“Are you listenin’ to me? You’re goin’ to have to start payin’ attention to what I say, honey, because in spite of the fact that I appear to be sweet, I have a nasty temper. I am leopard, after all.”

That brought him up short. He stopped pacing abruptly and turned to face her. Her heart fluttered at the sudden surge of hope in his eyes. It quickly faded to be replaced by ice, but she’d seen it. It was too late for him to cover up his feelings. He had intense emotions and those feelings were all for her.

“I’m listening.”

She could see him bracing himself for condemnation. “I didn’t say I was leavin’, you just jumped to that conclusion. I’m not made of porcelain. You’re—amazin’. An amazin’, incredible man. I looked at those steel bars and wanted to weep for you. I can’t imagine how difficult it’s been with your leopard so vicious with the need to spill blood.”

He didn’t blink. Didn’t take his gaze from hers. He looked as if he were holding his breath. “I don’t understand.”

She wanted to smile, but she didn’t. She just kept looking up at him, letting him see how she felt inside. She had made that commitment to him months earlier, she just hadn’t known. Even taking the leopards out of the equation, she knew Fyodor was hers. Born for her. And she’d been born for him.

“Evangeline? You called me ‘honey.’ I like that. I like hearing you say that. You don’t call anyone else that.”

“No, I don’.”

“Damn it, woman.” He raked his hand through his hair with a jerky motion. He was always so smooth. That little telltale sign of nerves endeared him to her even more.

“You need to just say it straight up. What the hell are you thinking?”

“I’m thinkin’ my man might just be a little slow on the uptake. Why would you think I would run now?”

“The bars on the windows. The fact that my male is vicious. I don’t expect you to understand what he’s been through and I’m not going to defend him, but I’ll protect him. From himself and from others.”

“You don’ have to do that with me. If I accept you as my man, then I have to accept your leopard. My female is part of me. We might be separate entities, but we’re still one. I love her. I’ll protect her with everythin’ in me. I imagine it’s the same for you. Acceptin’ you means every part of you, and that’s your leopard too. My female will help me. She’s a bit enamored with him at the moment, but she’s slowly risin’. Once she gets through her first heat, she won’t tolerate any nonsense from him.”