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Well,  festivities was one way of putting it. Every six months, the Gaian Moon
pulled at all shifters, enticing and urging them to mate and create life to fill the ranks. It
was nature s way of ensuring that shifters didn t dwindle and die off.
Madison took a sip of her brew.  Okay.
She went quiet again, leaving them in unsettling silence.
Ricker reached across the car and stroked her free hand, twined his fingers with
hers. She stiffened for the barest of moments, but quickly relaxed into the touch.
The tiger purred at her acquiescence, anxious to touch, stroke and pet what
belonged to them.
Before he could lose his nerve, Ricker shoved an apology from his lips.  I m
sorry about last night, Kit. It was wrong. How about stupid? I m an idiot?
He tried to make it a joke, but a glance at his mate revealed that she wasn t
finding him amusing.
 Is that a question? Or do you really believe it. Because, let me tell you another
Maya-ism. Apologizing doesn t mean that you re wrong. It just means that you re tired
of arguing and are ready to move on. Just make sure that the other person thinks you re
sincere.
Ricker winced. He was sorry, but her words had a ring of truth he couldn t deny.
How many times had his father told him to apologize to a woman even if he didn t
mean it?
 I was an ass. I tried to seduce you into agreeing with me and also tried to use
what I know of Sensitives against you to force your promise. I truly am sorry.
Quiet descended on the vehicle once more and he could practically feel
Madison s mind turning over his words, spinning and pouncing on them, looking for
an untruth.
Finally, after what seemed like hours, she spoke.  I want to touch you. See if
you re sincere. See if this is even a good idea or if we should simply part ways in
Ridgeville.
Ricker squeezed her hand and flashed a wicked smile, tossing her a wink for
good measure. He smiled even wider when his flirting was met by a bright blush to her
cheeks. If he let his true emotions show through, she d see a broken man, see the pain
the idea of not mating with her had caused.
 Baby, you can touch me all you want, whenever you want.
 Not physically, idjit. She rolled her eyes and a tingling stroke of something
brushed his mind.  Touch you. She nibbled her lower lip.  I know I did it without
permission back at the compound, but I do like to have a shifter s agreement before I go
poking around in someone s head.
Ricker took a deep breath, chest expanding and slowly deflating as he considered
her request. Yeah, he d felt her all right, but he d brushed off the sensation. He d been
so focused on finding her that the trespass had been the least of his worries.
Now, he had to agree to regain a crumb of her trust and prove that they were
meant to live side-by-side.
 Okay. But I ll warn you now that some of what you find might not be pretty.
My life hasn t been tiger cubs and roses, Kit.
Her answer was a small nod and then her eyes fluttered closed. From what he
remembered, her little peek wouldn t be painful, just& odd. So, he didn t bother pulling
over or slowing his speed.
Which was a mistake.
Madison s first brush was like a gentle wind, unseen hands stroking and easing
his agitated tiger until the cat was a docile as a kitten. Her next touch was more firm,
deeper, stronger. He took a deep breath, calming his heart as the strange sensations
spread through him. The third foray went even further, fingers delving into private
places, areas that he d long ago cut off from himself.
Ricker saw his first mission, then the loss of his best friend when Alistair had
attacked the council five years ago. Rescuing Lia from Freedom s clutches and finding
her bloody, beaten and repeatedly raped. Hunting Alistair to the small cabin that held
Carly Thompson and seeing how much of her blood coated the wood floors.
Finally, the sheer terror he d felt at watching his mate race from his side and
ducking between fighting males. The worry and rage that had overtaken him at the
thought of her being in danger and the resolve to keep her safe.
Madison s response was a soft gasp and he saw her open her mouth, eyes wide.
 Ricker 
Any other words she might have said were cut off by the rough slam of another
vehicle against their car. The crunch of metal and shattering of glass surrounded them.
The first thing Ricker did was grab his mate by the back of her head and force
her to bend low.  Down. Stay there. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]