Ava fidgeted. His questions had been straightforward and understandable, but they made her feel defensive. She hadn’t asked Kyle to heal her, certainly hadn’t wanted him following her. She hadn’t asked for any of this.
Staring out the window, she tried to imagine what it would be like to have friends who cared enough to come and rescue her. One phone call from Kyle and Jake stopped what he was doing and dragged two of “his men” along for the ride. Carissa loved her unconditionally, but Ava hadn’t realized how isolated they were until the past caught up to their present.
“Kyle’s not a healer. Was he able to fix whatever was wrong or should I arrange for someone else to take a look at you?” His tone was gentler now, less accusatory.
She pictured one of the fierce-eyed Therian men touching her, his fingers running over her bare skin and shivered. “I’m fine. We need to focus on Kyle.” The corner of Jake’s mouth quirked and she realized she’d included herself in Kyle’s treatment. Kyle had stabilized her ribs and taken away her pain. It was only natural that she’d want to repay his kindness.
That was your justification for making out with him too, her conscience reminded. She’d kissed him and touched him, mesmerized by the texture of his flesh. If the mercenaries hadn’t interrupted, how much further would it have gone? Would she have thrown caution to the wind and wiggled out of her jeans so he could screw her right there on the clothes-covered rock? How romantic.
It hadn’t been romantic. It had been wild and savage and hot.
“You better think about something else.” Jake’s tone was deep yet tinged with amusement. “If you walk into Toulouse Tavern smelling like sex, every man in the place will think it’s an invitation.”
She tensed, mortified by the implication. Could he actually smell her arousal? Either he could or he could read her mind, which would be even more humiliating. She needed a distraction fast. “Toulouse Tavern? Is that your bar?”
“Yes.”
Oh that was helpful. He could grill her with questions, but all he gave in return was yes and no answers? “Who is Toulouse?”
His gaze gleamed through the dimness as he glanced her way. “It’s my sister’s idea of irony. Toulouse Tavern sounds upscale and classy, but she pulled the name from an animated flick called The Aristocrats.”
“I love that movie! Wasn’t Toulouse the feisty orange kitten who was always getting into trouble?”
“That’s him. Regular little wannabe badass.”
She smiled as scenes from the move scrolled through her mind. Such innocent amusements belonged to another lifetime, another Ava.
Glancing out the window, she spotted a road sign. They were headed south on CO 82, which would take them into the heart of Aspen. She looked at Kyle and her heart lurched. He’d rolled to his side and his eyes were closed, tongue visible between his pointed teeth. Was he resting or unconscious? “I didn’t mean to hurt him. If I’d known this would happen, I wouldn’t have let him touch me.”
“Kyle doesn’t do anything he doesn’t want to do. No one is blaming you for this.”
But she was blaming herself. “Is there someone at your bar who can feed him?”
“Enya, my sister. She hates doing it, but I’m pretty sure she’ll make an exception for Kyle.”
She refused to identify the odd tightening in her chest. It was impossible that she might be jealous. She’d only known Kyle for a matter of hours. And he saved your life twice. She shoved the fact to the back of her mind, annoyed once again by her conscience.
“What’s your connection with Kyle?” she asked Jake.
“Different clan, same network.” He looked at her and asked, “Do you know what that means? How much has Kyle told you?”
“We’re all part of the Therian nation. If you’re part of his network, you’re a feline shifter, but you turn into something other than a cougar.”
“That’s the gist of it. I belong to the largest clan of tiger-shifters. Osric is my uncle, by the way. So that makes us cousins.”
“We’re cousins?” The revelation jarred her for a moment. Osric wasn’t just a malicious bastard, he could shift into a tiger? Then the shock passed and she made the connection. Her hands clenched and looked around for a weapon. “Are you taking me to Osric?”
“God, no. I’m a rebel, just like Kyle. Me and Osric haven’t been on speaking terms for years and he isn’t allowed anywhere near the bar.” They’d reached the outskirts of Aspen. He navigated the roundabout and jogged right on Seventh Street before turning left on Main.