Page 36 of Mated to Team Shadow

"All the islands in the region are inhabited and occupied by some country. The ocean currents sweep north, and we weren't at sea long enough to drift toward Venezuela, so I'm guessing we've hit either Martinique or the Dominican Republic."

Good.Either island was not too far from St. Lucia. First, I'd find a U.S. Embassy to get an emergency passport and scare up a new debit card. Then, I'd catch local transport back to St. Lucia after I said adios to the cat people who would have to go back to the military.

See? Easy. No probs.

Then why was my gut shredded? This was ridiculous. I barely knew these men.

But you feel Ryker's lips against yours. Gunner's mouth on your spine, his hard cock against you. Damon and Kane holding you warm and tight after the worst day of your life. Why wouldn't you like that?

This couldn't be happening. I buried my toes in the warm wet sand and stared at the air bubbles rising from it as the ocean pulled and washed over this sliver of shore. The water here was a gorgeous blue. I truly sat on the sands of paradise.

But four men at once. Nope. That was insane. Four shifter men who turned into cats? Even crazier.

Sand grating startled me from my reverie, and I lifted my head to meet Ryker's eyes as he pulled the raft more firmly onto the shore. His mouthwatering muscles bunched as he pulled the plastic beast out of the water and toward me.

His mouth on mine. Questing. Eager. Possessive.

My face flushed with these thoughts, and the less ladylike part of me tingled, eager for more of his touches.

No. I must stop thinking this way.

I shaded my eyes with my hand to stay meeting his gaze.

"Will they remain away long?" I said.

Ryker huffed as he dropped the raft.

"They'll be back," he said. "I'd go with them…"

"But someone has to watch me? That's a load of bull."

Ryker's eyes and mouth creased with worry lines, and I recognized this expression as his prelude to laying down the law.

"We are in unknown territory with unknown hostiles."

"Bull. We are in the Caribbean. All I need to do is find the American Embassy, and I can work things out on my own."

Now Ryker's mouth twisted in extreme dislike.

"Is that what you want?"

"What else would I want? Hey, it's been a fun adventure, but I've got a life, you know. And an employer. It's time I got home."

Ryker squatted before me and took my hand.

"I can’t let you do that," he said.

Ryker

I'm going insane.

When Jeanine said she wanted to leave and go home, my cat growled deep inside me. My heart flip-flopped. It'd been a long time since it performed gymnastics like that. My gut clenched.

Without realizing it, I bent before her and took her hand.

"I don't think I can let you do that."

Which apparently was the wrong thing to say because she snorted derisively and twisted her lips in disbelief.

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