Dark and Damaged: Eight Tortured Heroes of Paranormal Romance: Paranormal Romance Boxed Set by Colleen Gleason Page B
Authors: Colleen Gleason
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“Francesca seems ... intense. Are you sure you trust
her
?”
Seamus folded himself down next to them. “She’s a tracker. Our Shifter leader believes females are as good at tracking as males. Francesca is naturally suspicious of any outsider, with good reason.” He let out his breath. “Bree, I don’t know what the hell is going to happen. It’s always been so simple before.”
Bree scratched the top of Katie’s head. “Why is it complicated now?”
“Because of you.” Seamus gave her an open look. “I don’t know how much I can risk telling you. I don’t know if things will play out for my Shifters like they did before. I don’t know if I’m going feral or if it’s a temporary thing. I don’t know if I killed those hunters. I don’t know if I’ll have to disappear and never see you again.” He touched Bree’s hair. “That’s killing me most of all.”
***
Bree stared up at him, lips parted. Her entire body squeezed into one tight, painful point. Embracing the bear cub sent a warm, soothing trickle through her, but Seamus’s declaration had her heart aching.
His eyes, intent on her, were golden and warm, his touch electric. Here they were, sitting in a rundown house in the middle of town, stranded in this island of calm—with a bear cub and a Lupine woman who’d come back inside any time. And Bree knew right then she was falling in love with a Shifter.
She barely knew him, and after Seamus got himself and Katie safe, she might never see him again. This could be one of those encounters she’d remember the rest of her life, something to relive in the middle of a lonely night. The great love that wasn’t meant to be.
Katie, restless again, slid out of Bree’s lap and waddled away, the cat’s ears still on her head. She sat down on her bottom, took them off, and studied them every which way. Then she curled up around them and closed her eyes. In a few moments, she emitted a baby snore.
Seamus came down to Bree, folding his body around her, arms cradling her. His lips brushed Bree’s neck, moving up under her ear, his breath hot. Bree turned her head and caught his mouth with hers.
The kiss began slowly, a savoring, a learning. Seamus smelled of the wet green stream they’d run along, sweat, himself. He cupped her neck in his strong hand, his lips parting hers, the kiss deepening.
The corners of Bree’s heart, empty and sad, began to fill. The warmth inside her changed to heat that flared and started to consume her.
She wound her hand behind Seamus’s neck, pulling him closer. Seamus came readily, his arms enfolding her, his mouth a fine place.
They kissed without frenzy, desire a leisurely burn between them. The few days’ growth of Seamus’s whiskers scraped Bree’s lips, his mouth intoxicating. Seamus spread his hand on the back of her neck, cradling her into him. His chest was hard under Bree’s touch, his heart beating rapidly. Arms and legs around her held her securely, his body shielding her from the world.
The door banged open and Francesca strode back inside. Bree expected Seamus to jump away, but he didn’t. He kept his arms around Bree, slowly finishing the kiss before he raised his head.
Katie didn’t wake. The cub seemed to understand that she was safe with Seamus here, her sides rising and falling in deep, even breaths.
Francesca paused in the doorway, her sharp gaze taking in Seamus and Bree on the floor. Seamus kept his arm around Bree as though it was the most natural thing in the world.
Francesca let the door close. “Your timing sucks, Seamus,” she said.
Seamus moved one shoulder in a shrug. “Things happen when they happen.”
“How much does she know?” Francesca asked.
“
She
is sitting right here,” Bree said. “I know you’re hiding out from the entire world, because you’re un-Collared and I’m guessing you want to stay that way.
How
you are, I haven’t figured out. I don’t think you pulled your Collars off.” Like Seamus,
her
?”
Seamus folded himself down next to them. “She’s a tracker. Our Shifter leader believes females are as good at tracking as males. Francesca is naturally suspicious of any outsider, with good reason.” He let out his breath. “Bree, I don’t know what the hell is going to happen. It’s always been so simple before.”
Bree scratched the top of Katie’s head. “Why is it complicated now?”
“Because of you.” Seamus gave her an open look. “I don’t know how much I can risk telling you. I don’t know if things will play out for my Shifters like they did before. I don’t know if I’m going feral or if it’s a temporary thing. I don’t know if I killed those hunters. I don’t know if I’ll have to disappear and never see you again.” He touched Bree’s hair. “That’s killing me most of all.”
***
Bree stared up at him, lips parted. Her entire body squeezed into one tight, painful point. Embracing the bear cub sent a warm, soothing trickle through her, but Seamus’s declaration had her heart aching.
His eyes, intent on her, were golden and warm, his touch electric. Here they were, sitting in a rundown house in the middle of town, stranded in this island of calm—with a bear cub and a Lupine woman who’d come back inside any time. And Bree knew right then she was falling in love with a Shifter.
She barely knew him, and after Seamus got himself and Katie safe, she might never see him again. This could be one of those encounters she’d remember the rest of her life, something to relive in the middle of a lonely night. The great love that wasn’t meant to be.
Katie, restless again, slid out of Bree’s lap and waddled away, the cat’s ears still on her head. She sat down on her bottom, took them off, and studied them every which way. Then she curled up around them and closed her eyes. In a few moments, she emitted a baby snore.
Seamus came down to Bree, folding his body around her, arms cradling her. His lips brushed Bree’s neck, moving up under her ear, his breath hot. Bree turned her head and caught his mouth with hers.
The kiss began slowly, a savoring, a learning. Seamus smelled of the wet green stream they’d run along, sweat, himself. He cupped her neck in his strong hand, his lips parting hers, the kiss deepening.
The corners of Bree’s heart, empty and sad, began to fill. The warmth inside her changed to heat that flared and started to consume her.
She wound her hand behind Seamus’s neck, pulling him closer. Seamus came readily, his arms enfolding her, his mouth a fine place.
They kissed without frenzy, desire a leisurely burn between them. The few days’ growth of Seamus’s whiskers scraped Bree’s lips, his mouth intoxicating. Seamus spread his hand on the back of her neck, cradling her into him. His chest was hard under Bree’s touch, his heart beating rapidly. Arms and legs around her held her securely, his body shielding her from the world.
The door banged open and Francesca strode back inside. Bree expected Seamus to jump away, but he didn’t. He kept his arms around Bree, slowly finishing the kiss before he raised his head.
Katie didn’t wake. The cub seemed to understand that she was safe with Seamus here, her sides rising and falling in deep, even breaths.
Francesca paused in the doorway, her sharp gaze taking in Seamus and Bree on the floor. Seamus kept his arm around Bree as though it was the most natural thing in the world.
Francesca let the door close. “Your timing sucks, Seamus,” she said.
Seamus moved one shoulder in a shrug. “Things happen when they happen.”
“How much does she know?” Francesca asked.
“
She
is sitting right here,” Bree said. “I know you’re hiding out from the entire world, because you’re un-Collared and I’m guessing you want to stay that way.
How
you are, I haven’t figured out. I don’t think you pulled your Collars off.” Like Seamus,
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