Saving the Beast(23)

“Then what is he doing because I’m in this clearing alone wondering if I’m going to be panther food.”

Kenzie snickered. “If he eats you, I’m sure you’ll enjoy every flick of his tongue.”

Diane groaned as that thought filled her head. The image of his dark head nestled between her thighs licking and sucking on her pussy almost had her orgasming on the spot. She knew she had it bad when just the thought of him had her so close.

“Kenzie, I’m serious,” Diane hissed again. “He’s not here, and I’m starting to freak out.”

“He followed me for a bit,” Kenzie said.

“Why? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. More than likely, he was making sure I wasn’t a threat to you. I kept moving higher away from you until he seemed satisfied and turned back,” Kenzie said. “Everything will be fine.”

Diane snorted. “Are you sure about that?”

“It’s too late for second thoughts,” Kenzie warned her. “You said you were his mate, so prove it.”

“How the hell do I do that?” Diane demanded.

“Talk to him. Let him know you’re there for him. If Zane is still exerting some control over the animal, and he obviously is, then he’s probably using everything to hold the beast in rein, trying to protect you from a mating. You need to let him know you want to be his mate. Your fear might incite the beast, but it will make the man fight all the harder to protect you.”

“What if—”

“Enough,” Kenzie said, cutting her off. “You’re either his mate or you’re not. You either want to save him or you don’t. Say the word and I’ll force him back to me.”

“You’re not his mate,” Diane gritted out.

“No, but I’d sacrifice myself to save him,” Kenzie replied.

“No. He’s mine,” Diane growled and hung up, tossing the phone into the tent behind her.

She paced around the clearing, muttering under her breath. Fear was gone, overshadowed by anger at the thought of Kenzie trying to get Zane to claim her, instead. Over her dead fucking body!

“Zane,” she called. “I know you’re out there. It’s Diane.” Shit! He probably already knew that. “I came here to find you. I…I’ve been worried about you. I want to help if you’ll let me.”

God! This was getting her nowhere. What did you say to the man who filled your dreams? What would it take to get him to release whatever hold he had over his beast and come to her?

“I’ve been thinking of you,” she said as she continued walking in circles around the outside of her tent. “No, that’s not exactly right. I’ve been consumed with thoughts of you. I can’t work. I can’t sleep. I can’t eat. I keep seeing your beautiful eyes, the way one corner of your mouth lifts when you smile. I keep picturing the night you returned with Finn. Things changed that night, when I went to you and touched you.” She sighed and stopped, lifting her face to the sky and closing her eyes. “I know you felt it, too. I know it wasn’t just me. More than a spark, so much more. It was like a bolt of lightning lancing from you to me. I saw the look in your eyes. It took all I had to pull away and go check on Finn. I wanted you then, and it’s only grown like a physical ache I can’t appease. I touch myself and dream it’s you. I think I know what’s happening between us. I think I’m your mate, and yes, it scares me. But not nearly as much as the thought of losing you when I don’t even have memories to sustain me. Only dreams. I have plenty of those. Dreams where you touch me, kiss me, make love to me. I want more than the dreams. I want you, anyway I can have you.”

She heard a deep purr and jolted, taking a step back and snapping her head down, eyes flaring wide. A huge black panther sat at the edge of the clearing, watching her.

“Zane?” She croaked the question out. It had to be him. Right? There wouldn’t be another panther out here. If by some strange circumstance there was another panther shifter in the area, Kenzie would have sensed it and warned her.

The panther tilted its head and the golden eyes looked so familiar, so comforting.

“I’m here, Zane,” she whispered. “I want to help you, to save you if I can.”

The panther was up off its haunches and prowling closer. He was circling her, and she turned with him, feeling her breath catch as each loop veered him closer to her.

“Zane, you’re making me nervous,” she ventured to say, and the panther stopped in its tracks, blinking its eyes at her.

“Zane,” she whispered with awe. “It’s really you, isn’t it? You’re so beautiful. I knew you would be. I mean, you take my breath away. Why would your beast be any different?”