He sighed. “His moods are fierce and passionate. Obviously they affect me. He’s bad-tempered and he doesn’t like bullshit. I have to keep a strong hold on him all the time.”

She wiggled to get free and was surprised when he let her go. Surprised and maybe a little disappointed. She slipped back in her chair and picked up her coffee cup again. The coffee was cold, but it gave her something to do.

“I want to see him. Your leopard. And I want to watch him run.” The moment she blurted it out, her heart began to pound. She hadn’t meant to say that, it just slipped out. She’d been thinking about it, but she wasn’t certain she was ready for it.

The smile faded from his face. He took the coffee cup from her hand and set it on the table and reached both hands to frame her face. “Catarina, you’re terrified of my leopard. Why would you ask to see him?”

There was no way to avoid his eyes. All amber. When he looked at her, she always felt like she was the only woman in his world and he didn’t see anything or anybody but her. That wasn’t the truth because he was always aware of everything around him, but still, he made her feel that way.

“I am afraid, Eli, I’m not going to lie. But I’ve only seen one in a rage and he hurt me. It hurt for weeks. I have nightmares about his leopard. I really thought I was going to die. And then on top of that, I believe absolutely that he allows the leopard to hunt and kill humans. People disappear and he’s suspected of getting rid of them, but no one can prove it. I’m terrified and I’ve got one in me. I don’t want to be a monster. I don’t want to live as a monster or knowing I’m living with one.”

He bent forward until his lips brushed hers. “I understand. I know a lot of shifters, Cat. I’ll introduce you to a few someday. They’re good people. They risk their lives to help people in trouble. Their leopards don’t hunt and kill anything human, nor does mine. I would never allow my leopard to hunt and kill for sport.”

Her heart was doing a strange fluttery thing again, just because he was so gentle with her. His kiss was featherlight, barely there, but she felt it all the way to her toes.

“You’ll show me then?”

“Why do you want to see him run free?”