Panic flared within Parish and his gaze cut to the bed. “But the female…”
Cold authority bled from the Suit’s tone. “I’ll assign someone to take care of the doctor.”
“No!” The sudden rush of anger and possessiveness toward the woman surprised Parish. And Raphael too by the look on his face.
“She’s going to need a guard,” he said. “Like you, there are many Pantera who do not welcome humans. They’re tolerant of Ashe because she carries my child, and the hope for our species. But they may not feel we need a human doctor. They might see it as an insult. When she wakes up, after I have spoken to her, explained things, and if she agrees to remain, one of the Nurturer guards will take her—”
A snarl ripped from Parish’s throat.
“—Will take her to and from her quarters and make sure no harm comes to her.”
Parish moved closer to the bed, blocking Julia from Raphael’s view, his stance aggressive, protective.
“Ease up, Parish.” Bayon stepped inside the room, moved toward his leader. “What is it? Are you losing control of your hatred for humans? We can’t risk her…”
Parish ground his molars. They didn’t get it. Shit, he barely understood his irrational anger and desperate need himself. But the one thing he did know was that he couldn’t leave Julia.
He glanced down at the woman. Her color was coming back and beneath her pale lids, he saw movement. His chest expanded with hope. She would awaken soon, and the first face he wanted her to see was his own.
“I found her,” he said softly. “I took her. She is mine.”
Bayon cursed behind him.
“Yours?” Raphael said.
Parish’s hand inched forward, toward her until his fingers met her elbow. As irrational and impossible as it was, he wanted to claim her, announce to both Raphael and Bayon that something had happened on the street in New Orleans when he’d pulled this woman into his arms and gazed down into her lovely face. A connection, a need, a pull he’d never imagined he’d ever feel for a female, much less a human woman. And the idea of being separated from her made not only him but his cat ache.
But he pushed back the urge. He knew such a declaration would sound insane. He would do better to claim her as a Hunter, a protector.
“To guard,” he amended, his gaze moving over her face. “The doctor is mine to guard. She will live with me, have my full protection as she cares for Ashe.”
Bayon started to laugh, then abruptly stopped when Parish turned and glared at him.
“You’re serious? Live with you in the caves? A human female?” The blond male tossed a look at Raphael. “Presuming she actually agrees, she won’t last a minute in that dank, uncivilized rock. She’ll be running from us.”
She won’t get far.
“I will agree to you guarding her, Parish,” Raphael said slowly. “But it will be somewhere with hot water and clean sheets.”
There was nothing Parish wanted more in that moment then to scoop her up in his arms and take her home to his caves, but he knew Raphael’s mind, knew how far to push the male when it came to protocol. And perhaps the beautiful doctor deserved a little pampering after what he’d put her through. He nodded at Raphael. “Fine. I’ll bring her to Natty’s.”
“She may very well be afraid of you. She’s not going to soften around the feline who shut down her mind and abducted her.”
Parish’s lip curled, but the ire was more for himself than for the Suit. “I won’t be harsh with her. I won’t scare her.”
The male looked unconvinced. “Can you truly promise that? Your dislike of humans is legendary. And understandably so.”
“She is different.”
She is mine.
“She is special.” Raphael came to stand beside him at the bed, his puma’s face flashing momentarily from its normally controlled cage. “I cannot have this go wrong.”
Parish knew exactly how important this was, for the both of them. “I give you my word. I will keep her safe and well.”
Golden green eyes searched his. “All right. If the woman agrees, she is yours to protect.”
The cat inside of Parish purred.
CHAPTER 3
JULIA returned to consciousness slowly, her mind still wrapped in a delectable dream. One she wasn’t all that keen on releasing.
She was on her bed in the hotel. It was night and the windows were open, letting in the glow of moonlight and the balmy New Orleans breeze. Beneath her lay a man with bronze skin and hungry, gold cat eyes. His long black hair kissed his broad shoulders and chest, both of which were beaded with sweat. As she rode him, he growled at her, his hands gripping her hips.
Beside the bed, watching, his expression strangled and confused, was Gary. Blond, buttoned-up, cheater, liar and all around heel, Gary. He kept whispering the words, “You’re supposed to be at the hospital, Julia,” over and over, but Julia barely spared him a glance. She was close, so close. The one beneath her, the one inside her, the one who growled and snarled at her as he made her come again, was the only thing that mattered.
“You belong to me!”
Julia collapsed onto his chest, his possessive roar echoing in her ears as his hot seed filled her sex.
“Julia?” A voice, female and insistent, was trying to reach her, break in to her wonderful dream.
“Julia?” the voice said again. “Her breathing’s worrying me, Raphael. And she looks flushed.”
Julia felt something cold on her face and gasped. Body on fire, limbs shaking, her eyes flickered open. It took her several seconds to focus, but when she did fear gripped her. The dream was gone, and the woman who sat beside her, on what Julia could only guess was a hospital bed, was a complete stranger.
“I’m Ashe.” Long black hair framed a beautiful, concerned face. “Please don’t be scared.”
“What’s going on?” Julia demanded, trying to sit up, but failing immediately. “Did I pass out?”
The woman glanced behind her and Julia followed her line of vision. A man stood several feet away. He was tall and imposing and reminded her of someone. Why couldn’t she remember?
“The effects will wear off,” Ashe said, her gaze returning to Julia’s. “It just takes a little while.”
The effects? The effects of what?
Her heart started to pound.
“Do you remember anything?” Ashe asked gently. “Where you were before you… Who you were with?”
Julia’s hands gripped the sheet that covered her. Did she remember? God, she hated this. Her mind felt blank. Fuzzy as hell, but blank. “I was at the hospital,” she said, struggling to see past the white noise in her brain. “I delivered a baby. Garth. It was a really difficult delivery, but everything turned out well.” She squinted. “It was my last day, and I was going back to my hotel. I was walking down Gravier when I thought someone was…”
She jerked her head up, her gaze crashing into Ashe’s. “Oh my god. The guy…”
The woman inched forward on the bed, her eyes heavy with concern. “Please. I need you to stay calm.”
Shit. Her heart was now slamming painfully against her ribs. Calm was the last thing she felt. “Did you see that guy? The one who followed me? Did he bring me here? He has black, long hair and golden eyes...” Her head began to pound and she winced. “That sounds impossible, I know. Was I drugged?”
“No.” The woman cursed, and once again glanced over her shoulder. “Listen, I’ll tell you. Everything. But I need you to promise me you won’t freak out until after I’m done.”