To Catch His Mate (Crescent Moon Series Book 5) (11 page)
Read To Catch His Mate (Crescent Moon Series Book 5) Online
Authors: Savannah Stuart,Katie Reus
Without pause or apology, he turned and hurried toward one of the transport platforms. He would do anything she asked, even if it meant leaving his own brother’s funeral. Gage would understand. Still holding her tight, he punched in the code to their home. Moments later they stood in their main living space. The once bright fire burning in the stone hearth had dwindled considerably.
As soon as she realized where they were, Saroya shook herself and stepped away from him. Her electric blue eyes glittered with unshed tears. They looked like the bright gems found deep in Lumineta’s mountains. As rare as she was.
“I’m sorry.” Her voice was soft, hoarse.
He frowned, and against his better judgment, he cupped her cheek. Touching her was like touching fire but at this moment he didn’t care. He’d just lost his brother and the only female he’d ever cared about stood before him in pain. “For what?”
She ducked his gaze and stared at the stone floor. Her hands plucked at the sides of her shift. “For shaming you. I should have controlled myself.”
He forced her chin upward with his finger. “You have nothing to be sorry for. I don’t care what anyone thinks.”
As their eyes locked, her blue ones filled with too many emotions for him to register. Confusion, pain and something he didn’t understand. Finally she spoke but her voice was strained. “Will you be bringing someone else into our union after the mourning period?”
“No!” The word came out louder and sooner than he’d intended. He hadn’t expected the question. Though maybe he should have. With the higher ratio of males to females, it was standard practice among his people to bring in another male after six moon cycles. But that wasn’t going to happen. Even if his leader demanded it. He would not. Not for anyone.
Her brows knitted together. “Then you wish to let me choose…someone else?” Her voice cracked on the last word as more tears spilled down her cheeks.
Had she lost her mind?
“Why would you ask that?”
Confusion and a trace of hurt clouded her expression. “You’ve never touched me. Barely look at me. I thought you might want me out of your house. Maybe I’m not your…preference?”
If he looked at her too much the pain made it difficult to breathe. “You were my brother’s female and this is your house too.”
Her frown deepened. “According to your culture, I’m yours too. We’re technically mated. Unless you decide you don’t want me.”
He sighed. It had taken most of her females many moon cycles to get used to his people’s way of life. Some still hadn’t chosen males. Saroya had taken to their way of life quickly because of her feelings for his brother. The speed with which she’d embraced their world had made it even harder to keep his hands off her. But he hadn’t been willing to touch her when it had been so obvious she loved his brother. It didn’t matter that he’d been within his rights. Why would she want him, a scarred warrior? He struggled to find the words without confusing her. “I don’t share.”
She tucked her bottom lip between her teeth as she digested his words. “So you
do
wish for me in your bed?”
“No,
yes
. I…” Was there a right answer to her question?
Her eyes flared for a moment, then she shook her head. “I don’t even know why I’m asking about this now,” she muttered as if she were speaking to herself.
Before he could think of a response, she turned and strode from the room. The soft-soled slippers she wore were silent against the cold floor. Every fiber inside him told him to go after her, to comfort her, but his legs wouldn’t listen.
Excerpt from
Unleashed Temptation
Miami Scorcher Series
by Savannah Stuart
Copyright © 2015 Savannah Stuart
Scrubbing a hand over his face, Nick Lazos sank into his comfortable chair with a sigh. He turned on his computer and sat back, waiting for it to start. After the last disastrous interview, he seriously hoped he had some new responses to his want ad. He couldn’t keep doing all this admin stuff on top of everything else.
When there was a soft knock at his office door he glanced at the wall clock. Inwardly he groaned. Even though he needed a new accountant, he’d been hoping the last interviewee wouldn’t show up today. His mother had talked him into interviewing one of her friend’s granddaughters. If she was anything like the last woman his mom had recommended—he fought off a shudder.
“Come in,” he barked. Better get this over with.
The door creaked open and for a moment, he forgot to breathe. This could
not
be the woman here to interview.
A pretty redhead took a couple tentative steps inside. Her ivory cheeks were flushed a delectable shade of pink. “Hi, I’m Carly Kendall. I hope I’m not late.”
Somehow he found his voice. “You’re right on time.” Instinctively he stood and motioned for her to sit across the desk. Now he wished he’d taken a few minutes to straighten up.
She wore a respectable dark blue pencil skirt and button-down blouse, but the effect on her was ‘naughty librarian’. Which was the last thing he should be thinking about. The shape of her perfectly rounded breasts pressed against her top and all he could think about doing was unbuttoning it and peeling it open slowly, inch by inch, as her delectable body was revealed to him.
