Promises Unbroken

Hidden Hills Shifters

Book 5

Vella Day

PROMISES UNBROKEN

Kindle Edition

www.velladay.com

velladayauthor@gmail.com

Cover Art by Scott Carpenter/Sahara Kelly

Edited by Carol Adcock-Bezzo

Proofed by Tammy Thompson

Published in the United States of America

E-book ISBN: 978-1-941835-17-3

permission of the author except in the case of brief questions embodied in critical articles or reviews.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are

used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events or locales, is

entirely coincidental.

Table of Contents

Other Books by the Author

About the Author

Chapter One

BLINDING

HEADLIGHT

passed in front of the police station and speared Officer Selena Niles in

the eye. She blinked, slid her chair to the side, and returned her attention to finding that
damned report she swore she’d filed. Despite the occasional inconvenience, Selena loved
working the night shift.

Recently, though, she’d been thinking about switching to days. The new hire—Jackson

Kenner, who was a panther shifter—had changed to this time slot, and his mere presence
distracted her.

Stop thinking about him and focus.
Needing to locate the file for her boss ASAP, Selena leafed through the papers on her

desk, searching for the missing copy of last week’s gas station robbery. Got it! It had
become wedged between a domestic disturbance case and a drunk running a red light.
Ah, the life of a cop.

Her cases weren’t always this dull. She’d had a real exciting one a few months back

when she’d been allowed to help with a sting operation. Being undercover had been
exhilarating, and nabbing the jerks had been so sweet. The only sour note had been
when Jackson, who wasn’t even on the Force at the time, had rushed out to save her
after the assailant had knocked her down. The man trying to steal the money had been
human, and in her cheetah form, he was no match, but Jackson thought she needed help.
Sheesh.

Because of that one act, the good citizens of Hidden Hills, North Carolina, claimed he

was some hero, and her boss offered him a job, which Jackson accepted. Sure, he had
credentials up the ying yang, but she didn’t want him around. She knew what he was,
and she didn’t like it one bit.

“Selena.” Chief Hardy tapped his knuckles on her desk, startling her out of her

musings. “Can you step into my office, please? I need to speak with you about
something.”

“Sure.” She picked up the requested file, hoping he hadn’t noticed her daydreaming.
Of late, these overpowering lustful desires had snuck up on her at the worst times,

urging her to seek out her nemesis—Jackson Kenner. Only she wouldn’t—or rather she
didn’t dare.

Selena pushed back her chair, smoothed a hand down her pants, and flicked the wisps

of hair from her face. While she could look presentable with a few hand swipes, she could
do nothing about the butterflies beating against her stomach.

Her boss didn’t seem angry, implying she hadn’t messed up, but everyone knew that

being summoned usually didn’t bode well for that person. She followed him down the
hallway, but as she neared their destination, that familiar and unwelcome blast of
attraction grabbed her.

Jackson was near, and she could almost smell the pheromones floating off him

heading straight toward her, trying to capture her in a web of desire.

Her boss opened his door and motioned her inside. “Have a seat.”
The moment she stepped in, Selena stilled. He was there. Close. Too close. “I don’t

understand. What’s Jackson doing here?” The moment the bitter words left her mouth,
she regretted it. “I mean, I thought you wanted to speak with me alone.”

Her boss merely smiled and slid behind his desk. “About a half hour ago, someone

robbed Kraft’s Liquor store. Our men are there now processing the scene, and I’d like you
to be lead on this case.”

For a brief moment she almost forgot about the man who stole the air from the room.

Mixed emotions slammed into her. One was sadness for Mr. Kraft’s loss, and the other
was excitement that she’d finally be able to take charge of a case. Despite the
opportunity, a trickle of disappointment edged in, as she’d been wishing for something
juicier than a theft, but she shoved the frustration aside. “Thank you, sir.”

“And take Jackson with you.”
Whoa. She hadn’t seen that coming. Her stomach flipped at the command and she

nearly crushed the paper in her hands. “Excuse me?”

From the moment she’d met Jackson three months ago, she’d been battling the

knowledge that he was her mate—and that didn’t sit well with her at all. She’d always
believed her true love would be another cheetah and not some hotshot panther. Hell,
she’d never even met his kind before.

“He’s the new man on the block, and you’d be perfect to show him around.”
“But, sir, why not ask Cord to help?” Jackson and Cord used to work together in

Washington for the DEA. In fact, Jackson had been visiting him when the sting operation
went down, which was how Jackson had been asked to help with videotaping the money
drop in the first place.

“Cord’s been here less than a year whereas you’ve lived in Hidden Hills your whole life

and know the town inside and out. You can introduce him to more people.”

She wanted to say this man distracted her and interrupted her every thought, but her

boss wasn’t a shifter and would never understand what it was like to be around a mate.
Hell, even she didn’t know how this dark haired, broad shouldered, chiseled-bodied man
had been able to worm his way under her skin so fast—especially since she’d blocked the
lust at every opportunity.

Selena sat up straighter. “All due respect, sir, I can handle the case myself.”
Hardy glanced over at Jackson. “Would you mind giving us a moment?”
“No problem.” Jackson stood, but she didn’t miss the beginning of a grin. Damn him.

He knew what being around him did to her.

No doubt her boss would tell her she didn’t have a choice in the matter, that cheetahs

—especially cheetah women—should do as they were told. She and her mother had
pretty much been treated like dirt their whole lives, and her mom always claimed a man’s
joy in life was to see a woman struggle.

The door clicked close and the Chief leaned forward on his elbows. “You seem to have

an issue with Jackson. Want to tell me why?”

Damn. She wasn’t about to say that he made her nerves jangle and her heart sputter

when he was near. According to every shifter she’d ever met, mates were destined to be
together forever, but she planned to make damn sure she was the exception. Only during
one or two brief insane moments had she considered giving into her strong need and
seducing him, hoping that would eliminate him from her system. She decided against that
option because she couldn’t be sure it was even possible to stop the erotic pull with a
mate. Having sex with someone as strong, virile, and handsome as Jackson Kenner would
certainly lead to disaster. “I’d prefer not to say, sir.”

“Okay then. How about telling me what put that chip on your shoulder. You’ve worked

here three years and yet you frequently bristle every time I ask you to do something.”

Was that true? Her pulse did a rapid tattoo. “I’m sorry, sir, if I’ve appeared

uncooperative. I love working here.”

Hardy leaned back in his chair. “Perhaps, defensive is a better word.”
She had a list a mile long to explain her behavior, but she had no intention of sharing

it with him. “I was hoping for some juicier assignment, that’s all. Like that sting operation
I was on.”

He lifted his fingers to his lips and looked off to the side for a moment then returned

his gaze to her. “All of my officers are required to work their way up, and while your
performance has been exemplary, if I let you investigate something like that, the men
who’ve been here longer wouldn’t appreciate it.”

He did have a point. Even Cord, who’d been here seven months, hadn’t been given the

best cases. “You’re right sir. Thank you for this opportunity to work this case with
Jackson.”

“I’m glad you understand. Think of him as a partner in training.”
Partner? “Is this pairing for more than this one job?” Sweat pooled under her arms.
“Possibly.”
He gave her a brief rundown of what the officers on the scene had radioed in, but she

had to fight to remember everything. Working with Jackson for any length of time would
put a huge strain on her.

“Now, get going and find out who robbed that store,” he commanded.
She stood. “Yes, sir.”
It took a lot of effort to keep from telling her boss the real reason for her hesitation.

Heart racing, she stepped out of the office in search of her new partner, only he wasn’t
nearby. Relieved she’d have a few moments to compose herself, she headed down the
hallway—slowly. In all honesty, she thought he’d have his ear to the door.

Voices filtered out from the break room. As she neared, the pull began, dragging her

closer. Damn, this sucked. She wasn’t sure she’d be able to solve this case with Jackson
so close, but if she wanted any chance of advancement, she had no choice.

* * *

ACKSON

W AS

BOTH

relieved and thrilled he’d finally been assigned a case with Selena. If he

hadn’t been given this chance, he wasn’t certain how much longer he could have lasted.

He needed to claim her. It was why he’d been sending out some not-so-subtle hints to his
new boss that she’d be the perfect person to show him around. It didn’t matter he was
capable of investigating crimes by himself.

From the moment he’d walked into Hardy’s office three months ago to help with the

sting operation, he’d known Selena Niles was his mate. Her thick, light brown hair framed
a delicate face, and her long legs were meant to wrap around him. Having a cop for a
mate would enable them to bond in additional ways. He could picture the two of them
sitting around the fire discussing cases, and then becoming so excited that they’d rip off
each other’s clothing and fuck endlessly on the floor, savoring the passion and erotic
scent.

Too bad that was only wishful thinking, because Selena fidgeted whenever she was

around him and even had a hard time making eye contact, clearly fighting a fierce battle
with herself to deny their destiny.

He’d asked her out, to prove that resistance was futile, but both times he suggested

they go out for a drink, she’d turned him down, saying she didn’t date coworkers.

Bullshit.
If he thought that was the real reason, he would have quit the Force. He didn’t need

the money. Jackson only worked for the fulfillment and satisfaction of helping people.

At least now with being her partner, not only could he make certain she remained

safe, but it would be a way to show her they were meant to be together. However, if the
last three months were any indication, forging a lasting bond with her would be an uphill
battle.

“Hey, buddy, slacking already?” His friend Cord stepped into the break room then

poured himself a cup of coffee from the machine.

“I’m waiting for Selena.”
Cord’s brows rose. “That so?”
Jackson had already told his friend about them being mates. “The Chief is giving her a

pep talk about playing nice. At least, that’s my guess.” He filled Cord in on his
assignment.

His friend chuckled. “Good luck with her being lead.”
Having recently found his mate, Cord would understand how being around her would

affect him. “Why do you say that? I thought you liked Selena.”

“Oh, I like her just fine, but she’s had a hard life, and I don’t see her accepting you

right away.”

Damn. His father told him that when he and Jackson’s mom met, they’d instantly

embraced each other as mates. “Because we’re different breeds of shifters?”

“I doubt that’s it. I haven’t spent all that much time with her, but she’s always been

nice to me and we’re different.”

Great. “Do know why she’s so skittish when I’m around? I always thought mates

embraced each other.” He really needed to understand what he was up against.

“I can take a guess. Storm, her Alpha, filled me in somewhat before our little sting

operation.”

Jackson sipped his coffee and snatched a bag of chips someone had left on the table.

“Care to share?”

Cord looked behind him, pulled out the chair at the table, and sat down. “Keep an eye

on the door. Selena wouldn’t appreciate having her life’s story divulged, but since you’re
her mate, you should be aware of where she’s coming from.”

“I’d appreciate any info.”
Cord glanced once more to the door. “The short of it is that her mom fell in love with

some playboy wolf-shifter who wasn’t her mate. They diddled around for a while and
eventually she became pregnant with Selena. Apparently, the dad stayed for a year or so,
then took off saying he was no longer in love with the mom and wanted nothing to do
with a kid who wasn’t a wolf.”

“No wonder she’s pissy around men.” Her trust meter probably hovered around zero.
“That’s not all. Shortly after Selena was born, the dad was driving the mom

somewhere and they wrecked. Messed up the mom’s leg really badly. Since then, she’s
had a hard time holding down a job.”

Jackson hissed in a breath. “Can her leg be fixed?”
“It can, but it costs a lot of money, which neither of them has.”
Before he could learn more, the door opened. Selena made eye contact briefly then

stiffened. “Jackson, let’s go.” Selena acted in charge but sounded none too happy about
it.

He worked to keep a straight face. Jackson nodded to Cord, tossed his coffee in the

trash, and strode toward her. “Everything go okay?”

She shrugged. “Yup. You heard the boss. I’m in charge.”
“Sure thing.” For a split second, he was tempted to remind her that he wasn’t some

rookie, that he had a ton of experience with robberies, drug deals gone bad, and a host
of other shit, but he kept quiet. He didn’t need to upset her anymore than she already
was.

Growing up without a father figure had to have been hard. If her mother hadn’t been

able to support them very well, Selena would have had to work for everything. What he
liked about her was that she didn’t seem to feel sorry for herself, though she could use an
attitude adjustment toward men.

“I’ll drive,” she announced.
“Fine.” As they made there way to where she’d parked her cruiser, she didn’t say a

word, clearly trying to come to grips with him being there. “I won’t get in your way, if
that’s what’s worrying you.”

She looked over at him, but there wasn’t any love radiating from those eyes. “Like

when you charged in to save me from a human?”

“Ouch. I apologized for that already. When I saw that ass kick you, I didn’t think. I just

rushed in.” She had to realize that as mates, he was bred to react that way.

“Just don’t let it happen again.”
He refrained from laughing. Cord had said Selena could handle herself in a fight, but

he bet she didn’t weigh more than a hundred pounds when in her animal form.
Regardless of her skill level, guns could kill.

He slipped into the passenger seat and buckled up. “Did the boss tell you anything

about the robbery?”

“Some. Apparently, two men in masks came into the liquor store the moment it

emptied out. It’s highly unusual to find Kraft’s Liquor vacant at 10:30 on a Saturday night,
so they probably were outside waiting for their window of opportunity.”

“What did they take?”
“Money and some booze.”
“Was anyone harmed?”
“No, though one of the men had a gun.”
“That wasn’t very bright. It would have been smarter to break-in after hours and steal

the cash, assuming the owner left some in the drawer. That way, they wouldn’t be
charged with armed robbery once they’re caught.”

She turned down Crescent Street. “That’s the thing. Everyone knows George Kraft

drops off the money at the bank around three every morning. He brings backup with him,
too. These robbers probably knew that, implying they’re locals. If I planned to rob the
store, I’d try to take it from him as he’s leaving for the night and before he meets with his
bodyguards.”

Jackson smiled. “Good thing you’re not a thief.”
She narrowed her eyes, but then a small smile lifted her lips. What a pretty sight that

was. A minute later, Selena arrived at the store. She parked next to a cruiser, killed the
engine, and jumped out.

Not wanting to upset this fairly normal working relationship, Jackson followed her

inside where flashing colored lights illuminated the entire interior. The crime scene unit
was dusting for prints, but Jackson thought it best not to mention it was a waste of time.

Selena strode up to a man who was speaking with a fellow officer. “Thanks, Chris.”

The officer nodded and stepped over to the CSU techs. Selena turned to the older
gentleman and placed a hand on his arm. “George, I’m very sorry this happened.”

“Me, too, Selena.”
She introduced him to George Kraft, the owner, and then explained the two of them

would be handling his case. This was her first time taking the lead, and Jackson was
curious how she’d handle the questions. To his delight she delved right in, asking the
owner to go over the series of events. “Can you describe the men?”

“As I told the other officer,” Mr. Kraft said. “They wore masks.”
“Did they say anything?” she asked.
“Told me to hand over the money, which I did, but not before I pressed the

emergency button to notify you all. Before the first patrol car showed up, though, those
two hightailed it out of here.”

When she glanced over at Jackson, her brows rose. He’d been taking notes without

her asking. Thankfully, she appeared pleased.

“What kind of car were they driving?” she asked.
“They were on scooters.”
Jackson would have to give them some credit. Scooters were more mobile.
“Could you tell by their voices how old they were?” she asked.
Good girl. That was the next question he would have asked.

“Sounded kind of young to me. At most, early twenties. Neither had much muscle on

him.”

Jackson made note of that. All the facts so far seemed to be consistent with the

thieves being kids or guys in their early twenties.

“I know you have surveillance cameras, but were they on?” she asked.
“Sure were.” The owner stepped to the counter behind him, picked up a flash drive,

and handed it to her. “Made you a copy of the video, but as I said, they wore masks.”

She nodded then slipped the information into her top pocket. “This might help. How

much money did they take?”

The man’s face paled. “Over two hundred dollars. Thankfully, most folks pay by credit

card nowadays.”

Selena looked over at Jackson. “Anything else you want to add?”
He was pleased she’d asked. “I think you’ve covered it.”
He swore a hint of a smile lifted her lips. “If you remember anything else,” she said to

the owner, “give me a call. We’ll be in touch when we know more.”

Ms. Professional turned and strode out. He enjoyed how her curly ponytail bounced

when she walked. And those hips and long legs made his mouth water. Jackson caught
up to her as she reached the front door and held it open. He wondered if she planned to
look at the video tonight or if he could convince her to stop at the Cove Bar for a drink.
They were officially off duty at midnight, and it was past that now.

“Care to celebrate our partnership with a drink?” He tried to keep his voice as light as

possible. He didn’t care that she’d turned him down before—they were partners now—in
more ways than one.

She glanced at him as she climbed into the cruiser. “I… ah…”

Chapter Two

ELENA

HAD

BEEN

hesitant to accept Jackson’s invitation, just as she had so many times

before, but she couldn’t keep putting off this unspoken desire any longer. Letting him
know that she had no intention of becoming his mate was the only solution. “Sure.”

“Great.” A grin flashed across his face, but she refused to address what that did to her

insides.

She hoped this wasn’t a mistake, but her urges had been growing exponentially

stronger from the moment he slipped into the cruiser this evening. In all honesty, she
expected him to take over the investigation, but instead, Jackson jotted down notes and
let her feel her way through the questioning. She had to admit it was good to be given
such respect.

