was him. She’d know his gravelly voice anywhere.
The room closed in around her, and the memory came rushing back—her screams, the enraged roars of a big cat, the sounds of men dying. Her chest constricted, making it hard to breathe. She had to get away. She bucked and fought, but he draped a leg over her thrashing limbs, effectively trapping her.
“I’m not going to hurt you. You’re safe. I swear it.”
She needed to calm down. Predators liked fear. She took a slow breath in, held it, then let it escape in a soft hiss through clenched teeth. Focusing on the mechanics of breathing helped. So did the utter stillness of the man in bed with her. Did he do that on purpose to convince her of the truth of his words? Or merely so she’d stop screaming? Either way, her fear lessened.
“That’s a good girl.” He brushed his lips against her temple. “A very good girl.”
Her belly warmed with the praise. She hated the reaction but couldn’t stop it. She’d dabbled in the bondage scene enough that his words, along with the inability to move, triggered her instincts.
“Are you going to scream again?”
She shook her head.
“Now I want you to relax. Can you do that for me?”
She nodded.
“Perfect.” He slid his hand to her throat and massaged gently. “Breathe. Just breathe and let your fear go.”
She did as he ordered and used the time to assess her body. No sharp pain accompanied her inhalations, and the burning agony in her gut had dimmed to a slight twinge. She wiggled her fingers. Not broken. Had she imagined it all?
She closed her eyes and drew the memory forth. No, she recalled every vivid detail from the first moment she’d locked eyes with the tiger chasing her to when he’d whipped around at her plea and caught her belly with his outstretched arm. He hadn’t acted as if he’d noticed her or cared that he’d hurt her. He’d yanked his hand back and attacked the nearest lion without missing a beat.
A chill ran down her spine. The man at her back adjusted his body to press more of his hot skin against hers as if he thought to warm her. Unless he could wipe the images of his cat’s vacant eyes or his face contorted in rage from her mind, he couldn’t counter the ice in her blood.
“Are you calmer?”
She nodded.
“I’m glad. I want you to stay that way, so tell me where the child is, and I’ll let you go.”
He wanted information from her. That was why he’d saved her life. A human wouldn’t have been able to walk away, given the injuries she’d sustained. She’d been around shifters long enough to know some of them could share their healing ability. The how was a mystery she’d never cared to unravel. She’d been trying to escape their world for years but kept getting sucked back into it.
“No,” she answered.
“I need to find her.”
“That’s nice. We all want things.”
Her sarcasm came out at the worst possible times, always getting her in trouble. She bit her lip and berated herself for allowing her attitude to peek out.
“This is not a game. I have to find that child.”
No. It wasn’t close to being a game. Lives were at stake, and she’d continue to dangle hers in the crosshairs if it meant saving her younger sisters, one biological and one adopted. Lena had purposely run to give Gwen and Molly a chance to escape. Nothing said by the shifter holding her would convince her to betray them.
“Well?” The shifter paused as if fully expecting her compliance. “I said, tell me where she is.”
“No.”
He growled. With their bodies pressed tightly together, the vibrations from that animalistic sound traveled down the length of her spine. She tensed and waited for him to strike. Torture her, maybe. All the scary things that could happen to a woman in the wrong man’s arms flashed through her mind.
She choked on bile, anticipating the worst, but all he did was stroke her neck and nuzzle the sensitive spot behind her ear. In the face of the gentle stimulation, her traitorous body relaxed in his embrace.
Several minutes passed in silence while he cuddled with her as if they were lovers. The soft stroke of his fingertips over her hip and the intimate way he spooned her messed with her mind. Her thoughts drifted to sex. Hard not to, especially with his impressive body pressed to hers.
She was in bed with a naked shifter, one who’d torn other men apart before her eyes, one who’d nearly gutted her without so much as a blink of an eye. Why wasn’t she afraid? She should be, except the contentment she’d felt when she first woke had returned.
Not good. The man holding her was her kidnapper, not someone she should want to spend the night with.
