Page 5 of Fated to the Panther

I wiped my jaw making sure I hadn’t been drooling during her short speech. “So, you think my panther handsome?” I couldn’t help myself. I had this feeling that dialing down the tension between us was the best way to deal with my beautifulmate. Even though Kara seemed to be handling our situation well to this point, I didn’t want to push her much further. At least not tonight.

“Did you hit your head? Or maybe you’re used to getting by on your brawn and good looks? No need to answer that, but if you could point me in the direction of the bathroom.”

“Sure, right outside I’ve got a bucket and—” Again, it was too easy to tease. Maybe it was the influence of the demons, maybe it’s the high I was feeling from finally, finally discovering my mate that made me act like an adolescent.

“Oh, my god. Please tell me this treehouse has running water, and I really don’t have to go outside and pop a squat? Even our base camp managed to have a latrine.”

I’d never seen someone go from imperious and demanding to incredulous and horror-filled this quickly, actually ever. She hadn’t been this upset when I’d burst through the underbrush and taken out the demons chasing her. Yeah, I needed to dial it down a few notches.

“I was only teasing. Trying for a bit of levity to help you deal with… what you just went through. So, first, I’m sorry. And second, my name is Roane Smythe, and this is my home away from home. The bathroom is back there.” I pointed toward the screen behind her in the corner to the left of the bed. A bed big enough to hold three of me. A bed I’d made with my mate in mind.

Earlier, I’d noticed how Kara had skirted the bed when she was pacing. You’d have to be blind not to realize this one room, as big as it was, was the entire living space. And that there was no second bed.

There were only two locations for one hundred percent privacy, and they were the bathroom and the deck outside. There also weren’t any comfy couches or recliners for lazing around or napping.

Except for the pillow-top mattress I’d paid a fortune to have shipped to the nearest city.

Needless to say, there was no Amazon two-day delivery in the Amazon jungle, and I’d hauled the mattress myself after my truck had taken it until the road ran out. But it was all going to be worth it. Just as soon as I figured out a way to approach Kara without making myself look like someone who had no experience wooing a woman, especially when I didn’t. Not really.

How to explain to this glorious woman, “Um, you’re mine, I’m yours. We’re fated. The Fates chose you for me and…”

“Hello! Where’d you go?”

Jerking my head at her words, I blinked, then refocused. “I uh, trying to deal with the aftereffects of jumping through the portal to reach you.” This was not quite the beginning I’d imagined for us, but I could fix this. I saw the swirl of questions in her bright hazel eyes, and I wanted to answer every single one. The questions already asked and all the ones to follow.

“So, how about you freshen up, I’ll make us dinner, we’ll eat, then I’ll tell you everything you want to know. Sound good?”

With a nod and a sigh that shouldn’t have been sexy but it so fucking was, Kara lifted her right hand and ran her fingers through her hair, lifting silky strands of gold. There were bits and pieces of plants and forest muck sticking out all over her head and her clothes, but it did little to take away from her allure. And the primal call urging me to make her mine. But first, dinner.

Chapter

Five

KARA

The scarily gorgeous man settled his hands on his narrow hips, drawing my gaze to his huge erection which hadn’t gone down one bit the entire time we’d been together. As I searched his features, no hint of embarrassment marred his face.

A face and body so finely sculpted, along with unyielding strength emanating off him, a wave of want enveloped me. I felt it to my very soul, and the intensity of which I had no experience, suddenly overtook me as I walked to the bathroom.

Swaying, I lifted my arms, seeking balance before I did something stupid like fainting from intense desire, as if there was even such a thing. Was there?

As I steadied myself, I felt compelled to took toward him. Big mistake. Concern had filled his dark emerald eyes and for a moment, as we stood there, me lusting for a man who I’d just met, time stood still.

My ears filled with a roaring that should have brought me to my knees, yet I took it as a signal that I inherently knew what he claimed was true. It was the connection that began thefirst moment our gazes clashed, that even now morphed into a promise that we’d be together—forever.

What the actual hell is happening right now?

“Kara?” Snapping me out from the sensual fog that had grown thicker, his concerned plea dragged me from a dreamlike state. As if he’d caressed me without touching, and leaving me breathless as my heart and body were begging to get closer to him, and unashamedly, getting naked as he’d been moments ago.

“I, um, I’m fine. Maybe you could find some more clothes to put on, and I’ll be, uh. I’ll be right back.” On shaky legs, I made my way behind the screen he’d indicated. The modern plumbing almost made me weep. Dropping my pack on the tiled floor, I quickly used the toilet, then washed my face and attempted to tame the bird’s nest that my once tidy braided hair had become.

Staring into the mirror, my situation came into clear focus. This was no dream, no illusion, it was real and somehow, I’d escaped evil.

Holding back a sob of relief at being safe high above the forest floor, I opened my senses, reaching out to my magic. I needed to rebuild it. I had no idea if the demons would return and be able to locate me.

As I tapped deeper within myself, I felt the magic that kept this unbelievable treehouse hidden. Did Roane also practice? Who was he really? And how could I have not been aware that demons, shifters—for surely this man was one—and magic lived in the Amazon? My education as a witch had obviously overlooked this entire region as one that held supernatural wonders. However, I was not about to let the unexpected keep me from saving myself.

Exiting the bathroom, I walked into the open floor plan and searched for my unlikely rescuer. There was no sign of him, so I took the time to explore further. The structure amazed me in itsincorporation of the tree in the middle of the space. Its branches were used as rafters and had both live and dried plants woven into the walls and ceiling, with a few chairs, a dining table, and a massive bed carved out of the same wood the treehouse was perched upon. A bed I needed to avoid as much as I wanted to dive into its comfort and sleep off the lethargy from the day.

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