In The Roar(6)

From his seat, the man appeared to drop something into Liv’s drink. He glanced around as if to make sure nobody caught him. That told Karel whatever he put in her glass wasn’t good. It was a few minutes before his beautiful woman came out of the ladies room, her fingers pushing long shiny strands of hair over her shoulder.

Her lush figure became a beacon to his eyes. Karel couldn’t look away from her. Her hips swayed with every step. Her short dress flattered her waist and ass. The cold glass in his hand slickened from the heat of his palm.

She stood by the man. He grasped her hand. A slow, angry growl started at the center of Karel’s chest, working its way to his mouth. Liv tugged her hand from the man’s grasp, sighing and taking a seat. He pushed the drink toward her.

A new waitress stopped in front of Karel, blocking his view of what was happening with Liv and the man.

“This is on the house,” the young woman said with a wink, her voice throaty and soft. “I hope you like them.”

She placed a basket of meat in front of him. She’d called it chicken wings. He’d yet to eat, so he was hungry, but at the moment, all he wanted was her to move out of his fucking way to see Liv and the man.

“Thank you,” he rumbled.

She stood for a moment, not saying anything but staring at him. “If you need anything,” she whispered. “Anything at all…”

He nodded. “I’m fine.”

She took her time moving to the next table, her gaze lingering on him.

Karel’s vision landed on the Liv’s table. It was empty. Alarm spread through his system like a shot of tequila. He stood, tossing paper bills he’d gotten from Gerri onto the table.

A hazy red hue covered his vision. His anger came out of nowhere, clawing at his chest, and pushing the animal inside forward.

Where did they go? Marching through the crowded bar, he tried to sidestep patrons laughing and having a good time. He wasn’t a fan of loud noises and powerful perfumes, but he wanted more time looking at his mate. His Liv.

When he got outside, he saw her jerking out of the guy’s grasp in the quiet street, not another soul in sight.

“Let me go this instant, Gerard!” she snapped, her body tense and eyes spitting fire. “I swear to god, I will make you sorry if you don’t.”

“What will you do?” the guy she called Gerard asked. “All I want is a goodnight kiss.”

“And I said no.” She yanked out of his hold, stumbling backward, her heel catching in a crack in the parking lot. She fell against the car at her back.

Gerard laughed, looming over her. He was much bigger than Liv, making it easier for him to intimidate her. “Looks like I’m getting my kiss after all.” He approached her fast, caging her with his body.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” she growled, her hands pushing at the big man. She tried kneeing him in the groin, but Gerard defended quickly, stopping her move. “Nuh uh,” he warned. “That’s not a nice way to end the night.”

“You fucking idiot,” she hissed, but the sound of fear in her voice tore through Karel’s ability to approach peacefully.

She glanced to her left and her gaze met Karel’s. Terror and anger flashed through her eyes. The jaguar demanded to be let loose, to protect what was his. Liv. The shift transpired quickly, his jaguar taking control of his body and Karel letting him.

Her eyes widened. He’d bet she’d never seen a shifter change. Bones reshaped and fur sprouted over flesh. He landed on all fours and gave a loud roar. Time to play.





SIX



Liv glanced at Karel as his body twisted and changed from a hulking gorgeous man to a giant yellow and black spotted cat. A jaguar. Her breath thundered in her chest, no longer scared over Gerard and his roaming hands. The clothing Karel had been wearing floated around him in tatters, landing on the ground by the animal’s legs.

The jaguar roared, the sound piercing the quiet. This area of town tended to be deserted in the middle of the night. There were only a few buildings in the area: businesses empty of inhabitants after five p.m. Her apartment complex was the only residential construction for a few blocks.

She glanced around, worried about Karel getting into trouble trying to save her.

“You should get out of here, Gerard,” she ordered, her gaze back at the giant jaguar prowling toward them.

“Are you fucking crazy?” He glanced over his shoulder, the roar catching his attention. “Is that a lion?”

Catching him off guard, she shoved him away. He fell back, landing on his ass.

“Dumbass, it isn’t a lion. Lions are gold and have a mane,” she explained. Really, when she saw Monica next, she’d give her a piece of her mind over the stupid idea to sign up to website dating agencies. “That,” she gulped at the size of the animal and the way his eyes glittered liquid gold, “is a jaguar.”