Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 127461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 637(@200wpm)___ 510(@250wpm)___ 425(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127461 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 637(@200wpm)___ 510(@250wpm)___ 425(@300wpm)
“I can’t imagine why not. Especially since shooting Rogue in the butt means winging you as well. That’s a double bonus right there.” Maya’s eyes sparkled.
Gorya thought he might be able to sit there forever with her, teasing back and forth. It was an entirely new experience for him and one he found he enjoyed. Watching her was half the fun. He’d never had fun. He hadn’t really known what it was. He’d built the house in order to relax and to allow Rogue the same peace once they were inside, away from others, but that wasn’t the same.
“Are you saying you wouldn’t have a problem shooting me in the ass?”
“Not at all. You or that despicable leopard of yours,” she assured him. “Knife, gun, doesn’t matter. Either one of you gets out of line and needs a little reminder, I’m your girl. I have no scruples at all. I have all kinds of flaws.”
“I’m not sure that particular character trait is a flaw.”
Her musical laughter spilled over again, filling his heart with joy. Joy was another emotion he hadn’t known. For just a brief moment, light shone into that place inside him where it was always cold and dark, illuminating something ugly, sending it scurrying away from the brightness.
“That’s a good thing, Gorya, if you’re really planning on living with me. I feel very comfortable when I’m carrying weapons and extremely naked without them.”
Deliberately, he ran his gaze over her, leering a bit and wiggling his eyebrows, trying to look like a lech. “Naked?”
The throwing knife shaved a thread from his sleeve as the blade sank into the curved back of the chair. He laughed. The sound startled him. He couldn’t remember actually laughing before. Even Rogue sat up and took notice.
“We’re going to need new walls and furniture if the two of us keep this up,” he pointed out. She’d been fast—so fast he hadn’t seen her draw the knife. The throw had been a blur. She was damn accurate.
“I like these chairs too,” she said. “I’ll try to restrain myself, but don’t do the eyebrow thing. It’s just nasty.”
But she was laughing. Really laughing. He liked that he’d made her really laugh. Her eyes had gone a deeper blue and seemed to sparkle like gems. That beautiful bow of a mouth gleamed, lips parted, her white teeth showing as she threw her head back. She even pressed a hand to her stomach as if all the laughter hurt her. He suspected genuine laughter was as rare for her as it was for him. It felt good to give her that. A gift for them both.
“I’m going to practice in the mirror every morning,” he threatened. “I’m impressed with your throwing skills. I should be equally as good at provoking you.”
“I have no doubt you won’t need to practice. I think you’re going to be so obnoxious naturally that you won’t have to. And that leopard of yours is going to be worse.”
Gorya nodded in agreement. “He isn’t cute and cuddly.” Do you hear that? She’s got your number, you old rogue. She isn’t going to be deceived the way her leopard has been. She doesn’t think you’re adorable.
Wraith knows I’m a capable fighter. She appreciates that in me.
She knows you prance around with your ridiculous swagger, bragging about what a fighter you are.
It isn’t bragging if it’s true, Rogue pointed out.
“Are you arguing with your cat again?” Maya teased. “Because it sounds like it to me.”
Gorya went still. Rogue did as well. “You can hear us?”
Maya’s smile vanished instantly. She gave a little shake of her head. In that instant she was transformed. Her blond hair flew and then settled around her chin, giving her a pixie appearance. She looked innocent, her eyes wide and once more that blue-gray that gave away nothing.
“Of course not. It was just a way of speaking.”
Gorya couldn’t detect deceit in her voice, but he knew she was lying. The disappointment was overwhelming. “Maya.” He kept his tone low. Made certain there was no judgment, no reprimand. This was a learning process. They were both going to make mistakes. “We’re in this together. We promised to tell the truth to each other.”
Maya didn’t look away from him, but faint color stole up her cheeks. “It isn’t easy when I’m used to protecting myself.”
“I know, baby. I’m right there with you in that same boat. I’m fairly certain you’re going to be reminding me often.” She’d taken his prompting well. Leopards were secretive creatures. Shifters were even more so.
“It isn’t as if I hear the talk between a shifter and his leopard. I see images the leopard is projecting to the shifter. I connect mainly to the leopard. That’s one of the ways I track the man I’m hunting. Once I lock onto his leopard, he can’t escape me. His leopard never gives me away. I can go right into his house and stand over him.”