Page 52 of New Nebraska Heat

Conrad kicked my thrashing legs to the side and clamped his clammy palm around my windpipe, smiling. “I always did find your feisty human spirit amusing, but”—he moved his angular, foxy face within millimeters of mine and hissed—“nobody’s coming to save you. And nobody’s taking you away from me ever ag—”

Then, from the shadows’ edge just beyond the car park, came the deepest, meanest growl I’d ever heard.

Prowling into the sole streetlight’s meager glow, its yellow eyes glinting and jaws lined in jagged teeth, was a jaguar that could dwarf a tiger. Its striking yellow and black rosette pattern rippled with every move of its muscled haunches. Hackles spiked between its shoulder blades, and ivory claws scratched at the asphalt, sharpening them for a fight.

“It’s that fucking cop again!” Armand cried, releasing my arms to distance himself from the angry cat. “How the fuck are you not even burnt?”

Dagger had survived!

A surge of hope filled my lungs, and all my fury poured out in a vicious shriek. “Dagger! Kill them! Kill them both!”

Conrad’s smugness melted. Eyes bulging, he backed toward the car with Armand following suit. The ancient gangster spoke slowly, his gaze never leaving the oncoming jaguar, whose growl was steadily raising to a roar.

“I’m not done with you, my sweetmeat,” Conrad said, an arm raised to point at me. “This is just an interlude.”

He bolted for the car, Armand behind him, swerving around the open trunk for the passenger door. Gunning the engine, they peeled out with a screech of tires as the enormous jaguar hammeredthe asphalt and leaped. Its back paws slammed the trunk closed as the front pair smashed the back windshield, roaring and yowling.

The sedan spun in a hard semi-circle, shaking the furious cat off. It tumbled and landed on its feet, unphased, not giving chase.

Instead, it turned to face me.

“Erm, Dagger?” The creature chuffed from deep in its belly, like a grumbling man. I really hoped my guess was right, and this wasn’t some random killer jungle cat. You could never be sure what the hell you’d bump into in New Omaha at night. I held my breath, wondering if I’d just swapped a frying pan for a fire.

But it bounded toward me like a house kitten, lapping at my hands with its sandpaper tongue and rubbing its hulking body against my midriff and thighs, back and forth.

I reached out with a shaky hand and stroked its damp, velvety fur. Overjoyed at my rescue and now sure this huge cat had no intention of making me its dinner, I exhaled hard, falling to my knees from exhaustion and stress.

Hugging its chunky neck tight, so glad to be alive and free, I cooed, “Dagger, thank God you’re okay.” I scratched between his ears before I realized I’d baby-talked him like Carrot and cleared my throat. “Did you swim the Missouri to rescue me? Thank you so, so much. OhGod, I’m so glad you came, just in the nick of time.”

The cat began to alter in shape while I continued to hug it tight, its patterned fur changing to smooth, naked skin. Its shift back to human form showed I had in fact been wrong. But I was no less happy to see who I held in my arms.

It was Hunter. “The Missouri’s nothing,” he panted through a drained smile. “I’d swim every ocean in the world just to keep you safe.”

“Hunter? How—”

He leaned up from my embrace and kissed me firmly on the lips. “Little Dancer.” He breathed against my mouth. “Don’t worryabout me.” He pulled back to scan me, his thumb tracing my jaw. “Are you all right?”

“Thanks to you.” Clasping his head on both sides, I kissed him hard, trying to imbue it with every bit of gratitude and every ounce of joy I felt at the sight of his face. But when I pressed myself against his chest, he winced. I drew back, gasping. “You’re okay though, right? You look exhausted.”

“I’ll be fine,” he said, hugging his ribs. “Give me a few minutes. I haven’t shifted in a very, very, long time. You’re sure you’re okay? They didn’t hurt you?”

“A few scrapes and bruises. Nothing compared to the suffering you saved me from. I’ll be forever grateful.”

He cupped my cheek. “And I’ll be forever yours.”

My breath caught. There was nothing casual about forever. A figure of speech maybe? A heat of the moment exaggeration?

But when my stuttering brain caught up, I found I sort of liked the ring of it. Placing my hand on top of his, I rubbed his big, strong fingers and gazed into his warm brown eyes. “Then I’ll be a lucky girl.” No one had stuck around in my life. Maybe, no matter what we became or didn’t become to each other, we could be… present.

Inflamed by his brilliant smile, I diverted my gaze down his naked, muscular body, embarrassed at my loose lips as I found his lap and blurted, “Holy shit, you’rehuge.”

“Did someone call the police? I’m here. The walkways over that river suck ass,” a familiar but croaky voice shouted. This time it really was Dagger, thank God. His legs looked terribly burned and he was swaying, but I was so happy he was alive.

Bryce was several feet to Dagger’s side, his expensive outfit stained and ripped. What the hell?

Still smiling weakly, Hunter sighed and murmured under his breath as Dagger hobbled closer. “Ahhh fuck, trust this prick to ruin the moment.”

Dagger raised a finger and slurred, “I don’t ruin moments. I stealthem.” He snickered through his nose like an ornery kid, slapped his own thigh, and then let out a sharp “ah!” of pain.