Page 15 of His Stubborn Mate

Amanda’s gaze softened, but he could see the determination in her eyes. She wasn’t going to back down easily. “I appreciate the concern, Rance, but I won’t live in fear. I’m Arctotherium, remember? I’m not just any she-bear.”

Rance reached out, cupping her cheek in his hand. “Even the mightiest beast can be killed, Amanda. Albright knows how to hunt, and he knows how to kill. Promise me you’ll be careful.”

She leaned into his touch, her eyes searching his. “I promise I’ll be careful. But you need to trust that I can handle myself.”

Rance wanted to argue, to make her see how serious the situation was, but he knew Amanda well enough to understand that pushing her would only make her more determined to prove herself. Instead, he nodded, though the worry in his chest didn’t abate.

Chapter Eight

Rance

As night fell, Rance found himself parked in his truck a short distance from Amanda’s home, his eyes scanning the darkened street for any sign of trouble. He knew Amanda didn’t want to be coddled, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that she was in danger. The thought of Albright lurking somewhere on the island, waiting for an opportunity, made Rance’s blood boil.

His thoughts were interrupted by the soft creak of a door opening. He looked up to see Amanda stepping outside, her eyes locking onto his truck. She hesitated for a moment before making her way toward him, her expression a mixture of exasperation and concern.

Rance rolled down the window as she approached. “Amanda?—”

“You’re keeping watch over me, aren’t you?” she interrupted, her tone more resigned than angry.

Rance didn’t deny it. “I want to make sure you’re safe. I can’t just sit back and do nothing.”

Amanda sighed, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “Come inside, Rance. You can’t stay out here all night. Let’s get some food, warm up. We can talk.”

Rance hesitated for only a moment before nodding. He couldn’t deny that being close to her was what he wanted, even if it meant letting her win this round. He followed her inside, the warmth of her home enveloping him as they entered.

As they settled at the kitchen table with steaming bowls of soup, Amanda studied him closely. “You’re worried,” she said softly. “Not just about Albright, but about something else.”

Rance stirred his soup absently, his mind drifting to the memories he had tried so hard to bury. “I’ve dealt with hunters like Albright before,” he admitted. “I told you a little bit about my work in Reykjavik. We faced people who were determined to wipe us out, who saw us as nothing more than monsters.”

Amanda’s gaze softened, her hand reaching across the table to cover his. “You never really talk about your time with the Resistance.” He quirked his eyebrow at her. “Eva gave me a kind of primer on recent shifter history.”

Rance’s jaw tightened; he should have been the one to tell her. He wasn’t handling this whole transitioning a human to a shifter very well. Memories of Iceland came unbidden—blood, fear, the relentless pursuit of those who wanted nothing more than to see them dead. “It’s not something I like to talk about. I saw a lot of good people die, and I learned how cruel the world can be to those who are different. But we fought back, and we survived. That’s why I’m so protective of you, Amanda. I’ve seen what hunters like Albright are capable of.”

Amanda squeezed his hand, her touch grounding him. “You’re not alone. We’re not alone. I’m already discovering how close the shifter community here on Kodiak is.”

He looked up at her, his heart swelling with emotion. The connection between them was undeniable, and the arousal that simmered beneath the surface threatened to consume him. He wanted her—needed her—but he had to control himself, had to remind himself of the danger that still loomed over them.

But when Amanda leaned across the table and pressed her lips to his, all his restraint shattered. The kiss was slow and deliberate, her lips soft against his as she coaxed him deeper. Rance’s control slipped, his need for her overwhelming everything else.

With a low growl, he pulled her onto his lap, his hands gripping her waist as he kissed her with a fierce intensity. She responded eagerly, her hands tangling in his hair as she pressed herself closer. The kiss deepened, and Rance felt a primal urge to claim her, to dominate the moment and make her his in every way.

His hands roamed her body, mapping the curves he had already memorized, but this time with a possessiveness that made her shiver. He nipped at her bottom lip, eliciting a soft moan from her, and the sound only fueled the fire burning inside him.

But just as quickly as the fire had ignited, Rance pulled back, his breath ragged as he forced himself to regain control. He couldn’t afford to lose himself completely, not when the threat of Albright was still out there, lurking in the shadows.

Amanda looked up at him, her lips swollen from the kiss, her eyes dark with desire. “Rance…”

He pressed a finger to her lips, his voice hoarse. “Not tonight, Amanda. We have to stay focused. Albright is still out there, and I need to know you’re safe.”

She nodded, understanding but clearly frustrated by his restraint. Rance gently lifted her off his lap, setting her down on the floor beside him. “Lock the door after me,” he reminded her, his tone softening as he brushed a strand of hair from her face. “I’ll be nearby, keeping watch.”

“You don’t have to go. We’re both adults.”

Rance chuckled. “That’s the problem. We’re both adults, and I want you in a way I’ve never wanted anyone. We need to keep a sharp eye out for Albright, and I can’t do that if I have my cock buried deep inside you.”

Amanda blushed but didn’t argue further, though he could see the concern in her eyes. “Be careful, Rance.”

He gave her a small, reassuring smile. “I will. Get some rest, Amanda.”

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