After she drove back to the station to drop off the cruiser and log the flash drive into

evidence, she followed him to the Cove Bar in her personal vehicle. All during the mile
trip, she was tempted to drive on by, but that wouldn’t solve anything. No, tonight was
about clearing the air.

Jackson parked first, jogged over to her car then opened her door before she had the

chance to do it herself. “Thank you,” she said.

With her purse slung over her shoulder, they walked side by side toward the entrance.

Thankfully, he kept a few feet between them, but even with the space, he radiated sex.

I should just jump his bones and get it over with.
No, she couldn’t and wouldn’t. Disaster would follow.
Once inside, she glanced around, hoping none of her friends were near. This town was

full of gossips, but if anyone questioned her, she’d say the two of them had a long night
of fighting crime and were blowing off some steam. Stating he was her partner in training
should quell any wagging tongues.

Bumping into her friends, however, wasn’t her biggest threat—keeping her hands off

him was her main concern. For months she’d wanted to run her palms over his handsome
face and then up and down his chest, if only to enjoy his bulging muscles. Too often, her
cheetah side would dream about what was under that plain brown uniform, and her
arousal would wake her. Damn man was causing too many unfulfilled nights.

That’s why I’m here—to put a stop to all this.
She inhaled to gain some control, but the moment Jackson placed a hand on her back,

instant lust bloomed. She had to find a solution quickly to her unwanted reaction or she
might do something stupid.

He led them to the bar and faced her. “What do you want to drink?”
If she didn’t need to keep her wits about her, she might have asked for a double Jack

Daniels. “A Coke is fine.”

He nodded and ordered one for her and a beer for himself. She didn’t worry about him

drinking a glass or two then driving since a shifter’s metabolism was much faster than any
human’s.

Once the bartender delivered the two drinks, Jackson paid and led them over to a

table along the far wall. That suited her fine, as she didn’t need anyone listening in on
their delicate conversation. Then again, with the fairly loud music, she doubted even the
table next to them would be able to eavesdrop.

Jackson set the drinks down then helped her with her chair. As much as she didn’t

want him to think of this as a date, she did enjoy the chivalry.

He must have sensed her unease about being with him as a small smile claimed his

lips. Damn man was enjoying her struggle with this whole mating concept. To make
matters worse, he sat next to her instead of across from her. He leaned back and brought
the beer bottle to his lips—make those full, lush, sexy lips. If he dragged his tongue
around the rim to tease her, she’d have to leave.

He was trying to tempt her but she wasn’t sure how she could put a halt to it without

coming across as a bitch. As if he was attempting to make her squirm even more, he
raked his gaze up and down her body, and the corner of his mouth quirked upward once
more, dimpling his cheek. With each pass, her insides heated, making her increasingly
more uncomfortable.

She leaned forward to give him a piece of her mind, but all that accomplished was to

wet her panties when his pheromones blasted her. Ignore it. “I know what you’re trying
to do, and forget it.”

He gulped some beer then put down his drink, this time the smile fully claiming those

tempting lips. “You do? Tell me. What am I doing?”

Damn. She thought her direct approach would unnerve him, but apparently it didn’t.

She could handle him. Selena had been dealing with determined men her whole life. “You
think just because we’re mates that I’m going to fall at your feet and do everything you
say.”

He huffed out a laugh. “Seriously? Who have you been talking to?”
She wasn’t certain what he meant. “Well, we are mates, right?” She couldn’t have

misinterpreted her longings or intense needs.

“We are indeed. There’s no doubt about it. What I want to know is why you think I’d

even ask you to fall at my feet? More importantly, I’d like to set the person straight who
fed you that line of bullshit.” His brows pinched and his fist clenched.

“Men in general.” She wasn’t about to tell him how her father had treated her mom, or

about the men Selena had dated. True, they hadn’t been mates, but why should that
make a difference?

He twirled his beer around. “What about the women? Have you spoken with Cheyenne

Durant? She’s your Alpha’s mate. I’m betting she could set you straight on what it’s like to
be happily mated, or so I’ve been told.”

“I have spoken with Chey recently in fact. Storm is now a cheetah, though.”
His brows rose. “Ah. So you don’t like that I’m a panther?”
Selena didn’t like lying. “No. It’s that I see no reason to be with one.”
From the humor glinting in his eye, he almost seemed delighted with her answer.

“Now, you have me curious. Lustful feelings aside, don’t you want to have a man who will
always be there for you?”

She nearly spit out her drink. “Be there for me? I’ve never known one who has been.

Men are full of broken promises.”

“I feel sorry for you then.” He reached out and clasped her hand, but she didn’t want

his sympathy and eased out of his grip.

She’d never tell him that she longed for stability. Hell, who wouldn’t want a man to be

by her side and love her unconditionally, but that only happened in romance books. If she
let herself become lost in love, when he failed her, it could be at a moment that might
cost her life.

Tell him this must end now . “I know the Chief assigned us as partners, and I’ll help

you in anyway I can—but that courtesy extends only to when we are on a case. When
we’re not, I don’t want more of your sexy glances or asking me out on dates. And please,
keep your distance.”

From the shine in his eye, he wasn’t taking her seriously. “So that means I can flirt

when we are on a case?”

“That’s not what I meant, and you know it.”
Jackson sobered, his eyes pooling with despair. “Sorry. The problem is that I’m not

sure I can keep from watching you when I want you so much. While the human part of
me realizes I need to take it slow, the panther in me wants you unconditionally.”

Clearly, the man wasn’t willing to listen to reason. She pushed back her chair. “Well, I

don’t want you.”

Liar, liar.
She rushed out, not daring to look behind her for fear the tears would fall when she

saw his face.

* * *

UMBFOUNDED,

ACKSON

COULDN’T

even move. He was completely blown away by her negative

reaction to having a mate. Never in all his years had he heard of someone so adamantly
against the whole idea, but he wasn’t going to be deterred. Selena and he would be
together—forever—and he’d make damned sure she was the one who begged him to
stay.

No question, he faced many challenges. The first was how to keep from making love

with her when he was going to be with her day in and day out. Shifting in front of a
witness or when faced with danger could be deadly, but his urges had been building for
months, and if he didn’t satisfy them soon, he wasn’t sure what he would do.

Cord said that the desire would wane somewhat with time, but only after the two

mates had consummated their relationship. Selena clearly had issues with men, and sad
to say, she seemed to have good reasons. All he could do was convince her that he
wouldn’t be like the others.

Jackson tossed back his beer. It was late, and tomorrow he and Selena would have to

figure out who’d robbed the store. If the young men were locals, he’d need her expertise

to help find them.

After finishing his drink, he stood then spotted her purse on the chair. Damn. She’d

had her keys in her hand when she stormed off, but in her haste, she’d forgotten her bag.
Hmm. As soon as she arrived home, she’d probably notice it missing, and he didn’t want
her to have to return to town. The best solution was for him to take her purse to her.
While he doubted she’d ask him in, perhaps her gratitude would overshadow her
unwillingness to be with him. Right, and I’ll sprout wings and suddenly be able to fly.

Not knowing where she lived was only a mild setback. Normally, he’d never search a

woman’s purse for the information, but he had little choice.

He grabbed her bag and headed out, hoping no one asked what he was doing carrying

a lady’s handbag under his arm. Once in his truck, he searched her wallet for her license.
Knowing Selena, she’d be pissed, but he’d deal with her anger later.

Finding her house was easy, but when he realized the kind of low-income

neighborhood she lived in, his protective spirit flared. His first instinct was to offer to
move her into a nicer home as he could easily afford it, but she’d balk. Selena was too
independent, and he had to be careful not to come across as a controlling jerk. She
seemed to think that was what men did to women—control them.

He cut the engine, hopped out of his truck, and jogged up her steps. Not wanting to

scare her, he knocked then announced he was at her door. “Selena, it’s Jackson. You left
you purse at the bar.”

That should convince her to open up. Even with the wood separating them, the sexual

energy was pouring out, making his dick hard. His rational side knew he should take his
time when exploring her delicious body, but he wouldn’t be able to do so if his libido
didn’t calm down. Selena was skittish enough without his panther side trying to burst out.

The door eased open and light from inside backlit her hair flowing over her shoulders.

Holy crap. Not only was the thin tank top and bottoms enough to make a man drop to his
knees, her scent instantly invaded his soul and took away all thought.

Give her the purse. “You left this at the bar.”
Her eyes widened. “Oh, I didn’t realize I had left it there.”
As if on autopilot, Jackson stepped inside and closed the door behind him. It didn’t

matter she hadn’t invited him in. “I figured you’d need it since your license is in there.
Don’t need an officer of the law driving without one.” He couldn’t remember the last time
he babbled this much.

“Thank you.” She glanced to the side and set her purse on the table near the door.

“I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

Her words sounded like a dismissal, but her body was screaming take me. Selena’s

luscious lips were slightly parted and her breathing had increased—not to mention her
protruding nipples were rock hard and clearly visible under the almost transparent
material. From her clenched fists, her inner cheetah seemed to be warring with her
human part, and he’d be damned if he let her human side win. Doing anything against
her will, however, went against everything he stood for. Jackson could only hope he could
convince her to help ease his ache.

“Selena,” he whispered as he stepped closer. She didn’t tell him to stop, nor did she

back up, which he considered a positive sign. His pulse raced. “You know things will be
easier if you satisfy your inner beast.”

She wet her lips and he had to close his eyes for a moment and inhale deeply to keep

from taking what he wanted.

“We shouldn’t,” she said.
The fact she didn’t say she didn’t want to, stirred his feral side even more. Selena

gripped the lapels of his open jacket and looked up at him, lust pooling in her eyes. The
scent of her arousal sent a strong signal that she was ready for him.

“Tell me you don’t want me and I’ll walk away,” he said, his voice wavering. His jaw

then tightened as he waited for her to answer.

Her mouth opened and then closed. Yes! She couldn’t deny him. Sweet victory was

within his grasp, but Selena needed to make the first move. Even though she seemed to
desire him, he needed to know if she would act on those needs.

Without giving thought to the consequences, he dragged a knuckle down her cheek,

and its softness nearly undid him. “So sweet.”

“If we make love, things will never be the same,” she said, her voice cracking.
With as much control as possible, Jackson let out a breath, and when he moved his

other hand to the small of her back, heat soaked into his skin. “You’re right. Things will
be better. Take a chance, Selena. You won’t regret it.”

Chapter Three

ELENA

SHOULD

TELL

Jackson to leave, but she wasn’t capable of forming the words. It was as

if a sexual haze had clouded her brain. His alpha presence was undermining everything
she’d been taught. Sure, she wanted to believe what he said about protecting her and
always being there, but she knew better. He’d break his promise and then her heart.

Living in the present, however, had always been her motto and that looking back

never helped, but right now Selena wasn’t sure what to do. As for the future, she wasn’t
convinced things would be better if she made love with him.

Jackson increased the pressure on her back and drew her closer, sending heat

between her legs. Acting on pure instinct, she slid her hands under his jacket and around
his firm waist. Touching him set off every internal need that had been building since she
met him, and her imagination ran wild.

Selena wanted to believe that the only way to purge him from her system would be to

learn there was nothing special between them, that this mating concept was all hype.
Jackson was like a drug. Her cheetah needed him, but as long as Selena went into this
with no expectations, she’d come out unscathed—or so she hoped.

She inhaled. Forget tomorrow. Live for today.
If she never learned what it was like to be with him, she’d end up spending too many

restless night and frustrating days wondering.

I don’t have a choice. Take him.
She dragged her palms up his back and tilted her face upward. When she opened her

mouth to say something, Jackson leaned down and their breaths mingled. It was as if her
cheetah had suddenly woken up after all these years, and it scared the shit out of her.
Then a sense of calm surrounded her as Jackson’s breathing slowed, drawing her into a
sensual lull, full of promise and desire.

His lips neared and her fingers curled on his back. He pressed his hips against her

body, and as soon as his erection formed a seal with her belly, flames caught fire inside
her.

“Kiss me,” she said, even though the words didn’t sound as if they’d come from her

mouth.

Jackson stepped from her embrace, shrugged out of his jacket then returned to cup

her face. “I want you bad.”

His eyes shimmered, alternating between dark brown and iridescent green. His

panther seemed to be attempting some kind of release which served to confirm that he
was as out of control as she was.

When their lips touched, heat consumed her. Not able to stop herself, she dipped her

tongue into his mouth, and the tang of hops sent her lust soaring. Jackson smelled of
leather and soap, and she wanted to experience all of him. As if she no longer had a say

over her body, she tugged on that damn brown shirt, because if she didn’t see what was
underneath, she’d expire.

Jackson clasped her wrist. “Are you sure? ’Cause once we start, I won’t be able to

stop.”

For once in her life, she didn’t think. She’d deal with the regret tomorrow. “Yes.”
As if his life depended on it, Jackson toed off his boots and literally tore off his shirt,

the buttons flying and dropping on the carpet. He stepped out of his pants and Selena
froze, her hot sex going crazy.

Black hair sprouted on his thick, muscled chest and when his teeth sharpened, she’d

never been more turned on in her life. Looking like a panther on the prowl, Jackson eased
toward her, his gaze never leaving her face. While she couldn’t be sure, it seemed as if he
was trying to learn her desires before she knew them herself. She lowered her gaze to his
glistening cock and found it to be larger than anything she’d ever seen. Boy, she couldn’t
wait to have him inside her.

When his hands encompassed her waist, her inner walls contracted in anticipation of

having this massive man possess her, and the animal within her was eclipsing all normal
thoughts. Selena was no longer a cop, but rather a cheetah in great need of release.

His lips descended again and her pulse soared. Every particle in her body seemed to

transform, eliciting a near shift. What the hell? She never changed without danger
looming, and a trickle of fear edged in at the unknown.

Selena pushed back. “I don’t know…what’s happening to me.”
Jackson lifted his hands to her chest and palmed her breasts. “You’re confused, right?”
The frustrating man was doing it again—trying to get inside her mind. “Yes, but it’s

more than that.”

He smiled and then dragged his thumbs across her nipples, cutting off all of her

objections. “Your cheetah wants to be released, but your other half is trying to control
your urges.”

“Yes.” He understood, though he must be wondering if she could say more than that

one word.

“It’s what happens when two mates are together. Do you have any other questions

because I’m about to burst if I don’t taste you?”

His sincerity nearly undid her. For once in her life, she wanted to let go and enjoy.

“Not at this exact time.”

As if they’d entered another dimension, his lips devoured hers and his fingers explored

her breasts, squeezing, massaging, and then plucking her nipples. Each contact made her
more desperate, and she found herself reaching between them and grabbing his cock.
Hell, she was barely able to encircle it. His dick pulsed and throbbed, and she released it
before it exploded. Holy shit.

Jackson groaned and slid her fingers back over his cock again, his tongue never taking

a break probing and thrusting. His scent invaded her body, cascading straight to her core.
As much as she loved his kisses and how he was exciting her nipples, she wanted more.

Selena broke the kiss. “Take off my clothes.”
One eye cocked. “How about closing your eyes?”

“Why?” She was distrustful by nature.
His chin dipped. “Because I asked?”
Wasn’t he smug? To her surprise, she really did trust him and finally did as he

requested. With his hands on her waist, he walked her backward until her butt hit the
arm of the sofa, and she had to grab his biceps to keep from falling. The moment her
fingers touched those muscles, something snapped inside her. Desire flooded her veins
and her need grew to epic proportions.

“Be quick,” she begged.
“Where would the fun be in that?”
She was tempted to open her eyes, but then he lifted her top off and cool air pebbled

her nipples. She could smell his heat as he licked one nipple and cupped the other one.
Needing more, she arched her back.

She swore he chuckled, but right now she didn’t care, just as long as he didn’t stop.

His tongue was creating waves of erotic lust coursing through her at a rapid rate. She
scraped her nails along his shoulders, loving how with each lick, his muscles bunched.
This panther-man was melting all of her resolve.

He leaned back. “I need you naked. I can’t wait any longer.”
She wanted—or rather needed—to experience him in his rawest form. “I’m on the

pill.”

He huffed out a breath. “You are a true wonder. I was just tested when I was hired on

at the department.”

“Then what are you waiting for?”
Instead of tugging down her pajama bottoms, he kept his hands on her hips and

pressed his face against her pussy. She hadn’t even sensed he’d dropped to his knees,
firmly convincing her that she was mentally slipping.

His loud inhale made her a bit self-conscious, but when his fingers clasped the elastic

waistband and lowered the material, her heart nearly stopped. Her feral needs took over
and she clamped her hands on his head.

“Take me,” she growled.
Without another word, he took them off and she kicked her bottoms aside. This was

the moment she’d been dreaming about. Selena tucked away all of the objections,
needing him too much to question if this was the right thing to do.

He widened her legs and her inner walls coiled in anticipation. Tightening her hold,

she pressed her hips forward.

“Don’t,” came his plea. “You have no idea how hard I’m working not to shift.”
That wouldn’t be good if he did, but she was struggling herself to keep from changing.

Selena stopped moving and let up the pressure on his head, but her breaths were coming
out way too fast. Keeping her off balance like this was driving her crazy.

He inhaled and when he swiped his tongue across her opening, her knees bent from

the phenomenal spikes of pleasure rushing through her. Not even in her dreams had she
believed something this wonderful could ever happen to her.

