Page 2

He’d overreacted when Sarah tried touching him.

If she had, he wouldn’t have been able to control his cougar.

It was rumbling for him to take action. Yes, Sarah was his mate, but he couldn’t claim her.

She was a Marksmen and a hunter like her father.

Everything about her called to him and his cat: her tantalizing scent, clear blue eyes, and her soft blonde hair tucked under her Ranger cap.

He was infinitely curious about her body.

She wasn’t skinny, and he loved that, but her uniform and the bulky jacket should have been a turnoff.

It wasn’t. He definitely needed to get her away from his cat.

It had even purred when she threatened to arrest him, and it hated confinement.

The stupid thing thought it would be locked up with her.

Devon should have suggested Talen take her on the hunt.

He couldn’t. He needed to be with her. Ensure her safety.

Then get her off the property so he could track down the cougar and put it out of its misery.

They needed to confirm the cat was a shifter and couldn’t have an outsider around, especially a Marksmen.

His cat wanted her away from danger. Devon wanted her away from his family.

When it came time to walk away from her for good, his cat would go insane and so would he.

Her musical voice pulled him from his dark thoughts. “The cat was sighted close to Kelsey lodge so we will park there and hike to the location.” She parked, grabbing her gear as she exited the vehicle. Devon followed.

They silently wound their way through the dense forest before she held up her hand.

Sarah scanned the surrounding area before speaking.

“The cougar was here this morning.” Devon had already spotted the direction the cougar had gone, but remained silent.

She kneeled down beside a small bush, moving a few twigs to look at the barely perceptible track.

“It went this way.” She rose, following the faint signs left by the cougar.

Devon didn’t want to feel proud of her. To think what an amazing cat she would be.

Her family didn’t hunt for food. It hunted trophies.

She could never be exposed to his world.

His gaze fell to her round ass. His cat rumbled its approval.

Images of him taking her in both human and cat form assailed him.

His cock hardened, making the stealthy climb on the ravine infinitely more difficult.

Later he would admit that if he hadn’t been preoccupied with how many ways, he could fuck her, he would have sensed the cougar was hunting them. His distraction cost them.

Sarah crested the edges of the ravine when the cougar slammed into her.

In seconds, she was over the edge, sliding to the cold water below.

Devon was on the diseased cat instantly.

The smell was awful as he fought the rotting animal.

It was no match for Devon’s strength in its current condition and it sprang away.

His duty was to the lair. To follow the maimed creature and put it down.

In less than a second, he was sliding down the ravine edge.

* * *

Devon slid down the ravine in full control.

He could have leapt, but he didn’t want Sarah aware of his heightened reflexes.

She was struggling to get out of the water, hopping on one leg.

He pulled her from the water and into his arms as soon as he reached her.

He knew it was a mistake to touch her, needing to get her to warm safety then hunt the cougar alone. “Are you alright?”

“I twisted my ankle. It’s not too bad. I just need to ice it and put it up for a few hours. I have a room at the lodge. Can you help me get there?” Her glacial eyes held his in a form of trust he didn’t deserve.

He stood upright and supported her. “Of course.”

He picked her up, cradling her in his arms. He knew she wasn’t comfortable in such a vulnerable position.

He noticed her hand resting close to her weapon.

He felt her shiver and automatically pulled her closer.

He gritted his teeth at his body’s reaction.

His erection was back in force and it wanted relief.

Her freshwater scent, pink trembling lips, and soft ivory skin were too much for any man to ignore. His head lowered as she winced in pain.

He watched her take a deep breath as her body shivered. “We’re almost there Sarah.”

“I’m good,” she said through clenched teeth.

He started jogging lightly as soon as the brush opened up. The lodge came into view. “What’s your room number?”

“Two-forty-seven.”

He was inside the lobby and up the stairs before anyone saw him. She already had her key out when he reached her door. He kicked the door shut, placed her on the floor, and helped her out of her jacket. When he started to undo a button on her uniform, she pulled back. “What are you doing?”

“You’re a human popsicle. You can barely move your fingers. I’m helping you undress,” Devon said.

“I can undress myself. Go run my bath,” she said with authority. His cat bristled at her dominance. It wanted to assert itself. Devon calmed his cat. This wasn’t the time. When he returned from the bathroom, she was still fiddling with the top button.

“Let me help you, Sarah. You can get in the bath with your underwear on if you prefer.”

She looked away and gave a slight nod. He quickly undid the buttons of her uniform, unzipping her pants and unbuckling her belt.

He unlaced her boots and removed each one as she leaned on him for support.