She reached for the memory of what had happened in the woods. The blood and gore, the agony. Instead of her screams, she heard his apologies for hurting her. In place of her pain, she remembered the cocoon of strong arms as he cradled her against his chest and pressed kisses to her face. His actions didn’t make sense. Why touch her so tenderly after callously pushing her body off his claws and letting her drop to the ground?
The image of his vacant feline eyes came back to her. They hadn’t even focused on her face.
He hadn’t seen her. Didn’t know he’d hurt her.
Great. Her kidnapper was crazy. Her luck, he’d turn on her if she looked at him wrong.
Before she could take the thought any further, he flicked the tip of his tongue to her neck. She swallowed a moan. He did it again. She clenched her hand until her nails dug into her palm. The sting stopped the sound from escaping, but not the slight shudder that ran through her body. He murmured something, mouth pressed to her neck so the words were muffled, but she knew they were ones of approval. He couldn’t fake that tone.
He slid his hand across her stomach and stilled with his fingers splayed over her belly, the spot that should hurt, yet didn’t.
“You are safe with me. The cub will be too. I will protect her. Now tell me where she is.”
“What cub? I don’t know what you’re talking about. I—”
He nipped her earlobe. “Do not lie to me. You know exactly what I’m talking about.”
She ignored the desire building within her and focused on his question. No way was she telling him anything about her adoptive sister. He could say he’d protect her all he wanted. The government had told her the same lies. All they saw were dollar signs when they looked at Molly.
She moved her bottom away from the stranger’s body. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. If you’re missing a cat, maybe you should check the lost and found section of the newspaper.”
Growls, louder than before, rumbled his chest. He leaned over her so his mouth pressed to her ear. “No lies. No games. I don’t have time for either. The cub is the child I’m looking for. Tell me where she is.”
“I don’t—”
“I saw you with her, Lena. Do not lie to me again. Tell me how to find her. She’s special and can’t fall into the wrong hands.”
“Molly is special, Miss Burnett. I personally guarantee she will never fall into the wrong hands again. That includes the scientists who are searching for her and other shifters. It’s why I’ve placed her with your father. Who better to guard her than a former agent?” Colonel Malory’s words from six months ago repeated in Lena’s head.
She’d believed him, putting her faith in him. That had changed when he’d shown up at her house with a bunch of shifters who’d come for Molly.
“Plans change, Miss Burnett, and the offer I’ve received from the Shifter Council is one I’d be foolish to pass on.” Colonel Malory had accepted a briefcase of money from the largest lion shifter, then walked out, leaving Lena and her family to face their fate.
A wave of grief choked her. Her mother, her stepdad—dead. Murdered. All because they’d trusted a man who’d sworn to protect Molly.
No! She couldn’t let those memories consume her. Their deaths would not be for nothing.
The man holding her brushed his nose against the spot below her ear, yanking her out of her sorrow, and tightened his hold on her body. “If there’s any male in this world you should trust, it’s me. I would never betray you.”
Wouldn’t that be a dream come true? Too bad she’d stopped believing in fairy tales, unicorns, and happily ever afters a long time ago.
Lena forced a bored sigh. “I really don’t like repeating myself, but since you’re basically an animal, I’ll take your low IQ into account this one time.” She paused, ignoring the tensing of muscles pressed along her back. “Not on your life.”
He surprised her by chuckling, the deep rumble flipping a switch inside her. She arched into him. Whether she liked it or not, she desired him.
With the utmost care, he gathered the tousled strands of her hair so they fanned out over her shoulder. “I’m sorry, little human. I’ve neglected to take your failings into account.”
She waited for him to tell her about her faults. He never did. Minutes passed while he sifted his fingers through her hair, finger-combing it. A slight tug accompanied his attentions as he untangled the mass. Once smooth, he twirled a lock and rubbed the strands together before repeating the process. By the fourth time, she caved.
“Exactly what flaws are those?”
No response. He continued to play with her hair, not even pausing in the twisting of her tresses to indicate he’d heard her. The deliberate snubbing frayed her last nerve.
