Take Me (23 page)

She tried to get back up again, but the damage was done. Hunter used her moment of vulnerability and jumped on her. The weight of his body pinned hers to the ground.

Fur flew as she swiped at him with her claws; jaws snapped at his neck but missed. They rolled on the hard earth, fighting for dominance.

He locked gazes with her. “
Stop fighting me
,” he said with his mind.

Rage flared in her gaze, and she continued to struggle beneath him.

With a growl of frustration he caught her neck between his teeth, using just enough force to warn her she'd better yield. Relief washed through him when she stilled beneath him.

Shift back, Gemma. Please, I don't want to hurt you.

She tried to swat him again with a claw, but he reared back, missing her attempt.

Realizing fighting was futile, her eyes closed. The fur on her face slowly receded to show smooth ivory skin. She had chosen to obey. Quickly, to avoid crushing her, he rolled off her and shifted back to his human form.

“You have no right,” she rasped.

When he turned to look at her, his heart clenched a bit. She sat on the ground, her knees drawn up to her chest as she glared at him.

Her pale skin seemed luminescent against the greens and browns of the forest. The tawny curls of her hair—which had always fascinated him—tumbled over her shoulders, shielding her breasts from him.

His mouth pursed.
Too bad
. He hadn't seen her naked in years, and it was quite obvious her body had changed since then. Her curves were bolder, whereas before they'd been slight.

He lifted his gaze to hers, wincing slightly at how her brown eyes condemned him.

“Let's not make this any more difficult than it needs to be, angel.”

“Oh, I think it was too late for that the minute you decided to interrupt my wedding day.”

His jaw hardened and he stepped forward. “You will walk with me now to the vehicle.”

“What's option B?”

“I'll carry you.”

Her nostrils flared and the arms around her knees tightened.

“Let me think,” she murmured and then continued to watch him for a moment.

Her lips parted a second later, but words didn't come out. Instead the piercing scream she issued was guaranteed to raise the dead.
Or bring her groom running.