Free Two To Go: Bayou Heat (Pantera Security League Book 2) by Alexandra Ivy, Laura Wright Page A

Merciless. Tireless. But right then, gazing down at her he looked…young. Vulnerable.
    “You’re sure?” he asked, his voice threaded with disbelief.
    “See for yourself.” She held up her phone, pressing on the video that had just hit her inbox. Thank you, Leo, even though you’re a douchebag most of the time.
    Instantly the image of an older couple became visible. It looked like they were seated in the back of a moving car, their lined faces wreathed with smiles even as their eyes remained dark with concern.
    “Max, we’re on our way to something called the Wildlands,” his mother said, leaning toward the camera as if physically willing her son to listen to her plea. “Please get out of that awful place. We’re safe, and we love you.”
    A rough sound wrenched from Max’s throat, and he did the strangest, most amazing thing. He let his head drop to her shoulder. The gesture did something to her. Unraveled her. Like she’d been a ball of twine—always been a ball of twine—since she was just five and was stolen away from all that she knew.
    Tightly bound.
    But this male was slowly tickling the frayed edges of that twine, encouraging her, making her believe she was both needed and wanted. Making her crave a connection that was far deeper than friendship or even what she had always believed mating to be.
    With Cerviel, with all of the Pantera, she’d thought taking a mate was a normal progression of time, and the body’s understanding that it had found its sexual equal.
    Well, it was true she’d definitely found that. In fact, she was going to have to eat a lot of protein to keep up with this one. But as Max lifted his head and found her gaze, she knew why Cerviel had acted the way he had outside the safe house, why he didn’t seem to give a shit if Raphael kicked him out of The Six. Why he wouldn’t leave Hallie for anything. Real and true mating fused hearts for life.
    Even damaged ones.
    Perhaps most especially damaged ones.
    She ran comforting hands up and down the curve of his broad back. He’d showered too and he smelled good, soap and his unique Pantera musk. In turn, he leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to the side of her neck.
    “You ready, baby?” he said against her skin.
    She shivered. No one called her those names, those endearments. She hadn’t allowed it. But with him, all she said was, “Always.” For you. Always.
    Raking his teeth over the thin band of muscle at her neck, he groaned. “You’re going to be my addiction. Wanting more. Never enough.”
    “Let’s hope so.”
    He eased back and gave her a hungry grin. “My Ely.”
    Yes.
    Then he planted a quick kiss on her mouth before he released her.
    She watched as he pulled on a pair of gray sweats over his boxers, and a matching hoodie over the most beautiful chest ever created.
    “Why did you get the angel wings?” she asked him.
    He paused. “Pretty simple actually. I wanted to cover the scars of my imprisonment with a symbol of my freedom.”
    Not twenty-four hours ago, Elyon would’ve nodded at that answer. Made sense. Moving on. That sort of thing. But tonight, her eyes fixed on her mate, her heart his for the taking and the holding, she felt a pull…from her insides to his. Her cat to his. Her soul to his. She knew what true freedom felt like after not having it for so long. And she was so thankful he had it now.
    Max slid his feet into a pair of sneakers and looked at her expectantly. “We’re out of here.”
    She glanced around the loft. “You don’t want to pack a bag?”
    He sent her an intimate smile. “The only thing in this room that means anything to me is you.”
    There it was. Again. That connection, running through her at hyper-speed. A beautiful ache that she never wanted to have healed. It was the heart inside her chest that she’d honestly believed dead—but now knew was only dormant—blooming.
    She knew the true reason she’d traveled to New York. To deliver the asset. But things had changed.