Jackson’s tongue swirled around her little bundle of nerves, sending her close to the

edge. Needing to end this torment, she sat on the sofa arm and stretched out her legs.

Only he didn’t stop. Instead, he sucked on her clit and her body exploded. Her nails grew
as her cheetah tried to claw its way out.

She opened her eyes to stop the torrent of emotion from taking her over the edge.

“Jackson. Please. Now.”

He leaned back and smiled. “Too much ecstasy at once?”
“You’re a bastard, you know that?” Her damn lips quivered and her pulse throbbed in

her neck.

“You bring out the best in me.” He winked.
He tugged her hips forward so that only the middle of her back was resting on the

sofa arm. She dropped her head, hoping the rush of blood would bring some common
sense to her brain.

Instead of straddling her, he stepped in front of the sofa, picked up three decorative

pillows and placed them under her head. “Don’t want you to strain your neck.”

No man had ever been this considerate. “Thank you, now hurry up before you lose

your chance.” If she shifted, he wouldn’t be pleased.

“Yes, ma’am.”
Jackson slipped between her legs, but instead of impaling her, he leaned over and

lifted her hair, fingering the strands. His growl came out strained as if he, too, was
working to contain his beast.

He brought her curls to his nose and inhaled. “You smell so fucking good.”
Selena reached out, grabbed his forearms and drew him near. Being bold sexually

wasn’t her style, but something had changed inside her and she couldn’t stop it from
taking over her soul. “Kiss me.”

“Gladly.”
As Jackson possessed her mouth, their tongues clashed and jousted for position. While

each thrust and swirl of his cock against her clit pushed her closer to her climax. Selena
arched her back and pressed up on her toes, wanting more contact. Jackson seemed to
be able to read her mind, for he placed his cock at her wet entrance and then stopped.

No!
Why wouldn’t he put her out of her misery? Did he want her to beg? She would if she

thought it would do any good. He broke the kiss and dragged his mouth down her jaw
and across her neck. Her basic instinct had her tilting her head to the side, but she didn’t
want him to bite and claim her. She never wanted that.

Just as she was about to tell him, he drove his cock into her, causing every fiber of her

being to rejoice. His huge size stretched her to the point of burning, but her inner muscles
convulsed and clenched, demanding more.

“Try… not to do that.” His words seemed to take effort.
She wasn’t certain what he meant until she clamped down on him again, and his lips

curled back and his eyes closed. His grip tightened on her hips, and only then did she
realize he was about to burst.

Wanting more of him on top of her, she drew him closer. This time, she kissed him,

taking her time to enjoy his lush lips. He supported himself on his elbows, and nibbled
her bottom lip. “I really need to fuck you now,” he stated.

She nodded her consent. Jackson withdrew and pounded right back in, making her

reel. Bolts of electricity rippled up her spine, and it was like she’d been struck by
lightning.

Selena slipped more of her body off the sofa arm, allowing her to lift her hips to meet

each powerful thrust. Nothing mattered more than having him in her and possessing her.
Their rhythm increased and turned as wild as the feral beasts in each of them. Jackson
lowered his head and gently bit her nipple. That one act had heat swamping her and a
climax descended.

“Jackson!” She bit down on her lip and clawed his arms.
As he fucked her hard, his mouth opened and a roar escaped. His hot seed pummeled

and burn her insides, and she spiraled out of control. He slipped his arms around her
back, and with him still deep within her, he raised her to a seated position.

“You okay?” he whispered as he pressed his lips against her shoulder, sounding as if

he’d spent all of his energy.

She was more than okay. “I’m good.” Lowering an arm, he slipped it under her butt

then stood with them sealed as one and walked toward the hallway. “Where are you
going?”

“We need to clean up.”
Her emotions came tumbling down around her as reality charged in. No way would

she let him into her messy tiny bathroom.

“There’s a towel in the kitchen you can use.”
“You’re in charge.”
She didn’t believe that for one minute, but he did change directions. Once in the

kitchen, she pointed to the drawer next to the sink. Somehow, he managed to keep them
sealed together while he turned on the faucet and wet the towel.

“Hop down,” he said.
She unhooked her legs and when she lowered them to the floor, his dick slipped out.

Just as he was about to wipe her clean, she grabbed the towel and dragged it across her
opening. Wanting to do the honors to him, she turned the towel over and ran it across his
cock.

“Be careful there, or I’ll have to take you again.” Jackson’s eyes glinted.
“Thanks for the warning.” Despite being amazed and overwhelmed, it was time to end

this insanity. She tossed the towel in the sink. “We have a long day ahead of us
tomorrow.” She hoped he’d take the hint and leave.

He moved closer and her breath caught. Oh, shit. He better not think her comment

was an invitation to spend the night. He dipped his head and kissed her again, forcing
Selena to push down her inner cheetah.

Jackson broke the kiss. “Are we good?”

Chapter Four

ELENA

DIDN’T

KNOW

what he meant by, Are we good?

They hadn’t bitten each other, so they weren’t fully mated, a fact she was very happy

about. True, the sex had been beyond anything Selena could have imagined but to admit
that to Jackson would only encourage him.

“Sure.” That seemed a safe thing to say.
“I’d ask to stay the night, but I need to head home and repair my shirt. Can’t have my

chest exposed for work tomorrow, now can I?”

She blinked away the erotic image of a half naked Jackson. “Wouldn’t want that. You

need to be more careful when stripping.”

He stepped closer and her body went crazy again. Stop reacting! He then did that

sexy thing again of dragging his knuckle down her cheek. “Perhaps I should ask you to be
in charge next time.”

Once was enough to make her realize how incredibly dangerous this man could be to

her mental health. If she hadn’t cared about hurting his feelings, she would have told him
never to try anything like that again.

“T-shirts are safer.”
Amusement lit his face. “Sure they are.”
He led her back to the living room where they dressed in silence. He scooped up his

shirt buttons and jammed them in his jacket pocket.

Guilt claimed her. If she had any sewing supplies, she would have offered to do it for

him. “Do you know how to sew them back on?” she asked.

“Got it covered.” He cupped her shoulders, leaned over, and kissed her lightly. “See

you at work tomorrow.”

“Thank you for delivering my purse.”
“Sure thing.” And then he was gone—without any argument or pleading with her to let

him into her life.

Selena expected relief to rush through her, but only emptiness resided. Damn.

Nothing about this mating stuff was what she’d anticipated. Adrenaline and hormones
were still swirling inside her, meaning that rational thought was close to impossible. Right
now, it would be best to take a shower and hit the hay, but given her state of arousal,
she doubted she’d sleep, and dwelling on what just happened would only lead to trouble.

* * *

SURPRISE,

ELENA

only managed about three hours of shuteye. As a result, she was tired

and testy the next day, which wasn’t a good combination. While her shift didn’t begin
until three, she headed into work early in order to arrive before Jackson. Delving into the

case without him being near would hopefully keep her mind off what happened last night.

She’d gone over the events a hundred times and didn’t like how she’d totally caved

the moment he stepped into her house. Selena didn’t want to feel anything for the man,
yet she did—or at least the animal part of her did. Having a man in her life would
complicate things. Experience had taught her that much.

Stop obsessing and work! The man wasn’t even there and had managed to mess with

her head.

Selena inhaled. Being lead on this case meant she needed to decide the direction of

the search. While she wasn’t one to typecast, in the past, the cheetah clan had spawned
many of the town’s juvenile delinquents. A few she recalled drove scooters. When
Jackson clocked in, she’d take him to speak with the potential candidates. While the
young men would deny all knowledge of the crime, it was good to put the fear of arrest
into their hearts. Besides, the threat of juvenile detention or prison might loosen a few
lips.

If something didn’t pan out, a few of the good kids she’d connected with might be

willing to tell her what she needed to know.

“Selena?”
Hearing her name jarred her out of her reverie. She looked up and forced a smile, not

in the mood to chitchat. “Hey, Danielle.”

Danielle was the office dispatcher who worked the night shift, too. She was a wolf

shifter who’d met her mate more than ten years ago, had instantly fallen in love, and now
had three beautiful children.

Her coworker pulled up a chair and faced her. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
She couldn’t possibly know. They might be friends, but Selena hadn’t told anyone

about Jackson and her being mates. She painted on a confused look. “Why would you
think anything’s wrong?”

The dispatcher smiled. “Oh, I don’t know. You look like you haven’t slept much in

days, you’ve been irritable ever since Jackson Kenner came to work here, and now you
two are partners.” She leaned closer. “Heard from a little birdie that you were with him
last night. What gives?”

Selena was about to say they went to the Cove Bar to blow off steam, but she needed

some advice. “Okay. I’ll tell you, but you can’t say anything to anyone about this.”

If their boss found out, her chances for advancement would slip to zero.
“My lips are sealed.”
Selena told her almost everything, leaving out most of the details about the sex. “As

soon as he came into my house, I was totally powerless to stop him—or myself—from
making love.”

Danielle held out her palms. “That’s because you’re mates.”
She was afraid she’d say that. “So what am I supposed to do? I can’t live like this.”

The purpose of agreeing to sex had been to purge him from her erotic memory, and that
turned out to be a major fail.

Selena glanced over to Jackson’s desk to make certain he hadn’t arrived, though if he

had, her body would already be reacting.

A twinkle came to Danielle’s eye. “Let me ask you this. Did you complete the mating

process?”

“No! And I have no intention of biting him or being bitten.” Her fate would have been

sealed if she’d done that.

“He did try to bite you, though, right?” Worry laced her friend’s face.
“No. Why?”
She looked off to the side. “Seems to me if he wanted you as much as you claimed, he

would have tried to make it official, so to speak.”

Selena leaned back in her chair. “Perhaps I was wrong. Maybe he was just horny.”
As soon as the words left her lips, she recognized that wasn’t true. A blast of erotic

lust suddenly crashed down on her, forcing her to look up. There he was. She wanted to
focus on anything but Jackson, but the draw was too strong. Gaa. She hated this feeling
of helplessness.

Wait a minute. Jackson didn’t even glance her way. What was up with that? If they

were mates, he’d have to sense her presence.

Danielle must have caught her staring and pushed back her chair. She grinned. “Gotta

get back to work. Keep me posted and good luck.”

Selena needed more than luck. She needed an antidote to matedom, not that there

was such a thing. Flutters beat inside her stomach and her palms dampened. Shit. Being
near Jackson for any length of time would shred all of her resolve, but she couldn’t ask for
a new partner without raising suspicion.

What would help right now would be some sort of order, and that meant doing her

job. Creating a list of possible suspects seemed to be a good place to start.

For the next thirty minutes, she worked at ignoring him and doing her work. Once she

finished compiling the names, she studied them. Not all were cheetah teens, but many
were. Poverty, coupled with too much drinking, often led to lawlessness in her Clan.
Thankfully, once Storm took over at Alpha, he and her dad had worked together to bring
in some reform.

“What do you need me to do?” Jackson asked suddenly materializing in front of her,

shocking her heart.

Damn man seemed to possess the talent of instantly transporting from one place to

another. She should have sensed he was near. Clearly, her equilibrium was off.

What she wanted to tell him was that he should let her deal with this crime on her

own, but that wasn’t a viable option. “I’ve made a list of possible suspects, and a second
one of a few kids who might be willing to tell us what they know.”

“Nice. Have you spoken with Storm?”
“Not yet. He hasn’t been the cheetah’s Alpha for very long and probably doesn’t know

everyone. I plan to contact the Alphas of the other two clans, though, and ask for their
help.”

Jackson looked off to the side, his demeanor serious. In the past, when he stopped by

to talk, he would make some suggestive remark, but this time, he seemed intent on
finding the thieves, and that worked for her.

“Wasn’t Cheyenne’s dad the previous Alpha?”

She liked the way his mind worked. “Yes. In fact, he was my next call. If he’s willing to

meet with us, it might be worth our while to hear his theory. Are you free to come
along?” Her stupid pulse jacked up at the thought of being in the cruiser with him. Logic
told her this reaction was ridiculous and uncalled for, but there didn’t seem to be anything
she could do about it.

“If you want.”
Why wasn’t he crawling all over this? All of a sudden Jackson was a bit distant. Oh,

shit. Maybe he was having second thoughts. She’d heard stories about how one mate
would turn down the chance to be with the other if they didn’t want a future with him or
her. Just because the inner beasts yearned to be together didn’t mean the human parts
did. Selena couldn’t imagine the horror of spending her life with this intense sexual need
and not even liking the person.

She shouldn’t worry about it because she had no desire to be with any male—

regardless of how much her cheetah wanted him.

Selena picked up the phone. “I’ll call Leonard and see what he says.”
“Leonard?”
“Sorry. That’s Cheyenne’s dad.”
Jackson rapped his knuckles on her desk. “Keep me in the loop.”
As if she wouldn’t? He turned and strode toward his desk. Confused, Selena made sure

he was seated before dialing Leonard’s number. As she waited for him to pick up, she
glanced over at her mate who seemed completely focused on something else—and for
the first time ever, that something wasn’t her.

When Leo answered, Selena explained about the theft. “You have any ideas who

might be responsible?”

“You thinking it’s one of ours?” He didn’t sound defensive, which made her job easier.
“Just covering all my bases.”
“How about I ask around and see what I can learn. I’ll call you back.”
“Thanks, Leonard.”
She disconnected, and her stomach tumbled. As much as she didn’t want Jackson’s

attention, his lack of interest was causing her as much concern. Before she could dwell on
her new dilemma, Dram, a fellow officer, strode over and dropped a flash drive on her
desk. It appeared to be the one from the robbery.

“Chris came looking for you, but I guess your shift hadn’t started. He asked me to give

this to you when you came in. He’s keyed it up to the actual time of the robbery. Since
you know so many people, you might recognize one of the voices.”

She looked up and smiled. “I’ll give it a try.”
When Dram left, she plugged the drive into her computer. Last year, after she’d

identified a robber’s voice, Dram had caught the man. While cheetahs had acute hearing
like the rest of the shifter world, it was their audio discriminatory abilities that were
better than most. She hoped she’d be as lucky this time. Once the tape started, Selena
closed her eyes to block out all distractions, and instantly, the image of Jackson licking
her nipples shot to the forefront of her mind. She snapped her eyes open and glanced his
way, almost feeling his gaze on her. Wrong. His head was down and he was typing away.

Even when he wasn’t trying to distract her, he was.

Once more, she focused on the voices. While the two young men sounded like they

were talking underwater, one of the men suddenly stuttered. It wasn’t much, but it was
enough to give her a clue who it might be—Greg Hepner and his cousin, David. One was
a junior in high school and the other a senior. Christ. They’d been trouble from the day
they were born. Their biggest problem was that they never wanted to be in their human
form, preferring to romp and hunt as cheetahs. Working hard wasn’t their forte. Damn.

While she wanted to question them, no telling where they’d be on a Saturday night—

up to no good, most likely. To save time, she called Leo back.

“I’m not that fast,” he said without even a hello.
She chuckled. “Just need some info. Do the Hepner cousins drive scooters?”
“They do.”
“Do you have any idea where they might be now?”
He hesitated for a bit. “You could try the bowling alley.”
Yuk. That was where she’d conducted the sting operation a few months back.

“Thanks. I owe you one.”

“They’re minors, you know.”
That was a problem. If she arrested them and they stood trial, they’d go to juvie, a

place that was already overcrowded. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Once she disconnected, she looked up at Jackson. You can do this.

Chapter Five

ACKSON

W AS

ABOUT

to burst. For the last hour and a half, he’d seen Selena glance up at him

from her desk time and time again, and as much as he wanted to blurt out that being
mates was inevitable, he wanted to give her space. Last night when he’d walked away
from her, he’d had to use all of his resolve not to make love with her again.

While his excuse of needing to sew the buttons on his uniform had been true, he

probably should have asked her to help as he’d done a crappy job. In his defense, the all-
night pharmacy hadn’t had a big selection of sewing kits.

Selena pushed back her chair and secured her weapon in her holster. Must be show

time.

Not wanting to appear eager, he waited for her to approach. With her gaze averted,

she walked toward him. From the way she was holding her shoulders so stiffly, she
appeared to be suffering as much as he was.

“Got a lead,” she said, though her tone held little excitement. Perhaps the thieves

were people she knew.

Regardless, he was happy she’d found a clue so fast. This case was important to her.

“Want me to come with you?”

“We are partners.”
He wasn’t sure how to interpret her comment, but he wasn’t going to question her. He

gathered his jacket and weapon and followed her out.

“I trust Cheyenne’s father found something?” They seemed to be okay when talking

about work.

“Actually, I listened to the video of the robbery and identified one of the voices.” She

then explained about confirming her suspicion with the former Alpha of her Clan.

“Fantastic.” For him it would have been difficult to arrest kids he knew.
“I’ll drive since I know the area,” she said.
Once more, he didn’t argue. His goal was merely to keep things on an even keel. Even

after they arrived at the bowling alley, he didn’t question why they were there as it was
her show.

“Leonard Snow said the boys often come here on the weekends.”
“That’s a good thing. They can’t cause much trouble there.”
“Let’s hope.”
Inside, Selena nodded toward the two skinny kids on lane four. “How about letting me

speak with them first?”

