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She was getting ready to go. In Richard’s head, he knew she had a life to get back to but the hollow sensation in his gut was nearly overwhelming. His cat wasn’t speaking to him.
They were mates. Marked and bonded. But how could that work?
How could he ask her to stay? It had only been a week and he’d grown accustomed to seeing her face. He’d brought her into his office and showed her some of the pictures he’d been working on and she’d been thrilled.
“Take them. If you need a reference, I would be happy to give you one.”
The smile reached her lips but it hadn’t resounded in her eyes.
Did she feel the same, he wondered? His days had awakened in the glow of her light, and he never wanted that to end, but he wouldn’t put his own needs in front of hers. She’d already had a man do that to her. All he could do was support her in every way he could, even if that meant he had to let her go.
Yesterday, he’d woken to her in her animal form, the little bunny snuggling next to him. And the dog. When had she left their bed to go and bring the dog? There they were, the two of them, and the sight of it almost broke his heart.
He wanted them to stay forever, the urge to protect her from the world so strong it physically hurt.
She was a light in the staid everyday of his world and it was only with the danger of losing it, that he saw most clearly.
Richard glanced out in the early morning light to see Clover walking across the lot toward her vehicle, the golden light of the morning sun reflecting in the blonde waves of her hair.
Hair he wanted to gather in his fist and hold while he filled her one more time. God, but he could still smell her vanilla cookie scent on his clothes.
He was lost in the fantasy when his cat scented something and growled.
His stomach twisted when he saw the man approaching her, gun drawn.
“Fuck.”
That could be only one person. He hit the new emergency all hands alarm and started to run, praying to God he could get to her before it was too late.
***
It was Sunday, one day later than she was supposed to stay, but after the heat of being in Richard’s arms, she didn’t care. She wanted to live in that moment and never let it go.
The mark on her upper arm was still a little sore, but as she let her fingers trail over the bite, she couldn’t help but smile.
Their animals had found each other, and, so she thought, had they. He hadn’t asked her to stay, but waking up with Richard and Sylvester and been one of the happiest moments of her life.
She didn’t want it to end.
This world wasn’t for everyone, but here she’d found a home.
He’d shown her some of the pictures he’d taken, a moment here or there, her eyes alight as she watched something just out of camera range.
They were magnificent.
“You...” she said with awe and wrapped her arms around him. “These are stunning.”
And they were. No way the Houston agency would say no with pictures like that.
“They’re yours if you want them.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead and gathered her close.
“I don’t want to leave,” she whispered into his chest.
“So, don’t.” He whispered back. “It’s up to you. What do you want, little cottontail?”
That was the problem. She didn’t know but it was all she could think about.
Little cottontail.
Her heart swelled but then she started thinking about everything in the outside world. Her mother. Megan.
And how could she tell Megan she was staying at a BDSM club? Her phone had already been blowing up with a series of texts.
Where are you, girl?
Thought you were coming early?
Text me or I’m coming for that bastard Ellis. I’ll stomp his coyote ass into roadkill.
Clover wasn’t ready to respond. Not yet. The gears in her head and heart were still churning. And besides, how did she know Master Richard really wanted her to stay?
It would be better for everyone if she just went back to her vanilla cupcake life and left everything else behind.
“I don’t want to go,” she said to Sylvester. The little dog snuggled against her with a snort as if in agreement.
Megan’s apartment wasn’t exactly a peaceful place for him either. Her cat Tippy was a holy terror who’d decided long ago that Sylvester was the perfect victim in her quest for world domination.
She had a lot to think about.
Duncan smiled and handed her the keys. “Your car is finished.”
Miranda grinned and handed her a piece of paper with a number on it. “Just give me your email, girl, and the difference will go to your PayPal.”
“You didn’t charge me enough.”
“Pish, posh.” Miranda gave her a sly wink. “Our Duncan knows a few people. He just charged you for parts.”
“Oh...you guys. Thank you so much.” “She hugged Miranda, tears lingering in her eyes.
How could this club feel more like home than the place she’d lived for a year and a half? And how could a man she’d only known a week have made such a difference in her life that she wanted to stay?
Mate. He’s our mate.
Her bunny stomped her foot, not speaking to her when she stubbornly went out to see what difference the repairs had made.
The morning light was new when she made it out to the car, her body a bundle of nerves. She wanted to check it and make sure it worked before she attempted the trip into the city. Too many places to find herself in trouble.
Or, I could stay.
She nibbled on her lip, torn.
The mate bond tore at her but she respected Richard for not trying to force her decision.
