Gripping the film that would hopefully persuade Gemma, Hunter made his way back to her room. Frustration ate at his belly that she didn’t believe him, that she’d been so quick to even dismiss the possibility.
Unlocking the door, he pushed it open and frowned. It was dark. Shit, what the hell was she trying to pull? He crouched on the defense, moving inside, looking for the light switch.
“Ummph.”
He staggered under the weight of whatever she smashed across his back. The pounding of her feet echoed as she shot past him and through the open door.
“Dammit.” He stumbled after her as broken glass fell from his clothes.
Up ahead he could hear Gemma thundering down the stairs, putting more distance between them as she made a run for the front of the building. And chances were she’d get there before him.
Shit. He’d been an idiot, treating her too soft, giving her too much damn freedom. Reaching the bottom of the stairwell, he turned just in time to see the front door swing open and Gemma sprint out it—shifting mid-leap. And then she was off—running to God knew where. Hell, she probably didn’t even know where she was going.
Joaquin appeared in the hall, eyebrows raised. “Who just went out the front door?”
“Gemma.”
“Well, that’s not a good sign,” Joaquin drawled and followed him onto the porch; they both glanced around. “You want me to help you search?”
Seeing a flicker in the moonlight to the north, Hunter shook his head.
“I’ve got this.” His low response trembled with barely restrained anger.
Hunter leapt down the few stairs and headed out after her. His body stretched and popped in a smooth transformation to jaguar. The clothes he’d changed into earlier exploded from his body, which was the reason he preferred being naked. He’d only put on clothes tonight to make Gemma feel more comfortable. Stupid.
She’d pushed him too far this time. And when he found her, she’d know just how foolish it had been to run. Run from the house, but, even worse, to run from what they had together.
He growled, and picked up speed. Tonight everything would change. Tonight he would take her full submission.