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here,” he said, trying to console his raw nerves with the knowledge that there was no way she could escape even if she wanted to.
    The locks were specifically designed to only respond to the touch of a Pantera. They wouldn’t budge for a human.
    She frowned, clutching the sheet with a white-knuckled grip. “Where are you going?”
    “To call…a friend.”
    “And you expect me to wait here?” She glared at him with a seething fury. “Do you think a few bouts of hot sex have given me Stockholm syndrome?”
    Lowering his head, he claimed her lips in a kiss of sheer frustration.
    All he wanted to do was sweep her into his arms and carry her to his homeland where they could celebrate the new life they’d created.
    Instead he was plagued with a growing fear that an unseen danger was lurking just out of sight.
    “Just stay here and behave yourself.”

 

    CHAPTER 5
     
     
    ASHE was still reeling as Raphael left through a narrow door on the far side of the room.
    Of course, she’d been reeling since the doctor had called with the shocking news of her pregnancy.
    That was one of the reason’s she’d gone to the hotel instead of trying to convince her mother to let her return home.
    She’d needed a few hours to consider her options in private.
    But instead of a few hours of peace, she’d been accosted by the man who’d impregnated her, discovered he was a creature she’d long believed to be a myth, seduced all over again and kidnapped.
    She grimaced as she lifted her fingers to lips that still tingled from his touch.
    Okay. Maybe it wasn’t entirely fair to claim he’d seduced her.
    She’d all but begged him to ease the desire that had been on a slow simmer for the past six weeks.
    And if she were honest, she’d admit that her treacherous body was ready and eager to repeat the performance.
    Which was precisely why she needed to get the hell away from the disturbing man.
    No…not man.
    Pantera.
    Beast.
    Absently she reached over her shoulder to touch the scratches that had seemed to shock Bayon. They didn’t hurt. In fact, they tingled with a pleasure that was as disturbing as the implication that Raphael had deliberately marked her.
    Yeah. She was in dire need of some space to clear her head.
    Crossing to where they’d first entered the room, she placed a cautious hand on the silver doorknob.
    She didn’t know what she’d expected.
    Ringing alarms. A trap door opening to drop her into a pit of alligators. An electric shock.
    Something to prevent her from leaving the private rooms.
    But stepping into the back storage area, there was nothing to break the silence beyond the thundering beat of her heart.
    Still, she remained on edge as she tiptoed to the outer door. It was quite possible a silent alarm had been activated. Or that there would be guards outside that she hadn’t noticed when she’d first arrived with Raphael.
    And, of course, there was the mysterious danger that Raphael insisted was stalking him.
    Until she was far enough away from the bizarre creatures she would have to take extra care.
    Surprised yet again when the door opened easily, Ashe crouched low as she darted down the steep staircase, and headed directly toward the cars that lined the narrow street.
    She shivered, feeling a strange chill of premonition. As if unseen eyes were following her every movement.
    Damn. She needed to get back to the hotel.
    She was going to get dressed, get her car keys and head out of this town as fast as possible.
    After that…
    Well, she’d worry about that once she was far, far away.
    Pausing to tuck the sheet tighter around her body, Ashe sucked in a deep breath and gathered her shaken courage.
    She’d endured a childhood of neglect interspersed with episodes of terrifying violence from a mother who’d never loved her. She’d been humiliated and bullied throughout school. She’d been forced to work as a secretary for a bastard who couldn’t keep his hands to himself, just to keep a roof over her