Page 4 of Panther Heart’s Secret Passion (Esoterra Shifters World #2)
Chapter Four
Allen
I led Adrienne through the dense forest, my steps sure despite the darkness, guiding her away from the logging site and deeper into Esoterra’s hidden paths.
The air was cool, but my blood ran hot, that soulmate bond pulling at me every time I glanced at her.
She was still clutching that glowing shard, and I knew it was a veil fragment, dangerous in her hands, but I could not tell her that.
Not yet. Not ever, if I could help it. “There is a hot spring nearby,” I said, keeping my voice steady.
“We can clean those scrapes from your run-in back there. It is safe, I promise.”
She raised an eyebrow, her hazel eyes catching the faint moonlight. “A hot spring? In the middle of nowhere? You are full of surprises, Allen.”
I grinned, trying to shake off the tension.
“Stick with me, and you will see plenty more. Come on, it is not far.” We pushed through a curtain of vines, and the path opened to a small clearing.
The hot spring bubbled softly, steam rising in thick clouds, curling around glowing ferns that cast a green light on the rocks.
The water shimmered, warm and inviting, and the air smelled clean, like moss and minerals.
Adrienne let out a low whistle. “Okay, this is gorgeous. You sure know how to pick a spot.” She set her flashlight down and, without hesitation, started peeling off her jacket and shirt, leaving her in a black tank top and underwear.
Her confidence made my breath catch, her silhouette framed by the glowing ferns as she stepped toward the water.
She glanced back at me, a playful smirk on her lips.
“What, you just gonna stand there, hero? Or are you joining me?”
I swallowed hard, the bond flaring in my chest. “Hero, huh? You are gonna give me a complex with that one.” I forced a chuckle, kicking off my boots and shedding my jacket.
My shirt followed, and I stepped into the warm water, the heat soaking into my muscles as I waded in after her.
She splashed me lightly, her laugh echoing in the quiet.
“Careful,” I said, splashing back, my voice low. “You are playing with fire now.”
She grinned, sinking deeper into the water until it lapped at her shoulders. “Oh, please. You are the one with the hero complex, always saving me from creepy guys in cloaks. Admit it, you like it.”
I moved closer, the steam swirling between us. “Maybe I do. But only because you make it so damn easy to find trouble.” My eyes locked on hers, and that spark from the library was back, stronger now, electric. The bond was like a current, pulling me toward her, and I could not fight it anymore.
She tilted her head, her wet hair clinging to her neck. “You know, for a wilderness guide, you are awfully good at dodging questions. What is your deal, Allen? You cannot just keep showing up like this and expect me to not get curious.”
I reached out, my fingers grazing her arm as I checked a shallow cut from her run through the woods. Her skin was warm, and the touch sent a jolt through me, the bond humming. “I am just a guy trying to keep you safe,” I said, my voice softer now. “You are the one making it complicated.”
Her lips curved, and she leaned closer, her breath warm against my cheek. “Complicated is my specialty. You sure you can handle it?”
I chuckled, my hand lingering on her arm.
“I am doing my best.” The air between us thickened, the steam wrapping us in a cocoon of heat and light.
Her eyes held mine, and before I could think better of it, she closed the gap, her lips pressing against mine in a deep, hungry kiss.
It was bold, fierce, like she was claiming something she had been waiting for.
I kissed her back, my hands sliding to her waist, pulling her closer as the water rippled around us.
“Adrienne,” I murmured against her lips, my voice rough. “You sure about this?”
She pulled back just enough to meet my eyes, her hands resting on my chest. “Do I seem unsure to you?” Her voice was teasing, but there was a heat in it that matched the fire in my chest. She kissed me again, harder this time, her fingers tangling in my hair as she pressed herself against me.
The bond surged, a wild, primal thing, and I could feel my shifter side stirring, urging me to claim her.
I slid my hands under her tank top, my fingers brushing the soft curve of her ribs as I lifted it over her head, tossing it onto the rocks.
