Page 39 of Purrfectly Trapped

She scuttled out of bed with the sheet around her body and made for the bathroom.

“Wait a second!” Reg called out and had the nerve to sound angry as he leapt out of the bed and followed her.

He stopped her progression by pinning her against the wall. Gretchen growled at him, while her body heated, and heartbeat raced.

Traitorous thing!

She didn’t know whether to be angry or turned on. But she hated confrontations, and just wanted to get it over with.

“Look, I’m a physical kind of guy. I don’t have a way with words, so maybe I chose the wrong ones, but please do not walk away from me. I could not stand it,” he said, and his eyes pleaded with her.

“What?” she asked. Embarrassment reared its ugly head and Gretchen could hardly meet his eyes.

“I don’t know what you think I was trying to say, but it wasn’t goodbye, Gretch.”

“Fine. Well, what are you trying to say then? You had a nice time, and now you have to go? I mean, I get it---”

“No, that is not it at all,” he roared. “I am trying to tell you that you’re my mate, but you’re running off before I even have the chance!”

Gretchen stared at him, her confusion written all over her. Why did he look like she just kicked his puppy? And what the fuck was a mate?

“Mate? What the heck are you talking about?”

He moved back a step and ran a hand through his newly shorn locks. She had to admit she’d done a great job with his hair. He looked damn good. Still, that did not mean she had to put up with crazy.

Gretchen supposed she should just thank him for that rock hard body she’d thoroughly enjoyed just moments ago. Then wipe her hands of the man.

Watching his fine physique as he paced in front of her, she felt familiar tingles begin in her belly and lower. He stopped pacing, nostrils flaring animalistically, he turned his head, capturing her in his steel gaze.

“Dammit woman, I can barely get through this without wanting to throw you down on that bed and having you all over again, but it is important for me to say. I need you to understand, so cut it out, okay?”

She swallowed hard. Her pussy ached and wetness slid down her legs in preparation for him. Only him. She gritted her teeth and stared at him pointedly.

Dammit, she was turning into some kind of slut for the guy, and she hardly knew him.

“You don’t owe me anything. I am a big girl, Reg. Just say what you have to say,” she said, hating the insecurities that rose within her.

“I am not like other guys,” he started.

“No shit,” she rolled her eyes. Of course he wasn’t. She just had to look at him to know that, for fuck’s sake.

“No, look, I mean, I’m not human.”

“What?”

“Gretch, I’m aShifter, a Tiger to be exact. And you are my mate.”

Gretchen felt her body grow cold as she saw the expectant look on Reg’s face. Too many emotions to name rose like the tide, the foremost being humiliation.

Did he think she was some kind of desperate idiot? Had he seen her romance novels on the shelf, and thought this would be a fun way to tease her? What a dick!

“I, uh, I think you have to leave now.”

“Gretchen, look I swear-”

“I said leave, Reggie. Now.”

She watched the blood drain from his face as he grabbed his pants and tugged them on. He didn’t bother with his underwear or his shirt. Just picked up his shoes as he walked to the door.

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