Page 24 of Bad Blood Wolf

He opened his eyes again, scanning the trees. He thought he saw a bulky shadow, but then he blinked and it was gone.

The prickle on his spine turned to goose bumps.

Then he saw her.

A sinuous shadow on the other side of the clearing, near where a path led to two darkened structures that looked like trailers. He’d know her anywhere.

The shadowy form paused, and its head turned toward him. He saw the flash of green-gold eyes, and a glimpse of tawny spotted fur.

He held his breath.

She didn’t acknowledge him. She just jumped onto the roof of one of the sheds that lined the edge of the clearing. He heard the creak of skylight hinges, and then she jumped down inside the building and disappeared.

Was that an invitation? Or a ‘fuck you’? Brody shook his head. Didn’t matter. He was here now, and there was no sense in wasting a perfectly good death wish.

He strode over to the shed, knocked once, and then opened the door and stepped inside.

The inside of the shed was like a damn monk’s cell. Maybe fifteen by twelve, with a woodstove in the corner, bare sheetrock walls and hardly any furniture.

And a deadly jaguar, who somehow looked bigger inside the small space. She was half-crouched on the futon, hackles raised, making small snarling noises in her throat.

Oh, shit. He raised her pile of clothes in front of him like a shield. Or an offering to an angry goddess.

“I brought your clothes back. And your keys, and your money.” He fumbled in his pocket, bringing out the keys and the cash.

Jasmin was still making those throaty noises, and her muscles quivered like she was holding herself back from attacking.

He’d been right the first time. Bad, bad idea.

And then her scent hit him. Wild and spicy, and angry and… scared.

Holy shit, she was terrified.

The realization cut through him like a knife. The Demon Queen of the Amazon shouldn’t be this scared. It physically hurt him, and all he could think about was making it better.

He let the pile of stuff drop, not even caring that it scattered on the floor. He stepped forward, hands out with his palms toward her.

“Hey there. You okay?” The growling eased, and she stared at him with those gorgeous eyes, the tip of her tail twitching.

He kept moving, very slowly, speaking softly and trying not to spook her. What had he done that scared her so much?

“I’m sorry,” he murmured. “I don’t know what I did, but whatever it was, I didn’t mean it. Can you Change and talk to me?”

She made those noises again, low and distressed.

“Okay. It’s okay. You don’t have to Change. You’re fine. You’re beautiful.”

He reached the edge of the futon and knelt. She didn’t attack. She didn’t move.

“Can I touch you?”

The noises in her throat stopped, and her eyes widened. Fear? Surprise?

What the hell. He could probably get out the door and make it to the car before she killed him.

He reached out one hand and rubbed it lightly up the side of her face.

No bite. No claws.