Page 71 of Rescued By the Beast
That would be too much, I definitely wouldn't wear someone else's underwear.
I can't waste any more time here, but I still need shoes.
I look down and see a row of shoes and sandals neatly lined up on the closet floor. My eyes scan the options until they stop on a pair of knee-high boots.
I let out a little squeal of excitement when I see that they are my size and rush to put them on.
"Sorry, but I promise I'll return everything one day," I murmur, thinking of the owner of the clothes as I hurry.
Dressed and feeling more confident, I exit through the same window I entered, opening it just enough to slip through in human form, and close it behind me. My plan is simple: return to the cabin and hide the clothes in the backyard. That way, when I need to transform again, I'll have something to wear.
But as I step out onto the pavement, something strange happens. The stone against my neck begins to heat up, and my heart almost stops when I see Mark's car turning into the street and stopping on the other side of the pavement, right in front of me.
What is he doing here?!
Mark gets out of the car and starts walking towards me. My whole body collapses, shaking and heating up at the same time. My lungs seem to struggle to suck in air.
He seems to scan his gaze from side to side, at the bushes, the fences, the ground, until his eyes finally meet mine and, for a moment, everything seems to stop.
I almost faint.
I know I may be in trouble, but he... he is so beautiful and irresistible that a part of me, accustomed to being his cat, wants to throw myself into his arms, purr against his neck, absorb his scent and his warmth...
He approaches and stops right in front of me. I take a false step backwards, the world wobbles for a second, a chill in my stomach takes hold, but before I can fall, firm hands grab me by the shoulders.
His touch burns. Heat radiates through my skin like an electric shock, a sudden shiver that rises up the back of my neckand spreads to my fingertips. My body reacts before my mind, my muscles tense, my breath caught in my chest. It's as if his presence has its own gravity, pulling me closer when I should be moving away.
My stomach contracts in a whirlwind of nervousness and something denser, more dangerous and addictive.
It's more than attraction. It's a calling, an instinct engraved in me in a way I don't understand, but feel.
"Thank you..." I say softly, breathless, his eyes still locked on mine.
"You're welcome," he murmurs, and I feel bewildered, his touch still on me, and for a moment of pure insanity, I don't want him to let me go.
We stand in silence, just looking at each other for what feels like an eternity, but I know it can't have been more than three seconds.
He clears his throat and steps back, his gaze falling to my neck and his brow furrowing.
My eyes widen as my hand automatically goes to the collar, but when I feel the texture of the knit against my skin, I relax. I'm wearing the scarf. He can't see the collar.
"By any chance... have you seen a black cat around here? My tracker says she's nearby."
I let out a nervous laugh and he tilts his head, watching me silently, as if I'm crazy. And, well, I am. Crazy to still be here, instead of running away before it's too late.
"Um... yes, she went into that yard over there," I point to the house I just left, trying to sound as calm as possible, but I'm shaking.
I don't lie, because he'll be able to smell the cat going in that direction, he just won't be able to follow her trail after I turned into a human.
He looks where I pointed, then turns back to face me with those intense, wolf-like eyes. Beautiful...
My heart skips a beat. My breathing falters. I almost faint again.
"Are you sure?"
I can only nod my head.
I need him to go there, to turn his back so I can escape. My time is running out, I need to get back to the cabin and transform.
