Page 30 of His UnBearable Touch

Except-

“Is this about the mark?”

He tensed beside her, but he didn’t stop moving. “We spoke about that,” he reminded her.

“I know,” she continued to walk, “I know, but I don’t think you have to worry about anything bad happening because of the mark.”

“So, I’ve been told.”

She heard the tight twist in his voice and swept her thumb over the back of his hand. “Is that what your brothers said to you?”

“They expressed their concerns,” he answered back, his tone and enunciation stilted, “I gave them my decision. They understand that I will mark you as mine, I just want to wait until you can take time away from your work.”

Allegra laughed and heard some of the animals moving about in the dark. “Will it be so tiring, you think?” She sighed and swung their joined hands. “I think I could survive being loved by you.”

“You’re already loved by me, Stellina. That’s why I want to wait.”

“But your bear isn’t so understanding, is he?”

An answering growl told her how close the bear was to the surface, how demanding he could be.

“Then why can’t it happen tonight or tomorrow. We have the weekend to worry through all of these changes that I don’t think will happen. Valerio, please-”

A soft roar was heard in the darkness and Allegra slowed her steps.

“What was that?”

Valerio leaned closer. “A lion. We’re just a few steps away from the bear enclosure.”

“Good, I think we should spend a little time here and get home.” She felt his hand squeeze hers. “And then maybe I’ll convince you to mark me tonight.”

“Allegra,” his tone was warm but there was a warning in it, “let’s not talk of this anymore. My bear is close enough to the surface without you calling to it.”

She sighed and he answered it with a chuckle.

“It hears your words and…” he slowed a little, bending closer to her. She could feel his heat, especially in the cooling fall air. “He can smell your arousal.”

“Well,” she returned, “I bet he can since that’s all I can feel when I’m around you, Valerio. I feel like I’m a live wire just waiting for someone to complete the circuit and you’re holding back on me.”

“I’ve told you my reasons.”

“I know but I think you should-”

Valerio froze in place, his hand tugging her closer to his side.

Through his physical connection she felt the chill that rolled through his skin, but somewhere under it all she felt worry and fear in her heart and knew that they were his emotions, coupled with her own.

“Allegra?”

She opened her mouth to answer him but never managed to get the words out.

Valerio dropped his hold on her hand and wrapped that arm around her body, flattening her against his larger frame, moving her around to the other side of his body.

Before she could ask for an explanation, a noise rushed from the darkness. An engine eating up gas from the sounds of it, but even that thought was a moment too late.

They were moving, and her head struggled to make sense of it.

An impact.

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