“I want to see him. Your leopard. And I want to watch him run.” The moment she blurted it out, her heart began to pound. She hadn’t meant to say that, it just slipped out. She’d been thinking about it, but she wasn’t certain she was ready for it.

The smile faded from his face. He took the coffee cup from her hand and set it on the table and reached both hands to frame her face. “Catarina, you’re terrified of my leopard. Why would you ask to see him?”

There was no way to avoid his eyes. All amber. When he looked at her, she always felt like she was the only woman in his world and he didn’t see anything or anybody but her. That wasn’t the truth because he was always aware of everything around him, but still, he made her feel that way.

“I am afraid, Eli, I’m not going to lie. But I’ve only seen one in a rage and he hurt me. It hurt for weeks. I have nightmares about his leopard. I really thought I was going to die. And then on top of that, I believe absolutely that he allows the leopard to hunt and kill humans. People disappear and he’s suspected of getting rid of them, but no one can prove it. I’m terrified and I’ve got one in me. I don’t want to be a monster. I don’t want to live as a monster or knowing I’m living with one.”

He bent forward until his lips brushed hers. “I understand. I know a lot of shifters, Cat. I’ll introduce you to a few someday. They’re good people. They risk their lives to help people in trouble. Their leopards don’t hunt and kill anything human, nor does mine. I would never allow my leopard to hunt and kill for sport.”

Her heart was doing a strange fluttery thing again, just because he was so gentle with her. His kiss was featherlight, barely there, but she felt it all the way to her toes.

“You’ll show me then?”

“Why do you want to see him run free?”

She took in a deep breath, let it out. He was still holding her eyes and she couldn’t look away, so he would see how important it was to her. “I’ve never been truly free. If my leopard can do that, it might just be the greatest thing in the world.”

Eli’s heart turned over. She was right, whether she knew it or not. She wouldn’t be free of him – not ever. He wouldn’t let her go. If she tried to leave him or run, he would find a way to make her stay and work overtime to try to find a balance with her. She didn’t understand yet about the way leopards mated for life. She was holding herself back from him. He knew she didn’t trust him, but he’d work on that. Still, she wasn’t going to leave him.

He knew what kind of man he was. He didn’t try to hide it from her now. He was the head of his home. The man. That wasn’t politically correct, but he couldn’t be anything other than who he was. He was alpha all the way. He liked to be the dominant in all things, including in bed. He enjoyed taking care of Catarina. He liked doing little things for her and wanted her to feel special. He wanted her to make his house a home, her home. Later, down the road, when they were married with several children and he knew she wasn’t going to have one foot out the door, he’d carve a sign and hang it on the gate. Cat’s Lair. He’d already made up his mind to that.

“You can run free in your leopard form,” he said. “And you’ll be there with her. You’ll experience it with her. And you’ll love it, Catarina; I do.”

He let his hands fall away because he wanted her all over again and she needed to heal. Fast. His leopard was pushing close to the surface all the time now, aware of her leopard so close to emerging.

“Will you then? Let me see him?”

“If I’m in leopard form, I won’t be able to stand in front of you and shield you if you get too scared, but if you call my name, I’ll shift back immediately.”

Her eyes lit up, although her hands trembled, her fingers twisting together nervously. “Then you’ll really do it, Eli? Let me see him?”

He nodded. “Baby, listen to me. My leopard is big. He’s an alpha. But he would never, under any circumstances hurt you. You hold his mate inside of you. You are part of his mate. He knows that and he knows you’re mine. I’m not saying this very well, talking, explaining things, is not my forte – but you belong to us. To both of us, and he would die to protect you.”

Her small tongue came out and she moistened her lips. “When?”

“Right now. You’ve got your courage up, let’s just do it now.”

He saw her take a breath, but she stood up. His Catarina. Yeah, she was scared, but she didn’t let that stop her.

“Um. Eli. I’m not dressed. I don’t even have shoes.”

“You don’t need shoes or clothes. You’re just going to sit in the truck and watch.”

“What if I want to touch him? Can I do that?”

She was killing him. “Yes, baby, if you want to touch him, you certainly can.” He got the truck keys and came back to her, reaching out his hand. She hesitated, but she took it.

“I’m going to take us out into the middle of the property, Kitten. That way no neighbor might accidentally stop by. It doesn’t happen often but I don’t take chances. You always have to remember, you can’t take chances either, once she’s emerged. She’s your responsibility. You have to control her and protect her.”

He opened the door to the passenger side and when she stepped up, his hand slid over her bottom, shaping her butt, a small gesture of male possessiveness. He didn’t do it with the long shirt over her bottom, he slipped his hand under the material to caress bare skin. She recognized the gesture for what it was. The warm slide of his hand sent heat rushing through her body, streaking through her veins like a drug. Once she was in the seat, he leaned in to fasten her seat belt.