CougarHeat by Marisa Chenery Page A

What the hell just happened here?”
    “I can explain everything, but I
don’t think this is the place to do it,” Taylor said.
    “Yeah, I’d get her out of here
before Nikki flips her lid again,” Blaise added.
    Aspen looked at Taylor’s brother
and his two cousins. “All of you can change into cougars as well?”
    Grady answered. “We’re all cougar
shifters.”
    “How?”
    “We were born this way. Think of us
as a different race who can do things a normal human can’t.”
    “Different race?” she asked
sarcastically. “I’d say it’s more than that.”
    The sound of voices gathering
outside the ladies’ room had them all turning their heads toward the door.
Taylor quickly took Aspen by the arm. “Time to go, and please don’t fight me. I
would never do anything to hurt you. The people out there, I’m not too sure
about. Nikki and her family own this bar. I’m sure she just told everyone you’re
human.”
    Fear still pumping through her,
Aspen figured she would be safer with Taylor and his family than the strangers
outside the door. She allowed him to guide her out to the bar. There was a
group of people there, all looking none too pleased to see her. Blaise, Grady
and Jase closed around her and Taylor, then all together, they left.
    They parted company with Taylor’s
brother and cousins once they reached his pickup. After Taylor put her in the
cab, he spoke a few words with the others, then got in the driver’s side.
    As they drove toward her apartment,
some of Aspen’s fear subsided. She felt numb, as if it were too much for her
mind to accept. She made no move to touch Taylor, and he didn’t try to touch
her. Neither one of them said anything.
    At her apartment, Aspen unlocked
the door. Taylor didn’t give her a chance to keep him out. He crowded behind
her, then closed them inside. Needing some distance between them, she went and
sat on the couch. Taylor didn’t give her much space as he came to stand in
front of her.
    “Are you going to give me a chance
to explain?” he asked as he looked down at her.
    “I guess.”
    He squatted and tried to take her
hands in his, but Aspen pulled away before he touched her. Taylor sighed. “I’m
not going to hurt you so stop being afraid of me.”
    “Sorry, but seeing my boyfriend
turn into a cougar does that to me.”
    “Look at me, Aspen. Really look at
me. I’m still Taylor. I was a cougar shifter when I first met you. Not once
have I done anything to harm you. You were even safe with me on the long drive
to Anchorage.”
    She wrapped her arms around her
middle. “I know. Were you ever going to tell me what you are?”
    “Yes. I just hadn’t figured out how
I was going to do it. Then this happened.” He pulled out his cougar head
pendant and angled it toward her.
    Aspen saw the ruby eyes still
glowed. “I don’t understand.”
    “Every male is given one of these
necklaces once they hit puberty. It’s crafted with magic inside it. When he
finds his mate, she will set off the magic it contains and the eyes will glow.
It’s the female’s choice to take the necklace from the male and put it around
her neck. Only then will the mating bond form between them, joining their
souls.” He met her gaze. “You set mine off. It usually takes a little while
after the couple meets, but if it’s meant to be it will happen.”
    “I’m your mate?”
    “Yes. And you can decide whether
you’ll accept my necklace or not.”
    “Once I do we’ll be mated? For
life?”
    “Correct. As far as I know, you’re
the only human to be a mate to a cougar shifter.”
    Aspen took a deep breath. This was
a lot to take in. She looked at Taylor and saw the man she had fallen for, but
the cougar side still scared her. “Do I have to make the decision about being
your mate right now?”
    “No.”
    “Good, because I can’t.”
    Taylor stood. “I think it’s best I
go and let you think through everything. I would never pressure you into doing
something this