She opened her mouth to repeat herself. The words got stuck there, her focus on the hand tracing the length of her arm. Wide-eyed, she watched talons extend from the fingertips. He dragged them over her skin, not bleeding her, but the threat was clear. The sight triggered the memory of watching blood drip off those claw-tipped fingers. Her blood.
The lust abated, fear replacing it. He could kill her as easily as he aroused her. Her pulse sped. She whimpered. There was no stopping the frightened sound or the trembling in her limbs.
“Shifters enjoy the scent of fear on humans, Lena.”
She really wished he’d stop saying her name. His European accent sounded sinfully sexy and sophisticated. Men she hated shouldn’t make her toes curl.
He twined their fingers and lifted their joined hands—his clawed, hers with short, blunt nails—until they were inches from her face.
“You are tiny, Lena. Fragile.” He loosely gripped her wrist. “If I squeeze just a little, your bones will break.”
She swallowed hard, gaze locked on to her fingers she could’ve sworn had already been broken. “Go ahead and hurt me. I’m not telling you anything.”
“Am I hurting you?”
He might be treating her nicely now. That didn’t mean he’d continue doing so. She knew what he was capable of and how easily he killed. Seeing his claws reminded her of that. She pressed her lips tightly together and stayed quiet.
“Are you giving me the silent treatment because I didn’t tell you what your flaws are?” He lowered their linked hands. “Sorry, little female. I assumed you wouldn’t appreciate hearing about my low opinion of your species. You see, in my experience, most humans are untrustworthy, lying individualists who wouldn’t understand loyalty if it bit them in the ass.”
Before she could respond, he pressed his mouth to her neck, not a kiss exactly, but the warmth of his breath made it feel as intimate as one. She stilled and waited for him to make the next move. Without the visual reminder of the threat he posed, her other senses kicked in and overrode the fear that had left her body strung tight.
He smelled of the forest, a slight hint of evergreen and moss that both filled her with peace and kicked her lust into overdrive. The hard contours of his body molded to hers, reminding her he was a man built to quench the fires he ignited. The only thing she hadn’t experienced was his kiss. She’d bet money his mouth tasted equally as decadent. Chocolate came to mind. It would be just her luck. Everything else about her kidnapper’s body appealed to her. Why shouldn’t he taste of her favorite food too?
“Do you understand now, beautiful Lena, why I remained silent?”
Her eyelids drifted shut. His voice…oh God, his voice whispered into her ear was pure sin. Its deep timbre slid through her body and touched every inch.
He nipped her earlobe. “Answer me.”
She nodded immediately, unable to ignore the huskily delivered order.
“Good. With that in the open between us, let me rephrase my question.” The butterfly caress of his lips sent shivers through her body. She squirmed, hating her easy reaction to him. “If you tell me where the cub is, not only will I allow you to leave, I’ll also throw in five grand for your troubles.”
Lena laughed. “First off, if that’s the opinion you have of humans, you’re hanging around the wrong people. Second, five grand is pocket change to me. Your great motivator is lacking. You might as well either kill me or let me go, because my answer stands.”
He sighed, not the reaction she was hoping for. She wanted him annoyed so he’d stop touching her. It was hard to resist him when he touched her. He could’ve had some hold of her that made her want to believe him. Good thing she’d been burned enough times not to fall for such a ploy.
“I didn’t want to resort to this, but you leave me no choice.”
He rolled them, blanketing her body with his. With her wrists grasped in one hand, he tugged her arms above her head. She should’ve been terrified, but she stared at him openmouthed. The sight of him in all his naked glory had the same effect it had the last time. It left her muddled inside. No man should look as he did.
Hauntingly beautiful, as deadly and gorgeous as the tiger he housed.
Corded muscle roped his chest and arms, the definition showcasing the incredible strength packed onto his body. A soft dusting of hair covered his torso and tempted her gaze lower. She wanted to look, but couldn’t tear her attention from his face.
Sharp cheekbones hardened his features, making him more striking than handsome, but the wider, flatter nose softened his harsh face. Long black lashes framed exotic, up-tilted eyes. With them closed, she couldn’t see their color so she turned her attention to his hair.
