Free Bengal's Heart by Lora Leigh Page A

barely detectable as he slid the Raider into drive, turned the steering wheel and began maneuvering down the mountain.
    He made a path where there were no paths. The mountain-adept vehicle traversed the rolling dips and maneuvered around ages-old trees until they hit the graveled road.
    Cassa stayed silent, watched the night beyond the headlights and attempted to get her head on straight where this man, this Breed, was concerned.
    They had a past, too much of a past to ever be able to get to the point where other mates were. Those she knew who had mated, loved. They loved each other with a depth and dedication that brought tears to her eyes if she thought too long on it. They adored each other, they trusted each other. And that trust was something she knew she would never have from Cabal.
    “Why the hell are you here?” he asked as he turned on the blacktop road that led back to Glen Ferris. “You’re supposed to be back in New York.”
    “Obviously I’m not,” she stated quietly. “I’m here.”
    “Why?”
    “I received a tip.” She shrugged. “Reporters get those, you know, they follow them to get stories. That’s what we do.”
    “There’s no story here, so go home.” His voice rumbled dangerously.
    Cassa almost smiled at the sound. It would have been intimidating if she didn’t hear it damned near every day of her life from one Breed or another. They were always rumbling, growling or roaring. It was their nature.
    “Where you can be found, a story can be found,” she grunted. “Give me a break, Cabal.”
    “Give me one. Where did you get your tip?” The question was more a demand.
    Cassa gave a brief, hard laugh. “Why don’t I just give you that information?” There wasn’t a chance that was happening.
    She turned and glanced at him in time to see his jaw tighten angrily.
    “Don’t make me dig for the answers, Cassa,” he snapped. “Where or who did you get the tip from?”
    “Anonymous source,” she answered truthfully, knowing it would make him crazy.
    She was right. A little growl vibrated in his chest as he glanced at her.
    “What did your source say?”
    “That you could go to hell,” she bit out angrily. “Leave it alone, Cabal. I’m not in the mood for your questions, and I’m sure as hell not in the mood to give you any more information than you’re giving me. Now, if you want to try a nice little exchange here . . .” She left the question open.
    “Exchange of what?” he asked suspiciously.
    Cassa smiled. “Information of course. I don’t bargain with anything else. Especially with you.”
    “Especially with me?” If his tone of voice was anything to go by, he was becoming angrier by the second.
    That should concern her, she thought, it really should. Only a fool deliberately teased the tiger.
    “Of course.” She shrugged again. “I like to think I’m smart enough not to want to mate with a Breed, Cabal. This reaction building between us isn’t on my list of things to deal with this year.”
    And, of course, that comment didn’t please him in the least. His expression became darker, tighter.
    “And if I decide I do want to deal with it?”
    Cassa laughed at that. Trust a Breed to only want to do something if challenged.
    “I’d tell you to check your little black book for the name of one of your little playthings then.” She heard the contrary tone of her own voice and assured herself that she wasn’t jealous.
    She had been assuring herself of that for years. She didn’t believe it now any more than she had believed it then.
    Hell yes, she was jealous. Every time she turned around there was another woman on his arm. Even after she had learned about the mating heat, and learned that the reaction had begun all those years ago in that facility, still, he’d ignored her. She’d begun taking the hormonal treatments to contain the arousal that bloomed inside her at the most awkward times, while Cabal had satiated his lust with other women.
    There were days