In Plain Sight by Marie Harte Read Free Book Online

lived a solitary life. Except for his family, he didn’t have much to do with other Ac-taw. The only Shifters he didn’t mind much were the catamounts and a few foxes and wolves.
    Most of his own kind he couldn’t stand. Except for Sarah Duncan.
    Shivering, he turned off the water and hurriedly dried himself off. He was spent, both physically and emotionally. Stuck in the house with her because of the snow, he’d done his damnedest to work off his lust in his woodshop. He’d finished one project early and started another before he realized he was wasting quality time with his mate.
    But he also knew Sarah needed her space. She’d been through a lot in very little time. He hadn’t intended to take advantage of her tonight, only to make sure she was recovering. It still pissed him off that his being nice to her was something she couldn’t take for granted. Sarah should be used to others caring for her. Ac-taw were supposed to help one another. Yeah, right. That’s why the raptors are such a backstabbing clan. Because they support one another. The notion only reinforced his decision to do something about the clan.
    He and his family had talked about it more than once. They didn’t like the current raptor leadership, but didn’t know exactly how to deal with it. Micah wanted to move north, into Canada. He, Sean, Ian and Mother were visiting their blood relatives with the hopes of doing just that. Cullen, however, didn’t want to leave his hunting grounds, his home. He just wanted to leave the damned clan. But if he did that, he’d have to leave town.
    He’d thought about joining with the catamounts, who were known to accept Ac-taw of any species into their family, so long as they passed Chastell standards—whatever the hell those were. The Chastells were an odd lot. Cats, a pair of bears, and supposedly a wolf, now living together under one clan. Those Ac-taw looked after one another. Animal shape meant less than loyalty as a unit. That he respected.
    Stumbling into bed, Cullen realistically had to consider all his options. If Sarah was dead set on leaving, he’d have no choice but to go with her. But what if she didn’t want him? Worry filled him, that his mate would deny their connection. He wouldn’t blame her if she did. She’d been treated horribly by her clan, by fellow raptors who should have protected her.
    He hadn’t been part of the raptor clan when Sarah’s trials with Will Shaw had happened, or he would have fixed the mess himself. Now that he was a part of the raptors, he had a responsibility to defend her.
    Yeah, right. That’s what you feel, responsibility . He glanced down at his semi-erect cock, wondering what it was about the woman that made him so hard all the time. If his mother were here, he’d ask her more about this damned mating instinct. But he had no intention of going into this over the phone. If he did, his family would wing it home in a heartbeat, regardless of the storm. And then his brothers would scare Sarah away. That is, if he hadn’t already by taking things too fast in her bedroom.

    29

    Christ, he’d only meant to help her. He hadn’t intended to fall under her spell, but he was only human—half human. His eagle didn’t help matters. His damned bird cried for her all the time. To his relief, Sarah had responded to him. She couldn’t hate him, not if she moaned his name and arched up for him.
    She’d been so damned wet…
    “Hell.” He groaned and rolled over on his belly, smashing his unruly dick against the bed. Time to think of a better way to get into Sarah’s good graces. Sex was all well and good, but he didn’t see her accepting him on the merits of his dick.
    He wasn’t exactly a charming guy. His lack of social skills was readily apparent any time he opened his mouth. At least he’d given her an orgasm, so she’d see he had something going for him. Then again, she’d been in a proclaimed dry spell for a while, so maybe she was just needy? He