“Oh my God.” Of course. Bebe, I’m here with you. It’s happening right now. My bones ache. My joints. Every part of me is making way for you. It’s your time and you’re going to love the freedom. You’ll love your mate the way I love mine. She poured reassurance into her mind, swamping her cat with her confidence.

So hot. Can’t stand it. I have to stretch. I have to rise closer. I don’t want to hurt you.

It won’t hurt me, silly. This is what we are together. You’re supposed to emerge.

Her leopard had protected her for so long, she feared that appalling, ferocious burn would consume Evangeline if she tried to emerge. Evangeline understood now why females didn’t show themselves until that moment. The fire was too hot and the fear too great. She reached for her leopard, soothing her in spite of the way her own body hurt and felt as if it would never be sated.

Her man was moving in her again, and she didn’t have far to go before she was coming again and again, that wonderful, frightening high that threw her soaring and fragmenting. She needed to fragment. Her skull ached. Her jaw. The hands under her couldn’t lay flat, her fingers curling and her joints making terrible popping sounds.

Deep inside she felt Alonzo’s hot release, his seed pouring into her, triggering an even bigger orgasm. This one took her by surprise. She didn’t think it was possible to let go again, to have the sensations consume her. She collapsed completely onto the stone walkway. Alonzo immediately pulled out of her and crawled up beside her.

“I’m going to shift, Evangeline. She’ll rise faster for him. Don’t be afraid of it, just let go. You’ll still be there, I promise. The freedom as a leopard is unbelievable.”

She nodded, unable to speak, still gasping for breath, still on fire. She wasn’t a frightened little girl. She was a strong woman, and she knew about shifters almost from the day she was born. She wanted her leopard to emerge. She wanted that for her. The female deserved every moment of happiness she could have.

Alonzo leaned into her and took her mouth. Gently. Tenderly. So lovingly tears burned behind her eyelids. Then he was gone so fast she hadn’t even blinked. In his place was his massive leopard. So beautiful. All roped muscle and long, amazing fur.

The male rubbed his face all over her back and sides. Along her shoulders, down her buttocks to her thighs and then her calves. Everywhere his fur touched, her skin burned, but she could feel her female rising faster and faster toward the male scent marking her.