Her skin glowed in the fern light, smooth and warm, and I traced my lips along her collarbone, tasting the mineral tang of the water mixed with the salt of her skin.
She gasped, her hands gripping my shoulders, her nails digging in just enough to send a shiver through me.
I peeled away her underwear, my hands slow and deliberate, savoring the feel of her under my fingertips.
She tugged at my pants, her movements quick and eager, and soon we were bare, the warm water lapping at our skin as we pressed closer.
Her legs wrapped around my waist, and I lifted her slightly, the heat of the spring amplifying every touch.
She kissed me deeply, her tongue teasing mine, her lips bold and hungry.
My hands roamed her back, tracing the curve of her spine, and she arched against me, her breath hitching.
“Allen,” she whispered, her voice a mix of need and challenge, her hands sliding down my chest, her nails grazing my skin.
I growled low, a sound more panther than man, and kissed her neck, my lips lingering where her pulse raced under her skin.
She shifted, guiding me closer, her eyes locked on mine as she pressed herself against me.
The water swirled around us, warm and slick, as I entered her, slow at first, letting her adjust to the feel of me.
She gasped, her head tilting back, her hands tight on my shoulders as she pulled me deeper.
I moved with her, my shifter strength steady but gentle, my lips trailing along her jaw, her throat, her collarbone.
The bond burned between us, making every touch electric, every movement a claim.
Her legs tightened around me, and I gripped her hips, our rhythm building, the water splashing with each thrust.
“God, Allen,” she breathed, her voice breaking as she clung to me, her nails digging into my back.
I could feel her trembling, her body responding to every move, every kiss.
I kissed her deeply, swallowing her moans as we moved faster, the steam rising around us like a veil.
Her hands slid to my hair, tugging gently, and I growled again, my lips finding the sensitive spot behind her ear.
She arched against me, her gasps echoing in the quiet, and I felt her tighten, her body shuddering as she reached her peak.
I followed, the bond pulling me over the edge with her, a rush of heat and need that left us both breathless.
We collapsed against the rocky edge of the spring, still entwined, the steam clinging to our skin as we caught our breath. Adrienne’s head rested on my chest, her fingers tracing lazy circles on my arm. “Well,” she said, her voice husky but playful. “That was one way to warm up.”
I laughed, brushing a damp strand of hair from her face. “You are gonna be the death of me, you know that?”
She grinned, propping herself up on one elbow.
“Worth it, though, right?” Her eyes sparkled, but there was a softness there, something that made my chest ache.
I wanted to stay like this, wrapped up in her, but the weight of my secret crashed back.
Esoterra’s laws. Morris. The veil fragment in her pocket.
I could not tell her any of it, not without risking everything.
The air turned colder, and I pulled away, standing to grab my clothes. “We should get out of here,” I said, my voice tighter than I meant it to be. “It is getting late, and the night air is not great for you.”
She sat up, her eyes narrowing, hurt flashing across her face. “What, now you are worried about the cold? What is with you, Allen? One minute you are all in, and the next you are pulling back like I burned you.”
I winced, tugging on my shirt. “It is not like that. I just, we need to be careful, okay? This place, it is not as safe as it looks.” I hated the lie, hated the way her expression hardened, but I could not tell her the truth.
Not about me, not about Esoterra, not about the danger she was in just by being near me.
She stood, grabbing her clothes and dressing quickly, her movements sharp. “Fine. But do not think you can just kiss me like that and then act like nothing happened. I am not some story you can drop when it gets tough.”
“Adrienne,” I started, but she held up a hand, cutting me off.
“Save it,” she said, her voice firm but quiet.
“I get it. You have secrets. But I am not giving up on this, or on you.” She turned away, pulling on her jacket, and I felt like I had been punched.
I wanted to tell her everything, to pull her back into my arms and make her understand, but the council’s warning rang in my head. No human can know.
As we dressed, my heightened senses caught a sharp tang in the air, a scent I knew too well: Morris. It was laced with menace, close, lurking in the shadows just beyond the ferns. He was watching us, and my blood ran cold.