“Sure. I’m here as backup.”
Her brows rose. He’d said the same thing that fateful night they’d first met. As she

headed toward the boys, he kept a close eye on her. While he couldn’t hear the
exchange, the kids looked rather uncomfortable with her questions. To his surprise, when

she stepped from the lane, they followed her.

“Boys, this is Officer Kenner. One false move, and he’ll be on you like white on rice.”
Seriously? Did she believe that line would work?
“Yes, m…ma’am.”
Apparently it did. As much as he wanted to ask her what she’d said to the boys, now

wasn’t the time. He escorted them outside and placed them in the back of the cruiser,
happy they didn’t shift and bolt. Cheetahs might be faster than panthers, but he had
endurance and size on his side.

With the doors now locked, they wouldn’t be going anywhere. Jackson could definitely

smell their fear, possibly because the kids could detect he was some kind of shifter.
They’d assume he was another cheetah, as he and Cord were the only panthers in town.

At the station, when Selena led them to a holding cell, Jackson remained off to the

side, curious how she was going to handle their arrest since the boys were underage.

“I’ll call your folks and let them know what’s going to happen to you,” she said in a

very matter-of-fact tone.

“We have most of the money left,” the younger of the two said. “If we give it to Mr.

Kraft, can you let us go?” His voice shook as he bounced a leg up and down.

These poor kids were victims of their environment and Jackson nearly caved by

offering to pay the remained of what they’d stolen from the owner, but if he bailed them
out, they’d never learn. It was one of the major lessons his father had taught him and his
siblings—that of personal responsibility. Selena glanced over at him, and when she shook
her head, a shiver tripped up his spine. Though impossible, it was as if she’d read his
mind.

“I wish it were that simple,” she explained to the young men. “You’ll have to pay back

all of it and do community service. Sit tight, and I’ll be right back after I’ve called your
folks.”

As soon as she stepped from the holding cells, a slight smile captured her lips.
“Care to share how you took down those two most-wanted criminals?” he asked

slipping along side of her.

For the first time in a long time, she smiled, and his heart pinged. “As soon as I told

them I had them on video tape, they folded.”

“Did they forget they had on masks?”
“Maybe, but I also mentioned the camera on the outside caught the license plate

numbers of the scooters and that we looked up their names.”

“I didn’t know Kraft had cameras on the outside.”
“He didn’t.”
She was clever. He had to give her credit. She seemed to understand the juvenile

mind well. “So what happens now?”

Her shoulders sagged as if the next leg of the journey would be hard. “I’ll call the

parents and have them pick up the boys. I’m going to offer them either juvenile detention
or fifty hours of community service. They’ll have to pay back Mr. Kraft either way.”

“Sounds reasonable.”
“I thought so. I’ll make the calls.”

In Baltimore, a judge would be the one to decide the punishment and not the officer,

but Hidden Hills was a smaller community. Perhaps because the boys were from her Clan,
she was able to pull some strings.

Jackson had wanted to congratulate her, but he had a plan on how to win her over,

and being overly eager wasn’t part of it.

An hour later, the boys had been processed and released to their parents. It was

nearly seven, and Jackson wondered if she was interested in having dinner with him.
They had an hour break each night to eat. If the conversation heated up and they spent
too much time out, they could make it up by staying later.

He stepped up to her desk. “I was wondering if you wanted to catch a bite to eat?”
She stilled for a moment, as if she hadn’t expected his request or desired it. After all,

she’d insisted he not ever ask her out again. “Where do you have in mind?”

His dick stiffened at her positive response. Most likely she was hungry and thought it

would look rude to turn him down and then go out on her own. “You pick.”

“How about Rough Riders?”
“I’ve never been, but I’m game for anything.” As long as I can be with you.
She smiled once more and he hoped this new cheerful Selena would be a common

occurrence.

“Then you’re in for a treat.”
He’d be in for a treat because he could learn more about the woman he was growing

very fond of. His panther side was ready to claim her, but his human half needed to win
her heart first.

“How about I drive?” he offered. A man could only handle a woman being in charge

for so long.

This time she chuckled. “How about we walk? It’s only four blocks from here.”
Damn. If he didn’t stop making tactical errors, she’d never want him.
The night was balmy, and as they strolled toward the restaurant, a wave of

contentment descended. This was what life could be like if Selena accepted him.

Once inside the rustic place, the hostess led them to a corner booth, which was cozy

and romantic. Because his senses seemed to misfire whenever he was near her, he
wasn’t able to detect if the intimate setting made her uncomfortable or not, and that
concerned him.

The waiter rushed right over. “Hi, Selena,” he said. “What will you have?”
The hairs on Jackson’s neck rose, but when she barely glanced at the young man, he

relaxed.

“I’ll have coffee. Black.”
“Ditto,” Jackson said.
As soon as the server left, Selena leaned back in her seat. “So, why did you come to

Hidden Hills?”

He had wondered when she’d get around to asking and was pleased she wanted to

know. Fortunately, the question held no bitterness, only interest. “Cord seemed really
content here, and I guess I wanted that peace of mind, too.” There was no need to
mention how he’d let a drug dealer slip through his fingers, and as a result a young man

had died. Jackson’s guilt level had finally reached his limit.

“What did your family think about your move to North Carolina?”
He winced. “My family is very supportive, and while my dad never complained, he

loved to brag how one of his sons worked for the DEA. If he’d had a say in the matter,
he’d rather have me work for the government and live near home.”

Her brows rose and then her shoulders sagged. He bet she wished she’d had a

supportive father. Having her learn about his rather idyllic upbringing might backfire, but
he didn’t want to lie to her.

“How many siblings do you have?” she asked.
She had none. His purpose in talking about his life was to show her they had things in

common, yet at the moment the gap was widening. Having extremely wealthy parents
didn’t help either. “Three brothers and two sisters, and every one of them is ambitious,
just like my dad.”

“That must be nice to be surrounded by so many siblings.”
“It was. What about you? Any brothers and sisters?” In theory, he knew nothing about

her.

“No. My dad left when I was one.”
Jackson didn’t believe anything he said would help. “I’m sorry. That had to be tough.”
“It was, but my mom suffered the most.”
Dwelling on negative thoughts wouldn’t bring them closer and asking too many

questions might tip her off that he’d checked up on her. “Tell me a good memory.”

“A good one, huh?” She leaned back, glanced at the ceiling for a second then smiled.

“I was maybe twelve and had gone hiking in the Blue Ridge Mountains when out from
behind a tree this baby deer appears. It couldn’t have been more than a month or so old.
I looked around for its momma, but I couldn’t see her, so I shifted into my cheetah form.”

“That didn’t scare the poor thing?” He found that when he shifted, the smaller animals

ran.

“To my delight, no. The lost fawn crossed the river separating us. We ended up

playing for at least an hour.” Selena glanced to the side as if she were reliving that
moment.

“Then what happened?”
She shrugged. “The fawn must have heard her mother and left. But during that time, I

felt a strong connection with her, almost as if we’d always been friends.”

Selena acted as if connecting with anyone was a rarity. “It sounds wonderful.”
“It was. What about you? What was your happiest moment?”
“Finding you.”
Heat colored her cheeks. “Jackson, please. Can we not talk about the present? Or us?”
He chuckled. “For tonight, we’ll stick to the past, though from what you’ve said, it

wasn’t all that great.”

“No, it wasn’t.”
Wanting to salvage dinner, he needed her to understand that his parents weren’t so

different from hers after all. “Just so you know, my father grew up poor, too.”

“Really?”

“Yes, from the age of sixteen, he worked at a small novelty store in Washington, DC,

where he earned minimum wage. Since he couldn’t afford schooling, he remained there,
working seven days a week. His mom passed away suddenly when he was eighteen,
leaving him and his dad to fend for themselves. When my father was just twenty-five, the
owners were killed in a tragic accident. The owners’ elderly parents said they’d give him
fifty percent of the profits if he ran the store.”

“That was generous of them.”
“It was, but without my father, they would have made nothing, as he was the only

one who understood the ins and outs of the place.”

“How did it work out for him?”
“Within ten years, Dad had expanded to five stores. From there, the empire grew.”
She whistled. “Empire?”
He hesitated telling her the extent of his parents’ wealth because it might put a

wedge between them, but they were mates. “Yes. Those stores were the start of
KenMart.”

Her eyes widened. “Are you kidding me?” She pushed back her chair, as if she couldn’t

wait to get away from him.

Shit. Jackson reached out and clasped her hand. “That’s my dad, not me. He’s the one

with the money. We kids have to earn our wages.” Though he had a very sizeable trust
fund at his disposal at any time.

The tension seemed to leave her body. “You aren’t rich then?”
“Rich is a relative term. What’s important is that I work for a living.”
She sagged back against the seat.
The waiter came with their drinks and took their order. Not wanting her to view him

as some rich boy who didn’t take responsibility seriously, he needed to change the
subject. “What made you join the Force?”

She sipped her coffee, her glance shifting from side to side. Clearly, she could see he

wanted to move on. “I wanted to help protect those who struggled.”

“Why not work at a woman’s shelter?” He hoped he hadn’t misinterpreted what she

meant.

“I thought about it, but I wanted more. For once in my life, I wanted to be the one in

control.” She leaned forward on her elbows. “Becoming a detective and leading a case is
everything I’ve dreamed of. I’ve had to work hard my whole life, helping to support my
mom, and I want something to show for it.”

“It seems as if you’ve done a good job both at work and with your mother.”
She blew out a breath. “You’re just being nice. You’ve seen where I live, but at least

my mom is in a nicer place.”

She was a good daughter. He hesitated to suggest the two of them share a space as

that would put a cramp in his plans to be with Selena. Fortunately, their food arrived
before he said something that would ruin the tentative bond between them.

As soon as he ate the first bite, he realized how ravenous he was. Both of them

scarfed down their meal. There wasn’t time to linger as their hour break was drawing to a
close.

Once they paid, they walked back to the station. She looked up at him and smiled.

“You suck at sewing, you know that?”

He clasped a hand to his chest to cover his handiwork. “I do not.”
She laughed. “You don’t think it’s a bit tacky to have mismatched buttons, not to

mention that your lapel isn’t straight?”

“I came up one short, so I had to improvise. Perhaps when you get home, you can

look for the missing one for me.”

She stopped in the street and ran her hand down the lapel of his shirt, flooding his

body with hormones. “I can do that.”

He expected her to turn and continue walking, but she looked up at him with lust in

her eyes and his throat tightened. “Selena?”

Chapter Six

ELENA

DIDN’T

KNOW

what had come over her, but her need was exploding. Being with

Jackson all during dinner had changed something for her. While his parents were well off,
or rather filthy rich, his dad had come from humble stock, and she liked that.

“If you want to stop over after work, we can look for that button. I’ll be happy to redo

them for you.”

He grinned. “I’d like that.”
Part of her was screaming for her to say it was all a mistake, but the stronger part

was anticipating another amazing lovemaking experience.

For the next two blocks, her body refused to stop vibrating as she imagined what joy

they’d encounter when making love. Tying him up and sucking on his cock came to mind,
but a man like Jackson Kenner would never agree to it—the tying up part, not the sucking
on his cock part. On the other hand, he was her mate, so perhaps he’d consider it.

Right before they stepped into the station, Jackson stopped her. “Before you go back

in, I wanted to say thank you for agreeing to partner up with the new guy. I’m sure it
wasn’t easy.”

“I thought we worked well together.” Damn. She shouldn’t have said that, even if it

was true. “Maybe we’ll be paired up some other time.”

His cheeks sagged. “Our partnership was only for this robbery?”
She didn’t want to lie. “I’m not sure. The Chief wasn’t specific.”
Her boss had instructed her to show him around and introduce him to a lot of people,

and so far the only one he’d met had been George Kraft. As much as she’d wished to be
with Jackson for as little as possible, having someone to bounce ideas off of had been
nice.

They entered the station. “You want to show me how to fill out the report in case it’s

different from the one I used at the DEA?” he asked.

“You want to do it?” She was always being relegated to that duty. Selena had worked

with a few other partners and never remembered any one of them volunteering to write
up the incident.

“I want to learn.”
She was pretty sure he was quite capable of doing it on his own, but if she turned him

down and he spoke with the Chief about it, her boss would say she was being difficult and
uncooperative again. The last thing she needed was to be put back on traffic patrol. She
wanted to be a top detective. “Sure.”

She showed him which report to use for the burglary and which fields were the ones

that had to be filled out in detail.

He waved the paper. “When I’m done, can you look it over and see if it’s good

enough?”

“I’d be happy to.” Selena was thrilled he respected her expertise, but she suspected

he was trying to suck up. On the other hand, he had never done a report for the station
before. She bet he’d never had to fill out a report by hand before either. Hidden Hills
needed to computerize their reporting process better.

Jackson smiled then traipsed back to his desk. Selena returned to hers and wasn’t

sure what to do since she didn’t have any paperwork to fill out.

While he worked on their joint report, she filed some papers that had been sitting on

her desk for weeks. As much as she wanted to pretend as if nothing existed between
them, she couldn’t help but look over at him. Seeing Jackson busy at work appealed to
her. Damn. She could see the train wreck now. She would become emotionally involved
and start believing all this mate stuff. He’d then receive a call from another government
agency needing his help, and then he’d leave. It would happen again, like it always did.
Some people were born cursed.

A long half hour later, Jackson strolled over and placed the paper on her desk. Her

pulse soared with him so near. “I appreciate your time,” he said.

As she studied the report, its thoroughness blew her away. His detailed description of

the event was better than anything she’d ever turned in.

“This is great.” She looked up and smiled. “I know the Chief will be pleased.”
“I’m more interested in pleasing you.” His voice came out deep and way too sexy.
Her heart skipped a beat and her throat slightly constricted. “You did.”
Jackson’s lips quirked into a sexy smile, and then he spun around. He headed back to

his desk without waiting for more praise.

Ever since they’d made love, he’d been acting differently—more relaxed around her,

but also more anticipatory, as if he was waiting for her to commit to being mates. The
cheetah side was pushing and cheering for her to accept him while the human side was
sending out a boatload of warnings. He was slowly worming his way into her heart and
that scared her.

The next few hours dragged by. For once, she hoped for a crime—anything to keep

her mind off of seeing Jackson without his shirt when she redid his bad sewing job. It was
stupid to want to subject herself to all that lust, but if she made love to him one more
time, surely she could rid his image from her mind.

“Ready?” Jackson said.
Selena jerked. Was it time to go already? “Can you announce when you’re coming

over or something?” She hadn’t meant to snap at him, but her nerves were frayed.

One side of his lips lifted. “You know if we mate, we’ll be able to communicate

telepathically, even though we’re different species. I could mentally talk to you all day
long.”

She groaned. That was the last thing she needed. “That’s okay. Just say my name as

you head over to me.”

He planted his hands on her desk. “You mean your body doesn’t throb when I’m

near?”

Constantly, unless she was actively dreaming about him, and then her body went into

full lust mode. “Not at all.”

He grinned. “Sure, and I’m not a panther shifter.”
“Smartass. If you don’t behave, I’ll let you wear that ill-fitting shirt so you can be the

laughing stock of the department.”

He glanced around as if to check on whether anyone was smirking at him. Of course,

no one was.

Jackson held up a palm. “I’ll be good. In fact, I’ll be very good.”
The wink, coupled with the dimpled cheeks, nearly undid her composure. Why did he

have to mention sex all the time—or at least imply it? Because he could probably smell
the arousal pouring off her. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

She grabbed her gear, signed out, and left with Jackson. They’d parked near each

other, so he escorted her to her car, the whole time acting as if he needed to make sure
she stayed safe. If she didn’t fear she might injure him, she’d shift and do battle. Then
he’d see she could handle herself.

“I’ll need to stop at the pharmacy for a sewing kit,” she said.
“You don’t have to go to all that trouble. I have one at my place.”
“True, but I have the missing button at mine.”
“Point taken. Lead the way.”
Selena slipped into her car and fired up the engine, her mind racing as fast as the

pistons. She was comfortable with the status quo, but Jackson was upsetting her nice,
safe apple cart.

The pharmacy was about eight blocks away. Once there, she parked then jogged over

to his car before he cut his engine. “I’ll be right out.”

She didn’t need him coming with her. The act of doing something domestic would

further undermine her resolve to keep her emotional distance. The sexual distance,
however, was about to be bridged. Her cheetah would see to that.

Less than five minutes later, Selena returned with everything she needed. She waved,

jumped back into her car, and took off with Jackson a safe distance behind. Without him
being so mind-altering close, she hoped the drive would give her time to think things
through. The problem was that even clear-headed, she wasn’t able to come up with a
good reason not to enjoy him during his limited time in Hidden Hills. The sex had been
unbelievable and he hadn’t been a jerk afterwards like so many other men. So why was
she hesitating?

Her house appeared all too quickly, and her nerves jangled. Selena would sew on his

buttons and let him decide how the evening should proceed. Because he’d acted rather
distant earlier, he just might say thank you and leave—and that didn’t settle well with
her. Having her two halves at war with each other sucked.

As soon as she arrived, Selena rushed up to open her door, and then waited for him

outside since the summer evening was warmer than usual. The stars were vibrant and
the three-quarter moon cast a romantic light on the ground. Her kind wasn’t affected by
the pull of the moon, but she couldn’t say for sure what it did to panthers.

