Protector of the Pride (Lions of Pride Island Book 3) by Terry Bolryder Read Free Book Online Page A

perfect next to him. He saw a van pull up at the gates and stood up to go get the food. He motioned for her to stay where she was.
    Lately, his protective instincts with regard to her had been nearly uncontrollable, and he was as aware as anyone that anything could happen when it came to someone approaching the castle. No matter how much security they had, something could possibly get through.
    He wasn’t willing to risk that. Not with Lucy. At least while she was with him, he’d make sure she was safe. It kind of rankled him that he couldn’t just keep doing it forever.
    He walked back with the Chinese food after closing the gate, putting out an arm to escort her into the garden off to one side of the castle. There was a little iron wrought table and chairs there where it would be nice to eat, surrounded by lilacs and wild shrubs.
    He pulled out her seat and then put the food on the table. She helped him serve it, and it was comfortable and warm between them, despite the refreshing night air moving around them.
    When they were done eating, she leaned back, patting her stomach. “That was wonderful, thank you. See? Cooking not needed.”
    “My bad,” he said. “I was just trying to impress you.”
    “You did,” she said. “By admitting you were wrong. Not every man can do that.”
    “I can’t afford not to, with my responsibilities,” he said. “I have to accept help and advice wherever I can. After all, I’m only one man.”
    She nodded. “Well, you have me now.”
    “True,” he said. But did he? Or was he just borrowing her on loaned time?
    “What do you want to do now?” she asked.
    He scratched the back of his head. “I guess I should have planned something.”
    “If you didn’t, it’s fine. I can think of something.”
    Hm. She shouldn’t have to do that. He was already failing at this.
    “Don’t do that,” she said.
    “Do what?”
    “Look all stressed out and self-tortured,” she said.
    “Oh,” he said.
    She stood, taking his hands. “I have an idea. Follow me.” She let him go and started jogging out across the wide lawn to the side of the castle, in the direction of the woods where many private trails crisscrossed.
    “Where are you going?” he asked. “We should probably get back. I have work tomorrow, and—”
    She looked back at him, eyes glowing warmly, hair whipped by the wind, and grinned. Then she began to pull off her clothing.
    “Wait,” he said, putting a hand over his eyes. He looked around them desperately. No one better be seeing this.
    He heard her pulling clothing off quickly, and then he turned back to see she had shifted into her lioness.
    How long had it been since he had done that?
    It wasn’t that I wasn’t tempted, he thought as she paced languidly, stretching on the grass in a way that looked luscious.
    He just hadn’t made time. During the day, he’d often look out on the grounds and picture himself running across it in lion form, but then he’d look at everything he had to do during business hours and tell himself maybe tomorrow.
    But tomorrow never came.
    “Come on,” she said, able to talk in her lion form. Her lion was beautiful, light golden and sleek and strong. Her feline hips swayed as she walked in a circle and stared at him. Her eyes were gold now instead of their usual green.
    How interesting.
    “I showed you mine; now you show me yours.”
    He grinned and transformed, realizing belatedly as he heard tearing noises that he’d just shredded Cain’s clothing into ribbons with his transformation.
    But he’d just been so eager to see his mate.
    She laughed and took off toward the woods, asking him to chase with a swish of her tail. He gave the torn clothes one look, promising to pay Cain back, and took off after her.

6
    F eeling the night air on his fur was electrifying as he ran after Lucy into the darkening night.
    The moon was rising and would be full tonight, which was oddly romantic.
    He wanted to be in the moonlight with her.
    He