Page 65 of Brandon’s Mate

“Not long after you turned eighteen. You were at college. I went there.”

“I never saw you.”

“I know. I saw you, though.”

She frowned. “What, like stalking me?”

He gave a little one-shouldered shrug. “I’m a predator. And a bad boy. It’s what I do. I lurk and I stalk.”

She gave him a little smack on the arm. “Where was I then, stalker boy?”

He concentrated on running his finger down every rib, one by one. He hated this memory.

“You were on campus at the outdoor food court. It was November, but it was warm, so you were outside and I could watch you from up on the hill by the stadium.”

She’d gone still, listening.

“It was a Tuesday. You were wearing a blue-green shirt that matched your eyes, and you had your hair in this bun that looked like a bird’s nest. You looked good enough to eat.”

Kitty looked stunned. “I remember. It was right before we left for Thanksgiving weekend.”

“Yeah. You were with a guy. There was a bunch of people at the table, but I could tell you were with him because he was feeding you French fries, and you were laughing up at him. You looked so happy.”

“Joel Davis. I dated him my freshman year.” Brandon didn’t want to know his name. “He was sweet.”

“He was crazy about you.”

“I wasn’t in love with him.” It was stupid, but he was glad to hear it. “Why didn’t you come and talk to me?”

He sighed. “Because I waited too long.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means I was waiting for you to grow up. I thought, if I could get the New Mexico crew settled, maybe someday I could bring you there, if you wanted. But by the time you were old enough, it was already too late. The crew was gone, my panther was broken, and I was never going to be an alpha again.”

She pulled him close and rubbed her hand over the center of his chest, over and over. A little warmth seeped into him, but it still felt like there were shards of broken glass inside him.

He said, “I couldn’t do that to you. I couldn’t drag you into my pain and take your shine away. So I just… left.”

“Oh, Brandon.” He hated hearing the pity and pain in her voice, so he tilted her chin up and began kissing her again, softly at first, but then with a desperate demand.

Her passion rose to meet his, and he plundered her body, stroking her until she called out his name, closing his eyes so he couldn’t see the ghosts.

Chapter 26

The next afternoon, Callie sent the message they’d been waiting for. Jax was in the bar, and Caleb was out. It was time to move.

They were sticking to the plan that Brandon would go to this meeting with just Colt, as his muscle.

Brandon explained to the others what he’d told Kitty. “Caleb could come back any time. And I don’t want him feeling compelled to start something just because Kitty insulted his manhood by beating the crap out of him.”

“It was sooo fun,” Kitty said. “I really wish I could do it again.”

“He can’t afford to let you,” Brandon said. “Much as it would be totally hot to watch you.”

Colt made a barfing sound.

Brandon went on, “He’s probably already feeling like he’s lost some respect from his crew. And we want to impress the panthers with our criminal professionalism, not tear down the bar.”