resist. He wrapped an arm firmly around her waist, lifted her up and pulled her close so they were touching from chest to hip. His other hand wrapped possessively around her neck before he splayed his fingers into her hair. He put his mouth near her ear and whispered quietly so only she could hear him.
"Please, Adele, stop fighting against us. I promise I will never hurt you. Please come out with me on Saturday? Nothing big, I promise. We'll just go for a hike up near the lake, and I'll bring a picnic for lunch. Keep it nice and casual." He could hear the edge of desperation in his voice, but he didn't care. He needed his mate in his arms; needed to claim her.
Dominic turned her face as he nibbled his way from her ear to her mouth. He gave her a quick but passionate kiss he was sure they both felt down to their souls.
"Okay." Adele breathed out once he released her lips.
Dominic grinned like a fool, he was so happy. She'd said yes.
"I'll pick you up at ten Saturday morning; make sure you wear your hiking boots."
He gave her another quick kiss before returning her feet to the ground, releasing her from his arms. His eyes followed her as she wandered over to the bar to get herself a drink. He smelled Kit as he felt her laced hands come to rest on his shoulder, her cheek resting on them.
"So, she's finally weakening to your charms, Dominic. Where are you taking her?" Without removing his gaze from watching Adele's every move, he answered in a quiet voice.
"I'm heading up to the field near the lake with her. I'm hoping when she sees it she'll recognize it from our dreams and feel more like everything that is happening is meant to be."
"You plan on telling her everything? 'Cause, man, this plan of yours could back fire big time. What you going to do if she just freaks out and runs off on you?"
"Yeah, I know. I'll see how she reacts before I go telling her anything. I can't wait much longer, Kit. She's my mate; I can't stand having her so close but not in my arms and in my life. She's as vital to me as air."
"Wow, powerful stuff there, Dominic. Well, you'll let me know if I can help you out."
"You already have, Kit. Letting her move in with you, I know you'll keep her protected. If you hadn't done that, I'm not sure what I would have done to make sure she was safe. Probably would have blown any chance I had with her, that's for sure. Then tonight, you dragged her in here."
Kit lifted her head and hands before lightly punching him in the arm.
"Oh no you don't, Dominic. Don't go all mushy on me. Save that shit for your mate who might just appreciate it. And you know full well you'd do the same for me. We're family, that's what we do."
Dominic wrapped his arm around Kit's shoulders for a quick side hug before nodding and releasing her. Yeah, they were family all right. She might not be his sister by birth, but just like all shifter-leopards they stuck together and had bonded as a family.
Chapter Seven
Kelly's mind was fuzzy as she hovered between consciousness and unconsciousness. She vaguely heard him grab the towel, wipe his face and chest, then tuck it into his back pocket. He lifted her down off the hook, causing a new wave of pain that knocked her firmly into the land of unconsciousness.
The sound of his boots hitting the floor upstairs brought her back to the land of the living. Damn, she hurt. Everywhere ached, everywhere except between her legs and that was going to hurt most of all in the morning. She lay in a broken heap on the floor, in a pool of her own blood where he'd left her like yesterday's garbage, sobbing on the inside for all she'd endured and all she was going to have to suffer.
As her brain began to come more fully back online, it registered she was still unchained. He must have thought she wouldn't be able to move for days from the pain, so he'd left her on the stone cold floor to absorb her agony and ponder what her future would hold. Sadistic bastard. What he didn't take into account was that