Sections of gold, red, and brown decorated the thick black hair covering his head. She’d call it a dye job, but she knew shifters always returned to the body they were born with when they morphed from animal to human. The amazing display in front of her was natural.
“Lena?”
She flicked her gaze to his and gasped. Yellow eyes streaked with green and brown studied her, the odd color complementing the patchwork hair.
Wow. She squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them. Nope, not crazy. She’d thought his feline eyes belonged to the werecat form he’d taken while attacking the other shifters. Apparently not, and these eyes weren’t vacant as they’d been then. They were hot, hungry. He looked as if he wanted to eat her alive, but in a good way, one that would leave her begging for more.
Her breath escaped in a long sigh.
“Disgusted?”
She said the only thing she could. “Beautiful. You’re the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen.”
His grip eased on her wrists, and he stared at her as if she was a bug he studied.
“I’m not a man.”
No, he wasn’t, and she shouldn’t desire him. She knew firsthand the dangers of getting involved with a shifter, but the ones she’d tangled with before were nothing compared to the incredible male watching her with guarded, wary eyes as if waiting for her to change her mind.
“Shifter, man. Doesn’t matter. You’re still gorgeous.”
He cleared his throat and bent closer until his breathtaking eyes became her world. “Then you should be happy with your fate, little human.”
Fear slithered into her stomach, churning it until bile rose. “And that is?”
“I won’t rape you.” He spat the words, obviously following her train of thought.
She licked her lips. “That’s good to hear.”
“But I won’t let you go until you tell me where the cub is.”
Her belly flip-flopped. The determination in his voice left no room for discussion.
“That’s kidnapping.”
“You would know a thing or two about kidnapping, wouldn’t you? You’re the one who was ready to hand an innocent child over to a dangerous pride of lions.” Disgust etched his features. “Why? What’s in it for you? Do you hate us so much that you’d destroy a little girl’s life?”
She didn’t answer. What was the point? He wouldn’t believe her, and she’d made a promise. Nothing he did would make her betray her little sister. Molly had been through too much, suffered more than any child—shifter or human—should.
She had to stick to the plan—give her younger sister, Gwen, the chance to get Molly to safety, away from all the shifters who wanted to get their hands on one of the last unmated, female white lion shifters. Yeah, she knew exactly what those men wanted—to secure their incubator so when she came of age, she could pop out babies for them. Not. Happening.
“Answer me.”
She sneered. “Make me.”
He covered her mouth with his, his tongue prodding against her lips, incessant and demanding. Instead of forcing his entry, he adjusted his hold on her wrists. He rubbed gentle circles into the center of her palm, the soft touch at odds with his hungry kiss. He was seducing her. She knew that was his goal. The knowledge helped. She remained passive under him, ignoring the warmth heating her limbs.
He pulled back, frustration tightening his features so creases ran across his forehead. She glanced from his narrowed eyes to his mouth. Fangs descended, the sharpened canines moving easily into place.
He gave her shoulders a little shake. “Kiss me back, woman. I know you want to.”
With her eyes locked to the fangs that had ripped a man’s throat out, she whispered, “I want you to let me go.”
He climbed off the bed and grabbed sweats from the edge of a chair. She turned away from the sight of his firm behind and studied the nightstand, its dark wood scratched and nicked. A black phone sat in the center with a sticker reminding that checkout was at noon. They were in a hotel.
That was good. He probably wouldn’t kill her in a hotel. Too many witnesses.
Her belly twisted at the thought. She almost felt guilty for thinking he would hurt her. Okay, scratch that. She did feel guilty. Other than scaring her, he hadn’t done anything to hurt her.
She studied her kidnapper. She guessed he stood at over six and a half feet. A wide back tapered to a tucked-in waist. Loose gray pants hung low on his hips and bare feet that matched the proportions of the man—gigantic—flattened the plush carpet. Biceps thicker than her thighs bunched as he flexed and released those dinner-plate sized hands.
He ran his long fingers over his patchwork hair. The strands stood on edge. With the second sweep over his skull, he linked his fingers over the back of his head and groaned.