Jackson drove in, cut the lights, and stepped out. Wanting to appear as if his presence

didn’t affect her, she leaned against the door and crossed her arms. A snarky response
leapt to her lips about what was a hot cop like him doing with a girl like her, but she held

her tongue. His gaze remained lasered on her, and the closer he came, the more her
insides melted.

Selena pushed open her door. “Let’s get you fixed up,” she said with fake cheer.

Sewing was the last thing on her mind.

She dropped the bag with the needle and thread along her purse on the coffee table

then slipped out of her jacket.

A second later, Jackson’s hands laid claim to her shoulders and turned her around.

“I’ve been waiting all day to do this.”

Just as she was about to ask what that meant, he leaned over and feasted on her lips.

Instant lust flooded her and her inner beast screamed for release. Letting her cheetah
take control wouldn’t be smart, but she was helpless to stop it. Their tongues darted in
and out, and she savored his earthy flavor while absorbing his animal scent. Swirling heat
worked its way from the tip of her tongue to her throbbing clit.

Jackson groaned and lowered his hands until he was able to stroke the sides of her

breasts with his thumbs. When his cock banged against her stomach, the intensity of the
sensations overwhelmed her, forcing her to break the kiss in order to suck in much
needed air. That inhale only served to draw in more of his panther aroma, adding to her
desire and need. His fingers, mouth, and warm breath were too much to handle, and with
no effort on her part, she shifted.

Holy fuck. She’d never done that before. Stunned, she stepped back and looked up at

him. In a flash, he was in his panther form, too. At least as animals, she was safe, or so
she wanted to believe.

Jackson growled and tried to circle her, acting like the true alpha, but she wanted no

part of that. Keeping her gaze on him, Selena synced her moves to prevent him from
gaining the upper hand, but the urge to leap onto his back and bite his neck shocked her.
She would never mate with him in the truest sense. Sex was one thing, mating was a
whole different story.

He slinked closer and licked her face, acting as if he was laughing at her. Really? Her

traitorous heart fluttered. She would not let him groom her. To do so, would imply
acceptance.

To prevent any more intimacy, she closed her eyes and shifted back into her human

form, and Jackson quickly followed. Good thing, too. Had he jumped on her while in her
human form, he would have knocked her down since his panther size was quite
formidable.

“I guess we got a little carried away,” he said, delight filling his eyes.
Calmer now, Selena stepped closer. The true danger had passed, at least until he

touched her again. “It was exciting.” Damn, she hadn’t meant to blurt that out.

He cupped her face and the heat shot straight to her core. “It was, wasn’t it?’
The air sparked with their scent, almost making her cheetah emerge once more. “Ah…

let me get that needle and thread. Want to take off your shirt?”

“I’m all thumbs. How about a little help?”
She could see through his ploy, but for some reason she was unable to stop from

reaching out and threading the first button through the hole. “I’m doing this because the

buttons are pulling and tugging so much, it will be hard for you to undo them.”

Where that line of crock came from she didn’t know. It must have been her inner

demon pushing her to touch him. Focusing on the job and not on how her body was
heating up, she undid the next button, mentally shaking her head how a man who was
fairly intelligent could not sew in a straight line.

Keeping her eyes away from his magnificent chest, she finished opening his shirt.

When Jackson didn’t make a move to take off the garment, she slid the material over his
shoulders, trying not to stare at his muscled chest. When they’d made love before, she’d
been too blinded by lust to fully appreciate what he had to offer. Now she could see how
magnificently he was built. His shoulders were broad and his hips narrow. What lie in
between was spectacular, too, but unfortunately his khaki’s prevented her from truly
appreciating his talents.

As if she’d forgotten all warnings, she dragged her hands down his chest and inhaled.

His hair tickled her palms, and sparks of passion formed goose bumps on her skin. She’d
promised herself that she’d let him take the lead, but the pounding in her chest was
making it hard to breathe.

“You can have it all for the taking,” he said with seduction lacing his voice.
Do it.
Get him out of your system for once and for all.
“What if I asked if I could blindfold you?” He’d never say yes to being tied up.
He stroked her cheek and chuckled. “What would that accomplish? My senses will be

heightened, making me want you more. We’ve both proven that we are fighting to stay in
our human form. Why chance another encounter?”

He had a point. “Then would you be willing to close your eyes?”
“Only after I feast on your naked body.”

Chapter Seven

ELENA

NEARLY

SW OONED

at Jackson’s sexy words. The man knew how to push her buttons and

seemed determined to do everything to dispel all ideas she’d had about how a man
treated a woman. No matter how much she resisted, Jackson was doing a good job of
changing her mind.

If he wanted to see her naked, he needed to work for it, too. It would make the end

result that much more exciting. She held out her arms. “Be my guest.”

He licked his lips and his eyes shimmered. When his teeth elongated, both fear and

excitement spiked through her. Making love to him when his panther side was yearning
for release sped up her hormonal urges.

“You sure? I plan to take my time, even if it kills me.”
“Yes.” Her insides warmed at his desperate sounding words, but she was up for the

challenge. More than anything, she needed to prove to herself that she could handle
anything he dished out. Mate or no mate, she had to be able to resist him.

Good luck with that!
“How about you closing your eyes?” he asked as he fingered her hair.
“Not on your life. I want to watch you sweat while I remain totally unaffected by what

you do.”

Jackson dropped back his head and laughed. “You are full of shit. You can’t control

yourself around me any more than I can around you.”

Selena had been thrown challenges her whole life. “Try me.”
“Mind if I turn off a few lights? I think better than way.”
“Help yourself. I see quite well in the dark, even in my human form.”
“So do I. Got any candles?”
She laughed. “You need candles for romance?”
“Who said anything about romance?”
Jackson was stalling for time. He should be stripping her naked. “I’ll find one.”
Hurrying into the kitchen, she found a small candle, lit it, and carried it into the living

room, feeling like a priest readying for a sacrifice. She set it on the coffee table. “Better?”

“I’ll let you be the judge.” He scooped her up and deposited her on the sofa.
There wasn’t room for the two of them to stretch out, but Selena didn’t want to act

like a know-it-all and tell him. Only after he knelt in front of her, did she understand what
he was about to do. He tugged off one boot and she let out a sigh of relief. After he
removed her sock, he repeated with her other foot then rubbed each sole with his strong
fingers.

Did he know a foot massage was the fastest way to her heart? Sinking fast into

heavenly bliss, she hadn’t meant for the groan to escape, but her body was beginning to
tingle from the wonderful pleasure.

“I see you like this.”
She didn’t want him to know just how much. “I’ve been on my feet all day.”
He grinned and his dimples almost made her swoon. No man should be that good

looking.

“Uh-huh.” After ten more minutes, Selena’s muscles weakened. “Would you like my

hands on other parts of your body?” he asked, his words full of promise.

Decisions, decisions.
Her cheetah spit out her answer. “Only if I can return the favor.”
“How about if we both close our eyes and undress each other?”
She loved his win-win attitude. Selena reached out and let him pull her to her feet.

“You won’t cheat?”

His grin spread across his face. “I might peak a little, but I’ll try to control myself.”
For some reason, she found that funny and snorted a laugh. Jackson just shook his

head then shut his eyes. She did, too, and her sense of smell heightened and her nipples
hardened. “Can you take off your shoes?”

“Can do,” he said.
His boots thumped on the floor and his heat signature intensified once more as he

stepped closer. Without a shirt, he was left with two pieces of clothing, which meant
she’d have him naked in no time.

When she tried to undo the zipper on his pants, however, he swatted away her hands.

Immediately, she opened her eyes but found his closed, so she shut hers again. “Why
can’t I undo your pants?”

“Because I need to take off your top, and if you’re working on me, I won’t be able to

concentrate.”

That was a cop out—no pun intended. He didn’t need to concentrate. He feared

shifting again.

Wanting to return to her seduction sooner rather than later, she undid the top button

of her uniform, but he clasped her wrists and leaned closer. “Let me,” he whispered.

“Hurry.”
The fabric rubbing against the button had barely made any noise. While she couldn’t

see his smile, she bet he was grinning in victory.

As he worked on undoing her blouse, his lips hovered over her neck, and his warm

breath created chaos all around her heart. The second his lips brushed her skin, tingles
shot out in every direction.

Don’t shift. Don’t shift.
Selena hadn’t realized how hard it was to keep from ravishing him. Going slow ignited

her inner beast as much as when they attacked each other furiously. Man, she was a
mess. Between the soft kisses and his fingers easing open her shirt, her pulse was
frantically racing. As much as she wanted to undo his fly and grab his cock, she sensed he
wanted to be the one to decide how fast or slow to go.

Her mom was right. Selena didn’t do compromise well, but this time, she’d make an

exception and do what worked best for both of them.

“Your scent is becoming part of me.” He whispered it so softly that she almost had to

strain to hear, despite her animal abilities.

Without thinking, she inhaled, and he, too, became part of her, and as much as she

wanted to block his heady aroma, she couldn’t. When he eased open her shirt, cool air
rushed up her belly and sparks flew. Jackson leaned back, slipped his hands under her
bra, and pushed it on top of her breasts.

Holy shifters. His callused palms scraped across the tips and turned them even harder.

Arching her back for more contact, she clasped his bulging biceps. There was nothing
about this man that was less than extraordinary.

“I’m holding on by a thread,” he said.
“I’ll sew you back up if you fall.”
He laughed then devoured her mouth. When her tongue probed his heat, she bucked

up against him, searching for more. She slid her hands to his back, dragged her nails
down to his waist then broke the kiss. “I need you naked and in me. Now.”

She hadn’t meant to send out that demand, but the animal in her was overpowering.
He growled, but she didn’t dare open her eyes. As if both beasts had been let out of

their cages, she tore open his pants and slid the slacks and briefs down his legs. Without
asking, he lifted each leg and kicked the material off to the side. His eyes might be open,
but she didn’t want to look at him. Seeing his face full of lust would only make her break
sooner.

Faster than a cheetah could run, he divested her of her clothes, including her bra and

panties.

“I need you, cat woman.”
She gave in and opened her eyes then peered deeply into his that were flecked with

swirls of green and gold. His mouth was slightly parted and his breathing quick. Just as
she was about to bend over and suck on his cock, he dipped his head and captured one
nipple then the other, pulling each taut. Pleasure streaked straight to her core and she
almost forgot about returning the favor.

“Yes!” No amount of willpower could stop her from thrilling to his touch.
“I can’t wait any longer. Ride me,” he panted.
Jackson lifted her up, forcing her to wrap her arms around his neck and her legs

around his waist for support. His huge dick pressed against her needy core, and she
nearly came right there.

When he dragged his lips across her neck, she debated telling him not to bite her, but

her raging hormones were begging for the union.

“Hold on,” he said as he slid a hand between them and moved his cock into position

under her weeping hole.

Her inner walls contracted as she sank down on him. Whoa. Stretched wide, she had

to hold her breath until her body could accommodate his girth. She leaned over, opened
her mouth, and clamped her teeth on his shoulder but didn’t break the skin.

“You okay?” he asked.
“As good as I can be with your big, throbbing cock inside me.”
He chuckled then eased out. When he drove back in, his cock filled her to the hilt.

Stars swam in her eyes as her teeth sharpened and her nails elongated. It was as if he’d

plugged her into an electric socket and hot pulses shocked her body. Passion consumed
her. Desire nearly strangled her.

She pressed her feet onto his thighs, lifted up, and then dropped back down,

encompassing all of him. When she tilted her head, their lips met, and he sucked on her
bottom lip. She wasn’t certain if it was the sensual way he drew her in or how his cock
was transforming her, but she almost came.

His nails dug into her back, and the ache shot straight through her. Every cell in her

body was filled with his essence and her desires soared higher. He moved again, his thick
shaft continuing to blaze a scorching path into her and taking her close to her climax
while his grunts and moans surrounded her, cocooning her in a feeling of safety.

When he dragged her chin toward him and kissed her, all sanity fled. She wanted him.

Needed him. And had to have him. Hanging on tight, she rode him hard, as shards of bliss
charged through her.

Jackson plunged in once more and held her close. As his hot cum filled her, her climax

swooped in, taking her to a new realm where the image of them running across a field
filled her mind. As she was swept up in her tumultuous orgasm, her vision blurred.

Minutes passed, and as Selena’s energy seeped out of her, she collapsed her head

onto his shoulder.

“I think we need to sit,” he said, acting as if the hot sex had done him in, too.
With his arms stilled wrapped around her, he walked her into the kitchen and set her

on the cold counter. He retrieved a cloth from the drawer and wet it. When he dragged it
across her opening, her swollen folds reacted to his mere touch. This sensitivity to him
had to stop.

If she didn’t do something constructive, she’d ravish him again. “Don’t forget I need to

fix your buttons.”

Jackson grinned, and when he slipped her off the counter and pressed his chest

against her, all domestic chores evaporated from her brain—again. He leaned over and
nibbled on her lip, reigniting her passions.

She gently pushed back. “We can’t keep doing this.”
“Do what?”
He knew what she meant. “This. Sex. All the time.” Jackson laughed, but she’d been

serious. He didn’t seem to understand. “We have jobs to do and we can’t be making love
every night.”

He dragged a finger down her cheek, stimulating her insides once more. “I see

nothing wrong with two mates being together several times a day. We’re basically
animals and have a need to scratch.”

Was that all it was? Pure animal instinct?
Selena tried to squash the disappointment but failed.
What was she supposed to do now that he’d succeeded in getting under her skin?

Chapter Eight

ELENA

W AS

HAVING

a hard time concentrating at work, as she kept thinking back to last night

and how amazing the sex had been. She wanted to believe her thrill level was all about
having satisfied the animal inside her, but lying to herself wasn’t her style. A part of her
had enjoyed Jackson’s antics. Not many men would have been willing to close their eyes
when making love.

“Hey,” Danielle said, pulling up a chair. “You look lost in thought.”
Selena refocused. “I’m good. What can I do for you?”
Her friend smiled. “Nothing. I’m on break. Where’s Jackson?”
Once more Selena glanced over to his empty desk. “Don’t know.”
“I thought you two were partners.”
The word partner had always had such a negative connotation to her, but now she

liked the idea of being with someone—that is, until they left or disappointed her. “We
are.”

Danielle shrugged. “So how did it go last night?”
Selena jerked. “What do you mean? We caught the kids who robbed the liquor store.”
She rolled her eyes. “I meant afterwards. I saw you two go out to dinner. When you

returned, you couldn’t keep your eyes off him.”

The damned woman was too perceptive. It must be the wolf in her. “It was wonderful

if you must know.”

She grinned and clapped. “Did you mate?”
What was up with the need to fully commit? “That’s none of your business,” she said

with as much cheer as she could muster.

Waving a hand, her friend leaned forward. “He didn’t bite you yet?”
Selena had given him the opportunity, but he hadn’t even scraped his teeth across her

neck. “No. I think he’s waiting for me to ask him.”

Whoa. I don’t want him to bite me, right?
She never waffled when it came to men. Damn mate stuff.
Danielle pushed back her chair and stood. “I only ask because I don’t want to see you

hurt, honey.”

She didn’t either, which was why she was so cautious. Had she not had a dad who

walked out on her, or a series of men who seemed to find an excuse to leave her, she
would have committed to Jackson Kenner three months ago.

Her cell rang and for a second she hoped it was Jackson letting her know where he

was. Given Cord wasn’t in the station either, perhaps they were together. She checked
the caller ID.

“Hey, Mom.” Worry slid through her. Her mother never called her at the station.
“Selena?” She had to strain to hear her.

Pinpricks of worry skittered across her body. “What’s wrong?”
“I fell, and I can’t move.” From the heavy panting she was in pain.
Shit, shit, shit. “Did you call 911?” If she had, Danielle would have told her.
“No.”
Hopefully, her injury wasn’t that serious. A thousand questions bombarded her, but

her mom didn’t seem reliable right now. “I’ll be right there.”

Because Selena never left work for personal reasons, she didn’t think the Chief would

have an issue with it. At the moment, Hidden Hills seemed to be calm.

After speaking with her boss, who said to take as much time as she needed, she

rushed over to her mother’s. Her mom’s bad leg made it difficult for her walk and
balance, and falling had always been a huge worry. While Selena had been saving for
years for her mom’s operation, she doubted she’d ever have enough.

When she arrived at the apartment complex, she parked and raced inside. Using the

spare key, she let herself in. Seeing her mother sprawled on the floor nearly made her
shift from fear.

“Mom?” She rushed over to her.
“Selena?” Sweat beaded on her forehead and her breaths were coming out too fast.
If she thought her mom could have handled the pain, she would have suggested she

shift, as she might be able to heal better. Right after the car wreck, she’d been
unconscious. The ambulance had arrived and rushed her to the hospital where they kept
her drugged up while they worked on her. Her mom always claimed that the medication
had messed with her shifting ability.

Selena ripped out her phone and dialed 911. A dispatcher other than Danielle

answered and Selena gave her the information. While she waited for the paramedics, she
grabbed a pillow from the sofa and placed it under her mother’s head.

“What happened?”
“I fell and hurt my leg.”
“Don’t move. I’ve called for help.” Damn. She should have asked Danielle to contact

the Emergency Services right away, but they would have arrived before her and had to
break down the door.