What the
fuck
was wrong with him? He mentally shook himself, needing to get his shit together.
He wasn’t some horny fucking adolescent, but something about her scent was making him crazy. It was unusual, like a spring rain and a hint of raspberries— Crap, she was saying something.
“I appreciate you taking the time to interview me. I wasn’t sure if you had it so here’s my résumé.” She slid it across the desk as she spoke.
“Why don’t you tell me a little about yourself and why you want to work here?” There, he got out a coherent sentence. He deserved a freaking medal for being able to talk when she was staring at him with those big blue eyes, begging him to do all sorts of bad things. Damn, he could practically feel his canines extending. As a werewolf, he’d learned to control his urges as a pup. For some reason, his primal instinct was overruling all those ingrained rules. When she nervously moistened her lips he realized he was staring a little too hard.
Nick quickly glanced at her résumé. “Finance?” Good for him. Another word. He looked up again.
A real smile touched her shiny pink, oh-so-kissable lips. “Yes. After college I started working at…”
Oh shit. Shit, shit, shit!
He’d always had a thing for redheads. Funny that he’d never dated one, but especially not a human one. And now his living, breathing fantasy wanted to work for him. She wasn’t glamorous or exotic—
or a shifter
—but she was
exactly
his type. Something he hadn’t realized he even had until she’d walked through the door of his office. Adorable freckles splattered her nose and cheeks, giving her an innocent quality he usually detested.
He wanted a woman with experience. Too bad his dick had other plans. It had taken one look at sexy Ms. Kendall and gone on red alert. What
the fuck
was wrong with him? He’d been in her presence sixty seconds and he felt like one of his barbaric ancestors, ready to take her back to his cave and claim her. Hell, maybe his ancestors had been on to something because that sounded like a damn good idea.
Acknowledgments
As usual I owe thanks to Kari, Carolyn, Joan and Sarah. Thank you guys for all that you do! I’m also grateful to Jaycee with Sweet ‘N Spicy Designs for her design work and always working with me. Last but never least I owe a big thank you to my wonderful readers! Thank you all for reading my books.
Savannah Stuart Complete Booklist
Miami Scorcher Series
Unleashed Temptation
Worth the Risk
Power Unleashed
Dangerous Craving
Desire Unleashed
Crescent Moon Series
Taming the Alpha
Claiming His Mate
Tempting His Mate
Saving His Mate
To Catch His Mate
Futuristic Romance
Heated Mating
Claiming Her Warriors
Claimed by the Warrior
Contemporary Romance
Adrianna’s Cowboy
Dangerous Deception
Everything to Lose
Tempting Alibi
Tempting Target
Tempting Trouble
Katie Reus Complete Booklist
Red Stone Security Series
No One to Trust
Danger Next Door
Fatal Deception
Miami, Mistletoe & Murder
His to Protect
Breaking Her Rules
Protecting His Witness
Sinful Seduction
Under His Protection
Deadly Fallout
Sworn to Protect
The Serafina: Sin City Series
First Surrender
Sensual Surrender
Sweetest Surrender
Dangerous Surrender
Deadly Ops Series
Targeted
Bound to Danger
Chasing Danger (novella)
Shattered Duty
Edge of Danger
A Covert Affair
Non-series Romantic Suspense
Running From the Past
Dangerous Secrets
Killer Secrets
Deadly Obsession
Danger in Paradise
His Secret Past
Retribution
Paranormal Romance
Destined Mate
Protector’s Mate
A Jaguar’s Kiss
Tempting the Jaguar
Enemy Mine
Heart of the Jaguar
Moon Shifter Series
Alpha Instinct
Lover’s Instinct (novella)
Primal Possession
Mating Instinct
His Untamed Desire (novella)
Avenger’s Heat
Hunter Reborn
Protective Instinct (novella)
Darkness Series
Darkness Awakened
Taste of Darkness
Beyond the Darkness
Hunted by Darkness
Into the Darkness
About the Author
Savannah Stuart is the pseudonym of
New York Times
and
USA Today
bestselling author Katie Reus. Under this name she writes slightly hotter romance than her mainstream books. Her stories still have a touch of intrigue, suspense, or the paranormal and the one thing she always includes is a happy ending. She lives in the South with her very own real life hero. In addition to writing (and reading of course!) she loves traveling with her husband. For more information about Savannah please visit her website at:
www.savannahstuartauthor.com
. If you would like to be notified of future releases, please join her Katie Reus
newsletter
. Direct link: http://eepurl.com/jEABv
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