She dropped her gaze before she gave in to the urge to ask if he was all right. Her fascination with him wasn’t healthy. Outward appearances didn’t make the man, and he was a dangerous predator. Big cats did not make good cuddle buddies.
She pushed her body into a sitting position. The movement tugged her abused stomach. Preparing for the worst, she glanced at her belly. Instead of a bruised and beaten body, she saw her familiar tanned skin—blood free, without any ugly black-and-blue splotches, with just a gauze square taped over her belly.
“How long was I unconscious?”
He tensed and rubbed one of his big hands over the back of his neck but didn’t turn around. She glanced away when it became apparent he wasn’t going to answer and ran a finger over a splotch of shiny new skin on her knee. Anxiety settled in her bones. A lot could happen in a matter of days.
“Few hours,” he muttered.
She looked at him. His arm was folded against the wall, his forehead resting on it.
“I tended your wounds. Most won’t scar.”
Lena opened her mouth to ask how he’d tended them but decided against it. Engaging him in conversation wasn’t the smartest move. Besides, something told her she didn’t want to know.
Eyes narrowed, she studied him for some clue as to his motives. Tension radiated from him. Any number of reasons could’ve caused it—guilt, frustration, animosity. She dismissed the reason as unimportant and asked the question that bothered her the most.
“Why did you attack me?”
“I didn’t attack you.”
No apology this time. When he’d held her cradled against his chest, it was all he’d done. Maybe he’d gotten over his regret.
If she was honest with herself, he hadn’t attacked her. The more she replayed the scene, the more details she picked out. He’d truly been lost to his anger. He’d acted as an abused dog would when cornered—lash out at everyone within striking distance.
She wasn’t even sure why she’d wobbled on her twisted ankle to get to him while he’d been fighting those men. She’d only known that she needed to touch him.
“Lena?”
She glanced from the neatly dressed injury to the shifter who’d caused it. His chin dropped to his chest. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I’m…I’m sorry.”
The sincerity in his voice struck her as truth, but instead of absolving him of the act, she asked, “Who are you? And what do you want from me?”
He glanced over his shoulder. The muscles in his back flexed. He turned the simple move into a masculine show of strength.
“Devin Moore and you know what I want.” His gaze skimmed over her body before zeroing in on her stomach. He scowled. “You’re bleeding again.”
She pressed a hand to her belly and sucked in a sharp breath. More expletives fell from Devin’s lips. She moved to get up. The motion sent pain shooting down her arm, the one the other shifter had yanked on when he’d tried to pull her from the rock wall.
Devin knelt in front of her, his concerned expression at odds with the image she’d imprinted of him while she’d been writhing in pain on the forest floor. He cupped her cheek in his large hand. She barely stopped herself from leaning into it.
“I’m sorry, Lena, but you shouldn’t have run from me or led me into a trap.”
A trap? Did he think she was in cahoots with those shifters?
She snorted and immediately grimaced as dizziness made the world sway. Devin pulled her close and pressed her head to his chest. The warmth of his skin and his strong earthy scent soothed her. Her body went lax in his embrace.
The man was dangerous. If he’d seduced her, she might’ve told him everything.
“You’re telling me this is my fault?”
With his hands on her shoulders, he eased her away from him and captured her gaze. “No, I’m saying that maybe you should pick better friends.”
“They weren’t my friends.”
A long moment passed in silence. He cleared his throat. “Yeah? What are they to you, then? You were holding one of those shifter’s hands.”
“To me, nothing. I was playing along so they wouldn’t separate us. To the cub, they are a bunch of sick men who want to destroy her life.” She glared at Devin, letting him see all the hate she felt for people like them. “Never. Do you understand me? I will never allow men like that near Molly. And if you want the same, you might as well kill me, because I won’t ever tell you anything.”
He slipped his hand into her hair, cradling the back of her head. “Don’t accuse me of something when you don’t know all the facts. Molly is not a potential mate for me or an object to sell. She belongs to a human I know. I would never hurt her.”
Belongs to a human? Was that supposed to be better than belonging to a shifter?