Since her mom was wearing jeans, it was impossible to see if the bone had broken

the skin.

“It hurts so bad. I wanted to shift, but I couldn’t concentrate.”
“That’s okay. They’ll fix you up right away.” Even though Jackson couldn’t have done

anything, it would have been nice to have him here to distract her mom.

Call him.
No, she didn’t want to bother him. It didn’t matter that she wanted him there.
The sirens broke her train of thought and she rushed to open the door. Seconds later,

the paramedics arrived. Watching the pain on her mom’s face as they checked her out
then placed her on the gurney, tore at her.

“Don’t worry,” one of the men said. “We’ll take good care of her.”
The fact her mother fell in the first place bothered her more. “I’ll be right behind you.”
As much as she wanted to turn on her sirens, even if she arrived at the hospital

quickly, it would be hours before the orthopedist checked out her mom.

When Selena reached her mom’s room, a nurse was with her, cutting off her pants.

Darn. Selena should have thought to pick up extra clothes though she could always return
for some if they released her tonight.

“Ow.”
Selena couldn’t stand seeing her mom suffer. “Can’t you give her a sedative?”
“We need the doctor to see her first. Let me find him.”
Fortunately, Selena didn’t have to wait long. A tall woman, by the name of Dr. Janice

Divine, barreled in a few minutes later. “Someone took a fall?”

While she acted as if her mom was either a kid or senile, at least she sounded

cheerful. She faced Selena. “Are you related to Mrs. Niles?”

“I’m her daughter.”
The doctor smiled and returned her attention back to Mom. A few seconds later, Dr.

Divine motioned Selena aside. “I’m afraid it’s a compound fracture and we’ll need to
operate.

Her heart sank. While her mom had insurance, it wouldn’t be enough to cover the cost

of the surgery, but she’d find a way to pay. “I understand.”

A loud voice sounded in the hallway, and her body exploded with need. Jackson was

near. Had the dispatcher called him?

A moment later, he rushed in and hugged her. “I just heard. I’m sorry I wasn’t there

for you.”

Her confused brain wasn’t making sense of much. “What are you doing here?”
“I thought you could use the support.”
She wanted to ask him if he thought she wasn’t capable of taking care of her mother

by herself, but then she backed down. He’d done nothing to show her he wasn’t just
trying to be nice. “Thank you.”

Actually, having him here did lower her anxiety.
The doctor had been waiting patiently. “There’s one other thing. Your mom’s leg is

terribly deformed and she’ll need to have it straightened. While I’m setting the bone, I
can place a rod in her lower and upper leg to realign it.”

It was what she’d dreamed of. “Won’t that be expensive?”
Dr. Divine nodded. “Yes.”
As they discussed her insurance plan, Selena realized that even if she worked for fifty

more years, she’d never be able to pay back that much money.

“Go ahead and do the operation,” Jackson said. “I’ll pay for.”
Selena grabbed his arm. “You can’t do that.”
“Why not? I’ve saved some money—and we are mates.”
Heat raced up her face. She didn’t want the whole town to know. “It’s my mother. I’m

responsible for her.”

“I want to do this,” he said with more conviction than she thought possible.
Dr. Divine placed a hand on her arm. “You’ll have to decide quickly. I need to take

your mother into surgery now.”

She wanted what was best for her mom. Perhaps if she had the operation, she’d be

able to work again and help with the payment plan. “Then go ahead.”

“Don’t worry. Your mom will be fine.”
As the nurse wheeled her mother out, Selena grasped her mom’s hand. “I’ll see you

when you’re out of surgery.”

“I like him.” No sooner had she said the words than her eyes closed and she passed

out, probably from the pain.

Selena prayed she hadn’t made a mistake in accepting Jackson’s generosity—or at

least some of it. She would pay him back eventually. Her biggest fear was that he’d
expect her to be with him because of this debt, and she wanted to be the one to decide if
he was the right man for her.

“Let’s sit in the waiting room,” he said.
“You don’t have to stay. You should be back at work.” She owed him enough already.
Jackson placed a comforting hand on her back and led her out. Conflicting emotions

swirled inside her. She’d lived her life by the old saying: Actions spoke louder than words.
So why was she so hesitant to accept Jackson as her mate? No one had treated her
better, and the fact her cheetah wanted him worse than anything, should tell her he was
the one for her.

Logic convinced her that if he had any plans to leave, he wouldn’t have offered to pay

such an exorbitant sum to help a woman he didn’t know. In the coming days, Selena
needed to rethink every preconceived notion she’d ever held about men.

Jackson led her over to a chair in the waiting room where two other people were

seated. Wanting to take her mind off her issues, she asked. “Where were you tonight?”

“With two hookers. I was going to arrest them, but then decided why not have a little

three way and look the other way.”

Her heart sunk to her stomach until she realized he was kidding. She punched him

hard in the arm and one of the two women across the room gasped. “You did not,” she
whispered.

Jackson grinned. “Gotcha, didn’t I?”
“You’re a jerk.” She sank back into her seat. His cute antics had helped boost her

spirits for another minute. Then reality descended again.

Her mom could be bedridden for weeks or even months and she’d need help with her

daily chores. Even if Selena slept on the living room sofa and took care of her, what
would happen if she needed help between three and midnight when Selena was at work?

Jackson rubbed her hand. “What are you frowning about? I was only trying to lighten

the load.”

“I appreciate it.”
“Just so you know, I was helping Cord with a case.”
“I figured.” She glanced over at him. “I’m worried about my mom.”
“I get it. I really do. It’s going to be tough. I’ll be happy to help in any way.”
“I appreciate that, but you’ve done enough.” She squeezed his hand to let him know

her level of sincerity. They might have made love twice, but that didn’t mean she was
ready to let him into her life completely—yet.

For what seemed like hours, they chatted. Jackson appeared to accept that she wasn’t

ready to discuss the future, so they talked about stupid and mundane things, and for that
she’d always be indebted to him—more than she already was.

Finally, Dr. Divine came in, a facemask slung around her neck. Both Selena and

Jackson jumped up. “How is she?” Selena asked.

“Good. The reconstruction was more extensive that I’d thought, but given her age, she

should be walking a lot better in a few months.”

The relief and joy filled her. “Can I see her?”
“She’s still sedated. Go home and rest. I’ll call you when she’s awake.”
Exhaustion had taken a strong hold on her body. “Thank you for everything.”
“My pleasure.”
Jackson clasped her hand. “I live less than two miles from here. You can rest there for

a bit.”

She wanted to say again than he’d done enough, but knowing him, he’d insist on

staying with her to make sure she was okay. “Thank you, but I’m driving myself. I want to
be able to come back as soon as my mom wakes.”

He dragged a hand down her cheek and all sorts of erotic sensations coursed through

her—sensations she didn’t need. Right now, Selena’s focus had to be on her mom’s
health.

“I understand,” he said. He followed her out to her car and made sure she was good

to drive before heading to his vehicle.

While she waited for him to lead the way, the image of the pain on her mother’s face

would forever be burned in her mind. Thank goodness her mom had been able to get
ahold of her. The whole idea of her having broken her leg and lying there helpless turned
her stomach.

Think of the positive. Mom would finally get the life she deserved, in part because of

Jackson.

His taillights glowed in the parking lot and she followed behind him. It came as no

surprise when he headed to a nice part of town. She thought he’d own some mansion,
but it turned out he lived in the Mountain View Apartments. They were nice, but not
exclusive, as she’d expected.

No sooner had she parked than he was by her side. Wrapping a comforting arm

around her, he led her to his first floor apartment. “It’s a bit of a mess. Sorry. I wasn’t
expecting anyone.”

“No need to apologize. I promise I won’t judge.”
He settled her on the comfortable sofa. “I’m going to fix us some tea. It might help

relax you.”

She would have asked for some wine, but she didn’t need anything else to mess with

her head. While he was in the kitchen fixing their drinks, she looked around at the sparse
furnishings. Except for a pair of boots and a casual shirt tossed on the floor, the roomy
apartment was clean but unlived in looking. He had few decorations on the shelves and
no pictures on the walls.

A few minutes later, Jackson came out carrying two cups and set them on the glass

top table in front of them then handed her the cup. “You’re mom’s in good hands.”

“I know.” Happy that the surgery was behind her, she sipped her tea, delighted by the

unexpected rich flavor. “This is really tasty.”

“I come from a family of big tea drinkers. My mother has always brewed her own teas

and tried to teach us kids the difference between a Rooibos and Oolong.”

Not wanting to appear ignorant, Selena didn’t dare ask for the distinction. “She seems

nice.”

“She is.”
For the next few minutes, they sat there sipping their tea in silence. Selena tried to

figure out what to expect after her mom’s operation, but Jackson’s mere presence was
messing with her body again. Never in her wildest dreams did she ever think she’d even
meet a man like him. Not only did he drive her inner animal out into the open, he’d
fulfilled her biggest dream—that of helping her mother.

Selena set down her tea and when she turned to face Jackson to thank him again, he

gathered her in his arms and she sagged against him. Contact with his body triggered a
deep need inside her. She shouldn’t be thinking about sex when her mom was lying in a
hospital bed, but that little voice in her head said it would take her mind off her
problems.

She tilted her head up and waves of desire slammed into her. She drew his face to

hers. “Love me.”

His eyes widened for a moment, as if her words meant more than what she’d

intended, but he leaned over and kissed her gently. As wonderful and warm as the kiss
was, she wanted it hard and passionate—enough to make her forget.

As if she’d been possessed by the goddess of lust, she tore open his slacks. “I need

you naked.”

Jackson’s eyes were swirling with desire. “Are you sure? I want you worse than

anything, but I don’t want to—”

The last thing she needed right now was a discussion between appropriate and

inappropriate behavior, so she placed a finger to his lips. “Shh.”

Selena pulled out of his grasp and stood. Almost faster than she responded to her

mother’s plea for help, she kicked off her shoes and stripped. The human part yearned for
tender touches and long hugs, but the cheetah in her was beside herself with grief and
need.

Jackson just sat there. If his cock hadn’t been peeking out above his waistband, she

would have thought he wasn’t interested. “Jackson?”

As if she’d pressed his On button, he jumped up and tore off his clothes. This time he

spent a minute undoing his shirt instead of ripping it open. With eyes glowing a beautiful
golden green, he clasped her shoulders and lowered his lips to her neck and drew in an
audible breath.

“Your scent drives me wild.”
“Prove it.”
This wasn’t about creating a future together, it was about the sexual release that she

sought.

Liar.

You want him.
Forever.

Chapter Nine

ACKSON

DIDN’T

THINK

it was a good idea to make love with her when she was under such

pressure, but he couldn’t stop if he wanted to.

What he hadn’t expected was for Selena to grab his dick right away. He was about to

tell her that he was on the edge of exploding when she bent down and sucked on him.
Her groan and delicious tongue made him nearly shift, but he didn’t dare deny this
wonderful woman anything.

With each up and down motion of her mouth, he soared higher. Grabbing a fistful of

her hair to help steady his raging libido, he sucked in a huge breath. He wasn’t sure how
much longer he could last before he claimed her. As much as he wanted to give her the
choice to mate, his panther side was losing patience.

Selena cupped his balls and hair poked out of his chest and on his face. This wasn’t

good. “Honey, slow down.”

She looked up, stepped back, and then pressed on his shoulders as if she wanted him

to kneel. He gave into her without a thought. She was in such a delicate place in her life
right now, and he didn’t want to upset her in any way.

“Get on your back,” she commanded.
Having her straddle him was a dream come true. He quickly obeyed and held up his

arms for her. Holding his hands for support, she straddled him then dropped down onto
her knees. When she lowered her body, he gritted his teeth to keep from shifting.

She leaned over and planted her palms beside his head, her beautiful breasts swaying

over his mouth. Like a moth to a flame, he lifted his head and captured a delicate nipple.
The first tug made her moan and his feral needs overwhelmed him.

Letting her set the pace was incredibly hard for him, but she yearned for control, and

it was the least he could do for her.

“Can’t last,” she said, her eyes glassing over.
Hopefully, that look was one of lust and not confusion. She slid her hand between her

legs and took hold of his dick. His inner beast roared as she took aim and dropped down
on him. Her slick walls, along with the scent of her arousal, sent his hormones
skyrocketing.

She leaned over and kissed him, demanding entrance. He greedily welcomed her and

lifted his hips to drive into her. A cloud of desire and joy drew around them, joining them
in more than just the physical realm.

Serena broke the kiss and sucked in a large breath, as if she, too, was teetering on

the edge. When she dragged her lips to his neck and her sharp teeth pricked his skin,
every muscle in his body tensed. He was about to ask her if she understood what biting
him meant, but then her teeth sunk into his neck and all hell broke loose.

The two of them fucked hard and fast as if this was their last chance to be together.

Seconds later, she screamed his name and his dick exploded. When they climaxed at the
same time, it was more powerful than anything he’d ever experienced. To be with his
mate at this moment would be forged in his memory forever.

Spent, Selena lay on top of him, her breathing rapid. A moment later, she rolled off of

him and rushed into the kitchen.

He jumped up, fearful something had happened. “Selena?”
Drawers banged. When he joined her in the kitchen, she was wiping herself clean and

didn’t even glance his way. “I have to go.”

Jackson wanted to comfort her, but from the way she was looking around as if she’d

been spooked, he let her be. Touching her now might break that tentative bond they’d
formed. He clasped a hand on his neck and rubbed his thumb across the small puncture
wounds. His joy was dashed as her behavior turned manic. She was acting as if the
hospital had called.

He followed her into the living room. “You want to talk about it?”
“No.”
He glanced at her cell she’d left on the table, but it wasn’t lit. She slipped on her

slacks then jammed her feet into her shoes. She quickly donned the rest of her clothes,
saying nothing. He’d give anything to see into her mind. “Are you leaving?”

“Yes. I have to. My mom needs me.”
Really? How did she know? “Do you want me to come with you?”
She whipped around to face him, looking more scared now than when he’d found her

at the hospital. “No. No. I can do this alone.”

With that she was out the door.
Once more, his mate had left him speechless.

* * *

ACKSON

HAD

CALLED

Selena several times the next day, but she didn’t answer. He suspected

she was at the hospital with her mom and hadn’t turned on her phone. As much as he
wanted to speak with her about the bite from last night, he decided after a long,
sleepless night, that he needed to give her time to come to grips with how her life might
have changed because of that one action.

Many times he’d wondered if she’d even been aware of what she’d done. In the heat

of the moment, her instincts might have kicked in, forcing her to bite him. As much as he
wanted to be mated with her, he yearned for a deeper, more loving relationship.

The next time they were together, he had no doubt their bodies would combust

around each other. The yearning to complete the cycle and fully mate would grow
stronger by the day until the mating was done. All it would take would be one bite from
him, but he wasn’t sure that would be fair to her.

They needed to talk soon. As the time for his shift drew near, he dressed in the shirt

she’d fixed, and his heart turned heavy for her. His mate was suffering and there was
little he could do right now. For her, he’d stay away, but he didn’t know for how long.

Once he arrived at work, his gaze shot to Selena’s desk. She claimed she hadn’t

missed a day of work in three years, but he wouldn’t be surprised if today was the first.
Her mom seemed to be more important to her than anyone, which only added to the
many reasons why she was the woman for him. When he’d lived in DC, the women he
dated were more interested in themselves or his wealth. Selena had none of those traits.

His body reacted just thinking about her, and he wondered if she was going crazy with

need, too. He bet she didn’t know that once the mating process began that the urges
would grow fast and hard until they were completed.

Jackson tried to look busy, but if anyone was paying attention, they’d see him glance

at her desk all too often. He remembered how serious she always looked, and he would
give anything if she were there now. Being close to her and not able to touch her,
however, would be pure torture.

After thirty minutes without Selena being there, he couldn’t take it any longer and

went in search of answers. Jackson stepped into his boss’s office. “Chief?”

Hardy looked up. “What’s on your mind as if I can’t guess?”
That made sense. Selena wasn’t at her desk and partners were supposed to have

each other’s back. He didn’t want to let on that he was personally involved with her, as
that might affect her career—or his. “Selena hasn’t come into work, sir.”

He nodded. “Her mother fell and broke her leg. Because she’ll need help

rehabilitating, Selena asked for a leave of absence.”

A leave of absence instead of using her vacation time implied she’d be gone for days if

not weeks. “Did she say for how long?”

Chief Hardy leaned back in his seat. “Don’t know, but what I do know is that Selena

probably could use some support.”

The man was giving relationship advice now? “I’ll do what I can, but she can be

stubborn.”

His brows rose. “Don’t I know it. In the meantime, I’m assigning you to a case with

Dram. A pharmacy was broken into last night and he could use your DEA expertise.”

Jackson needed to stay busy. “I’ll hop right on it.”
When he stepped from the office, he went in search of his temporary new partner,

trying not to think about Selena.

* * *

THREE

days were pure hell. Jackson hadn’t slept and his attempts to contact Selena

had been met with no success. The only positive was that he and Dram had caught the
culprit who’d stolen the drugs from the pharmacy. The lack of sophistication from some of
the people in Hidden Hills surprised him. Gloves and a mask should have been the first
order of business.

He was working on the report when Danielle rushed in a few hours before her shift

was to begin and made a beeline to his desk.

