Page 4 of Panther Heart's Secret Passion
“Where is the fun in safe?” I said, nudging his shoulder. That flutter in my chest was back, stronger now, and I could not ignore it. “Your turn. You cannot tell me you are just a wilderness guide who happens to tackle weirdos in cloaks. What is with those guys out there?”
He hesitated, his grin fading as he glanced toward the cave entrance. “Local wildlife,” he said, his voice casual but too careful. “Some folks around here get territorial. You wandered into their turf.”
I raised an eyebrow, not buying it. “Wildlife that knows my name? Come on, Allen, give me something better than that.”
He shrugged, but his eyes flicked to mine, and I caught a glint of something, maybe worry. “You are too curious for your own good. Just trust me, you do not want to mess with them.”
I crossed my arms, studying him. The cave was dark, but he moved like he could see every inch of it, his steps sure, his gaze steady. No one could see that well in the dark, not without help. My journalist instincts kicked in, but that flutter in my chest was distracting, pulling me toward him even as my brain screamed to ask more questions. I reached into my pocket, my fingers brushing the shard I had grabbed from the tree before I ran. It was still warm, pulsing faintly, and I held it tight, determined to figure out what it was later.
“Seriously, though,” I said, keeping my tone light. “You are like a ninja out here. You ever get lost in these woods, or is that just me?”
He smiled, but it was softer this time, almost like he was letting his guard down. “I know these woods better than most. Been out here a long time. You get used to the dark.”
“Yeah, well, I am not there yet,” I said, laughing. “I am still tripping over roots and running into creepy guys with glowing eyes. You sure you cannot tell me more about them? I am good at keeping secrets.”
He looked at me, his green eyes locking onto mine, and for a second, I thought he might say something real. But then he shook his head, that grin back in place. “You are trouble, Adrienne. I am just trying to keep you alive.”
I opened my mouth to push harder, but a branch snapped outside, and we both froze. The crunching footsteps had stopped, but I could feel those figures out there, waiting. Allen put a finger to his lips, his gaze steady, and I nodded, my heart picking up again. We stayed like that for what felt like forever,the silence heavy, but being close to him, his warmth, his calm, made it bearable. That bond, whatever it was, was real, and it was messing with my head.
Finally, he motioned toward the entrance. “They are gone. Let’s get you out of here.”
I nodded, slipping the shard deeper into my pocket as we moved toward the cave’s mouth. The air outside was colder, the fog thicker, and I stuck close to Allen, my flashlight barely cutting through the haze. As we stepped into the clearing, I felt his gaze shift to my hand, where the shard’s faint glow peeked through my fingers. His face paled, his eyes widening with recognition, but he said nothing, his jaw tight as he avoided my gaze.
Chapter Four
Allen
I led Adrienne through the dense forest, my steps sure despite the darkness, guiding her away from the logging site and deeper into Esoterra’s hidden paths. The air was cool, but my blood ran hot, that soulmate bond pulling at me every time I glanced at her. She was still clutching that glowing shard, and I knew it was a veil fragment, dangerous in her hands, but I could not tell her that. Not yet. Not ever, if I could help it. “There is a hot spring nearby,” I said, keeping my voice steady. “We can clean those scrapes from your run-in back there. It is safe, I promise.”
She raised an eyebrow, her hazel eyes catching the faint moonlight. “A hot spring? In the middle of nowhere? You are full of surprises, Allen.”
I grinned, trying to shake off the tension. “Stick with me, and you will see plenty more. Come on, it is not far.” We pushed through a curtain of vines, and the path opened to a small clearing. The hot spring bubbled softly, steam rising in thick clouds, curling around glowing ferns that cast a green light onthe rocks. The water shimmered, warm and inviting, and the air smelled clean, like moss and minerals.
Adrienne let out a low whistle. “Okay, this is gorgeous. You sure know how to pick a spot.” She set her flashlight down and, without hesitation, started peeling off her jacket and shirt, leaving her in a black tank top and underwear. Her confidence made my breath catch, her silhouette framed by the glowing ferns as she stepped toward the water. She glanced back at me, a playful smirk on her lips. “What, you just gonna stand there, hero? Or are you joining me?”
I swallowed hard, the bond flaring in my chest. “Hero, huh? You are gonna give me a complex with that one.” I forced a chuckle, kicking off my boots and shedding my jacket. My shirt followed, and I stepped into the warm water, the heat soaking into my muscles as I waded in after her. She splashed me lightly, her laugh echoing in the quiet.
“Careful,” I said, splashing back, my voice low. “You are playing with fire now.”
She grinned, sinking deeper into the water until it lapped at her shoulders. “Oh, please. You are the one with the hero complex, always saving me from creepy guys in cloaks. Admit it, you like it.”
I moved closer, the steam swirling between us. “Maybe I do. But only because you make it so damn easy to find trouble.” My eyes locked on hers, and that spark from the library was back, stronger now, electric. The bond was like a current, pulling me toward her, and I could not fight it anymore.
She tilted her head, her wet hair clinging to her neck. “You know, for a wilderness guide, you are awfully good at dodging questions. What is your deal, Allen? You cannot just keep showing up like this and expect me to not get curious.”
I reached out, my fingers grazing her arm as I checked a shallow cut from her run through the woods. Her skin waswarm, and the touch sent a jolt through me, the bond humming. “I am just a guy trying to keep you safe,” I said, my voice softer now. “You are the one making it complicated.”
Her lips curved, and she leaned closer, her breath warm against my cheek. “Complicated is my specialty. You sure you can handle it?”
I chuckled, my hand lingering on her arm. “I am doing my best.” The air between us thickened, the steam wrapping us in a cocoon of heat and light. Her eyes held mine, and before I could think better of it, she closed the gap, her lips pressing against mine in a deep, hungry kiss. It was bold, fierce, like she was claiming something she had been waiting for. I kissed her back, my hands sliding to her waist, pulling her closer as the water rippled around us.
“Adrienne,” I murmured against her lips, my voice rough. “You sure about this?”
She pulled back just enough to meet my eyes, her hands resting on my chest. “Do I seem unsure to you?” Her voice was teasing, but there was a heat in it that matched the fire in my chest. She kissed me again, harder this time, her fingers tangling in my hair as she pressed herself against me. The bond surged, a wild, primal thing, and I could feel my shifter side stirring, urging me to claim her.
I slid my hands under her tank top, my fingers brushing the soft curve of her ribs as I lifted it over her head, tossing it onto the rocks. Her skin glowed in the fern light, smooth and warm, and I traced my lips along her collarbone, tasting the mineral tang of the water mixed with the salt of her skin. She gasped, her hands gripping my shoulders, her nails digging in just enough to send a shiver through me. I peeled away her underwear, my hands slow and deliberate, savoring the feel of her under my fingertips. She tugged at my pants, her movements quick andeager, and soon we were bare, the warm water lapping at our skin as we pressed closer.
Her legs wrapped around my waist, and I lifted her slightly, the heat of the spring amplifying every touch. She kissed me deeply, her tongue teasing mine, her lips bold and hungry. My hands roamed her back, tracing the curve of her spine, and she arched against me, her breath hitching. “Allen,” she whispered, her voice a mix of need and challenge, her hands sliding down my chest, her nails grazing my skin. I growled low, a sound more panther than man, and kissed her neck, my lips lingering where her pulse raced under her skin.
