Read Online Kadenburg Revealed (The Kadenburg Shifters Series, Book 4) by T.E. Ridener - Free Book Online Page B

me,” he stated bluntly as his long legs carried him two paces closer.  He cocked his head to the side and drew his eyebrows together.  “I’m blind, not naïve.”
    Urseth! Why was this man so difficult to deal with?  Natalie took yet another step backwards and yelped as her hip connected with the corner of a table.  The brief pain was nothing compared to the panic screaming through her body at the moment.  He needed to stay back.  The last thing she wanted to do was make him angry again for luring him in.  She hadn’t meant to do it the first time, and a second time would surely make him furious.
    “I said I’m fine, Arnold....I’m just a little tired.  I didn’t sleep well last night.”  That wasn’t too terribly far off from the truth.  It was his fault, too; but she couldn’t very well tell him she’d been having sex dreams about him.  Glorious, hot, wonderful sex dreams that she very much wanted to be a reality.  Oh, Urseth, if only they could be real.....
    “You, too, huh?” He scoffed, shaking his head.  “Woman, I ain’t gonna beat around the bush here.  You drive me crazy and that ain’t a secret.  I’ve spent the better part of my life despising you and everything you stood for....but I’m not so coldhearted as to ignore the emotions rolling off your body right now.  I know it’s partially because of me...but there’s something else you’re not saying.  Have the decency to tell me what’s going through your mind, Natty.  I can’t read it, ya know.”
    But he could if we were mated, her bear said excitedly. Tell him how you feel!
    I have told him how I feel, Natalie replied heatedly.  And he sent me away with a broken heart.  He wanted the human.
    “Damn it, Natalie,” Arnold whispered as he gripped her shoulders and pulled her closer.  She gasped loudly, stumbling towards him as his fingertips dug into her skin painfully.  “Stop talking to your bear and talk to me .  That’s all I’m asking.”
    “I...I can’t,” she stammered, watching as his nostrils flared.  Oh no.  He was already sniffing her and it wouldn’t end well.  They couldn’t do this again.  She couldn’t allow it to happen.  She squirmed, trying to wiggle away from his grasp as his arm snaked around her waist to prevent her from putting distance between them.  “Arnold, please.....”
    “No, Natalie.  You....please,” he swallowed hard and she could feel his fingers trembling as he tried to keep himself in check.  Urseth, the scent of his desire was dizzying.  “I’m only going to ask you one more time.  Talk to me.”
    “I.....” Her voice escaped her again.  It seemed like layer after layer of guilt, fear, and sadness fell away from her all at once as more hot tears spilled down her cheeks.  Why did he have to have this effect on her?  Why couldn’t she just forget him and everything he’d done to her in the past?  Why did she long to be in his embrace so much?
    Arnold’s lips suddenly touched her cheek, kissing away the salty tears as a small breath squeezed its way from her tightened lungs.  Everything hurt within, and it felt like her soul was shattering as she sobbed.
    “Let me go.” She begged as her palms flattened against his muscular chest.  A lot of people probably wouldn’t think Arnold was as conditioned as the other ursithropes in Kadenburg, but she’d seen him shirtless too many times.  She could still remember the handsome 17 year old boy who played football with his friends in the field.  The image of his chiseled chest and stomach had been burned into her memory long ago.  He was tall and thin, but the muscles were there.  The very same muscles that quivered beneath her touch right now.
    “Not til you tell me what’s wrong,” he promised, pressing his hand against the base of her spine and pulling her even closer.  “You’re hurtin’ and I can feel it, Natalie.  What are you hiding?”
    “We can’t do this, Arnie, please!” She