up, and Aleron snapped his cell closed. He lay back and thought about Jewel. He’d never experienced sexual desire and satisfaction to the extent he had today with her. All his married friends, from his tribe, had been correct about the response he’d have when he found the right mate. The intensity, taste, touch, and emotions were all heightened.
He’d felt when she fully relaxed and opened to him. If he knew who’d hurt her before, he’d tear the man apart. What an asshole.
Aleron had never treated any woman so callously, and being a sex-driven teenager was hardly an excuse. Whoever it was hadn’t liked her, and he probably thought she had been rude to him because of her shyness. He must have decided he’d fix her. Immature, stupid, dangerous to women, period. I’d bet wherever he is now, he still treats women as objects. Well, I might as well forget him. Jewel won’t tell us his identity.
“Why are you frowning so fiercely?” Jewel stood by the bed.
“Sorry. My thoughts were on that stupid jerk that hurt you.”
“Forget him. I have. You’ve erased him from my memory.” She leaned down and kissed him. He grabbed her and tumbled her onto the bed for another kiss.
“Let me up. I have to get dressed.”
“We both do. Raoul will be here shortly.” He rolled off the bed and went into the bathroom. Jewel followed.
“You called him.”
“I did. Don’t you want him to hear about your secret before it gets out to others? He’ll be hurt if you don’t tell him first.”
“I’m already getting tired of telling others. After I’ve told him and the leaders, someone else can explain my secret to whoever has a need to know.”
“That will be few if you decide to try and fool the enemy.”
The water rinsed off the soap on Aleron’s body. He grabbed a towel and got out. “Go dress. Raoul will be here any minute.”
They’d just finished and gone into the living room when Raoul came striding in the door. “What’s up?” He looked from Aleron to Jewel and sniffed the air.
“Oh, all right, so we made love. You don’t have to circle us and sniff and make all kinds of innuendos.” She felt her cheeks flush.
Raoul laughed. “You are so easy to get to talk and tell me what I want to know.”
Jewel charged him and punched him in the arm. “Don’t laugh at me.” She started to cry.
“Sweetheart, I didn’t mean to hurt you. I’m sorry. I like to joke. And both of you looked so satisfied I knew instantly. It’s all right. We don’t get jealous of each other.” He raised his head and looked across at Aleron.
“She’s crying because she gets nervous when she has to tell the secret she’s kept hidden for years.” Aleron picked Jewel up and sat on the couch holding her. “You want me to tell him?”
She nodded and wiped her eyes. “Or I can. I hate crying. It’s such a weakling response.”
“You’ve had enough stress lately to weaken a strong man. We don’t see you as weak,” Aleron said. “Raoul, have a seat. This will take a few minutes.” Aleron told Raoul all that happened at the Priestess’s house.
Raoul leaned forward in his chair. “You can shape-shift?”
“Yes.” Jewel slipped off Aleron’s lap and shifted. Her cheetah slinked across the room and rubbed along Raoul’s leg. Just when he started to touch her, she shifted to her small cat and jumped onto his lap.
“Damn.” Raoul jumped back in his chair. His fingers brushed across her colorful fur. “You’re the prettiest thing I’ve seen in a long time.”
With her small claws she climbed up his T-shirt and licked his neck then purred. He shouted with laughter and took her in his hands. He rubbed his nose against hers. Her lilac eyes stared back at him.
“Put her down, Raoul, and let her change. We have to discuss one more thing before going to the ranch house,” Aleron said.
Raoul put her gently down on the floor. She shifted back. This time she talked. She told Raoul how she was going to help in the
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