The tips of her fingers and toes burned. Ached. Became painful. Nails burst through, curved and thick and very scary-looking. Her wrists curved, her mouth felt too small for her teeth.

Now, Bebe. Come to him now. She let go. Joyously. Embracing that moment. Letting her female know she was overjoyed.

Bebe rose fast without hesitation, her small body falling to the ground, legs under her, her fur golden with black rosettes. She lifted her face and scented her male close to her. Too close. She gave him a look that told him to back off. She wasn’t ready yet. Not by a long shot.

The male moved against her, his fur sliding along hers, his heavier body warning her to be cautious. She snarled and swiped one paw at him, leapt the wall and bounded away. The male leopard followed at a distance, careful to keep her in sight at all times, scenting the night for other males, watching to see his mate came to no harm.

He allowed her to run free, to experience the wonder of the outside, the freedom of sprinting, of finding every new smell, every pond and rodent, the downed tree trunks, the arboreal highway Antonio Arnotto had planned so many years earlier. The estate was large, and he had built and planted every single acre with leopards in mind. It was perfect.

Deep in Bebe’s body, Evangeline rejoiced. Seeing the estate through her leopard’s eyes, knowing the joy her female was experiencing, she decided she was going to have to revisit the fact that Siena Arnotto Lospostos was willing to give or sell the estate to Alonzo.

I love this, Bebe told her.

I love this for you. Your mate is gettin’ closer. She couldn’t help teasing her female. Her leopard was beautiful. Gorgeous. He’s gettin’ vocal and amorous.

I hear him. Bebe gave a little sniff of disdain.

She was close though. Even inside her, without her own body, Evangeline could feel the ferocious need building stronger and stronger. She retreated more to give her little leopard privacy with her mate.

Bebe raced through the woods, playfully pawing at rotting vegetation just to see what emerged. All the while she was conscious of the male following her. He was very large and a little intimidating, but she had the upper hand and she knew it. She teased him, showing off, rubbing along tree trunks to spread her alluring scent, making certain he caught it.

He made little chuffing sounds. In truth, she loved the way he called to her, but she wasn’t ready to give up her freedom. She wanted to see everything she could before the night was over. The burning sensation deep inside her wouldn’t let her alone. She found herself calling back to the male until he ran beside her. He wasn’t playful in the least, but he didn’t try to stop her.