Robyn wasn’t bluffing. I could see that in the way she watched the family.
“Fine. Go pee. But if you try to run, Iwillchase you.” Which would give me a legitimate excuse to watch her backside until I caught her. “You’re going back to Atlanta even if I have to drag you there.”
“By my hair?” she demanded softly, brows arched to make her point. Then she opened the door to the women’s room and slipped inside.
I waited outside the door with my arms crossed over my chest, ignoring the blatant stares of the other motorists. I was well aware of how the situation looked from the outside. The big bad man in the suit won’t even let his wife or girlfriend go to the bathroom in peace. But they had no idea what was really going on.
Every second that passed raised my blood pressure. If the sun were still up, I might already have been recognized, and every moment I stood there increased the chance of that happening.
I couldnotafford to be on the news again. Not like this.
A toilet flushed inside the bathroom and water ran softly. An electric hand dryer roared for a second before soft footsteps headed my way. I pulled open the door as she got to it and was rewarded with Robyn’s surprised face staring out at me.
“That’s creepy,” she said, flicking several mineral-scented drops of water off her still-wet hands. Into my face.
“I believe the term you’re looking for is ‘courteous.’” I wiped the moisture off my face with my left hand. “That’s what most people call it when one person opens a door for another.”
“Unless that first person is planning to drag the second person back into captivity.”
I started to argue with her characterization of the situation—until I realized how accurate it was. But that wasn’t my fault. “Let’s go.”
“I’ll get in your car because I promised I would,” Robyn whispered as we walked toward my SUV. “But you’re not taking me back to Atlanta.”
I laughed, but the sound held no humor. “Where is it we’re going, according to your delusion?”
“You’re taking me home—that’s the new plan. Toyourhome. So I can talk to Abby.”
Yes. Back to my home, where she reallycouldroll around in my bed for hours.
I wish...
“This isn’t a game, Robyn.” I stopped and shoved my hands into my pocket, to make sure no one still watching would think I was threatening her. “Helping you escape into the free zone would ruin any chance I have of getting my Pride recognized,” I hissed. “Any chance my men have of gaining rights and privileges you clearly take for granted.”
Irritation flashed over her features. “Prison is not a privilege. And anyway, I’m already in the free zone.”
“They don’t have to know that.”Shit. My forehead furrowed as the realization fell into place. “Except Teddy saw me cross the territorial line. You have no idea what you’ve done, do you?” I demanded. “A stray removing one of the council’s tabbies from her territory will be considered an act ofwar. They will invade my territory and attack my men to get you back.”
“You can’t be serious,” she insisted, blue eyes wide.
“Of course I’m serious. That’s why Abby formally defected, instead of just running away. She did it in front of the entire council so that Jace couldn’t be blamed. But you can’t even do that, because you made a deal with them, didn’t you?” A plea deal, according to Abby. “You have to go back.” I reached for her arm again, and again she pulled away.
“No. I don’t belong there.” Her gaze landed on my mouth and seemed snagged there. “I want to stay with you.”
A possessive rumble began deep inside me at her declaration, and it took every bit of self-control I had not to pull her closer and kiss her. The ache to touch her, as she stood there bathed in my scent, was almost more than I could resist.
What the hell is happening to me?It couldn’t be the normal reaction to meeting a tabby. My body had never reacted like that to Faythe or Abby.
“I want to stay with Abby, I mean.” She gave her head a little shake, as if to wake herself up. “At your house. She’s the only friend I have.”
“I’m sorry. I truly am.” More than she would ever know. “But this isn’t up to me.”
Robyn’s eyes widened, and the lights from the parking lot highlighted her impending panic. “I’mnotgoing back. You’re trying to make things better for strays, right? Well, I’m a stray, and I need help. They’re trying to make me get married. They’renegotiatingwith one another about whose son gets to knock me up.”
That growl began again at the verythoughtof someone else touching her, and I swallowed hard, shoving it down.She is not yours, Titus.
“If you mean everything you said about making things better, youhaveto help me.” She took a deep breath and held my gaze with an impressive strength. “I demand sanctuary. As a stray.”
My eyes fell closed, and I groaned as the predicament she’d put me in suddenly zoomed into crystal-clear focus.
