Page 11 of An Uncertain Claim

Taking a deep breath, I walked several feet away, so his body heat and the temptation to touch him didn’t distract me. “We need to talk.” My panther huffed and pouted, but I ignored her.

Nathan pressed his lips together for a few seconds, his eyes searching my face, then he nodded and gestured for me to precede him into the living room.

“Are you hungry?” he asked as I plopped down in what had become my favorite chair.

“Are you trying to put off this discussion, Nathan?” I asked frostily, pulling my legs to one side and tucking them underneath me.

“I’m fully aware that there are things that need to be said between us, Peyton. But I’d also like to take care of my pregnant mate.”

Before I could respond—and tell himagainthat I wasn’t his mate—my stomach growled loudly. One corner of Nathan’s mouth kicked up and he did an about-face, strolling into the kitchen.

He moved around the space with ease and, not for the first time, I admired how he managed to be so smooth and stealthy for such a mountainous man. After a few minutes, he brought me a couple of sandwiches and a bowl of fruit.

I took them, but when I went to set them down beside me, he stopped me with a hand on one of my wrists. “Eat. I know you deserve to talk first. But”—his jaw clenched, and I saw how hard it was for him to get out whatever he wanted to say—“I’m asking you to let me apologize first.”

I sat in stunned silence for a few beats. Not because Nathan wanted to apologize, he’d done so before. I had admired his ability to admit when he was wrong and own it with confidence. No, I’d been utterly astonished by the way he’d asked, not demanded, that I listen. It made me curious what he’d do next, so I waved for him to go on while I picked up a sandwich.

“Thank you,” I mumurred.

Nathan paced in front of me half a dozen times before sitting in the recliner next to mine. “I acted like a complete asshole. Let’s start there.”

“Agreed,” I said around a mouthful of sandwich. My panther’s head perked up at Nathan’s genuinely remorseful tone.

“I’m sorry I assumed you didn’t set the alarm.” He shook his head. “I worried about you and angry that you’d been taken while under my protection.” His eyes rose to the ceiling, and he ran a hand over his beard. “However, it doesn’t excuse how I behaved.” He dropped his gaze to my face and finished, “I’m sorry.”

I dug deep and tried to find my outrage, but had disappeared. “Damn you, dog,” I grumbled. “I was all set to show you the full force of my wildcat and then you ruined it with your genuine remorse.”

A small smile curved his lips, making my pulse skip a beat because he was just so damn sexy. I couldn’t help returning the small smile.

“I’ll make you a deal,” I began. He immediately looked wary, and I sighed. “Chill, Nate. I’m not going to demand you give up a limb or something.”

His eyes widened a little and I cocked my head to the side, curious at his reaction to my comment. “You can’t possibly have thought I would—”

Nathan shook his head, his expression deadpan. “That’s the first time you’ve ever called me Nate.”

“Oh.” I assumed he’d reacted that way because he didn’t feel we were close enough for me to call him by the nickname. Disappointment trickled through me. Despite the tug of war we were playing over the future, I hadn’t expected him to hold me at arm’s length, especially considering he claimed me as his mate. “Um, sorry.”

“Don’t be.” Nathan’s lopsided smile returned, and butterflies took flight in my stomach. “I’m glad you feel comfortable enough to call me that.” He grinned. “It’s definitely an improvement over ‘dog.’”

I chuckled, feeling relieved. No matter what happened in the future, Nathan and I were tied to each other for eternity through our child. Building a friendship would make it easier on everyone, especially our cub.

“True,” I conceded. “Now, back to our deal.”

Nathan sighed but gestured for me to continue.

“I think it’s pretty clear that a lack of communication is a problem for us. You and I aren’t sharers, nor are we familiar with relying on others.” I waited for him to nod before going on. “So I’ll make an effort to be more open with you if you’ll agree to do the same.”

“That’s fair. So tell me what happened to you that makes you so terrified of the pack hive mind.”

My face lost all expression and I stared at him in silence for a few moments before I cocked my head to the side. “If you tell me about some of the things you’ve done.”

He tensed, immediately going on alert. He knew I was up to something and didn’t want to fall into any traps I set. “I already told you about my history as a soldier and radical,” he responded, attempting to sidestep my question.

I crossed my arms and pinned him with a hard gaze. “I’m talking about what you’ve done since then. Things you’ve done for KBO, or for the Council, or simply doling out your own justice according to your moral code.” I assumed he’d started out as an operative with KBO, and I was willing to bet the Councils had used him as an assassin.

“What makes you think I have that much blood on my hands?” He asked, deflecting again, but I had no intention of allowing it because I was playing an angle.

“You’re not the only one who is perceptive.” I could see from the stubborn glint in his silver orbs that he wouldn’t going to budge on this. Not yet, at least. But I had my opening. “Fine. We both have secrets we aren’t willing to divulge”—I didn’t mention that I guarded more than he could imagine—“but, if it concerns me, you don’t keep anything from me.” I pointed a finger at him. “That includes everything to do with my situation with that psycho.”

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