Page 46 of Out of Peril

But my words were muted by a loud roar from behind me.

I'd been too preoccupied to sense her arrival. It was a rookie mistake.

Before I could set the record straight and let them know I was okay, Lindsey swooped down and grabbed me in her claws and flew off with me.

“I'm fine. She won't hurt me,” I yelled, but there was no way to know for sure they heard me.

Lindsey flew us out over the river and circled around the house and property four times before she was convinced it was okay to land.

I was furious with her.

“What the hell, babe. They're friends,” I yelled the second she unceremoniously dropped me onto one of the large second story balconies.

I was pissed. Couldn't she understand that there were a lot of people out looking for me and no doubt very worried?

My team hadn't been with me. They'd entrusted me to Bravo, and I'd been kidnapped right in front of their eyes. I knew that wasn't any of their faults, but Michael and the guys didn't. Something like that could cause all kinds of dissension within the Force. And I knew my boys. They were all going to blame themselves for not being there, even if there was nothing they could have done to stop this. And honestly, I wouldn't have wanted them to because it gave me time to truly get to know my mate.

Clearly, she wasn't perfect, and we had some boundary issues to address still.

I crossed my arms over my chest and stood there staring her down as she landed and shifted.

Her blue eyes nearly glowed with anger.

“What the hell were you thinking?” she yelled.

“Me? What was that all about? You can't just fly in and take me away every damn time you feel like it.”

“What were you doing there? Why were you talking to them?”

“Why do you think?”

She took a step back. “You sold me out?”

“What? No! That had nothing to do with you, Lindsey. I had to let my team know where I am. The only way I could think to do that was to elicit the help of the panthers. They're allies, not enemies. They can get in touch with Michael and let him know I'm okay. That was it.”

She shook her head. “They can't know where you are. Are you insane? They'll come after me, Walker.”

“Would you stop saying that? You don't know them the way I do. You don't know all the shit we've seen out there. You think you're the first Experiment we've come across?”

She jerked back like I'd just slapped her in the face. I immediately regretted my words.

“Lindsey, wait. Babe. Stop.”

“Don’t you babe me,” she said, but her voice cracked, and I felt horrible for hurting her.

“Come here,” I said. When she didn't move, I realized I spoke louder and harsher than I’d meant to. I could feel her pulling away from me, and it scared the shit out of me. “Lindsey, come here.”

Her eyes widened, but she silently obeyed.

“We're going to be okay,” I told her, kissing her hard like my life depended on it, because I was pretty sure it did.

Even the thought of her leaving me caused a sharp pain and emptiness inside that I knew I would never survive long term. I needed her, and with a desperation I hadn't known existed, I set about showing her just how much.

When her arms wrapped around me, my lips softened on a sigh of relief.

“I need you,” I told her in a strained voice.

She deepened the kiss, telling me she needed me too.

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