“Jackson, we need to talk.”
Her unusually serious demeanor had the hairs on his body standing up. He retrieved a

chair for her and placed it close to keep the conversation private. He’d seen Selena and

Danielle chat many times, and terrible thoughts raced through his brain—everything from
Mrs. Niles having had an embolism and dying to Selena having a major collapse.

“Did something happen?”
“You have tomorrow, off, right?”
“I think so. With so much going on, I haven’t paid much attention.” His thoughts had

been focused solely on Selena.

“We need to do an intervention. I just came from Mrs. Niles’ home. Selena is running

herself ragged. I don’t think she’s eaten or slept much. Her skin is pasty and she’s still
wearing the same uniform from before her mom’s operation.”

His heart pinged as need swamped him. The time had come for him to care for her.

He shoved his chair back and stood. Damn. He’d so wanted to wait for her to ask him for
his help. “I need to see her now.”

She smiled. “Good. My sister’s in town for a few weeks and has offered to help me

watch over Mrs. Niles while Selena recuperates. You need to make sure Selena takes care
of herself. She won’t do it on her own.”

He didn’t need Danielle to convince him. “Let me tell the Chief. I’ll be right back.”
Jackson was thrilled when Chief Hardy told him to take as much time as he needed.

“You two are valuable assets to the department. Help her in any way you can.”

They shook hands and Jackson rushed out. After he told Dram that he might be out

for a day or two, he left with Danielle. Even though she’d given him Mrs. Niles’s address,
he followed her to the complex that was only a few miles from his place. The close
proximity of the two apartments would make things easier for both of them.

On the trip over, he mentally figured out how he could make Selena’s life easier. For

starters, he’d find an in-home nurse to care for her mom. Selena would balk, but there
would be times in their relationship when he’d have to do what was best for her. She was
just too damned set in her ways.

Danielle waited for him by the entrance. “Be prepared to meet her animal side.

Selena’s scared and doesn’t know what to do.”

“I’m glad she has you for a friend,” he said.
Danielle blushed and knocked on the door. “Selena, it’s me.”
The power of his mate’s heat radiated through the door, and he wanted to bust it

down and carry her away. But he wouldn’t. For her sake.

The door eased open and his instincts shot to high alert. The first thing he noticed

was her scent, and it wasn’t the good kind.

Her eyes widened as she spotted him. “What are you doing here?”
He had a long list of reasons, but he didn’t want to be discussing it in the hallway.

“I’ve called many times.”

She looked off to the side. “I never received any messages.”
“Did you remember to charge your phone?”
A mixture of dismay and perhaps fear skated across her face. “I don’t remember.”
That wasn’t like her at all. She was usually so careful. He placed a hand on Danielle’s

arm and led her inside then closed the door. The stale odor assaulted his senses, along
with Selena’s bloodshot eyes and tangled hair. “Can we talk?”

Without a word, Danielle stepped out of the way and headed down the hallway.
“I, ah, need to check on my mom.” Selena glanced behind her where Danielle had

disappeared.

That was totally lame. He wasn’t going to let her give any more excuses. She needed

help. With a hand on her waist, he led her over to the sofa. The fact he practically had to
hold her up worried him. “Selena, have you looked in the mirror?”

Her hand shot to her hair. “I’ve been busy.”
“I can see that, but what good will it do if you fall sick?”
She sat up straighter then groaned as if that much movement was difficult. “I’m fine.”
This denial was pissing him off. “I’m your mate, and I’m going to make sure you stay

strong.”

Danielle came out from the hallway. “You’re mom is sleeping, but I’m staying for a

while.” She practically glared at him. “Jackson, how about getting her cleaned up?”

That was his plan. He stood. “Come on, smelly girl.”
Despite her narrowed eyes and messy hair, she looked cute. As she stood, her legs

gave way, and she plopped back onto the sofa. In one quick move, he scooped her up in
his arms.

“I can walk,” she said as she rested her head against his shoulder.
Her purse was on the kitchen counter, and Jackson nodded toward it. “Mind handing

me that?” he asked Danielle.

In typical motherly fashion, she looped the strap over his neck and smiled. “Take good

care of her.”

“I plan to.”

Chapter Ten

ELENA

W ANTED

tell Jackson to set her down, that she was perfectly capable of walking to

her car and driving herself, but she didn’t have the energy to battle with anyone at the
moment. Taking care of her mom’s every wish had drained her.

“Here ya go,” Jackson said, buckling her into the front seat of his truck.
He rushed around to the driver’s side. As much as she wanted to have her car with

her, Jackson would bring her back here if she asked. She did a mental head slap. Here
she thought when he didn’t call that he’d decided to wash his hands of her—or else her
biting him had freaked him out. Clearly, the stress from the last few days had messed
with her ability to think logically. Forgetting to charge her cell convinced her she needed
some rest.

“How is your mom doing?” he asked.
She loved his profile and the way his large hands gripped the wheel. His strong

shoulders made her yearn to be in his arms, and her inner cheetah wanted to be intimate
with him worse than anything. She’d honestly believed that if she didn’t see Jackson for a
few days that the urge to be with him would lessen. Boy, had she been wrong. The
opposite had been true, which was why she’d thrown herself into taking care of her
mother.

He asked me a question. “Huh?”
“Your mom. How’s she doing?”
The cop in her shook her out of her lustful thoughts.
“She’s healing, but she’s in a lot of pain. I bet it will be months before she’s walking

like the rest of the world.”

“I take it the doctor was confident that the operation was a success?” He glanced over

at her.

More guilt descended. Jackson had offered to pay for the operation and yet she hadn’t

kept him in the loop. He must think she was ungrateful. “Yes. Mom’s back might never be
like before her accident, but she will definitely walk better.”

“She must be happy.”
“Happy might be a stretch. I’m not sure she realizes how this operation can change

her life. I keep telling her how much better things are going to be, but she’s not buying it
yet.”

“I hope it all works out.”
When Serena actually took a moment to notice where they were, she was a bit

disappointed that they’d driven past his place and were on the way to her home. Without
saying anything else, he pulled into her complex.

“I want you to pack up a few things. You’re staying with me for a few days.”
Her pulse soared. Whether it was from excitement or fear she’d say something she’d

regret, she didn’t know. If she could get one good night sleep, she’d be able to go back to
her mom’s and take care of her.

Her door opened and Jackson unbuckled her seatbelt. She swatted his hands. “I can

do it.”

“But you didn’t. You were staring straight ahead as if were trying to remember how to

open the door.”

He was exaggerating—mostly. She swung her legs out of the truck, and when she

stood, the blood drained from her head and she had to grab the door for support.

“Maybe you should wait in the car while I pack for you.”
She wasn’t an invalid, though at the moment, her thoughts weren’t clear. “No. I can

do this.” Inhaling, she grabbed onto Jackson’s arm and let him lead her inside.

“Need help?” he asked. “I wouldn’t mind packing some of your clothes.”
She almost laughed. “You’d forget underwear.”
He followed her into the bedroom. “That’s highly overrated apparel anyway. It is sexy

on you, but you look best naked.”

Just the word naked coming from his lips had her body sizzling with need. “If I didn’t

think I’d fall asleep in the middle of having sex, I’d suggest we go at it like the animals
we are.” The cheer on his face disappeared faster than a drop of water on a hot griddle.
He’d practically said the same thing before. “Shit. I’m sorry. My filter left the moment my
mom broke her leg.”

And the moment I bit you.
“Don’t worry about it. Let’s get you packed.”
Jackson was immeasurably helpful, especially since she’d used her only suitcase to

bring a few things to her mom’s. He suggested they stuff her clothes and some remaining
toiletries into pillowcases, but even doing that much exhausted her. Maybe Danielle had
been right in saying she needed to take a break and rest.

“I’m ready.”
Jackson carried her stuff and escorted her back to his truck. The whole time, his gaze

burned a hole in her, acting as if she’d collapse into a heap in the middle of the drive.
While she wanted to tell him she could take care of herself, his overprotective behavior
brought her comfort.

She must have dozed in the truck because suddenly they were at his house. He

opened the truck door, slipped his hands under her legs, and lifted her out. The door
slammed and she was being transported. If she hadn’t been exhausted, she would have
told him to put her down.

Inside his place, he placed her on the sofa. “I’ll be right back.”
A moment later he returned with her stuff and disappeared down the hallway. She

closed her eyes only for a moment—or at least it seemed like a few seconds when
Jackson returned. “Time for a bath. You smell.”

She opened her mouth. “I do not.”
“Panthers have excellent noses, as do cheetahs, but one never notices one’s own

scent.” Without waiting for her to answer, he lifted her up and carried her down the
hallway.

This time, a quick shot of adrenaline woke her up when he pushed the bathroom door

open with his foot and set her on the edge of the tub that had steam billowing up from
the water.

“When did you fill this?” She looked up at him.
“While you were dozing.”
“Thank you.”
Jackson knelt down and pulled off her shoes and socks. If her inner beast hadn’t been

so tired, she would have been more excited. As it was, Selena was working hard to figure
out what the hell was going on.

“Once you bathe and sleep for a few hours, we need to talk.”
“About what?”
He shook his head. “I’m not having this conversation with you in your condition.”
She wasn’t in a condition. “Are you pissed because I got carried away and bit you?” At

least that was what she told herself had happened.

He slipped off her shirt, and when he undid the back of her bra and lowered her

straps, her body reacted. Need rushed through her faster than ever before. She reached
out to touch his face, but he clasped her hands in his.

“Bath first.”
Jackson slipped her into the water and the warmth seeped straight through her. “You

can’t imagine how incredible that feels.”

“Trust me. I’m highly jealous of the water right now.”
By the time his comment registered, he’d picked up the bar of soap and rubbed it

along her arms. She nabbed it from him. “I can do this. Any more touching, and I’ll shift.”
Not really since she didn’t have the energy.

A smile flitted across his lips. “Fine, but I’ll be checking on you. Here’s the shampoo.”

He handed it to her from off the counter. “If you need help, holler. And another thing.
Don’t drown.”

Before she could come up with a comeback, he disappeared.

* * *

MAKING

LOVE

with Selena when he’d been so desperate for his mate had been one of the

hardest things Jackson had ever done, but he had to think of their future. Selena was not
ready to admit that she wanted him for a mate, and he wasn’t sure what more he needed
to do to convince her.

She wasn’t the type to ask him for expensive jewelry or to be taken on some exotic

vacation. He’d be willing to do those things if for one second he believed she’d love him
more—or love him at all.

While she was busy taking her bath, he made the bed in the spare bedroom. Selena

might balk that they weren’t sharing the same bed, but if she was naked and anywhere
near him, his resolve would disappear. He’d end up biting her and completing the mating
process. As wonderful as that sounded, he wanted a woman who loved him—not
someone who’d made a mistake one night and bit him first.

Next, he set about preparing some food for her. He wasn’t much of a cook, but he

could make a mean breakfast. It didn’t matter it was past dinnertime.

The bathroom door opened and Selena walked out fresh faced with wet hair and

wearing a cute pair of pajamas. As much as he tried to stop the desire from bubbling up
inside him, his teeth grew and the hair on his body popped through the surface.

“I’ll be right back,” he said before dashing outside. Shit. Staying away from her was

close to impossible.

It would be best if he spent the night at a hotel, but he didn’t dare leave her alone.

She was confused and upset, and he wanted to be there in case she had a nightmare.
Not wanting her to think he was having second thoughts, Jackson stepped back inside. He
smiled. Selena was at the table with her head down, fast asleep.

He debated waking her and insisting she eat, but she probably needed sleep more. As

carefully as he could, he lifted her out of the seat and carried her into the spare bedroom.
His princess didn’t wake—proof that her body needed time to heal.

* * *

RAY

sunshine speared Selena in the eye, but she didn’t react other than to pull the

blanket up over her head. She’d been running wild in the woods with Jackson by her side,
and she wanted to stay in the dream a little longer. Only when the rich aroma of brewing
coffee seeped in under the door, did her body rouse, aching for the caffeine.

Discarding the blanket, she cracked open an eye and looked around, startled at the

unfamiliar surroundings. She inhaled to gather her wits and only then remembered
Jackson charging into her mom’s place, telling her she smelled bad, and then whisking
her away to his home.

More memories came flooding back. He’d drawn her a bath, and she remembered

luxuriating in the warmth but nothing else.

Noise emitted from the kitchen. It was probably Jackson’s subtle way of letting her

know it was time to get up. After a good night’s sleep—the first in days—she felt ready to
take on the world. Keeping him waiting wouldn’t be right.

She slipped out of the bed and noticed he’d laid out a set of clothes for her. No one

could be nicer.

Then why am I upset that I bit him?
Right now, she couldn’t come up with a valid objection. Then she remembered. She

believed he’d leave. It was what men always did. Still wearing her pajamas, she stepped
into the hallway and halted when she heard his voice. He was on the phone, his back to
her. Eavesdropping for a minute, his serious tone had her stomach twisting into knots.
While she couldn’t understand all that was going on, the caller appeared to be a former
colleague that Jackson referred to as Agent Arnold.

She grabbed the doorjamb. Was he being asked to come back to work in Washington?

She knew it was too good to be true that he’d stay here with her. He claimed he left his
former job because he didn’t like the rat race, but perhaps he found Hidden Hills too
small for his taste.

He must have sensed her presence because he turned around and motioned her near.

Even though Selena feared the look of rejection would be written all over her face, she
stepped toward him, her body shaking.

Jackson moved toward her and wrapped a comforting hand around her waist. “I’m

honored that you asked, sir, but my answer is the same. I love it here in Hidden Hills and
plan to stay and raise a family.”

Jackson looked down at her with what could best be described as love.
Wait a minute. Did he just say he wanted a family? For real? Her heart nearly burst.

As soon as he disconnected, she twisted in his arms to face him. “You’re really staying?
For good?”

He dragged a knuckle down her cheek. “It’s what I’ve been saying all along. I never

planned to leave. When I saw you in the Chief’s office that first day all those months ago,
I knew we were mates. Destiny brought you to me and I wasn’t going to let you go.”

Tears shimmered on her lids, and she almost didn’t want to believe someone as

wonderful as Jackson was real.

She needed to fight her fear and accept his love. He wanted her.
Jackson cupped her face. “As much as I’m dying to make love with you right now, I

want to make certain you’re fully recovered before we take that final step. I don’t want
the worry of your mother’s health or the department duties to get in the way of us.”

“Are you kidding? I want you for my mate. Forever.”
Her blurted revelation even stunned her in its intensity. Jackson had slowly been

worming his way into her heart for weeks if not months, yet she’d been too stubborn to
admit it. Relief at opening her heart flooded her with joy and excitement.

Jackson’s insistence that they wait before they committed to being mates, coupled

with the way he appeared to be in pain telling her no, made her insides snap. It was
almost like she’d died and been given her life review. Selena had let bitterness get in the
way of true love and had judged Jackson without giving him a chance. They’d been
together for more than three months and not once had he let her down.

While the days of broken promises might surface now and again, they probably

wouldn’t be coming from him.

As if he, too, couldn’t believe her vehement pronouncement, he studied her. His dark

eyes slowly lightened to green swirls and his face took on a ruddy hue. Even his breathing
sped up. “Are you sure?”

“More than sure. I know I can be willful, but you’ve shown me what a wonderful man

you are. I misjudged you, and for that I’m sorry.”

“You have no idea how happy that makes me.” He hugged her then stepped into the

kitchen.

What? He was walking away now? He should be ravishing her, stripping her naked,

and kissing her silly. Men. She’d never understand them.

Guess she’d just have to take this mating thing into her own hands. Selena ducked

into the kitchen then moved toward him with as much sex appeal as she knew how, but
she suspected the baggy pajamas weren’t helping her cause.

“Hey,” Jackson said as he poured two cups of coffee.

“Hey, back.” She stepped behind him, and when she tried to untuck his shirt from his

pants, he set down the pot, turned around, and clasped her wrists.

“Whoa, there. You aren’t ready to be making any decisions about when we mate. How

about we eat first?”

Being told no went against the very fiber of her being. “I’d rather eat you.”
He chuckled. “You need time to process everything that’s going on in your life and

what our mating will mean.”

“Do not.” For the first time in her life, she knew what she wanted. “I want you more

than life itself.”

He leaned in close, which only messed with her head more. “That might be because

you bit me and we’re now half mated. Both of our desires have increased tenfold, but
there’s a difference between pure animal lust and passionate desire.”

He was talking gibberish. “Semantics. What’s the real reason you don’t want to make

love with me?”

She reached between them and grabbed his cock. It was hard and ready and her feral

needs soared.

“Do you trust me?” He gazed down at her with eyes that spoke of love and wonder.
“Completely.” She meant it.
He led her over to the kitchen table. “When we mate fully for the first time, I want the

reason to be other than our bodies demand it. I want you committed to our relationship,
and I’m willing to wait until you are absolutely sure this is what you want.”

Now he was being foolish. “Like I said, I know what I want and it’s you, but if you

want to wait, I guess I can.” She leaned close. “How about making love without biting
me?”

That might satisfy her for a few hours.
He laughed. “Sweetheart, I’m not that strong. The minute you’re in my arms, I’ll

weaken and take you. I can’t tell you how many times in the past I’ve been tempted.”

His explanation mollified her, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t going to try to change

his mind. “How long do you plan to wait?”

