Free NocC 024 - Katie Reus - A Jaguar's Kiss - Harlequin 2012-10 by Nocturne Page A

metal table, he could see the stitches along her shaved belly. It was a much better sight than when he’d found her. Her dark coat of fur was shiny and he could see the slight rise and fall of her ribs each time she breathed. Bloody towels and bandages had been stuffed into a bin, but her body had been cleaned of it. He shook his head, trying to banish the images of Gabriela’s sliced-up body but couldn’t. His throat tightened as he grabbed a metal swivel stool and pulled it up to the table. Even though she was unconscious and in her jaguar form he didn’t like her resting on the uncomfortable table. He wanted to place her on cushions.
    Afraid to touch her, he reached out, his hand hovering over her forepaw.
    “It’s okay. She needs your touch.” He turned at the sound of Dr. Shahi’s voice.
    Gabriela’s parents stood in the doorway behind the doctor, Gabriela’s petite mother glaring at him. Knowing what an ass he was being by barging in before them, he stood and motioned for them to enter. His throat was too tight to speak so he just stepped back and watched as her parents rushed to her side. Patricia, her mother, wept silent tears as she stroked a hand down Gabriela’s forepaw. Her father stood next to Patricia and stroked a hand down his wife’s back.
    Owen felt as if he was intruding on a private moment, but he couldn’t force himself to leave. Gabriela’s brothers and Skyler quietly entered the room. His sister strode toward him and wrapped an arm around his waist, laying her head on his shoulder. “She’s going to be okay,” Skyler said softly, a soothing note in her voice.
    “I know,” he rasped out. It didn’t take away from the horror at the thought of losing her. His claws and canines ached to be unsheathed. He wanted to kill those bastards all over again with a violent intensity that rocked him to his core.
    “When can we take her home?” Patricia asked.
    Owen hadn’t even realized he’d growled until everyone in the room turned to look at him. He cleared his throat. “It would be better if she came home with me.” Yeah, he was definitely being a territorial ass but he didn’t care. Gabriela belonged with him and he wasn’t letting her out of his sight.
    “She almost died because of you,” Patricia snapped, eyes full of accusation and mistrust.
    “It’s not his fault,” Israel said quietly, surprising Owen. “It’s no one’s fault except the jaguar that did this to her. Owen saved her.”
    Patricia still glared at him with dark eyes similar to Gabriela’s. Owen knew where she got that angry stare from now. “She’s still not going home with you,” Patricia said, her voice a deep growl.
    Owen clenched his jaw, biting back his annoyance. It wouldn’t do any good to argue with Gabriela’s parents, especially since he planned to ask her to mate with him as soon as she was healed.
    Skyler took a step forward and dropped her arm from Owen’s waist. “Patricia, I think it might be a better option if Gabriela goes home with Owen. There are no humans on pack land and there’s less risk of anyone seeing us carrying a jaguar inside Owen’s house. It’ll be pretty hard to hide her in the state she’s in now…” As Skyler’s voice trailed off she made a soft moaning sound as if she was in pain and clutched her stomach.
    Before Owen or anyone could move, Patricia hurried forward and looped her arm around Skyler’s shoulders. “Honey, don’t let this stress you out. We’ll let your brother take Gabriela, but we’ll be going over there with them.” Patricia shot him a death glare, but Skyler winked at him over her shoulder.
    Owen blinked in surprise at his sister. She was devious. God help Skyler if she had a little girl just like her. As Owen moved to Gabriela’s still form, he focused on the doctor. “When can we move her?”
    “Now, as long as you’re careful. I have a couple prescriptions to give you and I’d like to talk to you in private.” She motioned that