Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 127461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 637(@200wpm)___ 510(@250wpm)___ 425(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 637(@200wpm)___ 510(@250wpm)___ 425(@300wpm)
Maya let out her breath. “He just confirmed what Tanja already knows. She’s relaxing a little bit.”
“I’m ready to go down to meet with Maya and the others.”
“We have something to do before we go meet with the others.” Kyanite was firm. Resolved. Utterly implacable.
She backed up a step. “I don’t think you really looked at me. You don’t just get the leopard if your leopard claims mine, you take on the human. You aren’t getting a bargain.”
“I looked at you and I see more than you think I do. I also had Bahadur speak to Savior. She tells him you are the one responsible for fucking up Krylov’s lair, keeping him off balance. He also tells me you’ve risked your life over and over, freeing his trafficking victims and secreting them away, training them to fight back when the time comes. You’ve been acquiring supplies, medical equipment, weapons and food. I think that says more about who you are than anything else. On top of that, you’re one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen. Tiny, like that little spitfire Maya, but stunning.”
“My sister is a spitfire?”
“She’s a little hellion. In a fight, I’ve never seen anything like her. Lightning fast. She can take down a man three times her size, leopard or not. If you’re anything like her, I’ll tell you up front, I don’t have the special gifts Gedeon and Gorya have, but I’m loyal and I’ve looked all over the world for you. For me, not just for Bahadur. Let her choose, Tanja. See if she’s interested. If she’s not, you don’t have to worry, I won’t force the issue no matter how attracted I am to you. I’m not that kind of man.”
Gorya was proud of Kyanite. He’d stated his case as well as a man could have in the limited time that he had.
“I have issues. Terrible issues.” She took another step back. “You don’t understand. I can’t see at all. Without Savior, I’m totally blind. Not just that, I have trouble walking. She keeps me walking steady. I have to work at it all the time in order to . . .” She broke off, shaking her head. “I refuse to be a burden to anyone.”
“Are you a burden to these people you house and feed? You rescue. You’re a leader. You’re the brains behind the rebellion going on here. You’re taking back this lair a piece at a time. You’re recovering victims.”
“Not enough.”
“Without you, the ones you saved would have been sold or dead. And you have recruits. Allies in the lair. That’s why you mentioned my cousins. They’re part of that network.”
“They risk their lives every day.”
For the first time, Kyanite smiled. “Good genes. Take a chance, Tanja. Just let her decide. Let her have a look at him. Talk to her.”
Gorya wanted Maya to tell them to get on with it. He knew Kyanite was resolved, utterly resolved. He wasn’t going to back down. The Bostons had immigrated to the lair. They had Persian leopards, although they were Russian or Patva would never have allowed them entry. They were the second generation of the Primorye lair, and Gorya didn’t know the history of the family other than the fact that once Kyanite had left the lair, he’d traveled extensively, ended up with Donovan and stayed with his company a long while before traveling to the United States and coming full circle to work for the Amurovs.
Maya. I’m so afraid. Tanja reached out to her sister. I never thought I would have a man of my own. Savior is eager for his leopard. She says this man is good and kind and that he genuinely wants me. I have physical problems beyond the normal. I can’t see without Savior. I can’t walk very well without her. This man is built like he could run for miles and never stop. What should I do?
I can only tell you he is one of the best men I know, and I am fond of few men. I don’t let them close to me. My past experiences were rather terrible. When Gorya’s leopard claimed mine, I nearly suicided. I wanted to. He was as broken as I was, but he convinced me to give the relationship a try. We made it work on our terms. We communicated our fears and what each would need to go forward. So far, I’ve never been happier in my life. He makes me feel safe for the first time in my life. I know I can trust him fully. He listens. I believe Kyanite will listen to you and put your needs first, but you have to be willing to give the relationship a real try if you decide to give your leopard her chance at happiness.
Gorya thought that last part was very clever of Maya. By including Savior, she was reminding Tanja of everything the leopard did for her. The cat did deserve to have her mate.