Mostly he paid attention to how tired she got. They’d both been working hard on conditioning and self-defense, mostly hand to hand, but she put in time on the gun range as well. He wasn’t easy on her, in spite of the long nights of frenzied sex and their leopards being just as crazy, driving them both without mercy. The moment he saw her stifle a yawn, he was up, taking her hand and making their good-byes.

Catarina lingered, chatting with Emma, promising another visit soon when he caught the second yawn. He tugged her away from their friends, walking her out to the pickup. Before she could protest, he caught Catarina around her waist and lifted her into the cab, reached across her to snap her seat belt, firmly closed the door and walked around to the driver’s side. Jake’s laughter followed him every step. No doubt the man knew exactly what he was thinking, but Eli didn’t care.

He waved as he drove out, past the guards at the gate and onto the road leading back to their home.

“That was fun,” Catarina said. “I didn’t expect it to be. Thank you for introducing me to Emma. She’s wonderful. And she knows so much about shifters.”

He glanced at her. “Anything you want to know about shifters, baby, you just have to ask.”

“I know. You always answer my questions, Eli, and I love that about you. I can’t tell you how important it is to me that you care enough to answer my questions.” She glanced out the window into the night. “You’ve made my life so different.”

“I want your life to be everything you’ve ever dreamt about.”

Her head turned toward him. Her eyes were soft. “I never dreamt about anything but getting away from Rafe. I don’t think I know what normal is, but I’m happy. Really, really happy, and you’ve done that.”

He reached out and tugged at her braid, a reminder that he liked her hair down. “I want you to feel safe as well, Cat. I don’t like that you were still afraid to meet our neighbors because you thought Cordeau might hurt them.”

There was no hesitation. None at all. Catarina’s hands went up to her hair and she began removing pins until the thick braid fell free, snaking down her shoulder to pool on the seat. She began working on the tie, absently, as if she wasn’t paying the least attention. “I was afraid. I think it’s an automatic reaction, but it’s getting less. I wasn’t so paranoid that I refused to go.”

“You could have,” Eli said. “You know that, right? You don’t have to do everything I say.”