He swabbed the T-shirt over her small feet, and he was fascinated by the incongruity of her pink toenails. They looked decidedly feminine on a woman who was as prickly as a hedgehog.
“Get me something to bandage her hand and foot with,” he said to Braden.
Braden dug around in a first-aid kit, pulled out a roll of gauze and thrust it at Ian. Ian eyed Braden’s hand resting on Katie’s other knee. It was a possessive grip, and he moved his thumb in a soothing up-and-down motion over her skin.
Ian rolled his shoulder then began winding the gauze around the instep of her foot. When he was satisfied with the result, he taped it and cut the end.
He reached again for her hand that was now resting on her taut abdomen. For a brief moment, her fingers curled trustingly around his, but then she flexed them, the tips flying off the back of his hand as if she’d realized what she was doing.
A few seconds later, he had her hand wrapped, and he tossed the gauze into the truck.
Braden slid an arm underneath her and eased her forward. She regarded him with wary eyes as she gingerly sat up. Her gaze flickered to Ian, and for a moment he saw fear—of him—shadowed in her face. Before he could offer any reassurance, the vulnerability was gone, replaced by a look of annoyance.
It was fascinating to watch her, because she was like an open book. Every thought, every emotion played out in her eyes. You only had to watch closely enough to see the changes.
Somehow he didn’t think she’d appreciate his analysis, or that she was so easily read.
“We should get on the road,” Ian said.
He started to help her up, but she shrugged off his hand.
“I can make it,” she said as she slid from the back of the SUV.
She hung back as he and Braden started for their seats. He saw her hesitate as she rounded the corner of the truck, and before he could blink, she bolted.
“Well goddamn,” Braden swore. “Not again.”
Ian let out a frustrated growl as he and Braden both ran after her. His nostrils flared, and her scent carried to him on the wind. Lightning fast images cascaded through his mind.
Predator and prey.
God.
His breaths came faster as he closed the gap between him and the fleeing woman.
He wanted her.
She was his.
A low snarl tore from his mouth.
And suddenly Braden slammed into him, knocking him to the ground.
“Hold it back, Ian.” Braden’s voice came hoarse and urgent close to his ear.
“Go after her,” Ian managed to say. “Don’t let me hurt her, Braden. Swear it.”
“Forget her. She still has the tracking device. Come back to the truck with me so I can give you an injection.”
“Too…late,” he rasped. “Get away from me. Now.”
Braden’s face contorted and rippled in Ian’s vision. The change began to ricochet over his body. Painful.
Bones popped, muscles spasmed and reshaped. He closed his eyes and panted as he fought the shift with everything he had. It was a battle he knew he wouldn’t win.
Braden sped after Katie’s retreating figure. Stupid twit had no idea what she’d started. He’d be lucky if Ian didn’t eat them both for dinner.
Adrenaline-laced fury rocketed through his veins as he focused on the chase.
Don’t shift. Don’t shift. Don’t shift.
The chant swam fluidly through his brain as if by saying it, willing it, he could escape his brother’s fate.
He was gaining on her. He sucked in air through flared nostrils as her scent grew stronger.
Mine. Mine. Mine.
He shook off the hum of arousal as it surged, hot and steady through his groin.
This had to end now.
As he topped the next rise, he dove for her. He slammed into her back, knocking her to the ground. Her body absorbed the shock of both their landings, and her cry of pain echoed in his ears.
He rolled, wrapping his arms protectively around her even while he wanted nothing more than to shake some sense into her. She rammed her knee in the direction of his balls, and his hand shot downward, halting her inches from his groin.
He squeezed her knee until her leg went limp. She sagged against him, but he wasn’t in the least bit fooled by her sudden capitulation. He locked his other arm around her body and held her flush against him, so that absolutely no space existed between them.
“I can’t breathe,” she gasped.
“And right now I don’t give a damn,” he snarled. “I’ve about had it with you, lady.”
She squirmed against him, and he tightened his grip until she could no longer move.
In one quick movement, he flipped her over, threw one leg over hers and wrapped both his arms around her, trapping her arms against her sides. Her ass was pressing hard into his groin, and that wasn’t the only thing hard. Goddamn it. What a time for a freaking erection.
She felt it too, and for a moment she went completely still. He felt her quick intake of air and then she exploded into action, kicking and writhing.
“For the love of God, chill the fuck out,” he barked. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
“Let. Me. Go.”
“Not on your life.”
She went limp against him.
“Now we can do this one of two ways,” he said through gritted teeth. “You can give in and walk back with me to the truck, or I can hogtie your ass, carry you back and stuff you into the cargo space.”
She stiffened again. “Fuck you.”
“No, fuck you, sister. I’m usually a good-natured guy, but I swear you’re doing your best to piss me off. Now what’s it going to be? If I don’t get an answer in three seconds, I’m choosing option B. God knows it’ll be a lot easier on me if you’re trussed up like a turkey.”
“Fine,” she muttered.
“What’s that? I didn’t hear you.”
“I’ll go back with you,” she spit.
He almost grinned. Sounded like a pissed-off kitten. Then he frowned. He had no idea where Ian was which meant the trip back to the truck was going to be interesting. The sooner he could get her locked in, though, the safer she’d be. For that matter, he wasn’t crazy about skulking around in the dark with a jaguar on the loose.
He loosened his grip and cautiously got to his feet. She lay there in the darkness, her breaths shallow and pained. He refused to feel any guilt over it.
Pale moonlight streamed through the treetops, softly illuminating her skin. The forest was quiet except for the short gasps of her breath as her shoulders heaved up and down.
She rolled to her back, and a shadow fell over her face. He moved so he could see her and then extended his hand down to help her up. For a long moment, she stared at him as if not believing he was acting so civilized. Hell, he wasn’t an ax murderer.
When he shrugged his shoulders and started to lean down to pick her up, she quickly thrust her hand toward his. He curled his fingers around her wrist and pulled so she stood in front of him.
He cupped her chin and tilted it upward until the moonlight better illuminated her face. “You’re a mess.”
Her lips thinned, and she jerked away from his grip. “You’re not looking so hot yourself. And you smell like a goat.”
A light chuckle escaped him, and it seemed to irritate her even more. He cupped her uninjured elbow and herded her back toward the truck.
Though he made an effort to relax and not give away his concern over where Ian was, his gaze shot left to right as they walked back. Halfway there, he heard a low growl emanate from about thirty yards to his right.
Fuck.
“Listen up, sister. When I tell you to run, you haul your pretty ass back to the truck. I’ll be right behind you. Don’t pull any stupid tricks or I swear to God I’ll leave you for the critters to eat.”