Lian/Roch (Bayou Heat) by Alexandra Ivy, Laura Wright Page B

began to jerk on her clothes.
    Clearly she was embarrassed by the thought of getting caught in bed during the middle of the day.
    He dressed at a much more leisurely pace, anticipating the pleasure of challenging that modesty on a regular basis.
    Not that he would ever change her.
    His shy, scholarly beauty was perfect.
    But Pantera were openly affectionate creatures who craved touch from their mates. And of course, his family was extremely high maintenance when it came to demanding attention.
    It was going to be interesting to watch her adapt.
    Crossing the short space, he smoothed her hair behind her ears and dropped a kiss on her forehead.
    “It’s okay. They’re going to wait for us in the garage,” he assured her, a stab of fear twisting his heart as he felt her stiffen beneath his touch. Lifting his head, he studied her with a growing concern. “Hey, are you okay?”
    Her lashes lowered to hide her expressive eyes. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
    Blatant deflection.
    His thumbs brushed the inside of her wrists, monitoring the unsteady pulse.
    “Because we both know things just changed between us,” he said, unwilling to try to pretend their time together was anything less than life-altering.
    She kept her head lowered. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    He clicked his tongue, releasing her hands so he could gently tip her face up to meet his wry smile.
    “For the record, you’re a piss-poor liar.”
    She heaved a small sigh. “I need time to…process.”
    He wrinkled his nose, sliding a finger down the length of her jaw.
    “I’m pushing again.”
    “Yes.”
    “Sorry.”
    She arched a brow, her lips twitching with a burst of humor.
    “No, you aren’t.”
    Relief jolted through him. She might be stunned by the force of their attraction, but she wasn’t frightened.
    At least not yet.
    “Busted,” he admitted with a chuckle, rubbing their noses together. “It’s my nature to go for the kill, but anytime you need me to back down just tell me, sweetheart.” He stole a soft, lingering kiss. “I don’t ever want you to feel overwhelmed.”
    “Hmm.” She gave a tug on his hair. “I suspect you overwhelm most people.”
    True. He didn’t have the brooding intensity of a Raphael or Parish, but his feral power tended to make most people avoid pissing him off.
    “Not you,” he swore, holding her gaze. “Never you.”
    Unexpectedly she reached up to thread her fingers through his hair that he hadn’t bothered to braid.
    Hell, he might never braid it again if Sage liked it loose.
    And if that made him pussy-whipped…good.
    “Only in the best way,” she assured him in husky tones.
    On cue his entire body went up in flames, his erection pressing painfully against his zipper.
    “Oh hell, Dr. Parker, you might be a genius, but your timing sucks,” he growled, wrapping his arms around her so he could press her tight against his aching cock. Then, knowing it was going to leave his balls blue, he kissed her with an urgency that had both of them panting before he reluctantly released his tight hold and headed toward the door. “Wait here,” he muttered.
    Promising himself an entire month alone with Sage once the scrolls were translated and the threat from Shakpi ended, Lian made his way through the safe house into the attached garage.
    He caught the scent of the waiting Hunters before he ever pushed open the door. Which meant he was prepared to discover Mercier standing in the center of the cement floor. The dark, sable-eyed male had a broad, heavily muscular body that was currently covered by a white tee and camo pants. It took a second, however, to locate the other Hunter who was hidden beneath Jean-Baptiste’s Lamborghini.
    “Any problems?” he asked Mercier, ignoring the older male’s narrow-eyed gaze.
    There was no disguising the scent of sex that clung to his body, but he wasn’t prepared to discuss his bonding with Sage. Not until she’d accepted that she belonged to him.
    With a