“Lissa,” he breathed.
“What?” Her eyes widened, because hers were no longer a solid, matte black. Her eyes were normal, dark, but normal. There were whites, and pinpricks of black that swirled with a fine dusting of starlight. Even more astonishing, she was a complete woman.
For the first time since meeting Lissa, he got to see all of her. Her face had always been stunning, but the slender curve of her long neck that led to a pair of finely fashioned breasts were the perfect size to palm in his large hands. Her stomach was flat, but also muscular in an alluring and still feminine way.
His mouth watered and heart thundered as his gaze continued to drink her in. Her legs were long and lean, her arms equally well toned.
“You’re…” he stuttered, and then blinked as he realized the word that’d just been about to slip from his tongue, “look at yourself.” He pointed downward.
The confusion was still written on her forehead when she glanced down, but that was quickly replaced by astonishment. Her brows shot up, becoming hidden by the waves of her electric blue hair.
“Oh my goddess, what is this! I’m not a cat. I’m supposed to be a cat, what did you do to me, Aeric?” Her pearl pink lips were parted and her chest was heaving up and down, drawing his eye like a moth to flame.
“What do you mean? You’re trying to be a cat now?”
“Yes,” she nodded, “I haven’t shifted. You see me?”
He moistened his lips, wiping his palms down his pants. “I see all of you.”
Rubbing the strands of her hair in a nervous gesture, she blinked back at him with wide, wide eyes. “How is this possible?”
Scrubbing his palm over his mouth, he shook his head. “Lissa, we need to talk.”
Lissa nodded. What was going on? She was so confused. All she remembered was the moment he’d left her yesterday something had attacked her from behind. It’d struck so quickly, and with such ferocity that she’d immediately lost consciousness.
“But first,” he glanced up at the sky, “we need to make camp.”
She’d be lying if she said she wasn’t happy to see him. No, not happy. Because the riotous mess of emotions she was currently feeling went much deeper than mere happy. Her tongue felt thick, her nerves shot, her thighs were tingling.
Tingling!
When his hot blue eyes had rolled across her body, everything inside of her had gone absolutely still. Her stomach had twisted with carnivorous butterflies and her mind had fractured. How was he seeing her? Not that she minded, she actually liked it. But she usually didn’t stay in human form long because she’d never been able to stay solid doing it.
But if he could see her now, really see her…
And now she realized she was also ‘seeing’ him. There were no trees, no needles, or dirt around them. Just him. His big strong shoulders, his wild hair hanging free, he looked bigger to her somehow. More virile. More present. Just… more.
Holding onto her stomach, she made to stand on trembling legs.
“You okay?” he asked, and his voice shot a thrill of heat and liquid down her spine, it settled between her thighs and goddess, it was hot of a sudden.
Swallowing, she waved her hand in front of her face, needing to cool down, feeling as though she might combust at any moment. What was wrong with her?
“Are you sure?” he narrowed his eyes, moving his face in closer to her. So close the mint of his breath laced her lips. His eyes looked worried. “You look feverish.”
He touched his palm to her forehead and his hand was so cool, like being dipped in river water. She trembled. “I do feel queer,” she mumbled.
“Dammit,” he growled and just as he said it, her world spun out of control and the lights winked out.
*
Aeric stoked the fire, keeping a watchful eye on Lissa. She was curled close to the flames, her hands tucked beneath her face and sleeping, snoring very softly. It was obvious she was exhausted.
Throughout the night she continued to mutter to herself, nonsensical words and moans and grunts. He didn’t like starting this fire, felt it would call all manner of monster to their door, but after she’d passed out, he’d had to slap her cheeks repeatedly to get her to wake up.
When she did, she’d been groggy and shaking, shivering violently in his arms. In the end, the decision had never really been his.
There’d be no sleep for him tonight, someone needed to keep watch, and if he were being honest, he was worried about her and probably wouldn’t have been able to sleep much anyway.
She moaned again. Louder this time.
She’d been doing this off and on throughout the night, so he didn’t think anything of it, until she jerked upright screaming and clawing at her face.
“Lissa!” He jumped up and ran toward her, grabbing her hands to stop her.