When she peeled off the wet shirt and pants her weapon fell to the floor.

He tried not to notice how soft her cold skin was against his or how her pink nipples stood erect against her wet satin bra.

How transparent her white cotton underwear was.

How bare her shaved pussy was. “Let’s get you in the tub,” he grumbled.

He helped her to the bathroom and into the warm water. He looked away as she poured some shampoo under the spout for a bubble-bath. As the water level rose, the color returned to her skin. “You can take your underwear off now,” he said.

She looked at him sharply. “You know I’m an officer of the law, right?”

“Yes, however you being a Marksmen makes you far deadlier than any uniform.” He hadn’t meant for his comment to sound so bitter.

She lowered her eyes and crossed her arms over her breasts. “Yeah.”

Her quiet assent cut deep. His cat growled.

Devon did, something he hadn’t done in decades. “I’m sorry.”

When she shrugged her shoulders, remaining quiet, he kneeled beside the tub. “Why did you become a cop?”

She paused for some time before she answered.

“I had two best friends. Rachael and Gerry. We did everything together. School, shopping, and shooting.” Devon raised his eyebrows.

“We both know I don’t come from a conventional family, but neither did Racheal nor Gerry.

” She moved the bubbles with her hand. “Gerry and I come from wealthy families, but Racheal was an orphan. She was brilliant. She skipped grades in high school and graduated when I was a freshman. She’s two years younger than me. ”

“Impressive. How did you become friends if you weren’t in her classes?”

“She was being bullied at school. A group of kids were shoving her around. I intervened.”

“You beat up a group of girls?”

“The girls ran away. I beat up the boys.”

Devon growled. “Boys fought you?” He didn’t care how old they were. There was no excuse for hurting a girl.

“They tried. You know who I grew up with. I was taking self-defense courses before I was five.” She seemed amused by his anger.

“That’s too young. You should have been playing with dolls and learning family values.

” He tried to forget his childhood. Not because it was bad.

It was good, unfettered by the harsh realities of the world.

He’d been brought up in a loving beautiful home by amazing parents and protective brothers. The lies didn’t come until later.

She smiled sadly. “That’s a beautiful fantasy. If I ever have children, that’s what I’d want for them.”

He couldn’t stop himself. He leaned in and kissed her.

His tongue flicked gently along the seam of her lips until she opened them.

He fought the urgency to dominate her. Claim her.

His arm went into the water and around her back pulling her closer to him.

His cat sent him an image of a claw extending from his finger to cut her bra strap.

The cat understood in order to get his mate, the humans had to bond first. It wanted that to happen now.

It didn’t understand what Devon was waiting for.

His mate was warm, beautiful and in his arms. It sent another image.

Devon increased the pressure on Sarah’s mouth.

She pushed his chest. “Wait.”

He reluctantly pulled back. “I want you.”

He saw the uncertainty in her eyes. “I’m... flattered really. I shouldn’t have kissed you back. I’m sorry.”

“You shouldn’t be sorry. You should be turned on and in bed with me.” Devon hated lies he preferred to state the facts.

“I’ve had enough of men telling me how I should feel, thank you,” she huffed. She sighed. “Look. You’ve been wonderful to me. You carried me over four miles. I am grateful. I can understand if you feel compensation is...”

“Compensation. Are you fucking kidding? What kind of man do you think I am? Get dressed.” He strode from the bathroom, furious.

She wasn’t kidding. She expected he wanted something from her, simply for helping her.

What kind of fucked up world did she grow up in?

He’d been distracted by her body, a mistake he wouldn’t make again.

Sarah emerged from the bathroom in a white terrycloth robe. Her hair was tied up in a towel so he still didn’t know how long it was. Curiosity was a common trait in his species. “Take off the towel.”

She looked embarrassed. “Why? No, it’s wet.”

“I want to see your hair.” He reached for the towel, but she blocked his arm.

“You know you’re not supposed to say everything that pops into your head, right? It’s called a filter.”

“It worked perfectly for the last twenty years. I believe you broke it.” He pulled the towel.

Sarah’s hair tumbled below her waist. It was magnificent. Natural waves of blonde silk reflected the midday sun as it shone into the small room. “I can’t believe you just did that,” she said, irritated.

His tone grew serious. “I will undoubtedly do a lot of things you can’t believe.”

She eyed him, unsure of his comment. “I’m not having sex with you, Devon.”

He smiled and brought her body close to his. He tipped her neck back when he spoke. “We will have sex. We will Fuck. We will do things you can’t possibly imagine. Then, Sarah, you will beg me for more.” His lips closed on hers.