Page 796 of Love Bites

“Don’t even think about it,” Eagan warned. He went window to window checking the locks and securing the blinds. “They caught you on camera. Magic decided we needed night patrols until you were found. But I knew you’d come back tonight. You were about to get caught. I had to make it look like we were just fooling around.”

He turned to look at her, his gaze combing from head to toe. She stood stiff as an oak in the middle of his open living/kitchen area. Her hair was wild and messy, hanging low enough to touch her hips.

Damn, she was beautiful. In the roughest way. An uncut diamond. No makeup, flannel shirt, muddy boots.

She wet her lips, and his eyes settled there.

Those lips. My god, he hadn’t meant for that to be their first kiss, but hell if he’d regret it. She’d tasted sweet as a summer peach. And the way she’d rolled her tongue against his… he burned at the memory.

He took a deep breath and continued. “But Magic recognized you, and I had to change the game a bit.”

“Lie, you mean.”

He lifted one shoulder, looking away. “A little.” He wished it were true. Wished he could claim her like Renner had done with Bethany.

“Are you really a… cat-man.”

Tea. He’d make tea.

He dug in the cabinet for his bags and then set the kettle to boil before he answered her.

“A werecat. A shifter. My animal is a jaguar.”

From the corner of his eye, he watched her. She crossed her arms, uncrossed them, crossed them again.

“But all that stuff you said about mating… that wasn’t real, right?”

He got out two cups, setting them too hard on the counter.

Damn it.

“My turn to ask questions.” He turned to look at her. “What is your name?”

Fuck, this whole ordeal narrowed to a pinpoint of absurdity. He didn’t even know her name. He’d seen her, touched her, fed her, helped her escape,kissedher, felt deep affection for her… and he didn’t even know her goddamn name. His cat was bonding with her and couldn’t give a damn what her name was. But Eagan did.

She shifted on her feet. “I shouldn’t tell you.”

“Yes, you fucking should.” Eagan hooked his hands on his hips. “I chose you over my family. The least you can do is tell me your name.”

Her brow furrowed.

“That guy, h-he wasn’t serious, was he? He wouldn’t really kill you over this.”

Eagan rubbed his palm over his jaw, the day’s growth rasping against his skin. “I don’t know,” he murmured. “But one thing’s for sure, I’m out of my clan.”

“Your clan?”

He sighed. “My shifter family. The only family I have. Woman, would you tell me your name already?”

He was dying to know. Now that she was here and they were talking, the information seemed crucial.

“Clara.” Her tone was quiet. Barely more than a whisper. “My name is Clara.”

“Clara.” Eagan let his mouth feel the syllables. It was perfect. His heart thumped at the sound of saying it. “Clara,” he whispered again, closing his eyes to savor it.

The kettle’s whistle pierced the space of his cabin. Eagan pulled it from the stove and set the tea to steeping.

“Sugar?” he asked.

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