Big Cat Mates Lion in Wait Read Free Page B

her ass.
    The leader growled. “Mind your own business.”
    Royce met Starr’s gaze, and he smiled slowly, his eyes glowing golden. “I am.” Her breath caught, his words possessive and arousing. He pushed away from the car and prowled toward them -- his gait fluid, loose, soundless.
    The three men moved closer together, tracking his movements, their expressions wary. “She’s ours, cat. Find your own toy.”
    Cat ? Starr stared at Royce, his features, even his stride, catlike. Is the gossip about the Leone family true? Do I care if it is ?
    Royce leisurely unbuttoned his suit jacket and removed it, the muscles in his shoulders rippling against his cotton shirt. “Hold this for me, beautiful.” He handed the expensive garment to Starr, his fingers brushing hers.
    She clutched the jacket and breathed deeply, inhaling cologne and man, the warmth of his body lingering on the fabric. I don’t care. I want him, cat or human or whatever else he is .
    “You think you can take all three of us, old timer?” the leader jeered.
    Starr’s fear returned, this time for Royce, not herself. She glanced behind her, the parking lot remaining devoid of life. “I’ll get help,” Starr offered, reluctant to leave him.
    “I don’t need any help.” Royce kicked off his black leather shoes, claw-like toenails poking through his socks. “Not to defeat these three pups.”
    “Pups?” The leader coiled lower and leaped forward, his arms and face elongating, his body growing in size, short black hair covering his entire body, a tail protruding from his ass.
    Royce roared, the sound setting off car alarms and temporarily deafening Starr. He sprang to meet his shifting rival, his clothes shredding, golden fur where his tanned skin should be. His hair grew, his jowls stretched, claws extended from his paws.
    Paws . Starr pressed her ass into the car behind her, unable to retreat any farther. The two animals collided, her lion slamming the lighter black wolf backward. Lion. Wolf . Her heart raced, pounding painfully against her ribs, like a beating of a tribal drum. The other two men shifted into wolves, smaller than the first yet as deadly. They’re animals. They’re all animals .
    Starr glanced down at her hands, her fingers unchanged. I’m still human . Her relief mixed with worry. Her human form limited her ability to help Royce. And he needed help, desperately. The three wolves circled her lion.
    My lion . She forced herself to take deep breaths, calming down. Royce is a lion and he’s fighting for me, against three wolves, three big wolves . One wolf surged forward. Royce batted him back, leaving lines of red on the wolf’s fur.
    The wolves barked, positioning themselves around her lion. I have to help him . Starr twisted Royce’s suit jacket, evaluating her options.
    The wolves rushed forward. Royce swiped his claws over one wolf’s chest, knocking him to the side. The wolf crumpled to the pavement and didn’t get back up.
    Royce closed his jaws over the second wolf’s neck, teeth piercing through fur and skin. Bones crunched and the wolf went limp, his legs twitching.
    The third wolf, the black leader, jumped onto Royce’s back and tore at his golden hide. Her lion roared, rounding his spine and bucking, twisting his body, snapping his jaws, unable to dislodge him.
    Oh God. The wolf is hurting him . Starr glanced around her for a possible weapon. She dropped Royce’s jacket and picked up his shoes. She lobbed the left shoe, too frantic to aim, and missed her target, the designer footwear zinging past the wolf’s right ear.
    She pushed aside her emotion, blocked the sight of Royce’s gaping wounds, and focused on the throw. You can do this . Starr wound up and pitched the shoe. The heel connected with the wolf’s skull, the thud loud, and he toppled from Royce’s back.
    “Yes!” She pumped the air with her fist, that seasonal job she’d once taken as a funfair carny paying off.
    Royce pounced on the wolf,