The Leopard King by Ann Aguirre Read Free Book Online

said that.”
    “Not for that. For… everything else.”
    For coming. For staying.
    For saving me.
    “Then there’s only one thing left on my to-do list.” With an enigmatic smile, she sauntered out of the kitchen.
    Out of habit, Dom rushed after her, not realizing until he hit the stairs that there was no reason to stick so close anymore. He hesitated. No reason to go to Pru’s room. No reason to tie her to me. That insight left him feeling oddly aimless. Then he heard the water running, sounds of her brushing her teeth, and since he needed to rinse off the blood as well, he went up. After taking his turn in the bathroom, he found her waiting in the hall. She looked—well, there was no way to describe it except determined.
    “I’ve met your terms,” she said softly. “I shifted. Even killed for you. Only one requirement left, so now… I’m taking you on.”
    When she touched him, there was no mistaking what she meant.

  5.  
    S hock and dismay warred for dominance in Dom’s expression.
    Not the reaction I want when I’m trying to seduce somebody. But it also seemed impossible that Pru had her fingers on Dom’s cock and he didn’t take her hand off at the wrist. Instead he stared at that point of contact, and then his expression melted into a sort of helpless regret. She worked not to show how nervous she felt and how wrong this seemed.
    He belongs to Dalena. Always has.
    But when she said he needed to move on with a new mate, he’d replied that when she could shift and take the role herself, then he’d come home. Only then. While Pru grasped he’d meant it as a when-hell-freezes-over sort of reply, the pride needed him bad enough that she had to try. If he rejected her, she’d have to crawl back to Ash Valley without him, and the Eldritch might send more Noxblades next time. The consequences of failure scrolled through her head until she trembled.
    I’m sorry, Dalena. It’s for the pride… and for his benefit. I’ve never fucked somebody for their own good before. Without the adrenaline left from her recent shift, Pru wouldn’t have the courage. It took all her self-control to pull back and smile at him. An answering flicker deep in his eyes told her she hadn’t lost him completely. Over the past couple of days, they’d established a connection, so if she could just forget… everything, it might work. She tried to erase the memories of him with Dalena, of the way they were together.
    Breathing deep to steady her nerves, Pru set a hand on his shoulder. “You have to keep your word and let me try. Just a kiss, okay? If it’s awful, we’ll stop.”
    Like Dom had gone nonverbal, he lifted his chin slightly in reply, but he didn’t bend to make it easier. But she knew quite a lot about him, so when she cupped her hand around the back of his head, he dipped reflexively, his mouth close enough for her to take. He tasted of toothpaste with just a hint of Eldritch blood sweetening his tongue.
    She pulled back to assess his response. He touched his lips, staring back at her in silence.
    “Was it awful?”
    Slowly he shook his head. “But—”
    For the first time ever, she kissed someone to shut him up. Pru already knew what he would say, and she didn’t want to hear it. Yes, you’re still in love with Dalena. And I wish you were Slay. But the pride needs you, and you… you need a reason to live. If not love, maybe I can give you purpose. Her heart ached a little because part of her wanted to run home and tell Slay:
    I shifted. We’re not impossible anymore.
    Except it was, now. For different reasons. She’d committed to bringing Dom back, no matter the cost, and he’d set the terms. Even if he’d spoken the challenge in a fit of rage, he would keep his promise. Plus, she railed at the idea of being accepted because she could shift; Pru would rather make this bargain with Dom.
    With effort, she banished all thoughts of Slay. He was her past, and Dom, her future. Pru gave everything to this