“Just as soon as I’m convinced you’re strong enough.”
Did he expect her to run some kind of obstacle course as proof? Clearly, the man

wasn’t going to listen to reason, but she’d find a way to get what she wanted.

Chapter Eleven

ACKSON

STEPPED

BACK

into the kitchen and she followed him. Damn man was going to drive

her crazy.

“I didn’t have a chance to go shopping,” he said, “so I hope scrambled eggs and bacon

are okay. I made some last night for you, but you fell asleep.”

“I’m sorry.”
He chuckled. “Don’t be. You needed the sleep.”
He carried two plates filled with more food than she could eat in a week back into the

dining room. Selena eyed the meal. “If I shifted, I bet my cheetah could eat all this, but I
can’t.”

“Try. You’ve lost weight.”
Only a pound or two, but she’d play his game and do as he asked. Yes, she was

terribly worried about her mother, but now that her operation was done, it would only be
a matter of time before she healed. It would be hard working and visiting her everyday,
but Selena would do it and find time to be with Jackson. He was the man for her.

“Are you going into work today?” she asked as casually as she could.
“Perhaps, but only if I’m convinced you’ll rest.”
She wasn’t fragile. Last night’s sleep had done wonders. “Are you asking that I don’t

visit my mom?”

He scooped up a forkful of eggs and stuffed them in his mouth. He took his time

eating them. “How about taking a day off? I was thinking of hiring someone to care for
your mother while you’re at work. I can call and see if she can start today.”

That implied he’d already asked around. That sounded like something he’d do. Selena

was about to tell him that was unacceptable, that she could handle everything on her
own, but there was something about his attitude that made her believe he truly wanted
to help.

I need to accept his love.
Selena had been on her own for most of her life and it was hard to let someone

lighten her load. “I’d like that.”

His eyes shone. “You sure?”
“Well, we are a team, aren’t we?”
It was as if she’d said the magic word because his body began to transform right

before her eyes. He stepped over to her and pulled out her chair. “I can’t tell you how
happy you’ve made me.”

“That so?”
He glanced to the ceiling and inhaled deeply. Slowly his canines receded and the

excess hair on his body disappeared. “You have no idea what it’s been like staying away
from you these last few days.”

“It couldn’t be any more difficult than what it’s been like for me.”
He grinned. “What do you say we test out whether we’re compatible?”
“Seriously? I thought you wanted to wait.” She couldn’t help but wonder if this need to

wait had been a ruse to force her hand at admitting how much she wanted him.

“You look healthy to me.” He winked.
Jackson was something else. “So what do you have in mind? Fast and hard or slow

and torturous?” She ran a hand down his chest.

He lifted her pajama top over her head. “I was about to say both, but I’m not sure I

can last with the slow stuff. I want you too fucking bad.”

“That gives me an idea.” Selena stepped out of her bottoms and Jackson’s nails

extended.

He growled. “You better make it quick.” Using her cheetah speed, she slipped to his

rear and drew his hands behind his back. “Selena?”

His low voice turned her on something fierce. “Do you trust me?” She figured she

could throw that line back at him.

“You know I do.”
As quickly as she could, she wrapped her thin pants around his wrists and secured

them with a loose knot. He’d be able to get out of the constraint with one tug, but she
hoped he’d let her have her fun for a while. She then returned to face him. “Close your
eyes.”

“Not on your life. I want to watch you.”
She shrugged. “Okay, but don’t blame me if you shift.”
Before he changed his mind about being tied up, she dropped to her knees, unzipped

his pants, and pulled the material down to his thighs, taking his briefs with them.

“Be careful,” he growled. “I’m really close to claiming you.”
“Promises, promises.” She didn’t look up at him. If she had, she’d relent and tell him

just to bite her now. She grabbed his thick shaft, and her mouth watered at the idea of
driving him close to the edge then backing off. Images of having fun with this man for
years to come flitted in her head.

Deciding to tease him first, she dragged the tip of her tongue up his length then

encircled his mushroom head, loving his earthy flavor. The problem was that after a few
swipes, her sex began to cramp with need. Damn. She seemed to be the one who might
give in first.

“Suck on it.” The low toned command didn’t even sound like it had come from a

human.

She glanced up and his teeth were gritted and he was huffing like a dragon. Perhaps

she’d pushed him too far already. Wanting to please him, she drew him into her mouth
and sucked hard, letting his essence seep deep into her core. This was her mate and the
man she would love for the rest of her life.

Suddenly, his hands grasped her hair, and the material that had held him was now on

the floor. So much for bondage!

He lifted her to her feet. “You’ve had enough fun time.”
What did that mean?

He yanked up his trousers but left them open. In a flash, he lifted her in a fireman’s

hold and carried her down the hallway. She beat on his back, but it did little good. He
pushed open his door and when he dumped her on the mattress, she couldn’t help but
laugh at his playful and unexpected action.

Lifting up on her elbows, she grinned. “You trying to show me who’s boss?”
“Oh, we know who has all the power.” He dipped his chin and stalked toward her.

“You. You bewitch me at every turn and make me want to go all caveman on you every
minute of every day.”

His words thrilled her. “If I’m in charge, how about letting me take off your clothes? I

need your skin on me.”

He tapped her nose. “I didn’t say you were in charge. I said you had the power.”
That was the same thing to her, but now wasn’t the time to argue word choice. “Okay,

then would you be willing to ditch those shoes for starters?”

Looking like he was fighting a smile, he took them off and tossed them on the floor.

“Any other demands?”

She didn’t want to push her luck. “Make me the happiest woman alive.”
He crawled toward her on the bed. “You don’t have to worry about that. Be prepared

to be loved.”

He unbuttoned his shirt, and when he peeled it off, Selena couldn’t drag her gaze from

his amazing body. It wasn’t just his muscles or the texture of his skin, it was his
masculine scent and the way he moved that drew her. Being the most wonderful man
she’d even known added to his allure. “Keep going.”

“Will you be able to control yourself?”
“I can try.” Most likely she’d fail, but that might be the best part.
He slipped off his pants and briefs and his glistening cock seemed to beg for her

attention. She reached out to touch him, but he blocked her path.

“It’s my turn,” he said with lust and desire floating on each word.
She couldn’t deny him, so she nodded her consent. He stretched out her legs and

crawled between them. Even without him touching her, her body was already on fire. This
was the moment she believed would never come. Being mated to a man like Jackson had
been just a dream—but one that would now come true.

Crawling on his elbows, he positioned himself so that his lips hovered above hers.

Instead of the demanding kiss she expected, he gazed into her eyes and mesmerized her
with their depth. “I love you for the woman you’ve always been and for the amazing
person you will always be.”

Her heart nearly stopped at his poetic words. As much as she wanted to tell him how

much he’d changed her life, the words wouldn’t form. He then lowered his head and
nibbled on her lips, taking away all rational thought.

The hint of coffee and bacon mixed with his musky aroma drove her wild with need.

“Kiss me, damn it.”

“So demanding.” He grinned then pounced.
The pressure on her body increased and her yearning doubled. When his lips met

hers, it was like the universe had aligned. Together they opened up and plunged in,

tasting, loving, and desiring. The more contact she had with his body, the closer she
came to shifting, as every cell in her body became flooded with the urge to be one with
him. Forging a mental connection as well as a physical one would be life altering. That
thought should have scared her into fleeing, but it didn’t. She wanted Jackson more than
she thought possible.

He broke the kiss and trailed his lips down to her neck. She expected the bite, but

none came. Instead, shimmers of delight blew across her skin like a welcoming warm
wind. As much as she wanted him inside her, his caring and loving touch was healing her
from the inside out.

She ran her fingers through his hair, the texture exciting her further. Methodically

moving down her body, he kissed and ignited every part of her. When he captured her
nipple with his teeth, sparks shot straight to her core, and Selena sucked in her stomach,
the desire to mate clawing her from the inside out. His groans and growls were becoming
louder, ratcheting her need higher.

“Please, Jackson. I can’t wait any longer.”
“Me, neither.” He rolled her over then propped her up on her elbows and knees. “I

want to be touching all of you.”

His whispered words inflamed her so much that she sagged from wanting him.

Jackson crawled behind her and the moment his cock slipped past her clit to her wet hole,
the shift began.

No, no. Not now. Please.
He stroked her cheek. “Easy there, kitten. I’m close, too.”
His words of comfort helped calmed her, but when his larger than life cock slid into

her wet channel, she clawed at the sheets, her nails ripping the material. Selena lowered
her head and sucked in some much needed oxygen hoping he’d claim her now.

His chest pressed against her back and her vision clouded. She wanted to touch him

but was unable to reach him. His cock slid in farther, and she drove her head to the
mattress, pressing her hips back. He fondled her breasts, cupping them and twirling her
nipples. Electric bolts lit her insides and stimulated her until she was ready to burst.

“Please, Jackson.”
“Soon.”
With one thrust, he drove straight to the end, and her inner beast yearned to be free.

His teeth scraped along her shoulder blade and his fingers worked on her breasts,
alternating between massaging them and plucking the tips to make them hard. He was
literally driving her out of her skin.

Slower than she thought possible he withdrew and stilled. His breath cascaded over

her neck, causing goose bumps of anticipation to form. He pinched a nipple, and her
thoughts refocused on their wonderful joining and not on the final mating process. This
was about loving him today. Right now. The rest would come in time.

When she let out a breath and her body relaxed, he drove in again, stoking her fire.

She might have been able to stop her climax had he not lowered a hand and rubbed her
clit.

“Can’t. Hold. Out.” She barely croaked out her words.

He slid his hands around her waist in a crisscross fashion and cupped each breast. A

second later, he withdrew and flipped her over. It took a moment for her to realize his
intent. Her teeth sharpened and the wild animal in her sought release.

“Now?” she asked.
“Now.”
As he drove his dick into her, filling her to the max, he sunk his sharp teeth into her

neck and bit down. Heaven descended. Selena lifted her head and drove her canines into
him as well. Joined in every way possible, her climax tore through her faster than a
speeding cheetah.

She screamed his name and Jackson growled, though it sounded darn close to a roar.

His hot seed pummeled her and her eyes rolled back into her head. Blood blocked her
thoughts and her muscles gave way.

Jackson rolled them over and held her. They lay that way until a trickle of blood

dripped down her neck. Not wanting to stain the already torn sheets, she lifted her head.
“That was amazing.”

“It was more than I ever thought it would be,” he telepathed.
His words resonated in her head. While she could communicate with others of her

kind, it was so much more intimate knowing Jackson’s thoughts.

She lifted up on her elbows. “You know what?”
He smiled. “What, my little cheetah girl?”
“Would you think I was crazy if I said I want you again?”
He laughed. “Can you give me a few minutes? The mating process wiped me out.”
“Oh, I think I can revive him.”
She slid off him and headed straight between his legs.

Chapter Twelve

Three months later

“Y

LOOK

GORGEOUS,”

Jackson said.

“You look rather dapper yourself, Mr. Kenner.”
Selena couldn’t believe how much her life had changed in the last three months. Her

mother was walking much better now, even though she still wore a brace. Just last week,
she’d landed a good job in town and seemed to be thriving. Selena couldn’t be happier for
her.

Jackson had insisted she move in with him until they built the home of their dreams.

Her only caveat to the construction process was that his father couldn’t help fund the
project. She’d feel silly living in a mansion. It just wasn’t her.

Another huge change in her life had been that she’d embraced the idea of having

girlfriends. Growing up poor, she’d been shunned, and that had carried over into
adulthood. But not anymore.

Because Jackson spent time with both Storm and Cord, Selena had become rather

closely acquainted with Piper, Cord’s wife. Both being cheetahs, she and Cheyenne had
always been friends, but now they saw each other more often.

He picked up Piper’s birthday present. “Ready?”
“Yes.”
When they arrived at Cord’s house, cars lined both sides of the street. “Did he invite

the whole department?”

Jackson laughed. “Piper works with a lot of people in the hospital. I think Cord said

they’d invited close to fifty.”

“Wow.”
The sign on the door said to come in. Chatter and laughter filled the whole house and

a wonderful calm settled about her. Being surrounded by friends and a loving man was
everything she wanted in her life, though adding a few little wildcats of their own would
be even better.

Through the entranceway, she spotted a very pregnant Piper move from one guest to

another. Before they stepped into the main room, Selena grabbed Jackson’s hand. “Have
I told you how much I love you today?”

He wrapped his arms around her waist and purred. “Why, no. Do you?”
Her arms slid around his neck. “More than words can express.”
He grinned. “Well, I happen to have it on good authority that I love you more.”
“Hey, guys, come join us,” Cord called from inside the living room. He seemed

impatient to get the party started. It wasn’t her fault that Jackson couldn’t keep his hands
off her as she was trying to get dressed.

Hand in hand, they entered the room, packed with many of her coworkers. Tasha and

Burke were there, along with Storm and Cheyenne. Dram, Chris, and her boss were off in
the corner, looking as if they were discussing some case.

“Now that my good friend and my coworker have arrived, it’s time for Piper to open

her presents,” Cord announced.

Selena and Jackson sat on two folding chairs and enjoyed how Piper squealed in

delight with each item. Selena had purchased two cute outfits for the future twins—one
for their son and one for their daughter. In addition, she’d found a shifter woman who
was a master at handmade jewelry. Once Selena described how Cord was part panther
and part bear, the artist configured a necklace made of onyx and a multicolored brown
stone to represent Cord, and an opal to symbolize Piper.

Jackson nudged her. “She’s opening our present.”
The two baby outfits almost made Piper cry, but the necklace turned on the

waterworks. “It’s amazing.”

Selena couldn’t be more pleased. “It was Jackson’s idea and I found someone who

could make it.”

“I love it.”
Cord clasped it on her and the group oohed and aahed. Somehow, Piper managed to

get through the rest of her presents more or less with dry eyes. When she finished, Burke
held up a hand. “I have an announcement. Or rather we have an announcement.”

All eyes shot to Tasha. Could it be true? Whenever she’d had a day off, Selena had

met with a bunch of the girls for their weekly get together, and she loved connecting with
them. Tasha wanted a child worse than anything and hoped the sonogram she’d had
recently showed she would be giving birth to a cub soon.

“Spill it,” Cord said.
“Tasha and I are expecting a little cub in about six months.”
The whole party exploded with applause, and Selena couldn’t be more pleased. Once

the excitement died down, Jackson stood. “As long as we’re making announcements, I’d
like to ask a question.”

Piper glanced to Cord. “Sure. What is it?”
He turned to Selena and when he dropped to one knee, her mouth turned dry and her

pulse beat faster than either Piper’s or Tasha’s newborns’ hearts.

Jackson picked up her hand in one of his then pulled out a small box from his pocket

with the other. “From the moment I saw you, I knew we were destined for each other,
but convincing you to mate with me was a hell of a lot harder than I thought. The
challenge, however, was so worth it.”

Tears brimmed on her lids as he opened the box. “Oh, my Lord.”
He removed the huge diamond ring from the blue velvet container. “This was my

grandmother’s. My siblings didn’t want it, but I did. If you could have met her, I know the
two of you would have become fast friends.” He straightened her hand. “I’m hoping you’ll
say yes, but I need to ask. Will you marry me?”

Selena was so choked up that it took a moment before she could answer. “Yes, yes,

yes.”

The only thing more perfect would be if her mother had been here. Jackson stood

among the cheers and kissed her with enough passion to threaten her control not to shift.

“Ahem,” Cord said, and the crowd laughed.
Jackson broke the kiss and the group surrounded them, giving hugs and words of

advice. She’d never be able to thank Cord enough for bringing Jackson into her life.

The End

MONTANA PROMISES (Full length contemporary)

Promises of Mercy

(book 1)

Foundations For Three

(book 2)

Montana Fire

(book 3)

Hart To Hart

(book 4)

Burning Seduction

(book 5)

ROCK HARD, MONTANA (contemporary novellas)

Montana Desire

(book 1)

Awakening Passions

(book 2)

PACK WARS (Paranormal)

Training Their Mate

(book 1)

Claiming Their Mate

(book 2)

Rescuing Their Virgin Mate

(book 3)

Pack Wars Box Set

(books 1-3)

Loving Their Vixen Mate

(book 4)

Fighting For Their Mate

(book 5)

Enticing Their Mate (book 6) – coming soon

HIDDEN HILLS SHIFTERS (Paranormal)

An Unexpected Diversion

(book 1) – Free

Bare Instincts

(book 2)

Shifting Destinies

(book 3)

Embracing Fate

(book 4)

Promises Unbroken (book 5)

SOUTHERN SHIFTERS KINDLE WORLDS

Bear ’N Dirty

Author Bio

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Not only do I love to read, write, and dream, I’m an extrovert. I enjoy being around
people and am always trying to understand what makes them tick. Not only must my
books have a happily ever after, I need characters I can relate to. My men are wonderful,
dynamic, smart, strong, and the best lovers in the world (of course).

You’ll find me most days on my chaise lounge with my laptop and my iced

tea(unsweetened!) on the side table. I love to sleep in late and write into the wee hours.
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I believe I am the luckiest woman. I do what I love and I have a wonderful, supportive

husband, who happens to be hot!

Fun facts about me

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each week, I teach Pilates twice a week at a local rec center, and lift weights the
other days.

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