Page 18 of Finding His Way

A pair of snow leopards padded into view. Also, bloody but they held a bag and one carried boots. Placing them by them, both glanced at her and walked off.

By the time she opened her eyes again, he had dressed and crouched to lift her.

“I’m sorry, baby.” He lifted her with ease even though his voice was raw and tortured.

Accepting his heat with a grateful groan, she didn’t fight, didn’t struggle, didn’t even complain about the pain pulsing through her at each movement.

He grunted and she almost opened her eyes once more but didn’t have the energy. So she let him do for her she’d never trust another man to do. Protect and care for her.

Stiff she rolledover and winced. Opening her eyes, she slowly moved her gaze around the room, not sure where she was. She lay on a thick pile of furs on the floor in front of a fire. Warmth had sunk into her and she loved that she no longer shivered. Her smell didn’t bother her so she knew she’d been cleaned up a bit. Without moving, she knew she didn’t have a stitch of clothing on and it was a concern. If she had to move, she needed clothing.

“You’re not going anywhere for a while. Neither of us are, therefore you don’t need clothing.”

Sliding her gaze to the left she watched Jeremy as he slipped from the shadows into view. Her heart kicked up and she lazily roamed her hungry stare over him. Bare chested, his tanned skin hugged rippling muscles, highlighting the pectorals, defined abdominals. It wasn’t fair how hot he was.

His jeans, worn and riding low on lean hips distracted her from how sore she truly was. Chiseled features drawn tight in frustration he moved closer until his large frame was all she could see. Nothing but pure, raw power.

And sex.

She didn’t bother attempting to sit up just lay there, watching him. Her heart pounded in her chest as she took one more leisurely look over the impressive specimen standing before her. Nothing soft on him.

I approve.

“Something you want to say?”

She didn’t approve how her voice was far weaker than normal.

He crouched down beside her, bringing his cock all that much closer to her mouth.

If I only had the energy to take him as I’d like.

Jeremy brushed the back of his hand along her cheek. There she saw the softening in his expression.

“I’m sorry, mate. This is my fault.”

Ignoring the fluttering her heart did at his use of ‘mate’ Dianna shook her head. “You had nothing to do with me being kidnapped, Jeremy. You’re a lot of things. Hot. Sexy. Shifter. But, what you’re not, is responsible for this situation I’m in.”

A twitch of his lips. “What situationamI responsible for?”

“One I don’t have the energy for right now.” She bit her lower lip. “Such a shame, that.” Shifting, she scrunched up her nose to keep from crying out in pain.

She wasn’t able to hide it from him. All teasing vanished like smoke as he pulled her furs away and ran his gaze over her. Anger flashed but his touch, oh god, his touch, was gentle.

“I wish I had the power to heal you.”

Pain seared through her but she didn’t care. This wasn’t his fault.

“No,” she rasped. “You don’t get to take the blame for this.”

Stormy eyes locked on her and she read the refusal to accept her statement there.

“Lay with me.” Tugging on his arm, she didn’t attempt to hide the yawn.

“Have to keep you safe.” A sharp perfunctory shake of his head.

Without a word, she gave one more tug and allowed a whimper to slip through her lips. Shitty? Perhaps but she wanted to have his heat and strength around him.

He held her gaze and used two fingers to deftly undo the button on his jeans. Heat surged through her, pushing back every ache and pain that owned her. Her breathing hastened and got shallow.

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