His leopard was agitated, and he had the nagging feeling he had forgotten something terribly important.
He took his bottle of ginger ale to the edge of the shade and looked out over the deck. Bright sunlight gave the white tile a luminous character, and the pool below glimmered blue. The water features at the near edge of the pool provided a wash of restful sound, and the thrum of the ocean beyond was a deep, constant beat.
A movement caught his eye. A snow leopard was coming in the side entrance, padding silently across the tile around the pool. After a moment, it hopped gracefully up onto one of the wide, low benches that were designed for large
animals to lounge on. It circled twice and lay down, looking away over the beach below. Something glinted on one of its paws.
Tex, coming to stand beside him and squint out into the bright light, spotted it too. “Well, we’ve got one guest out and about. Do you mind offering them a water? Laura’s up at the spa helping Lydia, and I want to finish up here.” Newcomers to the resort often underestimated the heat of the sun and their own need for hydration — especially in animal form.
But Breck was already moving, heading down the grand stairs as if he was being drawn by a string.
As he closed the distance between them, the snow leopard’s head swiveled towards him. It shifted its weight and rolled to its feet.
Blue eyes met his, blue eyes more beautiful than any sky he’d ever seen. It was a gorgeous snow leopard, with thick, patterned fur. The glint he’d seen was a heavy-looking silver bracelet encircling one of its legs above the paw.
His own leopard rose to his feet. Ours, he said firmly. This one is ours.
Breck was struck dumb.
This was not the usual state for Breck. He prided himself on thinking fast on his feet, of being smooth and he was always ready with a clever compliment or a quick comeback.
But looking into these blue eyes, no words came to his mind.
He wasn’t sure he still had mastery of language.
All he knew was that this, this was the part of his life that had been missing. This was the answer to every question, the fulfillment of every desire. This was peace and harmony and hope.
This was home.
He ought to kneel, he thought achingly, or offer his hands, or say something. But all he could do with stare, until suddenly the bracelet the leopard was wearing flared to life, glowing warmly and then fading slowly back… not to silver, but to gold.
The snow leopard blinked down at it in surprise, exchanged another glance with Breck, and suddenly wheeled away, fleeing the pool deck on silent, padded feet.
That was my mate, he thought, feeling like there was no floor beneath his feet. He was excited and eager and anxious, and it felt like everything around him was resettling in some new shape.
That was my mate, Breck repeated to himself, his leopard purred, Ours! in pure delight.
Then he groaned and let his head fall into his hand. The rest of the staff was never going to let him live this down.
Chapter 7
Darla fled, but not back to the three-bedroom cottage she was sharing with her mother and her assistant.
She didn’t remember that she wouldn’t have clothing on until she was shifting at Liam’s door, and knocking frantically.
“Darla!” he said in alarm, opening the door. “What is it? What’s wrong? My bracelet went off like fireworks just a moment ago and turned gold, are you alright?”
He looked only at her face, nothing else. Darla pushed past him into the room, closed the door firmly behind her, and leaned back on it as if her legs had given out.
For a long moment, she said nothing, trying to catch her breath. It wasn’t the headlong flight that had weakened her knees, it was him.
The waiter in the crisp uniform had appeared by the pool as if Darla’s desire had summoned him. He was tall, and graceful, with golden-brown eyes and dark hair, and the way that he had looked at her…
“Here, honey, you’re shivering. I’ll bring you a bathrobe...”
Darla pitched forward into his arms, sobbing. She wasn’t worried about her nudity, not with him.
His arms folded around her and his hands rubbed her shaking shoulders.