“Maybe not.There must be an explanation, a reason why Sheera and Leeam are trapped here.”
“You think it’s them and not something else?”
Ellard sighed.“If it’s another being, we might be in trouble.I prefer to stay with my theories until I have proof to the contrary.”
Gweneth smiled into the blacklight.Her too, because she could use this to advance her courtship.She rolled closer, and Ellard’s good arm came around her.Without hurrying, she aimed in the general direction of his mouth.Her lips grazed his shoulder and moved on to the base of his neck, where it met his shoulder.
A small rush of air escaped him, and she grinned.This time, she pressed a harder kiss in that spot and added a bit of suction.
Ellard froze.He moaned and jerked from her touch.
“Is something wrong?”Gweneth knew of her crime.A cheeky move, but necessary if she wanted to keep Ellard off-balance.
“Don’t kiss me there.”
“Why not?”Despite the reduced light, her feline half allowed her to see him.His green eyes held a storm of confusion and sensual heat.All emotion that offered encouragement.Somehow, she needed to maneuver him into taking the next step.She wanted him.Her feline wanted him, yet she sensed he needed to make this decision on his own.In this, she shouldn’t push.
“Gweneth, playing dumb doesn’t suit you.”
His terse words stung, and she glanced away from his stern visage.He was right, damn it.Manipulation wouldn’t win his love.She needed to fight fair and square, to seduce and show him her heart.They had to get to understand one another, their strengths and weaknesses.No tricks.
“I’m sorry.I…I got carried away.Ellard, I wish you would see yourself in the way I see you.”The words, while impulsive, grabbed his attention.His frown dispersed.
“How do you see me?”
“I see a good and loyal man, a feline with a true heart.I see someone who would do anything for his family or friends.I see a feline male I could love and trust.”
The silence throbbed between them, and she wondered if she’d gone too far.
“Women never take a second glance at me,” he said finally.
He watched her with his cat-green gaze, his attention solely on her.Her heart began to thud instead of simply beat.Thud, thud, thud.Impossibly fast.
“Who do they look at?What do you think they see?”she whispered.
“Before Jarlath found Keira, they looked at him, and the women from the upper level families decided if they paid attention to me, they might have a chance of Jarlath returning their interest.The felines we met and the ones we socialized with used me to get to Shiloh and Lynx.The House of Cawdor used me to put a plan in place to cut the House of the Cat off at the knee.The fact a beautiful woman paid attention shocked me, and I never looked deeper or asked the questions that might have stopped their plan.”
“You can’t let the past color your actions.”
“Why not?We learn by experience.It’s how we grow.”
“That’s true, but we shouldn’t feel sorry for ourselves either.People are blind not to see the real you.When you smile, your eyes glow.You have beautiful eyes, Ellard.Seeing you that way makes my heart beat faster, my insides turn to mush, and I start thinking about—”
“Don’t finish that thought.”
“You’re not frightened of a little frank talk about sex?”
His sharp intake of air and the subsequent gritting of his teeth made her pulse race even faster.“You’re too young for me, and you’re so beautiful.Looking at you makes my teeth hurt.”
Gweneth stared in astonishment.Was that a confession of his sexual attraction to her?
“What happens if you change your mind?”His low, impassioned words held fear and betrayal and truth, yet a thread of hope underpinned the emotions.
Gweneth sensed she might have a chance if she handled his objections carefully.A faint one, but she had to find the right words, which meant sharing part of her hidden self.“You think I’ll change my mind?That my feline is steering me wrong?”
“I think you’re young.You’ve spent time with Ry and Camryn, exploring different worlds during your voyage to Viros.You haven’t met many males your age.You should have fun rather than stress about your future.”
“I’m not too young to know my own mind.”
