Page 59 of Primal Mirror

Eyes of a pale brown shot with gold and filled with light, a charming smile that makes us want to rip off our panties, and hair so many shades of brown that it’s a leopard’s fur in human form, Mr. Denier is a tall bite of gorgeous hunk.

Rawr.

And yes, ladies, the man is single. Not only that, but he’s got serious claws if he’s set up a pack and held it against all comers—including multiple other predatory changeling packs in the region. Surely he needs a mate to keep him warm on those cold mountain nights.

Who here is ready to volunteer for this onerous, onerous task?

—From the “Scary but Sexy” column in the September 2083 issue of Wild Woman magazine: “Skin Privileges, Style & Primal Sophistication”

REMI’S PRESENCE WAS a primal pressure against Auden’s skin, a prowling heat that discomforted and comforted at the same time. She could’ve shifted to break contact, but she did the opposite…and he didn’t appear to mind from the small smile he shot her after they were aloft.

She wanted to drink in the sunshine of his attention, was greedy for more of it, but she had to warn him. “What was Charisma referring to, regarding your history?” Formal tone, cool intonation.

From the way Remi’s jaw tightened, he understood her warning: this vehicle wasn’t safe, might be bugged. Auden wasn’t, however, worried about visual surveillance. Too difficult to pull that off in such a tight area with so few controls.

“I drove race cars from roughly twenty to twenty-five,” Remi said, his voice that rumble, familiar and deep. “Fell into it, really—changeling speed and reflexes are a good fit for that career.”

“Is it a difficult field to join?” Auden asked, as any other Psy might ask about the dangerous sport—but she was compelled by Remi, wanted to know all of what had shaped him into the man he’d become.

“Yes, but I stumbled into a back-end spot with a small outfit, and they let me try out for a novice position when they realized I had excellent reflexes. Turned out I was a natural on the track—took us to a championship trophy in my fifth year as a driver.”

“You retired while at the top?”

“It was time,” he said, his voice firm. “Look down.”

When she did, she saw a ribbon of light in the moon-washed silver of the world. Wonder in her veins. “What is that?”

“Park path. Town lights it up at night. Some of the pack like to go down there on romantic dates.”

Auden bit down hard on her lower lip, wondering what it would be like to walk hand in hand with Remi along a softly lit path. Her baby kicked right then, as if reminding her that she had other priorities.

Looking down, she stroked her belly. I never forget you, my baby.

The sensation that came back to Auden was of happiness…and comfort. Safe. Her baby felt safe and warm and content.

It made her throat tight.

“Cub doing all right?”

Her heart did that freefall thing again at the open concern in his tone. “Yes. It’s just a little uncomfortable being in this seat in my current shape.” She met his eyes, told him without speaking that there was so much more she wanted to tell him.

“Won’t be long now.”

They didn’t speak again the rest of the trip, all the words they couldn’t say building in the small space until they became a pressure as inexorable as the feel of Remi’s shoulder against hers.

Auden didn’t move. Didn’t want to move.

She wanted to sit in this cockpit together forever, and imagine that he was hers…and that she could trust him without question, without hesitation. Inside her mind, a sensation bloomed—but it wasn’t the one that felt wrong, outside of herself.

This was a flutter, an innocent touch.

Reaching out to Remi.

Auden blinked rapidly, her eyes burning. Even her baby was attempting to touch Remi.

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