Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 139(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 139(@200wpm)___ 111(@250wpm)___ 93(@300wpm)
There!
Fighting off, another beast was a large cat with the familiar pale cream-colored fur. The rosettes on it’s flanks were widely spaced.
Wait, is he fighting a bear?
The low growl of the racing cat yanked her focus from Jeremy. Gritting her teeth against the pain she whirled and lifted the muzzle, simultaneously squeezing the trigger. The cat hit her and she went down beneath his weight, never once releasing her grip.
The roar was closer and she tugged on the trigger but she’d emptied the magazine in the body pinning her into the frozen ground. Her flickering vision was filled with a blood-stained muzzle as yellow eyes locked onto her face, the oval pupils more round.
Because of the dark. They have vertically oval ones that are round in the dark.
Leave it to her brain to give her that tidbit.
The leopard opened his mouth and bit down on the dead cat that hurt her broken ribs but also provided some warmth so she was torn when he was ripped off. As she watched, a shimmer of fur and flesh left her staring at Jeremy.
His tortured expression lasered on her features. He snarled, fangs exploding from his gums as he twisted toward something he thought was a threat. Dianna released the empty weapon and reached out to touch him, needing to feel him.
It didn’t matter it was freezing out and he was naked. Jeremy still pumped out heat. At her slight touch, he focused back on her.
She tried for a smile, well aware it came out more like a grimace. “Think we could go somewhere warm? I’d do anything for a shower.”
A pair of snow leopards padded into view. Also, bloody but they held a bag and one carried boots. Placing them by them, both glanced at her and walked off.
By the time she opened her eyes again, he had dressed and crouched to lift her.
“I’m sorry, baby.” He lifted her with ease even though his voice was raw and tortured.
Accepting his heat with a grateful groan, she didn’t fight, didn’t struggle, didn’t even complain about the pain pulsing through her at each movement.
He grunted and she almost opened her eyes once more but didn’t have the energy. So she let him do for her she’d never trust another man to do. Protect and care for her.
* * *
Stiff she rolled over and winced. Opening her eyes, she slowly moved her gaze around the room, not sure where she was. She lay on a thick pile of furs on the floor in front of a fire. Warmth had sunk into her and she loved that she no longer shivered. Her smell didn’t bother her so she knew she’d been cleaned up a bit. Without moving, she knew she didn’t have a stitch of clothing on and it was a concern. If she had to move, she needed clothing.
“You’re not going anywhere for a while. Neither of us are, therefore you don’t need clothing.”
Sliding her gaze to the left she watched Jeremy as he slipped from the shadows into view. Her heart kicked up and she lazily roamed her hungry stare over him. Bare chested, his tanned skin hugged rippling muscles, highlighting the pectorals, defined abdominals. It wasn’t fair how hot he was.
His jeans, worn and riding low on lean hips distracted her from how sore she truly was. Chiseled features drawn tight in frustration he moved closer until his large frame was all she could see. Nothing but pure, raw power.
And sex.
She didn’t bother attempting to sit up just lay there, watching him. Her heart pounded in her chest as she took one more leisurely look over the impressive specimen standing before her. Nothing soft on him.
I approve.
“Something you want to say?”
She didn’t approve how her voice was far weaker than normal.
He crouched down beside her, bringing his cock all that much closer to her mouth.
If I only had the energy to take him as I’d like.
Jeremy brushed the back of his hand along her cheek. There she saw the softening in his expression.
“I’m sorry, mate. This is my fault.”
Ignoring the fluttering her heart did at his use of ‘mate’ Dianna shook her head. “You had nothing to do with me being kidnapped, Jeremy. You’re a lot of things. Hot. Sexy. Shifter. But, what you’re not, is responsible for this situation I’m in.”
A twitch of his lips. “What situation am I responsible for?”
“One I don’t have the energy for right now.” She bit her lower lip. “Such a shame, that.” Shifting, she scrunched up her nose to keep from crying out in pain.
She wasn’t able to hide it from him. All teasing vanished like smoke as he pulled her furs away and ran his gaze over her. Anger flashed but his touch, oh god, his touch, was gentle.
“I wish I had the power to heal you.”