He pulled onto the private road that led to their home. “Still, you have to know there’s some things I can’t give you. No matter how much I want to, I won’t risk your life for any reason.”

He felt her eyes on him but he didn’t look at her. He couldn’t. He was still inside. Waiting. This moment was too important to him. Her acceptance of who and what he was. He wanted to give her the real Eli, good and bad, and let her make her choice—she was seeing it now. He would be implacable, immovable, when it came to safety and health issues. She had to see that in him. He would ride roughshod over her and he’d win—even if it meant losing in the end.

“Okay, Eli. I get that,” she said softly. “We’ll work it out. You always tell me to talk to you when things are important to me or if I have questions. I’m learning to do that. You have to promise to do the same. Don’t dictate to me when it’s an important issue to you. Talk to me about it so I understand what it means to you.”

Sheer relief had him tightening his fingers around hers. “That’s a promise, baby.” She was his. She was perfect for him. She “got” him and took him just the way he was. She wouldn’t always like it and she had an unexpected temper that he liked, but she was still choosing him.

17

“ELI.” Catarina stopped abruptly as they walked up to the front door. Her heart jerked hard and began to pound. She tasted fear in her mouth. “Someone’s been here.” Even her leopard had gone on alert.

Eli’s arm snaked around her waist and he pulled her body into his, leaned his chin over her shoulder and placed his lips against her ear. “Good girl. I was hoping you’d feel it. Inhale and let your leopard senses free. Tell me who was here.”

Catarina pushed down the fear. Eli wasn’t pushing her behind him as he normally would if there was danger surrounding them. She did as he said, took a deep breath. Immediately her leopard rose to aid her. There were three distinct scents. All male. Leopards. Her female knew that. She had smelled them before.

“Joshua,” she said.

He nodded and brushed his lips against her ear. “Good, baby, he was here. Who else?”

She made a face, even though his warm praise made her glow inside. “Elijah.”

“He isn’t part of the criminal world, Cat.”

She heard the quiet patience in his voice. “He’s head of a major crime syndicate, Eli. You don’t have to believe me.”