“You should have moved this piece of crap away from the street.” A grating, familiar voice slid over her and she wanted to be sick.
Her bunny thumped her foot, signaling danger and she turned to find herself face to face with a sneering Ellis.
“How did you find me?” She backed up, aware of being completely alone.
“It wasn’t that hard. I put a trace on your cell phone as soon as I got out of jail. That bitch, Helga, in the apartment next door called in a complaint and accused me of killing you. Can you believe that shit?” He chuckled, his expression closing up and his eyes filling with a malignance that truly chilled her.
“My phone?” she responded. “You tracked my phone?”
“If it’s on, then I know exactly where you are. And we’ve been evicted. Not that Helga will be worrying about you anytime soon. Turns out that she didn’t scream too much in the end.”
Oh God.
Helga? He killed her. Her throat burned and everything she’d eaten for breakfast threatened to come back up. Why would he kill a defenseless old woman? She’d only been a sweet little porcupine shifter that had taken an interest in Clover. And now, she paid for it with her life.
Ellis moved closer, an ugly expression across his boyishly handsome face.
“Leave me alone.”
“I don’t think so, sugar puss.”
“You need to leave.”
“Oh, honey,” he tisked, his face a mask of cold fury. “I’m not going anywhere. I told you if you left me, I’d kill you. I should make you change and rip out your throat right here in front of these freaks.” He knocked her to the ground and aimed the gun, firing a shot into her shoulder. It was a blur of motion exploding into a mammoth sensation of pain.
“No!” She clutched her shoulder and willed her body not to react. Her bunny was going into shock and she had to contain her or she would drive them into a shift that would seal both of their fates.
She heard a scuffle of shoes on the pavement and was stunned to see her knight in shining leather appear.
“I have a live shooter. I repeat, a live shooter.” Richard tossed his phone onto the ground and dove toward Ellis. She could hear the tinny voice of the operator through the speaker on the phone.
“Sir, we have units already on the way. Sir? Can you hear me?”
Clover tried to reach it but her body refused to cooperate and she lay there, feeling the warmth leaving her as the pool of blood next to her body grew.
A tear slid from her eye and got lost in her hair. She didn’t want to die. Not when she had just started to live.
Her bunny whimpered and she thought of Sylvester, thankfully still safe up in her room.
The sound of fists hitting flesh and a loud muffled sound met her ears. She couldn’t see but when her ex stepped in front of her, the victory in his eyes told her everything.
He’d hurt Richard.
Ellis aimed the gun at her again, the evil light in his eyes triumphant. He had won.
“Motherfucker!” Richard exploded between them, blocking her body with his own. The gun went off and he grunted in pain, but she had little time to think as another shot hit her in the leg. Richard shifted, his body morphing into a large black panther.
“Shit.” Ellis backed away and held the gun out toward the cat. “Back up, asshole, or I’ll shoot.”
Richard snarled, his teeth a brilliant white against the onyx muzzle. He started toward Ellis and the man dropped the gun, shifting into his coyote form. He moved toward Clover, jaws open and before Richard could reach him, he had her gripped by the throat.
Clover cried out as pain sheared through her body, and jumped as the sound of another shot filled the air. Ellis hit the dirt, wide eyes staring as a police car pulled up, lights blazing.
She looked up to find Miranda holding a small gun she’d showed her from the bar. She’d jokingly called it ‘The Equalizer.’
“I got him.” Tears glittered in Miranda’s gaze as she knelt down beside Clover. “You’re going to be okay.”
Natalia darted toward her. “We’ve got you.”
A panther appeared, panting, blood matting his dark fur.
“Richard.”
Hot tears slid from Clover’s eyes and she buried her face in Richard’s fur.
“Richard...no.”
“Stop moving. Both of you,” came Natalia’s exasperated retort.
Cage and Broderick emerged from the building. “Who is he?”
But she wouldn’t say his name. The dead eyes that looked up from the body on the concrete had no more pull over her. He’d shifted back into human form, body splayed out inelegantly in death.
“Richard. The ambulance.”
He purred and sniffed her injury, changing back into his human form.
“Does it hurt?” She asked.
“Like a mother.”
“I’m so tired.”
“Stay with me.” He whispered against her hair, his arms wrapping around her.
“There’s no place else I want to be.” She pressed a kiss against his shirt and sighed, praying they would make it to the hospital in time.
“Ever?”
“Ever.” Her hand clasped his as the paramedics took over, never losing sight that this was where she was meant to be. Through the pain, on the other side, was the man and the mate she’d been waiting for and she wasn’t going to let him go.
