CougarHeat by Marisa Chenery Page B

life changing, but I will say I love you. Now I know why my
feelings for you were so strong right off the bat when I have never experienced
it with any woman before you. Take as much time as you need. You have my cell
number.”
    Aspen remained on the couch as
Taylor gave her one last look, then walked out of the apartment. A minute
later, she heard his pickup truck pulling away from the house. A part of her
wanted to chase after him and tell him to come back, but she stayed on the
couch. She had a lot of thinking to do.
    * * * * *
    It was late the next morning when
someone knocked on Aspen’s apartment door. She opened it to find a woman who
looked to be in her thirties standing on the other side.
    “Can I help you?”
    “If you’re Aspen, you sure can.”
    “I am.”
    “Good. I’m Mara, Taylor’s mom. Can
I come in?”
    It was then that Aspen saw the
similarities in looks. Mara had the same tawny-blonde hair and light-brown eyes
that verged on gold. She also didn’t look anywhere old enough to have a son
Taylor’s age.
    Aspen took a step back. “I guess.”
    Mara walked through the doorway and
looked around. “This is a great little place. I understand your parents live in
the house.”
    “Thanks, and yes, they do.”
    “Enough of the pleasantries, I’m
going to get straight to the point of my visit. It’s about you and Taylor. He
told me what happened yesterday. I had to pry it out of him, but he eventually
opened up. I thought I’d come here and see how you were feeling about it all.”
    Aspen motioned Mara to follow her
into the living room and they both sat on the couch. “I don’t know what to
think. It’s hard to accept the fact there are cougar shifters in the real
world.”
    “I know. I blame that on the fact
it was long ago decided we would keep our kind hidden from humans and
werewolves.”
    “Werewolves?” Aspen asked, feeling
her world tilt a little more. How many more mythical creatures were there that
actually existed?
    “Yes, they’re real as well. But as
I was saying, we’ve kept what we are a secret. And because of that Taylor was
banished four years ago. He defended his human friend from a werewolf. They
fought in animal form. Taylor ended up killing the werewolf in self-defense.
Since he allowed others besides our kind see what he truly is, my mate, the
head of our family group, decided to uphold the old law and banished him. I
didn’t agree with it. And after hearing who my son has been friends with and
living around while he was away, I think it’s time we loosen the rules. I pried
that out of him too.”
    “So you’re okay with a human being
Taylor’s mate?” Aspen had no idea what Mara was referring to about Taylor’s
friends in Juneau.
    “Of course. He’s lived too long
among humans. It makes sense. I can’t say everyone in our family group will
feel the same, but there isn’t much they can do about it. You set off the magic
in Taylor’s pendant. Only a mate can do that. There will be no one else for him
but you. I hope you don’t mind me asking. Do you love my son?”
    That was the one thing Aspen could settle on. She did love Taylor. Finding out he was able to shift into a cougar
hadn’t changed that. “Yes.”
    “Then go and tell him. Right now
he’s probably in a fine mess. Once a male’s pendant starts to glow, he’ll find
himself, how should I put this, in a constant state of need for his female
until she takes his necklace from him. He won’t be able to eat or sleep until
that happens.”
    Aspen swallowed. “I have to admit
it has been on my mind too.”
    Mara laughed. “It’s all part of the
magic. But seriously, if you choose to accept Taylor as your mate, you will
never have to worry about him straying. His love for you will never dim. You’ll
have a best friend and devoted lover all rolled into one.”
    The thought of being able to have a
relationship that close with Taylor had Aspen wanting to jump at it, but the
whole cougar thing scared