“Yeah,” she laughed. “I’m still having trouble believing I’ve met one.” And nearly ripped apart by another.
“Believe it,” he said, staring at her. Even though his expression was soft, she could see the vicious panther lurking deep within his gaze. It frightened her … but it also turned her on.
“Can I meet your animal?”
Turning off the heat to his sauce he then walked to the island where she sat. “Are you serious about meeting my panther?”
“Yes if it is okay.” Her voice almost pleading with him to agree.
“Sure, maybe after we eat?”
She cleared her throat and asked if he needed any help with the food, just to break the moment. He told her no and sent her to the couch to rest. Augusta must have fallen asleep because the next thing she knew, Ray was placing a massive bowl of spaghetti with meatballs in front of her along with a basket of crusty garlic bread.
They took their time eating, but neither talked much. Augusta was too hungry to think about anything else until she was chasing the last of the tomato sauce around her plate with a piece of soft, buttery garlic bread.
“You were really hungry, huh?” Ray asked.
She nodded, smiling as she took a sip of wine. “Thank you. That was really amazing.”
“Don’t mention it,” he said, getting up and taking her dishes. Augusta relaxed on the couch, enjoying the feeling of being full, warm, and comfortable.
Ray sat beside her, pouring another glass of wine for himself. “Do you need more?” he asked.
She shook her head. “No, I’m fine,” she answered. She still had half a glass of the very strong Italian red wine.
“Are you okay?” Ray asked.
She sighed. “I am, but I’m not. Is the rival gang going to come after me? What’s going to happen?”
Ray put his glass down, sat up, and faced her with an intense expression.
“I’m not going to let anything happen to you,” he said. “I swear. I will keep you safe.”
Augusta nodded, trying to swallow the lump in her throat. She believed him. She really did. It was obvious that he cared about her. His reaction to the small wound on her cheek had convinced her that he couldn’t stand to see her injured.
But who’s going to protect me from him?
Augusta sat quietly, letting his eyes drink her in as if they were dark velvet pools that invited her to dive in and lose herself forever. The trouble was that they were not always warm, deep, and full of affection like they were right now.
No, sometimes they are bright and glaring, shimmering with rage and reflecting the fear of his enemies before he tore them apart.
Augusta gulped, taking another sip of wine to cover her expression. She was terribly confused, and all she hoped was that Ray didn’t know … or at least … didn’t know why.
“Augusta,” Ray said, reaching out as if to stroke her hair, then slowly withdrawing his hand again. “I know this entire situation is strange, but I mean what I say. I won’t let you get hurt.”
She nodded, part of her wanting to scream that he had damn well kidnapped her, so how the hell could she believe anything he said? The other part of her screamed for her to leap into his lap and let the great cat within him take her with all the passion his man and animal could summon.
He was extremely dangerous, and not just because he’d kidnapped her and held her at his mercy. He was dangerous because she could fall for him and end up broken-hearted when this gorgeous, powerful man finally turned his back on her after he had satisfied his lust.
Augusta didn’t know which was worse.
“I know,” she said, answering his question. “I know you won’t let me get hurt. You proved that to me tonight.” She placed her hand on his leg. “Can I see your panther now?”
Ray smiled, and she smiled back, knowing full well the irony of this situation. Men could say things like that … even swear to them. They just never included their own actions in the equation.
“Absolutely.” He stood and moved the coffee table out of the way and started taking off his clothes.
Augusta couldn’t help but stare at his perfect body, she could see some scars, a few looked like he’d been shot, a few more looked like someone had taken a knife to him. She also noticed little round scars as if someone put a cigarette out on his flesh.