“Yes,” she frowned, then rubbed her arm.
Before I could yank my coat off, she shifted, her body stretching and morphing so quickly that with my next blink she stood as her panther. She chittered and rubbed her face against the side of my leg.Fuck the rabbit thigh is burning.I hurried over and crouched to turn it. Soleil leaned against my side, sending me onto my ass on the rustling fabric I slept on.
She took advantage and stretched a paw over my leg, her chest vibrating with purring.
“After we eat, we’ll head to the tree.” And get her to safety. To home.
Chapter 5
Soleil
He wants me.
I stopped mid-step to make sure he was still following. He smacked a leaf the size of his body out of the way and stepped over crunchy twigs. I’d been sure to select the easiest path for humans, but even so, it was still difficult for him to navigate.
He slowed, resting his hands on his knees.
We had been walking for a long time, each moment taking us further from my territory, and it was making me want to claw the ground. I’d been sure he remained near because out of my territory, he was bait for any Beast.
I waited patiently until he calmed his quick panting. Fog formed near his mouth. This environment would not be good for Mate. It was clearer and clearer his human form wouldn’t survive, just like the others. I cocked my head at him.
“I’m good,” Griffin grunted and shoved forward.
I continued leading until I broke through the wall of foliage where the tree stretched high. After shifting, I stood on two legs and pressed my fists to my hips. The massive tree stretched into the sky, canopying the surroundings so that none of the moonlight speared through.
“We’re here,” he breathed.
I grunted, and he stopped beside me. Looking me over, the fur strips over his eyes got close again. He began to unbutton his shirt.
“You can’t shift into your panther form,” he ordered, still exposing his chest. I was too busy looking at his strong, smooth flesh, aching to sink my teeth into him. “Soleil.” He grabbed my arms, and I focused on his face. “Don’t shift in front of anyone that isn’t me.”
I huffed.
He let my arms go and pulled off his shirt, then in the same move, he spanned it over my back. I stayed still, my eyes wide, but I was so shocked I didn’t stop him from shoving my hands through the sleeves. It rested against my skin, and my shoulders hiked up. It felt off. I tugged at it.
“You have to wear it,” he chastised.
“I don’t like.” I scowled up at him.
His mouth tipped up at the corner. When he did that, it caused a swooping feeling in my belly. He clasped my face between both palms. “You have to.” His teeth flashed, and a sound left him. The stretch of his mouth that reached inside my chest and caused this bubbling feeling.
I pointed at his mouth. “Do that again.” The fur over his eyes pulled together again. “The sound. Do it again.” I tugged the corners of his mouth up.
“Are you talking about laughing?” he mused.
The corners spread, and the fluttery in my stomach exploded again.
“I likethat,” I breathed, and mimicked what I was talking about.
He made a strangled sound. “Ah, you mean smiling.”
I nodded vigorously.And he smiled again.
“Fuck, I can’t wait to have you in our home—” He suddenly stopped talking and blinked. The little fur strip lining his eyesmoved rapidly as the corners turned down into the opposite of a smile, making him look confused.
“Let’s get you home,” he murmured gruffly, and tugged at the front of his clothes until it no longer exposed me. I rubbed the rough clothes between my fingers, yanking to test the strength. “Stay still,” he ordered and finished closing the front by pushing the little circles through the slits. He took my hand in his and lifted it. My fingers remained stiff and out while his pressed into mine.
“Do you know anything about getting back?”
