Page 17 of Shadows of the Soul

“Let me get this straight. You won’t be with a man because you don’t know if it will be forever, but you won’t give them the chance to give you forever?”

I nodded even as my heart shriveled around the edges at his assessment of me. “That about sums it up.”

“Then what will it take?”

I shrugged. “Extraordinary. Nothing less.”

“You should have sex,” Rockhard interjected.

“No!” I shouted. Why is this the solution people come up with?

“Yes!” Lenson agreed.

I threw my hands up in the air. “There shall be no sex.”

“I’d make it good for you,” Hudson said. “You’d enjoy it, I promise.”

Cocky, self-assured, jerk. I growled into the cave. It echoed, making it sound more badass than what I could manage alone.

Hudson smirked. “Cute.”

I’d give him cute. I rotated my hand, gathering my magic. The water surrounding us answered my call, and a whirlpool formed around my legs. “No magic,” Lenson shouted. “Cora!”

I huffed and pressed my lips together before releasing my power. The water swished and lapped at the walls. Lenson handed me the three items I’d requested, one in a small glass vial, one in a silk bag, and one in an orb which would detonate on contact with the correct spell.

“Thank you,” I gritted out before tucking them into my coat pockets.

“Teach those kidnappers the consequences of messing with a Roberts woman.”

I waded through the water, my thighs aching at the resistance, before hurrying outside into the street.

I took three steps then rounded on Hudson and slammed my hands into his chest, pushing him up against the wall.

“One day soon, we are going to have this out,” I told him. “You will realize I’m not a little girl you can push around and seduce. Then you can get your rocks off with your shifter honeys and leave me the hell alone.”

He blinked, then shook his head, a small smile tilting up his perfect lips as amusement danced in his eyes. He was toying with me. Again.

“Let me tell you what’s going to happen. You will fight me, because you need me to prove to you I’m worthy. We will dance around each other, while the chemistry continues to build. I’m okay with that, because when we finally get together, we will explode. I will deliver on extraordinary, not because I’m a better man than most, but because I’m determined and persistent.” He leaned down, his lips skimmed my ear. “When you come to my bed, you won’t want to leave. I can take everything you have to give, Cora, and match you. I won’t break, and I won’t hurt you. Because of that fact, I intrigue you. Have you ever truly let go?”

I jerked back, my lips grazing his. His eyes flared with need and a wild hunger I could get lost in. His hands gripped my hips, and he tugged me against him. Danger, danger, someone send in a bucket of cold water—ASAP. A growl erupted from the entrance to the alley.

I turned and spied a tawny wolf, hackles raised and teeth on display. “Again?” I wondered.

Hudson sighed, let go of me, and tucked me behind him. I should be offended, but I was letting him deal with his pack. I had enough responsibilities.

“Frank, shift,” Hudson growled low. Full of command. Frank snarled in response.

I peeked around him. Frank wasn’t listening. “Would you like me to get some sedative?” I’d stored several vials in the trunk. Just in case.

Hudson reached for Frank and grappled him to the ground. “You’re carrying it with you now?”

“Do you want it or not?”

“Yes,” he gritted out.

I sighed and sidestepped the two of them. Cora Roberts—tamer of the Terror of Tennessee.

Chapter 7

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