“Do you ever try to imagine what it’s like for our women to live with men like us, Eli? We’re not easy and we’ll never be easy. I don’t like her out of my sight. That can smother an ordinary woman. I’m the one in control, although I’ve done everything I can to make certain she feels she’s on equal footing with me, but we both know the bottom line is I’d never let her go. She’s my world. I swear to God, I lose that woman and I’m lost too, kids or no kids. And I love my children with everything in me.”

Eli raked his hand through his hair. He’d already known what Jake was saying to him. He wasn’t an easy man, and he didn’t have a lot of friendships. He was rough and arrogant and bossy and he liked control. His emotions were generally held in check, until Catarina came into his life. Suddenly everything was different. His feelings for her were intense, bordering on obsession. Letting go, even a little, was terrifying. He didn’t know if he was that strong.

“You get me, Eli?” Jake said softly. “She has to know she’s your world if you’re going to be you. You have to allow her to see all of you, even the worst parts. She has to accept and love those parts too. Then it’s her choice. She stays because she loves you no matter what.”

“You have no idea how fucked up I can get, Jake,” Eli said. “She’s already experienced some of it.”

Jake shrugged. “We’re shifters. That isn’t an excuse to treat our women rough, or get away with crap, because we’re in control of our leopards, and that means being in control of us. But we’re going to screw up. Catarina’s strong or she never would have survived Cordeau’s household. She can take you on and tame the wild when it comes. Let her. Give her that. I’m talking from experience. I’m no picnic, and Emma, well . . .” He trailed off, and looked toward the kitchen where another burst of laughter warmed both of them.