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She shrugged nonchalantly at the accusation. “It makes perfect sense to me.”
“Only to you,” he grunted as he looked around the room once again, before turning his gaze back to her. “I want you to drop this, Cassa. Let me do my job here, then I’ll give you the story. Stay out of it for now. Don’t endanger both of us.”
Cabal caught the scent of her anger, her refusal, seconds before her eyes narrowed on him and her face flushed a becoming shade of pink.
She was pissed. That anger infused her arousal as well, to create a scent that struck straight to his balls. They drew up, tightened and clenched with a surge of lust that almost took his breath. He could take her again, he realized. Right now. It would be no hardship to lay her back on that bed and fuck her until they were both screaming with the pleasure.
“Not going to work.” She jerked her clothes from the dresser before stooping to pick up a pair of hiking boots. “Sorry, babe, but I have a date I can’t miss. Have fun without me.”
Have fun without her? He almost snarled at the thought of her having fun without him. He didn’t think so. There wouldn’t be a date she’d be attending without him overseeing.
“You’re being foolish, Cassa. You know the danger that exists here.”
“My job description doesn’t mention safety,” she informed him coolly as she headed for the bathroom. “Don’t worry, I’m fairly certain you don’t have to be concerned about me whoring around on you.” There was an edge of pain in her voice now, a bitterness that had nothing to do with him.
“I’m not Watts.” He made the statement simply, coldly. “Don’t apply his treatment of you to me.”
That too had been in the investigation that had been done on her after Watts’s so-called death. The man had treated his wife like a possession. He had made painful false accusations to control her. He’d made certain she stayed on a very short leash. Not because he loved her, but so he could control her.
She paused at his command. Her lips thinned angrily as she watched him, evidently sizing up exactly how far she could push him. At the moment, the boundary was a near one.
“Then don’t try to control me,” she suggested, the scent of her anger nearly overwhelming the arousal now. “You can share this little venture with me, or we can just keep muddling along on our own. Either way, this is my story and I’ll finish it.”
Cabal could feel the hunger moving inside him now. Her deliberate defiance had his animal instincts rising, the need to dominate her nearly overwhelming his control. She was his mate. He was the more powerful, he was the leader and she was deliberately endangering herself, placing herself in the line of fire.
Humanity insisted he step aside and let her do what she needed to do. The animal was roaring in rage though. This was his woman. His mate. Without her, what would he be? How would he function?
He had to get her out of the area. He had to get her far enough away from him that she was no longer in danger. He would have called Jonas and requested his help except he was pretty certain he would be denied. The bastard would only be amused by the request.
He watched as she stared back at him. His gaze locked with hers, willing her to do as he ordered, to save them both, because he couldn’t leave. Even if he wanted to.
“I can’t leave, Cabal, even if I wanted to.”
He almost flinched as her words reflected his own thoughts. He wanted to clench his fists with the need to touch her now, to claim her again, to force her to think of her safety first.
“You never did understand the meaning of personal preservation, did you, Cassa?” Cabal heard the rumble of his voice in his chest and almost winced.
“And you never did understand the meaning of personal choice,” she retorted. “I don’t need your permission, Cabal. Don’t pretend that I do.”
Animal genetics sucked on a good day, and today was definitely not one of the good ones. The dominance that was so much a part of the Breeds could rise within seconds, as it was now. She was defying him in a situation where he needed control, needed to control the players involved. But even more than that, she was his mate and she was placing her life in jeopardy.
The human part of him accepted the logic that she had a free will of her own, but the an
imal part of him, the part that knew the preservation of the Breeds depended on mating, felt otherwise. She should be safe, behind strong walls, enclosed in a secure environment. She shouldn’t be placing her life in danger, no matter the situation or the reason.
It was typical Breed arrogance and even though he fought it, he feared he would eventually lose the battle.
“Personal preservation was never high on my list of priorities anyway.” She shrugged and he knew she meant it. “You only live once, Cabal. If you hide and bury your head from the world around you, then you aren’t living. You’re existing.”
“You’re an adventure junkie,” he accused her.
She laughed at that. He watched her lips tilt in sudden amusement, saw the laughter that crossed her gaze.
“Is that what you call it? My father used to call it insanity.”
She had lost her family just before meeting Douglas Watts and marrying him. Perhaps that was why the bastard had managed to fool her so easily. He had been no friend of the Breeds, and his coverage of the rescues had always been subtly biased.
“Insanity is a good word for it.” He moved closer. Damn if he could help himself. He wanted to feel the warmth of her, wanted to touch her satiny flesh, taste it. She was naked beneath that robe, for now. If he didn’t move quickly, she would be dressed and gone.
