Page 53 of Chasing Savannah

A bit of hope flashed, before fear took over and then disappeared behind a blank face. “Nevertheless, she was the Seer at the time. She saw things, things I don’t want to talk about, don’t want to rehash, but they all lead to the same thing. I can’t be Alpha female.” A tear slipped from her eye. “I lose track of that when either of you touch me.”

Carlos moved, unable to take it. He gathered her in his arms, feeling her resolve, her stubbornness. He thought about her grandparents’ words earlier in the day. They knew she would fight the mating, and now she just confirmed to him that it had to do with the old seer.

He sighed. “I’ll back off, baby.” At least until he could find a better way to convince her.

She shuddered, the scent of her arousal swirling around them, mingled with smell of her sex. He growled, fur rippled down his arm as he lost control of his panther. He backed away. “I need…”

He left the room, certain his cat would burst from his skin if he stayed close to their mate.

Derrick watched his Alpha leave, taking some, but not all of the tension with him. Savannah sighed and turned her back on him. He went up behind her and stopped within a hair of touching her.

“I’m sorry, Derrick.” She whispered.

He leaned closer and inhaled the scent of her hair. He clenched his hands at his sides to keep from touching her. Now that he knew how she tasted, he’d have a harder time keeping away.

“You understand that nothing will stop us from trying to claim you.”

Her shoulders stiffened. “I’ll leave.”

He sighed and pulled her into his chest. She stubbornly refused to turn and face him. He swallowed his chuckle. Her grandfathers were certainly right about how hard they would have to work.

“Do what you feel you must, kitten, it won’t make a difference. Our cats have as good as claimed you.” He moved her hair from her neck and laid a small kiss. “But I will work on our mate, and keep him from pressuring you.”

She lowered her head and exposed the back of her neck further, instinctively giving him submission. He swallowed a growl, and cautioned his panther patience. Soon, he’d be able to make his mark on her there.

He took a deep breath. “It’s going to be hard work keeping our mate from raining down alpha on you. Don’t I get a reward for that?”

She whipped around, her eyebrows lowered in vexation. “He can’t make me do anything I don’t want to do.”

He wiped the smug look off his face and gave her his best innocent expression. “You’re right, but, nothing will stop him from trying to sway you into changing your mind. I could be persuaded to reign the Felix in.”

She growled, her burgeoning power flaring and his lips twitched as he fought a smile. Not strong enough, his ass.

“One itty bitty kiss is all I ask in payment.” He slid his arm around her waist and brought her into his chest.

She leaned back and narrowed her eyes in suspicion. “You’re trying to hustle me.”

“I’m trying to cheer up my mate.” He countered her accusation.

“I’m not…” she sighed not bothering to argue the statement, which to his mind, was a step in the right direction.

“Now, one little kiss to keep the scary Alpha away, is that so much?”

She stared at him, and he gave her a small smile. “Don’t think I didn’t notice you excluding the Beta from this negotiation. Will this kiss keep you from trying?”

He feigned shock. “Sweetheart, I will respect your wishes.”

Not quite an agreement, he hoped she didn’t call him on it. He gave her a fake pout. She smiled, then looked down, her expression serious once more.

“I don’t want to mess up, Derrick. I can’t do that to you both, or the prowl, you don’t understand what’s at stake.”

He grabbed her chin. “You let us worry about that, love. One little kiss?” His growl was all hungry animal. “Just a small one,” he whispered.

She came up on her toes and tentatively touched his lips with her soft ones. He sighed in relief, his breath mingling with hers. He licked at the seam of her lips, moaning in triumph when she opened her mouth. His tongue swept into her mouth and his cat purred at Savannah’s taste. Their kiss heated and she gripped his shirt in her hands. He ate at her mouth, wanting her unable to think of nothing, save him.

Yes, he would back away and keep their mate back as much as he could, but he would make sure she knew what she was missing out on.

“Mom,” Jamie called from the other room and Savannah stiffened and tried to back away.