She laughed, the sound bitter and shaky even to her own ears. “And it’s okay to accuse me without knowing the truth?”
“What is the truth? Tell me.”
“The truth?” She waited until he nodded. “Okay. I love Molly, and I’ll protect her with my life if I have to. I will never give her over to a shifter who’ll take her choices away and use her as a breeder.”
“That’s good to hear, but you need to tell me where she is so I can protect Molly from those threats too. You can’t do it alone.”
Lena agreed. That was why Molly wasn’t with her. “I don’t know you, and I don’t trust you. Why would I tell you anything about Molly?”
He pressed his forehead to hers. “I haven’t handled this conversation well, have I?”
“If your goal was to coerce information from me, then no.”
He slid his arm around her waist and pulled her closer. “I want many things from you. Information and your trust being the top of the list.”
“Then you failed your interrogation class. You’re not getting either from me.”
“And while you’re being stubborn, Molly is in danger.”
“She’s not.” At least Lena hoped Molly wasn’t being threatened.
Devin pressed his lips to her cheek. “I pray she’s not, but you need to realize I can’t allow you to escape me until you change your mind. Returning Molly to where she belongs is more important than anything.”
Her chest tightened on a wave of fear, not for herself but for her sisters. With her out of the picture, Gwen was in charge. While Gwen knew how to take care of herself, protecting a child from a bunch of shifters was a lot to expect from a young woman who’d just graduated college.
Lena considered her choices. Since her injuries seriously impacted her running ability, escaping and meeting them before they left the state didn’t seem likely. That left her only one option. Luckily, the means to put her plan into motion sat next to the bed.
“Okay then. If you’re not letting me go, may I get a shower?”
Devin studied her carefully. She blinked hopefully innocent eyes at him and waited.
“Don’t try to escape me, Lena.”
“Unless there’s a window big enough for me to climb out of in there, I’m not going anywhere. Besides”—she motioned toward her belly, which was starting to ache—“I’m not in any shape to run.”
He jerked back and retrieved her duffle bag from the floor. Without looking at her, he carried it to the bathroom, started the water, and rummaged through her belongings, pulling out the travel-sized bath products she used at the gym. He placed the shampoo and conditioner in the stall and faced her.
“Try not to let the bandage on your stomach get too wet, but the bite on your shoulder is fine.”
“Bite on my shoulder?” She slapped her hand over the mark. The raised bumps brushed against her palm. Tingles skipped across her skin. She dropped her hand.
“You…you bit me.”
He shrugged as if it was no big deal.
“Yeah, I bit you.” His gaze traveled over her body and left a burning path in its wake. “If you need help showering, call me.”
She wanted to question him about the bite but decided against it. That would require her to spend more time with him. Time was something she didn’t have. She had to get herself together, ignore her wayward hormones, and act.
Lena peeked into the bag and grinned, not because of Devin’s offer, but with the knowledge that men were men no matter the species. He had examined everything except the tampon box she’d left in her bag from the previous week. Hiding her cell phone in there had been a brilliant idea.
“I’ll manage.”
He stopped her as she tried to squeeze past him. “You’re not going to say anything.”
The hurt look on his face confused her. She frowned. “About what?”
He skimmed his fingers over the scar on her shoulder. Awareness skipped through her. Her knees gave out, and he caught her with a hand around her waist. She stared at him, unable to speak. One corner of his mouth lifted in a lopsided smile, and she grabbed his shoulders to steady herself.
“About my…” The grin faded. He lifted her and set her away from him. “Kade went to the store to buy you some clothes. Until he gets back, wear the robe that’s hanging on the door.”
The urge to ask him what he’d meant to say grew the longer he held her in his heated gaze. She ignored the compulsion and stepped around him, breaking the trance he’d cast over her.
Before she could make it into the relative safety of the bathroom, he snagged her sports bra with a clawed hand. With one swipe, he slit the back open. She held the top to her chest.
“And Lena?”
She glanced over her shoulder. “Yeah?”
He grinned, the tips of fangs making his smile wickedly sexy. “Unless you want me to come in there, you’d better hurry.”