Page 143 of Beasts of Mine

“You absolutely are.” I told Tavian through my laughter, wiping beneath one eye.

“I have a perfectly normal purr.” Tavian insisted, folding his arms while the very thing he was defending rolled steadily beneath them.

“You sound like someone left farm equipment running.” I finally had to set the camera bag down because Tavian’s offended face made it impossible to hold anything expensive safely.

“That is incredibly rude.” Tavian crossed his arms more firmly over his chest, his mouth pulling into an affronted line while the purr continued vibrating through him.

“You deserve it.” I wiped beneath one eye and tried unsuccessfully to bring my laughter under control.

“I have a nice purr.” Tavian insisted, looking personally wounded by my lack of appreciation.

“You have an aggressive purr.” I corrected Tavian, leaning one hand against the rock when another laugh escaped me.

“I’m an enthusiastic person.” Tavian spread his hands as though that settled everything.

“That is the first accurate thing you’ve said all morning.” I backed away when Tavian started toward me, the grin returning to his face telling me I had just become his next source of entertainment.

“You insulted my purr.” Tavian followed when I moved around the edge of the rock, stalking after me with exaggerated menace while his attention stayed fixed on me.

“I described your purr.” I corrected Tavian while backing farther away, keeping one hand near the rock so I didn’t trip over something while watching him instead of the ground.

“You need consequences.” Tavian’s smile widened as he followed, deliberately slowing his steps so I had plenty of time to see him coming.

“That sounds threatening.” I told Tavian, although the laugh beneath my voice destroyed any real alarm.

“It is.” Tavian replied with mock seriousness, keeping his pace slow enough to make it obvious he was drawing the chase out rather than actually trying to catch me.

“You realize I can just leave.” I glanced toward the trail while continuing around the rock, even though we both knew I wasn’t going anywhere.

“You won’t.” Tavian replied confidently, matching every step I took.

“You are way too sure of yourself.” I accused Tavian, pointing at him while continuing to retreat.

“You like me this way.” Tavian answered, ducking easily beneath a fern frond as he circled the rock after me.

“That is an outrageous assumption.” I told Tavian, moving another step backward while the cool spray from the waterfall settled against my arms.

“You’re still here.” Tavian pointed out, looking far too satisfied with his own evidence.

“I am working here.” I reminded Tavian, gesturing broadly toward the waterfall and the camera equipment sitting safely several yards away.

“Still here.” Tavian repeated, laughter beginning to work its way into his voice.

“You are impossible.” I muttered, shaking my head even though I was smiling enough to make the complaint nearly useless. Tavian closed some of the distance between us, but this time he stopped instead of simply reaching for me. The grin remained, though the challenge in his eyes shifted as he glanced at the small space between us.

“Can I catch you?” Tavian asked, amusement warming his voice as he held both hands loosely at his sides instead of assuming the chase gave him permission to put them on me.

The question caught me off guard for half a second, then I smiled.

“You can try.” I challenged Tavian, deliberately taking another step backward while raising my eyebrows at him.

That was apparently all the invitation he needed. Tavian laughed and closed the remaining distance between us. I made it around one more stone before he caught me around the waist from behind, pulling me back against him with enough care that neither of us lost our footing. His body was warm along my back, one forearm secure across my stomach while the ridiculous purr vibrated through both of us.

“Caught you.” Tavian murmured near my ear, satisfaction obvious in his voice as he settled his footing behind mine and made sure I was steady before relaxing his hold.

“You cheated.” I braced one hand over Tavian’s forearm, feeling muscle shift beneath my palm when he laughed against the side of my hair.

“I’m faster than you.” Tavian reminded me, sounding far too pleased with that fact as his fingers loosened slightly around my waist.