Taken By Desire by LeTeisha Newton Read Free Book Online

the truth.”
    “At least someone knows how to tell me the truth.”
    “Oh stop it. What the hell was Selene supposed to do? Call you and tell you Guess what, I’m a leopard now because I got attacked by a rogue wereleopard? You can’t see me for a few weeks while I get a handle on my predatory instincts? Was Maddy supposed to tell you her mate was a wolf and, as soon as they can, he will be converting her? No. They couldn’t. At the end of the day they also had to protect the secret of the men they had fallen in love with.”
    “I wouldn’t have told a soul. I never would have put them in jeopardy, any more than I would now!” Sasha argued.
    “That’s not the point. They didn’t tell you because it wasn’t just their secret to tell. They had to wait. Honestly, they were waiting on me.”
    “You? For what?”
    “Because. I. Am. Your. Mate. I am the one that is supposed to bring you into this world. They were giving me time to come to terms with a human mate. They were waiting for me to get over my aversion to my future. But I took it out of the equation when I mated you, and quite obviously, didn’t tell you what you were getting into. So if you want to hate anyone, hate me.”
    “Consider it done. I don’t hate them. I’m just hurt that they didn’t trust me,” Sasha agreed. She stepped up to Cirro, standing to her full height, not caring about the tears, or how she must look in a rumpled T-shirt and jeans. She didn’t care if he was disgusted with her. This man had touched her like no one else, and he’d also hurt her. So it may not have been personal, but that didn’t make it hurt any less. She’d pined for him, wanted him, and had needed him. Had felt such relief to know he was coming for her, to feel his protection in his arms. But it didn’t matter. None of it did. She’d burn her feelings away.
    “You don’t have to worry about having a mate that’s human. I don’t care what they say. I reject your claim on me. I hate you. I don’t want your touch, I don’t want your protection, and I don’t want you. In a moment of weakness I wanted you to soothe me. But guess what? If another man had come down those stairs, he would have done too. Sex, my dear, Cirro, is relaxation for me. So don’t think you were special. Move out of my way. I am going to leave, I’m going to find the detective who wanted to protect me in the first place, and I’m going to take this case back. That is the truth. You are safe, Cirro, from a human mate. Now move.”
    He roared. Actually roared. Sasha stumbled back as Cirro advanced on her, his eyes no longer blue. They were golden, pure liquid metal as his face hardened, his features more pronounced. She could see bulges behind his lips, as if he could barely contain his canines. When he hissed at her, she could see them, stark white, and piercing sharp. He clenched his hands at his sides and then released them. It was then she could see the claws.
    “Leaving?” he huffed. “Any man would do? You hate me? Reject my claim?” he roared once more, and she trembled. She stumbled back into the bed and fell. Cirro followed her.
    “You don’t want my touch. You. Don’t. Want. Me? I can smell lies. Every single one. Let me show you.” He gripped his shoulder harness and flung it off of him and then the tactical belt at his hips. It disappeared over his shoulder, the clank of metal loud in the room. His claw tipped fingers cut at the fabric he wore, baring his chest to her gaze. All roped muscle.
    The night before she’d been too lost to take notice, but now, with the light flooding the room, and the fear of a nightmare gone, she could truly see him. Scars dotted his body here and there. He was a warrior. One nasty scar, that looked like claw marks, spanned from his lower stomach and then up and over his right hip. She resisted the urge to run her fingers over the puckered flesh soothingly. Her body was heating, betraying her words, betraying her desire. Her pussy