She rubbed along another tree and then dropped down, panting, crouching. At once the heavy male was on her. Before he could bite down on her nape to hold her in place, she sprang away, swiping leaves at him, snarling to tell him to back off. He simply followed her. Now, she could see, he was all business and purpose. That was a little thrilling, and scary.

She couldn’t stop herself from crouching again, and he was on her, his teeth sinking in to hold her. The bite of pain gave way to something altogether different as the male took possession of her.

From that moment on, all through the night and most of the dawn, the two leopards were side by side when he wasn’t claiming her. He showed her the outside world, every water source, every bit of cover. They ran together, lay together, but mostly the male took her, claiming her for his own over and over.

Light streaked across the sky when he turned her back to the house. They moved together to the side entrance leading to Alonzo’s room. Timur was there to open the door for them, letting them into the sleeping chamber. The male leopard leapt onto the bed and she followed suit. He curled protectively around her, and exhausted, she fell asleep.

17

POUNDING on the door penetrated Evangeline’s sleep. She moved, trying to pry open her eyelids. It was impossible. A stone lay across her. She couldn’t move at all and she was way too tired to care. She managed to get her eyes open partially and the light nearly blinded her. She groaned in protest.

“Go away,” Alonzo snarled.

“Cops are here,” Sevastyan informed them. “Timur might shoot them if you don’t get out here.”

“Let him,” Alonzo muttered and buried his face in the hollow between her neck and shoulder.

Evangeline had to agree with Alonzo. She wasn’t moving. Even the smallest of movements sent an ache spiraling through every muscle and bone in her body. Her leg, where she’d been shot, burned as if she’d run for miles on it—and maybe she had.

There was more pounding. Alonzo threw a pillow at the door. Evangeline hissed and then tried to pull the covers over her head. “Go away, Sevastyan.” The covers were under her. Under both of them. With Alonzo on top of her, she could barely breathe.

“You’re heavy.” She wasn’t certain it was a complaint. She didn’t want to move and breathing hurt anyway. He was warm and all muscle. He felt—nice.

“Spread your legs.” He nuzzled her throat.

“No. I can’t move. Not one single muscle.”

He bit down gently on her chin and then suckled at the side of her neck, right over the spot where her pulse was beginning to accelerate.

“Yes.” His knee slid between her legs and nudged.