Page 253 of Secret Shifters Next Door

Steff nodded. “I’ll see what I can pull up. I’ll call my brother. See what strings he can pull with his alpha.”

“Yeah…” Blayne said, “…I can think of a few numbers to call, but panther clans are even more rare than dragons. I can’t make many promises.”

“That’s fine,” I said. “Do your best. That’s all we can do. I’m going to go home and check on Celina. Anything else?” No one said anything. “Tate? Are you good with our little visitor?” I asked and nodded toward my office where Jared was held.

“All good. I’ll figure something out,” Tate said with a shrug. I nodded and left, desperate to get back to the woman I loved with my entire being.

A couple of days later,I woke up to find her curled up on the couch, staring off into space. We’d spent the time since Mariana’s death recovering and trying to work out our next steps. I’d done my best to keep Celina in a good mental space, but she hadn’t been the same since that night. The entire situation must have been enough to overload her. My God, it overloaded me, and I’d already dealt with a lot of stuff. I couldn’t imagine what was going through her mind. Mariana hadn’t really been a friend, but she’d been the closest Celina had had in years. That betrayal alone must have hurt more than I could guess. I hadn’t even told her about the call from Antonio. His threat would only make a bad situation even worse. I’d wait a few more days until she was ready to hear it.

I sat with her and rubbed her back. “You okay?” I asked.

She spun around and curled into me, not saying a word. I put an arm around her and watched the snow fall outside the window. She was starting to worry me. How could I get her back to herself?

“I can sense your feelings, Miles. I’m fine.”

I blinked, chagrined at myself for forgetting the connection we had now from the mating bond. I could feel her emotions, so of course she could feel mine. Something else to get used to.

“Sorry,” I said.

“I promise I’m fine, seriously. I’m only trying to process everything.”

I kissed her. “I’m just happy to hear you talking again. I thought maybe you’d gone mute.”

Celina frowned. “Have I really been that quiet?”

“This is the first time I’ve heard you talk in two days.”

“Wow, sorry. Didn’t realize.”

“It’s okay, for real. I’m good if you’re good.”

“I’m good. It’s only…I keep thinking that there might have been something I could have done to prevent it. Mariana’s death, I mean. The whole thing makes me so sad.”

“Celina, you’re a good person. Of course, you should be sad. No matter what, don’t lose that compassion.”

“When will this all be over?”

I stiffened. I had to tell her. It was now or never, and there was no way I could keep that secret. Celina must have noticed the way I’d reacted, and likely felt my anxiety.

“Don’t keep things from me, Miles. I can tell you know something.”

I smiled ruefully. “Antonio called the office the other day. I was waiting for you to be back to yourself before I told you.”

Celina sat up and turned toward me. “After Mariana died, you mean?”

I nodded. “Yeah. A couple hours afterward. He…wasn’t in a good place, to put it mildly. He unloaded on us. Mostly pissed-off and grief-stricken, which is to be expected. He also told us that we had six months before he brought the hammer down on us. We still aren’t positive on why he put a timeframe on it. More than likely some plan he’s had is in play. So, whenyou ask when will it all be over? It looks like sometime next summer. One way or another, things are coming to a head. He blames us, completely, for Mariana’s death too. He didn’t take any responsibility.”

Celina leaned into the couch and gave a weary sigh. “Not surprising. Someone like him probably has no idea how to take accountability for anything. He’s had so much money for so long, I bet he actually thinks every problem is caused by someone else. He hasn’t heard the word ‘no’ enough in his life.”

“That sounds pretty accurate. Either way, we’re doing everything we can to get this over with. It’s got to end,” I said, feeling the weight of the words.

Celina slid a hand up and caressed the stubble on my cheeks. “I know, but I need you to be safe. To come home at the end of all this, safe and sound.” Her eyes started to get misty. “The thought of losing you…I can’t even stomach it.”

“I love you. Leaving you behind is not an option. I’m going to fight like hell to come back to you.”

I pulled her to me and kissed her. It wasn’t a sweet, gentle kiss. It was one of desperation and hunger. There was a feeling that every kiss after this had the possibility of being the last. That thought alone was almost enough to stop my heart. Celina kissed me back with equal passion. Our bond let me feel the same worry about the future. She was as scared as I was, and as desperate to have me as I was to have her.

She slid her hands down to my pajama bottoms, tugging them aside. Her fingers slipped under the waistband and took hold of my cock. The coolness of her fingers on my thickening shaft made me gasp. I pulled away from the kiss and pulled her shirt up over her head. Her breasts swung free, and I slid my thumbs across her nipples. I looked into her eyes. She bit her lower lip as she continued to stroke my cock. I gently pinchedher nipples, and a whimper of pleasure escaped her lips. That sound sent me wild.

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