"Shut up." His little shake brought stinging tears to her eyes as it tugged on her abused strands.
Arik uttered a growly noise of his own. "Let her go."
"But I'm not done with her yet. She's yet to beg me for her life."
"Let her go and maybe you won't die. Killing her at this point won't accomplish anything except ensure your execution is painful and prolonged."
"On the contrary, killing Kira would bring me great pleasure since I know it would devastate you. She's your mate."
"She is."
Again with the whole ownership thing. And how did Gregory know Arik had claimed her? Had Arik done something to her that made it evident to others? The love bite on her neck tickled as if to prompt her.
Gregory wound his fist tighter, angling her neck back and lowering his face to it. He inhaled before he muttered against her skin, "Do you know I had a plan? I was going to make you watch as I fucked her." He licked her, and Kira shuddered, unable to hide her repugnance.
She noted Arik's fingers tightened into fists at his side. His eyes reflected gold, and even though he was in his man form, there was something primitive about his posture, something animalistic about his demeanor. "You have to know that's not going to happen."
"I know, and it's such a shame I'm going to have to skip that part for phase two. Kill her. Then you." His mouth opened over her neck and hovered, a hesitation on his threat so he could stare and taunt Arik.
Cocky idiot. He misjudged Kira. She wasn't about to let herself die, a helpless victim to a maniac. She waited for her chance and saw it in that moment. Down went her booted foot on his bare one, back went her elbow into his diaphragm, and she butted her head sideways, clocking him in the noggin.
It was enough to distract, enough for him to loosen his grip on her hair and for her to yank free from his grip. Let loose, she stumbled, falling to the floor by the debris of the chair. Her hand closed around one of the broken spindles, and she rolled, bringing it with her in an arc. She swung as Gregory dove at her, vaguely registering Arik's yell but more interested in the thwack the stick made as it connected.
It wasn't enough to render Gregory and his rictus-wrenched face unconscious, but it gave her the seconds she needed for Arik to reach them. He hit Gregory in the side, tossing him off Kira, and pounced atop Gregory as he hit the floor.
Arik didn't waste time. He wrapped his hands around Gregory's neck. "You." Wham. "Dared." Thunk. "Hurt what is mine." With each word, he rapped her ex's head off the floor.
The violence was intense, and messy. She turned away but sucked in a breath as she heard a sharp crack. She'd seen enough movies to guess what it might mean.
He killed a man.
Killed a murderous psycho, but still … people didn't do that. Except he wasn't a person. He's a lion. An animal. A predator.
And she was anything but. What Kira was, though, was a survivor. She got her butt moving.
"Mouse, where do you think you're going?" Arik's nonchalant query held a note of amusement.
"Insane?"
"Not quite yet, so get that sweet ass back over here."
Back to where the body lay in all its gruesome glory? No thank you.
He seemed to grasp the fact that she might not want to converse with him over a corpse because he amended his words with, "Actually, on second thought, stay where you are. I'll come to you."
Come to her for what?
Not knowing what to expect of a world suddenly gone mad gave her the impetus to move. She ran, heading in who knew what direction, instinct not letting her stay still. Running even though she knew she had no chance of escaping him. Not only was he bigger and stronger, Arik wasn't human. Arik was a lion.
"Don't make me chase you, mouse."
"Or what, you'll kill me, too?"
"Maybe kill you with pleasure."
Trust a man to find a way to insert sex at the weirdest times.
Her sudden flight didn't last long, and not because Arik pounced her. She went the wrong way and came against a dead end, no way out ahead of her, crates piled high on either side. She whirled, only to see her retreat blocked by the man who stalked toward her. Despite the feeble light and deep shadows, there was no mistaking his intent, or nudity.
She backed away, one slow sliding step at a time.
"I won't hurt you."
"Says the man who turns into a freaking lion."
"Hey, don't act like you're so surprised. I told you I did."
"But I didn't think you meant it," she said with a fling of her hands.
"Well, now you know. So what?"
"What do you mean, ‘so what'? You turn into a lion. You know, big carnivore with giant teeth."
Arik's lips twisted in a wry grin. "Stop complimenting him. He'll get an even fatter head."
That caused her to stumble in her retreat. "You mean that lion you turn into … it's like a separate entity? It hears me?"
"He"-his emphasis not hers-"hears and understands just fine. And he's being a furry pain in my ass right now."
"Why?"
"Because he doesn't like that you're scared."
"I'm not scared," she lied, arms hugging her upper body in an attempt to quell the trembling.
"You don't have to fear me. I won't harm you, and neither will your ex. I made sure of that."
He meant his words as reassuring. It didn't quite work or stem a big shudder.
Gregory, a guy she'd dated, a werewolf. Oh my god, how close did I come to becoming one? Hold on a second, Gregory hadn't bitten her, but Arik had. "Am I going to turn into a lion now that we've slept together and you bit me?" she blurted out, her fingers running over the sore edge of his mark.
White teeth-my, how big they are. The better to eat me with? -flashed as he laughed. "No. You can't catch the shapeshifting gene. It's something you're born with, and even with two shifting parents, that's not a guarantee."
"So I won't turn furry and start chasing rodents?"
"Nope."
Well, that was a relief. "I guess I should thank you for arriving just in time."
"If you want to thank me, get your ass over here." He spread his arms in invitation.
"No thanks. I'm good over here."
"Mouse, you're being stubborn again. We both know you want a hug."
Yeah, she did, but she was trying hard to fight the urge to run to him. Why? Because he turns furry. Did she really need another reason to avoid Arik?
But he wasn't a lion right now.
No, he was a very naked man, with a body she still clearly remembered touching, striding toward her with a confident swagger and an erection that had her eyes widening.
"Um, Arik, I really don't think I'm in the mood. Or that this is the time or place to indulge."
"Then we'll go back to my place. I could use a shower first."
"What if I don't want to go there?"
"As my mate, it is your place."
Again with the whole pushy thing. She pushed back. "I don't know if I'm ready to be anyone's mate. That's a lot of commitment and a lot of freaky shit for me to handle in such a little amount of time."
"So how about we just call you my girlfriend for now?"
"Girlfriend?" He just wouldn't give up. And, no, she couldn't resist the flattery. The reminder he wasn't quite a man couldn't douse her attraction and interest in him.
"Yes, my girlfriend. And I'll be your boyfriend. Since you're so keen on getting to know me and all that other jazz, we'll date."
"As in go to the movies? Have dinner? Long walks on beaches?"
"Making out in public places, holding hands, and spending the night in a tangle of naked limbs."
"I thought you didn't date."
"I'll make an exception for you."
The shiver that went through her was one of delight as he piqued her womanly side. "During this dating period, I get to stay at my place."
"Some nights."
"What do you mean?"
"Some nights we'll spend at your place, others at mine. I insist we share. It's only fair."
"Fair? Nothing about you is fair."
"How so?" He finally stepped close enough that she could practically feel the heat rolling off him. She longed to press her hands against the smooth plane of his chest and feel it, feel the thump of his heart, the race of it as she aroused him.
"Because you're like a bag of chips left on the counter. You're just begging for me to nibble."
"Then what are you waiting for? Nibble away, mouse."
"I shouldn't."
He drew her into his arms. "Stop fighting it. This is where you belong."
How right he was. One hug. That was all it took to melt her defenses. So what if he turned into a lion and could kill a man with his bare hands? He'd also braved grave danger to come to her rescue. He met her stubbornness with patience and humor. He let her get in her jabs and then wasn't scared to tease her back. And when he touched her …