Read Sebastian/Aristide (Bayou Heat) for Free Online

through the large rooms with the molded ceilings and sweeping staircases that captured the airy, graceful beauty of the old South. She deserved to be treated as a treasured guest, not a prisoner. But until he could convince her that he was only trying to help her, he didn’t have the luxury.
    Regaining her breath, Reny loosened her grip on his waist and gave him another thump on the back.
    “What the hell is this place?”
    “A safe house for Pantera,” he said, using the servants’ stairs to reach the second floor.
    “Why would you bring me here?”
    Sebastian entered the first bedroom. With two long strides he had her dumped on the wide, ivory-canopied bed and had turned to head back out the door.
    “Wait here.”
    “No…don’t—”
    He shut the door on her furious protest, touching the small lever that would trigger the lock.
    The knowledge that he was damaging her trust in him was like a knife through his heart, but he grimly hurried down the stairs and toward the front of the house where he could sense one of his brothers.
    Opening the door to what had once been the library, Sebastian stepped into a room that had been stripped of its original furnishings and fitted with the sort of high-tech equipment that could rival the Pentagon.
    Pantera might be creatures who’d been born of mist and magic, but they lived in the modern world.
    A dark-haired Hunter with whiskey-gold eyes turned away from the line of computer screens he’d been monitoring and rose to his feet.
    Lian looked his typical badass self in a pair of faded black jeans and Metallica T-shirt, his long hair pulled into a braid that hung down to his waist.
    “Troubles?”
    “Here.” Sebastian moved forward to shove a long strand of hair into the startled Pantera’s hand. “Have this sent to the closest lab and tested.”
    Lian frowned. “For what?”
    “DNA. I want to know what family this comes from.”
    The Hunter lifted his brows in surprise. “Okay. Anything else?”
    “A full background check on Agent Reny Smith, FBI,” Sebastian said.
    Lian turned to open a desk drawer, pulling out a small baggie to store the hair in. There were several Pantera who worked undercover in the local labs and could expedite the necessary tests.
    “It will take at least twenty-four hours for the DNA. I can start the background check now.”
    Sebastian nodded. “Contact me as soon as you have something.”
    “You got it.”
    Confident that he could trust Lian to take care of the search into Reny’s past, Sebastian retraced his steps, his body tensing as he reached to push open the door.
    God. Damn.
    He could physically feel the pulse of Reny’s arousal. It was like a fire in his gut.
    But slipping into the room, concern was his overriding emotion.
    Closing the door, he leaned against it as Reny launched herself at him, her face flushed and tendrils of dark curls that escaped her ponytail pasted to her damp skin.
    “You rat bastard,” she snarled, slamming her fists against his chest.
    Thankful she hadn’t shot him the minute he’d opened the door, Sebastian wrapped his arms around her trembling form, pulling her tight against him.
    “Shh.” He lowered his head, brushing his lips over her temple. The mating heat shouldn’t be this intense. It was like a violent force that was pummeling the two of them, instead of the gentle temptation that used to be common among Pantera. “I have you.”
    “God.” She collapsed against his chest, her breath a loud gasp. “What’s happening?”
    His lips skimmed down her cheek, nuzzling the edge of her mouth. “It’s the mating heat.”
    She pulled back her head to study him in confusion. “You’re in heat?”
    “Not me.” His hand ran a soothing path up and down her back. “You.”
    “Dammit.” Her brows snapped together. “I don’t have to listen to this.”
    “You don’t.” His fingers cupped the back of her nape, his thumb stroking the pulse that beat at the base of her throat. “But denying