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My attention moves to his lips as they form the words that whisper through the night.

“Here, kitty, kitty.”

My jaw goes slack. Did he just really say that? And why did it make me drip?

I snap my mouth shut and swallow hard. I don’t know where to start. What do you say to that?

“Mate?” I blurt. Shit, not what I was going to say.

“It appears so. What are you doing in my woods?”

“Your woods?” I ask weakly. It seems my brain has gone on vacation. On the other hand, my body feels all kinds of warm things. My claws are still digging into the tree, now for the purpose of not touching every inch of his beautiful body.

“Yes,” he says softly. “I was out for my nightly stroll before going to bed. Imagine my surprise at finding a little kitty sitting in my home, my mate.”

“My car broke down. I was resting.” I’m proud of myself when the words finally come. “Who are you?”

He raises a brow. “Elijah.” His head tilts as he looks down my body to the bag at my feet. “Who are you?” His gaze travels over my face.

“Saylor.” Crap, I gave him my real name. I never give my real name. I’m more messed up than I thought. I should be more on guard. I need to work to build my wall back up.

“Saylor,” he drawls. “Well, Kitty Cat, now you are here in my woods.” He eliminates the inch between us. “What am I going to do with you?”

Chapter Four

Elijah

Iam torn between running the fuck away or throwing my mate to the ground and fucking her all night.

When I left my house for my nightly run, I had no idea my life was about to change. I didn’t want a mate. I don’t deserve one. I haven’t given much thought to having one, since I had doubts the universe would gift me with a woman to spend forever with.

I have done, let’s just say, questionable things over my life. I have been shoving all the things that happened in my old pack into a locked box in my brain to take out at a much later date to examine and try to move past.

I am a little off in the head.

Now I am standing in front of the most gorgeous woman I have ever seen, knowing she is my mate, not knowing what the fuck to do about it. She has a body that begs to be explored for hours—such delicious curves. Her head would rest over my heart, and I could imagine running my fingers through her long brown hair that almost reaches her waist. Her soft blue eyes areglowing, reaching into my soul with sadness and fear. I need to find out the reason for it.

Once I do, I will kill them.

I don’t date much. I fuck women and move on. I don’t form emotional attachments. I’m possessive and dominant in and out of the bedroom. Not many women want that for a lifetime. I get jealous. I don’t want my woman to look at another man. I would break any hand that touched her. I would beat the shit out of someone for looking at her too long. I want whoever I am with to give me all her attention.

Don’t get me wrong; she can have all the friends she wants. She can go out with them and dance the night away. I don’t want to control her life. I want to give her all she wants.

I have a feeling my tendencies would be multiplied by a hundred with my mate.

She hasn’t answered my question. Her mind is working; I can practically see the lies she plans to tell me.

“Why are you here?” I ask, watching her face closely. Most shifters can detect lies. We can smell them, just as I can smell her desire. The heat is hitting her.

“I told you. My car broke down.”

She’s smart. That isn’t a lie, but it’s not the whole truth. “Where were you headed?”

“A town a hundred miles from here.”

“Why?” I feel her shutting down. I lean closer. My nose skims her cheek. She tenses. “Is that where you live?” Unconsciously, she tilts her head towards my mouth, seeking the comfort I can give. The longer she denies the heat, the more oppressive and painful it will become. My cock is the only cure available to her. Despite the storm of conflicting emotions, I want her to turn to me for relief. I need her to give in to me.

“I do not,” she whispers.